From a Bedsit in York, to the Dales and Beyond

On 30th November, Lost Earth Adventures turns 15!

Like many good stories, it started as a dream. In reality, it began in a humble bedsit in York, with maps spread out on the floor, cups of coffee going cold, and big ideas about running adventures in Nepal and South East Asia.

From the Himalayas to the High Street

Our very first guest, Simon Geraci, joined us on a Langtang Valley trek in Nepal. We still remember the excitement of that first booking, the nervous energy of hoping everything would run as planned, and the feeling of “we are really doing this” when that trip set off. From that moment, we have pretty much been on the move ever since.

Fast forward to today and this is being typed from our office on Settle high street.

Over the years, Lost Earth Adventures has grown from those early Himalayan expeditions into something much bigger and more rooted in the UK. We still love the mountains of Nepal, but now we also spend our days guiding people through the Yorkshire Dales, the Peak District, the Lake District, the North York Moors and beyond.

What started with treks and mountain adventures overseas, has evolved into a wide mix of experiences at home. We now take people caving, climbing, abseiling, gorge walking, canoeing, stand up paddle boarding, raft building and hiking in some of our favourite wild places. We work with schools, charities, businesses, youth groups, stag and hen parties, families and individuals who just want to get outside and do something a bit different.

The heart of it is still the same as it was in that bedsit in York. We want to share the places we love, help people surprise themselves, and make sure they go home muddy, tired and smiling.

It Has Not Always Been Smooth Sailing

Fifteen years is a long time in any line of work, and outdoor adventure and travel has had its fair share of plot twists. One of the most significant moments in our story was the 2015 Nepal earthquake. Many of the communities we work with were devastated, and people we know and care about lost homes, livelihoods and schools in a matter of seconds.

Among the buildings destroyed was Shree Krishna Primary School. Seeing the damage first hand was heartbreaking, but it also made us more determined than ever to help. With company funding, support from our Share the Load Foundation, and the generosity of our customers who donated, we were able to fund the rebuilding of the school. To see children back in their classrooms, learning and laughing again, is something we are incredibly proud of and will never forget.

There have been other challenges too, times when it has been difficult to plan ahead or even know what the next few months might look like. Like so many others in this industry, we have had to adapt, rethink and dig deep more than once.

But through all of that, a few things have stayed the same. The feeling of standing at the bottom of a crag with a nervous first-time climber. The buzz of a school group emerging from a cave, muddy and beaming. The laughter of a team that has just built a raft that somehow, against all odds, actually floats. The quiet satisfaction of watching someone do something they did not believe they were capable of.

Those moments are why we do this, and why we have kept going, even when the path ahead has not been straightforward.

The People Who Make It Possible

From that first Langtang trek to where we are today, it has been a winding, adventurous journey. It has not always been easy, but it has always been worth it, and we are endlessly grateful to everyone who has walked it with us.

To our incredible instructors and office team, past and present, thank you. You are the ones out in all weathers, making people feel safe, welcome and encouraged. You carry kit, calm nerves, tell terrible jokes, and somehow manage to do all of that while keeping a close eye on safety and logistics. In the office, you take the calls, answer the questions, move the pieces around behind the scenes and keep the whole thing running. We could not do any of this without you.

To every school that has trusted us with their pupils, thank you for loading up the minibuses, filling in the forms, and believing in the power of learning outside the classroom. To the charities we have worked with, thank you for letting us be part of your fundraising stories and the causes you care about. To businesses and teams who have come out with us, thank you for swapping the boardroom for the hillside and getting stuck in.

To every individual, group of friends, stag and hen party, family and returning adventurer, thank you for choosing to spend your time with us. You are Lost Earth Adventures. None of this exists without you choosing to step outside, try something new and share part of your life with us.

Thank you for your very kind messages and reviews over the years! We appreciate the 1100+ five star reviews we’ve received. It inspires us to keep moving forward, to better and bigger adventures!

Check out what people have to say about our adventures on Trip Advisor.

Looking Ahead

Fifteen years in, we still feel there is so much more to explore.

There are new locations we would like to add, new types of adventures we would like to offer, and more ways we can support schools, charities and organisations to get outside. We want to keep doing what we have always tried to do: create real adventures that feel authentic, down to earth and memorable, whether you are with us for a day or a week.

Here is to 15 years of real adventure, muddy boots, tired legs and big smiles, and to many more years of exploring together.

If you have joined us at any point along the way, we would love to hear from you. What stands out when you think back to your time with us? Was it a particular moment on a trip, a guide who made a difference, or a challenge you still feel proud of? Feel free to share your memories and photos with us. It means more than you might realise.

Thank you for being part of the journey.

Sarah Allard & Richard Goodey
Co-founders, Lost Earth Adventures