About Us – Sidequest Trails

Our Story

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We don’t need a finish line.

I’ve been chasing adventure for nearly 30 years. Travelling, trekking, cycling, skiing, exploring, and generally taking the long way when there was a perfectly good short way.

About ten years ago, I discovered trail running. Naturally, I ended up running ultras. 100 kilometres, 100 miles, mountains, jungle, ridiculous elevation and a fair few questionable life choices.

I loved it. Until I didn’t so much.

The training, the cut-offs, the finish times and the constant pressure to go further, faster and harder started to get in the way of the thing I actually loved.

Being out there.

Following a trail somewhere new. Getting properly tired. Sharing a ridiculous day with good people. Finding an incredible meal afterwards, then settling in with a cold drink and somewhere comfortable to sleep.

I realised I didn’t need a finish line.

I wanted the space in between.

Not a holiday. Not an expedition. Not a race.

The space in between.

That’s Sidequest Trails.

Small-group adventures built around wild places, challenging trails, good food, comfortable beds and the kind of experiences you’ll still be talking about years later.

You don’t need to be an ultra runner.

You just need to be in good running shape, bring a little curiosity and an open mind, and be willing to step outside your comfort zone.

The adventure is the point.

Our Mission

We’re here to help people experience Asia through adventure, reconnecting with nature, with themselves and with each other.

We discover and share some of the region’s best trails and wild places, creating thoughtful trail running, trekking, fastpacking and bikepacking adventures that bring together curiosity, endurance, freedom and a genuine sense of adventure.

We want to build bridges between local knowledge and international experience, and showcase the best of Asia in a way that respects its people, cultures, communities and environments.

The Human Behind the Adventures

Hi, I’m Isabelle.

I’ve spent nearly 30 years exploring the world and the last decade getting seriously obsessed with trails. I’ve trekked, bikepacked, run ultras and followed more than a few trails just to see where they went.

There’s a lot of focus in the trail and ultra-running world on going further, going faster, finding new FKTs and constantly pushing the limits.

And I get it. I love pushing myself too.

But I also love simply being out there. Running through the mountains, taking in the views, discovering a new trail and enjoying the experience without worrying about how fast I’m going or how many kilometres I’ve covered.

I’ve also spent years leading people on adventures through Duke of Edinburgh and World Challenge expeditions. My favourite part has always been watching a group of strangers become a team and seeing someone do something they didn’t think they could.

And honestly, I love nothing more than thinking about the next adventure. Give me a map, and I’ll happily fall down the rabbit hole for an afternoon, connecting trails, finding the interesting bits, imagining where they might lead and dreaming up the next Sidequest.

That’s what I want Sidequest Trails to be about.

Good adventures. Good people. A few questionable decisions. And stories worth coming home with.

I’ll take care of the route, logistics and boring stuff.