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Spring Newsletter 2025

In this issue:

  • A note from James
  • Upcoming trips
  • New trips, refreshed Afghanistan routes & the Zagros Mountains Trail
  • Untamed Borders in the media

A note from James Willcox, Founder

Last month, I led Untamed Borders’ first group tour to Syria since the new government came to power in December 2024. Before departure, a common question I was asked was – “is there anything left to see?” After more than a decade of conflict, it’s a fair question. But the answer, without hesitation, is yes.

Despite the hardships Syria has faced, the resilience of its people and the depth of its history endure. We visited Damascus, Krak des Chevaliers, Aleppo, Hama, Homs and Palmyra — places that have stood for centuries, witnessing the rise and fall of empires, and now witnessing the slow, determined process of recovery.

In Damascus, the ancient streets of the Old City were alive with energy. The Umayyad Mosque remains as majestic as ever, and the narrow alleys bustled with people going about their daily lives. At Krak des Chevaliers, the mighty Crusader fortress has survived remarkably well, standing as a testament to the region’s layered history. We were lucky to spend Easter Sunday with Syriac Christians in Homs, a city that was once at the heart of the conflict. We shared sweets and celebrations, and it was a moment of real connection — one that will stay with me for a long time.

Aleppo, perhaps the most heavily damaged of the cities we visited, left a deep impression. The covered bazaar — once one of the most vibrant in the Middle East — is slowly and painstakingly being restored. We wandered through parts of the souk where commerce is cautiously returning, and it was a moving experience to see traders setting up shop again, in the ancient corridors. It remains one of my favourite bazaars in the world.

Throughout the journey, we spoke to Syrians from all walks of life. Many were unsure what the future would bring, but almost all spoke of a palpable sense of relief — as though a heavy burden had been lifted. One man described the way small moments still caught him off guard: seeing people freely exchanging money in public, something that once carried a heavy prison sentence, would for a second make him tense up, before he remembered that it was allowed again.

Visiting Syria at such a pivotal time was both a privilege and a responsibility and we will continue to visit in a way that is both respectful to both the safety of our guests, as well as to the people of Syria. Future dates are available to book online now, with our next group department in September 2025 and we will have more trips to come in 2026.

James

Upcoming Trips 

We have a number of brand new trips ahead in 2025 & 2026, to new group trip destinations, plus lots of new dates across our long standing routes and some refreshed old favorites in Afghanistan. We’ve also picked out a few for the months ahead, including two upcoming trips to Libya, two group trips to Kurdistan and we’ve now opened bookings for the Islamabad & Erbil Marathon group trips. You can find a full list of all our upcoming group itineraries below and online.

Libya

We have 7-day group tours to Libya departing in October 2025 & February 2026. On the trips we take in some of the highlights of the nation, beginning in Tripoli, where we explore the vibrant Old Medina, its lively fish market, scenic seafront, the Arch of Marcus Aurelius, and several other historical landmarks. From there, we venture inland, leaving the coast behind as we journey through the Jebel Nafusa mountains and into the Sahara Desert, eventually arriving at the renowned oasis town of Ghadames. Here, we dive into Berber traditions and wander the maze-like streets of the UNESCO-listed Old Town, a site steeped in centuries of trade and history, surrounded by a sea of sand.

Following our desert adventure, we head back towards the Mediterranean to discover some of the best-preserved Roman ruins anywhere in the world. Our first stop is Leptis Magna, where we marvel at grand ruins such as the Arch of Septimius Severus and an expansive amphitheatre. Then it’s on to Sabratha, once one of the key cities of the Roman Tripolis, renowned for its majestic seaside theatre. We finally return to Tripoli to round off the trip. You can see photos from previous tours here and here.

In November this year we’re also launching a brand new group trip to the rarely visited South of Libya. On this 9-day adventure we fly from Tripoli to the deep Saharan South around Sebha, before going on to visit ancient pyramid tombs, along with the desert town of Ghat, near the border with Algeria and Niger. We then move on to the Jebel Acacus – one of the great sets of mountains in the middle of the Sahara, before finishing off by visiting the incredible Oases of Ubari, a set of stunning lakes among the dunes. This trip is bookable now and you can see photos of the region here.

Kurdistan & Newroz

Iraqi Kurdistan is an area which offers beautiful mountainous scenery and a mosaic of different communities, with a fascinating history. On our 7-day group trips we begin in the city of Erbil, visiting its ancient Citadel, one of the oldest continually inhabited places on earth, along with the nearby bustling bazaars. We then head out into the countryside, travelling to Lalish, the spiritual home of the Yazidi people, where we explore the area’s unique conical religious sites. We carry on the road-trip to the cliff top monasteries around Aqosh and on to Duhok, through the Zagros Mountains. Along the way we visit the enormous Chwarstoon Cave and spend the night in the historic walled, hill top town – Amedi.

From here we arch back through the mountains, driving a stretch of the famous Hamilton Road, with time to visit waterfalls, historic villages and the Rawanduz Canyon, before heading to the vibrant city of Sulaymaniyah. The trip then finishes back in Erbil. Our next cultural group trip to Kurdistan departs in October 2025, which is bookable now.

Our March 2026 departure along this route, will add in an extra day to take in the enormous Newroz celebrations celebrations in the town of Akre. This is the centre of the New Year celebrations in Iraqi Kurdistan, drawing thousands of people to the mountainous area, where they light up the hill sides carrying flaming torches. There are also large firework displays, street food and celebrations throughout the streets – a real sight to behold.

You can see photos from Kurdistan here and here.

Marathons

Sport is dear to our hearts at Untamed Borders and every year we aim to take guests to unusual and adventurous marathons around the world. Over the next 12 months we will be organising group tours to the Erbil Marathon in Iraqi Kurdistan and to the Islamabad Marathon, in Pakistan.

We have visited Kurdistan’s largest mixed-gender sporting event for a number of years now, a wonderful race in a vibrant city. In October we’ll be returning again on a 6-day trip, where we will not only take part in a fantastic race, but also go on a city tour around Erbil, visit the spiritual home of the Yazidi people in Lalish, plus spend time on a training day in the mountainous Kurdish countryside. We will also link up with and support an organisation called Free To Run, which empowers women affected by conflict, through sport and in particular, running. There are also half-marathon, 10km and 5km race options.

Meanwhile, in January 2026, we will be returning to the Islamabad Marathon in the Pakistani capital. This year was our inaugural visit to the race, which is the largest running event in the country. In fact, one of our guests, Norwegian Ragnhild Audestad won the women’s race last year – an amazing achievement. The mixed-gender race weaves through the modern capital, with the backdrop of the beautiful Margalla Hills. On the 4-day trip we will also take guests on a city tour, visiting some of the main sites in the capital, including the famous Faisal Mosque, the Lok Virsa Museum, the Pakistan Monument, plus the Raja Bazaar, in nearby Rawalpindi.

Future Departures 

Below is a full list of our upcoming and future group departures for 2025, along with a number of departures we’ve announced for 2026 (there will be more announced over the course of 2025). We can also organise private trips to any of these destinations.

– Afghanistan

– Algeria (10 day group trips in November 2025 & February 2026)
– Djibouti & Somaliland (9 day group trip in October 2025 & January 2026)
– New – Iran (10 day group trip in September 2025)
– Iraq

– Libya

– New – Mauritania (13 day trip group trip in April 2026)
– Pakistan

– Somalia (Mogadishu) (3 day group trips in October 2025 – two options & February 2026)
– Syria (7 day group trips in September 2025)
– Tajikistan Trek – Pamir Mountain Lakes (16 day group trip in August 2025)
– New – Turkmenistan (8 day group trip in May 2026)
– Yemen

In addition to the above, we can also get in touch for more information and suggested itineraries in:

  • Chad
  • Central African Republic
  • DRC
  • Eritrea
  • Ethiopia
  • Georgia
  • India
  • Kazakhstan
  • Kyrgyzstan
  • Lebanon
  • Puntland
  • Saudi Arabia
  • Tunisia
  • Uzbekistan

Latest News

New trips 

Our team have been working hard to craft lots of new adventures for the coming 12 months – including new group trips to Iran, an adventure in Turkmenistan and Mauritania.

In September this year we will take guests on a 10-day trip, soaking up the highlights of Persia. On the tour we will visit the capital Tehran, the nearby Alborz Mountains, Kashan, Isfahan, Yazd and the cultural capital, Shiraz – a tour filled with beautiful Islamic architecture and creativity, while enjoying the rich culture and beautiful food of Iran.

We also have a new group trip to the isolationist state of Turkmenistan, departing in May 2026. On the 8-day trip we’re visiting the capital Ashgabat, the ancient city of Merv, Mary, the Darvaza Gas Crater, Konye-Urgench, Turkmenbashi and the Yangikala Canyon.

We’ve also been seeking out new routes in Africa, including a new 13-day group trip to the desert nation of Mauritania, in April 2026. We’ll visit the capital Nouakchott, then head into the Sahara, visiting ancient oasis towns and rock art sites, rugged mountains, swim in natural pools and camp under star filled skies. We also take in the natural phenomena known as the “Eye of Africa” and the adventurous can finish by riding aboard the famous Iron Ore Train.

Plus we’re also adding in extra travel writing tours with award winning journalist, Autumn Phillips, visiting Jordan, North East India and South Sudan over the next 12 months. On these trips you will not only visit beautiful and fascinating parts of the world, but our collaboration with Autumn, also gives you the chance to enjoy travel writing masterclasses. You can visit Autumn’s website for more details and to book on the trips.

Refreshed Afghanistan routes

We’ve been organising trips to Afghanistan since 2008, it’s the country that sparked the Untamed Borders journey and we’ve guided guests around all parts of the nation over the past 17 years.

We’re always looking to offer exciting new angles to our tried and tested routes and offer new adventures for our guests. In 2026 we’ve decided to tweak a few of our Afghanistan trips. Our popular Afghanistan Central Route will be extended by a day (becoming 16-days long), so guests can travel from Peshawar, in Pakistan, to Kabul by road, over the infamous Khyber Pass – a truly epic journey, which formed an important part of the ancient Silk Road. From Kabul we will then continue the road trip on our traditional Central Route, via Bamian Province, the Minaret of Jam and to Herat, before looping south to the Pashtun heartlands of Lashkar Gah, Kandahar & Ghazni, finishing back in Kabul.

Our Afghan In 9 Days trip, will now become a 10 day tour. This amended new route will begin in Kabul, we’ll then explore the beautiful mountainous Bamian Province, before heading north to Mazar e Sharif and Balkh (during the winter trips we will also watch a game of Buzkashi). We then fly back to Kabul and on to the stunning historic city of Herat for a number of days (a new addition to this route), before we then finish back in Kabul.

We hope you can join us in Afghanistan in 2026.

Zagros Mountain Trail

Last month we embarked on our first group trekking tour along the newly formed Zagros Mountain Trail, in Iraqi Kurdistan. Our group had the privilege of being one of the first international tours to experience the route, which takes you all the way from gentle hills, past breathtaking canyons, to majestic snow-covered peaks, on the border of Iran.  The adventure allowed us to really get immersed into rural Kurdish life, starting in the village of Shush, just before the ancient city of Akre, and ended up on the foothills of Halgurd, Iraq’s tallest mountain. Over two weeks we weaved through the stunning mountainous scenery, experiencing Kurdish culture and hospitality at its best.

We passed through small villages, shared delicious traditional meals and stayed in Kurdish homes along the journey, taking in the warm nights on the rooftops. As we crossed through the lush valleys & traversed dense forests, we met many small herding communities and at night could hear the call of wolves and coyotes. During the trip we also faced all sorts of weather conditions, from baking hot days and periods of rain, to snowstorms, near the historic mountain village of Saran. We also found out more about the famous Peshmerga fighters and skirted minefields, as we learned more about the challenges, which have faced the Kurdish people. This was a truly special trip, which we look forward to organising again in the future – immersing ourselves in the beautiful scenery and fascinating Kurdish culture.

Here are some photos from this year’s trekking adventure and you can register an interest for our 2026 trip now by emailing – info@untamedborders.com (dates to be confirmed in the coming months).

Untamed Borders in the media

Our talented guide, Fatima Haidari, was featured in an extensive piece in The Independent regarding her inspirational story and the virtual tours of Afghanistan she organises with Untamed Borders. Fatima was also interviewed by RTS in Switzerland, which you can listen to here. Fatima’s next virtual tour takes place on the 13th May and is bookable now.

Elsewhere, we contributed to a piece in Metro regarding the increasing interest from tourists in Northern Pakistan; a topic we also offered insight on for Adventure Traveller in New Zealand. Our move to organise group trips to Syria again, also garnered a lot of media attention around the world, including by CNN and other publications across the Middle East, Europe & North America.

Finally, The Express also covered our latest press release regarding a record number of tourists visiting North Africa. Alongside traditional tourism powerhouses seeing more visitors, countries such as Libya, Algeria and Mauritania have also made it easier for people to visit, introducing streamlined visa systems.

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If you would like to talk about anything mentioned in this newsletter then please get in touch.

We hope to see you all on an adventure with Untamed Borders very soon.

The Untamed Borders Team

May 2025