Updates from two world-first adventures in Gabon's Ivindo National Park and Mongolia's Western Altai, with Secret Compass

(TRAVPR.COM) BRISTOL - June 13th, 2016 - MIDSUMMER EXPEDITIONS UNDERWAY

With midsummer approaching, a distracted nation is slipping into festival mode. At Secret Compass expeditions, however, concentration is at its peak with two teams currently on the ground and en route to achieving adventurous world firsts in Mongolia and Gabon. It’s amazing what people commit to once Glastonbury sells out…

GABON: WORLD-FIRST ‘TALE OF TWO RIVERS’ JOURNEY

A 10-strong team is now finding its feet in Gabon’s Ivindo National Park (4 – 20 June 2016) as part of the Secret Compass ‘A Tale of Two Rivers’ expedition. The team will attempt an amphibious crossing of the Equator, trekking through jungles and then inflating packrafts to continue the adventure along the Djidji and Kongou rivers systems.

GABON EXPEDITION HIGHLIGHTS

1. A world-first, human-powered crossing of Gabon’s Equator.

2. Explore Kongou and Djidji rivers on foot and by dugout canoe and packraft.

3. Birdwatch in Africa’s forest bird epicentre.

4. Potential observation of elephants and forest gorillas.

5. A brand new destination for Secret Compass in 2016, 2017 dates coming soon.

6. 16 nights, 4 – 20 June 2016, £2,950pp (all inc. except flights).

MONGOLIA: THE ‘FIRST ASCENTS IN THE ALTAI’ ADVENTURE

Concurrently, a six-strong team is on the ground in western Mongolia’s Siilkhem range (5 – 19 June 2016). In this remote and mountainous region, the expedition’s goal is to make two commercial first ascents, of Nariin Ekhin at 3,952m and of an unclimbed peak at 3,907m.

Updates in from the team today confirm that one first ascent has just been notched up despite a team injury which necessitated an evacuation operation, with a first-ascent attempt on a second mountain happening imminently.  

MONGOLIA EXPEDITION HIGHLIGHTS

1. Make first ascents at the juncture of Mongolia, China and Russia.

2. Cross rivers, traverse valleys and trek on glaciers above 2,900m.

3. Look out for elusive snow leopards.

4. A brand new destination for Secret Compass in 2016, 2017 dates coming soon.

5. 14 nights, 5 – 19 June 2016, £2,999pp (all inc. except flights).

Tom Bodkin, director of Secret Compass, said, “Avoiding pre-trodden routes, we identify new adventurous goals for our expedition teams. This means that our teams break new ground in the world’s wildest places or that they notch up a world first as is the case with Gabon and Mongolia.”

EXPEDITION DESTINATIONS FOR LATE 2016 AND 2017

Kerry O’Neill, communications director with Secret Compass, said, “Following Gabon and Mongolia, our late-summer expeditions are to the DRC, to Armenia’s Lesser Caucasus, to Afghanistan’s Wakhan Corridor and to Kamchatka. Brand new experiences in North Korea, Burma, Bhutan and Chad will follow into 2017.”

For further press information about Secret Compass (or its TV and Film, Bespoke or Brand Projects departments), contact communications director Kerry O’Neill on 0207 096 8428 or visit Secret Compass's In The Media page today.

For post-expedition follow ups, interviews or photography, contact Secret Compass today.  

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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. 

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