Join us for the K2 Base Camp Trek this summer! Only a few spots left…
Join us for the K2 Base Camp Trek this summer! Only a few spots left…
What does it take to turn a dream into a reality?
How does one build something unique, attractive, and worthwhile that others will actually enjoy?
Well, these are some of the exact questions our founding members had swimming through their minds back in 2017. Turns out that we did not have to look too far. The answer was right on our path.
For nearly a decade prior to founding Epic Expeditions, American adventurer Chris Lininger traveled, hiked, and photographed his way around the world in pursuit of unique adventures, quality coffee, and big mountains.
Then he came to Pakistan for the first time… and the rest is history.
Chris and the other founding members immediately recognized the endless adventure tourism potential in Pakistan and we decided to make it our life mission to share our love for the country with as many people as possible.
Epic Expeditions transitioned from a distant dream into a concrete reality when we led our first adventure tour into the mountains of Northern Pakistan.
That next year, Epic founder Chris Lininger built the first version of our website, and – spoiler alert – he knew nothing at that time (and still does not) about how to build a website 😅.
In any case, our first clients had an incredible experience and the positive feedback we got was more than we could have hoped for, and we knew that we were onto something special…
Our adventure staff started out as basically a 3 to 4 person operation (shout out to Clair in Australia for her crucial contributions to the first few years of Epic’s development!) that has now grown to include a team of people from five different countries – working across a myriad of timezones.
We are super fortunate to have some of the best in the business working with Epic; this crew is the real deal.
Our core team is multi-lingual, hard-working, creative, and full of the skills, experience, and knowledge required to run the kind of adventure tour company that embodies what we love about active, shared travel experiences.
Though our team comes from diverse backgrounds, we all have one thing in common: we genuinely love curating incredible adventures for our clients and the adventure community that has spawned from years of running trips around the world. And we just love doing Epic shi* as well.
Here are a just a few photo memories from past group trips we have led in various countries around the world:
Epic was born out of a pretty basic desire. The team wanted to run the type of adventures that we personally wanted to be doing, but could not find anywhere else AND we wanted to have a positive impact on the local communities we visited along the way.
In the age of mass travel, Instagram, and cheap holiday packages, finding what we can conclusively call authentic travel experiences can feel rare, and even more so on a group tour where everything is essentially done for you.
From day one, Epic vowed to never be one of those companies running cookie-cutter tours for the masses. This is simply not us.
By design, our expeditions are developed, tried, tweaked, and tested by our trip leaders before we bring you there; we like to say that our trips are for people who do not normally do group tips because half way through the journey, you might even forget you are on a group trip and instead feel like you are traveling with a bunch of like-minded friends – this is part of the Epic style and vibe we love so dearly!
We have literally spent years – and a lot of blood, sweat, and tears – developing trips that are meaningful, raw, and will take you to corners of the earth you never knew existed.
We will not take you to Bali to sip cocktails on the beach – that we can guarantee you.
The interests and passions of our team are as diverse as the kind of trips we run; we are long-distance hikers, adventure travel bloggers, photographers, climbers, foodies, designers, mountaineers, world travelers, ex-organic farmers, arm-chair historians, and lovers of culture.
As with most good things in life, the development of Epic Expeditions has been a thoughtful, intentional process.
Through the hard work and dedication of our incredible team (and the support of our clients), Epic has expanded from our humble start running one itinerary in Pakistan a few times a year, to now operating in 9 countries (as of 2024!).
There is a lot more on the horizon from Epic in the years to come – that is for sure!
We are full of gratitude that you are here reading this because it means you too might just become part of our elite adventure community some day!
The concept for Epic Expeditions is simple; these are not your average tours – these are real adventures in which you will get to peek behind the curtain and discover a side of a country that many people simply cannot imagine.
We believe that the power of travel, community, photography, and meaningful adventure experiences can bring people together in a unique way while smashing negative stereotypes about countries the western media might deem “dangerous countries”.
Our awesome expeditions begin and end with our local ground teams and the local communities we visit along the way.
Since Epic has never once outsourced a trip to third-party companies, we develop real, life-long relationships with the people we work with everywhere we go.
This boots-on-the-ground approach with regard to trip development means that we are deeply invested in local communities.
Epic is involved with community projects on the ground in Pakistan and in other countries and part of the income each trip generates goes directly to non-profit organizations and community leaders who are trying to better their communities and standard of living.
Thoughtfully choosing which companies you decide to travel with does make a huge difference – not only on your travel experience – but also on how your tourism dollars affect (or don’t affect) local communities.
As we referenced above, choosing a tour operator is no easy decision – so why should you travel with Epic Expeditions?
When you choose us, you not only have the authentic journey of a lifetime, but you will also become part of our community. Our guides and staff have the experience, skills, and local knowledge to bring you meaningful and authentic trips, with adventure-packed itineraries you simply will not find with another tour company. We believe in doing things the right way and in all of the little details that add up to make a trip special.
Each one of our handcrafted itineraries offers something uniquely Epic – whether it is staying with a family in a remote mountain village, trekking with nomads, or photographing foxes in Siberia – once you become part of the Epic community – you are left with a lifetime of good memories, new experiences, and a full heart.
Team saftey, professionalism, ethical travel, and having a sense of humor – even when things don’t go 100% as planned – rank among just a few of what makes this company Epic.
There is a reason that year after year we have many return clients.
When you travel with Epic, you expereince the difference. It is as simple as that.
We hope you enjoyed learning a bit more about Epic, our origins, and what makes us different.
If you are interested in booking onto a trip, you have a specific question about a tour, or you want to get to know us better – schedule a call with our adventure staff today!
We look forward to having you experience the Epic style for yourself one day soon.
Cheers All,
– Chris Lininger
Founder of Epic Expeditions
Chat with us now!
Chat with us now!
Adventure Guide
Hailing from the Toronto region of Eastern Canada, with a background as a former standout athlete (hockey of course) and a love of mountain adventure, Clark is a welcomed addition to the Epic team.
In addition to being a keen photographer and adventurer, Clark brings his brilliant sense of humor, leadership skills, and positive attitude to everything he puts his mind to.
When he is not leading trips, he is working on taking over the hard apple cider game in Canada as a skilled craft brewer.
Meet him during : K2 Base Camp Trek
Adventure Guide
Noemi grew up in the mountains of German-Speaking Switzerland where she naturally developed a deep love and respect for mountain environments.
She is a talented photographer, aspiring climber, and speaks at least 5 languages fluently including Arabic (and probably a few more that we don’t know about), which she taught herself in a matter of months by watching YouTube videos.
Noemi has spent the last several years traveling, hiking, and photographing her way around many different countries in the Middle East, South and Central Asia, and Europe, and we could not be more stoked to welcome her to the Epic team!
Meet her during : Discover the Celestial Mountains | Island Peak Climbing Expedition
Adventure Guide
As our man on the ground in Mongolia, there is not much this legend can’t do. As a native the Bayan-Ölgii province of the Western Mongolia Altai, Syerik has been working as a guide and tourism entrepreneur…
for the past several years and is one of the rising stars in Mongolia adventure travel industry.
He is currently building a beautiful Ger (Yurt) camp near his hometown where he will host Epic Mongolia team members on our trip as well as other travelers from around the world!
“
He is the perfect guide for your trip to Mongolia. Serik did an amazing job giving us a well rounded experience in the Altai NP region and down in the Gobi…
The food was fantastic and Serik gave us many opportunities to learn about the Kazakh culture in that region including traditional meals. (I can’t recommend enjoying the milk tea enough!)
– Coastal
Head of canine operations
Choriza started off life as a care-free vagabond on the streets of Madeira Island without any place to call home. From the moment we met her, we knew this dog was just different, and it was pretty much love at first sight.
She gave up the dog street life in favor of joining her new dad Chris to become a full-time member of the Epic family towards the end of 2022.
These days she can be found listening in on the fringes of important Epic business meetings while half-asleep on the couch. She is a keen hiker, lover of mud, rare steak, and might just be the sweetest little dog we have ever seen.
Adventure Guide
An experienced trek leader and
IFMGA aspirant ski guide, avid alpine climber, devoted adventure photographer.
Organized and guided trekking expeditions, climbs and ski tours in Tajikistan’s Pamirs, Patagonia, Peru, Morocco, Nepal, Kyrgyzstan, Georgian and Russian Caucasus and Kamchatka.
A full member and meets the organiser of the British Alpine Club. Visited over 40 countries, lived in the UK for four years. Certified first-aider.
“
We joined Andrew on a fantastic trip to the Fann Mountains in Tajikistan, pure nature and magnificent scenery! Andrey was super prepared and led us safely up and down numerous passes and through some rough and icy cold rivers. Thank you for a very memorable trip, your planning and prep was excellent!
– Monika Steinlechner
Meet him during : Trekking in the Fann Mountains
Adventure Guide
Our man in Nepal, Sandip is what we like to call a “Swiss Army Knife”. There is not much Sandip can’t do when it comes to helping Epic to run our expeditions smoothly in Nepal.
His tireless work ethic, passion for all things trekking in the Himalayas, and smart decision-making mean that Sandip is a truly invaluable member of our team.
Sandip is passionate about showing visitors to his country an amazing time, and he goes above and beyond to make sure that happens.
His company Himalayan Masters is Epic’s trusted partner in Nepal and one of the country’s top new tour agencies.
“
We really enjoyed the entire journey, and I would like to say that Sandip is truly professional. He guided us and he is a hardworking person, providing us with the best service and taking care of each one of us. Plus, he is super funny! The kind of professionnal you always want to find on your path for your explorations!
– Alexandra Ruth
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Our flagship Pakistani adventure tour. Road trip with some hiking and cultural immersion.
A trekking-style tour that features some very remote locations, inlcuding a K2 viewpoint.
Adventure Guide
João has born in the mountains of Madeira Islands in Portugal. Nature lover, writer, musician, guide, for him, a day without contact with outdoor vibes is a nightmare.
With a degree in Cultural Studies in Portugal and a Master of Arts in Global Cultures and Creativity in the U.K.
João found out what really matters in life can be found on the trails, and in the contact with people from different backgrounds and cultures.
Guiding, crazy trekking missions, and sharing observations about the natural world, – these are some of João’s passions.
After trekking to K2 Base Camp and exploring all over Northern Pakistan, he fell in love with the country and the local people. His experiences resulted in his desire to share these feelings with the world.
João is one of the most experienced guides at Epic and his skillset and positive mindset in the mountains is second to none
When not in Pakistan, João is guiding and exploring in the Madeira Islands trails – discovering some of the hidden treasures on his Portuguese Island.
“
João I can not thank you enough for the off the beaten paths and views you keep giving. Definitely one of the most challenging and amazing hikes we did 1200m meters all the way up to Fanal forest and circling back to the hidden village. Wow!
– Jeffery
Meet him during : Lost World of Europe | Discover the Hunza Valley | K2 Base Camp Trek
Adventure Guide
Sohail is the newest addition to the Epic team and we are beyond stoked to have him on board. As a veteran of the Karakoram and a native of Karimabad in Hunza, there is not much Sohail can’t do in the mountains.
Besides having the ability to speak more languages than we can count, Sohail has explored every corner of Gilgit Baltistan and logs more trekking miles
in a year than most people will do in a lifetime. As of the summer of 2022, Sohail has summited Gasherbrum 1, Gasherbrum 2, and K2 – three of Pakistan’s five 8000-meter peaks. Sohail guides several trips including our annual bespoke expeditions but specializes in Hunza Valley tours.
“
Chris and Sohail, and the team at Epic are FANTASTIC! Highly recommend anyone to do a tour with ‘Epic’. They have the perfect balance of fun, excitement and wild adventures, tied in with being super professional and ensuring your safety/health in a foreign environment. Don’t waste a moment and book a tour with these guys as the value for money is UNREAL!
– Borgan
Meet him during : Discover the Hunza Valley
Adventure Guide
Pedro’s been traveling all around the globe since 2009. His keen interests in documentary photography, rural life, and local people from different ethnic groups have been the focus of many of his professional projects.
Since 2012, he has developed his passion for travel and awesome shared experiences into a full-time adventure photography tour leader position.
Pedro has found himself continuously going back to the Middle East, with his likely favorite destination being Iran. Pedro lead his 11th tour in Iran with Epic in spring 2020
When Pedro’s not traveling the world with Epic Expeditions, you’ll find him based in the western south of Portugal planning he’s next adventure missions, logistics and working out his photos in local exhibitions.
“
I loved the combination of hiking, camping around breathtaking scenery mixed with the cultural aspects. The guide (Pedro) is knowledgeable and work very hard to make the trip as memorable as possible. All in all an epic adventure with some extremely epic individuals! Go for it, you won’t regret it!
– Coastal
Adventure Admin / Marketing
After fleeing from the corporate fashion world in Paris towards the start of 2020, Diane has been working as a web developer and graphic designer remotely from various bases across the globe
She brings all of her incredible design and organizational power to Epic Expeditions and is responsible for many of the beautiful behind-the-scenes design elements.
Diane has been to Iran and to Pakistan twice including all over Gilgit Baltistan and KPK.
Head of Operations | Guide
A veteran of Pakistan travel, Ralph is an experienced guide, photographer and writer who specializes in documenting remote locations.
Not one to simply go where everyone else does, he insists on exploring new and lesser-known areas.
Together with Epic Expeditions, he shows people parts of Pakistan that most other operators don’t even know about. He is particularly fond of the village of Barah, which he believes will become just as famous as Hunza one day.
“
Just got back from EBT’s Trekking Amongst Giants 15 day tour. The experience was first class. Ralph, our head guide, ensured that the entire trip ran smoothly and relatively on time (a bonus for anyone travelling in Pakistan). We had so many unforgettable days on the tour and the trekking was well-planned, safe but also a rewarding challenge.
– Calvin
“
Traveling to a non-tourist destination can be a little intimidating but EBT takes all of the worry and trepidation away. From the pre-trip call to meeting the wonderful staff in person you can tell that you are dealing with a company that has a passion for what they do each and every day. Ralph, Zahid, and Khan were supportive, kind, and always willing to go the extra mile to make sure that everyone on the trip was getting what they wanted out of the experience.
– Katrina
Meet him during : Trekking Amongst Giants | Discover the Celestial Mountains | K2 Base Camp Trek
Founder | Adventure Guide | Director
Since he started exploring the world, Chris has been seeking out every shade of adventure in various parts of the globe and had visited more than 70 countries along the way.
Over the last 10 years, Chris has logged more than 7000 trail miles across five continents and climbed multiple 6000 + 7000 meter peaks in Pakistan and Nepal.
A few years back, a distant dream and a deep passion for the mountains and the people of Pakistan led Chris to co-found Epic Expeditions at a time when foreign adventure tourism in Pakistan was almost nonexistent. Since then, Chris has guided more than 20 expeditions to various parts of Northern Pakistan.
Chris believes in using photography and powerful adventure experiences to dismantle negative stereotypes regarding what mainstream media considers “dangerous” countries while facilitating unique and meaningful memories in the mountains for countless people from around the globe.
For him, an ideal start to the day begins with a steaming cup of good coffee, the beam of a headlamp, alpine boots, and a camera in hand.
He lives in Madeira Island when not leading expeditions in far-flung lands.
Chris also works as a writer and photographer on his blog Off the Atlas – an adventure travel blog all about Pakistan.
Read this interview our staff did with Chris to learn more about him!
“
Chris believes in Pakistan and its people, and he believes in the value of journeys shared with others and family cultivated on the road. Honesty and integrity are at the heart of what he does, and this really shines through in his work as a guide. He also makes great coffee – whether at 5am in an empty guesthouse or half way up a Himalayan peak.”
– Will De Villers
“
Pakistan is a magical country! Had 3 of the best weeks of my life thanks to Epic Backpacking Tours with owner, and one of our awesome guides, Chris. From detailed itinerary, preparation with an equipment list, and visa assistance. To amazing food, great porters, helpful guides, and great accommodations. Epic really hit home run after home run. […]
Their desire for adventure and amazing trip is just as high as yours. Bring a good pound of coffee for the trip. French press coffee every morning and no average tin coffee, plus you’ll be in your guides good books.
– Clark Tyler
