COL. JOHN BLASHFORD-SNELL - Explorer

John Blashford-Snell is one of the world’s most renowned and highly respected explorers and authors.

A former British Army officer, John is amongst the last of a generation of true explorers; having pioneered new methods of exploration and discovery. He has documented unchartered territories, nature and peoples. Over his extraordinary life of adventure, John has conducted more than 100 expeditions for the purpose of scientific research and community aid.

From exploring the Blue Nile in Ethiopia for Emperor Hailie Selassie, to delivering a grand piano to the Wai Wai in Guyana; discovering mammoth-like elephants in Nepal, to inventing the sport of white water rafting in Africa on the Congo River. John has countless extraordinary stories to tell which he delivers through engaging and highly entertaining speaking events.

John also supports and works with numerous charities, working with underprivileged youth in the UK as well as undertaking community aid projects in remote parts of the world. He founded the UK charity Just a Drop, established Operation Raleigh (now Raleigh International), and the Scientific Exploration Society, all of which still continue to do great work today.

In the 2019 he was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) for services to both scientific research abroad and to young people in the UK.

An author of countless books on his adventures, he is releasing an autobiographic account of his adventures toward the end of 2022 entitled, ‘From Utmost East to Utmost West – My Life of Exploration and Adventure’.

The year 2022 also marks the 50th Anniversary of a trailblazing British Trans-America motoring expedition, officially testing the first-generation Range Rover. Guided by John in 1972, the aim was to focus attention of the need to complete the Pan-American highway; the longest road in the world (30k km / 19k mi). The central portion of the expedition through the Darien Gap, was and still is, considered to be the most daring and bold motoring expedition ever attempted, and in John’s words, ‘a very close run thing’.

John is a highly accomplished speaker having entertained dinners, corporate events, schools and Royalty for the past 50 years with his tales of adventure and discovery