Our Vision:
Explore.
Engage.
Conserve.
Explore.
At Arctic Tern Expeditions, exploration is at the heart of everything we do. We take you to the planet's most remote and awe-inspiring places—destinations that are often difficult to access and rarely seen by most travelers. Our expeditions are designed to push the boundaries of discovery, allowing you to venture beyond the typical tourist routes and into the uncharted wilderness. From the ice-covered landscapes of the Arctic to deep jungles and ancient mountain temples, our journeys uncover the majesty and beauty of our Earth.
By going off the beaten path, we unlock opportunities to engage with unique ecosystems and connect with remote communities that few have the chance to experience. Whether you're observing wildlife in their natural habitats or visiting indigenous cultures whose traditions are deeply tied to the land, each exploration is an invitation to witness the world in its most unspoiled form.
With small group sizes and flexible itineraries, we can adapt to the environment and go where others cannot, ensuring every expedition is a true adventure into the unknown. With Arctic Tern Expeditions, exploration means more than just travel—it’s about discovering new horizons, forging deeper connections, and stepping into a world untouched by mass tourism.
Engage.
At Arctic Tern Expeditions, we believe that true exploration is not just about seeing a place but about truly engaging with its people and ecosystems. Our commitment to meaningful engagement starts with the way we design our trips. We work closely with local guides, experts, and destination services alongside our highly experienced ATE guides. This ensures that your journey is deeply rooted in local knowledge and culture, while also supporting the communities we visit.
We do more than simply pass through the places on our itineraries. Our goal is to foster genuine connections between our travelers and the people who call these incredible places home. By collaborating with local guides, you gain insights that only come from those who have lived and breathed the region for generations. You’ll experience the land and its traditions in ways that go far beyond surface-level tourism, discovering how the local communities live, adapt, and thrive in some of the world’s most remote environments.
Engagement also means that we ensure the money spent on your trip directly benefits the people and communities of the destination. From accommodations and transportation to services and experiences, we prioritize supporting locally owned businesses, ensuring that the impact of your visit is both positive and lasting.
Through conversations, shared meals, and immersive experiences, you will build lasting bonds with the local people, learning about their culture, their relationship with the environment, and the challenges they face. Whether you’re engaging with river in the Congo Basin, monks in the mountains of Nepal, or learning from seasoned seafarers in remote coastal towns, each encounter is a chance to connect on a deeper level and enrich your understanding of the world.
Conserve.
At Arctic Tern Expeditions, conservation is not just a mission—it’s a responsibility. As we travel to some of the world’s most fragile and ecologically important regions, our goal is to tell the full story of conservation, shedding light on both the successes and the challenges that these environments face. We believe that in order to protect these remarkable places, it’s essential to understand the efforts being made to preserve them, and we strive to share those stories with our travelers.
Each expedition is an opportunity to witness conservation in action. We don’t just visit these areas—we engage with ongoing initiatives, learn about local conservation projects, and meet the people dedicating their lives to protecting these ecosystems. Our visits provide direct support to these projects, both financially and by amplifying their message. By bringing attention to these efforts, we help share their stories with the world, raising awareness and inspiring action.
We’re committed to giving our travelers a complete picture of what conservation looks like around the globe. Through honest conversations with experts, conservationists, and local communities, we explore the real-world impacts of human activity, climate change, and preservation efforts. This means celebrating the victories—when wildlife populations rebound or protected areas expand—but also acknowledging the struggles and setbacks. We believe that understanding the full scope of these efforts is essential for creating lasting change.
At Arctic Tern Expeditions, conserving isn’t a passive act—it’s a call to action. Every journey with us is an opportunity to contribute to the fight for preservation, whether it’s through direct engagement with local conservation initiatives or simply by spreading the word. When you travel with us, you become part of this global effort, helping to support and broadcast the vital work being done to protect our planet’s most vulnerable environments.