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…
DIFFICULTY: Intermediate
TOTAL DISTANCE: 1000+ kms of driving
MAX ALTITUDE: 4700 meters (China border)
TOUR DURATION: 15 days
TOTAL TREKKING: 6 days
LODGING: hotels, homestay, camping, cabins
GROUP SIZE: 12 people
Pakistan is the ultimate destination for adventurers.
Our flagship Hunza Valley tour takes you deep into the northern reaches of Pakistan for the trip of a lifetime. This region, hidden away from Western eyes for most of its history, is full of wonderful experiences, soaring peaks, friendly locals, and other “hidden gems.”
Come with us on a real adventure to the Hunza Valley – drive down the legendary Karakoram Highway, hike on a growing glacier, stay in a remote mountain village, feast on tasty local cuisine, and become a member of a fun-loving team of intrepid travelers.
Outside of touring the Hunza Valley, we will also visit two of Pakistan’s most exciting destinations: Fairy Meadows and the city of Lahore. Both will leave you speechless.
We’ve been traveling in Pakistan for the last eight years and we have many great friendships in Pakistan. Our unique connections allow us to show you a side of the country few travelers get to see. We can show sides of the Hunza Valley and beyond that you can’t find on the web or other itineraries. This tour is the culmination of years of research and exploration.
So join us as we return to one of our favorite corners of the world. We know you’ll fall in love with it.
Dates | Places | Deposit | Full |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 4th - 18th (2024) | $800 | $3125 | |
| October 7th - 21st (2024) | $800 | $3125 |
Whether you’re just curious about this trip or are ready to make a deposit, we’re here for you. To submit an inquiry or make a trip deposit, please fill out and submit the form below.
Sohail is one of the most experienced members of the Epic Expeditions team and we are beyond stoked to have him on board. As a veteran of the Karakoram and a native of Karimabad in the Hunza Valley, 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 logged 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.
We recommend arriving into Islamabad one day early so that you can settle in and be ready to go on the morning of day one. Whilst this will require you to pay for an extra nights accommodation on your own – arriving early gives you a comfortable window to join the trip in case of delays, problems with baggage, etc.
After our group has assembled on the morning of day 1, we will have our first group meeting/introductions over tea/coffee and then we will hit the road.
Note on spring tours: we must take a different route due to heavy snow fall/road closures. Instead of driving to Naran, we will be stopping in Besham on the evening of day 1.
Traveling by comfortable minibus, the Kahn Express, with our fearless driver Mr. Khan – our good friend and driver for the whole adventure, we leave Islamabad behind and embark on our journey! The plan is to drive roughly 10 hours to the mountain bazar town of Naran located in the lush Kaghan Valley. The drive to Besham from Islamabad takes only 4-5 hours, depending on traffic.
Here we will rest up for the night at a comfortable hotel before hitting the road again in the morning.
Besham marks the start of the Karakoram Highway.
Drive time from Islamabad: 10-14 hours with breaks.
We will save visiting the highlights the city of Lahore until the end of the tour.
This morning we hit the road (4 or 5 am start), we will travel to Raikot Bridge where we will transfer into 4×4 jeeps and traverse the legendary Fairy Meadows jeep track – think sheer drops and impossible hair-pin bends… In the distance, if the weather is clear, you will catch your first glimpse of Nanga Parbat; the most beautiful mountain in Pakistan, and the ninth highest mountain in the world. This is the stuff adventure is made of. You may have to hike part of the jeep track as the road is sometimes washed away.
Arriving at the end of the jeep track we will then hike for two to three hours (porters available for an additional fee). Arriving into The Fairy Meadows, we will spend the next couple of nights in comfortable but basic cabins with wood burners to keep us warm.
Drive from Besham to Raikot Bridge – 7-8 hours – then 1.5 hour jeep journey and 2 – 3 hour trek
The Fairy Meadows is the perfect place to chill out and unwind; watch the clouds dance past Nanga Parbat, the glacier snaking through the valley below, and explore the cool woods surrounding our log cabins. There are several optional treks available here but the real highlight is the hike to Nanga Parbat Basecamp (6-8 hours return).
The Fairy Meadows is one of the best places in the world to relax and watch the mountains. At night at the Fairy Meadows we will have an epic bonfire beneath the stars!
Note: the optional hike to Nanga Parbat basecamp requires a moderate level of fitness and takes around 6 – 8 hours round trip (with time to chill out at base camp, eat lunch, etc). For the spring tours it likely will not be possible to hike beyond the upper view point due to snow pack/rock fall hazard.
We are up early again as we depart Fairy Meadows, After a few hours walk, we are back at the dirt track, where a jeep will get us back to the main road.
Today, we are traveling along one of the world’s highest paved roads, The Karakoram Highway. Traveling along The Karakoram Highway is an unforgettable experience; you will see peaks and valleys, rivers and glaciers. Twenty-one of the world’s one hundred highest peaks are visible from the KKH and the journey is a great introduction to the mountains as civilization slips away behind us…
The goal is to reach Aliabad and our guesthouse by the afternoon.
This place is awesome and unique to Northern Pakistan and one of our best stopovers of the whole trip!
Dinner and rest are on the evening agenda.
We have the whole next day to relax and explore the stunning mountain village of Karimabad.
Fairy Meadows to Jeep Pick-up Point: 2 hours hike
Jeep Pick up to Karakoram Highway: 1.5 hours drive.
Drive from Raicot Bridge or to Aliabad/Karimabad – approx. 5 hours – including breaks along the way.
Karimabad is the gateway to the mountains and a great place to wander about for a day. Today there is a mix of free time and planned activities.
After breakfast, we get to grips with the dark history of Baltit Fort and/or Altit Fort (time permitting).
In the afternoon, take time to explore the cobblestone streets, bargain for rubies and handicrafts, feast on Hunza cuisine, sip espresso in Café Hunza on your own time in the afternoon.
After a day of exploring Karimabad, we’ll return for our 2nd night at our hotel in Aliabad called Mountain Story.
Very early morning start today (in the dark) and drive to catch the sunrise above Eagles Nest. Well worth it! Our group will then return to Mountain Story for breakfast before starting our drive to Ghulkin Village in Upper Hunza.
The small village of Ghulkin is a truly special place where time stands still and mountains march away into the distance on all sides. En route we will take in the scenes at Attabad Lake.
Upper Hunza is one of the best places in Pakistan to trek, explore glaciers, snack on apricots, camp out under the stars and chat with the locals.
We will be staying with our good friend Sitara at her home. It is time to expereince life with a family in a remote mountain village in Hunza.
Accommodation in Ghulkin will be in one large traditional guest room and we will all be sharing a space. Conditions in the village are very clean (yes, there’s a western toilet!) but are also basic; electricity is sporadic and wifi is slow when it does work.
Aliabad to Ghulkin drive time: 2 hours max.
In the morning, we go for an easy/moderate hike to visit the legendary Passu Suspension bridge. The bridge itself is far less visited than the more famous Hussaini bridge found directly off of the Karakoram Highway.
We return to Ghulkin for chill time in the afternoon dinner.
After a few hectic days of driving and sight seeing, today is overall meant to be a relaxing day and also our first group hike. Part of the experience of staying in a small mountain community is to take the time to fully appreciate the slower pace of life here without constantly rushing to the next thing.
The hike is a good warm-up for tomorrow’s adventure.
Total trekking time 2-3 hours
Today, we are off on an epic road trip adventure…
Traveling by our van deemed the “Khan Express”, we will head up towards Khunjerab Pass National Park. The scenery from the road is truly incredible and we will make frequent stops for photos and chai. We will make our way up towards the Pakistan-China border crossing, the highest in the world.
Set in a craggy bowl of mountains and surrounded by glaciers, this is a truly breathtaking landscape steeped in history. We will return to stay another night in Ghulkin Village in the afternoon
There is no trekking or strenuous physical activity on this day. Pack your headphones and snacks
Today we will be trekking into the mountains not too far from Ghulkin village. We begin the trek at the end of a jeep track at Borith Lake. After about 2-3 hours of steady, but steep hiking we will come to the truly stunning Passu Glacier crossing point.
We take an easy pace as we hike across the ice as there are a few challenging, but epic sections.
Here we will traverse the glacier for about 2 hours before arriving at our camp site for the night (3400 meters).
From here, our group can enjoy stunning views of Shispar Peak, Passu Peak, and the Passu Glacier. The stars at the camp are unreal if the weather is clear! Keep an eye out for eagles and ibex in the mountains above you and soak in some of the freshest air you’ve ever tasted.
Note: Group gear, tents, and food will be portered. If you would like additional gear portered for you, porter services are available at a reasonable cost.
Today, we start off on the second leg of our trek after breakfast. The distance is only a few kilometers, but it is straight up the side of a mountain and gains about 900 meters of elevation, so we will take our time and enjoy the views as we go.
Total trekking time today is roughly 2-3 hours.
Once on the top, our group will savor in the 360 degree views of the Passu Cones, Batura Glacier, Shispar Peak, and Passu Peak. Formerly only a shepherd’s settlement, only about 100 people come up here a year, so we should have the place to ourselves. The Batura Glacier viewpoint (4300 meters) is truly a magical place and offers up one of the best views in Pakistan.
After spending the day atop Patundas we will return to our base camp for an epic dinner feast, fire, and maybe even some local music.
Note: For most of the year there is no water at Patundas Meadow, which means that we will keep our first base camp setup and just visit Patundas as part of an epic day hike. During the early springtime, it may not be possible to visit Patundas due to large amounts of snow covering the trail, but that is why the April/May tours start in the late spring
Today, we finish our trek via the same route in which we came across the Passu glacier. The going is much easier on the way down, so the whole trek will likely take the group around 3 hours.
We are staying at a hotel in the small town of Passu where we can rest, do laundry, shower up, and maybe even try a Yak Burger.
Today, we have a slow start after a few days of hiking and moving around.
We have a combination of free time and the possibility for a swim in Borith Lake if the weather is nice,
In the afternoon, we will move to the city of Gilgit, where the plan is to take a flight the following morning.
Note: If the weather is forecasted to be poor over the next few days, we may start driving the Karakoram Highway back to Islamabad and Lahore on this day if it becomes clear a flight won’t be possible.
If also goes well with the weather, we will fly from Giglit to Lahore (1 hour 10 mins flight) in the morning. Sometimes a flight to Islamabad will be the only option, in which case we will drive the remaining 4.5 hours to Lahore from Islamabad.
If we started driving the day before we will aim to be back in Lahore sometime in the mid-afternoon.
Arriving into Lahore, we will head straight to our luxury hotel to freshen up / chill for a few hours.
Depending on our arrival time, we will go to check out the Old Lahore bazaar near the famous Delhi Gate. One of the most beautiful mosques in the city is here.
We will then spend the evening taking in the vibe of this crazy South Asian city and having dinner as a group.
After a great food introduction to Lahore, we will head back to the hotel to crash.
Our final full day of this Epic Pakistan expedition will be action packed.
In the morning, We’ll check out Badshahi Mosque; a marvel of red sandstone and polished marble and the Lahore Fort.
We will have lunch and then you will have some free time to roam around on your own.
The it is time to head to the Wagah Border for the border ceremony towards the end of the afternoon.
After one final feast together (and plenty of laughs and hugs), the tour officially ends (sadly). Prepare for a final Epic feast with a great view atop one of Lahore’s best restaurants.
Team member departure day.
Today our adventure comes to an end!
Check out of the hotel is around noon on this day.
Despite what you hear on the mainstream news, Pakistan is one of the safest countries we have ever traveled to. Part of the ethos of Epic Expeditions team is to smash negative stereotypes associated with these countries by showing you a side of Pakistan that the media never does.
We have an excellent safety record traveling in Pakistan and this tour will take you to the most peaceful and safest parts of the country: the Northern Areas and the Hunza Valley.
Late spring is typically the warmer season, though there can still be residual snowfall in the high mountains. Fall trips tend to be cooler, and the cities are not as hot.
Expect a wide variety of weather. There will be times when you are layered up with your down jacket and other times when it is 35 degrees in cities like Lahore and Islamabad.
Part of what makes our trips so awesome is the kind of people attracted to our adventures. On average, our trips are made up of 5-8 different nationalities. Over the years, we have had a nearly equal amount of men and women travel with us. The average age of a trip participant is 35. The oldest person to join us was 70 and the youngest was 21.
Prices are based on twin sharing rooms. Single supplement hotel rooms and tents are available at additional cost.
We stay in a mix of nice guesthouses/hotels/cabins/cottages and a village home stay with a local family in Ghulkin Village.
Hotel rooms in the mountains are without air-conditioning (although the rooms in Lahore and Islamabad – the two hottest places – will definitely have air-conditioning).
We offer comfy, quality tents for the nights when we are camping.
We sleep in a 4-star hotel in Lahore at the end of the tour!
There is no extreme long days or ultra difficult day hikes on the trip. Anyone with basic fitness and a positive attitude will enjoy the different hikes we do.
That said, this trip is an active holiday. We do plenty of hiking when we are in the mountains, but there is also plenty of down time too.
Over the course of two weeks, you will hike approximately 35 kilometers in total.
The best way to prepare for this trip is to do as much hiking as you can before coming to Pakistan!
This trip is where it all began for Epic Expeditions team.
Back in 2017 we ran this trip for the first time.
Since then, Epic Expeditions team founder Chris Lininger along with our local Pakistani ground team, have hand-crafted what we believe to be the perfect Hunza Valley itinerary and we are very proud to be one of the first western companies to run this style of trip with a mix of active adventure, local culture, and unique accommodation.
Nobody does Pakistan like Epic BExpeditions team – and Hunza Valley is our speciality.
One of the most unique parts of this trip is the time we spend staying with a local family in a small mountain village.
Over the years, we have developed a special bond with the people of Ghulkin Village and it truly feels like we are going home each time we return.
Hunza is far less conservative than other parts of Pakistan and it is here that we will have the most interaction with the locals, including women.
For our trek to Patundas Meadow, we also hire local porters from Ghulkin Village, who accompany with us on the trek for a few days.
So yes! We have plenty of time to immerse in local culture and learn directly from the people of Hunza about their lifestyle and local traditions.
Didn’t find the answer you were looking for? Try reading our extensive Hunza FAQ page first where we break down the tour in more detail.
The Hunza Valley is one of the most enchanting and desirable places in all of Pakistan. Once an isolated and wild frontier, ruled by kings and warlike chieftains, it is now quite accessible thanks mostly in part to the construction of the Karakoram Highway. Many Pakistanis visit here on summer holidays to escape the heat of the southern megalopolises and to breath some clean mountain air.
For much of its existence, Hunza was relatively unknown to the Western world, a blank space on the map and more the stuff of legends. Central Asian merchants and pilgrims knew it well and used the valley to transport both goods – as a detour from the Silk Road – and religion. Buddhism was once the dominate faith here and several archeological sites survive to this day in Hunza despite Islamization in the 15th century.
It wasn’t until the British arrived in the 19th century – during which time it was aggressively expanding its empire to counter the expansion of the Russian Empire, a period known as the “Great Game” – that the Hunza Valley was truly known to Westerners. After some campaigning, the British inevitably added the Hunza Valley to its vassal territories.
50 years later, following the partition of India, the Hunza Valley and the regional capital, Gilgit, would play a vital role in the formation and solidification of the Northern Areas of Pakistan (now called Gilgit-Baltistan).
Since its incorporation into Pakistan (Gilgit-Baltistan remains autonomous) and the completion of the Karakoram Highway, Hunza has slowly modernized. But despite new infrastructure and development, Hunza still maintains a certain tranquility and bucolic vibe. The quality of life is excellent, locals frequently live beyond 100 years, and the education is some of the best in Pakistan. The people of the Hunza Valley are very proud of their home and will be eager to show you everything there is to see.
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
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