James Willcox is the Founder of the adventure travel company - Untamed Borders. He launched in the company in 2007, running bespoke trips and small group adventures to some of the world’s most challenging and inaccessible places - such as Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iraq, Somalia, Libya, Yemen and many other countries across the Middle East, Asia, Africa and the Caucasus. 

Along with the many group tours annually and 100s of private trips each year, James also organised the first ever international ski trips to Afghanistan in 2011 and organised regular ski trips to the country ever since. He also played an important role in the development of skiing in Iraq, with Untamed Borders becoming the first international company to offer ski trips to the nation and co-organizing the annual Choman Winter Festival in Iraqi Kurdistan. James also co-founded the Marathon of Afghanistan, along with the the first ever Somaliland Marathon.  

James is the author of the upcoming new Bradt Guide for Afghanistan, which is due out in February 2026 - the first mainstream travel guidebook for the nation in 20 years. In 2013 James received a letter of commendation from the Afghan Government for his work in the country and sits on the board of Free To Run - an organisation which supports women and girls in areas of conflict through adventure sports, to improve their physical, emotional and social well-being.  

Along with trips for tourists, James also organises logistics and guiding regularly for journalists, film crews, documentary makers, professional athletes and content creators, in challenging destinations. These professional services include guiding the legendary Michel Palin and a film crew in Iraq, for his recent Channel 5 series - Into Iraq.

Along with these big group projects, James has also organised many fascinating bespoke private projects - including the first ever cycle crossing of the Danakil Depression in Ethiopia, the first kayaking trip to Afghanistan, the first ski descent of Iraq's tallest mountain, helping a scuba diver break the world record for the most countries dived in (in Libya, Somalia, Afghanistan & Tajikistan), organising a motorcycle crossing of the ancient silk road, taking women climbers to reach the highest peaks in Iran for Patagonia, and a helicopter trip around K2 (these just give you a flavour of the king of projects James has organised).