Inspired by a news story, Phileas Fogg is goaded into betting that he can circle the globe in just 80 days, despite never having been abroad before.

Fogg's self-respect is shattered by an arrogant widower's ridicule, worrying Abigail and Passepartout even before a disaster strikes.

Stuck on Yemen’s west coast, foolhardy Fogg decides on a dangerous desert crossing, leaving Abigail Fix in a place where even a fellow Englishwoman proves hostile.

In remote India, Fogg grumpily waits for a wedding to be over, but the groom is grabbed by the army. Passepartout is torn about potentially sabotaging the trip, while Miss Fix’s self-belief has been shaken.

Passepartout's knowledge of Hong Kong proves useful when Fogg’s finances are blocked. However, there is a high price to be paid. Abigail’s latest article could humiliate Phileas at a party in his honour.

Racing through the Rockies, Fogg unwillingly lets a laconic lawman and his prisoner share the chartered stagecoach, unaware the captive’s cronies are in hot pursuit, leading to a violent showdown before sundown.

An irresistible reunion, deadly dockside danger and regrettable red tape mean Phileas Fogg faces failure while his companions ponder parting from each other.