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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. 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

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Chasing waterfalls, and bears

The moment feels special, a reminder of the lesser-touched beauty of this remote part of the world, where every day brings discoveries and a peaceful connection with nature. As the ship glides through the calm, icy waters of the Arctic, the rugged landscape of Svalbard continually unfolds, its snow-dusted peaks and serene waterfalls standing tall against the pale sky. The air is crisp and fresh, with a sense of anticipation lingering among the passengers. Suddenly, a call comes—polar bear ahead. Cameras and binoculars are quickly raised as the ship draws nearer to the drifting ice, where a solitary polar bear moves slowly, a quiet presence in this vast wilderness. 

Sarah Marshall

Sarah Marshall

Male magnificent frigatebird with an inflated bright red throat pouch during courtship display on North Seymour Island.

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.

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. 

Specialist Guides by our Experts & Writers

Why use ExplorEarth?

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, 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.

Take the stress out of choosing a travel professional to guide you through your planning and booking by using our matching engine to connect you with the best company to support you. We will keep in touch to ensure you are happy with their service, too. 

Jamie Lafferty

Zodiac close to a Minke Whale in Antarctica by Jamie Lafferty

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. 

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

Mike Unwin

Mike Unwin

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

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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. 

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

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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. 

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Latest original stories

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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