Presenter Kevin McCloud travels around the world to meet people who have relocated to remote places in search of a simpler lifestyle. He explores the romantic notion of living in the wild against the reality of this existence. McCloud meets the families who have chosen to settle in distant lands and spends a few days living with them to experience their daily activities first-hand. He soon discovers the hardships of paddling down the Yukon River, horse trekking through the Australian bush and using a machete to create a path through a dense forest. He also finds life's simple pleasures amidst the hard work and effort in taking in the beautiful landscapes and getting involved in the local community.