Our history…
50 years of adventure, since 1974…
2024 marked the 50 year anniversary for Exodus, which makes us the UK’s longest running adventure travel company – and globally, only a handful of others pre-date us! We’re very proud of our enduring success – and to have been instrumental in the founding and development of the global Adventure Travel industry.
Our Founders Story
Overland Travel in the 1970s, 80s and 90s.
Overland travel was based around multi-week camping journeys, using converted army personnel trucks, with only rough schedules and limited budgets. They benefited from the open-borders of the 70s and 80s, now unfortunately, most of the trans-continental routes are no longer possible – but what a journey it was!
Asia and the Hippie Trail
London to Kathmandu formed the backbone of overland travel, but we went further. Exodus were the first overland company to get a truck into China – over the 4,700 meter Khunjerab pass. The team carried on through Tibet to see Lhasa and Everest from the north side. Exodus also offered the longest commercial overland journey – London to Bali – a 39 week epic through India, China, Thailand and Singapore.
South America Circuits
Offered a stunning range landscapes – and temperatures. The tropical Amazon, the Caribbean beaches of Colombia, the heights of the Altiplano, the cold depths of Patagonia, usually ending in Rio for a February Carnival.
Trans-Africa to Nairobi or Cape Town
A true travel challenge. Crossing the trackless Sahara through Algeria (Tamanrasset and the Hogar Mountains anyone?) to distant Timbuktu and beyond. Then the deep mud and jungle of the Congo before reaching the grasslands of east and southern Africa.
Pioneering, Diverse and Active
Our quest for new destinations and travel styles took us through some of the most remote corners of the world as well as to the adventure travel classics, and the programmes we developed still thrive to this day.
- The great walks and treks of the world. We have pioneered and followed – from the Himalayas to Patagonia, and the Atlas Mountains to the former Soviet Republics of Central Asia.
- Cycling adventures pioneers. In 1994 we introduced travel on 2 wheels, and are now leaders in cycling holidays with over 50 different trips around the world.
- Discovery & Wildlife. Travelling in small groups helped us explore the world’s cultures and nature sensitively and carefully – from the mountains of Yemen to Mongolia and Madagascar.
- Winter and Family Adventures. The introduction of new specialist programmes in the 2000’s kept us creative and opened up new options to our travellers.
Exodus Today
Award-Winning Tour Operator
As the experts in small group adventure travel, we work with some of the best people in the business and hold ourselves to the highest standards across everything we do. Over the years, we’ve received some of the most sought-after accolades in the travel industry – from Wanderlust and National Geographic Traveller to Conde Nast and more. But it’s your opinions that matter the most, which is why we’re proud to be rated “Excellent” on Trustpilot by you.
View our awards or read feedback from recent customers in our Trip Review Centre.
It’s More Extraordinary
With over 50 years of experience under our belts, we know the difference between a good trip and the adventure of a lifetime. Offering incredible small, guided group tours that span all seven continents, our expert local guides are at the heart of our extraordinary adventures. Yes, we’ll show you world wonders and unmissable sights like the Path of the Gods on the Amalfi Coast, Machu Picchu in Peru, Halong Bay in Vietnam, and the Taj Mahal in India. But we’ll also introduce you to the local people, show you things others miss, and tell you stories others don’t know. It’s the adventure travel we love.
Thriving Nature, Thriving People
Exploring the world comes with a responsibility to protect it. That’s why we’re committed to a nature-first, community-focused approach – and proud to be a certified B Corp, recognised for meeting high standards of social and environmental responsibility. Our Thriving Nature, Thriving People plan shapes how we design our trips and run our business. Through the Exodus Adventure Travels Foundation, we support grassroots projects that help protect nature and create opportunities for local communities so that travel can be a force for good.
Snapshots from the archives
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