Words Tabatha Golat
Some travel shows make you wish you were there. Long Way Home makes you feel like you already are, riding alongside Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman on their 50-year-old motorbikes as they explore Europe. Available on Apple TV+, this 10-episode travel documentary series blends breathtaking scenery with a glimpse into the beautiful friendship these two actors have shared for decades.
Over the past 20 years, best friends Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman have invited audiences to share in their real world adventures. First came Long Way Round in 2004, a motorcycle journey from London to New York via Europe and Asia. Then Long Way Down in 2007, travelling from Scotland to South Africa. In 2020, they reunited for Long Way Up, riding from the southern tip of Argentina to Los Angeles on electric motorcycles. Each series offered a mix of beautiful landscapes and cultural encounters.
Their latest instalment, Long Way Home, explores the beauty of Europe while carrying the same spirit of connection. This Emmy Award-nominated documentary series follows Ewan and Charley as they travel across Europe on run-down motorcycles, weaving through cities, countryside, and remote landscapes. Along the way, they reconnect with each other and meet people whose stories and traditions are as memorable as the scenery.
What makes Long Way Home stand out is that it is not just a travelogue: it’s a friendship story. Ewan and Charley, now older and wiser (and maybe a little more sore), radiate the same warmth that won fans over 20 years ago. Their respect for the cultures they encounter is genuine, and their curiosity is infectious.
Visually, the series is stunning. Sweeping drone shots showcase everything from busy cityscapes to wild coastlines. The mix of professional camerawork and personal diary-style footage keeps things intimate, as if you’re on the road with them. You don’t need to have seen the previous Long Way series to enjoy Long Way Home, but if you have, it’ll feel like catching up with old friends.
For me, the most compelling part is how openly they care for each other. In media, female friendships are often highlighted, but male friendships like theirs, built on kindness, vulnerability, and deep affection, are rarely shown with such honesty. Their joy in simple pleasures, willingness to try new things, and shared sense of wonder make the series as heartwarming as it is inspiring.
If you enjoy Long Way Home, you might also like:
1) Long Way Up, Apple TV+
2) Departures, Netflix
3) Somebody Feed Phil, Netflix
4) The Kindness Diaries, Prime
5) Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown, Prime
