Untamed Borders

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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.

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

13/01/2025

We’re delighted to be continuing our exclusive collaboration with our good friends MTP - Most Traveled People in 2025.

The special discount offer, on some of our group trips, proved popular with MTP members in 2024 and we’re excited to roll the scheme out across all of our group trips going forward.

MTP are a community of travelers who love to document their adventures and it contains many people who have visited the most nations on earth.

To find out more information about MTP and the deal, please check out their Instagram & website.

12/01/2025

Our Founder, James Willcox, recently appeared on BBC Radio 4’s PM programme, speaking about the future of tourism in Syria.

It comes as Qatar Airways has reinstated flights to Damascus and other major airlines look soon to follow. The piece discussed what the future may hold for tourism in the country, as the new government looks to try and return to some sort of normality (although there are still major challenges ahead).

Untamed Borders have been organising both group and private trips to Syria since 2017, but pressed paused last year due to the instability in the country. We’re keeping a close eye on developments in Syria and are in regular contact with our local teams, and our wider network, to get a better understanding of the security situation and risk level in the country.

We hope to be resuming trips back to Syria in the not-too-distant future.

You can listen to James’ interview on BBC Radio 4 here (listen after 20 minutes 50 seconds):

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m0026mwp

08/01/2025

Our popular Afghan cultural groups trips return in 2025 and we’re pleased to announce we will be adding Bamian Province back on our Afghanistan In 9 Days itineraries.

We pressed paused on some of our work in the area for security reasons last summer, but as the situation has improved, we will now will visit the beautiful mountainous region on both our 9-Day and 15-day cultural trips again.

Our 9-day road-trip begins in Kabul, before we head to the phenomenal Band-e-Amir lakes & Buddhist carvings in Bamian Province. We then head north to Mazar-e-Sharif, visiting ancient Buddhist stupas at Samangan and the Tashkurgan gorge along the way.

We also spend time in the ancient Silk Road city of Balkh and it’s in the northern part of the country where we may have chance to watch the dramatic horse-riding sport of Buzkashi (in November).

We’ll then return to Kabul, crossing the central mountains via the impressive Salang Pass.

We have departures on our 9-day trip in April, September and November 2025 – you can book on the 3 trips via the link below below or email – [email protected] – for further details

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

📸: Ade Summers, David Harrison & Claire G

07/01/2025

Our first Horn of Africa group trip for 2025 is fast approaching, with only 3 weeks to go.

However, we now have a second set of dates available to book, in October, where we visit Djibouti and Somaliland.

We begin in Djibouti City, then travel to dramatic rocky landscape of Lac Abbe, where we camp and take in the area’s often stunning sunset and sunrise. Next is a road trip to Lac Assal, with its vast salt plains, the lowest point in all of Africa.

We then cross over into Somaliland, travelling through the desert region which is home to many seminomadic communities and stop off at the Dhagax Khoure ancient rock art site. We move on to the main city Hargeisa, visiting its bustling markets and then visit one of Africa’s most impressive ancient rock paintings sites at Las Geel.

The final stages of the trip take us along the Somaliland coast, visiting the beaches around Berbera, followed by a scenic drive through the mountains to the town of Sheik – we then conclude the adventure back in Hargeisa.

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

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

Photos - Severin Michael Mucha

05/01/2025

Next month we will be heading off on our group ski trip to Afghanistan and there is still opportunity to join us.

Untamed Borders is the original ski company in Afghanistan, having first organised ski trips in 2011, and on our 7-day group trip we showcase our 14 years of skiing experience. We spend a short time in the capital, Kabul, before heading to the beautiful mountainous Bamian Province, taking in the area’s ancient Buddhist caves and carvings.

We then take you to the Koh-e-Baba Mountain Range and explore acres of powder, much of which has never been skied before. On this backcountry skiing adventure, you’ll meet the locals who ski on homemade wooden skis and explore new routes with an international guide.

Along with older ski runs, you will also be able to carve out your own path and seek out new areas, accompanied by an experienced local team. We also coincide the trip with the region’s, mixed-ability, Afghan Peaks Ski Race (the highlight of the nation’s skiing calendar), which you’ll have chance to take part in, before we head back to Kabul.

We hope you can join us on the Afghan slopes. Book now via the link below.

https://untamedborders.com/itinerary/ski-afghanistan/

Photos – James Robertson and Neil Silverton

02/01/2025

Pakistan is a nation, which is filled to the brim with wonderful historic sites, stunning scenery, vibrant cities, tasty food, colourful street scenes and an extremely rich culture.

Our 13-day group trips along the Indus Valley aim to capture all these aspects, on an action-packed road trip from Karachi, on the Arabian Sea, right up to Peshawar and Islamabad in the north.

On the epic journey we visit Thatta and the Necropolis of Makli Hills, a UNESCO World Heritage site, Hyderabad and the historic city of Sehwan, with a stop at Ranikot Fort, and a visit to the holy shrine of Sehwan Sharif.

We also take in Moenjadaro, the best-preserved city of the Indus Valley people, and stop at Kot Diji Fort, on our way to Sukkur. It’s here we visit the shrine of Uch Sharif, take in a slice of the Cholistan desert, along with the 8th century Derawar Fort and on to the city of shrines – Multan.

Next up is a number of days in the fantastic city of Lahore, before we head north via the UNESCO listed Rohtas Fort, on our way to the Silk Road city of Peshawar. The trip finishes with a visit to the UNESCO listed sites at Takht e Bahi & Taxila, and the modern capital Islamabad.

We also have 10-day and 7-day options, which take in different sections of the longer trip. You can find out more about all the trips by visiting the links 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/

30/12/2024

Fancy setting yourself a challenge for 2025?

We have 3 fantastic treks scheduled for the year head – in Afghanistan, Tajikistan and Iraqi Kurdistan.

All three take you through stunning and remote mountain landscapes and cross regions which played an important role on the ancient Silk Road.

Each trek offers the chance to meet fascinating mountain communities along the way, including rarely visited nomadic cultures.

Set yourself of a physical goal in the year ahead and book on our brand new, 15-day, trek through the Zagros Mountains of Iraqi Kurdistan (April), our 16 day trek to the Pamir Mountain Lakes region of Tajikistan (August) or our 21-day trek through Afghanistan’s Wakhan Corridor (August/September).

You can read our full trekking itineraries below or email - [email protected] - for further details. We hope to see you stomping in Central Asia and the Middle East in 2025.

https://untamedborders.com/trip-activity/trekking/

Photos - Jan Bakker & Ade Summers

28/12/2024

Our February trip to Mogadishu is fully booked, however, we’re now released a new set of dates for October 2025.

On a 3-day tour to the Somali capital we visit the city’s beaches, its bustling fish market, bazaars, port and explore some of the city’s colonial era architecture.

You can book now via the link below:

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

This trip can be booked as an add-on to our Horn of Africa group trips to Somaliland and Djibouti, which are made to run alongside each other – you can book on those trips via the link below or email – [email protected] – for further details:

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

Photos – Peter Bullock, Miles Power, Dirk Schroeer

26/12/2024

We now have two cultural trips available to book on our website to Iraqi Kurdistan in 2025 – February and October.

On the 7-day road trip we visit the region’s vibrant cities, including Erbil and Sulaymaniyah, along with travelling through the beautiful Zagros Mountains.

On the journey we visit the spiritual home of the Yazidi people in Lalish, the old hill top of Amedi, visit Duhok, the Rawanduz Canyon and drive a stretch of the famous Hamilton Road.

It’s an area packed with natural beauty and we’ll stop by waterfalls and cave complexes along the way, as we carve through the mountains – before finishing at Erbil.

You can book on both trips by visiting the link below or email – [email protected] – for further details.

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

Photos - Martin Poirier, Robert Molkenthin, Julienne & David Harrison.

23/12/2024

Our virtual tours of Afghanistan, with the nation's first female tour guide - Fatima Haidari, are the perfect Christmas gift for a travel lover.

The online experiences offer you an immerse guide to the nation and its culture, history, landscapes and food, from the comfort of your own home.

They're also followed by a Q&A with Fatima, who used to guide in person for us in Herat, before the Taliban retook control of the country.

Fatima has now fled for her safety to Europe, but continues her fantastic work for us, by transporting guests to her country online.

The next sessions are in January & February, which can be booked now ⬇️

https://untamedborders.com/itinerary/virtual-tours-with-fatima-afghanistan/

19/12/2024

New photos from our recent group trip to Libya and a slice of exciting news for 2025/26.

We’ll be returning on multiple group tours to the nation in 2025 – focused around Tripoli, the wonderful Roman sites at Leptis Magna and Sabratha, along with the Jebel Nafus hills, the UNESCO recognised oasis town of Ghadames, plus a slice of the Sahara in the country’s west.

However, we also have ambitions to offer further services, in other parts of the country. In the winter of 2025/26, we hope to be organising an inaugural trip to the Saharan South.

If you would like to be added to our mailing list regarding our new plans in Libya, please email – [email protected] – and we will send out an info pack, once we’ve finalised the details.

You can also book on our upcoming group trips, focusing on other parts of the nation and departing in February 2025 and October/November 2025, by visiting the link below.

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

Photos – Matt Marquis

18/12/2024

New photos from a private trip to Afghanistan, which organised for a guest a few months ago.

On the 10-day tour we followed much of the same route we use on our Afghan In 9-Day group tours.

We began in Peshawar, before then heading into Afghanistan – taking in Kabul, before moving on to the beautiful mountainous Bamian Province, where we visited the Band e Amir National Park, its lakes & the Buddhist cave complex.

We continued on north through the mountains to the northern city of Mazar e Sharif, visiting the stunning Shrine of Hazrat Ali and we visited the nearby Silk Road era trading town of Balkh.

We then returned through the country’s central mountainous scenery, via the Salang Pass, finishing back in Kabul.

We have 3 group trips along this route in 2025 – in April, September and November – you can book now via the link below or email – [email protected] – for further details.

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

Photos – Goran Lind

16/12/2024

On our Cradle of Civilisation group trips to Iraq, you can follow in the footsteps of ancient civilisations, and more recently the legendary Michel Palin.

We guided the broadcaster along the route for his Channel 5 series “Into Iraq” in 2022 and we have two group trips in 2025 where you can visit many of the wonderful sites, which were featured in the programme.

The 9-day trip travels through the heartland of Iraq, from the capital Baghdad to Basra on the Gulf Coast, exploring a region which was home to some of the earliest civilisations.

The area is peppered with fascinating ancient sites, including the remains of Ur and Babylon, along with Samarra.

Plus, we visit two of Shia Islam’s holiest sites at Karbala and Najaf, before finishing in the southern marshlands.

To book on our group trips in February and October, please visit the link below, or email – [email protected] – for further details.

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

Photos – Sibu Szymanowska, Edith Bruckner and Carly Fillis.

10/12/2024

We recently took a guest on a 4-day private trip to Somaliland.

These photos are from the tour, which we started in the city of Hargeisa, before moving on through the desert to see some of the world’s best preserved ancient rock paintings, at Las Geel – dating back 5,000-9,000 years.

We continued on to the coastline, taking in the beaches and the fishing town of Berbera, then headed inland through the mountains to the town of Sheikh. We then finished the trip back in Hargeisa.

We visit all these sites on our Horn of Africa group trips, where we also explore Djibouti, including Djibouti City, the Lac Abbe salt lake, Lac Assal (the lowest point in Africa) and the country’s desert.

We have two 2025 trips available to book on this route at the moment – January/February 2025 and October 2025. Full details and booking link below:

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

Photos - Antonios Kenanidis

08/12/2024

New photos from our recent Yemen Mainland group trip.

We now have 3 sets of dates available to book in 2025 on this 7-day adventure - in January, April & November.

On the road-trip you explore the dramatic wadis of the country’s eastern Hadramout, with their steep cliff faces, ancient mud built towns & palm lined wadi floor.

You also meet the communities who live in this remote region and explore the nearby desert plateaus. Plus we cross a stretch of the harsh desert known as the Empty Quarter and take in the Yemeni coastline.

We also visit historic towns, including Tarim, famous for its Islamic teaching and we explore Shibam, known as the Manhattan of the Desert, due to its extraordinary sky scrapers made of mud.

The group trip gives you a unique insight into life in one of the most challenging climates on earth and finishes by crossing into Oman.

You can book now via the links below or email - [email protected] - for further details -

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

📸: Ade Summers

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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.