British explorer Alice Morrison, the first woman to walk the length of Morocco's Draa River, is embarking on a new challenge: traversing Saudi Arabia on foot. Accompanied by camels and local guides, Morrison aims to cover 2,500 kilometers over approximately five months, journeying through deserts and mountains.
"It's a huge adventure," Morrison shared during a Zoom interview with CNN Travel. Dubbed the 'Indiana Jones of girls,' she walks about 25 kilometers a day. "I seek challenges, knowledge, and connection," she explains, expressing her desire to inspire others.
Fluent in Arabic, Morrison previously served as the CEO of a media development company until 2011. A series of life events led her to leave her job and gradually embrace the life of an explorer. After participating in the Tour d'Afrique, a 12,000-kilometer cycling race across Africa, she tackled the Marathon des Sables, known as 'the toughest race on Earth.'
Although she admits she was never athletic, Morrison has always had a spirit of adventure, often choosing unusual vacations like mountain biking in Guatemala and ice climbing in Peru. "It's really strange because I'm not exactly an athlete. But I love adventure and I love being outdoors," she states.
Morrison's exploration of Saudi Arabia was inspired by a book, 'Arabian Sands' by Wilfred Thesiger, gifted to her by her father when she was 11. What once seemed like an impossible dream became feasible when the country opened to tourists in 2019.
Determined to make her childhood dream a reality, Morrison sought sponsors to fund her epic journey and consulted with local experts to establish a route. Considering the extreme heat and the timing of Ramadan, she divided her journey into two phases. She acknowledges facing physical challenges at times, but the warmth of the people overwhelms her. Some stop their cars to offer her water and snacks, while others host celebrations in villages to honor her arrival.
"I find Saudi Arabia absolutely fascinating. The landscape is incredible and very diverse," summarizes this modern explorer.