Small-group adventure travel company Explore Worldwide is celebrating two years of strong growth for its Explore Upgraded collection, with Australia and New Zealand emerging as the collection’s best-selling region globally.
Launched in 2024, Explore Upgraded combines the small-group adventures and expert local tour leaders Explore Worldwide is known for with enhanced accommodation, special welcome meals and standout destination experiences, offering travellers a considered step up in comfort without compromising the authentic, immersive experiences at the heart of the brand.
The collection has become a significant growth driver for Explore Worldwide globally. In 2026 to date, the number of Upgraded tours has increased by 35%, from 23 to 31, while departures have grown by 74%.
The momentum is particularly strong across the Australia and New Zealand market, which is now the best-performing region globally for Explore Upgraded, highlighting growing demand from AUNZ travellers for premium adventure experiences that combine comfort with authentic exploration.
“The momentum is particularly strong across the Australia and New Zealand market, which is now the best-selling region globally for Explore Upgraded, highlighting growing demand from AUNZ travellers for premium adventure experiences that combine comfort with authentic exploration. Several Upgraded itineraries have recorded significant year-on-year growth across the region, including Upgraded Discover Vietnam, up 250%, Upgraded Cycle Vietnam, up 150%, and Upgraded Walking in the Algarve, up 83%.
“It’s particularly exciting to see such strong demand from Australia and New Zealand, which is now our best-selling region globally for Upgraded. We’re seeing travellers increasingly seek experiences that feel enriching and authentic, but with greater comfort built into the journey.
“We’ve seen impressive growth across tours, departures, passengers and revenue, but the customer response is equally encouraging. An excellent NPS shows that we’re delivering an experience that genuinely resonates with our travellers. As the premium adventure market continues to evolve, Upgraded gives us a compelling proposition that responds to our customers’ changing expectations while staying true to our roots.” – Ben Ittensohn, Regional Director AUNZ, Explore Worldwide.
The collection’s growth is matched by strong customer satisfaction, with Explore Upgraded recording a Net Promoter Score of 81.73 and an overall Feefo rating of 4.72 out of five.
Rather than simply offering higher-category accommodation, Explore Upgraded is designed to provide a more considered premium adventure experience. Properties are selected for their character, location and, wherever possible, local ownership, while every Upgraded tour includes at least one standout experience or activity and a special welcome meal.
The collection spans destinations across Europe, Asia, Africa and the Americas, giving travellers the opportunity to experience Explore’s signature small-group adventures with added comfort, from wildlife and walking to cultural exploration and immersive destination experiences.
NEW Upgraded tours for 2026/27
And now the Upgraded collection just got an even newer lease of life, with four additional tours joining the range. *Prices are in AUD
Upgraded – Highlights of Mexico | Price starts from $9,510pp for 11 nights.
Explore Mexico’s Mayan history, buzzing cities and Yucatan coast. Fuel your adventure with a food tour of Puebla and a cooking class in Oaxaca.
Upgraded accommodation includes a historic Parador hotel, a Hacienda hotel surrounded by jungle, and the beachfront InterContinental Cozumel.
Upgraded – Highlights of Nepal | Price starts from $4,720pp for 9 nights.
This is the Himalayas in style. Switch out hardcore hiking for culturally immersive experiences such as pottery making, a traditional dumpling cookery class, and lunch with a local family in Gurkha country.
Upgraded accommodation includes Kathmandu heritage hotels, and 360-degree views overlooking the Annapurna mountains at Sarangkot Lodge.
Upgraded – Egypt: Cairo, Alexandria & Nile Cruise | Price starts from $7,940pp for 10 nights.
Embrace the luxury of the Pharaohs; explore with the enthusiasm of Indiana Jones. This tour blends both, visiting the Pyramids of Giza, the Sphinx and the temples of Abu Simbel, before enjoying sundowners on the top deck cruising the River Nile in style.
Upgraded accommodation includes chic neoclassical hotels, a five-star hotel in central Cairo, and three nights aboard a modern Nile cruise ship complete with a swimming pool.
Upgraded – Morocco: Imperial Cities, Mountains and the Sahara Desert | Price starts from $7,300pp for 14 nights.
Morocco is a sensory delight – from the aromas of spice vendors and fresh-baked bread in the souks to the painter’s palette vision of the desert at sunset. We go one step further: listen to the sounds of a live Gnawa music performance in the Sahara and taste the best of Morocco at dinner with a local family in Chefchaouen, the ‘blue city’.
Upgraded accommodation includes chic riads, boutique hotels with hammam and spa facilities, and a premium nomadic camp.
