So What's The Story?
Adrian Bottomley - Whistling Arrow
Hi. If you have delved this deep, you are probably keen to do some due diligence. Well - my name is Adrian Bottomley and I founded Whistling Arrow in 2009. In short, it is an expression of my passion to discover and share deeply immersive, 'best of breed' adventures that are imaginatively designed, expertly managed and largely unique.  
On offer here are NOT dozens of standard white-label itineraries, but rather a singular collection of meticulously researched and personally guided trips from the only people I know we can trust - ourselves. I care deeply about three things; safely delivering bold one-of-a-kind experiences, having some fun along the way, and ensuring that you come back for more.
Finally, I am a graduate of the London School of Economics, an active member of the Explorers Club, a periodic zen practitioner, a collector of Tibetan rugs, and when not leading expeditions, based in Hong Kong (where apparently I am now a 'prominent' denizen), and always happy to meet up, or arrange a call. Oh, and nearly all the photos on this site were either taken by myself, or our previous guests.
Thanks for visiting,

Adrian

 

Proven Record­

Successfully designed, hosted, and led over 40 pioneering expeditions throughout Asia over the last 12+ years.

Real Expertise­

Unrivalled knowledge of our core areas of operation in China, Bhutan, Tibet, Nepal, India, Mongolia & many more.

Trusted Host ­

Incorporated in Hong Kong, with ATTA membership, and a loyal band of satisfied clients­, many of whom are now friends.­
Whistling Arrow was my best trekking experience ever.  The expedition was very well organised and we experienced parts of Eastern Tibet that few foreigners had ever seen before.
Adrian's personality, flexibility and leadership were also key; able to easily lead us through any obstacles we encountered and create a great feeling of camaraderie between the group, even though we didn't all know each other at the start. Leading up to the expedition, Adrian also answered any questions about the trip quickly and knowledgeably. I'm looking forward to joining them again soon.

Regina

More Kind Words From Previous Clients

As a veteran of 15 guided treks, including 10 in the Himalaya, I know exactly what makes for a top-notch trekking leader. Adrian at Whistling Arrow checks all the boxes, in terms of safety, knowledge, leadership, friendly service, cultural sensitivity, and more. One essential in leading expeditionary-style treks is flexibility, for something is bound to go awry. On my trek with Adrian, he showed that he could quickly adapt to changing conditions and client needs, making for a stellar adventure. If you're looking for a full-service company to guide you in western China, eastern Tibet, Mongolia and the greater Himalaya, Whistling Arrow is a wise choice. 
 Our two weeks in Mongolia's Altai Highlands was truly spectacular. The landscape, the nature and the people together made this a trip of a lifetime. Most importantly, none of this would have been possible without Adrian and his team at Whistling Arrow. Both planning and execution were spot on. Our route had been carefully thought through and as we trekked over some of the most stunning landscape we were well looked after at all times. Adrian's own hands-on approach also made the trip special. He was a great guide and companion over our days together. Of course the key question is "would you do it again or a similar trip (with Whistling Arrow) and the emphatic answer is YES.
I joined a Whistling Arrow bespoke trek to Western Nepal in 2019. Going in, I had high expectations having read the reviews of Adrian‘s adventures in Asia, but they were exceeded. Adrian has an excellent manner as an expedition leader - he is in control, but does not need to remind his clients he is ultimately in charge. It is clear that despite his relaxed demeanour, he is a true professional . He also lets events take their course. His connections on the ground were also first class, and his team were all highly motivated and hard working. I have every intention of joining one of his trips again. It was a 10 / 10 experience.­ 
We arranged a fabulous two week custom adventure to western Mongolia with Adrian at Whistling Arrow and, in short, can thoroughly recommend it. Any fears that our children (7, 14 and 16) would find it tough, or uninteresting,were immediately dispelled by the sheer beauty of the landscape, the friendliness of our guides, and the hospitality of the nomadic families we stayed with. We experienced a unique family adventure, while at the same time feeling completely safe and well looked after. Adrian spent time with us before the trip to find out what we were looking for in the holiday, and to ensure that all our questions were addressed. His team on the ground were exceptional, and even though things didn’t always go exactly to plan, we adapted quickly and without drama. A real adventure and we are very much looking forward to the next one!
I was looking for an out-of-the-ordinary adventure both for an invigorating immersion in nature - no mobile signals for a week! - as well as a memorable and challenging trip for a group of alumni wanting to raise funds for the Bodleian China Centre library at Oxford. Adrian and his team did a great job in guiding us up to breathless high passes and down through gorgeous valleys as we trekked around this spectacular pilgrimage route before finding our way back to a forgotten world of hot showers and soft beds.­
I joined Whistling Arrow's botanical expedition in 2018 to explore the pristine wilderness of the Gaoligong Shan. I had originally met Adrian in Nepal in 2015, and back then was impressed by his passion for unearthing unique expeditionary-style adventures. I have subsequently found that he is indeed a true explorer, with a genuine desire to share the wilderness with others. He is a very affable, positive and enjoyable man to be around, experienced in remote areas, and I consider him at this point to be a friend, one whom I trust completely, and with whom I want to continue to explore. Thank you for including me in this amazingly diverse and beautiful trip, and in particular for fulfilling a lifelong dream to see the rare Himalayan Takin. ­
I wanted to say a huge thank-you, both for everything you did to organise our wonderful trip and for being such a great companion on the journey itself. It really was a terrific experience – thoroughly enjoyable and challenging in equal measure – but at the same time very obvious that a vast amount of organisation had been needed, which all worked out perfectly. You were reassurance and geniality itself throughout and, if there were times when you might have been concerned about how things would work out, you did not show it at all. Thank-you so much for everything. And roll on the next trip...
My partner and I have been on many treks in recent years, - however the expedition that we embarked on with Adrian and Whistling Arrow in western Mongola surpassed them all. It was a real privilege to discover such a remote and unexplored part of the world - and we literally didn't see one other tourist the whole time we were there. Adrian had also thought of our every need - the tents were comfortable, the food was excellent and the scenery was just awesome. Can’t wait for our next Whistling Arrow adventure, wherever that may take us. 

In The Media

Whistling Arrow has regularly been featured in the media, from high-profile print magazines to more niche digital platforms, although as a rule we do not engage in the pay-to-play-type coverage that is so prevalent in travel journalism.
Adrian Bottomley has also written and published several accounts (see below) of his past adventures and is always open to proposals from commissioning editors. Likewise, if you are travel writer or journalist yourself and need to brainstorm a distinctive story angle for an upcoming feature, or require comment on the latest in Asia adventure travel, we would be happy to try and assist.
<p>Trekking In The Land Of Eagle Hunters - Western Mongolia <br></p>

Trekking In The Land Of Eagle Hunters - Western Mongolia

This feature recounts Adrian's first reconnaisance expedition deep into the spectacular Altai mountains of western Mongolia: the land of the fabled eagle hunters.


Published by Time Out magazine

<p>Expedition To The Stone Korowai Tribe - Indonesian West Papua <br></p>

Expedition To The Stone Korowai Tribe - Indonesian West Papua

A trek deep into the jungle of West Papua in New Guinea, reveals a tribe struggling with their first, tentative steps down from their towering trees houses.


Published by Action Asia magazine

<p>Trekking Into The Sacred Peaks Of Golok - Western China <br></p>

Trekking Into The Sacred Peaks Of Golok - Western China

This feature recounts our 'first' foray into a spectacular and undiscovered range straddling the Sichuan/Qinghai border on a quest for a revered lake & rare lilac lily.


Published by Action Asia magazine

 
Young Papuan girl  with bird of paradise headdress
Can you believe this guy? He's going to trek into the jungle for 3 weeks - with no map, no phone, and no internet - just to write a story!­

Sustainability

Let's be honest, sustainability is a little tricky. Unless we all to stay closer to home, chances are we will leave an elevated carbon footprint when exploring further afield, and effectively offsetting that carbon can be problematic for several reasons, not least (at the risk of getting too nerdy here) due to potential issues around 'additionality', 'leakage', and the calculation of 'baselines'.
But what is the practical alternative? We spend a lot of time in the mountains, and see that urgent global action is clearly needed. At the same time, there does seem to be a spurious rush by some companies (whose travel operations are inherently less sustainable) to 'greenwash' their brands, and so our personal choice, is to do our bit, by firstly donating a fixed percentage of our profits (as well as time) to a wonderful local project, Green Earth Hong Kong, that is making a verifiable difference on our very own doorstep.
Secondly, Whistling Arrow is also a member of the long-established Adventure Travel Trade Association (ATTA), whose enduring purpose is to nurture the sustainable development of the adventure travel industry, and also subscribes to 'Neutral Together', ATTA's innovative program for the adventure travel community to collectively address, and offset, its global carbon impact.
Working in our favour on this important issue, are several other factors. Firstly, a trekking expedition, is evidently one of the most sustainable (not to mention immersive, experiential and transformational) ways to travel, and, as a niche operator, we run only a select number of relatively unique (and lengthy) adventures every year. Secondly, for over a decade now, we have quietly supported many of the local communities in which we operate, hired only local guides, worked hard to reduce the use of single-use plastics (although to be honest, this can still be a challenge on some expeditions), and, last but not least, contributed in no way whatsoever to the scourge of over-tourism. In fact, on most of our trips, we rarely see any other travellers at all!

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