Jan Bakker on Big Treks Beyond Europe: Nepal, Africa and the Pamirs

Jan Bakker doesn’t exactly do ordinary hiking trips. He has trekked extensively in Nepal, spent years exploring East Africa, crossed remote parts of the Rwenzoris, climbed mountains including Kilimanjaro and Mount Kenya, and led expeditions into places where there isn’t always a trail to follow. He is also one of the driving forces behind the Pamir Trail, a 1,310-kilometre long-distance route across Tajikistan, and co-author of the Cicerone guidebook Trekking in Tajikistan. In this episode of Goatcast, Sierd talks to Jan about exploration, route finding, the Pamirs, Nepal and Africa, what it takes to create a trail from scratch, and why there are still plenty of places left where a line on a map can turn into a proper adventure. And naturally, we start with the most important question: what is the coolest thing Jan has ever done? Follow Jan and his projects on Instagram: @jb37north @pamirtrail @summitsofafrica Jan’s Cicerone guide, Trekking in Tajikistan: https://www.cicerone.co.uk/trekking-in-tajikistan 00:00 Introduction: Meet Jan Bakker 01:16 A honeymoon sea-kayaking adventure 03:01 Life in the Scottish wilderness 05:36 How the Pamir Trail began 13:30 Expanding into Afghanistan 17:15 Travel, culture, and genuine local connection 20:34 Scotland, family, and raising adventurous kids 22:43 Climbing Africa’s highest peaks 28:34 Trekking freedom: Tajikistan vs. Nepal and Africa 32:59 Packrafting across Uganda 35:54 A packrafting guidebook for Scotland 38:37 Solo adventure, fear, and mountain therapy 42:48 Trekking in Nepal and travelling respectfully 50:51 Preparing physically and mentally for the mountains 55:20 Cultural tips for East African trekking 59:22 What adventure means to Jan now 60:33 The best adventure partner