Our Commitment to Responsible Travel
Whenever we travel we have an impact.
At Untamed Borders, we strive to make the impact of all our trips as beneficial as possible for our guests and for the regions we visit. Travel is not a necessity in life, but something that should be loved and cherished and whenever undertaken, undertaken with forethought, care and intention.
We are committed in four key areas to ensuring trips with Untamed Borders are taken responsibly:
- Our commitment to adventure – we believe that every trip we do should leave lasting memories for our guests, that they feel they have done or witnessed something extraordinary.
- Our commitment to the communities we visit – every time we visit an area we impact upon it. We endeavour to ensure those impacts bring benefit.
- Our commitment to the environment – to try and ensure our trips have as little impact as possible on the environment.
- Our commitment to safety and security – to ensure our trips evaluate and reduce risk to our guests.
For examples of how we try and live up to these commitments, see below.
Our Commitment to Adventure
Scuba diver breaks world record in Afghanistan, Libya, Tajikistan and Somalia with the help of Untamed Borders
Scuba diver, Karin Sinniger, holds the world record for diving in the most countries – now standing at 118 UN recognised nations in total. She has recently broken her own world record by adding Afghanistan, Libya, Tajikistan and Somalia to her achievements, with help from adventure travel company, Untamed Borders. The company guided her in all four countries, to ensure
The First Tourists to Mogadishu in 25 Years
In 2011 the African Union army liberated Mogadishu from the Al Shabab Islamist forces. Since then development and some security has slowly trickled into the city and we now can take our guests to most parts of the Somali capital. In 2012, Untamed Borders became the first travel company in 25 years to guide international travellers in Mogadishu. Guests visited
Pioneering Ski Trips to Afghanistan
With lots of fresh powder and mountains that had never been skied before, Untamed Borders founder James Willcox saw a gap in the market for ski tours to Afghanistan, and in 2011 Untamed Borders became the first travel company to offer ski trips to the region. Deep in the Hindu Kush, lies the small town of Bamiyan, the best place
Our Commitment to Community
Assisted Funding Refugee Schools
Gave funding and equipment to refugee schools near Peshawar
Utilising Local Services
At Untamed Borders, we are usually one of the only travel companies working in a region so we have a special responsibility to set the right tone for tourism. Part of that means trying to ensure money from our guests goes as evenly as possible to a diverse range of people. This is why we use local guides, guesthouses and
Training & Mentoring Local Guides
At Untamed Borders we believe that for the most authentic travel experience, local guides are essential. That is why we have committed to employing, training and mentoring local guides and partners wherever possible. We use local guides on every single one of our adventures, which so far has included supporting the training of Tajikistan’s first-ever female mountain guides, local Afghan
Iraq Ski Rally
Untamed Borders are responsible for co-organising the Iraq Ski Rally. For a country more associated with deserts, Iraq has some great mountainous terrain in the northern semi-autonomous Kurdistan region. Around a three hour drive from Erbil, the capital of Iraqi-Kurdistan, the Iraq Ski Rally takes place near the small city of Choman. The rally coincides with the Choman Winter Festival,
Somaliland Marathon
Untamed Borders co-organise the Somaliland Marathon – Somaliland’s only mixed-gender sporting event. Based in the capital Hargeisa, the 10km and full marathon races were first set up in 2018 by a small team of international people and Somalilanders to encourage more Somali’s to participate in sport, regardless of sex or national origin. The first event saw 200 Somali and international
Our Commitment to Environment
Trekking & Expeditions
All campsites are set up with a designated toilet area and human waste is buried at least six inches deep and 200ft from water, the campsite and any trails. Toilet paper is carried out Biodegradable soap is used for washing dishes and washing is carried out 200ft away from streams or lakes, where possible, and dishwater is then strained and
We Team Up With LifeStraw
To help reduce plastic waste, Untamed Borders have launched a new water bottle initiative, offering guests the option of a free Lifestraw filter bottle when booking on any fixed date group trip. Lifestraw bottles can be filled up from any water source, dramatically reducing the need for single-use plastic bottles while travelling. With most Untamed Borders itineraries visiting communities that do
Planting Trees in Afghanistan
Trees have long been casualties of extreme poverty and war in Afghanistan, with many people in remote areas having little choice but to cut down forests to build houses, fuel stoves and keep warm in winter. According to the UN, trees now cover just 1.5% of Afghanistan’s land. Untamed Borders have committed to donating a portion of all their fixed-date trip
Our Commitment to Safety & Security
As well as offering some incredible adventures for the intrepid traveller, some of our destinations offer equally unique risks and dangers. We take our guests security very seriously, staff frequently check safety reports and ensure they are aware of any potential problems. We take advice from many sources ranging from governments and independent security advisers to tribal chiefs and bus drivers. All of which allows us to make your trip memorable for all the right reasons.
Our expeditions visit some of the world’s remotest mountain, desert and jungle regions. These journeys require careful planning, including a thorough risk assessment. Our trekking guides are among the most experienced mountain professionals in the field. They all hold their Wilderness First Aid award or equivalent. Each expedition leader on our group trips will carry a satellite phone. We also ensure that all our local staff is well equipped for the task.
For more information on our safety and security protocols in a specific destination, get in touch.