While the journey begins with Bilbo leaving the Shire to join Thorin Oakenshield and his company, the ultimate goal is always the mountain. The adventure takes them through various perilous landscapes, including the Misty Mountains, the Goblin tunnels, Rivendell, Mirkwood Forest, and Lake-town, all leading to the final confrontation with Smaug the dragon and the eventual reclaiming of the treasure.