Name: Afghanistan: From the Oxus River to the mighty Pamirs
Start: 2025-11-13T18:45:00+08:00
End: 2025-11-13T20:30:00+08:00
Location: The Executive Centre

Afghanistan: From the Oxus River to the mighty Pamirs

For decades, Bill Colegrave and Rupert McCowan have searched war-torn Afghanistan for the true source of the mighty Oxus River. Their journeys took them through the remote Wakhan Corridor to the towering Pamir Mountains — the so-called Roof of the World — in pursuit of Central Asia’s longest river.
In this talk, they trace the footsteps of legendary explorers like Lord Curzon and Sir Francis Younghusband, whose competing theories once made the Wakhan Corridor a focal point of the Great Game. Bill and Rupert share their own successful expeditions, the breathtaking landscapes they encountered, and the resilience of the region’s semi-nomadic communities.
In 2007, Bill led a major expedition to rediscover Lord Curzon’s celebrated ice cave — the source once officially recognised by the Royal Geographical Society in 1895. Bill’s team followed the Oxus eastward from Ishkashim into the Wakhan, eventually reaching the Little Pamir. Here he confirmed some of the findings of the great 19th century explorers, and then found a mysterious river, the Chelab Stream, which he concluded might be the true source.
Rupert’s fascination for the river began in 1986 when he climbed to the Oxus-Indus watershed in northern Pakistan. In 2025, he returned with Australian cyclist Dr Kate Leeming, filmmaker Adrian Dmoch, and distinguished Afghan mountaineer Malang Darya. They explored the far eastern tip of the Wakhan, where four countries converge – seeking to prove or disprove Bill’s theory.
Exploring the Chelab valley, climbing up to 5,000 metres, they discovered a spectacular glacial lake system — now the new true source of the Oxus. The lake they found is proposed to be named after their Afghan expedition member, as Lake Malang. Rupert and Kate Leeming’s landmark finding confirmed Bill’s theory and brought a centuries-long geographical mystery to a close.

Bill Colegrave is a British explorer, entrepreneur and former merchant banker. Educated at Winchester College and Cambridge University, he founded the Colegrave Group and later acquired the Cadogan Guides travel series, growing its reputation. A passionate traveller, Bill has led expeditions across the Sahara, Northern Pakistan, Western China, and Central Asia. He writes and lectures widely, and in 2011 published Halfway House to Heaven, recounting his adventures in Afghanistan.
Rupert McCowan is a British geographer, financier, explorer and Director of the Royal Geographical Society – Hong Kong. Educated at Eton College and Oxford University, he spent 17 years in finance before moving to geography and exploration. His recent journeys include a camel trek across the Sahara and expeditions to Lake Turkana. Rupert also founded and owns Asian Capital Consultancy Inc., advising on urban development and heritage property. A former British reserve forces member who saw active service in Cyprus, he has lived in Hong Kong for 30 years and is a fellow of the Royal Geographical Society, the Royal Asiatic Society and the Explorers Club.

Members of the RGS and their guests are most welcome to attend this event. The ticket is HK$200 for RGS Members and HK$250 for RGS members' guests. This event is free of charge for student members.

The Royal Geographical Society - Hong Kong wishes to express its thanks to The Executive Centre for being the Venue Sponsor of this talk.

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The opinions expressed in this event are those of the speaker and do not necessarily reflect those of the Royal Geographical Society - Hong Kong.