Edmund Le Brun

Co-founder, ISHKAR

Tell us about you and your company.

I co-founded ISHKAR with my wife after living in Afghanistan for four years. Like Afghanistan, many countries impacted by conflict or political instability are so much more than the headlines for which they are known. We wanted to show people first-hand the rich culture, heritage and natural beauty of regions rarely visited by foreign tourists. Having started out pursuing this mission through selling high end craft, in 2018 we branched out into travel. 

What’s the entry level to talk to you? 

We run both group trips and bespoke trips. Entry level group trips start at around US$3,500. 

What is the sweet spot of your expertise?

We are experts in rarely visited locations in rarely visited countries – Yemen, northern Pakistan, Afghanistan, Democratic Republic of Congo, Sudan and Ethiopia, to name a few. Although these locations might sound intrepid, even dangerous, we only travel to areas which are completely safe, and our trips are more about cultural tourism than adventure tourism. Our trips are typically led by experts, whether they be photographers, artists, journalists or conservationists. All our guides have a knack for delivering spontaneous experiences which surprise, delight and inspire. 

A favorite experience/trip/itinerary you’ve planned that best represents your philosophy…

The first ever trip we ran remains true to our philosophy today. Led by a  New York Times  photojournalist, Andrew Quilty, we took a group of eight travelers to central Afghanistan. For ten days, we explored the rich history of this region, hiking in the mountains, exploring crumbling ancient fortresses and picnicking by turquoise lakes. The trip was interspersed with meeting a diverse range of people from Afghanistan—politicians, entrepreneurs, archeologists and artisans—leaving our travelers with a long-lasting impression of the country beyond the images captured on their camera (which were all the while improving under the watchful eye of Mr Quilty). 

A favorite hotel/lodge/house you love and go back to again and again…

The  Serena Altit Fort Residence, in the Hunza valley, Northern Pakistan. True luxury at the foot of 7,000-meter mountains. 

The most memorable meal you’ve had while traveling…

A cheeseburger in Nepal. It arrived after one hour. Two buns and one slice of cheese, punctured by a cocktail stick proudly holding a Maraschino cherry. 

A not-to-be-missed favorite experience in your region(s) of expertise…

Swimming with whale sharks off the coast of the Yemeni island of Socotra.

What is a place we should consider traveling to that could really use our dollars, and what is a place we should put on hold because, even though we love it, it sees too many tourists? 

The Hunza Valley, northern Pakistan, is stunningly beautiful and culturally fascinating, yet receives very few foreign tourists. It is mad not more people know about it!  

If I’m writing this from the future, I would say Socotra. I would still urge travelers to visit this extraordinary island. However, due to the island’s small size and utter uniqueness, I fear it will, within a few short years, be overrun with tourists. That’s not the case now—so I urge readers to go whilst it is still a well kept secret! 

Underrated location, overrated location, personal favorite, recent discovery?

Underrated location: The Kivu region of the Democratic Republic of Congo

Overrated location: Cartagena, Colombia

Personal favorite: Bamiyan, Afghanistan

Recent discovery: Lamu, Kenya 

The hardest-working item you always pack…

My  Meindl Bhutan Walking Boots. Best purchase I’ve ever made.

What is something you wished we all knew or were better at as travelers? 

To leave your phone/camera behind. 

To find out more about our trips, visit  www.ishkar.com  or email us at explore@ishkar.com. Our main instagram is  @ishkar.co, and our travel diaries is  @ishkar.travel