Having seen both Long Way Round and Long Way Down in various incarnations I have to wonder why they bothered. If the idea of an adventure around the world on a motorbike is unthinkable without a support crew and a cameraman to record it, then I must be missing something.

In Long Way Round they meet up with Ted Simon - who McGregor claims was the inspiration for the trip. There they were, loaded up with free bikes, more kit than they could carry, support staff and minders at every corner, and still finding it hard going... all the while gushing at the resilience and fortitude of Simon - the quintessential traveller who always got by with a rickety bike and meagre provisions. The crushing irony seemed lost on them.

Having read both Ted Simon's biking books I can quite confidently say there is more magic, more adventure, more romance, more balls even, in his description of the simple act of making a cup of tea under a starry African sky. He was all alone, had no idea what tomorrow would bring or how long his bike would last. No ego, no tv camera, just self-reliance and guts. Now THAT is adventure. These two jokers make movies, and this series is nothing more than that: two jokers making a movie.

It was really interesting to see how the pair prepared for their trip, and how even with the level of preparation they did there were still pitfalls and problems along the way. I was really pleased that they left those in and didn't end up with some romaticised selection of clips. It was an honest and very amusing and at times touching account of not only their journey but also the people they met along the way.

Ive never seen anything more laughable. This series is a joke. One episode begin by saying, "apart from two trucks and a camera crew we're on our own". What follows is the most luxurious bikered ever undertaken, let alone filmed.
The dialogue is so sparse, you are lucky if you get one sentance per country riden though. The stars so uncommunicative that my pet cat speaks to me more.
The trip so unadventurous, that Ive been more excited going to the suypermarket.
Far from being an adventure of a lifetime, this is a trip to forget. As soon as possible.

This was my favourite programme on t.v. What more could you want...action, emotion and drama. Charlie and Ewan deliver this exeptional documentry and is not to be missed. Their book is just as good!!! 10/10

It's not often an actor will try something truely risky, but McGregor and Boorman do here.

The original plan "bike round the world", which in turn became a 10 part tv series.

McGregor put his Hollywood career on hold for 12 months to plan an intiate this road trip and risked life and limb. Many people talk about grand plans for adventures, these guys do it.

The 10 episodes are truely inspiring from start to end.