Our Expeditions
First and foremost, no two PPE expeditions are the same. Each trip is organized around a goal or objective. This can be based on historical research or by reading previous travel accounts to identify areas or regions that few have ever explored.
As expeditions take shape, crewmembers are assigned responsibilities such as QM (responsible for stores), navigation, signals, fitters (mechanics), messing (organizing group meals and bulk food stores), videography and other important functions.
Crews
PPE crews are made up of a vehicle owner/driver and a co-driver. We discourage solo drivers as the long hours in transit from Europe can be difficult and once in the desert, an extra set of hands when stuck in the sand helps significantly. Also, crews are assigned group duties like cooking meals, running resupply trips and other support functions that can be a challenge for solo travellers. Drivers can choose their own co-drivers or ask for recommendations from our list of previous co-drivers.
Costs
As part of the planning process, we develop a per-vehicle budget for each expedition that includes ferries, fuel, hotels, insurance and other typical costs. Each crew is also required to make a contribution to bulk (shared) food and for our local support team that handles storage of gear and assistance when we have breakdowns or other admin issue in-country. We try to identify ferries, hotels and other bookings at an early stage to allow everyone to get a good deal with their bookings.
More information
For more information or to sign up for an expedition, send us an email at contact@popskis-private-expeditions.com
Upcoming Expeditions
The Left Flank Expedition
October-November 2023
This expedition has two goals: (1) an exploration of the inner sand sea of south-west Tunisia and (2) a search for artifacts of the ‘left flank’ maneuver of the New Zealand Division in 1943 that bypassed the Mareth Line defenses. Again, we will be covering the same ground as the WWII LRDG, SAS and PPA.
Exploration
During Phase 1 the team will split into three ‘patrols’ and map routes across the sand sea between the feature we know as LRDG Hill and Garet Ali, the location of the LRDG/PPA ambush we discovered on the 2022 expedition. In Phase 2 the team will explore the ground between Wilders Gap and the sand sea where the WWII special forces units and the NZ Division conducted its flanking maneuver.
Conduct
We are looking for twelve vehicles and crews for this expedition who will be broken down into three teams that will move independently to explore more ground. The crews will RV in Marseilles and take the ferry to Tunis before moving down to our expedition staging area in Douz. Here the trucks will be stripped down before setting off for Phase 1.
Duration
The expedition will last approximately 25 days from departing UK to return, including two weeks in the desert.
Costs:
Costs for expeditions are borne by the vehicle crews. As we plan each expedition we develop a per-vehicle budget including ferries, hotels/camp grounds during transit to and from UK, fuel, support costs, warehouse storage and miscellaneous costs. On average, the cost per vehicle works out to £3500-£4000 per trip.
Crews/Vehicles
Vehicles must be extremely lightly loaded and crews in reasonably good physical condition. The Tunisian Grand Erg features some of the most challenging sand seas in the world and the area we plan to cross is largely unexplored. Vehicles can be long or short wheelbase, but the lighter weight and closer turning radius of SWB trucks does offer a distinct advantage. Longer wheelbase trucks can carry more gear but crews will be encouraged to minimize weight wherever possible.
We are looking for a maximum of 12 vehicles, 24 crew members and organized into three four-vehicle patrols.
For more information, email us.
Contact Us: contact@popskis-private-expeditions.com
Previous Expeditions
Lost Patrol Searches
In 2019 and 2022 PPE conducted two expeditions into southern Tunisia searching for the location of the ‘lost’ LRDG and PPA WWII patrol ambush site. The expeditions were a success and the location identified, artifacts catalogued and placed in a cairn on site.
Southern Morocco
Exploration of small tracks across the Atlas mountains and down into the southern deserts of the Rekkam and the Draa Valley.
Videos of Previous Expeditions
Search for the Lost Patrol
In 2019, after a significant amount of research, set off in search of a lost patrol of WWII special forces vehicles in the dunes of one of the great Saharan sand seas. Follow this three part adventure.
2018 PPE Short
A short highlights video of a 2018 trip to the remote Rekkam Plateau in South Eastern Morocco.