Explore Worldwide is celebrating two years of strong growth for its Explore Upgraded collection, with Australia and New Zealand emerging as the collection’s best-selling region globally.
Explore Upgraded combines the small-group adventures and expert local tour leaders Explore Worldwide is known for with enhanced accommodation, special welcome meals and standout destination experiences.
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 per cent, from 23 to 31, while departures have grown by 74 per cent.
Several Upgraded itineraries have posted strong year-on-year growth in the ANZ market, led by Upgraded Discover Vietnam, up 250 per cent, Upgraded Cycle Vietnam, which is up 150 per cent, and Upgraded Walking in the Algarve which increased 83 per cent.
“It’s particularly exciting to see such strong demand from Australia and New Zealand, which is now our best-selling region globally for Upgraded,” Explore Worldwide Regional Director AUNZ Ben Ittensohn said. “We’re seeing travellers increasingly seek experiences that feel enriching and authentic, but with greater comfort built into the journey.”
New upgraded journeys
Explore Worldwide will add four tours to the Upgraded range for the 2026-2027 season.
- Upgraded – Highlights of Mexico | Price starts from $9,510 per person for 11 nights. Upgraded accommodation includes a historic Parador hotel, a Hacienda hotel surrounded by
jungle, and the beachfront InterContinental Cozumel. - Upgraded – Highlights of Nepal | Price starts from $4,720 per person for 9 nights. Upgraded accommodation includes Kathmandu heritage hotels, and 360-degree views
overlooking the Annapurna mountains at Sarangkot Lodge. - Upgraded – Egypt: Cairo, Alexandria & Nile Cruise | Price starts from $7,940 per person for 10 nights. Upgraded accommodation includes chic neoclassical hotels, a five-star hotel in central Cairo, and three nights aboard a modern Nile cruise ship complete with a swimming pool.
- Upgraded – Morocco: Imperial Cities, Mountains and the Sahara Desert | Price starts from $7,300 per person for 14 nights. Upgraded accommodation includes chic riads, boutique hotels with hammam and spa facilities, and a premium nomadic camp
