In the Footsteps of Thesiger follows the incredible journeys made in 1940s by explorer Sir Wilfred Thesiger through the famously scorching Empty Quarter in the Arabian Peninsula.

British explorer, Adrian Hayes, along with Emiratis Saeed Rashid Al Mesafri and Ghafan Mohammed Al Jabri, braves the world’s largest sand desert, using the same method of navigating as Thesiger, relying on a handheld compass and time travelled. The group authentically recreate Thesiger’s trek, wearing traditional Arabic clothing, riding and walking with their camels for up to 12 hours every day for 44 days, the region’s famous Bedu hospitality occasionally supplementing a modest diet of dates, rice, flour and water.

The epic journey begins in lush tropical vegetation and continues a gruelling 1,600 km through the dry wadis and high dunes of The Empty Quarter to end as Thesiger did in Abu Dhabi.

With drama and genuine hardship and unveiling an unforgettable historical legacy, in this adventurous expedition the men face exhausting and arduous days under the constant Arabian sun, with temperatures hitting 45 degrees Celsius in the heat of the day.

The documentary is produced for the Abu Dhabi Media and Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage. The project is produced, directed and filmed  by Alexis Girardet and executive produced by Bridget Sneyd and Jonney Steven.