In 1802, young Alexander von Humboldt led a scientific expedition to Chimborazo in Ecuador, which was thought to be the highest mountain in the world. At great risk to their lives, von Humboldt and his team—including French doctor and botanist Aimé Bonpland and local aristocrat Carlos Montúfar—carefully measure and document the flora, fauna, soil, rocks, water, and air. The expedition explores regions unknown to Europeans and survive snow, cold and the thin mountain air. But what fascinates von Humboldt the most are his encounters with the indigenous people of Ecuador; as he explores their culture and language, he comes to see German society in a new light. This West and East German co-production was partially filmed on location in Ecuador and involved a local film crew.