Untamed Borders

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Untamed Borders

Untamed Borders Adventure travel trips to the world’s most inaccessible places. Group tours & bespoke trips. www.untamedborders.com for details on trips and locations.

Founded by a group of fixers that worked for journalists in the Afghan/Pakistan border area Untamed Borders uses specialist local guides to allow access to some of Asia's harder to reach places. In the past few years we have taken our guests skiing in the Hindu Kush mountains of Afghanistan, arranged meetings with retired headhunters in Nagaland on the Indian/Mynamar border and stayed with descendants of both Alexander the Great and Genghis Khans armies in Central Asia.

27/02/2025

New photos from a recent 6-day private trip to Turkmenistan.

On the bespoke tour we visited the grand capital Ashgabat, with its futuristic and grand buildings, along with its enormous and ostentatious statues.

We then moved through the desert to visit the Darvaza Gas Crater, where we spent New Year’s Eve, camping in yurts.

We continued on to visit Dashoguz and on to Kunya Urgench, before taking an overnight train back to Ashgabat.

Next, we visited the historic sites around Mary, including the remains of the ancient Silk Road city of Merv, along with Mary’s bustling bazaars and churches. We then finished the trip back in the capital Ashgabat.

To join us on a private trip to the isolationist state of Turkmenistan, you can email – [email protected] – for further details.

Photos – Robert Park

25/02/2025

We have two small group trips to Mogadishu now available to book on our website – in October 2025 and February 2026.

These 3-day tours explore the city’s bazaars, beaches, fishing port and market, along with giving you an insight into the Somali capital’s challenging history.

The trips are designed to run around the same time as our Horn of Africa group trips, so you can visit Mogadishu alongside a trip to Djibouti and Somaliland. These photos were taken on one of our recent group trips to the city.

You can find out more information about our trips to Mogadishu and book via the link below or email – [email protected] – for further details.

https://untamedborders.com/itinerary/mogadishu-add-on/

You can also see the full itineraries for Djibouti & Somaliland here:

https://untamedborders.com/itinerary/horn-of-africa-djibouti-somaliland/

Photos – Eric Winauer

21/02/2025

Our first group trip to Libya of the year is coming to a close, but we have two more tours available to book in October/November 2025 and February 2026.

On the 7-day adventures you explore the capital Tripoli and the nation’s Mediterranean coastline. We also move on to the beautiful Roman sites at Leptis Magna and Sabratha, which are some of the most impressive on the planet, plus head inland, visiting the rugged Jebel Nafusa mountains.

We also explore a slice of the Libyan Sahara, stopping in the fascinating oasis town of Ghadames, a UNESCO World Hertiage site, before finishing back in Tripoli.

You can book on our second set of 2025 dates and our trip in February 2026 now via the link below or email – [email protected] – for further details.

https://untamedborders.com/itinerary/libya/

19/02/2025

Our next trip to Kurdistan departs imminently, but we have a small number of spaces left on next our group adventure in October.

On the 7-day road trip you visit the region’s bustling cities, including Erbil, Sulaymaniyah and Duhok, but also have chance to explore Kurdistan’s beautiful natural landscapes.

We carve through the Zagros Mountains, stopping at waterfalls, passing through the Rawanduz Canyon and drive a stretch of the stunning Hamilton Road.

The tour is also peppered with fascinating ancient sites, including the spiritual home of the Yazidi people in Lalish and the historic hill top town of Amedi.

This week long trip provides an immersive dive into Kurdish culture and samples some of the best the region has to offer.

You can book on our October group trip via the link below or email – [email protected] – for further details. We will also be returning in 2026, with dates to be announced soon.

https://untamedborders.com/itinerary/iraqi-kurdistan/

Photos – Martin Poirer, Fiona McDaid

17/02/2025

Our first cultural trip of the year, along Pakistan’s Indus Valley, has just come to an end, but we now have new dates online, which are bookable, for November/December this year.

We have 3 different options available – a 13-day, a 10-day and a 7-day trip, taking in different parts in a route between Karachi and Peshawar.

The longest route begins on the Arbian Sea and travels nearly the full length of Pakistan, stopping at the likes of Thatta, Hydrabad, Sehwan Sharif, Moejadaro, Kot Diji, Multan, Lahore and Islamabad, before visiting Peshawar and finishing back in the capital.

The 10-day trip takes in the stretch between Karachi and Lahore, meanwhile the 7-day day only takes in the section of the route between Lahore, Islamabad and Peshawar.

All 3 trips are packed full with beautiful historic sites, ancient forts, vibrant cities, varying landscapes and a real taste of authentic Pakistani culture.

These photos were taken on last year’s winter group trips and you could join our next departures later this year. You can book now via the link below or email – [email protected] – for further details.

https://untamedborders.com/itinerary/pakistan-in-13-days/

https://untamedborders.com/itinerary/pakistan-in-10-days/

https://untamedborders.com/itinerary/pakistan-in-7-days/

Photos – Peter Bussey

14/02/2025

We’ve now released our first set of group trip dates for Horn of Africa in 2026.

Our January/February adventure next year, to Djibouti and Somaliland, is now available to book our website. We’re also returning to the region later this year in October, which is also bookable now.

The 9-day adventures begins in Djibouti, then we move on to the unique landscape at Lac Abbe, where we camp among the dramatic rock formations. Next, we visit Lac Assal, the lowest point in Africa, within the Danakil Depression.

After exploring the area’s salt flats and lake, we cross over into Somaliland through the desert – passing through remote seminomadic communities.

In Somaliland we visit the city of Hargeisa, the Dhagax Khoure ancient rock art paintings, along with the impressive ones at Las Geel. We then travel along the coastline to the fishing town of Berbera and snake through the mountains to the town of Sheik. The trip then finishes back in Hargeisa.

You can book on our October 2025 & January/February 2026 trips now via the link below or email – [email protected]

https://untamedborders.com/itinerary/horn-of-africa-djibouti-somaliland/

📸: Edith Bruckner

12/02/2025

Every summer we take to the high peaks of Central Asia to trek in some of the region’s pristine wildernesses.

Our trekking tours include a 16-day adventure around Tajikistan’s Pamir Mountain Lakes – an area filled with towering peaks, vast valleys, shimmering blue waters and relics from the Silk Road era.

The mountain range is situated at an important junction where many of the other Greater Asian ranges meet, with the country lying at a cross-roads of cultures.

On the trek you’ll explore this remote region, meet the communities who call the area home and also drive a section of the famous Pamir Highway.

On periods of the journey will you camp in unspoilt nature and at others stay in traditional homestays, providing an authentic Tajik experience, in one of the most beautiful settings on earth.

To join us in August 2025, please book via the link below or email - [email protected] - for further details:

https://untamedborders.com/itinerary/trekking-tajikistan/

Photos - Jan Bakker & Ade Summers

10/02/2025

We have one more group trip available to book along our Iraq “Cradle of Civilisation” route later this year – departing in October.

Our 2026 dates will also soon go live for an adventure which follows in the footsteps of some of the earliest civilisations.

We take in the capital Baghdad, before visiting the spiral minaret at Samarra, Babylon, the important Shia holy sites at Karbala and Najaf, the ancient cities of Ur and Uruk, along with Basara and the Southern Marshes.

You get to experience a large chunk of Iraq, set between the great Euphrates and Tigris Rivers.

To join us in October 2025, you can book now via the link below or email – [email protected] – to register an interest for 2026.

https://untamedborders.com/itinerary/travel-to-iraq/

Photos – Xavi De Las Heras

07/02/2025

Cracking new shots from Afghanistan, taken by a private guest on a recent bespoke tour.

We visited Kabul, before heading north to Mazar e Sharif, where we took in a game of the famous horseback sport of buzkashi. We also visited the Shrine of Hazrat Ali and the Silk Road city of Balkh.

We returned south, stopping in Jalalabad and then ventured into the Tora Bora area. Next was a flight to the beautiful ancient city of Herat, in the west, and a loop south to Farah, Zaranj and Kandahar, before finishing back in Kabul.

We have two different Afghan cultural group tours, which take in some of the sites shown in these photos – a 9-day group trip & a 15-day group trip.

9-day dates – April, September & November 2025 (including Kabul, Bamian Province, Mazar e Sharif, Balkh & the Salang Pass + buzkashi during winter dates)

15-day dates – April & September 2025 (Kabul, Bamian Province, Ghor Province, the Minaret of Jam, Herat & the southern Pashtun Heartlands)

2026 dates will go live soon. To book on either of these group trips, please visit the links below or email – [email protected] – for further details.

https://untamedborders.com/itinerary/afghanistan-in-9-days/

https://untamedborders.com/itinerary/afghanistan-central-route/

Photos – Bruce Roberts

05/02/2025

Fresh photos from our January group trip to mainland Yemen.

Another fantastic trip and we’re delighted to be returning to the Hadramout region again in the near future – with another group trip in April, along with new dates in November 2025 and January 2026

All of these trips are available to book now - on an adventure which delves deep into the dramatic wadis in the east of Yemen.

You meander through the beautiful canyons, exploring ancient villages lined by steep cliff faces and desert top plateaus. The remote setting is home to fascinating communities, who carve out a life in one of the more challenging environments on earth.

We also explore historic towns, including the Islamic teaching centre of Tarim and Shibam, the Manhattan of the Desert, along with traversing the harsh Empty Quarter and travelling along the Yemeni coastline, to finish in Oman.

A 7-day adventure into an area of the world which few international visitors get to experience. You can find out more about the trip and book on all 3 upcoming dates by visiting the link below or email – [email protected] – for further details.

https://untamedborders.com/itinerary/yemen/

Photos - Ade Summers

02/02/2025

In October, we’re launching a new special collaborative trip to Jordan with award winning journalist – Autumn Phillips.

It will be the third travel writing masterclass which we’re organising with the American, who was recently awarded “Journalist of the Year” by the North American Journalists Association. These photos were taken on a previous travel writing tour with Autumn, in Algeria.

On the new 10-day adventure you’ll visit the ancient city of Petra, Wadi Rum, the Dead Sea and Jerash, along with the capital Amman. While you soak up the fascinating country & its famous historic sites, you will also have chance to experience travel writing masterclasses from Autumn, who will share her skills with aspiring writers.

We will also have more travel writing trips later this year and next year, which we will share details of in the coming months.

You find out more about the Jordan trip & book on the adventure by visiting Autumn’s website:

https://goodallover.tv/jordan/

28/01/2025

We’re excited to be returning to one of the most remote corners of the planet in the summer - Afghanistan’s Wakhan Corridor.

The 21-day trekking adventure in August takes you deep into the mountainous region, which is largely untouched by the modern world.

As you hike through beautiful unspoilt nature, you’ll meet the nomadic communities, who live in the area, including the Kyrgyz of the Afghan Pamir & the Wakhi nomads.

Time is running out to see this gorgeous wilderness in its true state, with China hoping to complete a road in the not too distant future, linking Kabul to the Chinese border.

Joining us on this wonderful hiking trip, will allow you to see it before it potentially changes forever, with stunning mountain landscapes, vast untouched valleys and people who live traditional, nomadic ways of life.

You will camp on certain stages of the trip and stay at traditional guesthouses at others, immersing yourself into local culture. Along the way there will be chance to visit ancient tombs, Buddhist engravings and rock art sites, which have been left by previous visitors on the ancient Silk Road.

You can book now on our 2025 trip via the link below or email [email protected] – for further details:

https://untamedborders.com/itinerary/trek-the-wakhan/

Photos - Ade Summers

27/01/2025

At the weekend we took a group of guests to take part in the Islamabad Marathon in Pakistan.

We’re delighted to say one of our Norwegian guests, Ragnhild Audestad, won the women’s race – a huge congratulations Ragnhild and all those who completed the event.

More than 3,000 people took part in the men and women’s race in total, which looped around the country’s modern capital, with the beautiful backdrop of the Magralla Hills.

If you fancy taking on a sporting challenge with Untamed Borders, we will also be taking a group to take part in the Erbil Marathon, in Iraqi Kurdistan, later this year and we’ll return to the Islamabad Marathon in 2026.

You can register an interest for both races now by emailing – [email protected] – or read more about the trips here:

https://untamedborders.com/itinerary/erbil-marathon/

https://untamedborders.com/itinerary/islamabad-marathon/

25/01/2025

The Yemeni island of Socotra is one of the most biodiverse on earth and we’ll be visiting it twice in 2025 on group trips.

The natural wonder is a haven for wildlife and contains a vast array of stunning landscapes – from mountains and semi-desert, to large canyons, unique forests and pristine beaches.

The sea around it also teems with life, with extensive marine reserves and wonderful areas for snorkelling.

In April and November we will soak up the bounty of natural beauty on the island – hiking in its mountains, swimming in fresh water lagoons, exploring its caves, wildlife/birdlife spotting and relaxing on its white sand beaches.

We’ll also meet the nomadic herders who call the area home and spend time with its fishing communities, with chance to explore its coral reefs on a boat trip.

In terms of an island paradise, Socotra is hard to beach and we hope you can join us this year. You can book now via the link below or email – [email protected] – for further details.

https://untamedborders.com/itinerary/socotra

Photos – Ade Summers

22/01/2025

The newly formed Zagros Mountain Trail is one of the most phenomenal new hiking routes on the planet.

In April we’ll be taking a group to traverse the 215km route, which carves through the beautiful Zagros Mountains in Iraqi Kurdistan.

This brand-new adventure uses ancient pilgrimage routes and shepherds’ paths to cross a fascinating part of the Middle East, surrounded by gorgeous mountains landscapes and meeting the array of communities who call the area home.

The trek begins in the village of Shush and finishes at the foot of Iraq’s tallest mountain Halgurd. It takes 15-days as you pass through lush valleys, travel through canyons, past waterfalls, walk a stretch of the Great Zab River and go up and over steep mountain passes.

To join us on our inaugural Zagros Mountain Trail trekking trip, you can book via the link below or email – [email protected] – for further details.

https://untamedborders.com/itinerary/trek-kurdistan-zagros-mountain/

21/01/2025

New photos from a recent 3 week private trip we organised for a guest to Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan.

On the adventure we soaked up the beautiful historic Silk Road cities in Uzbekistan, visiting the likes of Samarkand, Bukhara and Khiva, along with the capital Tashkent.

We also spent time in Uzbekistan’s snowcapped Chimgan Mountains and we explored a stretch of the Kyzylkum Desert.

Next, we went to the mountainous nation of Kyrgyzstan – visiting its icy alpine lakes, waterfalls, canyons, gorges and traversed through its endless enormous peaks. We also met some of its nomadic communities, including eagle hunters and stayed overnight in yurts.

If you would like to join us on a private trip in Central Asia, make sure to email the team on – [email protected] – and we’ll help create a bespoke itinerary for you.

Photos – Eva Marsh

19/01/2025

In May 2024 we had the pleasure of guiding Belgian TV presenter Tom Waes and a film crew on an adventure around Northern Pakistan, a route we take on our Hindu Kush and Karakoram group trips.

The footage is going to appear on the popular Reizen Waes television programme later this year, which follows Tom as he travels to lesser visited nations.

On the trip we took in the mountainous north of the country, starting off in the city of Gilgit and drove a section of the jaw-dropping Karakoram Highway, as far as the Chinese border, at the 4700m high Khunjerab Pass. En route we met various people who gave Tom insights into the unique culture and traditions in the region and who call this area of spectacular peaks and lakes home.

The programme we organised logistics for is due to go to air later in the year and we’ll keep you updated when a finalised date is set.

You can visit these beautiful areas on our Hindu Kush & Karakoram group trips, which depart in May/June 2025 – where we also visit Chitral, the Kalasha Valleys and its animistic communities, along with the bustling Silk Road city of Peshawar.

You can book on this epic road trip now via the link below or email – [email protected] – for further details.

https://untamedborders.com/itinerary/hindu-kush-karakorum/

15/01/2025

New 2025 group trip dates to Balochistan are now available to book on our website - departing in November.

The adventure takes you to the least visited Pakistani province, which borders Iran and Afghanistan, in the west of the country.

Historically it’s been a very challenging place to access, but on our 10-day tour we explore many of its fascinating sites and take in its impressive landscapes.

We journey along the Arabian sea coastline, driving the dramatic Makran Coastal Highway, from Karachi to Gwadar – stopping at the region’s beautiful beaches, the mud volcanoes in Hingol National Park, the mangrove swamps and the apocalyptic ship breaking yards.

We also take a boat trip to Astola Island, Pakistan’s largest, which is renowned for its natural beauty and marine life. The trip then heads inland up to the vibrant city of Quetta and we cross the Bolan Pass on a wonderful train journey, which carves through the mountainous scenery. The end of the trip sees you visit the ancient Juniper forest around Ziarat, which is home to the Quaid-e-Azam Residency, we then finish in Karachi.

You can book now via the link below or email – [email protected] – for further details.

Most of these photos were taken on a recent private tour through the region.

https://untamedborders.com/itinerary/balochistan-explorer/

Photos: Jane Eagleson

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Videos

The beauty of Northern Pakistan

Scenes from Northern Pakistan - one of the most beautiful corners of the planet. Our next Hindu Kush & Karakoram group trip takes place in May/June 2025, where we visit many of the awe-inspiring places you see in this video, plus much more. You can book and see the full itinerary via the link below or email - [email protected] - for further details. https://untamedborders.com/itinerary/hindu-kush-karakorum/

South Sudan group trip 2025

New South Sudan group trip dates for 2025 now online & available to book. The Mundari tribe of South Sudan are one of the fascinating communities you meet on our group tours to the world’s youngest nation. They’re famous for their relationship with their unique Ankole-Watsui cattle, which play a hugely important part in Mundari culture. Along with the Mundari, you will also have chance to meet the Toposa tribe (famed for their elaborate piercings) and the Larim tribe, who are master builders, constructing grand huts near the Boya Mountains. We will also explore the capital Juba and enjoy a game of the popular South Sudanese sport, Boruboru – a version of dodge ball, played by women and girls. If you would like to join us in March 2025 on a 7-day trip to meet the tribes of South Sudan you can book now via the link below or email – [email protected] – for further details. https://untamedborders.com/itinerary/south-sudan/ This excellent footage was captured by one of our recent private guests - Michael Zervos.

Our epic 21-day trekking trip to Afghanistan’s Wakhan Corridor is fast approaching and is nearly full, but there are still a small number of spaces available to book. These beautiful shots were taken by our trekking guide Ade Summers on last year’s adventure into one of the most remote corners of the planet. It gives you a flavour of the stunning nature you will encounter in this largely untouched part of world. You’ll enjoy unspoilt scenery and endless beautiful peaks in the Hindu Kush mountain range – spending time nea to Noshaq on the route, Afghanistan’s tallest mountain. You will also spend time with the nomadic communities who call this area home, including the Kyrgyz of the Afghan Pamir and the Wakhi nomads – along with encountering ancient sites at this crossroads of cultures on the ancient Silk Road. To join us in August/September on this truly memorable trek you can book via the link below or email – [email protected] – for further information. https://untamedborders.com/itinerary/trek-the-wakhan/

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Our Story

Since first operating pioneering tours to Afghanistan in 2007, Untamed Borders have continued to offer bespoke trips and small group adventures to some of the world’s most interesting and inaccessible places. Specialising in trips across Central Asia, the Middle East, East Africa, former Soviet Central Asia and the Caucasus, Untamed Borders now take guests to over 40 different countries still largely untouched by tourism.

Operating in destinations that generally see very few visitors, Untamed Borders has a responsibility to work closely with the people and communities who call them home. Knowing the communities personally we can ensure that our guests have an authentic experience of the places, people and cultures they meet. We know that when you visit a Yazidi shrine, dance at a Kalasha wedding or spend time with Afghan shepherds, you will be getting a 100% genuine experience. Visit www.untamedborders.com for more information, destinations and itineraries.