Life in adventure: Levison Wood

Lev is the Co-founder of Secret Compass, a cutting edge expedition service which provides ultimate adventures in some of the most remote parts of the world. This year he is leading some amazing expeditions around the world which are available to the public including a breathtaking trip to the source of the Oxus river in the Wakhan Corridor.

Lev has been travelling around the world for the past ten years. He first got a taste for adventure whilst hitchhiking around the Middle East, exploring the deserts of Iraq and Palestine. In 2004 he embarked on an epic solo overland journey from England to India, which included getting chased across the Caucasus by Russian Police, getting stranded in Iran with no money and being treated as the guest of honour by smugglers in Afghanistan.

Whilst serving in the Parachute Regiment, Lev saw active service on the battlefields of Southern Afghanistan as well as leading several large expeditions around the world. Since then Lev has worked for a charity, delivering ambulances to a hospital in Malawi, one of the poorest countries on earth, by driving them overland from London. He has travelled and worked in over 70 countries and is now a full-time expedition leader, writer and photographer. To join one of his pioneering expeditions visit www.secretcompass.com.

What kind of adventures do you love?

I enjoy visiting places with an interesting history and story behind the people who live there. My adventures have taken me to live and work with fascinating people as far afield as the jungles of Colombia, the deserts of Sudan and the mountains of Afghanistan. I love dispelling myths and finding out for myself the reality of places that get bad press: it usually turns out that they have some of the friendliest people of all By visiting the Wakhan Corridor in Afghanistan this summer I really want to show people that it is a safe and hospitable place, very removed from the troubles of the south.

What’s your perfect destination?

Somewhere with a great view, near to a beautiful river, lake or ocean, with a decent hill to climb and the opportunity to find out how the locals go about their daily lives. I think that is what travel is all about. My favourite places include Nepal, Afghanistan, Sudan and Mexico, where, for a short time, I have had the privilege to live with the local people.

What sports do you love?

Anything that involves a personal challenge and an element of risk: I have attempted most things, from boxing to bungee jumping (with varying degrees of success).

Who’s your adventure hero?

I have a couple; either the young Winston Churchill who combined a flair for writing and an insatiable desire to get into trouble, and a little-known adventurer called Fitzroy Maclean who led an incredible life in the 1930s and '40s.

You spent some time in the Army. How did that prepare you for a life in adventure?

I had wanted to join the army for as long as I could remember and graduating from Sandhurst as an Officer in the Parachute Regiment was one of the proudest moments of my life. The selection for the PARAs was tough but it taught me a lot about myself and gave me the confidence to give anything a go. In the army I got to organise and plan some great adventures and expeditions all around the world where I learnt a lot about risk mitigation and at the same time encouraging others to step into the unknown. The army teaches you a great deal about pushing yourself to the limit and it was also great fun.

What's your favourite book by an adventure athlete, explorer or traveller?

I have hundreds ,but probably A short walk in the Hindu Kush by Eric Newby, such an incredibly ‘English’ piece of writing and mandatory reading for anyone wishing to visit Afghanistan!

What’s the best piece of travel advice you’ve heard?

“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbour. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” Mark Twain

What’s the most extreme adventure you’ve had?

Trekking and hitchhiking across Afghanistan in 2004, part of an overland journey from the UK to India, which is the subject of a new book I am in the process of hoping to get published this year. Another reason why I am so excited to be returning to Northern Afghanistan on our Source of the Oxus expedition this summer.

What’s the best piece of kit you’ve invested in?

Good boots. Nothing else matters.

What adventure sports are you going to try next?

I want give rafting a go, somewhere exciting like Northern India or Venezuela as well as improve my diving, which is one reason I am running a Cenote diving trip in September to Mexico which is open to the more adventurous public.

What’s the one thing that would make your travels better?

A bigger passport.