Ditch the tropical vacation; visit Ecuador and climb three volcanoes this winter!
Epic Expeditions is in South America, baby!
Incredible mountain peaks. Vibrant indigenous culture. Great street food. Lonesome valleys. Snow-covered mountain passes. Bolivia has got EVERYTHING we look for and then some when choosing a new Epic destination.
While remaining not as popular as neighboring Peru and Argentina, Bolivia is an adventurer’s dream destination – and the lack of crowds is exactly why we fell in love with this Andean nation.
Our Bolivia itinerary features a little bit of everything from world-class trekking and climbing to exploring hidden corners of bustling city markets and visiting a witch or two to have our fortunes told.
This is the South America you want to get to know, and Epic Expeditions is here to take you there.
May – September
Bolivia is fine to visit year round, but the “mountain season is definitely May – September.
In May, the weather is more stable and the conditions on the mountain are prime-time for climbing.
There can still be a bit of periodic cloud and rain during these months – but the weather follows a similar pattern to the other great ranges in that it is typically clear and still all night and through the morning with the afternoon clouds rolling in after 2 or 3 pm.
The best time to visit Bolivia is between May and September.
We prefer to run this trip in May at the start of the season as the number of other tourists around is generally less and the weather is perfect for outdoor adventures.
At the camps above 4500 meters, it is pretty common for temperatures to drop to at or around freezing levels at night.
This part of Bolivia follows a pretty classic pattern found in the other great ranges; clear and calm all night and through the morning, with afternoon clouds rolling in pretty much like clock work.
Rain is possible during May – September but rarely are there days and days of storm during this period. Snow conditions vary every year on the peaks – but generally speaking, May is prime time for climbing and trekking in Bolivia.
We carefully chose a hotel in La Paz that fits our vibe! We opt to stay in the trendy Sopocachi neighborhood of La Paz to avoid all of the hustle and bustle of touristy Old Town.
The hotel features all of the modern comforts including fast wifi, hot water, and a great cafe/bakery on site. The made to order breakfasts hit the spot as well.
For the rest of our Bolivia itinerary, we stay in cozy 4-season tents plus one night in a Mountain Hut before climbing Huayna Potosi.
There are two main mobile operators in Bolivia: Entel and Tigo.
You can purchase a local SIM card at various shopping points in La Paz or at the airport in El Alto at the start of the trip if you would like to have local data on your phone for the trip duration.
Note that in the mountain areas, there is no cell signal save from when you happen to be on top of one of the peaks.
In case of emergencies, your guide also carries a satellite communication device so that we are never out of contact.
Bolivia is one of the safest countries in South America according to the Global Peace Index.
Petty crime such as pickpocketing can happen in dense market areas, but genrally speaking we have always felt safe when traveling in Bolivia from a crime perspective.
The biggest challenege you will likely face is the altitude.
Many tourist destinations in Bolivia, including La Paz and the Uyuni Salt Flats, are at high altitudes. Altitude sickness is a common issue, so it’s important to:
Food in Bolivia does not disappoint!
Top 5 Must-Try Foods in Bolivia
Exploring Bolivian cuisine is a big part of the journey – and there is a lot to look forward to. Here are the top five foods you should try when visiting Bolivia.
1. Salteñas
Salteñas are a popular street food in Bolivia, similar to empanadas but with a unique twist. These baked pastries are filled with a savory mixture of meat (either beef or chicken), potatoes, peas, hard-boiled eggs, and olives, all encased in a slightly sweet dough. What sets salteñas apart is the rich, flavorful broth inside, making each bite a delicious experience.
2. Pique Macho
Pique Macho is the ultimate post-trek dish that combines diced beef, sausage, boiled eggs, and occasionally chicken, with fried potatoes, onions, tomatoes, and sweet peppers. This dish is often topped with cheese and served with ketchup and mayonnaise. It’s perfect for those with an unreasonable appetite post-expedition.
3. Silpancho
Silpancho is a staple from Cochabamba, featuring a thinly pounded and breaded beef steak, fried to perfection. Served over a bed of rice and boiled potatoes, it’s topped with a fried egg, and garnished with sliced tomatoes, onions, and peppers. Silpancho is a classic, no-frills lunch plate.
4. Chairo
Chairo is a traditional Bolivian soup, especially popular in the highland regions. Made with beef, potatoes, chuño (freeze-dried potatoes), carrots, corn, and a mix of Andean herbs and spices, Chairo is what you want on a cold, rainy afternoon.
5. Anticuchos
Anticuchos are skewers of marinated and grilled beef heart, a favorite street food in Bolivia. These skewers are seasoned with vinegar, garlic, cumin, and aji (chili pepper), then grilled over an open flame. Typically served with potatoes and a spicy peanut sauce.
There is a lot more stuff to try as well! Whether you’re a fan of savory pastries, hearty soups, or spicy grilled meats, Bolivian food has something to offer every palate.
In terms of alcohol – pretty much everything is on offer. In La Paz, one does not have to look to far to find a trendy bar slinging cold, draft beer.
Do you need a visa to enter Bolivia?
For most nationalities including European citizens, there is a visa on arrival scheme that is free.
For Americans, it is also possible to have a visa on arrival, but at a cost of $160 USD. A few other paperwork items are required for the visa on arrival for Americans, but everything is easy to manage at the airport once you arrive (the process takes about 10 minutes to complete). We will advise you on what documents you need so you are prepared when you arrive in Bolivia.
The official currency of Bolivia is the Boliviano.
ATMs are common in La Paz and many establishments accept cards. For most small transactions, it is customary to use cash.
It is also possible to change foreign currency upon arrival at the airport in El Alto.
Our Bolivia itinerary is action packed with great stuff, but if you have extra time, there is no shortage of things to do in Bolivia.
Uyuni Salt Flats: Discover the Wonder of Salar de Uyuni: The World’s Largest Salt Flat
Salar de Uyuni, located in southwest Bolivia amid the Andes, is the world’s largest salt flat. This expansive area, spanning nearly 11,000 square kilometers, is the remains of a prehistoric lake that dried up, creating a vast landscape of white salt, rock formations, and islands covered with cacti. Central Incahuasi Island offers stunning views of this surreal terrain. While wildlife is sparse in this unique ecosystem, it is home to numerous pink flamingos.
The Death Road: Although pretty touristy, The Death Road is basically a long, steep road that you can bomb on a bicycle for 64-km (3,500 meters of descent!).
Other climbs: If you did not get enough mountain time during our trip, there are many other peaks to think about. Illimani, Sajama, and Illampu are classics.
The Bolivian Amazon: Not too far away from La Paz by car is the start of the Bolivian Amazon. You can get to the Amazonian highlands from La Paz in about 2-3 hours.
Our team members are experts on all things adventure!
If you’re interested in traveling to Bolivia but still have unanswered questions, feel free to give us a shout anytime. We’re ready and able to assist you in any way possible when it comes to planning your next big trip.
So ask away!
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Adventure Guide
Hailing from the Toronto region of Eastern Canada, with a background as a former standout athlete (hockey of course) and a love of mountain adventure, Clark is a welcomed addition to the Epic team.
In addition to being a keen photographer and adventurer, Clark brings his brilliant sense of humor, leadership skills, and positive attitude to everything he puts his mind to.
When he is not leading trips, he is working on taking over the hard apple cider game in Canada as a skilled craft brewer.
Meet him during : K2 Base Camp Trek
Adventure Guide
Noemi grew up in the mountains of German-Speaking Switzerland where she naturally developed a deep love and respect for mountain environments.
She is a talented photographer, aspiring climber, and speaks at least 5 languages fluently including Arabic (and probably a few more that we don’t know about), which she taught herself in a matter of months by watching YouTube videos.
Noemi has spent the last several years traveling, hiking, and photographing her way around many different countries in the Middle East, South and Central Asia, and Europe, and we could not be more stoked to welcome her to the Epic team!
Meet her during : Discover the Celestial Mountains | Island Peak Climbing Expedition
Adventure Guide
As our man on the ground in Mongolia, there is not much this legend can’t do. As a native the Bayan-Ölgii province of the Western Mongolia Altai, Syerik has been working as a guide and tourism entrepreneur…
for the past several years and is one of the rising stars in Mongolia adventure travel industry.
He is currently building a beautiful Ger (Yurt) camp near his hometown where he will host Epic Mongolia team members on our trip as well as other travelers from around the world!
“
He is the perfect guide for your trip to Mongolia. Serik did an amazing job giving us a well rounded experience in the Altai NP region and down in the Gobi…
The food was fantastic and Serik gave us many opportunities to learn about the Kazakh culture in that region including traditional meals. (I can’t recommend enjoying the milk tea enough!)
– Coastal
Head of canine operations
Choriza started off life as a care-free vagabond on the streets of Madeira Island without any place to call home. From the moment we met her, we knew this dog was just different, and it was pretty much love at first sight.
She gave up the dog street life in favor of joining her new dad Chris to become a full-time member of the Epic family towards the end of 2022.
These days she can be found listening in on the fringes of important Epic business meetings while half-asleep on the couch. She is a keen hiker, lover of mud, rare steak, and might just be the sweetest little dog we have ever seen.
Adventure Guide
An experienced trek leader and
IFMGA aspirant ski guide, avid alpine climber, devoted adventure photographer.
Organized and guided trekking expeditions, climbs and ski tours in Tajikistan’s Pamirs, Patagonia, Peru, Morocco, Nepal, Kyrgyzstan, Georgian and Russian Caucasus and Kamchatka.
A full member and meets the organiser of the British Alpine Club. Visited over 40 countries, lived in the UK for four years. Certified first-aider.
“
We joined Andrew on a fantastic trip to the Fann Mountains in Tajikistan, pure nature and magnificent scenery! Andrey was super prepared and led us safely up and down numerous passes and through some rough and icy cold rivers. Thank you for a very memorable trip, your planning and prep was excellent!
– Monika Steinlechner
Meet him during : Trekking in the Fann Mountains
Adventure Guide
Our man in Nepal, Sandip is what we like to call a “Swiss Army Knife”. There is not much Sandip can’t do when it comes to helping Epic to run our expeditions smoothly in Nepal.
His tireless work ethic, passion for all things trekking in the Himalayas, and smart decision-making mean that Sandip is a truly invaluable member of our team.
Sandip is passionate about showing visitors to his country an amazing time, and he goes above and beyond to make sure that happens.
His company Himalayan Masters is Epic’s trusted partner in Nepal and one of the country’s top new tour agencies.
“
We really enjoyed the entire journey, and I would like to say that Sandip is truly professional. He guided us and he is a hardworking person, providing us with the best service and taking care of each one of us. Plus, he is super funny! The kind of professionnal you always want to find on your path for your explorations!
– Alexandra Ruth
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Our flagship Pakistani adventure tour. Road trip with some hiking and cultural immersion.
15 Days
Intermediate
$3125
A trekking-style tour that features some very remote locations, inlcuding a K2 viewpoint.
15 Days
Strenuous
$3200
Adventure Guide
João has born in the mountains of Madeira Islands in Portugal. Nature lover, writer, musician, guide, for him, a day without contact with outdoor vibes is a nightmare.
With a degree in Cultural Studies in Portugal and a Master of Arts in Global Cultures and Creativity in the U.K.
João found out what really matters in life can be found on the trails, and in the contact with people from different backgrounds and cultures.
Guiding, crazy trekking missions, and sharing observations about the natural world, – these are some of João’s passions.
After trekking to K2 Base Camp and exploring all over Northern Pakistan, he fell in love with the country and the local people. His experiences resulted in his desire to share these feelings with the world.
João is one of the most experienced guides at Epic and his skillset and positive mindset in the mountains is second to none
When not in Pakistan, João is guiding and exploring in the Madeira Islands trails – discovering some of the hidden treasures on his Portuguese Island.
“
João I can not thank you enough for the off the beaten paths and views you keep giving. Definitely one of the most challenging and amazing hikes we did 1200m meters all the way up to Fanal forest and circling back to the hidden village. Wow!
– Jeffery
Meet him during : Lost World of Europe | Discover the Hunza Valley | K2 Base Camp Trek
Adventure Guide
Sohail is the newest addition to the Epic team and we are beyond stoked to have him on board. As a veteran of the Karakoram and a native of Karimabad in Hunza, there is not much Sohail can’t do in the mountains.
Besides having the ability to speak more languages than we can count, Sohail has explored every corner of Gilgit Baltistan and logs more trekking miles
in a year than most people will do in a lifetime. As of the summer of 2022, Sohail has summited Gasherbrum 1, Gasherbrum 2, and K2 – three of Pakistan’s five 8000-meter peaks. Sohail guides several trips including our annual bespoke expeditions but specializes in Hunza Valley tours.
“
Chris and Sohail, and the team at Epic are FANTASTIC! Highly recommend anyone to do a tour with ‘Epic’. They have the perfect balance of fun, excitement and wild adventures, tied in with being super professional and ensuring your safety/health in a foreign environment. Don’t waste a moment and book a tour with these guys as the value for money is UNREAL!
– Borgan
Meet him during : Discover the Hunza Valley
Adventure Guide
Pedro’s been traveling all around the globe since 2009. His keen interests in documentary photography, rural life, and local people from different ethnic groups have been the focus of many of his professional projects.
Since 2012, he has developed his passion for travel and awesome shared experiences into a full-time adventure photography tour leader position.
Pedro has found himself continuously going back to the Middle East, with his likely favorite destination being Iran. Pedro lead his 11th tour in Iran with Epic in spring 2020
When Pedro’s not traveling the world with Epic Expeditions, you’ll find him based in the western south of Portugal planning he’s next adventure missions, logistics and working out his photos in local exhibitions.
“
I loved the combination of hiking, camping around breathtaking scenery mixed with the cultural aspects. The guide (Pedro) is knowledgeable and work very hard to make the trip as memorable as possible. All in all an epic adventure with some extremely epic individuals! Go for it, you won’t regret it!
– Coastal
Adventure Admin / Marketing
After fleeing from the corporate fashion world in Paris towards the start of 2020, Diane has been working as a web developer and graphic designer remotely from various bases across the globe
She brings all of her incredible design and organizational power to Epic Expeditions and is responsible for many of the beautiful behind-the-scenes design elements.
Diane has been to Iran and to Pakistan twice including all over Gilgit Baltistan and KPK.
Head of Operations | Guide
A veteran of Pakistan travel, Ralph is an experienced guide, photographer and writer who specializes in documenting remote locations.
Not one to simply go where everyone else does, he insists on exploring new and lesser-known areas.
Together with Epic Expeditions, he shows people parts of Pakistan that most other operators don’t even know about. He is particularly fond of the village of Barah, which he believes will become just as famous as Hunza one day.
“
Just got back from EBT’s Trekking Amongst Giants 15 day tour. The experience was first class. Ralph, our head guide, ensured that the entire trip ran smoothly and relatively on time (a bonus for anyone travelling in Pakistan). We had so many unforgettable days on the tour and the trekking was well-planned, safe but also a rewarding challenge.
– Calvin
“
Traveling to a non-tourist destination can be a little intimidating but EBT takes all of the worry and trepidation away. From the pre-trip call to meeting the wonderful staff in person you can tell that you are dealing with a company that has a passion for what they do each and every day. Ralph, Zahid, and Khan were supportive, kind, and always willing to go the extra mile to make sure that everyone on the trip was getting what they wanted out of the experience.
– Katrina
Meet him during : Trekking Amongst Giants | Discover the Celestial Mountains | K2 Base Camp Trek
Founder | Adventure Guide | Director
Since he started exploring the world, Chris has been seeking out every shade of adventure in various parts of the globe and had visited more than 70 countries along the way.
Over the last 10 years, Chris has logged more than 7000 trail miles across five continents and climbed multiple 6000 + 7000 meter peaks in Pakistan and Nepal.
A few years back, a distant dream and a deep passion for the mountains and the people of Pakistan led Chris to co-found Epic Expeditions at a time when foreign adventure tourism in Pakistan was almost nonexistent. Since then, Chris has guided more than 20 expeditions to various parts of Northern Pakistan.
Chris believes in using photography and powerful adventure experiences to dismantle negative stereotypes regarding what mainstream media considers “dangerous” countries while facilitating unique and meaningful memories in the mountains for countless people from around the globe.
For him, an ideal start to the day begins with a steaming cup of good coffee, the beam of a headlamp, alpine boots, and a camera in hand.
He lives in Madeira Island when not leading expeditions in far-flung lands.
Chris also works as a writer and photographer on his blog Off the Atlas – an adventure travel blog all about Pakistan.
Read this interview our staff did with Chris to learn more about him!
“
Chris believes in Pakistan and its people, and he believes in the value of journeys shared with others and family cultivated on the road. Honesty and integrity are at the heart of what he does, and this really shines through in his work as a guide. He also makes great coffee – whether at 5am in an empty guesthouse or half way up a Himalayan peak.”
– Will De Villers
“
Pakistan is a magical country! Had 3 of the best weeks of my life thanks to Epic Backpacking Tours with owner, and one of our awesome guides, Chris. From detailed itinerary, preparation with an equipment list, and visa assistance. To amazing food, great porters, helpful guides, and great accommodations. Epic really hit home run after home run. […]
Their desire for adventure and amazing trip is just as high as yours. Bring a good pound of coffee for the trip. French press coffee every morning and no average tin coffee, plus you’ll be in your guides good books.
– Clark Tyler
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