Project Expeditions was formed in 1983 to specialise in soft adventure tours for mature travellers when at the time there was no other company doing so.
We are an independent, pioneering company, always looking for exciting new avenues to pursue in the world of travel. Indeed on many occasions we have ‘blazed a trail’ for others to follow.
For example we were the world’s first travel company to obtain tourist permission to land on Komodo Island and observe the dragons. We were the first New Zealand adventure operator into China in 1983 and to Mongolia in1986.
Since that time we have blazed trails through the jungles of Thailand, Borneo (both Malaysian and Indonesian), Sri Lanka, and Vietnam. We have taken groups to the top of Mt Kinabalu, rafted the Zambezi River, snorkelled with the seals in the Galapagos Islands and dived in cages to see the great white sharks off South Africa….all this for travellers over 50!
As such, we do not subscribe to the normal concept of escorted travel. Our tours are not for those who are content to be shepherded around in large groups, or simply wish to view tourist sights from the inside of buses. We like our groups to be between 12 and 16 and on some occasions we operate for numbers down to 6. Our policy is to immerse our travellers in the culture, geography and flora & fauna of the countries we visit, spend time with locals and to seek out enriching experiences few others would imagine.
Since 1983, we have escorted travellers to all countries in Asia, many countries in Europe, Africa, South America and Australia.
Being TAANZ bonded through Travel Connections Ltd a member of the First Travel Group provides Project Expeditions’ clients first rate consumer protection and best practice safeguards.
Find out more about travelling on tour with Project Expeditions or read some of our traveller reviews.
Rick Wood – Managing Director
Rick is an award-winning travel broker with over 40 years’ travel industry experience and a particular interest in soft eco/adventure tours for mature groups and individuals.
Rick is highly experienced in all forms of travel such as holiday packages, cruises, competitive airfares, coach tours etc and he has a huge in-depth knowledge of all destinations and worldwide cruising. Having visited over 80 countries, he has accrued a wealth of travel experience and this is invaluable in helping clients see the world as Rick has himself.
Based in Auckland Rick has largely retired now from tour escorting but he is still passionate about putting together amazing tours for our Project Expeditions travellers.
Natasha Sinclair – Business Partner – Tour Designer – Tour Escort
For more than 17 years, Natasha has been helping travellers experience travel that is unique and meaningful. As well as running a successful travel wholesale business (www.indafrica.co.nz), she is known for her special-interest tours that she personally escorts in particular to India and Africa.
Natasha is a fabulous cook (from time to time she has taught Indian cooking classes), loves history and the arts and is a mad-keen gardener. It should be no surprise then, that tours she escorts often include a foodie and/or hands on creative element.
Based in Cromwell, Central Otago, Natasha shares with Rick a love of putting together and leading tours that are immersive, insightful to familiar destinations and those that are well-off the typical tourist trail.
Our Tour Escorts
Roni Little – Travel Designer – Tour Escort
Roni has been working in the travel industry for over 30 years.
Living in sunny Nelson, she is an experienced tour escort and when Covid-19 clipped her international travel wings, Roni designed and escorted groups to numerous New Zealand destinations, including the Chatham Islands.
Roni can’t wait to once again be hosting groups to more distant destinations!
Roni’s vibrant personality, love of travel, music and food will ensure your holiday adventure will touch all of your senses and you will have memories that last a life time.
Alex Anderson – Tour Escort
After a 40 year business career in the UK and New Zealand, Alex has been working as a professional tour leader since 2007.
He has guided tours throughout New Zealand, India, the Czech Republic, Austria, the Balkans, the Galapagos Island’s, and well-off the beaten track in Ecuador, Iran and the Stans.
When he is not escorting tours you will find him out cycling, stand up paddle boarding (including surfing if the waves are small enough!) and swimming. Naturally, he enjoys travel, reading and all genres of art and he is still working towards producing his best paintings.