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.
Epic Backpacker Tours understands the seriousness and impact on the whole world presented by the Corona Virus pandemic. We as a company are doing everything in our power to ensure the safety of our current clients and partners in the countries where we operate.
If you have already booked or plan to book a trip with Epic Backpacker Tours in 2023, please note the following: clients are entitled to have their full trip balance moved to another trip if Covid impacts their travel plans in some tangible way (IE contraction, government travel bans, etc) OR request a FULL REFUND if we cancel the tour due to logistical, safety, and/or travel complications related to Covid-19.
We hope that this year, the whole Covid thing will be fully behind us and we can all get back to doing what we love.
Full refund of balance or full trip credit will be issued for the following reasons:
1. Clients can provide EBT with medical proof that they have Coronavirus and are too sick to travel and have a note from a doctor. Refund Option: EPIC Travel Credit equal to total balance paid.
2. There is a government travel ban issued by your home country or we are unable to run our trip due to Covid travel bans – Refund Option: Full refund or full travel credit towards a future trip.
3. Epic cancels the trip due to minimum numbers not being met. Refund Option: Full refund or full travel credit towards a future trip.
EBT adventures carry a certain amount of risk since we are trekking into the mountains and cities of developing countries. There is a chance of you being injured or even killed on an expedition. EBT trips are not holidays per se. EBT tours are adventure trips and by their very nature there are risks involved.
Interested parties cannot come on an EBT tour unless they buy travel insurance and in some cases, helicopter evacuation insurance (for K2 Base Camp Trek only).
All tour participants will need to provide EBT with a photocopy or other proof of travel insurance before coming on a tour. Tour participants will also need to sign a waiver releasing the guides, Epic Backpacker Tours LLC.
EBT cares deeply about the well being of all of our tour participants. We do everything in our power to provide a safe and secure adventure tour environment. By coming on an EBT tour, tour participants absolve EBT and its affiliated partners of all liability relating to injury or damages.
Medical vaccinations, passports, visas, flights etc. are entirely your responsibility and must be arranged prior to departure. EBT takes no responsibility for the cancellation of your trip in the event that you are not allowed to fly, or able to continue the tour due to ill preparation.
From 2022 onwards, ALL TOUR PARTICIPANTS MUST BE FULLY VACCINATED AGAINST COVID 19.
The tour participant must ensure that his/her passport is valid for at least six months beyond the date of the start of the tour. Failure to do so will result in visa denial and subsequent forfeiture of deposit and balance amount.
If you are unable to travel due to not obtaining the appropriate visa and/or passport we reserve the right to retain the cost of your trip (see “Visa Denial” section below).
You must ensure you are medically fit to travel and participate in the tour. We accept no responsibility for any losses you incur or any element of the tour that you are unable to participate in, on account of your health or fitness.
It is your responsibility to ensure that you research your intended destination(s) and activity/(ies) to determine whether you are able to participate and that you are at the required fitness level to undertake the tour. EBT reserves the right at any time to require a participant to produce a doctor’s certificate certifying that they are fit to participate/ continue participating in the tour.
Once paid, the deposit is non-refundable (except in case of tour cancelation, see “Tour Cancellation” section below) as it secures your spot and prevents other people from booking the tour once the tour has reached capacity.
– If you pay the full amount at the time of booking, the deposit amount is non-refundable, but the remaining balance is refundable should you cancel within more than 160 days of the start of the tour. Trip deposit can be used as credit towards a future trip. Trip credit is valid for 1 year.
– Cancel for any reason: If you cancel after paying the balance, 50% of the trip balance payment (less the deposit amount) is refundable if cancelled within 90 days of the start of the tour.
– The partial balance will only be awarded if Epic Backpacker Tours has not closed the trip to additional participants or if the client cancels with more than 90 days prior to the start of the tour, whichever comes first. This is because the company is unable to resell the canceling client’s spot should the client choose to drop out after the trip has been closed or is declared “sold out”.
Trip deposit can be used as credit towards a future trip. Trip credit is valid for 1 year.
– If cancellation occurs 90 days or less from the start of the tour, no amount will be refunded. Trip deposit can be used as credit towards a future trip if EBT is given at least 1 month notice of cancellation. Trip credit is valid for 1 year.
– Please note that if a client signs up for one tour and is moved to a future tour at the request of the client, no amount of the balance payment is to be refunded in the case that the guest decides to excuse themself from a future tour all together.
*See Covid 19 refund policy above for additional refund policy information relevant to this year (2023)
Under normal circumstances, clients cannot change from the original tour they booked at the last minute. Changing to a future tour may not be possible if the original tour booked is FIVE MONTHS or less from the trip departure date.
Clients can not change tour dates after this 5-month window pre-departure simply because the client decides the original dates booked do not work for them anymore for whatever the reason may be with the exception of a personal emergency.
Changing from the originally booked tour to a future tour (once approved by EBT) will incur a change fee of $250 per client (if internal flights are part of the tour). The client will not be permitted to come on a future EBT trip if the change fee is not paid in a reasonable amount of time (at least three months before the next planned departure date). When the original tour departure date is less than four months/120 days away, it may not be possible to change tours due to visa procedures or trip availability.
In the event of a legitimate emergency IE death in the family, catching Covid, a personal circumstance that otherwise prevents the client from coming on an adventure tour, or serious health problems, the change fee shall be reduced or omitted at the discretion of EBT. In this case, the client would need to provide medical proof of the emergency to Epic Backpacker Tours in order for the company to consider the claim legitimate.
-Some of the destinations EBT travels to require obtaining visas in advance.
If you are denied a visa after taking all of the correct steps required to apply and are unable to come on the trip solely because of a denied visa, you will be refunded the full balance amount (no tour participant has ever been denied a tourist visa as of now). Proof of visa denial and correct application is required to receive balance refund.
Please note that you may be asked to travel to the Pakistani or Iranian consulate in your home country as part of your visa application. We strongly recommend that you are available in your country during the visa application process (Pakistan visa). If you are unable to do this, and choose to apply for your visa without being in the country, you do so at your own risk. We will not refund the cost of the trip if you are unable to go to the embassy to sort out your visa.
If you are denied a tourist visa because you did not submit all necessary documents in a timely manner, you are NOT entitled to a refund. We are however reasonable people and if you are denied your visa for reasons beyond your control after taking all of the correct application steps, and provide proof that your visa was rejected, we will refund you.
Important: Remember it is your responsibility to apply for your visa in a timely manner in order to give yourself enough time to submit extra documents should they be requested by the given state consulate. If an individual does not submit all of the correct documents issued by EBT and follow all of the correct application steps whilst submitting the visa application in a timely manner to the correct authority, the individual is not entitled to a refund. If an individual attempts to apply for a visa using documents not issued by EBT and our partners, the individual will automatically forfeit their refund should a visa denial occur. If an an individual has applied for a visa BEFORE joining an EBT tour and is denied due to issues within or beyond their control, the refund will also be forfeited.
Refunds will not be issued if EBT determines a visa denial to be the fault of the individual rather than a circumstantial denial beyond the individual’s control.
Payments are due approximately 3-4 months before the tour begins, we will let you know when the payment is due via email, payment options will also be provided. Please ensure that you pay the tour balance in a timely manner.
For our Pakistan and Iran tour(s), you will be asked to pay the full balance before EBT issues your Letter of Invitation/ visa grant letter.
EBT reserves the right to cancel any tour in extraordinary circumstances, forced by virtue of unforeseen circumstances such as civil or political unrest, natural disaster, other matters it could not foresee or prevent.
This may also apply to tours where minimum numbers have not been reached, in the case of insufficient participant numbers a refund (minus the deposit) or tour transfer shall be offered.
In the case that EBT is forced to cancel a tour due to civil unrest, catastrophic political instability, natural disaster, or other factors that would compromise the safety of the tour, all participants would be fully refunded or moved to the next available tour of their choosing.
EBT does not cover any client pre/post tour travel expenses in the case that a tour is cancelled for reasons beyond the company’s control IE civil unrest, catastrophic political instability, natural disaster, or other factors that would compromise the safety of the tour. Clients can opt to go through their travel/flight insurance to obtain refunds for flights or other travel expenses incurred before the start of the t
It is unlikely that the EBT will have to make any changes to our published itineraries, however arrangements are made several months in advance. Occasionally changes may need to occur without prior notice for reasons over which we have no control.
EBT reserves the right to make changes without prior notice at any time, both before and during the tour. It is agreed that a published itinerary constitutes only an indication of what the tour is planned to accomplish and is not to constitute a contractual obligation on the part of EBT.
Participants agree that the nature of the tours offered by the EBT requires a degree of flexibility and that the contents and timings of the tour (including the arrival time at the tour’s destination, changes in route or method of transport) may be materially and consequently affected as a result of ‘force majeure’, weather, local political conditions, man made or natural disasters (including landslides, quakes and severe flooding), strikes, entry or border difficulties, mechanical breakdowns, flight cancellations, sickness, or other unforeseen circumstances
You agree to accept this flexibility and to accept that we cannot be held responsible for delays and alterations in the schedule, or for expenses incurred as result of any delay or alterations arising from any such circumstances over which we have no control.
Participants acknowledge that there is a significant element of personal risk in participating in the tour, and accepts and consents to the personal risks inherent in the implementation of an EBT tour itinerary. Participants must accept the limitations of EBT liability set out herein as being reasonable.
EBT will appoint the tour leader(S) in advance of each tour and the identity of each tour leader shall be communicated to participants in pre departure information. Upon the first meeting and at the commencement of the tour, and that by continuing on the tour, EBT and the tour leader(S) shall be free to assume that the participant is fully aware of the tour leader(S) identity and shall accept all appropriate instructions given and requests made by them.
Participants agree to accept the decisions of the tour leader(S), who shall have absolute discretion and authority to securely implement EBT obligations to fulfill any given itinerary and achieve best possible tour outcomes.
If your physical condition or behavior is such as to affect the well-being of yourself or other members of the group, and/or if you are being obstinate or in any way disruptive, combative, or violent and/or affecting or potentially affecting another participants enjoyment/safety of the tour, it is up to tour leader’s sole and absolute opinion to decide to remove you from the tour without any right to refund.
If you choose to leave the tour at any point you will be required to provide your decision to the tour leader in writing, you will not be permitted to rejoin the tour at a later date.
We will always endeavor to resolve a complaint as it arises. In order to do this we need to be made aware of the complaint. Participants agree to the following procedure, at the earliest opportunity any perceived failure in the performance, or improper performance of the implementation of the itinerary, whether by EBT or its partner’s, is to be respectfully communicated to the tour guide in a timely manner.
The tour guide and participant will make prompt efforts to resolve the complaint. In the event that the complaint remains unresolved then the participant agree and is welcomed to set out their complaint in writing to the EBT within 7 days of completion of the tour.
However, it is important to remember that travel is all about the journey, and so even the unexpected situations we may face should be treated as part of the overall experience. If we encounter issues we will get them sorted to the best of our ability.
Feel free to send us a message using our contact page!
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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
How? Sign up to our Newsletter! For every 500 people, we draw a name and issue trip credits to the lucky winner!
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