November 2022, London: The adventure tour operator Untamed Borders is resuming fixed-date trips to Afghanistan. The departures will mark a return to the Central Asian country – where Untamed Borders launched – for the first time in over a year.

The company's founder James Willcox took a small group of guests to Afghanistan in late September 2022. It was the first time that he had guided a trip to the country after two years.

The trip covered 2,000km in 14 days, through some of the least-visited parts of Afghanistan. Starting in Kabul, the group visited Bamiyan and the lakes at Band-e-Amir, then took the less-travelled Central route to Herat via the historic Minaret of Jam, where they camped beneath the stars. From Herat, the group visited Lashkar Gah, Kandahar and Ghazni – all jewels in the history of Pashtu civilisation, marked by the arch at Bost and the towers of Ghazni that date back to the 11th century.

This cultural itinerary is now available to book for departures in 2023, as well as shorter trips, skiing and trekking itineraries.

Untamed Borders founder James Willcox says: “Afghanistan holds a very special place in my heart. It was the first country where Untamed Borders started guiding, back in 2008, and we have pioneered all sorts of trips and projects there, from skiing and marathons to horseback riding and kayaking. Between 2008 and 2020, I was visiting two or three times per year.

“Over the past year, a lot has changed in Afghanistan. Some friends have left the country and many others have had their lives turned upside down. The route we chose was one that allowed us to visit many areas that were previously impossible or very difficult to visit, due to security concerns over the past decade.

“The decision to start working again in Afghanistan was not easy, but ultimately our mission is to engage and exchange through tourism. We try to ensure that the guests we bring understand the country's context, and to make sure the people and communities we visit benefit as much as possible. How we do that is always a work in progress, but we will continue to bring tourists to parts of the world that tourists rarely see and ensure that the interaction is done on a personal, human scale.”

To read more on the itineraries, visit Untamed Borders online or email info@untamedborders.com.

To request more information, images or interviews with Untamed Borders founder James Willcox, please contact press@untamedborders.com.

Extra information for editors:

Founded in 2007, adventure travel company Untamed Borders runs bespoke trips and small group adventures to some of the world's most interesting and inaccessible places. Specialising in trips to Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Middle East, East Africa, former Soviet Central Asia and the Caucasus, Untamed Borders takes over 250 guests a year to unusual and largely unvisited areas of the world.

Originally formed by professional fixers supporting journalists wanting to access difficult areas of the world, Untamed Borders still also serves media professionals today. Travelling in small groups and using local guides, the Untamed Borders mission is to add positive benefit to the countries it visits.

For more information or images please contact press@untamedborders.com