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Winter 2015
Newsletter
In this issue:
- A note from James
- Private Trips with UTB
- The Adventure Travel Show
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Pictured: Ali Shah, Afghan Ski Guide, winning the race in St Moritz, January 2015.
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A note from James Willcox, Founder
After a year of travel and guiding that included Chechnya, Dagestan, Afghanistan, Ethiopia, Mogadishu and Peshawar I ended the year in, of all places, St Moritz. Perhaps the most exclusive ski resort in Europe and really not the kind of place I'd usually frequent. The reason was the 2nd Annual “Afghan Ski Challenge – St Moritz”. An event held to raise money for the actual Afghan Ski Challenge, held in Afghanistan every February.
The resort of St Moritz also invited two of the Afghan ski guides to Switzerland for training for two months. It is a fantastic experience for Ali Shah and Sajjad to spend time in the Alps and to receive ski race training. The ultimate aim is to get them to a level where they can compete at the Winter Olympics in 2018.
The highlight for me was the race itself. Ali Shah and Sajjad both took part with Ali Shah winning and Sajjad coming third. Photos and reports of the boys on the podium and the Afghan Flag flying high over the Swiss Alps went viral on Afghan social media. A nice piece of good news in Afghanistan and the perfect way to kick off 2015.
James
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Private trips with Untamed Borders
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A full list of our fixed date trips for 2015 can be found on our website. However, the majority of our trips are privately run for individuals or small groups. Below are a small selection of private trips we ran in 2015. Contact us for costs or ideas for private trips in 2015.
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Photography Trips
Having guided numerous photographers, whether your interest is professional or amateur we will make sure you get to the right place at the right time for some stunning shots.
We recently guided British photographer Simon Urwin in Afghanistan whose work then appeared in Lonely Planet Traveller magazine and The Guardian.
We also guided German photographer Christina Feldt who wonderfully captured the beauty and technicolour of daily life in Afghanistan - view her photos here.
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Research
Trips
If you have some research needs or if you simply want to get under the skin of a story you read in the news then we can work with you to arrange meetings and interviews.
In February 2015 we guided an American man in Ingushetia who was conducting research for his PHD.
We also recently arranged two separate research trips in Afghanistan. One of which involved assisting one of our guests to meet the sole remaining Kabuli Jewish man.
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Special Interest Trips
Whether it's history, adventure or a little bit of both you are after, if you have a specific activity in mind and need support and guiding then we are here to help.
We recently arranged the first commercial motorbike trip for a US company across Dagestan, Chechnya and Ingushetia (details on their website).
We also recently assisted two Swiss gentlemen cycle along the Karakorum Highway in Pakistan, check out their awe-inspiring photos here.
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