Destination: Nar Phu Valley and the Annapurna Massif
Essence of the trip:
This is a stunning trek into a secret part of Nepal that time forgot; an area once known as the “Forbidden Valley”. With a combination of scheduled and charter aircraft you will access, trek and wild camp in parts of central northern Nepal that very few outsiders have had the privilege of visiting. As an undeveloped area with no lodges, you will be camping in the wilderness and journeying through deep valleys, narrow paths and towering gorges experiencing awesome vistas across the infamous Annapurna Massif and the remote mountain ranges of the northern border of Nepal and southern Tibet.
This trip will give you:
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Details:
The flight into Kathmandu on a clear day really brings home the epic extent of the greater Himalayan range; to the north the horizon is filled with white snowcapped peaks, to the south the sprawling Indian subcontinent; this is a vista that will remain with you for the rest of your life. Kathmandu is the historic and cultural heart of Nepal and presents an intriguing mix of Hinduism, Tibetan Buddhism and a western mountaineering influence. Patan and Bhaktapur, its two major neighbouring cities, bear immense cultural and religious significances and as part of your high altitude acclimatization you will be taken on a gentle half day guided tour taking in the largest Nepalese-Hindu shrine of Pashupatinath and the largest Buddhist stupa in Nepal.
The following day you will journey north, flying from Kathmandu to Pokhara along the Kali Gandaki Gorge, with exceptional views of the Dhaulagiri and Annapurna ranges, and then by private fixed wing aircraft up to Hongde. Once at this high mountain airstrip, overshadowed by Pisang Peak (6,091 m) you will start your trek to Dhikur Pokhari. The route takes you downhill along the Annapurna Circuit with the opportunity to stop at local teahouses for a refreshing drink and a chance to interact with the local inhabitants. For your first night wild camping (3,060m above sea level) you will be surrounded by awe-inspiring views of the Annapurna Range to the west and Pisang Peak to the east.
Following a good night’s rest you trek further onto Chame and then to Koto (2,600m) from where your route turns north and you enter the ‘Hidden Valley’ – an area that until very recently was closed to trekkers. The valley remains relatively untouched by modern life and the inhabitants of the exotic communities of Nar and Phu, comprising roughly 350 Nepalese Tibetans, have retained their practices and cultures that date back centuries. Most of them are still engaged in Yak herding and farming. The trail initially enters a narrow gorge and follows the Phu Khola River climbing steadily, eventually passing behind a big waterfall and leading you to your high camp at 3,200m near Singenge Dhamamshala.
Today you’ll make an early start as there is an intense day of trekking ahead. Shortly after starting out the trail divides, either dropping down to Nar Phedi or continuing north to Nar village, your next port of call. Depending on our progress you should arrive in Kyang by early afternoon giving you plenty of time to enjoy the scenery in this truly wild valley. From Kyang the trail cuts into the rocks high above the Phu Kohola River giving you spectacular views into the upper Nar Phu Valley. Once at Phu village, you either have the opportunity of a full rest day or exploring the route into Tibet a little further up in the valley.
Day 11 will see you cross the Phu Khola River at Nar Phedi (two bridges) and climb steeply up under the north face of Pisang Peak and into Nar where you will enjoy a traditional Nepalese meal with a local family before spending the night camping on the out skirts of the village. The next couple of days are short but you will have to climb steeply to reach Kanmgla Phedi by lunchtime on day 13 in order to rest and prepare for the high pass crossing the next day. You will camp by the small lake often referred to as the ‘Ice Lake’ due to its milky blue colour. The penultimate day of your epic exploration of Nepal is a long one, however it is very rewarding and will leave you with a sense of achievement that is hard to replicate. You cross the high Kang La pass (5,280m) via a very steep ascent to the top of the pass where there are some breathtaking views of the Annapurna massif and plenty of incredible photo opportunities. From the top it is a fast descent to the valley floor and the village of Ngawal where there is time for a quick lunch with the local community before pressing on to you extraction point at Hondge.
This trip will take you to an exceptionally remote part of the Himalaya, giving you a rare insight into the secluded communities that survive at this high altitude. Whilst the trek is sure to be challenging, the earned experiences will stay with you a lifetime.
If you are interested in taking this trip and would like to discuss it in more detail with our team of experts get in touch here or call us on 0207 426 9899 (UK) or 1-888 341 9663 (US) to start planning your trip.
Charley Boorman’s Interview by Epic Tomato
Epic Tomato caught up with actor and motorbike adventurer Charley Boorman just days before his latest expedition to Canada to find out what inspires him and what he hopes to learn from his upcoming journey…
What inspired you to go on these adventures, to travel and see as much as you have seen?
I think it was my Dad; he was a film director (producing works such as Deliverance and Point Blank) and would shoot all over the world from the South Pacific to South Carolina and Brazil. As a child I went everywhere with him and was always in his movies…I vividly remember dad’s stunt man teaching me how to shoot a hand gun at age 4, leaning out of the window and shooting sign posts. I guess it was his way of getting a bit of free work…he used to say ‘if you go and sit over there I will give you a tricycle’. Becoming an adult I carried on making movies but was choosing them for location rather than for script. When I met my wife we went to Oz and Africa together to make films and this eventually led to making the TV shows. Now it’s my kids who come out to meet me wherever I am, from Cape Town to Kenya to Tokyo, I think it is really important to instil the travel ethos in kids.
How do you prepare for these kinds of trips, is there a routine that you follow?
(Jokingly) Aside from getting other people to do everything for you? (I am a great believer in delegation!)
When you do go on an adventure and film it, there are endless issues with visas, work permits, film permits etc…for example in Russia every region we travelled through required a separate letter of sponsorship to permit filming.
In terms of dealing with extreme cold or heat like you have had to in the past, is there anything that really gets you through it and enables you to cope?
When we trained with the ex-SAS guys for hostile environmental training, we were taught how to survive and react to border crossings (amongst loads of other things of course) and it was this in particular that I found so useful.
I reckon if you can survive all the preparation then the journey is easy. When you spend all that time and effort preparing for your journey not matter who you are or for how long you are going, it’s very easy to forget to enjoy it; you are always rushing towards your destination but at the end of the day does it matter if you make it that night…or you end up sleeping in the car?
The thing I have noticed over the years is that it’s not the things that that go off without a hitch you remember, it is the things that go wrong; the break downs, the ‘dodgy’ situations, the immigration officials demanding money off you and the ensuing arguments that really stick in your mind…
Is there anything you miss whilst you’re away…something you always take with you?
It’s funny, you fantasise about food a lot; travelling through Africa and Mongolia and all those sorts of places you find there is not much to eat and the food you can buy in shops is not that great, I guess because the indigenous population are so self-sufficient.
So it’s rations all round?
Yeah, a lot of the time we go for those gooey, orange boil in the bags … not very pleasant and it’s at times like those when I start really craving one meal in particular, and strangely enough it is one that I don’t even have that much at home; Bresaola…a dried beef Carpaccio with rocket, shavings of parmesan, olive oil and balsamic with a squeeze of lemon….it’s on my mind a lot oh as well as American hot pizza with extra cheese!
So you are off to Canada in the next few days and are planning to visit all the different provinces…
Yeah, we will be doing all sorts of different things from really fun extreme stuff to interacting with the indigenous Inuit of the north. It’s going to be interesting to just be in one country for once with much fewer language barriers yet massive contrasts between say the Northern provinces and over on the West Coast. I am particularly looking forward to going down to the border with Montana to the areas where there was prohibition to see the tunnels they used to smuggle the booze in from Canada.
Is there one particular thing you have you have learnt about yourself through all your travels?
When you are travelling, the mistakes you make tend to become more apparent so I always hope you can improve on them. I think I am much more tolerant now, I used to be very impatient; as a kid my nickname was short fuse but I think I have got a handle on that now.
I also now have huge faith in humanity; you hear terrible things about certain places; for example we went through Libya a few years ago…people’s impressions are of torture and tyranny but when you are there it is not nearly as bad…I am sure it all goes on, but we stopped in villages where we were made to feel incredibly at home and people were so friendly…the same in Egypt and Sudan…filled with some of the loveliest, beautiful people.
How did you find it riding through the deserts?
Hot! Really hot…but it’s great, it’s what you fantasize about when you are planning the trip; about being baking hot with tyre sets melting beneath your wheels.
It was brilliant at night, still baking hot, lying there in your little silk liner under just a mosquito net looking up at just the most incredible stars in a pitch black African night sky. Once we came off the road and made camp when it was dark, in the morning we woke up to find ourselves right in the middle of these 3 huge kilns that were used for making bricks out of mud…all we could see was a load of guys looking down at us and a whole lot of commotion.
What are you looking forward to most about Canada?
I am really keen to get up into the mountains and the wilderness. We have arranged a whole host of amazing activities including kayaking, heli-mountain biking and swimming with minke whales in Newfoundland tempered with some time with indigenous tribes whose ancient ways of living remain unchanged to the present day.
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Destination: Lower Kali Gandaki
Essence of the trip:
Grasp the opportunity to navigate a wild and remote river that sees only a handful of people a year. This journey offers an intoxicating combination of wild camping, trekking in the Himalaya, and a chance to embark on a white water rafting expedition down the stunning and truly isolated Kali Gandaki River in Nepal.
This trip will give you:
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A trek that allows you the opportunity to enjoy an evocative landscape that offers one of the most spectacular views of the Himalayas, taking in incredible peaks such as Dhaulagiri (8,167m) and Annapurna (8,091m). Individual summits can be picked out by the sun’s rays and each day of the trek reveals fresh glimpses of this environment and the inspiring people who live there.
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Details:
Travelling through three separate countries, Tibet, Nepal and India, the Kali Gandaki River runs for 391 miles and is older than the Himalayas. There are no roads to the river banks making this trip the epitome of isolation.
The adventure begins with a stay in Kathmandu before continuing on to Pokhara to begin the second phase of your trip and then onwards to the Lower Kali Gandaki. This gives you a good insight into the people and the Nepalese culture, as well as a good acclimatisation to the area before your river adventure takes off.
With an epic backdrop of lakes reflecting the might of the Himalayas in the distance, Pokhara is the perfect setting for the starting point of your trek. The next four days will take you on a spectacular trek around this region before taking to the waters.
The trek takes in some of the most spectacular views of the Himalayas, including peaks such as Dhaulagiri (8,167m). Throughout it you will stay in traditional tea houses and pass through the beautiful Modi River Valley, with lush valley walls, passing waterfalls with deep pools.
At the end of the trek you will begin preparing your for the next stage of adventure in the wilderness. getting backlinks Starting at Ramdi over the next five days you will raft through challenging rapids in some of the most beautiful and isolated stretches of river on Earth. At night you will make camp on untouched shores of the river.
The expedition guides will be on hand to teach and develop your rafting skills throughout the journey and it will ensure you are fully prepared for negotiating high grade rapids that will both intimidate and inspire you. These days of rafting will make you feel totally at one with your surroundings, and you can expect not to see another living soul in this beautifully isolated region.
On the eleventh day you will exit the river and head to the Chitwan National Park – 932 km² of some of the richest flora and fauna in the region, as well as being one of the oldest National Parks in Nepal.
If you are interested in taking this trip and would like to discuss it in more detail with our team of experts get in touch here or call us on 0207 426 9899 (UK) or 1-888 341 9663 (US) to start planning your trip.
Destination: Pacuare Valley and Ossa Peninsular
Essence of the trip:
A journey from the highlands of Costa Rica to its stunning coast that includes interacting with the indigenous and deeply private Cabecar tribe, extreme white water rafting and traversing the Ossa Peninsula by foot and kayak. This trip brings to life the extreme and varied environments of this tropical country and goes off the beaten track to arenas where few people travel. From beautiful highlands to beguiling lowlands, this is the quintessential tropical expedition.
This trip will give you:
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Details:
The trip begins in San Jose from where you will set out on the morning of the second day to Turrialba area for a first day of canyoning and running the Rio Pejibaye in kayaks, the perfect fix of adventure to introduce you to the expedition. Following this, the next day will see you travel to the stunning Pacuare rainforest to begin a days work of journeying through the verdant, mountainous region. The day will begin on mountain bikes with your guides taking you through extreme terrain before transferring by foot to walk for half a day to the remote Pacauare Valley where few tourists ever get to and brings an imposing sense of isolation.
In the Pacuare Valley you will meet and spend time with the Cabecar Indians who over the course of the next two days will bring you into their community, show you how to live off the land and introduce you to a way of life that is very spiritual and which few people have ever had access to. Included in this experience will be time spent learning how to hunt and then heading into the depths of the rainforest with tribal members to find food for the community.
After two days with the Cabecar you then begin the start of your epic river expedition through the Upper Pacuare valley on class 3 -4 rapids. An area of river that is seldom run, this is a spectacular experience high in the rainforested valley with lush jungle and cascading waterfalls around you. Over the following two days you will then raft the extreme sections of the Lower Pacaure, recognised as being one of the top rivers in the world for the beauty and of environment and quality of rafting.
Moving from the lower reaches of the Pacuare Valley your journey will continue to the lower level of the country and specifically the Ossa Peninsula where on the seventh day you will sea kayak along a stunning stretch of coastline that will test your physical fitness in the waters and also allow you to see some of the incredible marine life in the area. Moving inland, the following day sees the start of the two day Corcovado trek. This journey takes you deep into lowland rainforest where you will have the opportunity to see a wonderful variety of wildlife from monkeys and jaguar to eagles and American crocodiles. The area you will be trekking through is extremely remote and is rarely visited by tourists giving you an exceptional experience of isolated, immersive trekking in a beguiling environment.
At the end of the Corcovado trek you will arrive at the mouth of the Rio Sirena where you can see an abundance of caiman and sharks. From here you will take a boat to San Pedrillo and trek to Bahia Paraiso and Drake Bay where for the next two days you can enjoy the beautiful warming waters and relaxation that this tropical paradise brings. The Eco lodge where you will stay is a great location to end your adventure; relaxing in luxury tents with beds and electricity. Bahia is situated in an area only accessible by foot or boat. Here you can swim in its protected bay along the beach, sea kayak, snorkel or just relax. It is a stunning beach location; the birdlife is amazing and it really is exotic and off the beaten track place to relax and reflect on your adventure.
Take an unusual boat transfer out via the coastal mangroves to Sierpe, situated on the Rio Sierpe and catch your aircraft back to San Jose.
A fitting way to end your epic rainforest to sea expedition.
If you are interested in taking this trip and would like to discuss it in more detail with our team of experts get in touch here or call us on 0207 426 9899 (UK) or 1-888 341 9663 (US) to start planning your trip.
Destination: Chilean Patagonia
Essence of the trip:
An incredible expedition that will take you from mountain summit to the Pacific Ocean on one continuous journey. En route you will climb the imposing Tres Monjas, journey along remote Andean cowboy routes and negotiate some of the most challenging white water in the world in order to complete a unique journey through one of South America’s last true frontiers.
This trip will give you:
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Details:
After arriving into Argentina and meeting with your guides, you will be transferred for approximately six hours across the Andes Mountains to the Futaleufú Valley on the Chilean border, before spending your first night at a private lodge located on the shores of the mighty Rio Futaleufú.
The following morning you will undergo intensive horse riding training led by local cowboys, before heading off across some of the most rugged trails in the Southern Andes to a high mountain base camp.
The next leg of your expedition will then be spent summiting the towering, volcanic spires of Tres Monjas (2,010m). Beginning with mountain scrambling, the climb will get technically more difficult as the day extends, ending with a final rock climb to the pinnacle of the summit. From here you will be able to enjoy endless views across the wild Patagonian landscapes, before abseiling down the mountain face to the glacier below.
The following day you will trek down the Futaleufú Valley, before moving onto mountain bikes for the remainder of the descent. Cycling on downhill routes that are not at all well-travelled, you will carve your own path towards the shores of the Rio Futaleufú, where you will then take on some of the harshest white water rivers in the world.
Over the next two days you’ll negotiate seemingly endless Class V rapids on the Rio Futaleufú, before finally reaching the glacial Lake Yelcho, where you will set up your beach camp for the night. The final leg of your epic journey will then entail a kayak across the lake, and along a short river section before you finally reach the Ocean at the end of your totally unique adventure across Patagonia.
If you are interested in taking this trip and would like to discuss it in more detail with our team of experts get in touch here or call us on 0207 426 9899 (UK) or 1-888 341 9663 (US) to start planning your trip.
Destination: The Atlas Mountains and Sahara Desert
Essence of the trip:
A unique journey in wild mountains and remote desert. Beginning with time in a remote Berber village in the High Atlas Mountains, you’ll summit Mount Mgoun, the most challenging mountain in North Africa, before continuing your expedition by heading deep into the Sahara desert. Cross vast dunes and travel as nomads do in order to reach your final destination of the salt flats of Lake Iriqi on the Algerian border.
This trip will give you:
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Details:
As soon as you arrive into Marrakech, your expert guides will transfer you towards the Atlas Mountains, which are home to the highest and most dramatic peaks in North Africa. As you ascend higher and higher by 4×4, you will journey through increasingly dramatic mountain passes, before eventually heading off-road towards the incredibly remote Berber village of Magdaz, which is far beyond the reach of any normal tourist. On your arrival some hours later you will be welcomed with a traditional feast, which will be attended by the village elders, for a totally unique cultural experience.
The following morning the physical side of your adventure will begin, as you will begin a 2-day trek up Morocco’s second highest mountain, Mgoun. Due to its remote location, Mgoun is far less travelled than Morocco’s highest peak, Toubkal, so you are highly unlikely to see any other people at all as you make your way to the summit, which provides truly spectacular views as far as the iconic Erg Chebbi sand dunes on a clear morning.
After summiting Mgoun at sunrise, you will then descend to a 4×4 pick up point, before being transferred through the stunning Tiz n Outfi pass towards the Skoura Oasis east of Quarzazate, where you will spend the night at the Ben Moro Kasbah. The next day you will rise early to begin a trek towards the desert, where you will meet traditional nomadic tribes and learn first-hand how to survive within the unforgiving environment of the Sahara, before sleeping in a traditional camel wool tent that night.
The following day, you will rise before dawn to mount your camel and venture deeper into the desert, crossing the high dunes towards the Algerian border as you watch the sun rise in the distance. The soft sand and steep gradients make this journey impassable by any other means, so you will be covering ground that only nomads have ever previously traversed and will eventually end the day at a nomad encampment, where you will enjoy some traditional Saharan hospitality and a goat meshui.
Having used the age-old way of crossing the Sahara up to this point, the next morning you will increase the pace of things as you race a quad bike across the rolling sand dunes until you reach the salt flats of Lake Iriq, which is a vast barren area, ringed by mountains and famous for its mirages. Here a helicopter will be waiting for you and will take off from the flats to transport you back to Marrakech via an unforgettably scenic flight back over the Sahara and the stunning regions you will have journeyed through during your epic adventure over the last week.
If you are interested in taking this trip and would like to discuss it in more detail with our team of experts get in touch here or call us on 0207 426 9899 (UK) or 1-888 341 9663 (US) to start planning your trip.
Destination: The Apolobamba Mountain Range
Essence of the trip:
Climb a series of five peaks over 5,500 metres during an epic mountain expedition within the remote Apolobamba Mountain Range in the Peruvian and Bolivian borderlands. Then take a private light aircraft flight to land in the heart of the largest salt flats on the planet, for a unique South American adventure which is the very definition of life-enhancing.
This trip will give you:
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One of the most unique mountain-led journeys on the planet, where you’ll explore a region that very few others ever visit, culminating in the challenging ascent to the 6,100 metre icy summit of the awe-inspiring Chaupi Orco.
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Details:
After arriving into El Alto airport, the highest international airport in the world, you’ll spend your first day acclimatizing to the altitude by exploring the fascinating city of La Paz. The following morning you will then travel to Lake Titicaca, the largest lake in South America, where you will be able to enjoy a 3-hour walk across the island, before returning to La Paz and heading up Chacaltaya at 5,500m the next day in order to continue your acclimatization.
As your body finally adjusts to the altitude, the physical intensity of your trip will increase significantly, as you will take a 12-hour journey up through the pass of Pelecheco into the very heart of the Apolobamba range, which is very seldom visited, meaning that you are almost certain to be the only people there as you set up expedition tents for your first night under canvas.
From your base camp at the shores of Lake Chucuyo Grande, over the next two days you will then take on four different peaks of between 5,300m and 5,600m in height and enjoy incredible panoramic views that stretch out over the Peruvian and Bolivian Andes.
Having successfully scaled these, the following 72 hours will provide one of the highlights of your trip, as you will attempt to summit Chaupi Orci at 6,100m. With gradients of up to 50° in some sections, this is a challenging climb and will require a good level of confidence on the ice with equipment. Depending on your level of experience and technical expertise the acclimatisation peaks on this trip will help prepare you for this leg of the journey.
After descending back down the mountain eventually returning to La Paz, for a final highlight of your trip you will then take a light aircraft flight to the iconic Uyuni Salt Flats, where you will be one of only a handful of people to actually land upon the largest salt flats on the planet. This experience and the otherworldly scenery that will greet you on exiting your plane is something you will never forget and you will then spend the evening in a hotel that is built entirely out of salt.
The next morning you will drive across the altiplano to Sabaya, before continuing to Sajama National Park, which is home to Sajama, Bolivia’s highest mountain and a volcano that has been extinct for the past 10,000 years. The summit is covered by a permanent ice cap hiding all trace of any volcanic crater, so you will spend your final night in the mesmerising shadows of Sajama, before returning to La Paz the next day at the end of your epic adventure.
If you are interested in taking this trip and would like to discuss it in more detail with our team of experts please enquire here or call us on 0207 426 9899 (UK) or 1-888 341 9663 (US).
Destination: The Amazon & Rupununi Savannah
Essence of the trip:
Take on a truly epic adventure which takes you deep to a rarely visited corner of the earth. From Guyana’s deep, mist-shrouded uncharted jungle and mighty thundering waterfalls to its rolling savannahs; traverse this mysterious land by foot, dug-out canoe, 4×4 and horseback whilst learning vital survival skills and living with the Amerindians and Vaquero cowboys, which few have ever encountered.
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Details:
Flying into the Amazon jungle you will arrive in the heart of Amerindian territory, to the remote village of Surama. This ancient tribal setting is where Amerindian people have lived for hundreds of years, passing down generations of jungle skills, folklore stories and the ability to survive in the remote Amazon rainforest.
Here you will be briefed for the intrepid two week journey will be accompanied by ex SAS and ex military experts. You will be taught jungle survival skills in a challenging Amazon environment – your expert guides will instruct you in how to forage for food, what plants to avoid and how to hunt using traditional bows and arrows. There is no better place, or mentors, to guide you in the art of self preservation. You will need to accurately apply these vital insights throughout your time in the jungle.
The next morning journey into the lush Guyanan rainforest, home to some of the world’s largest species of rainforest animal – the elusive Jaguar and Giant Otters and Harpy Eagle – begins. The sheer remote, intrepid nature of this experience will enable you to encounter extraordinary wildlife usually witnessed only by wildlife explorers.
Initially on foot and then by boat, forging a path through this jungle wilderness is your challenge. For the next three nights you will sleep in natural shelters at a jungle base camp – the sounds of the jungle at night are utterly bewitching. There are very few opportunities in life to be truly enveloped in the pure sound of nature, and the sense of calm that brings; this is unquestionably one of them.
On day seven you will head back to Surama and settle back into lively village life whilst you de-kit and prepare to embark on the next phase of the trip. In the morning, swap dense jungle for Guyana’s dramatic Amazonian plains and journey to a remote Vaquero ranch in the isolated southern Rupununi savannahs of South West Guyana, by 4×4. Here you will be staying on the traditional ranch, sleeping as the cowboys do, in an authentic Barracon (bunkhouse). Resting in a hammock, sheltered by a palm thatched roof is a unique taste of Vaquero ranch life.
Spending time with the Vaqueros is a truly memorable experience. By day you will be cattle ranching on horseback, galloping alongside your hosts on the rolling expanses of the savannah. This is not an experience created for your benefit; you will be taking part in an activity vital for the Vaqueros. Camping at night and free form the dense jungle canopy, you will glimpse the clearest, awe-inspiring night skies.
On day eleven you’ll take a 4×4, followed by a boat trip to spend a night at Yupukari Village at the Caiman house Research project base. This base is literally in the middle of nowhere beside the Rupununi River. Here you’ll see passing caiman and the elusive anaconda and giant otters that congregate here below the giant lilies that tile the water’s surface. This is your last night in the jungle.
The following day it is time to leave Yupukari and fly to Georgetown for the final part of the trip. Jumping into a light air-craft, you will fly up over the jungle, skimming the canopy hiding remote areas, visited in previous days, towards the mighty Kaieteur Falls. Five times higher than Niagara, Kaieteur Falls is the world’s largest single drop waterfall. To fly above and then drop over these falls is a heart-stopping experience and one that will live long in the memory. Touching down on a remote airstrip at the top of the waterfall to explore the upper reaches of the falls; the sheer power of the cascading water is awe-inspiring. There are many unforgettable moments in this trip and the last day is no exception, ending this epic adventure on an absolute high.
If you are interested in taking this trip and would like to discuss it in more detail with our team of experts get in touch here or call us on 0207 426 9899 (UK) or 1-888 341 9663 (US) to start planning your trip.
Destination: Sarawak and Mulu National Park
Essence of the trip:
A trek through the pathless wilds of the Borneo rainforest, the oldest jungle in the world. Here you will spend time living with and learning from semi-nomadic Penan tribe before concluding your trip by summiting the majestic, jungle-clad peak, of Mount Mulu.
This trip will give you:
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Details:
Arriving in Miri, Sarawak, you will take a small light aircraft across swathes of the oldest rainforest in the world and land in Long Seridan to begin your trek the following day.
You will begin the start of the first day with a two hour trek to Long Meraan, a Penan village where you will meet your guides and porters and prepare your kit for the commencement of your entry into the jungle on the following day. Early next morning you will set off on a six to seven day trek towards the Mulu World Heritage Park on the Brunei border which is set in primary rainforest and is home to a number of the remaining semi-nomadic Penan.
Over the course of the next six days you will trek through dense and stunning sections of rainforest, where you will witness an incredible array of wildlife and spend time with the semi-nomadic tribes who you will meet as you pass through the forest. The trek will require you and your guides to carve out your own trails due to the remoteness of the area and by night you will set up expedition hammocks to sleep in above the jungle floor. As part of the experience of the trek, the Penan will teach you how to live off the jungle and your ability to learn off them will allow you to source additional supplies for the trek.
At the end of this week’s trek you will arrive into the incredible Mulu National Park. Here you will spend time exploring the park and its giant caves that feature regularly in television documentaries on the natural world.
The accommodation provided at the World Heritage Site is comfortable and offers a welcome respite after the week of living in the jungle. Following time exploring the park, you will begin your journey towards the summit of Mulu Peak. It starts with a trek to Camp 3; a beautiful but tough climb of 11 km reaching a noticeably cool 1,300 m. After overnighting you will trek the following day to Camp 4. This climb is a further 7 km through a mesmerising landscape and will take you to 1,800 m above sea level. On Day 13, you will begin the final ascent with an early start as you aim to summit the 2,376 m peak before sunrise, where you will have the pleasure of watching dawn break over the oldest rainforest on Earth. A truly life-enhancing experience.
The descent can be broken up with a stay at Camp 3 or Camp 1 depending on your pace and on the following day you will return to Mulu National Park Head Quarters for the conclusion of this intrepid and inspiring rainforest journey.
If you are interested in taking this trip and would like to discuss it in more detail with our team of experts get in touch here or call us on 0207 426 9899 (UK) or 1-888 341 9663 (US) to start planning your trip.
Destination: Mayan Ruins, jungle expedition and reef diving in Belize
Essence of the trip:
You will have a full immersion in traditional Mayan life. Learn about medicinal jungle plants and take in ancient Mayan ruins on your journey from Belize’s highest navigable peak to the worlds’ largest living reef on the outlying Caribbean coast.
This trip will give you:
- Unparalleled experience of the Mayan way of life, including the ruined settlements at Belize’s largest archaeological site, Caracol.
- Basic jungle training and survival skills imparted to you by experts in their field; in particular, what plants to eat and what to avoid, and how to tracks jungle animal species.
- The opportunity to climb the highest navigable peak in Belize, Victoria Peak, to gaze over the rainforest skyline from 3,000 feet over a landscape virtually untouched by humans.
- Experience of sea-kayaking in the cerulean waters that surround Caye Caulker.
- Diving in the second largest barrier reef in the world, encompassing the Hol Chan marine reserve.
PLAN YOUR TRIP
Details:
Arriving in Belize City you will be transferred to the capital, Belmopan, from where you will spend the night in San Ignacio to acclimatise to the humidity. The next day you will receive jungle training from our team of experts in preparation for your adventure deep into the Belize Jungle, where the famous Mayan ruins at Caracol await your arrival. In Caracol you will set up camp for the night within the ruins themselves, where, come morning, you will catch the first rays of the rising sun over the ancient site.
From here your trek will take you south, stopping at the archaeological sites, Nim Li Punit and Lubaantun, resting overnight at Sun Creek Lodge, Belize’s premier eco-adventure lodge.
You will begin your journey along the Cacao Trail early the following day, where you will meet with farmers from a Mayan village and learn about all the medicinal properties of the jungle flora.
The next day you will trek to the non-excavated Maya site at Uxbenka; easily the most important site in Southern Belize it is a staggering 600-700 years older than Lubaantun and Nim Li Punit. Your hike will also take you to the Yok Balum Caves, from where you will encounter the waterfalls at Santa Elena. Tonight will be spent in a self-erected base camp deep in the jungle.
On day six your trek will continue, leaving Santa Cruz Village behind you as you journey to Blue Creek Village, stopping along the way at Oke Bal Ha Cave. Your hike through this seething jungle will lead you to Blue Creek Cave for a refreshing swim in cobalt waters.
The following day you will travel by 4×4 to Cockscomb Jaguar Sanctuary in 4×4, where you will begin the Victoria Peak Trail; a three day hiking adventure. Wild camping in the forest by night we will reach Victoria’s summit on day nine. At 3,000ft this is Belize’s highest navigable peak which, on a clear day, affords astounding 360 degree views across the forest canopy.
On day ten you will descend Victoria to spend the night in a traditional Maya Guesthouse, in preparation for your short flight to the island of Caye Caulker where you will spend the next three days diving and sea kayaking across the second largest barrier reef in the world, encompassing the astonishing Hol Chan marine reserve. The motto on these paradisiacal shores is ‘Go Slow’. Shoes are hardly worn here on the sandy streets and there are only terrain buggies and bikes for transport. This is truly a counter-world.
On day 14 you will return to Belize City International Airport via light aircraft for your return flight home. hosting information . Please note we may need to extend the trip by 24hrs to allow for extra time in between flying and the last dive.
If you are interested in taking this trip and would like to discuss it in more detail with our team of experts get in touch here or call us on 0207 426 9899 (UK) or 1-888 341 9663 (US) to start planning your trip.
Destination: Baliem Valley
Essence of the trip:
Travelling into the wild, untouched valleys and highlands of West Papua, this expedition is one full of stunning landscapes. Trek between the traditional villages of the Dani tribe via swinging rope bridges and live amongst the local communities. This is a unique insight in to rituals and ancient way of life that few have the opportunity to experience.
This trip will give you:
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Details:
Having arrived into Jayapura, West Papua, and after a brief stop on the shores of Lake Sentani, home to many of the tribes in the area, your next stop is the highland capital of Wamena.
Surrounded in jungle, this is home to the enigmatic Dani tribe, The Dani Tribe, once fierce Neolithic warriors turned subsistence farmers, retain their traditional way of life which will leave you with the feeling that you’re stepping back in time; penis gourds, animal bone piercings are an instantly recognisable feature of the tribes dress. You will be staying as a guest in the homes of the Dani, living in the community and contributing to the day to day existence of the people. Friendships forged during your stay will be a precious memento from the trip.
Join the grand pig feast, sago making, learning how to use a bow and arrow and of course sample traditional food in oval Dani huts – you will experience age old tribal customs that make this expedition utterly unique.
During the trip you will be guided by our expert jungle explorers, and staff fluent in the local dialects, who have years of experience in this terrain. It is this insight about the wildlife, tribes and the environment from highly knowledge guides, which allow you to immerse yourself fully in this fascinating adventure.
Over the next 5 days in this truly spectacular southern part of the Baliem Gorge, carved out by the raging Baliem River, you will be walking and travelling through magnificent scenery that has barely changed in thousands of years. Trek long open trails, tread softly along high rope bridges and criss-crossing the river that snakes through the Baliem Valley, staying with the Dani in their traditional huts from village to village. The terrain in this end of the gorge is steep and challenging so be prepared for some hard walking, but the rewards are some of the most inspiring views on the planet.
Along the way you will inevitably meet many of the fiercely independent local Dani and Lani tribesmen and women as they go about their daily lives. Expect a warm greeting with many handshakes. Privileged access to these remote and primitive tribes is one of the unique features of this trip.
Each night you’ll be staying in the heart of the community, one of the village’s traditional Dani huts. This will allow you to really understand the villagers’ way of life in a very intimate and unique way. These oval spaced huts are authentic and basic, with open mud floors (on a karimat or a thermarest) – you will be huddled by the open fire with your host and his family members sleeping alongside you for company. Tents are an option if you do not wish to stay in the hut.
On the final day of your trip before you fly back to Jayapura, you will be fortunate enough to share in a unique experience in the village of Jiwika witnessing the Jiwika Mummy, a fascinating and age old aspect of Papua’s tribal and cultural history. Only the most revered tribal leaders or war commanders are preserved after their death. In addition you will also be privileged to share in a traditional Pig Feast with the local villagers. This ceremony marks the end of your tribal adventure, leaving you with a feeling of having being truly part of something extraordinary.
There is the opportunity to coincide the trip with the Baliem Valley Festival (8th – 11th August), a dramatic event that sees the Dani, Yani and Lani tribes converge on mass in a frenetic, colourful celebration of their arts, crafts and tribal diversity. A mock war performance is staged to commemorate those who died during inter-tribe fighting, and this visual spectacular concludes in a tribute to the peace that has reigned in this region for a number of years. This is the one and only time in the year when these tribal groups come together. Another great festival is on the 19th – 23rd June called the Sentani Lake festival – great for traditional arts and crafts – not to be missed.
If you are interested in taking this trip and would like to discuss it in more detail with our team of experts get in touch here or call us on 0207 426 9899 (UK) or 1-888 341 9663 (US) to start planning your trip.
Destination: Atacama Desert and the Bolivian Andes
Essence of the trip:
A unique expedition that will see you travel across the sun scorched Atacama Desert by horseback and 4×4, before you cross the border into Bolivia. There you will head to the stunning setting of the largest salt flats on Earth, before trekking to the summit of a volcano, ending an adventure that spans some of the most dramatic scenery in South America.
This trip will give you:
PLAN YOUR TRIP
Details:
After flying into Santiago and connecting with a domestic flight to Calama, you will be transferred to San Pedro and begin acclimatizing for your challenging expedition ahead. The following morning you will head to the Herradura Ranch, before beginning a 3-day horse trek through the incredible setting of the Atacama, a desert so vast at over 46,000 square miles that it can be seen from outer space.
Over the next 72 hours you will then travel by horseback through some of the most arid and diverse landscapes on the planet, making your way through both the Valley of the Moon, an eerie lunar-like landscape, and the stunning Cordillera de la Sal and camping in the wilderness each night.
After finishing your horseback journey at the deserted site of Lago Salado, which is today completely unpopulated but is renowned for its 2,000 year old ancient rock etchings, you will then cross the border by 4×4 and pass the mesmerizing Green and Red Lagoons to the Uyuni salt flats, which are the largest of their kind on Earth. This is a simply unforgettable place to experience and you will then spend the night in a hotel made entirely of salt, before watching the sun rise over the flats the next morning.
Having moved on to the base of the Tunupa Volcano, you will spend the day battling to the summit at 5,500m, which is not a technical climb but is a serious challenge due to the altitude involved. The following morning you will be picked up by a private light aircraft and taken on a spectacular flight over the salt flats, past the summit of the highest mountain in Bolivia and along the range of volcanoes on the Chile/ Bolivia border back to La Paz, which will be the final destination of this unique dual-country epic adventure.
If you are interested in taking this trip and would like to discuss it in more detail with our team of experts touch here or call us on 0207 426 9899 (UK) or 1-888 341 9663 (US) to start planning your trip.
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Destination: Damaraland and Kaokoland
Essence of the trip:
Explore one of the largest wilderness areas in Africa on a unique journey through the dramatic, arid landscapes of Namibia. On this trip, inspired by the locations and scenes of the Oscar nominated film Mad Max: Fury Road, we’ll take you by helicopter up to the rugged and desolate Skeleton Coast where you’ll explore the remains of old ships as you trek along the beaches that we’re the backdrop to the epic dystopian action film. For the next eight days you’ll be taken off the grid, trekking and wild camping in some of the remotest and hostile regions in Africa as you lookout for desert adapted elephant and rhino along the way.
This trip will give you:
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An incredible first 24 hours in Namibia, where you will helicopter along the Skeleton Coast, before landing on the summit of the highest mountain in the country, where you’ll camp for the night.
PLAN YOUR TRIP >>
Details:
After disembarking your international flight in Windhoek, you will be met by your expert guiding team and will then immediately board a helicopter for a stunning flight along the epic Skeleton Coast.
The following day you will leave Brandberg and travel onto the spiritual and sacred Twyfelfontein Rock by foot. Departing north, you’ll cross through central Damaraland and continue further north via the Doros Crater into the home of the Huab and Aba Huab Rivers, where you will finish your second day wild camping before an early morning departure into the Palmwag area.
For the next two days you’ll trek through the Palmwag concession and track illusive desert-adapted elephant, lion and rhino on foot, staying in mobile bush camps each evening. Venturing further north to the border Kaokoland and the Hoanib River, you will continue to track game by day and wild camp by night for a true back to nature wilderness experience.
Over the following three days you will continue to journey further north via the Khumib River to the Orupembe region, which is home to one of Africa’s last traditional tribes, the Himba, who are semi nomadic cattle farmers. Camping close to the Himba, you will witness the unique culture of this ancient indigenous tribe first hand in a way that very few other travelers will ever do.
The final two days of your trip will be spent further west, as you head through the Hartman Mountains and into the breathtaking landscapes of the Hartman Valley, where you will conclude your expedition. This trip will therefore allow you to experience some of the most unpopulated, diverse landscapes on Earth, using a combination of trekking, tracking and cultural insight to allow you an unparalleled insight into the deserts and wild African bush of Namibia.
If you are interested in taking this trip and would like to discuss it in more detail with our team of experts touch here or call us on 0207 426 9899 (UK) or 1-888 341 9663 (US) to start planning your trip.
Destination: Langjokull glacier & Icelandic interior
Essence of the trip:
Challenge yourself on an expedition into the dramatic wilderness of Iceland’s remote interior. Descend into untouched ice caves, race snowmobiles across the top of one of the largest glaciers in Europe and break new trails in unexplored mountain ranges, during this truly rare and demanding journey.
This trip will give you:
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Details:
After landing into Reykjavik, your expert guiding team will transfer you straight out into the stunning Iceland countryside, where you will be briefed on the expedition ahead, before spending the night in a private lodge. At first light the next morning you will then set out in a Super Jeep towards the foot of the Langjokull glacier, which you will then drive up onto using the unique, all-terrain capabilities of your vehicle.
After you have summited the enormous glacier at c. 4,500 feet above sea level, a fleet of snowmobiles will be waiting for you, which you will then race across the ice for the rest of the day as you travel further and further away from all civilisation into the heart of the Icelandic wilderness. Eventually you will stop and set up a base camp of expedition tents with the help of your guiding team, before you are kitted out with rope harnesses, crampons and other technical equipment in order to descend beneath the surface into a gigantic ice cave.
After exploring the enormous subterranean ice cathedrals that very few other people will ever have previously glimpsed, you will then return to base camp and with favourable conditions will hopefully be able to enjoy the thrilling natural phenomenon of the Northern Lights, as they illuminate the night sky in a kaleidoscope of colours above you.
The following morning you will have a day of vigorous polar survival training, as your expert mountain and ex-military guides instruct you in a wide range of disciplines, from avalanche survival to polar navigation. You will then begin the next phase of your adventure by setting out across crevasses towards the imposing mountains that tower over the glacier. Here you will ice climb and snowshoe through largely unvisited peaks before digging a snow hole to shelter from the elements within that night.
The experience of watching the sun rise over the mountains and glacier the next morning from the natural enclave of your snow hole is something you are highly unlikely to forget. You will then spend the next few hours making your way back to base camp, before starting your return journey to Reykjavik at the end of your extreme Icelandic adventure.
If you are interested in taking this trip and would like to discuss it in more detail with our team of experts get in touch here or call us on 0207 426 9899 (UK) or 1-888 341 9663 (US) to start planning your trip.
Destination: Lyngen Alps
Essence of the trip:
Sail into a labyrinth of Arctic fjords in pursuit of outstanding powder snow with this unique physical challenge. Journeying through the fjords each night by private boat will give you access to exhilarating new terrain to ski each morning. Expect undisturbed, flawless off-piste skiing as far as the eye can see and unparalleled views from every peak.
This trip will give you:
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Details:
After touching down in Tromso, barely 1,000 miles from the North Pole, head to the harbour and step aboard the Albarquel, your majestic sail boat, which was built in 1957. Combining authentic design elements with the comforts you’ll need, you’ll feel perfectly at home here for the next seven days as you explore remote fjords and towering mountain ranges that are inaccesible by any other means.
Over the course of the week you will have unparallel access to isolated regions within the fjords and will be able to enjoy the ultimate off-piste experience as you soar down totally untouched slopes. The Lyngen Alps offer some of the most breathtaking extreme skiing and scenery in the world and will be reachable directly from the deck of your boat, giving you maximum time on the mountains themselves.
Each morning you’ll have an early start in order to make the most of the best possible weather conditions. Having been kitted out, you’ll follow guides who are experts in the region and start your ascent up the mountain. Depending on your fitness level, ski touring from summit to sea can take anything from 2 to 6 hours, but as soon as you reach the peak you’ll see exactly why it was worth the effort. After ascending to well over 1,000m, you will be able to look out over mile after mile of breathtaking views and snow-capped peaks below, as you soak up the incredibly fresh mountain air.
If, at any point, you feel like taking a break from the slopes, you’ll be able to spend a few hours kayaking alongside the boat with the stunning fjords and snow-capped Lyngen mountains as your backdrop. Alternatively, throw a line out and see what you can catch to add to the host of local, fresh seafood dishes prepared by your expert crew each evening.
One night of your trip you will also have the opportunity to spend a unique evening with a Sami (Lap) family in their Lavvo camp. The Sami people live in the depths of the mountains, herding reindeers across northern Norway as they have done for many generations and will share both traditonal Sami hospitality and a fantastic insight into their culture and lives with you.
At the end of each day, you’ll be able to take in ever-changing surroundings from the deck of your boat as you silently head towards the next isolated port of call and watch the sun go down behind snow-covered peaks, casting golden shadows across the easterly mountains. If you’re looking for a trip that is only a short flight away but will absorb you into a harsh but majestic polar environment, then this unique Alpine and Arctic adventure will provide the ultimate distraction.
If you are interested in taking this trip and would like to discuss it in more detail with our team of experts get in touch here or call us on 0207 426 9899 (UK) or 1-888 341 9663 (US) to start planning your trip.
Destination: Liverpool Land
Essence of the trip:
Travel to one of the world’s final frontiers for a polar adventure that culminates with summiting a previously unclimbed mountain peak. Master a range of unique methods of Arctic travel, from husky sledding to snowmobiling, snowshoeing to cross country skiing and high-speed kite surfing, as you journey to the remote Northern Mountain range, where your trip ends with a mountain ascent.
This trip will give you:
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Experience of travelling above the Arctic Circle by kite, dog sled, snowmobile, cross-country ski and snowshoe.
PLAN YOUR TRIP
Details:
An intrepid adventurer’s nirvana, you will begin this trip in Rekyajvik, Iceland, where you’ll receive a full brief from your guides, map your route, analyse weather conditions and prepare all your kit before flying on to Constable Point in Greenland.
On arrival you will begin the initial leg of your expedition by spending two days dog sledding over Hurry Fjord, through the Kalkdal valley and onto the frozen Denmark Straits. Following the east coast of southern Liverpool Land, your journey will weave over sea ice and past icebergs, as you make your way through the shadows of a series of imposing, unclimbed mountain peaks, located immediately west of Neild Bay.
In a land too inhospitable for anyone to live in permanently, you will spend up to eight hours each day aboard your dog sled, negotiating the ice and snow and resting in local trapper huts or polar tents en route. Carrying all your kit, rations and camping equipment with you, this trip will test your survival and practical skills in the harshest of conditions, which have pushed polar explorers to their limits.
The next day you will then board a snowmobile and race across the snow until you reach base camp close to 71º north, where you’ll put your polar survival skills into practise and erect expedition tents. From base camp, you’ll traverse the surrounding landscape by cross country skiing and snow-kiting to reach the Northern Range. Here you’ll climb one of its remote, unnamed and more than likely unclimbed summits using a combination of ice climbing and snowshoeing, for an incredible climax to your adventure.
On return to base camp, you’ll then be extracted by helicopter and enjoy a stunning aerial view of the terrain you have journeyed through as you make your way back to Constable Point, flying over the untouched wilderness you’ll have survived within during the course of your unforgettable polar adventure.
If you are interested in taking this trip and would like to discuss it in more detail with our team of experts get in touch here or call us on 0207 426 9899 (UK) or 1-888 341 9663 (US) to start planning your trip.
Destination: The Pinnacles, Pirit Hills
Essence of the trip:
Journey to the end of the world on our most southerly expedition, which will transport you to the planet’s least explored continent for a truly one-of-a-kind adventure. Here you will venture by ski, sled and the adrenaline inducing method of snow-kiting through regions that few have ever attempted to travel through, taking in the imposing granite Pinnacles of the Pirit Hills region and the dramatic Independence Mountains.
This trip will give you:
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A journey through vast, spectacular scenery deep into the interior of Antarctica, with the opportunity to climb never before ascended peaks and explore seemingly endless polar landscapes en route.
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The chance to put your snow-kiting skills to the test and glide at high speeds over the frozen wilderness.
PLAN YOUR TRIP
Details:
Flying in from Patagonia, you will land on Antarctica’s permanently frozen ice blue runway in Patriot Hills at 80 degrees south – only 10 degrees from the South Pole itself. In a land where the sun never sets at all for half of the year, you will spend your first day acclimatizing to the otherworldly environment of Antarctica, bathed in 24-hour daylight.
After your first night out in the polar elements, your guides will instruct you on the specialist polar equipment and skills that you will need to complete your expedition and you will then spend time getting to grips with the pack sled hauling and cross-country skiing techniques that will provide your key methods of travel.
Once all of the equipment kit has been loaded onto a light aircraft, you will take a short flight towards the Pirit Hills, giving you the chance to enjoy an aerial view of the awe-inspiring landscapes of the Ellsworth Mountains, the Independence Range and vast plains of completely untouched terrain – which will be your only company for the next 10 days.
The Pirit Hills have had very few visitors and have never been fully explored. Your trip will therefore be a genuine journey into the unknown and will demand an extensive range of Polar survival skills and endurance, so your expert guides will instruct you on techniques such as how to build emergency shelters, navigate safely across crevasses and a vast range of other skills that you will need to draw upon during the course of your expedition.
For the next five days you will then journey across the interior of Antarctica, hauling a sled or using cross country skis as you navigate through mesmerizing vistas, where dramatic granite rock pinnacles pierce through the seemingly endless sea of snow and ice. Once you’ve mastered the sled and skis your guide will assist you on embarking on a days snow-kiting excursion across the ice caps at high speeds. En route you will have a real possibility of discovering fossils and fallen meteorites that scar the landscape and you will also be able to scale previously unclimbed peaks within the dramatic Independence Mountain range. As night falls you’ll bed down in ice dens that have been temporarily carved for you where you can watch as the Aurora Australis flickers over the sky.
The sense of achievement when you finally arrive back at Patriot Hills will be incredible, as you will have safely completed a true polar expedition and will have explored one of the most geographically and climatically extreme environments on Earth, accessing places that no-one has ever been before.
If you are interested in taking this trip and would like to discuss it in more detail with our team of experts get in touch here or call us on 0207 426 9899 (UK) or 1-888 341 9663 (US) to start planning your trip.
