Ewan and Charley To Begin Filming ‘Long Way Up’ Soon!

New trip details revealed for the long-awaited 'Long Way Down' sequel.

Published on 06.19.2019

Fifteen years ago, Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman set off on their around the world motorcycle journey – Long Way Round. Three years later we saw them chasing their shadows again in the Long Way Down. The duo’s adventures have become iconic since then, inspiring countless overland journeys for others.

Now after more than a decade since their last documentary series, Charley Boorman has confirmed that filming of the long-awaited sequel named “The Long Way Up” will begin soon. And contrary to rumors, McGregor is also going along for the ride!

Charley affirmed in a recent video interview by the Bike Shed in London, “I’m doing the Long way up for sure, with Ewan.” Route details have not been announced yet but the journey will start in South America and continue North. “So we are going from South America to Los Angeles. So South America, Central America, Mexico and then Los Angeles and we are going to start that in a few months time.”

To add to the suspense, Charley hints at there being more to the upcoming adventure. “We got a few little surprises. We are not going to do it traditionally so there is going to be a little twist,” he added.

What machine they’ll use this time is still a guess. Ewan and Charley used the BMW R1150GS Adventure for the “Long Way Round” and the R1200GS Adventure for the “Long Way Down” sequel. However, Charley is currently brand ambassador for Triumph and Ewan for Moto Guzzi, which recently launched the new V85 TT adventure bike.

The Americas will surely bring the duos adventures full circle. It will be interesting to see how they will deal with natural obstacles along the way, like the infamous Darien Gap. For now Charley jokes, “We’ll have done the world then. Then we’ll just have to go into space or something.”

 43 Comments Tags: Charley Boorman, Ewan McGregor, Long Way Down, Long Way Round, Long Way Up

Author: ADV Pulse Staff

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43 thoughts on “Ewan and Charley To Begin Filming ‘Long Way Up’ Soon!”

Michelle on June 19, 2019 at 2:56 pm said:

What happened to going up to Alaska??? I live in the Pacific Northwest and was selfishly hoping they would pass through…….. LA? ugh……..

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- Michael T Barnes on June 21, 2019 at 12:24 pm said:
  
  They did Alaska in Long Way Around, and Ewan lives in LA now, so stopping there makes sense.
  
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- Nancy on June 23, 2019 at 12:30 pm said:
  
  Should be called Long Way Mostly Up then. In Nor-Cal here and they are missing out on the Nevada high desert by cutting it short. I could see not going to Alaska, but they are missing an entire section of the Pacific Northwest.
  
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Chris on June 19, 2019 at 6:08 pm said:

I’m hoping Hulu or Netflix pick it up so I can watch. Loved the first two!

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Stephen on June 19, 2019 at 8:40 pm said:

Yeah, I am hoping they will do the full monty to Tuk or Prudoe Bay. Hopefully it will be as raw as the first one and tries to capture the trials and tribulations of a difficult adventure. I really enjoyed that. The second seemed too soft and didn’t have the same edge, spoiled by the excessive support team and personality conflicts.

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wordpressnielstest on June 20, 2019 at 11:02 am said:

Hmmm, Charlie’s getting a bit chunky, will probably need the 2300cc Rocket III – not sure the Tiger 1200 will be up to the job… 😉

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Yoshiaki Osako on June 20, 2019 at 3:54 pm said:

I went around the world in 1968 without sponsor and I think it not advernture.If one has money and time can do it easily.

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- Steve Neitzke on September 1, 2019 at 10:17 pm said:
  
  Yeah, but you’re not Ewan. Nuff said.
  
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- Stewie McLean on September 16, 2021 at 10:29 pm said:
  
  Agree
  
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Simon Foster on June 21, 2019 at 6:23 am said:

Really interested to see what bikes they will use, maybe neutral ground, the Yamaha Tenere 700!

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Derek on June 21, 2019 at 7:22 am said:

They should go to Tuktoyaktut now that the road goes through. And who wouldn’t want to see them take the sour toe cocktail challenge in Dawson City!

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- usamedic on June 21, 2019 at 10:29 pm said:
  
  Should use the KTM 790’s, and leave 75% of their junk behind
  
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  - Steve Neitzke on September 1, 2019 at 10:20 pm said:
    
    How many miles have you eaten up on highways with that bike. Great off road, but on road? #curious
    
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- Jim Brandeau on June 26, 2019 at 2:57 pm said:
  
  Hell I did that on my Goldwing…. And will be back up there in first two weeks of Aug 2019.
  
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alouette3 on June 22, 2019 at 3:04 pm said:

actors, actors, actors meh…. hopefully the 3rd “missing mention” rider, Claudio Von Planta (the creative master who rode and filmed them on LWR & LWD and made it great) gets equal credit from fellow journalists…

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- Jim Brandeau on June 26, 2019 at 2:55 pm said:
  
  Agreed! He rode twice as far back and forth getting shots. In my book he get’s more credit!
  
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Jim Brandeau on June 26, 2019 at 2:51 pm said:

In my Opinion! They never made it the “Long way Around’ If they had done it right they would have ended up at Cape Spear Newfoundland by way of the Trans-Labrador Highway, One of the best adventure highways in Canada. By stopping in New York they missed the mark of making it a true round the world ride. There is a lot of world and adventure between New York and Cape Spear Newfoundland… Damm wish i had their money. I have been lucky enough to have rode from Cape Spear to Vancouver then down to LA across to Key West and back. Have covered every State and province in North America by Motorbike…. Never had a crew or video guys cover it though..

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- John monroe on June 26, 2019 at 4:17 pm said:
  
  The way they travelled with all their support team is about as real as reality TV. They travel like a pair of pu$$!es.
  
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  - Pete Miller on July 31, 2019 at 9:04 am said:
    
    Dont be so condenscending. A good support team adds to the fun.
    
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- James McLauchlan on June 27, 2019 at 12:31 am said:
  
  It’s more about what sells on TV rather than achievement In my honest opinion.
  Don’t want to make it too tough or the support vehicles wont make it!
  
  That being said, what they have done/are doing really wakes the world up to ADV, which cant be a bad thing.
  
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  - Jim Brandeau on June 27, 2019 at 9:06 am said:
    
    Yes I do love the concept of travel by motorcycle all over the world. They do spark interest in riding any kind of riding. which is a good thing. Most of mine is on a touring Goldwing with a car tire on the rear and many time I have met guys out on a dirt road in the middle of nowhere all set up like Evan and Charley, They always ask me if I’m lost…. LOL I have yet to break down and on the way to Tuktoyaktut I stopped and helped a Vstrom fix his chain. I also have a 2016 650 Vstrom for trails. No I don’t do “trails” on my wing but have traveled many dirt weed grown old roads on it.
    
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- william wilson on July 13, 2019 at 6:37 am said:
  
  thank god you had time to tell us all about your big adventures, I forgot all about the article …you say you never had a crowd witness it , but you want to make sure you tell us about it ?
  
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  - Jim Brandeau on July 14, 2019 at 4:09 pm said:
    
    Sorry if you think 2 really rich guys with 20 crew helping is a Adventure….. Yes i proud of my travels…… Alone….Do you even ride??? I have a feeling you don’t. Keep watching TV and never leave the house……
    
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James McLauchlan on June 27, 2019 at 12:25 am said:

Missing out a chunk of the USA and Canada.
Not exactly the long way up! Maybe longish way partially up?

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Justin Hamilton on June 27, 2019 at 2:07 am said:

I’m looking forward to the sequel. I discovered the concept from finding their series on Netflix. Since then I’ve discovered so many great books and videos about traveling! Perhaps they’ll go north the Canadian border before running down the pacific coast to LA???

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Jason Costall on June 27, 2019 at 11:47 am said:

I hope they have fun thats what its all about, meeting people and see the world is the best for any soul!!! Three friends and I are half way across Russia and it’s been a blast, finishing it starting next week….

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Nigel Thompson on June 28, 2019 at 2:32 pm said:

Along with an army of support vehicles……

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RobG on July 4, 2019 at 6:43 pm said:

I just hope this one is more about the ride and not about the various cities.. all touristy crap. I only watched the first one because of that… and because Charlie spent a lot of time showing off on his bike. As for bikes, they should each ride the ones they’re sponsored by.

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- Steven on July 9, 2019 at 6:15 am said:
  
  Than they can have an extra two trucks to follow with a team of ducati mechanics and triumph mechanics. And a plethora of parts so all challenges will be avoided. With any luck, they will see the folly in adventure when you have a train of support vehicles to stifle any hopes of a challenge.
  
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Kim on July 9, 2019 at 8:43 pm said:

It is not a long way up if you don’t hit Alaska 🙂 did the long way up from South Africa to Norway and from Usuhia to Anchorage and I’m a small girl who didn’t have their technical ability or a crew following behind. They should rough it up a bit, I’d be curious to see how they manage – that would make for a good Netflix show then!

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- Rich on July 11, 2019 at 11:48 pm said:
  
  I literally just returned this evening from the Denali Hwy etc,finished most of the rides before the smoke took over,I had talked to Helge Pedersen early in the year about doing it on a smaller one and did it on a GS 650
  
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  - Jim Brandeau on August 1, 2019 at 7:05 pm said:
    
    Rained yesterday and the day before so put most of the smoke down. Just mud to deal with.
    
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- Zelda Bean on August 1, 2019 at 7:37 am said:
  
  Love your adventures! Great routes!
  
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dcooper on August 1, 2019 at 8:25 am said:

Given the boost BMW got from LWR, I suspect MC companies are lining up to pay THEM for riding their bikes. KTM blew it BIG TIME on the first series.

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Mister CC on August 17, 2019 at 9:57 pm said:

Itchy Boots (Noraly from Holland) is doing a great job going from India to Holland right now on YouTube on a Royal Enfield Himalayan. No sponsors, no support crew. As good as Long Way Round in my opinion.

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- Widowmaker2011 on August 18, 2019 at 5:01 pm said:
  
  On a $4700 motorcycle by herself. I’m addicted to her YouTube videos and it made me buy a Himalayan .
  
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edward jones on August 18, 2019 at 5:00 pm said:

For the people bitching about a support crew…you do understand that they are shooting a cinema quality documentary series for the purpose of entertainment programming right?
Quite a bit more involved than a guy following them with a handful of Gopro’s there is alot of red tape and insurance requirements involved such as a medical crew, a fixer crew, a logistics crew… at that level its quite involved actually

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- Frank on January 30, 2020 at 8:40 am said:
  
  Thank you, finally someone that thinks outside of their own “tough” truth
  
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Rupert Paul Utley on August 26, 2019 at 10:39 pm said:

Interested in the bikes… Would be keen to see Moto Guzzi or Triumph Scrambler

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Mark on August 27, 2019 at 5:30 pm said:

It is always nice to see an Moto related adventure offered to the public. But what came first left or right foot. But in the end it is about enjoyment for those that ride. 0 MONDO ENDURO and TERRA CERCA made the mark for the ” Around Guys” Ewan and Charley to follow. Yes, they tried to do it right with an adventure Moto, but KTM wisely declined. They had a great script idea, but not well planned other than from a movie point of view. The result was a whole new vision for those not knowledgeable about Moto possibilities and interests. If anything, the industry missed the point that people wanted adventure in their life. Unfortunately, the interpretation became a marketing image equal to only Harley Davidson. Thus creating big bucks out of nothing for one MFR, which was followed and copied by other MFRs. The trend has continued to follow this path. But, there are still true ADVENTURE RIDERS RIDING TRUE ADVENTURE MOTOS out there! I see hope in a couple new true adventure Motos in the offering….

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jeshua on September 1, 2019 at 9:29 am said:

Looks like they will be doing this on Harley’s Livewire with two electric trucks from Rivan.

https://autoblog.com.ar/2019/08/31/rivian-rt1-y-harley-davidson-livewire-en-ushuaia-dos-pick-ups-y-cuatro-motos-haran-una-travesia-electrica-por-toda-america/

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Steve Neitzke on September 1, 2019 at 10:15 pm said:

Love Ewan’s choice. Love this new bike and can’t wait for this.

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