In 2022, I cycled solo through the Middle East, from the shores of the Mediterranean Sea to the heart of Saudi Arabia. The goal was to document stories along the way; to meet people in the places I was cycling through and understand the cultures, histories, and conflicts that shape this region.

I'd cross deserts, mountains, and a military occupation on a 6-month journey that would take me through Israel, Palestine, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia.

This would be the most extreme and eye-opening cycle tour I'd ever attempted, but travelling by bike through the Middle East would give me a glimpse of an often misunderstood, or misrepresented (for better and worse) part of the world. Whether I was meeting locals fasting for Ramadan in Saudi Arabia, or Palestinian peace activists in the West Bank, I'd learn about everything from religious holidays, to the Israel-Palestine conflict.

The route would begin in Israel, before taking me through the occupied Palestinian territories and across to Jordan. I'd cycle the Jordan Valley South to the Saudi border, and attempt to cross the vast Arabian Desert to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia's capital. Bike touring through the desert would present it's own set of challenges, with extremely harsh conditions as well as regional instability, but it was also a chance to learn about one of the most geopolitically, religiously, and culturally important regions on the planet.

Tieran Meets the World: Season 3 was filmed one year before the Israel-Gaza war.

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