About Us | Independent Travel Specialists

We’re the original globe trotters, creating nature-rich trips to far-flung destinations since 1984.

We get what you’re looking for – because we’re travellers too – so we understand what takes something from ‘holiday to trip’. It’s a tough job, but we’ve been far and wide to make sure we can give you real first hand travel advice. Like what sights are worth the extra trek, what not to pack and where to find ridiculously good food.

Travel is what you make it and we make sure it is a super enriching experience that’s positive in every way.

Just think of us as your personal planning service, on hand with local knowledge, fascinating ideas and attention to detail so it all goes swimmingly. Every destination and itinerary you see here can be adapted to suit you – so reach for that bucket list and start imagining your next adventure here.

Where to?

canada alberta scenic road through rockies istk

Our Heritage

We are not a small, inexperienced tour operator. Nor are we too big and impersonal. We are a dedicated Travel Specialist, who puts our heart and soul into creating an unforgettable holiday for you and have been doing so for four decades.

1984 – Arctic Experience founded

Originally known as Arctic Experience, we’re the first operator to focus on promoting the Nordic region as a winter destination for anything other than skiing or city breaks.
1986 – the volcano hotline

We establish the first-ever trips to view Iceland’s volcanic eruptions. Through our Volcano Hotline we continue to inform clients of potential trips to view the latest eruptions.
1988 – Nature’s thrill rides

We launch wildlife holidays around the world, under the name Discover the World. Adventures include bear watching, Polar cruises and pioneering whale watch tours in Iceland.
1988 – Education matters

The Living Planet education programme is launched taking education into the world’s greatest outdoor classroom with the first commercial group geography trips to Iceland for UK schools.
1998 – Seeing the light

We operate the first northern lights holidays in the Nordic region – way before aurora hunting came into the limelight.
2001 – Pole to Pole & New Zealand

We introduce dedicated new programmes for tailor made travel to New Zealand and a comprehensive collection of voyages to the Polar regions.
2002 – Rebranding Discover the World

Arctic Experience becomes Discover the World to reflect our expanding portfolio of destinations. We retain the Arctic tern in our new logo, a unique bird that undertakes a 50,000 mile migration each year.
2006 – #Iceflight to Icehotel

We launch exclusive charter flights direct from Heathrow to Kiruna offering a quick, comfortable way to reach the Icehotel.
2009 – Introducing North America

Canada and Alaska are added to our portfolio, offering tailor made holidays and wildlife encounters.
2010 – Total peace of mind

Following the Eyjafjallajokull eruption, we launched a unique 100% Guarantee, becoming the first operator to offer a travel disruption charter.
2014 – iDiscover app launched

We launch a digital app for our clients in Iceland, making our years of expertise and knowledge available on demand. This is now available for all of our destinations.
2019 – British Travel Awards

We win the Silver award for Best Special Interest Holiday Company, taking our total to 16 British Travel Awards won since 2012. 5 Gold, 4 Silver and 7 Bronze.
2021 – Feefo Platinum Trusted Service Award

For the second year in a row, we’re delighted to be awarded Feefo’s independent seal of excellence that recognises businesses for delivering exceptional experiences, rated by real customers, following two previous Gold Trusted Awards.
2021 - On Track for Adventure

In autumn 2021, we launched our new collection of rail holidays through Europe offering flight and car free adventures across the Mediterranean, the Alps, and Scandinavia into the Arctic.
2023 - Feefo Platinum Trusted Service Award

In January, we once again won this award for our customer service! The ultimate accolade for customer service, it recognises brands that continue to deliver exceptional customer service, year after year.
2024 - Education Bursary Fund

In our 40th year, we're delighted to launch a new initiative to help even more school children experience the wonders of Iceland, Italy, the Azores and beyond with a percentage of revenue from every holiday booked with us going into the fund.
2024 - Feefo Platinum Trusted Service Award

We start the year by winning another Feefo Platinum Trusted Service Award, an independent seal of excellence, which recognises businesses that consistently deliver a world-class customer experience.

Meet Our Experts

Enthusiastic, dedicated and passionate about travel, our team of Travel Specialists know their destinations inside-out. There’s nothing like personal experience from someone who’s been to elevate your holiday out of the ordinary.

One of our specialists
Eric

5 Successful whale watching trips

6 Faroese Islands explored

4 Shooting stars with northern lights
One of our specialists
Bruno

6 Whale species seen

5 Continents visted

100 Kilometers snowmobiled
One of our specialists
Jo

4 Arctic cruises

2 Antarctica cruises

3 Icehotel visits
One of our specialists
Doug

30 Grizzlies seen in the wild

6 Penguin species encountered

7 Continents set foot in

Meet the Team

Our Bursary Scheme

The world’s great. Pass it on.

Inspiring. Confidence-building. Life-changing. We often hear these words from teachers and students returning from an overseas study trip with our award-winning Education division. That’s why we’re delighted to be launching a new initiative in 2024 – our 40th anniversary year – to help even more school children experience the wonders of Iceland, Italy, the Azores and beyond. A percentage of revenue from every holiday you book with Discover the World will go into our new Education Bursary Fund to pay, in full, for 40 disadvantaged students (who otherwise wouldn’t have the opportunity to travel) to join one of our school trips abroad. Run in partnership with the Geographical Association, this is your opportunity to support the next generation. School trips are one of the major highlights of any child’s education. Let’s help as many students as possible join one.

Our Guarantee to You

Quite simply, our unique 100% guarantee means that we promise to protect you, your family, your holiday and your finances.

Our Flexibility Promise has been designed to provide a cushion around uncertainty, giving you the reassurance to book.

Our Travel Disruption team is on hand 24/7 should you need us

We ensure you never, ever have any surcharges to pay. Whatever happens to sterling, oil prices, and taxes anywhere in the world, it will not affect the cost of your holiday.

Booking with Discover the World will ensure that you experience a quality, value-for-money holiday with financial and consumer protection and the assurance that you will be looked after every step of the way. You’ll be in safe, experienced hands.

Sustainable Travel

As passionate travellers, we are committed to finding and implementing maintainable strategies that; protect fragile landscapes, minimise our carbon footprint, celebrate unique cultures and benefit local people. We understand that travelling is a privilege and we believe responsible travel is about finding the right balance between minimising our impact on the environment while never losing the ability to open minds through new experiences and interaction with cultures different from our own. Not only have our collective travel experiences given us a deep appreciation for the beautiful world we live in, but also the innate desire to protect it.

Authentic Experiences for Passionate Travellers

At Discover the World, we champion the fight against the bland and predictable. We know that our clients are passionate and discerning travellers looking for authentic, exciting and meaningful experiences on holiday.

When we travel in a meaningful way, we gain a greater perspective on the world, develop greater empathy for people outside of our immediate circle and are left fuelled with a curiosity to understand more about cultures we have not yet experienced.

Inspiration, insight and innovation spearhead our approach to creating unique itineraries for all of our clients.

Discover Our Way