Join our May 2023 Hunza Valley Express Tour – only a few spots left.
Join our May 2023 Hunza Valley Express Tour – only a few spots left.
From our days of running a single trip a few times a year in Pakistan to now operating in multiple countries and continents – our values and ethics remain the same. We are still that same, plucky adventure tour company punching far above its weight in the realm of unique, raw adventure travel.
We believe in the power of travel to change lives, inspire growth, build stronger personal foundations, inspire teamwork, and push the limits of what our expeditions can do for our clients.
Go on truly wild and authentic expeditions that other companies don’t go.
Give back to the local communities we work with and pay our local staff above industry standard.
Smash negative stereotypes associated with what many people in the west consider “dangerous countries”.
Take care of mother earth as we go and practice ‘Leave No Trace’ principles on every adventure.
As we look towards the future, there is a lot to get excited about. At this very moment, we are developing exciting new expeditions, growing our team of industry professionals, and setting our sights on what the coming years will bring.
Surviving the Covid Era is something that everyone working in the travel space can be proud of. Now that we are on the other end of that period (almost) we want to continue to be on the cutting edge of adventure travel companies doing things the right way.
Epic Backpacker Tours hand-crafts each itinerary we run, never outsources a single trip to third-party companies, and aims to keep our trips as inclusive and affordable as possible for all of the unique travelers who enjoy our adventure style.
We will continue to be industry leaders in small-scale adventure tourism while opening up new expedition opportunities for our clients, jobs for our local partners, and much-needed sustainable income for local communities.
From the start, Epic Backpacker Tours expeditions have focused on keeping our tours as green as possible by eliminating things like single-use plastic from our trips, practicing leave-no-trace principles when camping, and going overland when possible to avoid the extra carbon footprint of flying.
We don’t believe in “in and out” tourism which can make travelers feel like passive voyeurs – we deeply care about the communities we visit and there is a reason why our colleagues on the ground where we work are like family to us.
Our work over the years has translated into investing in local community projects like helping our friend in Hunza achieve his dream of starting the first-ever backpacker hostel for international travelers.
We have also worked with NGOs in Baltistan who provide services to orphans and we also organize annual campsite clean-ups in multiple areas of Northern Pakistan during the K2 Base Camp Trek.
Every year during Ramadan, we work together with our local partners supporting a food drive to feed and clothes local families in need.
Our immersive approach means that our clients are able to form genuine connections with the natural environment, gain unique perspectives about a new culture, and cultivate real friendships with the local people we encounter on expeditions.
Here are the 10 key aspects of the Epic belief system:
Many of the people attracted to our expeditions are experienced world travelers use to traveling solo or at least not on a group expedition. They come to us to take their adventures up a notch while connecting with others who want to experience the same sort of next-level travel style.
Epic Backpacker Tours has become a conduit for connecting link-minded adventure junkies in a way that forms life long bonds and relationships.
There is also a reason why we have A LOT of repeat customers; once you experience the Epic Style, you will become an integral part of our travel community inspired for the next adventure or challenge.
Our trips by their very nature involve encouraging you to step out of your comfort zone in order to gain deep experiences with the natural world, form raw connections to new cultures, and push your own physical limits at times.
We designed our expeditions so that you can glean the best of all three components mentioned above. We actively seek out mind-blowing trails, unique accommodation, fun transport options, expert staff, and all of the other details that go into making our adventures truly EPIC.
We develop trips by going there ourselves, getting our boots dirty and our knees scraped – and putting all the pieces together that go into making a truly unique adventure.
Whether we arrive by foot, horse, mule, jeep, 6×6 truck, or parachute – for us it is all about the journey – and every surprise and slice of magic that is there to take in along the way.
Chat with us now!
Chat with us now!
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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 Backpacker Tours 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 will be leading his 11th tour in Iran with EBT this coming spring 2020
When Pedro’s not traveling the world with Epic Backpacker Tours, 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!
– Saisun
“
Touring Iran with EBT in May 2022 was way above our expectation: itineraries well planned and carefully executed, perfect mix of sights and trekking, delicious food, nice accommodation, great guides and wonderful fellow travellers. Trekking can be handled by anyone physically fit. Highly recommended for those who want to experience the real Iran.
– Sumera
Meet him during : The Ultimate Iran Adventure
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 Backpacker Tours 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 Backpacker Tours, 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
For the last eleven years, Chris has been seeking out every shade of adventure in various parts of the globe and had visited more than 65 countries along the way.
Since 2011, Chris has logged more than 6300 trail miles across five continents and climbed multiple 6000 + 7000 meter peaks in Pakistan and Nepal.
In 2017, a distant dream and a deep passion for the mountains and people of Pakistan led Chris to found Epic Backpacker Tours at a time when foreign adventure tourism in Pakistan was almost nonexistent. Since then, Chris has guided more than 15 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.
Long-distance hiking, learning languages, meaningful conversations, all things Turkish food, mountaineering, and making tasty coffee above 6,000 meters rank among his favorite things in life.
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.
When he is not leading or planning tours, Chris 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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