Levison Wood is one of the world’s most well-known explorers, TV presenters and authors. Join him for a 5,000-mile journey through the heart of the Middle East, from the front lines of Iraq and Syria through the Empty Quarter desert to Yemen, the West Bank and beyond. 13 countries in five months, his most complicated and dangerous expedition yet.

Following in the footsteps of great explorers such as Lawrence of Arabia and Wilfred Thesiger, we will pass through some of the most devastated and war-torn areas on the planet, but also some of the most fascinating and historic too. We will peel back our preconceptions and discover a hidden side to the Middle East, beyond the headlines and politics. This is the real Arabia, a mosaic of the best and worst of humanity, a quest to better understand the region and, perhaps, ourselves.

Highlights include:

·   Hear how one totally random chance event changed his life and led him to become one of the world’s most famous explorers

·    Hitchhiking to Baghdad during the Gulf war – hear the story of Levison’s first and craziest ever adventure as a young university student

·   Follow him to the front line, as he embeds with Kurdish fighters in Iraq, liberating ISIS held cities 

·   Discover the Mesopotamian Marshes, the jewel of southern Iraq, where one of the most ancient cultures in the world is slowly rebuilding their lives

·    Cross the Empty Quarter desert on foot, 10-days through one of the harshest environments on the planet

·   Sneak into Yemen and cross over into Somalia by fishing boat, through the most pirate infested waters on Earth

·   Explore Jerusalem, and the West Bank, joining a demonstration that turns into a riot

 “This is a story of my own wanderings set against a backdrop of interesting times. I have tried to challenge the prevailing winds where possible and contest stereotypes, hopefully smashing a few myths along the way.”  - Levison Wood

Who’s the Guest?

Levison Wood is a British explorer, writer and photographer. He's written seven best-selling books, presented and produced some of the best travel and adventure documentaries out there, and done some quite simply incredible expeditions. Highlights include, walking the 4,250-mile length of the Nile River, trekking 1,700-miles across the Himalayas, and following in the footsteps of the annual migration of African elephants through Botswana, in order to raise awareness of the plight of these critically endangered animals. His latest book is Encounters, a beautiful hardback photography book which documents the last 15 years of his adventures. To buy these, or find more, please visit: https://www.amazon.com/Levison-Wood/e/B00QXKKPTC%3Fref=dbs_a_mng_rwt_scns_share 

Instagram:@levison.wood / Facebook: @levisonwoodofficial / Twitter: @levisonwood www.levisonwood.com

Armchair Explorer

The Armchair Explorer podcast is adventure storytelling set to music and cinematic effects. Each episode one of the world's greatest adventurers tell their best story from the road. To find more about this episode, including background info, photos, and videos, please visit: https://www.armchair-explorer.com/post/arabia-a-5-000-mile-journey-through-the-heart-of-the-middle-east-with-explorer-levison-wood

"Best travel podcasts 2020: Every episode is an immersive experience" - The Guardian

"Best podcasts for pure escapism: It’s thrilling stuff." - Sunday Times

"Finalist: Best Overal Podcast 2020" - DiscoverPods Awards

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices