Take a Long Trip with the “Long Way” Trilogy

We’re almost at the one-year mark of this pandemic. Meaning, people haven’t been able to travel for almost a year (or at least they shouldn’t be). But just because we can’t physically travel doesn’t mean we can’t travel through our screens. However, when we travel via our television or social media, we’re usually only seeing one place at a time and then searching and scanning for the next place to “visit”.

But I have the perfect option for you that allows you to travel pretty much everywhere in the world by watching just three series.

The “Long Way” trilogy, as I am so lovingly calling it, follows actors Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman on three separate trips across the world. They ride on motorcycles throughout all three series primarily on their own and are followed by a crew filming and helping along the way. McGregor and Boorman both have cameras in their helmets giving you an unprecedented look at all the countries they travel through.

The first series Long Way Round (2004) follows McGregor and Boorman as they travel from London to New York. In this series, they passed through twelve countries including the UK, France, Belgium, Germany, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Ukraine, Russia, Kazakhstan, Mongolia Canada, and the US.

In the next series Long Way Down (2007) the boys traveled from Scotland to Cape Town, South Africa. They traveled through eighteen countries including, France, Italy, Tunisia, Libya, Egypt, Sudan, Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia, Namibia, Botswana, and Cape Town.

In the last series Long Way Up (2020) the boys travel from Ushuaia, Argentina to Los Angeles. They traveled through thirteen countries including Argentina, Chile, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Columbia, Panama, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras, Guatemala, Mexico, and the US. On this trip they also used electric motorcycles and electric trucks to reduce their carbon footprint on the trip, teaming up with many new companies and innovating new ways to travel in an Earth-conscious way.

These three series are great not only because both McGregor and Boorman are hilarious people who even in the toughest traveling conditions find the bright side and still make it enjoyable, but because the two of them traveling on motorcycles allows the audience to truly experience these countries and not just in a touristy way. They aren’t two celebrities who expect a five-star hotel everywhere and want special treatment. They do these trips to truly understand the world and the way different cultures live. This also means that most of the time you’re not getting a Hollywood version of what these countries look like. You see the real and gritty side along with the beautiful parts.

So, if you’re longing for a trip, I would watch all three “Long Way” series. You’ll not only see more countries than you could imagine in one sitting, but you’ll also get to see how the locals truly live and what makes each country unique. It’s also a great education in learning that we are all the same no matter where we come from, a lesson I think we could all use right now.

I hope you enjoy your mini-break from your own little world and love the laughter, education, and beauty, these series have to offer you. You can now watch all three series on AppleTV+. Happy Watching!