Bespoke Travel
Based on your interests, we will create an imaginative, personalized itinerary. Whether you're keen on trekking soaring peaks, flora and fauna, or discovering fascinating cultures or historical sites, we will tailor the trip to suit your, or your group's, requirements perfectly.
Perfect for a family adventure, honeymoon to remember, an office retreat or stimulating solo break that you'll never forget. We can plan the trip to suit your schedule and the prime season to visit your chosen destination.
Want to find out more? Email us at explore@ishkar.com
PAKISTAN: HUNZA VALLEY
What? Explore the soaring peaks and fascinating history of Hunza with the expert guidance of in-country experts. Head out on the trail hiking routes or discover archaeological sites. Whatever you have in mind, we can work with you to curate your perfect experience.
Where? Northern Pakistan is home to some of the world’s most jaw-dropping landscapes, with more than fifty mountains over 7,000 metres, and 5 over 8,000. For millennia ancient trade routes have snaked their way through the verdant valleys which lie between these high peaks, carrying goods, ideas and influences between south Asia, Afghanistan and nearby China.
Find out more about our bespoke trips to Pakistan here and email us on explore@ishkar.com for more information and a personal consultation.
YEMEN: SOCOTRA
What? Travel to Socotra and curate an experience as diverse as the island itself. Learn about the biodiversity of endemic flora & fauna, hike and boat to Socotra's remotest corners un-reachable by road, or improve your photography under expert guidance with the landscape as your canvas.
Where? The Socotra archipelago is an oasis of calm, isolated in the northwest Indian Ocean off the coasts of Yemen and Somalia. It is a land of high mountains, pristine white beaches, and one of the world’s densest concentrations of plant and animal life found anywhere on the planet. Visitors throughout history have been drawn to the island in search of its natural treasures, not least the otherworldly dragon’s blood tree, revered for its healing powers and used as a paint colour by artists.There are thought to be 825 species of plants on the 3,796km² island, of which 37% are endemic.
Find out more about our bespoke trips to Socotra here and email us on explore@ishkar.com for more information and a personal consultation.
DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO
What? Travel through the Northern and Southern Kivu regions of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). This is a rare opportunity to be a part of a pioneering trip to explore the cultural and geographic richness of the DRC.
Where?The largest country in Sub-Saharan Africa, the Democratic Republic of Congo (D.R.C.) is home to the world’s deepest river and the world’s second largest rainforest. The D.R.C. is as fabulously rich in biodiversity above ground as it is in minerals below. On the country’s eastern frontier with Rwanda and Uganda, lie the provinces of North and South Kivu. North and South Kivu are bordered to their east by the African Great Lakes of Lake Kivu and Lake Edward. It is a region of volcanoes, rich montane forests, and dramatic rivers. It is also the location of the Virunga National Park, a world heritage site which is one of only two remaining habitats for the endangered mountain gorilla.
Find out more about our bespoke trips to the DRC by emailing us on explore@ishkar.com for more information and a personal consultation.
TAJIKISTAN
What? Explore the high altitude landscapes and ancient villages of Tajikistan's Pamir Mountains through the Bartang Valley, and Wakhan Corridor bordering Afghanistan.
Where? Tajikistan is known for its rugged mountains, which make up 93% of the country's land area, as well as its rich culture and history. The Bartang Valley is known for its stunning natural beauty, including dramatic peaks, turquoise rivers, and pristine glaciers. The Wakhan Corridor is a high-altitude region that is home to several ethnic groups, including the Wakhi, who are known for their distinct culture and language. The corridor is also famous for its historic Silk Road trading routes and ancient Buddhist sites.
Find out more about our bespoke trips to Tajikistan by emailing us on explore@ishkar.com for more information and a personal consultation.
ETHIOPIA
What? Explore the landscapes - both cultural and literal - of Northern Ethiopia. Get an immersion of the senses in Addis Ababa, from nights of Ethiojazz, mornings woken with the country's best coffee, and days that whirr along to the melody of khat traders and metal workers in Addis' sprawling Mercato. Explore Lake Tana's ancient monasteries, before tracking down gelada baboons and hidden waterfalls in the Simien Mountains.
Where? As one of the oldest countries on earth, Ethiopia's story is long and varied. Although now landlocked, Ethiopia's borders once stretched as far as the Red Sea, where it dominated the spice trade in the first millennium AD, becoming the maritime trading power of the region. Beyond the trade in goods, Ethiopia has also been host to massive movements of ideas and ideology - from hosting the Queen of Sheba's origin story, the building a new Jerusalem at Lalibela. Beyond its cultural significance, Ethiopia also plays host to a multitude of landscapes, habitats, wildlife and languages - all equally ripe for exploration.
Find out more about our bespoke trips to Tajikistan by emailing us on explore@ishkar.com for more information and a personal consultation.