For Alex, who missed out on the backpacking escapades his friends enjoyed in their twenties, it's a chance to make up for lost time, while for self-confessed ‘pathetic driver' Ellie it's a chance to stretch herself with a brand new challenge.
Taking the wheel on the first morning, a confident Alex sets out from the town of Bandung – but by the end of the day, a combination of steep mountain tracks and horn-honking locals have left his nerves in shreds. He won't drive again for nearly two days.
As their quest gathers pace, our intrepid duo brave terrifying roads, perilous river crossings, and high-altitude plateaus where sulphurous springs spew forth noxious fumes that leave them gagging. But it's the climax of their adventure that packs the biggest punch. Alex and Ellie's final challenge sees them tackle the ascent of Indonesia's most active volcano, Mount Merapi – a dangerous undertaking, with a truly terrifying sting in the tail.
