As a fan of the author, in particular Walking the Nile, I was looking forward to reading this book.

Levison Wood is a real-life explorer and photographer who travels around the world and has the most amazing adventures. His work has been featured all over the world including, National Geographic and Discovery Channel.
In this book you get to embark on a journey with him, this time in the Arabian Peninsula. This journey has been inspired by Lawrence of Arabia and Wilfred Thesiger. Unlike some of his previous trips he is not only walking, he sometimes needs to use a car, bus or boat.

The book starts in September 2017 in Northern Syria. Very close to Turkey which is in the midst of its own deadly war. The expedition is a 5,000-mile trek through this very dangerous region. The book takes us from Iraq to Kuwait, the coastlines of the Emiraters, civil war town Yemen and ends in Lebanon. All in all, 13 countries. The trip took place over six months and Wood writes about his run-ins with Hezbollah, ISIS and factions of al-Qaeda whilst trying to understand this captivating region.

The author writes in such a way that he tries to help you appreciate these beautiful but treacherous areas. He forms relationships along his trip and he also examines how the region has changed over thousands of years. I like the fact that you get to see a different side to the Middle East.

As with his previous books his once in a life time journey makes for fascinating reading. I look forward to his next great adventure.