It is cold, misty, foggy, windy, rainy, gloomy or dark early … Whatever the reason, you just don’t feel like spending the day outdoors but would rather slip under a blanket on your sofa with a cup of your favourite hot drink. It’s fine, I’ve got your BIG DAY IN covered with this selection of the best outdoor documentaries on Netflix so that you can stay connected with nature. All you’ve got left to do is switch on the TV.
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At a glance
In a hurry? Don’t worry. Simply check the table below summarising the best outdoor documentaries to stream on Netflix. I go into more detail about each one of them in this article.
| Title | Program | Location | Duration | Topic |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14 Peaks | Documentary | Asia | 1 hour 41 min | Extreme Sport |
| Aftershock | Docuseries | Nepal | 3 Episodes | Historical |
| Our Great National Parks | Docuseries | Various | 5 Episodes | Nature & Ecology |
| Our Universe | Docuseries | Various | 6 Episodes | Nature & Ecology |
| Touching the Void | Docudrama | Peru | 1 hour 46 min | Historical |
| Sherpa | Documentary | Nepal | 1 hour 35 min | Political |
| Expedition Happiness | Documentary | North America | 1 hour 38 min | Travel & Adventure |
| The River Runner | Documentary | Various | 1 hour 25 min | Extreme Sport |
| The Yukon Assignment | Documentary | Canada | 1 hour 26 min | Travel & Adventure |
| Kate Humble | Docuseries | England | 6 Episodes | Travel & Adventure |
| Home 2 Home | Documentary | Various | 1 hour 50 min | Travel & Adventure |
| Down to Earth | Docuseries | Various | 2 Seasons | Nature & Ecology |
| Tales by Light | Docuseries | Various | 3 Seasons | Social & Cultural |
Best Outdoor Documentaries on Netflix
Let’s dive into a world of the great outdoors, remote locations, adventures and adrenaline with this selection of the best outdoor documentaries on Netflix. So get the remote control ready!
1 – 14 Peaks
This is a MUST-SEE for any outdoor lovers. Follow Nirmal Purja on his journey to ascend the 14 highest peaks in the world in less than 6 months. An ambitious and record-breaking project! From nothing to virality, Nirmal is the perfect example of perseverance. Following his journey not only offers you some incredible images and breathtaking views but also gives you some chills and tears. Climbing the 14 peaks without moving from your sofa has just become possible!
2 – Aftershock
This limited docuseries follows the before, during and after of strangers caught up in the natural disaster that hit Nepal in April 2015. Wrong place wrong time. A young Iranian girl attempting the ascension of Mount Everest, a Nepalese hotel owner in Katmandu and a trio of Israeli friends hiking the Langtang Valley talk you through the events as they unfold. When the unimaginable turns into reality, you cannot help but be moved by their testimonies.
3 – Our Great National Parks
Narrated by the former US president, Barack Obama, this limited series takes you to the most important National Parks on the Planet. Discover how countries are fighting species extinctions and urbanisation by creating and maintaining spaces of untouched wildlife. The images are stunning, the production is superb, and the narration is to the point. Are the Great National Parks the answer to saving our planet from global warming and ecological disaster? It seems to be the viewpoint of this incredible Netflix production.
4 – Our Universe
Let’s move on from politics. This time the narrator is no more than Hollywood actor Morgan Freeman. Similar to the Barack Obama program, Our Universe is the type of docu-series that only Netflix can pull. The images are breathtaking, the narration is captivating, and the storyline is like no other nature and wildlife program you have ever seen before. It’s not only about what is happening on down on Earth but also about the role the universe plays to make life flourish (or perish) on the planet. Like a biology lesson, but in a much more interesting way.
5 – Touching the Void
This is all about survivalism. And it is gripping. This docu-film relates the true story of Joe Simpson, who broke his leg when descending the West Face of Siula Grande in Peru. His partner, Simon Yates, tied him up to a rope to help him down the mountain, but it does not go as planned and he has to cut the rope. Joe falls into a crevasse. Alone, he finds all the courage to get himself out of the crack and go down the mountain with a broken leg. The story is played by professional actors and narrated by Joe and Simon themselves. It is beautiful, captivating, nerve-racking, sad and joyful at the same time. But more importantly, it is a true lesson of bravery and determination.
6 – Sherpa
April 2014. The deadliest day on Mount Everest so far in history. Thirteen people lost their lives in an avalanche. All were Sherpas. This is the plot of this Netflix program. You follow Phurba Tashi, a Sherpa Leader working for Rusell Brice’s expedition. From the days leading to the event to the drama itself, this documentary set the scene for what will soon turn from sadness to anger. It does not stop at the avalanche, it is the opposite. The Sherpas’ poor working conditions, risking (and losing) their lives for Westerners to climb Mount Everest seemed too unfair to continue. The Sherpas stop all the expeditions, the tour operators want to continue the climb. An heated situation in the middle of the ice. If you were planning on climbing Everest, this program is an eye-opener.
7 – Expedition Happiness
It’s like watching the longest Reel ever, except that you are not on Instagram but on Netflix. This documentary directed by Selima Taibi and Felix Starck retraces their journey across North and Central America on a converted school bus. He drives, and she cooks. They have a dog, go to places no tourist has ever been, encounter setbacks and frustrations, meet amazing people and have the time of their life! Filmed with their own phones and drone you get a mixture of amazing views of the North American landscape as well as selfy mode videos. It is content curated for social media all put together in an hour-and-a-half-long movie. It’s fun, refreshing and easy to watch.
8 – The River Runner
Get ready to be soaked! This program follows the ascent of Scott Lindgren from a river guide in California to an international renown kayaker in the 90s and 00s. His life takes a turn when he gets diagnosed with a brain tumour in 2014. He still has an unaccomplished dream: be the first to paddle the 4 rivers flowing from Mount Kailash in Tibet! The images are breathtaking, the videos take you to the edge of your seat screaming to the screen “paddle, paddle faster!”. Life is made of ups and downs and the River Runner is not only a great outdoor program but equally a beautiful example of a comeback.
9 – The Yukon Assignment
Forget the big multi-million dollars Netflix production. This documentary resembles more of a homemade vacation film. Well, in fact, it is. A son, an outdoor leader, and his comic dad go on an expedition in Canada, canoeing 100 miles alongside the River Yukon. Filmed with their own cameras, the duo takes you through the magnificence of the remote Article Circle part of Canada, from mountains and rivers to bears and caribous passing from bright sun to downpour. Far from being a boring holiday movie thanks also to the dramatic character of the dad, this program is captivating and fascinating. If you do not know what to do for your upcoming holidays, this should inspire you!
10 – Kate Humble’s Coastal Britain
In this Channel 5 program available for streaming on Netflix, TV veteran Kate Humble takes you on a walk through some of the most scenic coastal paths of England. It is made for the small screen, no doubt, but at least you can enjoy watching it ads-free. The walks are stunning and make you want to lace up your boots, pack your backpack and get walking poles ready to go! This is the perfect program for any British hiker looking for some inspiration for their next adventure.
Related Content: Best Coastal Walks Near London
11 – Home 2 Home
Hop on your bicycle for a trip around the world. Follow Dennis Kailing, a young German adventurer who cycles 27,000 miles (43,600 km) across 41 countries in Europe, Asia, Oceania and America. From amazing discoveries, impromptu encounters and friendships, extraordinary experiences, astonishing landscapes and setbacks, this little homemade movie is worth the watch. And who knows, you might pick up cycling as a new hobby after viewing it.
12 – Down to Earth
A long way from High School Musical, Zac Effron is now starring in a docuseries in search of new sustainable energy and more ecological ways of living. From Iceland to Costa Rica passing by France and the UK, hop on a journey around the world and discover how some people’s living habits are revolutionary. A great lesson for humankind and our planet’s future.
13 – Tales by Light
This is the last of our run-down of the best outdoor documentaries on Netflix. If you want to discover the world through the lens of the most acclaimed photographers in the world, then this is the program you need. From diving with whales to monk communities in Buthan or tribes in Ethiopia, this program follows different photographers in their work around the globe. You can expect incredible images of wildlife, landscape and us, humans. Click, click, click. Get your camera ready!
Final Thoughts on the Best Outdoor Programs on Netflix
Not a fan of TV? That’s fine. Why not get a good book instead? From discovering new places for your next adventure with the 100 Hikes of a Life Time to real-life stories with The Accidental Adventurer by Ben Fogle or the famous Wild by Cheryl Strayed, here are just a few book titles to spark your interest.
And you, what are your favourite outdoor documentaries on Netflix? Let me know in the comments below.
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[…] you want more walks by the coast? You can check Kate Humble’s Coastal Walk program to get some more inspiration for your next […]