Curated Adventures

Join expert leaders on some of our most extraordinary experiences.

Our eclectic range of exclusive Curated Adventures are escorted by people who need little introduction. These inspirational people are well known for their expertise in fields ranging from cooking to science, journalism to photography, and we feel very privileged that they share a passion for our style of travel.

Add an extra dimension to your journey, as you travel alongside an expert escort whose insights, secrets and stories about the places special to them will inspire and enthrall you.

For a once-in-a-lifetime travel opportunity, join one of our exclusively led adventures in some of the world’s most captivating and intriguing places on the planet for a truly unforgettable travel experience.

Don't miss these once-in-a-lifetime Curated Adventures.

Tim Macartney-Snape

Tim is Australia's best known mountaineer. He has climbed Everest twice as well as many other Himalayan giants including Ama Dablam and Gasherbrum 4. Tim's combines his passion and talent for exploration with his deep interest and knowledge of the natural history of the Himalaya and its people to give participants on his treks the ultimate mountain travel experience. Once a year, Tim takes small groups into the most isolated and wildest places. He is an inspiring leader and brings different tangents to exploratory treks thanks to his wealth of knowledge of the Himalaya.

Victor Saunders

Victor Saunders is a world-renowned British mountaineer who became a UIAGM mountain guide in 1996. Victor was at the forefront of the generation of mountaineers tackling Himalayan summits in Alpine style. His climbing CV includes many celebrated first ascents such as the North Pillar of Spantik, the first winter ascent of Langtang, Uzum Brak, Ushba, Jitchu Drake and many others. Other notable ascents include the Seven Summits and six Everest summits from 2004 to 2012. Victor is a renaissance man whose talents include the literary, his first book, Elusive Summits, won the Boardman Tasker Prize for Mountain Literature in 1990. Victor is the current president of the Alpine Club, the world’s first mountaineering club founded in London in 1857 whose previous presidents include John Hunt, Eric Shipton, Chris Bonington and Doug Scott.

Tim Cope

Tim has journeyed over 10,000 kilometres from Mongolia to Hungary by horse, rowed 4,500 kilometres in a leaky wooden boat down the Yenisey River from southern Siberia to the Arctic Ocean, and cycled from Moscow to Beijing by bike – a 10,000 kilometre journey that took him 14 months. Needless to say, he’s incredibly adventurous. An accomplished writer and documentary maker, Tim was deservedly titled Adventurer of the Year by Australian Geographic in 2006. In 2015, Tim was named Mongolian Tourism Envoy and is the recipient of the Mongolian Tourism Excellency Medal. Tim has led a selection of expeditions in Mongolia since 2011 and there is certainly no one better qualified or enthusiastic to do so.

Rebecca Stephens

Rebecca Stephens is the first British woman to have climbed Mt Everest and the Seven Summits. She was introduced to climbing through her work as a journalist and continues to write as well as lecture and coach. She's also been a committed trustee of the Himalayan Trust UK that sprung from Ed Hillary’s charity supporting Sherpas, for over 20 years. She has made several trips to Antarctica and crossed South Georgia by way of Ernest Shackleton’s route. Rebecca led several treks for World Expeditions in Ethiopia, Bhutan, Ladakh, Nepal, Tibet, and Kilimanjaro. Her first love is East Africa, having worked on a farm in Kenya as a student and is looking forward to returning to Mount Kenya.

Peter Kuruvita

Peter's career as award-winning chef and restaurateur has spanned 4 decades and many iconic establishments, including Sydney’s Flying Fish Restaurant & Bar and Noosa Beach House at the Sofitel Noosa Resort. You may recognise him from his popular TV series' on SBS. His shows; “My Sri Lanka with Peter Kuruvita”, “Island Feast with Peter Kuruvita”, “Mexican Fiesta with Peter Kuruvita” and “Peter Kuruvita’s Coastal Kitchen“ combine beautiful scenery with sensational local cuisine. All over the world fans watch Peter on TV and love his laid-back amiable charm. His world-wide dinner events and restaurant pop-ups are always a sell out and his restaurants have been on foodie must-do lists for decades.

Richard I'Anson

One of the world’s most acclaimed travel photographers, and a good friend of ours for over 25 years, Richard I’Anson represents Canon Australia as a Canon Master Photographer, has published thirteen books, including five editions of the best-selling Lonely Planet Guide to Travel Photography, and was featured in the first series of the documentary series Tales by Light, now screening on Netflix. He has built an enviable career on his twin passions for travel and photography and over the past 35 years has travelled the world, amassing a substantial and compelling collection of images of people and places – in more than 90 countries on all seven continents.

Garry Weare

Garry has a lifetime of experience and is a recognised authority on the Indian Himalaya. His intimate knowledge of the region is documented in his Lonely Planet guidebook 'Trekking in the Indian Himalaya', now in its 4th edition and his acclaimed narrative 'A Long Walk in The Himalaya'. He is also a founding director of the Australian Himalayan Foundation. Having been involved with World Expeditions since its inception in the mid 1970s, he is an invaluable addition to our Indian Himalaya program and brings a wealth of knowledge, expertise and understanding to the trekking experience, imparting great insight during the trips he leads.

Soren Kruse-Ledet

One of our most experienced leaders; Soren has summitted many Himalayan peaks as well as completed a six month traverse of Nepal, and attempted Everest solo. He has also led many climbs and treks in Nepal, Tibet, China and Bhutan including Cho Oyu. Popular, easy-going and professional, Soren can be found leading various adventures for us in Nepal.

Alex Cearns

Alex is one of Australia's most awarded and widely published pet, animal and wildlife portrait photographers. Her natural animal handling skills, outstanding images and substantial contribution to improving the lives of rescued animals and endangered wildlife has earned her the reputation as one of Australia’s best and most trusted animal photographers. She photographs around 1300 animals per year. Alex is a dynamic keynote speaker and workshop facilitator with engaging humour and a warm personality. Her thriving business Houndstooth Studio is a leader in the specialised niche market of premium domestic and commercial pet and animal photography.

Simon Yates

Simon has been at the forefront of mountaineering for almost two decades with pioneering first ascents in the Andes, Himalaya and Karakorum. Best known as the climbing partner to Joe Simpson in ‘Touching the Void’, Simon has developed a strong reputation as an engaging expedition leader and his great passion for the mountains of Central Asia means he always has his hand up enthusiastically to lead expeditions to Mt Elbrus, Peak Lenin and others in the region. Simon has also headed up our Aconcagua, Damodar Saribung Traverse as well as the Summits of Bolivia making him one of our most versatile mountaineering guides.

Jono Lineen

A writer, adventurer and museum curator, Jono has deep experience throughout the Himalaya. Jono spent eight years immersed in Himalayan culture and studying Buddhism and Hinduism, an experience that culminated with his 2700km solo walk from Pakistan to Nepal. This trek forms the basis of his highly acclaimed travel narrative, Into the Heart of the Himalayas.

Mary Moody

Mary is a former presenter on the ABC’s Gardening Australia and the author of four best selling travel memoirs as well as numerous gardening books and magazines. Mary has led trips in Europe, The Himalaya and North Africa for many years and has a great love and wealth of knowledge of these regions, their natural history, food and flora.

Grade 1: Discovery & Cruising

These are our least demanding trips. These journeys of discovery and cruises involve little or no extended activity. The itinerary may take place in remote areas (with basic facilities) and may involve long travel days on various types of transport. Sightseeing may be conducted on foot and all participants should be capable of carrying their own luggage from vehicle to hotel rooms. These adventures do not go above 2500m and rarely involve camping.

Grade 2: Adventure Touring

These adventure tours sometimes involve travel at high altitude (rarely exceeding 4000m, except on certain trips in Tibet, Peru and India) and may visit remote areas of the world where facilities are often basic. Many of these trips sometimes involve some camping or basic lodging. These adventure tours will often involve long journeys and rough roads. Sightseeing and optional day walks are often included and these days may involve up to 5 hours of physical activity.

Grade 3: Introductory

Up to 5 or 6 hours of physical activity a day at a slow but steady pace.

Grade 4: Introductory to Moderate

Introductory activity with several moderate stages.

Grade 5: Moderate

Up to 5-7 hours of physical activity a day at a steady pace. Terrain may vary and some steep ascents to be expected. Be prepared for variable weather conditions.

Grade 6: Moderate to Challenging

Moderate activity with several challenging stages.

Grade 7: Challenging

Up to 8 to 10 hours+ of physical activity a day, often in remote areas with variable and adverse weather conditions.

Grade 8, 9, 10

Apply only to mountaineering trips and are therefore not shown.

Grade 1: Discovery & Cruising

These journeys of discovery and cruises are suitable for people with a basic level of fitness and good health.

Suggested preparation: Once or twice a week, we recommend you walk on undulating terrain for an hour, for at least 2-3 months prior to departure.

Grade 2: Adventure Touring

To enjoy these adventures we suggest you have a reasonable level of fitness and health, a moderately active lifestyle and a positive attitude.

Suggested preparation: Two or three times a week, we recommend you walk on undulating terrain for an hour or more, for at least 3 months prior to departure.

Grade 3: Introductory

Our introductory trips are not ‘easy’ trips and you will need a reasonable level of fitness and good health.

Suggested preparation: We recommend 30 minutes of aerobic type exercise three times a week, starting at least two to three months before departure. This can include swimming, jogging, hard walking or cycling. For treks, hill or stair walking with a 5-7kg daypack is also highly recommended at least once a week. For a cycling adventure, road cycling twice a week for three months prior to departure is advised.

Grade 4: Introductory to Moderate

On these adventures you will need a reasonable level of fitness and good health.

Suggested preparation: We recommend 45 minutes of aerobic type exercise three times a week, from a minimum of three months period to your departure. This can include swimming, jogging, hard walking or cycling - good cardiovascular exercise. For treks, hill or stair walking with a 7kg daypack is also highly recommended at least once a week. For a cycling adventure, road cycling twice a week for three months prior to departure is advised.

Grade 5: Moderate

These adventures require a good level of fitness and health.

Suggested preparation: We recommend 45-60 minutes of aerobic type exercise, three to four times a week. Hill walking with a pack in variable weather conditions, kayaking or road cycling is also recommended depending upon the activity you plan to undertake.

Grade 6: Moderate to Challenging

These adventures require a good level of fitness and excellent health.

Suggested preparation: We recommend one hour of aerobic type exercise, four times a week. Hill walking with a pack in variable weather conditions, kayaking or road cycling is also recommended depending upon the activity you plan to undertake.

Grade 7: Challenging

On these challenging adventures, you will need an excellent level of fitness.

Suggested preparation: We recommend one hour of aerobic exercise, four times a week – such as jogging, hard walking, cycling or paddling. Solid preparation is essential in the months leading up to your departure. For trekking, hill walking with a 7kg pack is a must. On the weekends mix in a relatively demanding bushwalk relatively steep ascents and descents. For cycling, regular biking for one to four hours at a time, with as many hills as possible, will help prepare you for your trip.

The exact inclusions and equipment for each of our adventures is listed once you've found the trip you want. Our trips are generally more inclusive than others in the market place in line with our philosophy of minimising 'extra payments' displayed outside of the main trip price as well as out of pocket expenses once you reach your destination.