One team, end-to-end
The people who design the route also run the camp.
About
Named guides, regional partners, and the small office in Almaty that ties it together.
01 — Co-founder
Co-founder of Dala Arba Expeditions · Expedition leader, route designer, wilderness photographer
Dauren is a Kazakh explorer, expedition leader, wilderness photographer and route designer driven by a lifelong passion for remote landscapes and nomadic culture.
After leaving a successful career in investment banking in 2011, he began years of overland exploration across Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Mongolia and the wider Central Asian region — through deserts, canyons, steppe, mountain passes and forgotten nomadic routes.
From 2015 to 2020, Dauren led major expedition projects across Kazakhstan with the Nomad Explorer movement, helping thousands of travellers discover the country's wild and culturally significant regions. In 2020 he founded YurtaDa — a network of authentic wilderness camps designed to reconnect travellers with nature and nomadic heritage. In 2023 he launched Dala Arba Expeditions.
Today, Dauren continues to design and lead expeditions across Central Asia, Mongolia and the Middle East — combining adventure, cultural discovery and remote off-road travel into experiences shaped by the spirit of the Great Steppe.
02 — Co-founder
Co-founder of Dala Arba Expeditions · Retired Air Force Colonel, security & expedition strategist
Bauyrzhan is a retired Air Force Colonel, international security expert and expedition strategist whose career combines leadership, diplomacy and operations in some of the world's most demanding environments.
With more than 30 years of experience in military aviation, peacekeeping operations and international cooperation, he served in senior positions within the Ministry of Defence of Kazakhstan — including Military Attaché to the United States and Head of the Kazakhstan Peacekeeping Operations Centre.
Throughout his career, Bauyrzhan worked closely with international organisations, foreign governments and global security institutions — leading strategic programmes, operational planning and multinational initiatives across Europe, the United States and Asia.
At Dala Arba Expeditions he brings expedition logistics, leadership under extreme conditions, operational discipline and deep international experience — helping shape safe, high-level journeys across the remote landscapes of Central Asia.
“True expedition travel requires not only adventure, but precision, responsibility and respect for the land and its people.”
03 — Senior researcher & expedition partner
British researcher, author, Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society
Nick is a British researcher, explorer, author and Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society. For over forty years he has travelled extensively across remote regions of Central Asia and Siberia, often on horseback.
A specialist in the history, culture and nomadic traditions of the Great Steppe, Nick is the author of several acclaimed books on Kazakhstan, Central Asia and Silk Road history — including Travellers in the Great Steppe and South to the Great Steppe. He is also editor of the English edition of Chokan Valikhanov's selected works.
Former senior reporter for The Sunday Times and investigative journalist for the Mail on Sunday, he is currently working on a new book about the Syr Darya River and the Northern Silk Road.
04 — Cultural heritage specialist
Cultural heritage specialist & expedition guide · archaeology, Silk Road history, nomadic culture
Elina is a cultural heritage specialist and expedition guide focused on the archaeology, nomadic traditions, and historical landscapes of Central Asia.
Working closely with the Ostrov Krym Scientific Restoration Laboratory, she contributes to cultural field programs, heritage interpretation, and historical storytelling connected to the civilizations of the Great Steppe.
Her work combines archaeological context, Silk Road history, nomadic culture, and immersive expedition experiences across Kazakhstan.
Through her involvement in cultural expeditions, museum collaborations, and heritage projects, she helps connect travellers with the deeper historical identity of the region.
One team, end-to-end
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