“It was challenging, 30 of us, including the crew, at the check-in,” says Fisher. “We’re racing from gate to gate to make that plane. It is a very big operation and every person plays a role. The experience is unreal, but it can also be exhausting and emotional.”

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The first leg, a budget tour of northern India, was intended to challenge all the reviewers, some of whom had been on the season-three luxury trip to the subcontinent.

“This year, we decided to do a spiritual trip of India and Nepal, staying in an ashram and learning about Buddhism and Hinduism and yoga,” says Brodie. “Putting our cast out of their comfort zone is important. We don’t want to just send them to five-star hotels every time. But there’s no meanness on this show. It’s not a competition, there’s no prize.”

For Brodie, the gig is worth the logistical constraints and the editing, on the road, of two weeks’ worth of footage into 60 minutes of airtime.

“It’s one of those real pinch-yourself jobs,” he says. “You’re busy, you’re stressed, you’re running out of light, the rain’s about to come, someone hasn’t shown up, but then you stop and you look up, and it’s the Taj Mahal. I feel deeply lucky.”

One of Brodie’s favourite parts of the production process is watching the final result with narrator Denise Scott, who was diagnosed with breast cancer last year while filming the ABC’s Mother and Son reboot.

“Denise Scott has been magnificent,” he says. “She is as committed to the show as ever, and she loves to travel. I don’t think we could make it without her. She’s such a unique voice. We feel very lucky to have Denise with us for the entirety of the series.”

Travel Guides returns on Sunday, May 19, at 7pm on Nine, which is the owner of this mathead.

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