The Kathmandu Valley is one of the world’s great natural beauties, a secluded locale lying beneath the enormous shadow of Mount Everest, and home to countless world heritage sites. Despite its wealth of natural and historical treasures, the Kathmandu Fire Department has an insufficient number of worn-out & run-down rescue vehicles, all more than half a century old. In order to support the humble civilization nestled in the heart of the valley, a group of explorers passionate about the region have raised funds from around the world to bring two brand new, and much needed, fire engines to Kathmandu.

The explorers will form two expeditionary teams and attempt to drive these two made-in-USA firetrucks five hundred miles from India to Kathmandu, a journey through mountains, jungles, swamps, and steppes; through mud, ice and snow in an effort to explore the region’s beauty while competing against each other to see who arrives first.

The expedition team originally consisted of the late actor James Gandolfini, explorer Sir Randolph Fiennes, and their friend, watchmaker Michael Kobold. After Mr. Gandolfini’s passing, a new team was assembled, consisted of Randolph Fiennes, Michael Kobold, actor Malcolm McDowell, U.S. Ambassador Scott H. DeLisi, Former Miss Nepal Shristi Shrestha, Canadian High-Altitude Mountaineer Heather Geluck, 3 members of the U.S. Navy SEALs, and Martin Hartley, the renowned polar expedition photographer from England.