Your first landing site for expedition
and small-ship adventure cruises

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ExplorEarth is an inspirational showcase for some of the most beautiful and far-flung places on the planet, as seen through the words and lenses of world-renowned travel writers, photographers, experts and scientists. 

The site focuses on expedition and small-ship adventure travel, inviting our users to explore the extraordinary through immersive guides, stunning photography and expert storytelling. We invite you to discover or rediscover the world of expedition and small-ship travel, connect with responsible companies and plot a course for your next adventure. 

Our site is constantly evolving, so please subscribe to our weekly newsletter to be alerted to the latest updates, features and destination guides. 

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Popular destination guides

Jamie Lafferty

Jamie Lafferty

Leaopard Seal Antarctica

Emperors, leopards and tabular ice

The Weddell Sea and Snow Hill Island offer a unique opportunity to see emperor penguins in their natural habitat. This remote, icy landscape provides unparalleled wildlife viewing, stunning ice formations and the chance for once-in-a-lifetime photography amidst the silence and majesty of Antarctica. Look about for the beautifully reptilian leopard seal, too. 

Istock.com/Maridav

Istock.com/Maridav

Istock 1329616198 Maridav Galapagos Iguana

Land of the giants and the cradle of evolution

The Galápagos Islands, a remote archipelago in the Pacific Ocean, is a living testament to the raw power of nature and the cradle of evolution. Here, where fiery volcanic landscapes clash with the azure waters, time seems to stand still. Giant tortoises roam ancient trails, their massive shells echoing the islands' tumultuous geological past. Sea lions playfully glide through crystal-clear waters, while marine iguanas, the only seafaring lizards on Earth, dive beneath the waves in search of food. Every island in this enchanted chain is a world unto itself, teeming with unique life forms found nowhere else.

Mark Stratton

Mark Stratton

Northwest Passage Baffin Island Sam Fjord Arctic Mark Stratton 300

Navigating the frozen roof of the world

As the Canadian Arctic awakes from its long, frigid slumber and ice begins to recede, the Northwest Passage emerges as the ultimate beacon of polar adventure. Expedition cruises through this legendary passage between the Atlantic and the Pacific oceans trace the footsteps of historic adventurers who spent centuries trying to chart these treacherous waters. From the jagged cliffs of Greenland to the wild shores of the Canadian Arctic, this is one cruise you will never forget.

Specialist Guides by our Experts & Writers

Why join the ExplorEarth community?

ExplorEarth is so much more than a travel site. We work with leading writers, explorers and well-travelled experts in the expedition and small-ship adventure sector to deliver original stories and first-person destination guides.

Joining the ExplorEarth community, which only requires an email address, unlocks comprehensive research tools and additional content including insider tips and advice and first-look video footage. You will also receive our regular newsletter with news of the latest features and areas of the site to discover. 

Here are some of the benefits of signing up.

We regularly commission original features, and stories researched and written by well-known travel writers and experts, offering new insights and observations around small-ship adventure travel. By signing up, you'll be the first to read them as they are published. 

Mike Unwin

Mike Unwin

We have a series of unique guides to help you select your adventure during your trip, too. We launch these most months, so sign up to be the first to get them and access exclusive content that we won't publish to the general site, too. 

Rosie B Wild

An inquisitive Puffin

We have a database of expedition and small-ship adventure cruises and ships. Search by destination, date, year of build and even sustainability categories. 

We are constantly adding new ships and cruises, too. 

Mark Stratton

Greg Mortimer

Go to places others can't, with access to exclusive content as a signed-up member of ExplorEarth. Read guides, stories and other content that only subscribers can access. 

Polar Plunge (1)

Look out for special expeditions from our preferred partners focusing on the wildlife and experiences you'll see on this site. 

Rosie B Wild

Humpback Tale Rosie B Wild

Be a part of our travel community as we launch exciting new tools to empower your research, planning, and planet ambassadorship when you return from your trips. 

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When you use our site and connect with our responsible partners to book your travel, you'll know you're in good, safe, and expert hands. You'll also be supporting our amazing partners in doing their incredible work. Visit our Ocean Generation page.

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Our subscribed members get access to 'secret' guides and stories that are not published on the site and can only be accessed through the links shared in our emails. 

Southern Rockhopper Penguin Portrait

Popular original stories & photography

ExplorEarth proudly supports

By subscribing to our newsletter and becoming a member of the ExplorEarth community you will get access to unique content written by some of the world's top travel writers

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Antarctic Heritage Trust

We proudly support the UK Antarctic Heritage Trust, which conserves historic buildings and artefacts in Antarctica and contributes to the protection of its unique natural environment and wildlife. The trust's conservation work is critical, and they develop exciting community and cultural programmes to share Antarctica’s story. Preserving the past to protect the Antarctica of tomorrow.

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Ocean Generation

We proudly support Ocean Generation, whose mission states, 'The Ocean is our planet’s life support system. We break down the biggest human threats our Ocean faces, like plastic pollution and climate change; shift the perceptions and behaviours that create them; and empower the world to live more sustainably.' Read more about our partnership with Ocean Generation here.

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Happywhale

Whales and cetaceans are an important part of expedition and small-ship adventure cruising, so we support Happywhale. Happywhale is an organisation that works across our industry and helps us all improve our understanding of the world’s whales. This enables better protection of whales and their ocean environment.

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