Mount Roraima: The Lost World Above the Clouds

Today our Mount Roraima expedition begins.

From Santa Elena, we travel across the vast landscapes of Gran Sabana toward the Pemón community of Paraitepuy, where the route to the legendary tepui (table-top mountains with flat summits and almost vertical rock walls) begins.

We leave civilization behind and enter the open savanna. On the horizon, the enormous walls of Roraima and Kukenán gradually grow closer and will accompany us throughout the coming days.

Our first night of the expedition is spent beside the Tek River, surrounded by the spectacular landscapes of Gran Sabana.

After breakfast, we continue toward Mount Roraima.

Today the tepuis come closer with every step, while the wide-open savanna gradually gives way to a more mountainous landscape. We leave the river valleys behind and approach the enormous rock wall that rises dramatically above the surrounding plains.

By the end of the day, we reach Base Camp, located directly below Mount Roraima.

Tomorrow, the most anticipated part of our journey begins — reaching the summit of the Lost World.

Today is one of the key days of the expedition.

From Base Camp, we gradually make our way toward the summit along the mountain's natural route beside its enormous rock wall.

With every step, Gran Sabana remains farther below and the scenery changes completely. Green savanna gives way to dark rocks, mist and extraordinary natural formations.

And finally, we reach the Roraima plateau.

A completely different world opens before us — stone labyrinths, clouds, unusual vegetation and landscapes unlike almost anywhere else on the planet.

We dedicate the entire day to exploring the summit of Mount Roraima.

We head toward La Ventana — “The Window”, one of the plateau's most famous viewpoints, offering spectacular panoramas of the surrounding tepuis and Gran Sabana whenever the clouds open.

We continue among extraordinary rock formations toward the famous natural Jacuzzis, pools formed directly in the stone.

Another highlight of the day is Maverick Peak, the highest point of Mount Roraima. From here, the immense scale of this remarkable stone world becomes even more impressive.

We return to our summit camp for another night above the clouds.

Today we venture deeper into the extraordinary world of the plateau.

One of our main destinations is Triple Point, where the borders of Venezuela, Brazil and Guyana meet.

Along the way, we discover more remarkable places on Roraima, including the Valley of Crystals, unusual rock formations and the natural depression known as The Pit — El Foso.

Around us is an almost otherworldly landscape of black rocks, quartz, mist and plants adapted to the unique environment of the tepui summit.

This is our final full day on the Roraima plateau.

In the morning, we take our final look at the extraordinary summit landscapes and begin the journey back.

We descend from the plateau toward Base Camp, leaving the stone world of Roraima behind.

Gradually, the familiar green landscapes of Gran Sabana return, while the enormous walls of the tepui once again rise above us from below.

We continue toward the Tek River, where we spend the final night of our expedition surrounded by the savanna.

Our final morning on the trail.

After breakfast, we leave the Tek River and cross Gran Sabana once again. Roraima and Kukenán slowly disappear behind us, offering final views of this extraordinary region.

We return to Paraitepuy, where the trekking part of our journey comes to an end and we say goodbye to the team that accompanied us through the Lost World.

From here, we travel back to Santa Elena.

Seven days among savannas, rivers, clouds and the stone labyrinths of Roraima come to an end — but this expedition is one that will stay with us for a long time.