The Slow Road to Tehran: A Revelatory Bike Ride (Paperback)

In 2015, as the Syrian war raged and headlines were filled with fear and confusion, journalist Rebecca Lowe climbed onto her bike and pedalled straight into the heart of the Middle East. What followed was an 11,000‑kilometre ride through Europe, Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan, Egypt, Sudan, the Gulf and Iran — a journey that would challenge everything she thought she knew.
Armed with curiosity, a stubborn streak and a bike that definitely wasn’t built for glamour, Lowe battled deserts, mountains, police states, freezing nights and blistering heat ranging from –6°C to 48°C. She patched endless punctures, dodged bureaucracy, and relied almost entirely on the kindness of strangers — farmers, refugees, families, students, villagers and city dwellers who opened their doors and reshaped her understanding of the region.
What she found was a Middle East far richer, funnier, more complicated and more human than the one portrayed on the nightly news. Her writing blends deep research with sharp wit, vivid storytelling and a knack for finding joy in the most unlikely places. It’s a travelogue full of history, politics, mishaps and moments of pure generosity.
Sir Ranulph Fiennes calls it “terrific… bursting with humour, adventure and insight” — and he’s right. This is a journey that will change how you see the world.