Original team expeditions (including Bhutan and North Korea) for adventurers who believe there is plenty left to discover

(TRAVPR.COM) BRISTOL - June 13th, 2016 - Many think there’s nowhere left to discover. Google has mapped the planet, technology has shrunk the world and Earth’s extremities have been conquered. Secret Compass offers some adventurous alternatives to the belief that there’s nowhere left to explore, as its pioneering expeditions for 2016 and 2017 show.

Tom Bodkin, company CEO, said, “Secret Compass expeditions have achieved world firsts and won Guinness records. Look hard enough at a remote region or creatively enough at an exploratory challenge and the ideas will arise. World firsts and original adventure experiences are definitely still out there.”

SECRET COMPASS EXPEDITIONS FOR 2016/2017

DRC (06/16): jungle, volcanic peak and gorilla trekking in Virunga National Park NEW

Afghanistan (07/16): high¬altitude trek in the Wakhan Corridor National Park

Armenia (08/16): exploration of a fabled land and its UNESCO¬protected mountains

Kamchatka (08/16): head to Russia to trek among Eurasia’s highest active volcanoes

Kyrgyzstan (09/16): bike¬packing expedition to mountain bike (MTB) the Silk Road

UK (09/16): two mini¬expedition styled weekend adventures in Wales NEW

Sinai (09/16): minimalistic, camel¬supported desert trek with the Bedouin

Burmese Nagaland (10/16): first ascent trek to summit SE Asia’s highest peak NEW

Ethiopia (10/16): expedition to explore the Simien Mountains and villages by MTB

Iran (10/16): ‘Desert Stars and Solitude’: a Lut Desert traverse

Chad (01/17): exploring the Sahara’s volcanic heartland and highest peak NEW

Siberia (03/17): reindeer migration across frozen gulfs with the Nenets nomads

Bhutan (04/17): trek to scale a 5,000m+ peak in this Himalayan Buddhist Kingdom NEW

Panama (03/17): delve into the notorious Darien gap on a petroglyph hunt…

Iraqi Kurdistan (04/17): exploring the trekking peaks of the Zagros Mountains

Madagascar (04/17): an epic trek and raft ‘peak to sea’ adventure

North Korea (05/17): remote Nat. Park exploration in this ultra¬-secret state NEW

Gabon (2017 TBC): trek and packraft across Gabon’s wildlife rich Equator (new in 2016)

Mongolia (2017 TBC): first ascent expedition in the remote Mongolian Altai (new in 2016)

Bodkin continued, “Secret Compass sent the first commercial team to cross the notorious Darien Gap, to scale war-torn South Sudan’s highest peak and to film mountain biking in Afghanistan. We created this company to achieve the extraordinary and we’re not slowing down.

“Original feats this summer include a packraft adventure across Gabon’s Equator, a first ascents expedition in Mongolia, and volcano summit attempts in the DRC’s Virunga National Park – the first time the park’s inner reaches have admitted a commercial group.

“For eight days this August bank holiday, our Armenia team will explore the ridges and trekking peaks of the remote Lesser Caucasus in a manner even local guides have described as impressive!

“As long as people seek to push their limits in the world’s wildest places, we’ll continue scouring the history books, the maps and the planet’s remaining challenges to devise creative and often world-first expeditions. Sating the desires of today’s demanding adventure travellers keeps us on our toes.”

Communications director, Kerry O’Neill, said, “Genuinely new expeditions, culturally immersive experiences and methods of travel are what make Secret Compass stand out at the tougher end of the adventure travel market.”

O’Neill concluded, “Prefer no selfie sticks, no other visitors and little tourism infrastructure? Travel with Secret Compass.”

With its military background, expedition company Secret Compass is renowned for offering expeditions and adventure travel to countries eschewed by most operators due to their remoteness, post-conflict reputations or inaccessibility.

For 2016 and into 2017, Secret Compass destinations include Afghanistan, Armenia, Bhutan, Burma, Chad, Ethiopia, Gabon, Iran, Kurdistan, Kyrgyzstan, Madagascar, North Korea, Panama, Siberia and the Sinai desert. Activities range from mixed-terrain trekking and minimalist desert traverses, to mountain-biking, packrafting and culturally immersive experiences.

FURTHER INFORMATION

For further press information about Secret Compass, contact communications director Kerry O’Neill on 0207 096 8428.

——- ENDS ——-

NOTES FOR EDITORS

SECRET COMPASS

Secret Compass redefines what is possible by creating pioneering projects in the world’s wildest places. It’s built around a team of trusted experts who combine their passion for exploration with industry-leading professionalism. Upcoming expeditions destinations include Afghanistan, Armenia, Bhutan, Burma, Ethiopia, Gabon, Iran, Iraqi Kurdistan, Kyrgyzstan, Madagascar, Mongolia, North Korea, Panama, Siberia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Chad and southern Sinai.

SECRET COMPASS FOR TV, FILM AND BRAND PROJECTS

Secret Compass is trusted by production companies and brands to create and capture the extraordinary in remote and wild regions thanks to its unrivalled location and risk-management expertise. Brand clients to date include Mitsubishi, Sony, Nespresso, Giro, Xbox and Jagermeister. TV credits include location-managing Channel 4’s Walking the Nile and Walking the Himalayas series, alongside projects for the BBC, National Geographic, Animal Planet and the Discovery Channel.

Press enquiries: Kerry on +44 (0)207 096 8428.

###