Promotional image for Season 2
Travel the World on EXO's Ladder (Korean: 사다리 타고 세계여행) is a travel variety show wherein the members of EXO take a vacation in different countries with a twist: they have to use the ladder game when faced with situations such as eating, choosing beds, and more.
The first season featured EXO-CBX going on a trip to Tottori, Japan, while the second season featured the eight Korean members in Kaohsiung and Kenting, Taiwan. The third season featured the five Korean members (sans Baekhyun, Chanyeol, and Chen who are doing their mandatory military service at the time) in Namhae, South Korea. The fourth season takes place in Geoje and Tongyeong, South Korea with seven members except Kai, who is doing his military service.
Travel the World on EXO's Ladder provides examples of the following tropes:
- All or Nothing: One of the outcomes of the ladder.
- Badass Adorable: In the last episode of the second season, where Xiumin, who was previously acting cute because of yaja time, does a performance with references to 100 Days My Prince, Dokgo, and shadowing boxer.
- Beach Episode: Chen and Chanyeol go to a beach for water activities.
- Big Brother Instinct: In the second season, Sehun got the whole room for himself after winning one of the ladder games. However, he's uncomfortable staying alone and tries to ask Chanyeol and Baekhyun to accompany him. Then, he goes to the living room and asks the older members to sleep with him. Suho volunteers to join him and eventually, accompanies him in the room for the whole season.
- Born Unlucky:
- Baekhyun. He is late in understanding the stamp-collecting competition rules and ends up alone in quiet streets, and later on, while Xiumin and Chen win GeGeGe no Kitarō bags from a lottery, he's the only one who gets a medama oyaji balloon - even after playing it twice.
- Chanyeol distresses over the fact that most of the ladders he chooses end up with a bad outcome.
- During the healing trip lunch, Kai loses the ladder, and loses again despite being given another chance, and loses again after declining the staff offering to give him hints. He then proceeds to play rock-paper-scissors... and he only won on the 10th try after playing with all the EXO members present and some of the staff members.
- Also during the healing trip lunch, Sehun also loses several rounds of rock-paper-scissors (only winning against Kai), therefore losing his chance for another meal and losing his allowance.
- One of the camera directors is noted for being bad at rock-paper-scissors, with CBX winning every round when they played against him. He eventually wins against Kai.
- Competition Freak:
- The passion duo, Chen and Chanyeol, but especially Chanyeol.
- In Season 3, D.O. and Kai are shown to be more competitive since Chen and Chanyeol were not present at that time due to being in military service.
- Fun with Acronyms: In Season 2, the two teams are named CDSK (Chen-D.O.-Suho-Kai) and "the new CBX" (Chanyeol-Baekhyun-Xiumin). Chen is not amused. Upon the addition of Sehun, the team becomes CBXS (Chanyeol-Baekhyun-Xiumin-Sehun).
- Gratuitous English: Suho's "shadowing boxer".
- Gratuitous Foreign Language: "Ni! Hao!"
- Hot Springs Episode: Xiumin, Suho, Baekhyun, D.O., Kai, and Sehun go to a famous hot springs for healing time.
- In-Series Nickname: The nicknames from the nickname game the members play in the bus actually stick with the staff until the end of the trip.
- Xiumin is "Dog Poop" (by D.O.) and "Nose Hair" (by Baekhyun).
- Suho is "Choco Pie Poop" (by Baekhyun) and "Woodcarving" (by Kai).
- Baekhyun is "Pervert"note (by Xiumin) and "Mosquito" (by Suho).
- Chen is "Siheung Park Public Toilet" (by Chanyeol) and "1004"note (by D.O.).
- Chanyeol is "Yes, Hyungnim" (by Kai) and "Of course~" (by Chen).
- D.O. is "180" (by Chen) and "Big Pebble) (by Xiumin).
- Kai is "Moldy Socks" (by Kai) and "What Are You Looking At, Look Down" (by Chanyeol).
- Serious Business: The games that the members play while travelling or while resting, especially the "frying pan game".
