Arcadia Expeditions

16/06/2022

Travel to Cuba just got easier! This article from Forbes magazine details how the US government is easing travel restrictions for its citizens to visit Cuba - a welcome change and one that we believe will help improve relations between the two countries.

If you would like to find out more about our expedition to Cuba in May 2023, visit our website or contact us to find out more.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/suzannerowankelleher/2022/06/02/travel-to-cuba-just-got-easier-as-us-lifts-trump-era-flight-restrictions/?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=passport&cdlcid=5ee0443df414222e418d8053&sh=728239086fd3

The Biden administration wants to ease open the door for leisure travelers. But there will still be plenty of restrictions in place.

25/05/2022

We are very excited to announce that Arcadia Expeditions has been selected as a winner in the Full-Time Travel annual Gamechangers awards. Chosen by an international team of experts, Gamechangers celebrates industry leaders who spark wanderlust and the companies changing the way people travel.

"Arcadia's unique trips take travelers to remote corners of the globe, where experts and guides introduce them to people, historical sites, and one-off experiences that are rarely accessible to tourists. If you want a travel experience that takes you to places most people will never go and introduces you to communities most people will never meet, book a journey with Arcadia Expeditions."

05/05/2022

Coming soon! Our latest expedition is an immersion into the art, architecture, design and gastronomy of one of the world's most exotic countries.

Famed for its craftsmanship, we will visit bustling souks, whitewashed medinas and jaw-dropping mountain scenery. Any guesses where we will be going?

28/04/2022

Greg Nelson is an internationally renowned cameraman specialising in African wildlife and is the Storyteller on our expedition to Botswana.

Greg's career as a Wildlife Director of Photography for some of the world’s leading international television outlets, including National Geographic and the Discovery Channel, has taken him to wilderness areas across the African continent. His creative eye documents not only life in the wilderness and natural behaviour, but also the plight of its flora and fauna.

Join Greg in Botswana in May 2023 for an unforgettable experience photographing the game and landscapes of the Okavango Delta.

21/04/2022

Here at Arcadia, we've been lucky enough to have our unique immersive storytelling concept recognised by some of the world’s leading media outlets and travel writers. Yet none capture the essence of our business quite like the below article, published in Lustre Magazine recently:

"Arcadia Expeditions could be one answer, if you are the sort of person who enjoys discovery and digging deep into a country’s heritage. We’re not talking the size of a hotel bathroom or number of Instagram followers type of travel. Indeed, many of their locations barely have a hashtag. Instead, we’re talking about joining what feels like a documentary series.
As we begin to dust off our passports and flex our travel muscles, those in the travel business have been busy devising ways to lure us back. Arcadia is one company that stands out from the pack."

https://www.lustre.net/home/2022/2/22/arcadia-expeditions

13/04/2022

Arcadia Co-Founder David Mannix was interviewed recently by responsibletravel.com to talk about our Rumi-themed trip to Turkey.

The resulting article below is a great summary of this incredible poet, the Sufi religion and what it's like to travel with Arcadia on this world-first journey - from a sumptuous welcome dinner with a menu that draws inspiration from recipes found in the archives of the Topkapi Palace, to exclusive meetings with Sufi devotees and religious scholars.

https://www.responsibletravel.com/holidays/turkey/travel-guide/rumi-and-sufism

04/04/2022

Our new world-first expedition to Colombia searches for the truth behind the El Dorado myth, immersing travellers into the fascinating history of the Spanish conquistadors and gaining exclusive access to the very best of Colombian culture and cuisine.

Led by renowned historian and author Fernando Cervantes, we venture to some of the prettiest heritage towns in Colombia and visit intriguing sites connected to some of the great expeditions of the Conquest – from Guatavita, the sacred Muisca lake, to an exclusive after-hours private visit and dinner at the famed Gold Museum in Bogotá.

You can view more about this expedition on our website: https://www.arcadiaexpeditions.com/expeditions/colombia-conquistadors-the-legend-of-el-dorado/

30/03/2022

Arcadia Co-Founder David Adams FRGS is one of the great storytellers. He was asked earlier this year by the Australian television network Channel 9 to present Getaway, their signature travel program, for a 3-part series journeying to Antarctica.

David’s first adventure to the White Continent was a memorable one, travelling aboard the luxury 6-star Scenic Eclipse to the Antarctic Peninsula and South Georgia.

For those of you in Australia, tune in to Channel 9 at 5:30pm this Saturday (teaser below) to see David's extraordinary adventure unfold.

https://vimeo.com/692940707/55ab7123e8

This is "GETAWAY_SCENIC_ANTARCTICA_TEASER_BRANDED" by Scenic on Vimeo, the home for high quality videos and the people who love them.

24/03/2022

Next week we will be announcing our very first expedition to South America! We will be telling the story of the conquistadors and the legend of El Dorado - any guesses which country we are heading to?

21/03/2022

New Zealand is about to open! Ending some of the strictest border controls in the world, New Zealand will be open to fully vaccinated Australians from 13th April and travellers from a host of other countries from 2nd May including the USA, UK and Canada.

Our expedition to New Zealand departs in October and delves deep into the history, indigenous culture and incredible wilderness environments of this stunning country.

Led by leading archaeologist Dr James Robison, exclusive access to people and places are matched with the very best food and wine experiences.

Contact us to find out more.

16/03/2022

Papua New Guinea is back! Now open for fully vaccinated travellers, PNG is the ideal place to reconnect with nature and immerse yourself in a wealth of different cultures.

Our 16-day 'Voices on the Wind' expedition departs in November 2022 & 2023 and explores the culture of PNG in depth, venturing off the beaten track to three of the country’s most fascinating regions – the Sepik River, the Highlands and the Coral Sea. Contact us to find out more...

28/02/2022

Newsweek Magazine featured our expedition to Turkey in their recent 'Trips worth the wait - Where to go in 2022' list.

"Dreaming of reconnecting with the world and yourself? Explore Turkey through the lens of renowned poet and philosopher Rumi on an Arcadia world-first expedition. Led by a Sufi storyteller and expert, you'll meet mystics with visits to 500-year-old Dervish lodges and Rumi scholars from Istanbul to Cappadocia."

https://www.newsweek.com/2022/01/21/trips-worth-wait-where-go-2022-1665145.html

One thing is more certain than ever; when we do travel, we want it to count. From swimming with migrating Mobula rays in Mexico to hiking on a new trail in the "happiest country in the world," these trips will make up for lost time.

21/02/2022

Netflix will release a new series in March called 'Midnight at Pera Palace'. The story is based in and around Istanbul's famed Pera Palace Hotel, our home during Arcadia's expedition to Turkey, and from what we can see of the trailer (link below), it looks very intriguing and captures beautifully the magnificent past of this iconic hotel.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jgt6_ypEEpk

11/02/2022

Finally, after two years, the Australian borders are open to international travellers.

Our ground breaking 'Indigenous Immersion' expedition to Australia explores the ancient wisdom of the world’s oldest living culture. Through the lens of rock art and the stories of the Dreaming, we travel back through the millennia, exploring the painted landscapes of Australia’s Top End, from the arrival of Europeans and the expeditions of the Macassans of South-East Asia to some of the country’s oldest rock art.

Contact us to find out more about this unique expedition.

01/02/2022

Tet, the Vietnamese New Year, has just begun and the whole country is transformed for what is the most important festival of the year. Colourful flowers line the streets, the cities empty out with much of the population visiting rural relatives and delicious Tet food specialties are prepared to mark the occasion.

We wish all of our friends in Vietnam a happy new year, and hope that 2022, the year of the Dragon, is the year that our wonderful travellers get to return to your incredibly country.

24/01/2022

The Englishman who wrote with an Indian voice, Rudyard Kipling is considered by many to be one of the greatest writers and storytellers of the English language.

Our one-of-a-kind expedition to India explores the life and times of Kipling and includes Lahore in Pakistan. An epic adventure that sweeps across Northern India, we immerse ourselves into his world at the height of the British Raj.

Led by acclaimed Kipling biographer Harry Ricketts, the expedition provides unparalleled access and insight into Kipling’s life, habits and haunts, as well as the locations of his most popular books – including Kim, The Jungle Book and Plain Tales from the Hills – classic stories that defined the empire and the times.

17/01/2022

Announcing our very first expedition to New Zealand! This is New Zealand like you've never seen before. Our expedition delves deep into the country's history, indigenous culture and incredible wilderness environments, offering a privileged behind-the-scenes insight and connection to past and present.

The trip is led by leading archaeologist Dr James Robinson and award-winning Māori guide Ceillhe Sperath. Exclusive access to people and places are matched with the very best food and wine experiences. Limited to just 16 people, we have departures in October 2022 and March 2023 with private departures are also available across a flexible range of dates. To find out more or to download a brochure, click here: https://www.arcadiaexpeditions.com/expeditions/new-zealand-the-story-of-aotearoa/

07/01/2022

The guiding principal in the creation of our unique itineraries is to have our clients feel that when they are travelling with Arcadia, it’s like they are joining the making of a documentary, but without the film crew.

Each one of our itineraries has a wealth of one-off experiences that are curated exclusively by Arcadia Expeditions. Our unrivalled destination knowledge and extensive network of local contacts allows us to provide insider access to fascinating and thought-provoking people and experiences that other travellers only dream of.

15/12/2021

Indulging in some wine this holiday season? Did you know that Georgia was the first place on earth where wine was made? It was here, in the rich loamy soils beneath the Caucasus, the wild grapes that grew abundantly in this region began to be cultivated more than 8,000 years ago, making Georgia the oldest winemaking tradition in the world.

It is Georgia’s unique geography, combined with its chequered history, that has given birth to the extraordinarily diverse culinary and wine tradition that we see today. Straddling much of the isthmus between the Black and Caspian Seas, its distinctive biosphere means that all of the climatic zones we find between Scandinavia and North Africa are found in this single diminutive country. It is this myriad of micro climates that allow over 500 grape varieties to grow.

09/12/2021

Meet our Storytellers - Professor Jo McDonald. Jo is one of Australia’s most distinguished Aboriginal rock art experts and leads our Indigenous Immersion expedition to Australia. A specialist in Indigenous archaeology, she has been recording rock art for almost 40 years and is the Director of the Centre for Rock Art Research & Management at The University of Western Australia.

Starting her career working on the rock art of Kakadu in 1986, Jo has researched rock art sites around the world including in Nevada and California. Her recent research projects have been on Murujuga (The Dampier Archipelago, Western Australia), where she works closely with the Murujuga Aboriginal Corporation. As well as documenting thousands of rock art panels across the outer islands of the archipelago – and being on the team which found the first submerged site on the continental shelf in Murujuga’s sea country and the earliest stone houses in Australia (8,000 years old) – her analysis of the rock art and stone structures in the Dampier Archipelago led to their inclusion on the National Heritage List.

Before entering academia in 2012, she was a leading cultural heritage management practitioner. Jo is part of the International Getty-based Rock Art Network, and advises governments on matters around local, national and international rock art management. She has given a TedX talk on why rock art is so important and is a strong advocate for the protection of rock art as an Australian national asset.

30/11/2021

We are very close to announcing our latest groundbreaking expedition. We have worked for months researching a very special trip to this country, a new one for us here at Arcadia.

This photo acts as a little teaser - any guesses where we will be going?

23/11/2021

How has travel changed in the past 18 months and how will our post-pandemic psyche affect how we travel in 2022? Arcadia Co-Founder David Adams was featured this week in a Forbes article aiming to answer these salient questions.

“Embracing the trend for experiential travel, we use immersive storytelling to connect travellers to their destinations...every trip tells a story, conveyed by a world authority drawn from a team of professors, photojournalists, archaeologists and poets who make up Arcadia’s expert Expedition Leaders. The narrative is then brought to life through privileged access to activities in every destination – from feasting on chicken cooked in stinging nettles in a Georgian village house to camping with Iranian nomads under the starry skies of the Zagros mountains.”

https://www.forbes.com/sites/angelinavillaclarke/2021/11/22/the-travel-trend-report-2022-the-experts-have-their-say-part-three/?sh=4ec0a993360f

How has travel changed in the past 18 months? And how will our post-pandemic psyche affect how we travel in 2022? Following on from part one and two of this series (published with Forbes last week), I talk to industry experts to find out more.

16/11/2021

In the first of our video series with Arcadia's expert Storytellers, here Arcadia Co-Founder David Adams chats with the Expedition Leader for our Botswana trip, internationally renowned National Geographic cameraman Greg Nelson.

Greg talks about his life, his passion for photography and what our clients should expect on this remarkable expedition to the Okavango Delta.

https://youtu.be/fEgd5_ovyP4

Our one-of-a-kind expedition to Botswana explores the astonishing biosphere of the Okavango Delta from three unique perspectives – bush, desert and water en...

14/11/2021

In the wildlife-rich Khwai River region of the Okavango, we stay in an ultra-luxe mobile tented bush camp set up specifically for our group.

Here we spend five full days continuing our quest to follow and photograph game. Each evening, the team chooses an idyllic spot to stop for sundowners before we return to camp for a sumptuous sit-down three course meal by the campfire, where on occasion, an expert academic or scientist will join us to enlighten us on projects being undertaken in the Delta.

09/11/2021

This is Chuck Searcy, a U.S. veteran who first came to Vietnam in 1967 to fight in the war, but became conflicted between U.S. policy and his newfound respect for Vietnam and its people.

During our 'Road to Independence' expedition, we meet Chuck at a local coffee shop in Hanoi, where we learn about his story and how he returned to Vietnam to help set up a disability program for children.

Chuck remains active in post-war recovery efforts, helping to clear bombs and mines and providing support for families who continue to struggle in the aftermath of the war.

02/11/2021

Lonely Planet has just released its list of the Top 10 Countries to visit in 2022 and we are pleased to report that none of Arcadia’s destinations are on this list. Nor do any of the places we visit on our expeditions feature in their lists of Top 10 Regions and Top 10 Cities.

Why do we think this is good news? Because at Arcadia Expeditions we have made a conscious decision to avoid the trappings of overtourism. Our focus is on people and places away from the tourist trail as we firmly believe it is only by exploring the world’s remote wonders that you can find true beauty, meaning and solitude.

We also believe that travel can serve as a force for good, and by including remote communities in our itineraries, we allow an injection of cash into areas that are often overlooked and in need of development.

25/10/2021

Looking to escape back in to the wild? Our 'Cradle of Humanity' expedition to Ethiopia and Kenya focuses on the remote Omo Valley region. Travelling on the rarely-visited western side of the Omo River, we will engage with a number of colourful nomadic tribes, staying in their villages and learning about their lives and customs. Departing in September 2022 and 2023, this expedition is also available for private departures, ideal for groups of family and friends.

12/10/2021

Our unique expedition to Turkey takes in the stunning highlights of the country with an in-depth exploration of the life of Rumi, one of the world's best-known poets. Led by an expert on Sufism and comparative religion, we journey into the mysterious realm of mysticism and examine the exceptional spiritual path taken by Rumi.

07/10/2021

The Qashqai people of Iran are traditionally nomadic pastoralists, travelling with their flocks twice a year to and from summer highland pastures north of Shiraz. Whilst many Qashqai now live in permanent settlements, some still continue their migratory lifestyle, with the Iranian government providing them and their livestock with special travel corridors.

On our ‘End of Empire’ expedition to Iran, we head to the remote Zagros Mountains and spend the night in camp with the Qashqai, a unique chance to experience their extraordinary hospitality and gain an insight into a way of life that has changed little over centuries.

28/09/2021

No other person in history has rediscovered and documented more rock art sites across the African continent than David Coulson, the Storyteller on our expedition to Namibia.

A writer, photographer and adventurer, in addition to being the world’s foremost chronicler of African rock art, David is the founder and Executive Chairman of TARA – the Trust for African Rock Art.

Driving the length and breadth of Africa for over 40 years, David is a true African explorer. In the earlier part of his career, he worked as a professional photographer and writer, venturing into some of Africa’s remotest areas, where he often travelled alone for long periods. It was during some of these travels that David fell in love with Namibia, which subsequently featured in several of his books.
A copy of David’s digital archive of 25,000 images was acquired by the British Museum in 2014 and is now available worldwide as part of the Museum’s global digital collections. This extensive archive has already opened numerous windows onto Africa’s past.