Reza Pakravan: During the expeditions, there is no such thing as a typical day

Reza is a remarkable man. Now a full-time explorer and filmmaker, he is proof that someone can forge a life of adventure and leave the pressures of city life behind. The past few years have seen Reza cycle the length of the planet, adding to his long list of captivating adventures and documentaries.

Expedition Preparation

Whether it is hiking along mountainous trails or cycling 100 miles, it’s safe to say that much of Reza’s adventures are physically demanding in nature. For him, it all starts with getting into the right frame of mind.

“I set my eyes on a target. Then I establish what steps I need to take to hit that target. For example, my last expedition required a huge amount of time hiking or climbing whilst carrying a heavy rucksack including camera gear. I knew I would have to hike for 15/20 miles on average, so that was my target. Then I started slowly introducing long-distance hiking with a heavy rucksack into my everyday life.”

Reza’s formula for making progress in preparation it is about gradually adapting your routine and spotting opportunities to train amongst life’s errands. Instead of commuting via car or train to get to a meeting, Reza sees this as a chance to train and make the most out of this daily task.

“My rules are to always start slow, to gradually increase the distance, and to do it every day. I use any spare minutes working on my core muscles. In the evening, rather than sitting on the sofa watching TV, I get into a plank position and do the same.”

Regarding nutrition, Reza brings the same formula of adapting and making the best of a given situation.

“I try to eat a balanced diet. I don’t do heavy-protein diets. I eat based on what I have to do next. If I am about to do 100 miles of cycling, I will load up on carbs. If I am recovering, I have more protein. No matter what, I always have loads of veg. During the expeditions, I have to eat whatever I can find. I don’t have much choice, as I am travelling in remote places.

“I have to say that, in recent months after watching David Attenborough’s film, I have started to gently shift my diet towards more plant-based foods and I really like it.”

Through the mountains of Nepal

A decade ago Reza traversed the Annapurna Circuit on a mountain bike. An expedition taking him through the mountains of Nepal, an incomparable area of beauty yet fraught with danger.

“Altitude was a killer. It was really hard to breathe. I was getting tired so quickly.”

Rough terrain made it near enough impossible to cycle the entire route, resulting in Reza carrying his bike over the shoulders more times than he had hoped for. The narrow paths that drape upon this unforgiving part of the world meant that one simple mistake could have cost Reza his life.

Despite the dangers, Reza found a sense of liberation amid the isolation of the mountains.

“Being in the mountains is a humbling experience – they are always bigger than me and make me feel small.”

During the journey, Maoists had brought turbulence to the area, with seven days of protests and strikes. “I had the roads all to myself. There was not a single soul on them. Finding food and supplies was difficult because all the shops were closed, but it was amazing to see how the wonderful Nepalese people helped me however they could.”

It didn’t stop after this journey. Reza wants to carry out future trips in these mountains as there is so much to discover. “I want to cycle the length of the Himalayas from India to China”. A personal ambition of his.

A structured way of travelling

Everyone has their way of travelling; I ask Reza if he’s methodical during the planning and duration of an expedition. For him, it’s about striking a balance between flexibility and rigorous planning.

“I always bring an open mind and flexibility. I am a very methodical planner. I plan and prepare to the max. In the places that I travel and the things that I do, the stakes are quite high. There is so much risk involved. Things go wrong that I am not in control of, but I need to make sure I can manage the risk that I am in control of.”

The Amazon Journey

Travelling 4,000 miles across the Amazon rainforest. A feat of endurance only a select few have accomplished and Reza is one of them. Along with adventurer Pip Stewart, Reza undertook this challenge in 2016 to shine a spotlight on the vulnerability of this forest.

“It was about investigating the perils faced by the Amazon, and to document the lives of those who call it their home.”

Loggers, gold miners and cattle ranchers, the list could go on. This area of the world remains troubled by many. Reza aimed to document the impact of outside forces on those who call this forest, home.

Ultimately, it is the lives of indigenous people, who suffer. Cycling through the Amazon is no simple task. Making their way along the Transamazonian Highway, Reza and Pip had to adapt to whatever was in front of them.

“When it wasn’t raining, it was hard gravel. When it was raining, it turned to a sticky mud and we just had to push our bikes rather than cycle them.”

Visiting various Amazonian tribes, like the Tembe and the Munduruku, the pair highlighted the tragic situation facing indigenous peoples.

“I could write a whole book about this. Someone has to stop it. Cattle ranchers are cutting down the primary forest to create more land for their cattle. They clear swathes of the rainforest from indigenous lands. Gold miners are polluting the rivers with mercury, cutting down trees and leaving a mess behind. Indigenous people who live a sustainable life find it more and more difficult to continue their traditional lifestyles. Their resources, their way of life and future are under threat.”

Reza’s new TV series, The World’s Most Dangerous Borders, is available now on Amazon Prime.