Heart of Arabia expedition team arrive in Riyadh after two weeks in the desert - in pictures

  • The Heart of Arabia team travels across the Saudi desert on camels. All photos unless stated: Ana-Maria Pavalache / Heart of Arabia expedition
    The Heart of Arabia team travels across the Saudi desert on camels. All photos unless stated: Ana-Maria Pavalache / Heart of Arabia expedition
  • The team - Alan Morrissey, Reem Philby, Mark Evans and Ana-Maria Pavalache. Photo: Osama Farhan / British Embassy Riyadh
    The team - Alan Morrissey, Reem Philby, Mark Evans and Ana-Maria Pavalache. Photo: Osama Farhan / British Embassy Riyadh
  • The team at the starting point of their expedition in Uqair, on the shores of the Gulf
    The team at the starting point of their expedition in Uqair, on the shores of the Gulf
  • The Heart of Arabia team at the historical fort in Uqair
    The Heart of Arabia team at the historical fort in Uqair
  • The team are greeted with hospitality in Uqair, at the beginning of the trip
    The team are greeted with hospitality in Uqair, at the beginning of the trip
  • Alan Morrissey, Mark Evans and Reem Philby walk across the sand
    Alan Morrissey, Mark Evans and Reem Philby walk across the sand
  • A comparison of the Ibrahim Pasha Mosque in Hofuf, now and in 1917, taken by Harry St John Philby in 1917
    A comparison of the Ibrahim Pasha Mosque in Hofuf, now and in 1917, taken by Harry St John Philby in 1917
  • The team read by torch-light at night
    The team read by torch-light at night
  • Harry St John Philby on his 1917 trek across the Arabian Peninsula, which he recorded in his 1922 book 'Heart of Arabia'
    Harry St John Philby on his 1917 trek across the Arabian Peninsula, which he recorded in his 1922 book 'Heart of Arabia'
  • Mark Evans and Reem Philby ride camels on the Heart of Arabia expedition
    Mark Evans and Reem Philby ride camels on the Heart of Arabia expedition
  • Alan Morrissey, Mark Evans, and Reem Philby with one of the support vehicles for the trip, nicknamed "the beast" by Mr Morrissey
    Alan Morrissey, Mark Evans, and Reem Philby with one of the support vehicles for the trip, nicknamed "the beast" by Mr Morrissey
  • The team with the three support vehicles that took them south into the Empty Quarter
    The team with the three support vehicles that took them south into the Empty Quarter
  • The map of the Wabar craters, known as Al Hadida or “the place of iron” to local Bedouin. Philby was the first European to visit the site during his expedition across the Empty Quarter in 1932
    The map of the Wabar craters, known as Al Hadida or “the place of iron” to local Bedouin. Philby was the first European to visit the site during his expedition across the Empty Quarter in 1932
  • Volcanic rock at the Al Wabar craters in the Empty Quarter desert
    Volcanic rock at the Al Wabar craters in the Empty Quarter desert
  • The Heart of Arabia team with the flag of the Explorers Club of New York
    The Heart of Arabia team with the flag of the Explorers Club of New York
  • The vast deserts of Saudi Arabia captured by drone
    The vast deserts of Saudi Arabia captured by drone
  • A sand dune in the Empty Quarter
    A sand dune in the Empty Quarter
  • A drone captures the team travelling in the Empty Quarter desert
    A drone captures the team travelling in the Empty Quarter desert
  • The Saudi desert in Hawaya, in a photo taken by Philby from his 1932 expedition. Getty
    The Saudi desert in Hawaya, in a photo taken by Philby from his 1932 expedition. Getty
  • The Heart of Arabia team from above in the deserts of Saudi Arabia
    The Heart of Arabia team from above in the deserts of Saudi Arabia
  • Camels ready for the final journey towards Riyadh
    Camels ready for the final journey towards Riyadh
  • Outward Bound Oman founder and expedition leader Mark Evans with a camel in the Saudi desert
    Outward Bound Oman founder and expedition leader Mark Evans with a camel in the Saudi desert
  • A comparison of Harry St John Philby's photo of "The ravine and wells of Abu Jifan", included in his book the Heart of Arabia, with the site today as seen by the expedition of the same name
    A comparison of Harry St John Philby's photo of "The ravine and wells of Abu Jifan", included in his book the Heart of Arabia, with the site today as seen by the expedition of the same name
  • Harry St John Philby and his companions at Wadi Al Shajara, where they stopped for a prayer on his 1917 trip to Riyadh. He included the photo in his 1922 book, The Heart of Arabia
    Harry St John Philby and his companions at Wadi Al Shajara, where they stopped for a prayer on his 1917 trip to Riyadh. He included the photo in his 1922 book, The Heart of Arabia
  • The Heart of Arabia team at the spot under a tree in Wadi Al Shajara, where Philby stopped for a prayer in 1917
    The Heart of Arabia team at the spot under a tree in Wadi Al Shajara, where Philby stopped for a prayer in 1917
  • The expedition team with locals in the Saudi desert on their trip
    The expedition team with locals in the Saudi desert on their trip
  • The Heart of Arabia expedition team in front of the Maskmak Fort Museum in Riyadh, the destination of the first leg of their trip
    The Heart of Arabia expedition team in front of the Maskmak Fort Museum in Riyadh, the destination of the first leg of their trip