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Home Features Great British Explorers Profiles Sophie Ibbotson

Sophie Ibbotson

From Afghanistan to South Sudan, Sophie is an explorer who likes her adventures with just a hint of danger. An orientalist by training, and an entrepreneur and writer by profession, Sophie broke the world altitude record for auto rickshaws in 2008 when she drove over the 15,397' Khunjerab Pass between Pakistan and China.

Let's just say that autos don't much care for snow. She has led three expeditions to Afghanistan, including two extended treks to explore the Wakhan Corridor, and has lapped the globe many times over by both car and train. In her commercial life, she promotes investment in emerging markets and post-conflict zones, work which has enabled her to spend protracted periods in more than 40 countries. Highlights include driving a 40' crane from the UK to Kyrgyzstan, reviving horse racing in Sudan, tourism development in Kashmir, the first private train into Iran, and micro finance initiatives in Afghanistan. Oh, and generally being a thorn in the side of the FCO.

Sophie is the author of the first travel guide to South Sudan and has also co-written the Bradt Travel Guides to Kashmir, Sudan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. Her writing is widely published, including in the Sunday Telegraph, the Financial Times and Newsweek, and she's lectured at the Royal Geographical Society, the Royal Society for Asian Affairs, and the Royal Asiatic Society. Sophie is also the Editor of the Ripcord Adventure Gear Guide, published by World Explorers Bureau.

Speaking Topics
  • Give Conflict Zones a Fighting Chance!: Tourism, security and economic recovery
  • Tracing Tea: Tremendous Travels by Tuk-Tuk
  • Rebuilding Paradise: Tourism in Post-conflict Kashmir
  • Afghanistan: Trekking, tourism and potential
  • Making Adventure Pay: How to earn while you travel
Testimonial

Thank you for your insights into Uzbekistan and for sharing your highlights and knowledge, particularly of the architecture, landscape and activities that Uzbekistan has to offer! It was a very informative and interesting evening and very enjoyable for all attendees

Royal Geographical Society, Feb 2015

When it comes to off-the beaten track, few people know their stuff more than Sophie Ibbotson..

Sunday Telegraph, Jan 2015

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ANTS BOLINGBROKE-KENT

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Ants is a record-breaking adventurer, travel writer and tv producer, with a penchant for very long journeys in rather unsuitable vehicles.

In 2006 she drove a pink tuk tuk 12,500-mile from Bangkok to Brighton with her best friend Jo. They raised £50,000 for Mind, set the world record for the longest journey ever by an auto rickshaw, wrote a best-selling travel book "Tuk Tuk to the Road" and won Cosmopolitan Magazine's "Fun, fearless female award" from 16,000 entries.

Most recently she ventured on a 2-month motorcycle ride down what remains of the legendary Ho Chi Minh Trail in Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia. A book about this "Short Ride in the Jungle" has just been published. In between travelling and writing she produces TV programmes for the BBC, Channel 4 and ITV

World Class Explorers

Our World Explorers Bureau explorers and adventurers demonstrate a wide range of high value personal characteristics and skills. Here we feature from time to time some of our amazing team who have made or broken world records, set world firsts and entered in the Guinness Book of Records to give you a feel for what our adventure speakers can offer your audience:

Maria Leijerstam 

On the 27th December 2013, Maria Leijerstam became the first person in the world to cycle from the edge of the Antarctic continent to the South Pole and also set the new World Record for the fastest human powered coast to pole traverse, completing her journey in 10 days, 14hrs and 56 minutes