"I’ve ridden the Alps and Andes, but nothing prepared me for the raw majesty of Iron Compass’ Himalayan Expedition. Our guides knew every hidden tea stall and high-altitude shortcut—like when they rerouted us around a landslide to a village that wasn’t even on the map. Riding Khardung La at dawn, with prayer flags snapping in the wind, was a spiritual experience. These guys don’t just run tours; they orchestrate adventures that rewrite your definition of ‘epic.’"

"The Pamir Highway is the closest thing to riding on Mars, and Iron Compass made it effortless. Their Tajik fixer handled border paperwork while we sipped chai, and the mechanic (shoutout to Dmitri!) resurrected my GS after I drowned it in a river crossing. Sleeping in yurts under the Milky Way, sharing vodka with shepherds—this wasn’t a tour, it was a life chapter. Pro tip: Pack extra memory cards. You’ll need them."

"I signed up for the St. Petersburg to Karelia ride expecting pretty forests. What I got? A full-throttle history lesson with knobby tires. Our guide Ivan (a former Soviet army mechanic) took us to abandoned gulag sites and knew every backroad to avoid traffic. The highlight? Midnight rides during White Nights, with the sun still glowing at 11 PM. If you think Russia’s just about Moscow, this tour will blow your mind—and your Instagram feed."