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.

24/12/2024

In March 2025 we’re returning to South Sudan on a group trip where we immerse ourselves into the rich tribal culture in the region.

On the 7-day road trip, through the world’s youngest nation, we meet the Toposa, Larim & Mundari people, all who have unique customs, rituals and celebrations.

We learn about the body scarification rituals the Toposa are famous for, along with their elaborate piercings, we meet the master hut builders among the Larim and the Mundari cattle herders.

Alongside these wonderful cultural exchanges, we also soak in the bush landscapes and the mountainous scenery in the area, plus we have chance to visit the capital, Juba.

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

https://untamedborders.com/itinerary/south-sudan/

Photos – Robert Park, David Holland

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.

11/12/2024

Our final trip to Socotra of 2024 has just come to a close and these wonderful photos are from the tour.

We will be back on the Yemeni island in April and November/December 2025 on group trips, which are now available to book on our website.

The island paradise is famous for its rich biodiversity – home to beautiful mountains, pristine beaches, areas of semi-desert, cave networks, enormous sand dunes, large canyons, unique wildlife and extensive marine reserves.

On our group trips we visit all these wonderful features, along with swimming in fresh water lagoons, hiking in the mountains, snorkelling in the crystal blue water and rare wildlife/birdlife spotting – with the island home to native species found no where else.

We also meet the nomadic herders who roam the area, meet its fishing communities and head on a boat trip to visit the surrounding coral reefs.

This is trip jam packed with natural beauty and a destinations we’re delighted to visit again next year:

https://untamedborders.com/itinerary/socotra

Photos – Ade Summers

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

05/12/2024

Our 2,000km Afghan Central Route road trip returns in 2025, with two sets of dates now available to book – in April/May & September/October.

After arriving in Kabul, over 15-days we’ll cross the central mountains of the country, visiting the beautiful Band e Amir national park and its multitude of ancient Buddhist sites.

We’ll continue on through Ghor Province, visiting the remarkable UNESCO site at the Minaret of Jam and traversing a remote region, which receieves few international visitors.

We take in the beautiful historic sites of Herat, then loop south to the Pashtun heartlands, stopping in Lashkar Gar, Kandahar and the city of Ghazni – areas which were previously very hard to travel to. We then finish back in Kabul.

These photos were taken on a recent private trip along part of the route, where we visited some of wonderful sites you’ll visit on the Central Route, however, we also drove across the Khyber Pass from Peshawar in Pakistan, stopping in Jalalabad and continuing on to the Iranian border after Herat.

You can book now on our upcoming Afghan Central route trips by visiting the link below or email – [email protected] – for further details.

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

Photos - Christian Matzenauer

03/12/2024

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/

01/12/2024

New shots from our recent Afghan In 9 Days group trip – where we visited Kabul, Mazar e Sharif, Balkh, Herat and traversed the country’s Central Mountains crossing the Salang Pass.

On our November trips we take in a game of Buzkashi – the famous horse-back sport, which is popular across Central Asia

We’ve now released dates for November 2025, which are available to book now, along with 2 departures earlier in the year. On our 2025 adventures we will also visit Bamian Province, including the stunning Band e Amir National Park, instead of Herat.

We hope you can join us in Afghanistan in 2025 – book via the link below or email – [email protected]

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

Photos - David Harrison

27/11/2024

Our epic 16-day trekking trip to Tajikistan’s Pamir Mountain Lakes returns in August 2025.

The route takes you to one of the least visited of all the Greater Ranges in Asia and offers remote beautiful landscapes, untouched by the modern world.

The region is peppered with crystal blue alpine lakes, rugged towering peaks and vast, sparsely populated valleys.

On the adventure we will cross a mountain pass, which is higher than Mont Blanc, traverse the Pamir’s varied stunning landscapes and stop at historic Silk Road sites along the way.

Before the hiking begins, we’ll also have chance to drive a section of the famous Pamir Highway, along the Afghan border, one of the most beautiful roads on earth, plus we’ll visit the capital Dushanbe.

This is a part of the world which few explore, and the trek gives you a unique insight in remote Tajik life, in one of the world’s remaining true wildernesses.

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

26/11/2024

Libya 2025 – we have now released two sets of group trip dates for the year ahead.

One group trip in February, which is still open for bookings, and a second 7-day trip in October/November.

Highlights include the breathtaking Roman remains at Leptis Magna and Sabratha, among the best preserved anywhere on earth.

We also take in the UNESCO recognised oasis town of Ghadames, which sits on the Algerian border in the Sahara. It’s here we’ll have chance to learn about life in the desert from Tuareg tribes and take in the beautiful surrounding desert scenery.

We also visit the capital Tripoli and cross the rugged Jebel Nafus hills on a journey across North West Libya.

Both trips are available to book via the link below, but please be quick if you want to join us in February, as we have to send off documentation soon.

You can also send our team an email if you have any questions to – [email protected]

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

Photos – Michael Zervos, Karin Sinniger, Untamed Borders

24/11/2024

In April 2025 we’re running a brand new trekking adventure, taking in the newly formed Zagros Mountain Trail, in Iraqi Kurdistan.

You can become one of few international visitors to tread the new 215km route by joining us on the trip, which takes in the region’s breath-taking scenery and passes many ancient villages.

The exciting new trail connects remote communities, using ancient pilgrimage and shepherds’ paths, finishing at the foot of Iraq’s tallest mountain, Halgurd.

Over 15 days we’ll 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.

A wonderful insight into rural Kurdish life, the area’s stunning mountain landscapes and the history of the region. We’ll also have time to explore the city of Erbil.

You can book now on this new adventure by visiting our website or email – [email protected] – for further details.

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

21/11/2024

Our next bookable Pakistan in 7 Days group trip takes place in January/February 2025 and we’ll have more dates over the course of the year.

On the adventure we visit three of the nation’s fascinating and contrasting cities – Lahore, Islamabad and Peshawar. These photos were taken on a recent visit by our PR & Marketing Coordinator, David Harrison.

The road-trip starts in the Mughal city of Lahore, near India, home to some of the country’s finest historic sites.

We then drive through the lush agricultural valleys in the country’s north-east to the modern capital of Islamabad, which is surrounded by the rolling Magralla Hills.

We continue our journey west, to the nation’s oldest city – Peshawar – with its enthralling bazaars and street life, before return to Islamabad via the ancient Ghandaran sites at Takht e Bahi and Taxila.

A trip full to the brim with beautiful history, colourful street life and tasty food, truly capturing the vibrancy of Pakistani city life in this northern section of the country.

Book now via the link below or email – [email protected] – we also have longer routes available in Pakistan.

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

Photos – David Harrison

20/11/2024

A big highlight of our yearly trip calendar is taking guests to ski in Afghanistan, which is something we pioneered back in 2011.

We were the first company to organise ski adventures to the nation 14 years ago and we’ll be heading back in February 2025.

This 10-day skiing experience takes you to Bamian Province, one of Afghanistan’s most beautiful regions and we enjoy backcountry skiing in the Koh e Baba Mountain Range.

The unique trip also gives you an insight into Afghan skiing culture, which is unlike many around the world and we help support the local skiing community, plus join them at the Afghan Peaks Ski Race – a mixed ability event.

We will enjoy established routes and carve out our own new ones, in a region which still offers many untouched places to ski. Plus, we’ll take in the area’s fascinating history, visiting its Buddhist cave complex and former stupas, enjoy Afghan rural life, along with visiting the capital Kabul.

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

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

Photos – Didier Goudant and Neil Silverton

17/11/2024

New photos from last month’s group trip to the Horn of Africa, taking in parts of both Djibouti and Somaliland.

We have 2 more sets of dates on this route, which are available to book now – in January/February and October 2025.

We start in Djibouti City and traverse the country’s harsh landscape to Lac Abbe, which contains other worldly rock formations and limestone chimneys – it’s often a wonderful place to watch sunset and sunrise too, so we spend a night camping among the peaks.

We continue our road trip to Lac Assal, with its vast salt plains and shimmering blue lake, exploring what’s the lowest point in all of Africa.

It’s at this point we cross the desert into Somaliland, meeting seminomadic communities who live in this remote sitting along the way, before stopping at the Dhagax Khoure ancient rock art site. Its cave complex provides a lovely vantage point to see the vast surrounding bush.

We leave the country’s nature temporarily to explore the capital Hargeisa, spending time wandering through its bustling markets and stopping at some of the city’s other main sites. Next, we travel to the Las Geel rock paintings, which are among the most impressive in Africa, before heading to the coast to take in Berbera and its beaches.

The final stretch of the adventure involves a scenic drive through the country’s mountains to the town of Sheik, then we finish back in Hargeisa.

You can book on both our 2025 dates by visiting the link below or email – [email protected] – for further details:

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

Photos – Madelene Madsen

11/11/2024

We don’t mean to alarm you, but Christmas is only just around the corner and soon many of us will be buying presents for our loved ones.

Why not invest in a present with an important purpose this year and book a friend or family member a place on our virtual tours of Afghanistan – led by the nation’s first female tour guide, Fatima Haidari, who fled the country when the Taliban retook control of the nation.

Some of the proceeds of the tours go towards supporting education programmes for women and girls who are still in Afghanistan.

There are two online experiences to choose from, which immerse you into the history and culture of Afghanistan from the comfort of your own home - one focusing on the city of Herat and the second covering the centre of the country from Kabul to Herat.

Along with the guided tour, there will also be a Q&A session with Fatima. You can book now via the link below:

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

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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/

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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.