Our Mission
"We seek the space where wilderness and culture converge."
We aim to spirit clients away into regions so incredibly remote and scarcely visited by outsiders that our presence alone is likely to astonish the local populations. It is in places such as this where the most unconditional hospitality can be found.
Connecting with Local Populations
We create opportunities that allow our guests to interact and connect with local populations, whether that be with the nomadic families of Kyrgyzstan or the sedentary people of the high Pamir Plateau.
It would be easy to take advantage of the kindness on offer in Central Asia, but this is not our goal. We provide all of our partners with fair wages and a consistent income, which is often hard to come by amongst sustenance-based populations. We truly believe to better understand a culture, we must fully immerse ourselves in that culture.
Discovering New Routes
For many years, our team has tasked ourselves with the joy of scouring maps and local reservoirs of landscape knowledge in pursuit of novel backcountry routes. We then walk these routes, revise as needed, and finally optimize each of these itineraries.
Our routes tend to be more challenging than many found in an international arena: difficult terrain punctuated with sharp climbs, river crossings, and temperamental weather. In return, we are rewarded with fantastically untarnished nature.
Keeping Regions Authentic
We've seen how quickly mass-tourism can erode both culture and ecosystem alike, so it is our goal that the quiet regions covered on our expeditions remain that way.
By communicating our appreciation and respect for the natural beauty, history, and traditions of a region, we believe that we can in turn help facilitate the preservation of these things by encouraging a sense of stewardship and self-admiration amongst local populations.
Commitment To Sustainability
Preserving the untouched beauty of Central Asia is not just a goal, but a requirement for our operations.
Waste Removal Incentive
For every kilogram of waste removed, we pay an extra $10 to our local staff. We believe this incentive will go a long way in keeping Central Asia clean.
Smart Transportation
To reduce carbon emissions, we adjust transportation based on expedition size. Smaller groups use smaller vehicles, while larger groups have private minibuses.
Future Conservation
In the future, we are keen to further offset our carbon footprint by partnering with local and international conservation groups to further our dream.
Leave No Trace
Mountain ecosystems can be very fragile, so we ensure that all of our staff and clients are educated in and adhere to the 'Leave No Trace' Principles.