They began the epic drive in summer 2008 crossing India, Pakistan, China and Kyrgyzstan, the highlight of which was the first ever crossing of the Khunjerab Pass by auto and, consequently, breaking the world altitude record for travel by tuk-tuk.

Sophie and Max founded their company, Maximum Exposure Productions, to promote investment in developing countries and have good reasons to explore some of the wilder parts of the world. They have now worked in more than 30 countries in Europe, Africa and Asia, including conflict and post-conflict zones such as Afghanistan and South Sudan. In the course of their work, their more unusual projects to date have included driving a 4x4 from London to Kabul, crossing India by Unimog, leading expeditions in Afghanistan and Kashmir, driving a 50' crane across Central Asia, running Kyrgyzstan's State Agency for Tourism, and advising on the revival of thoroughbred horse racing in Khartoum. Max reported from Ala Too Square during Kyrgyzstan's 2010 Revolution, and Sophie 'did a John Simpson', disappearing under niqab to attend meetings on Tahrir Sq during rioting.

Sophie and Max are the authors of the first travel guide to South Sudan and have also written the Bradt Travel Guides to Kashmir, Sudan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. They have updated guides to China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and the Silk Road, and their travel writing is widely published, including in the Sunday Telegraph. Sophie is a council member of the Royal Society for Asian Affairs, and both Sophie and Max are on the advisory board of the British-Georgian Chamber of Commerce.

• Tracing Tea: Tremendous Travels by Tuk-Tuk
• Rebuilding Paradise: Tourism in Post-conflict Kashmir
• Afghanistan: Personal Experiences and Possibilities
• Combing Business and Pleasure: Making Adventure Pay

With extensive historical and cultural notes, [Sophie and Max provide] a whirlwind introduction to a little-discovered state...It most certainly provides an exciting armchair tour.

Daily Mail Online, Oct 2013

Highly recommended... [Sophie and Max's] pan-Asian reach and understanding is exceptional.

Garuda Airlines, Nov 2013