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Summer 2026 Newsletter

In this issue:

  • A note from James.
  • Upcoming trips.
  • East of Libya, resuming trips to Iraq & Syria, Yemen trek & Socotra flights.
  • Untamed Borders in the media.

In this issue a note from James Willcox, Founder

Last month we took a private group around India and part of their trip was spent in Ladakh, in the far north of the country. They requested that we enable them to drive motorbikes over Umling La – at  5,799m above sea level, this mountain pass was the highest paved road in the world. Like many Untamed Borders trips, this one had been months in the making. We’d researched the route, arranged motorbikes that run despite the low levels of oxygen at that altitude, secured the permits and lined everything up.

It was a reminder of something that sits at the heart of what we do, which is to organise travel to places that would be difficult to manage independently. Sometimes that’s because of security risks, or perhaps more accurately, the perception of security risks. Sometimes it’s because visas, permits and invitations require local support. Often, as with the case with the motorbikers, it’s because you’re heading somewhere so remote that arranging fuel, food, vehicles and somewhere to sleep, becomes a real challenge in itself.

We have a selection of trips where it is this logistical support, in difficult or remote areas, that is the hurdle needing to be overcome for us and the thrill to our guests. The excitement of loading up the vehicles and heading off into the wilds with supplies, plans and expectations, are some of the key reasons we like to travel. We discover the secrets of the Sahara on many of these trips – whether it’s traversing Mauritania to reach the Eye of Africa, driving into Chad’s spectacular Ennedi Plateau, exploring the prehistoric rock art of Tassili n’Ajjer in Algeria or venturing onto our new expeditions into Sudan, these are places where independent travel simply isn’t realistic for most travellers.

The same applies in the mountains of Central Asia, where we travel through some of the most otherworldly landscapes on the planet – following Kazakhstan’s dramatic Mangystau escarpments, discovering the Minaret of Jam in Afghanistan’s Hindu Kush and tackling the vast valleys of the Pamir Highway through Tajikistan – all in extremely remote settings.

Yet, despite the planning, these are real adventures in environments that can throw anything at you. Weather and local bureaucracy are common obstacles to overcome, but sometimes the very unexpected happens. For example in Ladakh, despite all our extensive planning, we failed to take our riders over the highest paved road in the world. Our guests crossed Umling La alright, but somewhere between planning the expedition and actually arriving in India, India’s Border Roads Organisation had paved another road, over an even higher mountain pass. It seems humanity’s determination to lay tarmac, across ever more improbable landscapes, knows no bounds.

I hope you enjoy this summer’s newsletter and perhaps it inspires your own next adventure.

James

Upcoming Trips 

We only have one space remaining on our upcoming Afghanistan Central route group trip & only a few spaces remaining on our Afghan 10-days group tour in October. Plus we have new group trip dates to visit the Algerian Sahara, which is a destination increasing in popularity and fresh dates to visit the Horn of Africa, taking in Djibouti & Somaliland, with only a limited number of spaces left. We have added lots of new dates on some of our old favourite routes too, streching well into 2027. You can find a full list of all our upcoming group itineraries below and online.

Band e Amir, Afghanistan

Afghanistan Central Route & 10-day group tours

We’re now down to our last remaining space on our Afghanistan Central Route group tour in September. We’re approaching the final deadline to sign-up for this 16-day adventure, so if you would like to join us, make sure to get in touch with our team as soon as possible by emailing – info@untamedborders.com.

The tour begins in Pakistan, where we visit Peshawar, before flying to Kabul. After exploring the capital, we then head to the beautiful mountains of Bamian, visiting its Buddhist caves, the Band-e-Amir National Park and its gorgeous lakes. We then head on an epic road-trip through the mountains of Central Afghanistan, through Ghor Province, to the remarkable Minaret of Jam – which stands tall amongst its mountainous backdrop, 14-hours from the nearest paved road. We continue west to the ancient city of Herat, exploring its many historic sites, beautiful mosques and meet some of its creatives, including its famous tile-makers. The trip then loops south to the Pashtun heartlands, visiting Lashkar Gah, Kandahar and Ghazni, before finishing back in Kabul. You can see photos from a previous trip here.

We also only have a few spaces left on our Afghanistan in 10-days group tour in October and we have another departure available to book in April 2027. We begin in the capital Kabul, then travel into the stunning Bamian Province, with its mountains, Buddhist cave networks and the nearby Band-e-Amir National Park, containing its immense blue lakes. We journey north, on a long road-trip through the mountains, to Mazar-e-Sharif and stop at the stupa in Samangan along the way. While in the north, we visit the dazzling blue tiled Shrine of Hazrat Ali and the Silk Road city of Balkh.  From there we return to Kabul and on to the historic city of Herat, before returning to finish in Kabul. You can see photos from a previous trip here.

Tassili n'Ajjer National Park, Algeria

Algeria

Algeria is increasing in popularity, with more travellers’ eyes now turning to the North African nation. We have been taking guests to the country since 2019 and have two group tours now available to book – in November this year and January 2027. You can also now register an interest for Autumn 2027 by emailing – info@untamedborders.com.

The 10-day tours combine a visit to the fascinating Roman sites in the country’s north, along with its cities and coastline, plus a number of days in the Saharan south. We begin in the capital Algiers, exploring its ancient Kasbah, then head into its hilly interior, to the fantastic Roman remains at Djemila. We journey east, through the mountains, to the dramatic ravine town – Constantine, which sits atop of a rock plateau, with impressive bridges connecting the town to surrounding hillsides.

We head back to the Mediterranean coast, with further awesome Roman remains to enjoy at Tipaza and Cherchell, before we begin our Saharan adventure. We fly to the oasis town, Djanet, then road trip deep into the Tassili N’Ajjer region, famed for its towering dunes, enormous rocky structures and vast unspoiled landscapes. It’s here we meet nomadic Tuareg communities, learn about their culture in the surroundings of the remote desert, and camp under the star-filled Saharan night sky. You can see photos from a previous trip here.

Lac Assal, Djibouti

Horn of Africa 

We now have two group trips available to book to the Horn of Africa, taking in Djibouti and Somaliland. The 9-day trips take in a fascinating mix of landscapes, from the desert and salt flats of Djibouti, to the lush mountains in Somaliland’s interior. We next head into the region in October this year and have another departure in January 2027.

We begin in Djibouti City and set out across one of the region’s most dramatic landscapes, making our way to Lac Abbe, where we camp among towering rock formations – a prime spot for sunset and sunrise viewing, in an otherwordly location. We move on to Lac Assal, Africa’s lowest point, with its vast salt flats and crystal blue waters, then we head into Somaliland. Travelling through a remote desert region, we pass through areas where semi-nomadic communities live and visit the ancient rock art site of Dhagax Khoure.

We then visit Hargeisa, Somaliland’s largest city, spending time in its busy bazaars and street markets, before travelling down to the coast at Berbera – an area with beautiful beaches. We also have chance to explore the Las Geel rock art site and head up into the green hills near Sheik, before finishing back in Hargeisa. We’ll also soon be releasing details about further 2027 departures and you can register an interest now by emailing – info@untamedborders.com. You can see photos from a previous visit here.

Future Departures 

Below is a full list of our upcoming and future group departures. We can also organise private trips to any of these destinations.

– Afghanistan

– Algeria (10 day group trips in November 2026 + January 2027)
– New – Chad (17-day group trip in February 2027)
– Djibouti & Somaliland (9 day group trips in October 2026 + January 2027)
– New – Eclipse Tours (August 2027)

– Iraq

– New – Western Kazakhstan – Mangystau (8 day trip in May 2027)
– Kyrgyzstan – World Nomad Games (8 day group trip in September 2026)
– Libya

– Mauritania (13 day trip group trip in November 2026 & April 2027)
– Pakistan

– Somalia (Mogadishu) (3 day group trips in October 2026 + February & March 2027)
– South Sudan (7 day group trip in March 2027)
– Syria (7 day group trips in September 2026 + April 2027)
– New – Sudan (10 day group trip in November 2026)
– Tajikistan Trek – Pamir Mountain Lakes (16 day group trip in August 2026)
– New – Tajikistan & Kyrgyzstan – Pamir Highway (13 day group trip in August 2026)
– Turkmenistan (9 day group trip in May 2027)
– Yemen

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

  • Armenia
  • Azerbaijan
  • Central African Republic
  • China
  • Democratic Republic of Congo
  • Ethiopia
  • Georgia
  • India
  • Iran
  • Lebanon
  • Mongolia
  • Saudi Arabia
  • The Republic of Congo
  • Tunisia
  • Uzbekistan

Latest News

Cyrene, Libya 

Horn of Africa 

In January we’re launching a new group trip to the East of Libya. Untamed Borders was among the first companies to return to Eastern Libya after the civil war and we have organised private trips to the region for a number of years. The 5-day group trips in the east of the country begin in Benghazi, Libya’s second largest city. We have chance to visit the city’s main sites and then head out to explore the remarkable legacy of ancient Cyrenaica.

We visit the wonderful Greek and Roman cities of Ptolemais, Apollonia and Cyrene, ancient sites filled with impressive historic columns, statues and tile-work. We also stop at Byzantine-era churches, take in the beautiful Mediterranean coastline and head into the lush landscapes of the Green Mountains.  We visit the Haua Fteah Cave too, a site of a neolithic human settlement, and head by boat to visit sea caves, before finishing back in Benghazi.

The adventure offers rare access to one of the country’s least visited and most rewarding regions. Plus, you can now combine this new Eastern Libya group tour, with our Libya in 7-days group adventure, which takes in Western Libya (Tripoli, Leptis Magna, Sabratha, Ghadames and more).

We also have a few remaining spaces left on our special Eastern Libya Eclipse tour next summer. The 6-day trip coincides with the solar eclipse on 2nd August 2027 – the longest land-based solar eclipse in our life-time and Libya is one of the best places in the world to watch it. You also visit many of the same sites we will explore on our new East of Libya group tours, including Cyrene, Apollonia, Cyrene, Benghazi and the Green Mountains. Our other departure to this special moment in history is fully booked, so to snap up one of the final spaces please contact our team on – info@untamedborders.com.

Krak des Chevaliers, Syria

Iraq & Syria

Untamed Borders pressed pause on our operations in Iraq & Syria, back in the Spring, due to the conflict between USA/Israel and Iran, along with the temporary closure of airspace in the countries. However, we are now guiding again in both nations and plan to run our group trips to the region, unless there are significant changes in the security situation between now and the time of their departures. We have group trips to Syria departing in September this year and April 2027 – taking in the immense range of historical sites in the country, including Damascus, Homs, Hama, Aleppo, Palmyra and Maaloula, plus much more.

In Iraq we have a lot of trips coming up, including two departures along our Cradle of Civilisation route, in October this year and March 2027 – visiting Baghdad, Babylon, the Shia Holy sites at Karbala & Najaf, the ancient sites at Ur & Uruk, Basra and the Southern Marshes. We then head north, visiting Samarra and Hatra, on our way to Mosul, before finishing in Erbil, in Iraqi Kurdistan. We also have group tours to Iraqi Kurdistan, which are designed to run after the Cradle of Civilisation trips – we have a departure scheduled on this route in October this year. These trips visit Erbil, the spiritual home of the Yazidi people in Lalish, Dohuk, then we drive through the Zagros Mountains to the walled town of Amedi, Barzan, Shanidar Cave and Soran. We then explore the stunning Rawanduz Canyon, head to the eastern city of Sulaymaniyah, before finishing back in Erbil.

In March 2027 our Iraqi Kurdsitan trip follows a similar route, but we also take in the fantastic Newroz Festival celebrations in Akre too. In April 2027, we’re taking guests on an epic trekking adventure through the Zagros Mountains of Iraqi Kurdistan – the 13-day trip follows a new 200km route, through beautiful mountainous scenery and stops at ancient communities along the way. We will also be returning to Iraqi Kurdistan on a group ski trip in 2027 – dates are still being finalised, but you can register an interest now by emailing – info@untamedborders.com.

Haid al Jazil, Yemen

Trekkers head to Yemen in 2027 & Socotra flights now on sale

It’s also now only 6 months to go until we head on a pioneering group trekking adventure into the Hadramout on Yemen’s Mainland. The 10-day tour follows a trekking route which has been specially designed by the Untamed Borders team, alongside our local guides. It weaves in and out of the date palm lined wadis, up steep canyons, and across the desert top plateaus, in this beautiful part of the country. The region contains dramatic cliff faces and beautiful canyon scenery, with ancient mud-built villages lining the valley floor. During periods of the trek you will camp in the desert and amongst the towering canyons, in an area known for its star-gazing. An epic adventure.

The new winter flight schedule from Jeddah to Socotra has also now been released over the past few weeks, which is the only direct flight route to the Yemeni island. They’re on sale now, running on Tuesdays and Thursdays, but are being snapped up fast. Once the flights are full, there is no other way to fly directly to the island.

We have a few spaces still available on our group tours to Socotra departing in November and December this year, along with in April 2027. If you would like to join us in this unique natural paradise later this year or in early 2027, it’s important to note that these flights for the winer period are likely to sell out soon.

Untamed Borders in the media

We recently guided German journalist Bettina Rühl in Somalia, where she joined one of our guests as he toured the city with Untamed Borders. Bettina is an experienced journalist based in Africa and had visited Somalia multiple times before, to report on various stories, however, she was intrigued to see it through the lens of tourism. Her experiences were turned into a radio piece for Deutschlandfunk Kultur.

Our Founder, James Willcox, was featured again on Talk Radio Europe, with a half an hour discussion about tourism in Pakistan. James has become a regular fixture on the the station, speaking with presenter Giles Brown about Iraq, Libya and Afghanistan already and will appear again in the near future, discussing Syria.

Our trips to Eastern Libya were also featured in a piece in the Huffington Post in Greece, which focused on the archeological effort to preserve ancient sites in the region. Places we’re now delighted to visit on group trips, as well as private trips, which we’ve organised for a number of years.

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

July 2026