All About Us

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Beginnings

Explore hit the road in 1981 thanks to three travelling companions who had breathed travel, eaten travel and slept travel for as long as they could remember - among them Travers Cox, who left his homestead Down Under while still in his teens on the back of a rusty two-wheeler, and never looked back. From the classic overlands to Kathmandu to ferrying Land Rovers across the Ubange on hand-built rafts, Travers and the two Dereks had a few stories to share back home. And a couple of ideas to work on as well.

Their blend of idealism and practical skills, and an unquenchable thirst for discovery soon translated into a very simple and successful formula:


Small group of like-minded people
+ expert tour leader
+ comfortable accommodation (minus frills)
+ explore deeper
+ (think + buy local) + (respect your guest + respect their environment)
+ plan thoroughly but be adaptable
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= EXPLORE!
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The original menu was short but an instant hit: through the hilltribe villages of northern Thailand on foot; Rajasthan desert safari by camel; south-west Turkey by bus and boat; down the Nile by felucca...


The rest is history (or archaeology, should we say? - Or perhaps wildlife tracking, tribal encounters, cycling, trekking, Family Adventures, etc etc).

Welcome to Explore.

Snapshot of Explore 2008

Polar bears

Arctic sparring-match

Now offering the most diverse adventures in some 130 countries, these core values remain just as true 27 years down the line. One or two things may have changed since the heady days of two phones plus a telex machine, but the spirit is still through and through Explore:

  • we now operate over 400 itineraries
  • in March 2000, we became part of Holidaybreak plc, the European specialist holiday group, where our adventure stable mates include the likes of RegalDive and Dutch adventure operator Djoser
  • the Explore family has multiplied to:
    • over 130 staff based at head office, plus
    • over 150 Tour Leaders


Operating such a diverse range of itineraries around the globe may sound daunting but we relish the challenge and with meticulous planning and personal experience the result is an unrivalled choice of adventure tours worldwide. We offer peace of mind too. As a fully bonded tour operator and member of AITO you can book with confidence. We've won awards too. The prizes and accolades we collect are always welcome; but we shall constantly strive to provide the highest service to our customers and our hosts.

Adventure travel is about people

First and foremost Explore is about people:

  • Your traveling companions
  • An enduring friendship you strike in a remote village
  • The expertise of your tour leader
  • The Explore backstage crew in the UK

Want to work for Explore?

Why not visit work for Explore to see our latest jobs vacancies at Head Office. If you are interested in becoming an Explore tour leader, we have a whole section of the website dedicated to providing all the information you require and an application form.

Press enquiries

Beautiful beach

In the footsteps of Darwin on the Galapagos

Visit our Press Centre for:

  • Press releases
  • Director profiles
  • Details of our PR agency who manages all our press calls and correspondence


You may also find the following links within our website useful:

Explore is owned by Holidaybreak plc, Europe's leading specialist travel company.