Trans Al-Andalus: Bikepacking Through Centuries | Full Film

Two friends, four wheels, and one fiery sun. Trans Al-Andalus follows Adam Pawlikiewicz and Leo Brasil on an unforgettable bikepacking journey across Spain. What was planned as a two-wheeled exploration through the lens of the ancient Al-Andalus Empire, quickly becomes a fight for survival under the beating sun. During Spain’s hottest summer on record, the friends embark on a biking expedition that is as much about cultural immersion and problem-solving as it is about physical effort.

Read more on Adam and Leo’s journey across Spain here: https://rab.equipment/uk/basecamp/trans-al-andalus

Travel warning over excessive heat as tourists advise. Only leave hotel if necessary. Irish tourists in Spain are being warned of excessive heat with temperatures expected to rise above 40° C in some areas. We’ve already been riding in over 40°. This was absolutely [ __ ] horrendous. We were in the sun for 5 minutes from one AC to the next. I truly think this was the worst ride we had so far. [Music] This is Adam and this is Leo. And over the years, we’ve hiked our bikes across various mountain ranges. [ __ ] that. Holy [ __ ] This is not supposed to Okay, so we’re supposed to leave tomorrow. Uh, but I I’m guess I’m officially postponing our start by one day. So, we are going to try to hitchhike back to Laas because for the last 3 hours, we tried to fix this tire to no avail. We We even broke a tire lever. Adam should be eating, but I haven’t seen him eating and he has been going slow, so And for our next act, we decided to go to Madrid. Moved by curiosity and of course adventure, we developed a 2200 km bike packing route from the rugged northern Spain all the way to Terifa, the southernmost tip of the Iberian Peninsula through cities tipped in history tracing the echoes of the island. [Music] And then you have [Music] Hi. Hi, local. No, no licking the camera. Go forward. [Music] [Applause] Today was a wild day. We left climbing to foggy hills with cooler air, a welcome thing. Steep hiker bikes, thick mist, nothing in sight. We searched for a fuhill that didn’t exist. Finding only horses, goats, and endless fog. Then an hourong descent. No hostiles, just a bar. The nearest bed 25 km away ultra light now a cafe to close the deal. It’s like it’s like like sun sunbathing on the beach but uh on the side of the highway there’s even lumber support. Nice little massage for the back on the rock there, too. Mhm. I think we can find an egg right there. Growing up, history was the only subject in school wasn’t terrible at. I love diving into the past, learning how the world we know today was shaped by the people came before us. So, riding across Spain, passing through landmarks I had only read about felt surreal, like I was paddling through time. But this trip wasn’t just about history. It was about endurance and exploration. From day one, the heat was relentless. It forced us to adapt and change the way we traveled. Instead of camping, we found ourselves in hotels almost every night, taking long midday siestas just to avoid a heat stroke and eating the most amount of ice cream I have ever eat in my life. Uh, is now 6:22. It’s probably still hot as [ __ ] outside, but at least at least two hours to sunset, so you might see the sunset on the road. So, that’s going to be a first. [Music] And the water is hot. [ __ ] Okay, today we are hiking bikini to the largest Muslim stronghold in Europe built in the time of like medieval times and we’re hoping to kind of camp there tonight if possible. It’s open 24 hours, so it’s potentially poss uh called Gormaz, I believe, uh right at the base of it. So, we’ll see if we can stay there for the evening. Home for the night is one of the most historical spots that you can think of, but let me show you. Come in. Take your shoes off. I don’t want to get it dirty. Shoes off. And here’s our studio apartment. And we’re not planning on leaving. That’s been the tour of the uh Alandaloo Airbnb Airbnb. We’ll leave a review. Chowo chow choose [Music] [Laughter] [Music] They’re going to kick us out of this country. So, adventures never stop on this goddamn [ __ ] team. I busted my rear cog almost to the top of this climb, which is helpful, but it’s going to be like a single speed situation until this next town. And then we’ll problem solve from there. Leo’s doing the pedaling for both of us. Extra training cuz I can’t pedal. After 45 days, countless shots of espressos, and endless liters of aquarius, we made it to the coast of Tarifa. Curiosity drove us to cross to Morocco where we ditched the bikes for a few days and explored the country on our two feet. While there weren’t any dramatic crashes or wild mountain passes, we faced a different kind of challenge. Navigating Spain’s hottest summer on record right in the middle of peak tourist season. Spain may be highly developed, but we also discovered quiet countryside roads, warm communities, and a side of the country that most travelers overlook. As Latin Americans, it was powerful to connect with a part of our shared heritage, one that felt both distant and deeply familiar. [Music] best roll that’s been delivered cuz I’m [ __ ] ragged from the heat, man. here in Espa serving a customer version. Very cool. Looks arrow. Arrow and protected. Sick. Wear your wear your sun hat, kids. I had pull [ __ ]