Intrigue for the Adventurous
Expeditions
Luxury clientele are getting younger, and correspondingly more adventurous. One of the spoils of success is testing your limits, even if it's just a little kick. This makes the expedition segment well-positioned for these discerning travelers. Here are our current favorites by land and by sea – let's go on an adventure!
Intrigue for the Adventurous
Expeditions
Luxury clientele are getting younger, and correspondingly more adventurous. One of the spoils of success is testing your limits, even if it's just a little kick. This makes the expedition segment well-positioned for these discerning travelers. Here are our current favorites by land and by sea – let's go on an adventure!
Abercrombie & Kent, Raja Ampat & The Spice Islands
An expedition doesn't necessarily have to venture into colder climes, as Geoffrey Kent, founder of Abercrombie & Kent (A&K), proves in person. The trip, "Raja Ampat & The Spice Islands" (departure March 7, 2025, 13 nights) of the "Inspiring Expeditions by Geoffrey Kent" series is a mixture of maritime adventure and access to places that usually remain hidden from other travelers. The yacht chartered for this tour, the Aqua Blu, will make a total of twelve stops. It starts in Jakarta with a get-together for the group of 24 with Geoffrey Kent, and a dinner with Michelin-starred chef Nicola Russo. Highlights of the trip include diving and snorkeling off Misokon Island, Misool, Pulau Al, and Dayang Island, where manta ray and dugong sightings are likely. Kayaking trips, cave tours, and visits to historic forts are also big points on the itinerary. To ensure that all the adventures can be captured properly, there is a virtual photography training course offered in advance, as well as a professional photographer that will accompany the trip. The rates start at 68,425 British pounds per person.
Trade Contact: Rami Girgis, Director Private Jet & Special Interest Travel
andBeyond, Galápagos Islands
After last February's announcement, things were pretty quiet about this planned expedition yacht, the 38-meter (782ft.) Galapagos Explorer from andBeyond. The new yacht discreetly sailed away in mid-June with its first guests on board, without much media fanfare. Max capacity is twelve passengers on board who are spread across two suites and four cabins with air conditioning, en-suite shower rooms, and one-of-a-kind views. Plenty of light streams in through the floor-to-ceiling windows and portholes, which perfectly showcase the unique nature of the Galápagos Islands. The best view is from the jacuzzi on the sun deck, of course. Interior aficionados will enjoy the wooden tones and natural colors. Good to know: the Galapagos Explorer sails two different routes every week: "Best of the Galapagos West" and "Best of the Galapagos East", both lasting seven nights each. The activities offered include snorkeling, kayak tours, hiking, photography and, of course, wildlife spotting of all kinds. Anyone who gets a bit homesick can use the onboard high-speed wifi.
Trade Contact: Ryan Powell, COO Sales & Touring
DISPLAY - With Silversea Expeditions your customers will experience voyages of discovery to the lesser-known regions of Northern Europe. We take you to the most spectacular, remote destinations, from Raufarhöfn in Iceland to Bekkjarvik in Norway and Tory Island in Ireland. Our experienced expedition team leads individual exploration tours that follow the tracks of the wilderness . From hikes and kayak trips through untouched landscapes to landings with the Zodiac, every day offers new adventures. Informative lectures also enrich every experience.
Get in touch with Pierre Thomas, Business Development Manager Expeditions, to arrange a consultation.
My Tour EC Galápagos Islands
What a way to bring in the new year! The Ecuadorian DMC My Tour EC has launched an expedition trip over New Year's Eve. The trip "New Years in Galápagos" (departure December 26, 2024; 8 nights) is a combination of cruise and vacation ashore. First, the luxury yacht La Pinta sails from Baltra to San Cristóbal. Two days later it stops on the island of Española before the four-day cruise finally concludes on Santa Cruz. The land-based adventure then begins at the six-bedroom Villa Escalesia in Puerto Ayora with its swimming pool, jacuzzi, concierge, and private chef. Here your clients will have five days to extensively explore the island of Santa Cruz and its sea lions, marine iguanas, dolphins, and giant tortoises. Afterward, a private transfer will take them back to the airport – their hearts filled with plenty of memories of animal watching, hikes, snorkeling tours, kayaking, and dinghies. For a group of 12 the rate is $10,500 USD per person. For 14, it's $8,620 USD. While designed as a combination package, if clients desire you can book just the cruise or just the villa.
Trade Contact: Alexandra Morales, VIP Global Sales for the Ecuadorian DMC My Tour EC
Ponant, North Pole Crossing
When you talk about expeditions at Ponant, Le Commandant Charcot is the first thing that comes to mind. Next year, the ship is planning a voyage that is anything but ordinary: the tour "Trans-Arctic Adventure" (departure September 5, 2025; 20 nights) will embark from Longyearbyen (Spitsbergen) to Nome in Alaska. This transpolar passage (rates start at $56,120 USD per person) is not accessible to conventional expedition ships and has never been sailed before. The Le Commandant Charcot makes its way through the packed ice so that guests cross both the geographic and magnetic North Pole – although neither is easy to reach! What's also very exciting is that the voyage is organized in cooperation with the Explorer's Club. Some members will be on board, using the ship's laboratory for their research to bring new findings to the scientific community. French adventurer Laurence de la Ferrière and American photo ambassador Cindy Miller Hopkins will also be on board, entertaining fellow passengers on the journey with stories of their own adventures.
Trade Contact: for english-speaking sales requests: Stephen Winter, International Sales Director / for all others: the Agent Portal
DISPLAY - Quark Expeditions offers its customers more adventures than any other polar expedition provider. Among other things, they can choose between kayaking in Spitsbergen, stand-up paddling in Antarctica and mountain biking in Greenland. The polar expedition can be individually and actively designed with a variety of unique excursions. Travelers are free to choose what they want to experience.
Quark Expeditions, Northwest Passage
Another trip for the bucket list: Quark Expeditions has launched a brand new voyage with the Ultramarine. The "Northwest Passage to Newfoundland" (departure September 18, 2025; 16 nights) starts out with a flight from Calgary to the legendary Northwest Passage in the Canadian High Arctic. The expedition ship then sails along the east coast of Baffin Island to the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador (pictured). Quick photo tip: be sure your clients bring a telephoto lens to enhance their photographic experience – especially when they have such a good chance at spotting puffins! Rates start at €11,120 per person. That includes the most important transfers – the regional flight from Calgary to Resolute (the starting point of the cruise) and the preceding overnight stay. The journey centers on dramatic fjords, huge glaciers, caribou, whales, polar bears, and the remote villages of the indigenous population. Towards the end of the trip the big highlight is a visit to the UNESCO World Heritage Site L'Anse aux Meadows: the only known historical Viking settlement in North America. Click here for the expedition brochure.
Trade Contact: Christiane Bach, Business Development Manager, Europe
Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours, New Zealand
If your clients are into breathtaking landscapes and the Lord of the Rings films this could be just the ticket! On the route "New Zealand In Depth" (departure November 18, 2024; 17 nights) guests on the Scenic Eclipse II will get to know this country extensively. The tour starts in Queenstown, where the Discovery Yacht first sets sail into the picturesque Milford Sound. Other stops on the tour include Steward Island, Dunedin, Norfolk Island, Marlborough Sound and, of course, Wellington. Destination is Auckland on the North Island. In between, there are stops at picturesque beaches, small towns, and national parks. The range of "Free Choice" excursions included in the rate for the voyage (starting at €10,840 per person) is enormous: guests can immerse themselves in everyday life on a sheep farm, go on an albatross encounter, take an architectural tour, whizz around on e-bikes, or go paddling in a genuine Maori war canoe. Good to know: Expedition experiences with the on-board Zodiacs and kayaks, as well as by the ship's own helicopter and submarine, are also possible in these warm destinations.
Trade Contact: Achim Weber, Head of Sales DACH, Middle East & Africa
Silversea, Iceland & Canada
The Silver Endeavor, which was modernized last year, sets its course for the far north on the journey "Reykjavik to Churchill, Manitoba" (departure on July 9, 2025; 15 nights). From the Icelandic capital it first embarks for the bears: Churchill in the Canadian province Manitoba is known as the "polar bear capital." The small town's location on the southwest coast of Hudson Bay is where the bay freezes over first, signaling the beginning of the hunting season for polar bears. Their only chance of catching a nimble seal is when the seals are on the ice, and the bears have a big appetite. On the way to Churchill, guests have the opportunity to extensively explore Greenland – seven stops are planned, with expedition activities included in the cruise rate (starting at €28,800). After a day at sea in international waters, the Silver Endeavor finally arrives in Canada – in Iqaluit, to be precise. Doesn't ring a bell? Well, the capital of Nunavut, Canada's newest province, is definitely worth a visit: the local Nunatta Sunakkutaangit Museum is brimming with Inuit art! Numerous Zodiac trips in Canada are also included. But don't miss out – your clients should definitely book one major highlight: a kayak tour to see the playful beluga whales that live in the bay.
Trade Contact: Your respective Area Sales Director
White Desert, Antarctica
No expedition story is complete without a trip to Antarctica. With "Early Emperors" (departing on November 19 and 25, 2024; 5 nights each) the adventurers over at White Desert have created a banner expedition. In November and December, when cruise ships can't get through to Atka Bay because of the thick ice cover, guests can visit a huge penguin colony – about 28,000+ birds are gathered here, which is quite a sight with an incredible amount of noise! At this time of year, the newly hatched emperor penguin chicks venture off their parents' feet for the first time and scamper around the area. This is the only way anyone would ever get to see these wild fluff balls this small, and it's a heart-warming experience. Max capacity is twelve guests on the trip, who first fly by chartered private jet (with eco-fuel!) from Cape Town to Antarctica, where they are accommodated in Whichaway Camp. This season, the camp boasts the brand new Wellness Dome (pictured), a crystal-clear hemisphere where they can soak up the Antarctic world in complete silence and cozy warmth. Need more action? Hiking, rappelling, and ice climbing are also on the list. On the third day, a two-and-a-half-hour flight takes clients to the penguins. Rates per person start at $68,500 USD.
Trade Contact: Patrick Woodhead, Co-Founder & CEO
Let's Ask the Industry:
What do you need to look out for when selling expedition trips?
"Cruises are generally very high in demand for us, and expedition trips are a recurring topic. However, many clients don't readily think of these yet, so we often suggest them proactively and explain the benefits if the route works. And our clients are enthusiastic! Many are interested in the once-in-a-lifetime experience of Antarctica, but destinations such as Greenland, Spitsbergen, Central America, and the Indian Ocean are also frequently requested. Most of these customers are outdoor and hiking enthusiasts, but nature lovers, animal lovers, and photographers also get their money's worth on an expedition trip. The following applies to sales: as with 'normal' cruises, it's also very important to send clients on the right ship for expedition cruises. There are huge differences – sometimes the spirit of discovery is the priority, sometimes it's the culinary experience. Specialized knowledge is essential."
Gaby Jordan, Managing Director, Jordan Reisen und Meer