Beginning in Afghanistan and trekking 1700 gruelling miles across the roof of the world, Levison will be travelling through some of the most remote, beautiful, and perilous places on earth, teaming up with local guides and meeting soldiers, monks and nomadic tribes as he tries to complete his challenge.

The show will see Levison push himself to his physical limits as he is forced through remote, punishing terrain and altitudes above 5000m where he suffers from a debilitating lack of oxygen. As well as battling natural obstacles, he has to tread carefully through one of the most fought-over areas of the world – walking through Afghanistan, crossing the Line of Control between Pakistan and India, navigating the disputed territory of Kashmir and making his way through Nepal as it recovers and tries to rebuild itself after the recent earthquakes.

The series is adventure journalism at its most raw and authentic, but with that comes danger. Last week, Levison and his friend and guide, Binod Pariyar, were involved in a serious car accident in rural Nepal, when the taxi taking them back to their overnight accommodation crashed off the road, leaving Lev with a severely broken arm.. The two met on Levison’s first trip to Nepal back in 2001, when Binod saved him from the fighting that surrounded that year’s political upheavals, and they were reunited on this journey. Once they’ve recuperated, they plan to resume the walk together.

In a journey of some four million steps, Levison has also had a chance to meet other local people face to face and at their pace. Relying on their hospitality to make it to his next destination has given him a chance to understand the Himalayan way of life as he’s been yak-herding with the Wakhi tribe, played Buzkashi with the Kyrgyz, eaten sheep eyeballs and met blood-drinking shamans, separatist fighters and people rebuilding their lives after natural disasters.

Channel: Channel 4