S3, Ep. 5: How to travel to the world’s most (allegedly) dangerous places

No Blackout Dates

Travel to places far off the typical tourist track – think Iraq, Yemen, and Saudi Arabia – is an increasingly common theme here on No Blackout Dates. As the founder of Untamed Borders, a tour operator that hosts guided trips to places like Iraq, Kyrgyzstan, Yemen, and elsewhere, James Wilcox knows more about the logistics of visiting often misunderstood destinations than perhaps anyone. James has built an entire business around creating itineraries for intrepid travelers looking to explore countries we often perceive to be dangerous or inaccessible.

James discusses how Untamed Borders plans and executes trips to dangerous locales, including his thoughts on state department warnings and how seriously they should be taken. He also talks about the important role of tourism in helping places impacted by war and other disasters get back on their feet.

In Hot Takes, Tim and Eben break down the times they’ve felt unsafe on the road, as well as the countries they really want to visit in order to gain a deeper understanding than what’s presented by the mass media.

Relevant links:

• Untamed Borders
• US State Department Travel Advisories
• NEOM Is on Track To Be the World’s First “Sustainable” City. Here’s What We Know
• Into Iraq with Michael Palin
• Untamed Borders Instagram
• Tim’s Instagram
• Eben’s Instagram