GeoEx Firsts

Blazing Trails in Adventure Travel

Geographic Expeditions was born from an idea on the world’s highest mountain. Our legacy of exploration, immersion, first ascents and crossings is in our DNA. It’s what guides and inspires us to uncover the rare experiences and meaningful encounters that will deliver the same thrill of discovery, the same wonder and awe to our intrepid guests. But travelling with GeoEx isn’t about being the first. It’s about interacting with the world differently, more deeply and meaningfully, and with each journey, feeling your perspectives shift anew.

The Founding Trek

In spring of 1981, GeoEx founder, Jo Sanders, was among 15 intrepid trekkers on the North Face of Mount Everest. They were the first group of American trekkers ever allowed in this remote Tibetan backcountry, and it was Jo who had secured the permits. In awe of her ability to gain access to the world's most hidden corners, the group appealed to her to create an adventure travel company of her own. One year later, InnerAsia (now known as GeoEx) was born.

Notable Firsts

Tibet

First American Guided Trek to the Kangshung Face of Mount Everest

1982

China

First Guided Trek to K2 from the North

1984

Tibet

First American Guided Circumambulation Trek of Mount Kailas

1986

Kyrgyzstan to China

First American Guided Border Crossing Across the Torugart Pass

1986

China to Pakistan

First American Guided Tour Across the Khunjerab Pass

1986

Bhutan

Unclimbed Summits, Central Bhutan Himalaya (Mark Newcomb) - Six First Ascents

1987

China

First American Guided Tour to Traverse the Northern Silk Road

1987

Uzbekistan to China

First Guided American Tour to Cross Overland

1988

Argentina and Chile

First American Guided Crossing of the Southern Patagonia Icecap

1989

Pakistan

First American Guided Trek to Snow Lake

1989

Nepal

First American Guided Trek from Mount Kailas to Western Nepal

1991

Myanmar

First American Guided Tour

1991

Nepal

First American Guided Trek in the Dolpo Region

1991

Russia to Alaska, USA

First American Guided Tour of the Beringia Region

1991

Vietnam

First American Company to Legally Operate Tours Since the Vietnam War

1992

Cambodia and Laos

First American Guided Tour

1992

Vietnam

First American Guided Trek in Hoa Binh and Cuc Phuong National Park

1993

Iran

First American Group Tour to Return After the Overthrow of the Shah

1993

Nepal

First American Guided Trek in the Mustang Region

1993

China to Russia

First American Guided Border Crossing from Dzungaria to Tannu Tuva

1994

Tibet

First Ascent of Gelandong Peak

1996

Yemen

First American Guided Tour

1998

China

First American Guided Camel Trek Across the Taklimakan Desert

1998

Turkmenistan to Iran

First American Guided Border Crossing

1999

Lebanon

First American Guided Tour Since World War II

1999

Syria

First American Guided Tour

1999

South Georgia

First Guided Traverse of the Shackleton Route

2000

Libya

First American Guided Tour

2004

North Korea

First Legally Approved American Trip Operator

2007

Afghantistan

First American Guided Trek through the Wakhan Corridor

2007

Chile

First American Guided Tour in Valle Chacabuco (now Patagonia National Park)

2013

India to Myanmar

First American Guided Crossing Since World War II

2016

More Firsts

Tibet

Sichuan to Lhasa, Mt. Siguniang – first American guided trek (1984)
Minya Konka – first American guided trek (1984)
Namjagbarwa – first American guided trek (1985)
Xixabangma – first American guided trek (1986)
Dumshung to Reting – first American trek (1992)

China

Muztagata, Xinjiang – first American guided trek (1984)
Mt. Bogda, Tian Shan Mountains – first guided trek (1984)
Kunming and Guilin – first American group (1984)
Northern Silk Road traverse – first American group (1987)
Pamir Knot, Samarkand to Kashgar (USSR and China) – first American guided overland border crossings (1990)
Na-Khi Kingdom, Dechen and Zhongdian – first American guided trip (1991)
Rangoon, Burma to Kunming, China overland – first American guided trip (1993)
Yunnan to Laos – first American guided trip (2001)
Southern Silk Road, Lanzhou to Kashgar – first American guided trip (2001)

Bhutan

Unclimbed Summits, Central Bhutan Himalaya (Mark Newcomb) – six first ascents (1987)
Dagla – first American guided trek (1990)
Laya Region – six first ascents of peaks over 6000 meters (1993)
Laya and Masagang – first American guided trek (1996)
Gangkhar Punseum – first guided trek to what is now the highest unclimbed mountain in the world (1998)
Lhuntshi Valley – first American guided trek (1999)
Central Bhutan – first American guided trek (2014)

Pakistan
Snow Lake – first American guided trek (1989)
Shandur Pass, Hunza Karakoram, Polo on the Pass – first American guided trip (1991)

Myanmar (Burma)
Rakhine State, Northern Burma – first American guided tour (1996)

Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos
Ho Chi Minh Trail border crossing (Vietnam–Laos) – first American guided trip (1995)

Russia and Former Soviet Union
Chukotka Peninsula, USSR – first English woman recce (1990)
Chukotka Peninsula, Russia – first American guided tour (1992)
Tannu Tuva, USSR – first American guided trip (1991)

Moscow to Islamabad over the Khunjerab Pass (USSR, China, Pakistan) – first American guided trip (1991)
Dagestan, USSR – first American guided trip (1993)
Fan Mountains Trek, USSR – first American guided trek (1994)

Middle East
Musandam Peninsula, Oman – first American guided tour (1998)
Turkmenistan to Iran – first American guided border crossing trip (1999)
Iran – first American group to return after the overthrow of the Shah (1993)
Alborz Mountains – first American guided trek (1998)

South America
Southern Patagonia Icecap, Argentina and Chile – first American guided crossing (1989)
Pumalin Preserve, Chilean Patagonia – first American guided trip (2004)
Patagonia, Argentina – first guided trek from Estancia Cristina to Estancia Helsingfor via Cerro Norte Pass (2010)

Featured Trips

Ruins of Babylon and the palace of Saddam Hussain, Babylon, Iraq

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GeoEx Firsts

Blazing Trails in Adventure Travel

The Founding Trek

Notable Firsts

First American Guided Trek to the Kangshung Face of Mount Everest

First Guided Trek to K2 from the North

First American Guided Circumambulation Trek of Mount Kailas

First American Guided Border Crossing Across the Torugart Pass

First American Guided Tour Across the Khunjerab Pass

Unclimbed Summits, Central Bhutan Himalaya (Mark Newcomb) - Six First Ascents

First American Guided Tour to Traverse the Northern Silk Road

First Guided American Tour to Cross Overland

First American Guided Crossing of the Southern Patagonia Icecap

First American Guided Trek to Snow Lake

First American Guided Trek from Mount Kailas to Western Nepal

First American Guided Tour

First American Guided Trek in the Dolpo Region

First American Guided Tour of the Beringia Region

First American Company to Legally Operate Tours Since the Vietnam War

First American Guided Tour

First American Guided Trek in Hoa Binh and Cuc Phuong National Park

First American Group Tour to Return After the Overthrow of the Shah

First American Guided Trek in the Mustang Region

First American Guided Border Crossing from Dzungaria to Tannu Tuva

First Ascent of Gelandong Peak

First American Guided Tour

First American Guided Camel Trek Across the Taklimakan Desert

First American Guided Border Crossing

First American Guided Tour Since World War II

First American Guided Tour

First Guided Traverse of the Shackleton Route

First American Guided Tour

First Legally Approved American Trip Operator

First American Guided Trek through the Wakhan Corridor

First American Guided Tour in Valle Chacabuco (now Patagonia National Park)

First American Guided Crossing Since World War II

More Firsts

Featured Trips

Exploring Southern Iraq

Journey Into Northern Pakistan

Algeria’s Shifting Sands

Ready for adventure?