Travelled aged 17yr with his father and uncle, merchants from Venice, in 1271 to see Kubla Khan in Peking. His father and uncle had already been there once, on a trip lasting 7 years, and were asked by the Khan to bring back learned men and oil from the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem. Arrived after 3 years, became envoys of the Khan, travelling the empire to bring back information about the peoples and cultures of the empire. Were not permitted to go home, but eventually allowed to accompany his daughter to Persia, where she was to be married. This return journey lasted 2yrs and unlike previous journeys overland, was done by ship via SE Asia including Sumatra and India. They finally arrived back in Venice 24 years after they had left.
Marco more famous than his companions because he co-wrote a book about his travels with a romance writer he supposedly met in prison. The originals have been lost, but various copies eg Bodleian, some fabulously illustrated. Seems to be aimed at entertainment initially rather than at education, some strange omissions eg Great Wall, tea, foot binding, chopsticks. Also rather scathing of “idolaters” ie Hindus, Buddhists and negative towards Islam.
 
From In Our Time (BBC Radio4)