Biarritz: They will travel 23,740 km without taking a plane to make their first documentary

Caroline and Laurie will hitchhike from Biarritz on August 10th, on a 23,740 km journey. Along the way, they will make a 52-minute documentary about those who live in harmony with the elements.

Caroline , 28, and Laurie, 30, met a year and a half ago in Biarritz, where they both live. “It was love at first sight,” smiles Caroline. “We immediately threw ourselves into lots of activities: surfing, hiking, camping… We both have a taste for the unexpected and adventure!”

The next one promises to be exceptional. Departure on August 10, hitchhiking from Biarritz for a 23,740 km journey: ten months, ten countries in Europe, Africa, and Latin America, two Atlantic crossings, in shared mobility, without taking a plane.

Their goal: to produce "In Their Element," a 52-minute documentary. Through four portraits of people living in harmony with the elements (water, earth, air, and fire), Caroline and Laurie explore the disconnect between man and nature. These stories will be presented in four mini-series, and Internet users will be able to follow their daily journey through video clips they will post on social media.

The idea came to me last November, while they were surfing together in the Côte des Basques. "At that time, I was searching for myself a bit. I was leaving my job and a great company had just made me an offer that I couldn't say yes to," Laurie confides. Caroline also plans to leave her job in February. They had been discussing the idea of ​​making a documentary together for a while. The timing was perfect.

From then on, everything fell into place. The young women were determined to build a solid project and surround themselves with the right people to ensure the seriousness of their approach. Boldly, and with no contacts, they used social media to connect with media adventurers to sponsor them.

The first to reach out was director and writer Nicolas Vannier. "A benchmark in terms of direction and production," they say. Seduced by the project, he enthusiastically committed to it. "We were still on the phone with him this morning. He gives us lots of advice," say a grateful Caroline and Laurie.

They also received support from sailor Guirec Soudée— known for his five-year round-the-world sailing trip with his hen Monique —polar explorer Alban Michon, and mountaineer Marion Poitevin. Each brings their expertise in adventure, safety, storytelling, and fundraising.

To receive coaching, the young women were surrounded by director and producer Carlos Portella Nunes, producer and director Alexandra Favar Munar, president of the Filmoramax short film festival Arnaud Mizzon and professional drone pilot Mélanie Rivière.

Caroline and Laurie will be setting off equipped with professional audiovisual equipment. “We’ll have a tent. The idea is to be minimalist and flexible. I’ve traveled by bike before, and what I loved was being able to move forward without the pressure of a strict schedule,” Caroline explains. They’ve nevertheless set a schedule and plan to reach the Canary Islands by October at the latest, to meet Eugenio Darias, “a walking encyclopedia of the history of Silbo, the whistled language of the shepherds of La Gomera,” to embody the element of air.

They also plan to join Walter Fernandez in Cape Verde, a passionate fisherman who grew up on the water and continues to go to sea despite the scarcity of fish; Lucy Gil, in Colombia, who cultivates her coffee in collaboration with indigenous peoples; or Edgardo Tuanama, in Peru, a member of the Quechua-Lamista community, heir to the ancestral knowledge of the fire cutters. And many others who will cross their paths.

Laurie and Caroline plan to return to France around June-July 2026, to begin sorting the footage, editing, and processing the footage. They hope to see their film released at festivals and in theaters between October 2026 and September 2027.

To follow and support Laurie and Caroline: Instagram: @dansleurelement ; ulule.com/dansleurelement/coming-soon