Explore Worldwide is celebrating two years of strong growth for its Explore Upgraded collection, with Australasia 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.
The tours feature 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%.
“We’re seeing travellers increasingly seek experiences that feel enriching and authentic, but with greater comfort built into the journey,” said Ben Ittensohn, Regional Director AUNZ, Explore Worldwide.
“We’ve seen impressive growth across tours, departures, passengers and revenue, but the customer response is equally encouraging.”
NEW Upgraded tours for 2026/27
Four additional tours are joining the range:
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 – Highlights of Nepal | Price starts from $4,720pp for nine 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 – Egypt: Cairo, Alexandria & Nile Cruise | Price starts from $7,940pp for 10 nights. This tour visits 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 – Morocco: Imperial Cities, Mountains and the Sahara Desert | Price starts from $7,300pp for 14 nights. 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’.
