Steppes Travel

Steppes Travel began in 1989 when Nick Laing, the company's founder and chairman, started operations from a farm office outside Cirencester, England, with three employees and what the company's origin story emphasizes as three dogs. Laing had just returned from an exploratory trip to the remote Altai region of Russia, a journey that crystallized his conviction that travel could function as a force for good across both ecological and social dimensions. From that modest beginning, the company evolved over thirty-five years into a significant player in the expedition travel market, operating across more continents than most competitors. In August 2022, Steppes achieved B Corporation certification, joining a global network of businesses that meet rigorous standards for social and environmental performance. The company maintains memberships in LATA (Latin America Travel Association), ABTOT (Association of British Travel Organisers to the Middle East), and the Adventure Travel World Summit, affiliations that signal its standing within professional expedition travel communities.

The company's operational philosophy centers on bespoke itinerary design. Where some expedition operators offer fixed-departure group tours supplemented by occasional private options, Steppes positions tailor-made journeys as their core product. The website states plainly that every itinerary is "built from scratch, reflecting your individuality, interests and aspirations," a claim backed by the company's team structure: specialists with backgrounds as guides, rangers, camp managers, and explorers who have personally visited their proposed destinations. The company markets this expertise through phrases like "walked the trails, tested accommodation and shared meals with locals," emphasizing firsthand knowledge over brochure research. Travelers interact with the same specialist throughout the planning process, from initial conversation through return, creating continuity and accountability. This model requires slower booking timelines than fixed-group departures but enables expeditions shaped around client priorities, whether that means extending time in one region, adding specialized activities, or adjusting dates and group size.

The breadth of Steppes' geographic reach distinguishes it from operators focused on a single continent or region. Their website highlights expeditions across Africa (Kenya, Botswana, South Africa, Rwanda, Tanzania, Zambia), Asia (India, Japan, China, Vietnam, Indonesia, Bhutan), South America (Peru, Argentina, Brazil, Galapagos, Chile), North America (Canada, USA, Alaska), Europe (Italy, Turkey, Spain), polar regions (Antarctica and the Arctic), and the Indian Ocean. This global span requires the company to maintain relationships with hundreds of ground operators, lodge owners, yacht captains, and cultural specialists across vastly different political and environmental contexts. The diversity reflects the founder's personal travel obsession and a business model that benefits from clients seeking to combine regions in single itineraries: a client might book consecutive weeks in East Africa and then the Galápagos, then add pre-trip time in Argentina before departing, creating a three-week expedition across two continents.

The company offers expedition modes suited to different physical capacities and interests. Wildlife safaris in East Africa range from vehicle-based game drives to walking safaris, with lodge accommodations suited to different budgets. River and expedition cruises appear frequently in their portfolio, with notably both Galapagos and Antarctic options. Four-wheel-drive self-drive expeditions allow clients with driving experience to navigate remote regions independently under the company's planning and support. Mountain trekking expeditions address those seeking altitude and hiking difficulty, like treks to Everest Base Camp or ascents in the Himalayas. Cultural and historical tours emphasize art, archaeology, and architectural sites. Honeymoon itineraries exist as a tailored subset combining romance with expedition elements. This breadth means that clients arriving with extremely varied interests can find a model that fits: the company can accommodate a photographer wanting extended time for light and animal behavior, a bird watcher seeking specific species and seasons, a historian interested in particular archaeological sites, or families traveling with children.

Pricing for Steppes expeditions reflects their luxury positioning and bespoke model. The website features examples: a nine-day India itinerary starting at approximately 5,995 pounds per person, a ten-day Galapagos cruise from roughly 6,995 pounds per person, and a twenty-day Antarctic expedition from approximately 15,279 pounds per person. These figures appear in British pounds and represent base costs; actual pricing depends on season, group size, accommodation tier, and degree of customization. The company does not publish exhaustive price lists, since bespoke itineraries are quoted individually. The pricing positions Steppes above budget operators but distinct from ultra-luxury expedition specialists like Abercrombie & Kent, which commands significantly higher fees through their global concierge infrastructure and premium accommodation choices.

Where Steppes Travel sits in the expedition landscape reflects both its strengths and the explicit boundaries of its model. Compared to safari-focused operators or lodge-based tourism, the company explicitly designs for exploration: itineraries are built around remote regions, logistically complex combinations, and activities that demand expert local knowledge. The Antarctic and Arctic offerings, the adventure travel certifications, and the founder's personal background point toward expedition legitimacy. However, compared to ultra-specialized operators like Madison Mountaineering that focus exclusively on high-altitude mountaineering, or EYOS Expeditions that specializes in private superyacht exploration to remote locations, Steppes operates as a generalist serving a broad range of expedition interests. The company differs from many competitors by maintaining an emphasis on ground operations and local relationships rather than outsourcing to third parties. Travelers work with the same company for planning and oversight, which creates accountability and continuity that disappeared in businesses that simply pass clients to local suppliers.

Steppes Travel suits travelers with expedition experience who know their interests precisely and value customization over fixed itineraries. It appeals to those comfortable with the planning complexity of tailor-made trips: multiple phone calls or video meetings, waiting for custom quotes, and accepting longer booking lead times. The B Corporation certification and conservation-focused language attract clients concerned with environmental and social impact. The company's team of former guides and rangers resonates with serious travelers who have done base camp treks or safari drives themselves and want expertise at the planning level, not just field guides. For anyone seeking an expedition business capable of combining widely distant regions, accommodating specialized interests like birding or photography, and maintaining personal accountability through the entire process, Steppes represents a major player with the operational breadth and professional credentials to deliver complex multi-week expeditions.