As a follow-up to today's blog post, I will here (somewhat hesitantly) post an overview of organized group tours with fixed dates that cover multiple WHS in a 'difficult' country or single WHS that are very hard to reach on your own.

Joining such a group tour can be a perfect solution when you're a solo traveller and like to travel with others, or when cost is a determining factor.

** Disclaimer: I do not endorse the companies mentioned below in any way and I did not receive any financial compensation from those listed. **


Afghanistan
The only one I have been able to find so far that covers both WHS is Untamed Borders (4500 USD, 15 days).

Algeria
Many tours here but not really maximizing the WHS potential. RJ Travel in partnership with MTP is organizing a single trip in Oct to 5 WHS on a North-South combi, which seems easy to extend with 1 more in Algiers (1800 USD, 9 days, 5 or 6 WHS)

Gabon
Pictus Safaris (10,550 GBP, 16 days, both WHS)

Iraq
Lupine (1875 GBP, 7 nights, 5 WHS)

Libya
Lupine (1995 GBP, 6 nights, 3 WHS)

Mauretania
Native Eye (2199 GBP, 10 days, both WHS)

Niger
Native Eye (5299 GBP, 15 days, both WHS)

Syria
Penguin (1420 EUR, 8 days, 5 WHS)
RJ Travel (1200 USD, 7 days, 5 WHS)

Yemen
No tours found with more than 1 WHS.

I have only listed those with the best Cost versus WHS quality/quantity. If you know of more, or plan to organize a trip yourself, please post below and I will add it to the summary list which will stay sticky on the first page of this topic.

Are we robbing a bank before or during the tours? :)

LOL! You'd be expected to pay the full sum 6 weeks or so before departure, so I guess you have to start researching the security measures at Canadian banks.

But indeed, something like Gabon (including Ivindo) is extremely expensive. I have never seen anything including Ivindo below 10,000.

thanks Els, this topic is really needed, not necessarily to advertise tours organized by professionals, but to gather people that may be interested in hard to reach WHS. For instance, a few months ago I was searching for teammates to do Afghanistan (we already have the group) in a cost that is less than half of the one proposed by Untamed Borders.

I bet Gabon is doable much cheaper, but didn't look up closely. Vague plans for 2025 include Cameroon and Nigeria (but I am not sure Sukur is doable at all).

If you are 2 pax yourself then you can better go with the (famous) fixer i drove with. I paid a bit less as twice that lupine does for 2 weeks from bashra to erbil. And iraq is not difficult.

Libya is the same; have not been; but there is 2-3 local companies and for 6 days you can go for less and be private.

Gabon pricing sounds like a joke to me to be honest if you only want to do the 2 WHS. (unless they charger a plane to irvindo though.... which racks the cost).

That's just the point. It has to be for 1 person and fixed dates without the trouble of organizing it yourself. Think of the 'professional help' in my latest blog post.

Ok yes. Organizing yourself, I do not think applies to the above locations. I mean more like, you can simply hire the local companies to do the same. It's cheaper, the same tour etc etc. Plus, you're flexible. These fixed dates I think are OK to count countries. For WHS I think less interesting for MOST OF THEM (maybe is exceptions).

Not talking about remote islands as in your blog post. That's a bit a different story in my opinion. But Iraq, Algeria, Libya and such...... why go with a group of many if with 2 it's the same price. or with 1 and a surplus of 50% and you can probably do less days etc etc.

and lastly, in my opinion, if you go to "such" places it's not difficult to find a 2nd person to join as I'm sure most will be in contact with likeminded.

in the end it all also comes down I don't like companies marking up multiple times the cost.

A company to watch for Bikini Atoll is Rat Race Adventures.
They recently made a succesful trip there, see: https://archive.ph/2024.08.13-212114/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/destinations/north-america/united-states/hawaii/hawaii-island/they-blew-up-paradise-visiting-the-home-of-the-atomic-bomb/ and
https://www.pressreader.com/uk/inews-weekend/20240810/283588110652688

The trip was advertised in 2019 at 5,500 GBP (excluding international flights to the Marshall Islands).

Actually cost £7500 when it finally took place post-Covid in July 24. See here page 9