Josh Gates Dives Into Chilling Mysteries in New Trailers for Expedition Unknown and Expedition Files

Discovery’s Adventurer Returns

This fall, Discovery Channel’s most daring explorer is back. Josh Gates — the globetrotting host of Expedition Unknown — is diving headfirst into another season of heart-pounding quests and history-defying mysteries. Alongside the return of Expedition Unknown, fans can also look forward to the comeback of its companion series, Expedition Files, both premiering on Wednesday, November 5, exclusively on Discovery.

Collider has unveiled the first look at both trailers, and it’s clear: this season, Gates is going further, digging deeper, and confronting legends that blur the line between history and myth.

Revisiting the World’s Greatest Mysteries

The Expedition Unknown trailer opens with Gates narrating his lifelong fascination with lost worlds and unanswered questions. We see him plunging into icy waters, sprinting through dense jungles, and crawling through the eerie catacombs beneath Egypt’s pyramids. Each frame teases a new revelation, and every location hints at history waiting to be rewritten.

This season promises a globe-spanning mix of danger and discovery — from the frozen north to the blazing deserts of the Middle East. As always, Gates’ signature mix of wit, wonder, and scientific curiosity anchors each journey.

A Pyramid, a Partner, and a Wild West Heist

The new season kicks off with a two-part special at the Great Pyramid of Giza, one of humanity’s oldest and most enduring mysteries. Using cutting-edge 3D mapping technology, Gates will attempt to replicate ancient construction methods and explore newly detected chambers deep within the pyramid — areas few modern eyes have ever seen.

But that’s just the beginning.

Gates teams up once again with Parker Schnabel, the fan-favorite star of Gold Rush. Together, they’ll investigate a Wild West stagecoach heist, following a trail of clues that may lead to lost gold and forgotten outlaws. Their collaboration brings together two of Discovery’s biggest names — the scientist-adventurer and the modern-day prospector — on a treasure hunt that blurs the line between legend and history.

Beneath the Waves: Sunken Ships and Hidden Empires

Adventure calls from beneath the ocean as well. In one of this season’s boldest missions, Gates dives into the Baltic Sea to locate a sunken German U-boat rumored to hold wartime secrets — and possibly lost treasure. The mission tests not only his diving skills but his resolve, as the cold, dark depths reveal eerie relics of a long-forgotten conflict.

From there, Gates trades icy waters for tropical heat, embarking on a real-life “Goonies” treasure hunt along the coast of Oregon. Later, he ventures into the jungles of Nicaragua to track down Cornelius Vanderbilt’s lost steamship, a vanished relic of 19th-century ambition that may still rest, intact, beneath layers of mud and vegetation.

Inside Expedition Files: History’s Hidden Truths

While Expedition Unknown takes viewers across the world, its sister show, Expedition Files, dives into the archives — peeling back centuries of myths, conspiracies, and unanswered questions.

The new season of Expedition Files opens with one of America’s greatest unsolved mysteries: the disappearance of Teamsters leader Jimmy Hoffa. Gates examines a fresh theory that could finally pinpoint where Hoffa’s body — and his secrets — may have been buried.

Next, he turns his attention to another vanishing act: German inventor Rudolf Diesel, whose mysterious death in 1913 still confounds historians. Did he fall, jump, or was he pushed overboard during his fateful ocean voyage? Gates revisits primary sources and unearths evidence that could change how history remembers him.

And then comes the ultimate quest — the search for the Holy Grail. Combining religious legend, archaeology, and travel, Gates follows the trail of history’s most sacred relic, exploring whether this enduring symbol of divine power could have a real, tangible origin.

Legends, Lore, and Lost Civilizations

The new episodes promise to expand even further into the unknown. From King Solomon’s lost gold (which may actually have been copper) to the Salem Witch Trials, which could have been fueled by hysteria and teenage rivalry, Expedition Files turns myth into investigation.

Other episodes will explore:

• The mystery of the Amber Room, stolen from the Soviet Union during World War II and rumored to rest at the bottom of the Baltic Sea.
• The identity of Mata Hari, the World War I dancer and alleged spy.
• The death of Cleopatra, reexamined through modern forensic theories.
• And, of course, the age-old question: Does Bigfoot really walk among us?

A Season of Discovery and Wonder

For Gates, who’s been leading expeditions on Discovery since 2015, this dual-season rollout represents the culmination of a decade of exploration. Each episode mixes adventure with authenticity — bringing together archaeologists, scientists, historians, and local experts to separate fact from folklore.

Fans can expect new technology, including ground-penetrating radar, remote sensing, and 3D reconstruction, to bring ancient sites and artifacts to life. But it’s Gates’ charisma and curiosity that make the difference — inviting audiences not just to watch, but to wonder.

The Return of the Explorer

As both Expedition Unknown and Expedition Files prepare to premiere, anticipation is running high. Viewers are eager to see which discoveries will join the show’s growing list of historical breakthroughs — and which mysteries will only deepen further.

Josh Gates, true to form, remains the guide through it all: part archaeologist, part storyteller, and part thrill-seeker. His adventures remind us that the world still holds secrets — in the deserts, under the waves, and buried in time.

So, mark your calendars:
Both series premiere Wednesday, November 5, on Discovery.
And this time, the unknown looks more extraordinary than ever.