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Who We Are

START YOUR
ENGINES.

Prepare to get gloriously lost.

We're not a travel agency. We're not a tour operator. And we're definitely not here to hold your hand. ChiefCups is a crew of adventure addicts and logistics nerds on a mission to bring back the kind of travel that makes your pulse race and your stories legendary.

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Who we are

We set the stage.
You write the story.

We design offbeat and unscripted overland experiences in some of the wildest corners of the planet. No fixed routes, no 5-star fluff — just a challenge-based format where creativity, grit, and questionable decisions pave the way to glory.

Behind the madness? A small team working out of backpacks and 4x4 trunks, fuelled by maps, instant risottos, and the belief that the best memories are the ones you make along the road.

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Carlo Avati
Carlo Avati
Founder · Chief Adventure Officer (The CAO)
The CAO

Built to explore.
Wired to build.

Carlo Avati — aka The CAO — is the engine behind every Cup, ridiculous challenge, and wild checkpoint you'll stumble into. Former tech founder turned chaos architect, he's the one pulling the strings behind the scenes and occasionally pulling your car out of a sand dune at 3AM.

He's crossed the Andes by horse, ridden a busted motorbike from Rome to Bhutan, and shared feasts with fishermen and yak herders alike. His travels have been featured on National Geographic. If there's one thing he takes seriously, it's making sure you have the adventure of your life.

→Featured on National Geographic
→IG: @_TheCAO
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Questions & answers

Everything you've been
afraid to ask.

ChiefCups is a challenge-based 4x4 adventure rally company. We design and run multi-day overland events in some of the wildest corners of the world. Teams drive our vehicles, collect points through curated challenges, and compete for the Cup.
People aged 23–40 who are done with organised tours and overpriced "adventure" packages. You need a valid driving licence, some confidence behind the wheel on rough terrain, and a high tolerance for uncertainty, discomfort, and extreme peaks of joy.
No — but you need to be a confident driver. If you've never driven on gravel, sand, or a track that clearly hasn't been used since your grandparents' golden ages, you'll learn fast. Our support crew and road books are there to help. What you don't need: prior rally experience, a 4x4 licence, or any idea what you're doing at the start.
No. The vehicle is included in your entry fee. We sort the car, the insurance, the paperwork, and camping gear. You just show up and drive it into the unknown.
Honestly? This is a genuinely risky adventure. You're driving in remote areas with limited cell service and variable road conditions. We have support vehicles, satellite phones (on some events), checkpoint camps, and local guides — but this isn't a controlled environment. That's the point. Travel insurance is mandatory. We take safety seriously; we just don't pretend the adventure comes without risk, and extreme peaks of joy.
Each event has a unique set of challenges tailored to its destination. Teams collect points by completing them — some are physical, some are creative, some are just brilliantly stupid. The full challenge list is only revealed at the launch event. The team with the most points at the finish line takes the Cup.
The entry fee covers a team of 2–4. If you're flying solo, get in touch — we occasionally help connect solo travellers with teams that have space. Drop us a message on the contact page.

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