ABC iview's Race Around The World in Nepal:
Filming The Gurkha Detox in 10 Days

Race Around The World returned to ABC TV and ABC iview on 7 June 2026, reviving the ABC's original 1997–98 documentary competition. Hosted by Zan Rowe, with original racer John Safran as weekly judge, the series sent six emerging Australian filmmakers solo through 10 countries over 100 days. Each racer had to shoot, write and edit a new short film every 10 days, learning their next destination with just a day's notice. The series is produced by Endemol Shine Australia for the ABC, and the winner receives their own project funded and produced by the ABC.

Week six: Nepal and The Gurkha Detox

Week six split the racers across Botswana, Chile, Louisiana, Scotland, Timor-Leste and Nepal. In Nepal, Elliot explored the country's legendary warrior culture, putting himself through an army-style bootcamp (head shave included) to see how far the Gurkha selection mindset would push him. ABC News' week six recap features the film alongside the other racers' work.

Elliot was later crowned the overall winner of the series, which makes his Nepal film part of a winning body of work.

Why the Gurkha story needs local access

The Gurkha tradition is one of Nepal's most filmed subjects, and one of the hardest to film well in a hurry. The British Army recruits Gurkhas entirely in Nepal, with final selection held at British Gurkhas Pokhara. The best-known test is the doko race, in which candidates carry a 25 kg load in a traditional basket up a steep hill course, which the British Army says must be completed in under 43 minutes. Competition is intense: for the 2026 intake, more than 10,000 young Nepalis applied for just 323 places.

A story like this touches serving military institutions, veterans' communities and the private training centres that prepare candidates, each with its own gatekeepers and access rules. On a ten-day clock, reaching the right people fast depends on existing relationships, not cold emails. This is exactly where a documentary fixer in Nepal earns their place.

Ten days is the whole brief

The Race Around The World format compresses what normally takes a documentary team months into a week and a half, done by one person carrying their own kit. There is no recce and no development period. The filmmaker lands and the clock is already running.

That makes local knowledge the highest-leverage input available. A filmmaker who spends four of ten days searching for a story has effectively lost the film. One who lands with introductions made, permissions understood and an interpreter booked has a real chance of making something strong.

What Nepal offers a fast-turnaround documentary

Nepal suits short production windows better than most destinations. Story density is high and distances are manageable: a Kathmandu Valley heritage neighbourhood, a hill village and a Terai town can all fit into one tight schedule with good planning. English is common in cities and tourism hubs, and the country has a long track record of hosting international broadcast crews. Our location scouting team can shortlist realistic options before a filmmaker even books a flight.

Our role on the Nepal shoot

Nepal Film Production provided local support for filming in Nepal on this project, covering fixing, access, permissions and interpretation.

For short-window documentary work, our approach is front-loaded. We research and make introductions before the filmmaker arrives, so day one is a shooting day, not an orientation day. On set, our interpreters handle interviews in Nepali and local languages, and our translation and transcription services keep the edit moving when the deadline is days away.

We also handle the permit questions a solo filmmaker may not know to ask. Every foreign production needs a filming permit in Nepal, applied for through the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology via a registered local coordinator. Heritage sites need extra consent from the Department of Archaeology, aerial work needs drone permits from CAAN, and protected areas need national park filming permits.

What producers can take from this

If you are sending a small unit or a solo filmmaker to Nepal on a tight window, the local fixer is not a support cost. It is the production. Brief them properly, brief them early, and let them research before the flight rather than after it. For larger shoots, the same logic scales into full film production in Nepal, with crew, gear and line production handled locally.

Frequently asked questions

Can a solo filmmaker shoot a documentary in Nepal without a crew? Yes, many do. However, foreign productions still need a government filming permit, which must be applied for through a registered local coordinator. A local fixer also makes a major difference to access, language and logistics on a short schedule.

How long does a filming permit in Nepal take? A standard filming permit typically takes around 7 to 10 working days once all documents are submitted correctly. Heritage sites, national parks, drone flights and restricted areas need additional approvals, so start those as early as possible.

Can you arrange access for a Gurkha documentary in Nepal? We can research and approach relevant contacts such as veterans' groups, training centres and local communities. Access to serving military institutions is decided by those institutions, so allow extra lead time.

Do you provide interpreters for documentary interviews? Yes. Nepal Film Production provides interpreters and on-set translation, plus transcription and subtitle-ready translation for the edit.

Planning a documentary shoot in Nepal?

Nepal Film Production is a government-registered film production and fixer company based in Kathmandu. We provide filming permits, drone and national park clearances, line production, crew, equipment and full production support to international filmmakers and broadcasters. See our work or contact us for a free consultation on your project.