LONDON – Tom Bodkin, who owns and operates Secret Compass, an adventure travel company based in the UK, first took a dozen fit travellers to the Zagros Mountains in the Kurdistan Region in 2012.
There is so much interest in the region that Bodkin is preparing for a second tour in April.
“Interest in our expeditions to Kurdistan has doubled since last year. We had twice 40 applicants for twelve places.”
Autonomous Iraqi Kurdistan appeals to travellers who like undiscovered areas, Bodkin says, and its mountains are the biggest surprise.
Mount Halgurd, soaring 3,600 meters high and set in the Zagros Mountain range that cuts through Kurdistan, presents a perfect challenge for travellers who like some sweat and adrenalin injected into their holidays.
“People are really interested in going to Iraq, and Kurdistan is obviously a successful part of Iraq. People don’t realize there are great mountains there. It’s definitely an untapped market.”
Billed as the “Switzerland of the Middle East,” Iraqi Kurdistan is attracting increasing numbers of visitors. It stands out as the only safe and prospering part of violence-torn Iraq.
Bodkin and his team of former Parachute Regiment commanders lead expeditions all over the world, concentrating on less-travelled paths. His clients sign up for rafting trips descending Sierra Leone’s Moa River, or walks following the Nile in Sudan.
Simon Clark, 30, climbed Mount Halgurd, with Secret Compass in 2012. He went to Iraq while serving in the British army, but this was his first trip to Kurdistan.
“I wanted to see somewhere new and return to somewhere I’d been in very different circumstances. It’s a fascinating place with amazing scenery, great culture and extremely hospitable people.”
Even for Bodkin, who has travelled the world, Kurdish hospitality stands out.
“We’ve travelled a lot in the Islamic world and obviously hospitality is a big deal. But it’s on an entirely different level in Kurdistan.”
Jan Bakker and his wife will be joining Bodkin’s Kurdish expedition this spring. They’re no strangers to post-conflict regions, having trekked Afghanistan’s Wahkan corridor four years ago.
“I always look for off-the-beaten places which may be considered conflict places, but are actually safe. People think the whole country is unsafe, but if you do your homework, you realize that’s not the case and there are great opportunities to travel.”
Bakker says making the decision to book a trip to the Zagros Mountains was easy. But the climb was almost secondary.
“The thought of travelling to Iraqi Kurdistan came up and the deal was sealed in five minutes. I have a friend who cycled there and spent two months in winter, and had great stories about the hospitality of the people. I’m really looking forward to sipping tea with the locals.”
For serious trekkers like Bakker and his wife, the Zagros Mountains offer a quieter, less populated alternative to concentrated, highly touristic areas like the Alps.
“The Zagros Mountains aren’t very high – the highest peak is just a little over 3,600 meters. But even the Scottish Highlands, which is not very high, can be pretty tricky. The desolation of the mountain range is what draws me. In Iraq, you can be pretty sure it’s not over-run by others and it’s a good challenge.”
Secret Compass’ intrepid travellers will head to the Zagros Mountains April 19, hoping to summit Mount Halgurd.
