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From 200 passengers in 2005 to over 17,000 passengers per annum in 2023, today Expat Explore offers over 70 tour packages to destinations across Europe, the UK, the USA and Canada, Asia, Africa, the Middle East and South America. Since its first tour, Expat Explore Travel has been conducting expert-led coach tours to Europe and the UK. Expat Explore began with two South African travellers who wanted to share their knowledge and travel expertise with the world.

Providing people with once-in-a-lifetime travel experiences, at an accessible price and delivered to the highest possible standards, has been a focus of Expat Explore from the beginning. Every year, tens of thousands of passengers of all ages and backgrounds explore the world’s most enticing destinations with us. We’re proud to be celebrating over 19 years on the road.

The Origin Story

1997-2002: Carl and Jakes first taste Europe
In 1997, Carl Cronje departed for a tour to Europe. As a 20-year-old, Carl was lucky to win a return ticket with British Airways to any place in Europe. He chose one destination where he knew he would be able to see the most in a short space of time - Paris, France! Travelling with a friend, and having only the time over spring break to explore (on a very limited budget), they traversed Paris by foot for eight full days. Needless to say, by the end of the trip Carl knew Paris like the back of his hand! The following year, Carl returned to Paris, bringing two more friends and acting as their personal guide through the city. After this encounter, Carl knew wholeheartedly that he wanted to follow his number one passion - travel.

Around the same time, Jakes Martiz discovered Europe and the UK on a university scholarship.

Jakes wanted to travel the world straight after school, but his dad insisted that he finish his stint at university first (something he is very thankful for today). Later in his university life, he was lucky enough to get his first real exposure to Europe on a student scholarship. This triggered his passion for history; especially European history and how it influenced the rest of the world.

2002-2003: Carl and Jakes arrive in London as expats
In late 2002/early 2003, Carl and Jakes arrived in the UK after graduating from university, seeking adventure and the opportunity to travel before committing to full-time employment. Neither of them expected that they would continue to do so to this very day!

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The Start of Expat Explore

October - December 2004: The start of Expat Explore
Jakes and Carl knew each other indirectly in SA before meeting up as expats working in London. Towards the end of 2004, Jakes had a placement at a recruitment and tax administration company. Wanting to expand to visa services, he met with Carl, who was designing and conducting tours for his friends.

Exploring was something both of them were (and still are) passionate about. So, given the similarities in what they both wanted to do, Carl’s creativity, Jakes' business acumen, and their mutual passion for adventure, they took the plunge and started Expat Explore.

The first step was getting approval from the French Consulate in London to allow them to process Schengen visas. Confident that it would work, Expat Explore was officially “launched” by having a party for all friends, family members and acquaintances in Canary Wharf.

January 2005: First office opens in Bromley
The first office was a 16m2 space in Bromley, London, that Carl, Jakes and one additional staff member shared with another company. Carl used a bookshelf as a desk for the first three months - truly humble beginnings. The office then moved to Canada Water.

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The First Tour Departs

24 to 27 March 2005: First official Expat Explore trip
Together, Carl and Jakes streamlined a tour program that offered weekend trips to Paris. With previous experience in part-time weekend tours (which they ran twice a month throughout 2003 and 2004), Jakes and Carl knew all the best ways to explore Paris on foot, as well as the shortcuts on the underground Metro trains. Jakes and Carl were the first-ever tour leaders for Expat Explore, and alternated weekends to lead the groups. They wanted tours to focus on history, and made an effort to learn everything about the regions and cities included on their tours.

The first official tour was held over Easter weekend in March 2005. The tour ran from Friday to Monday over the course of 4 days and 3 nights, at a cost of £129. 42 people signed up for the tour and guests stayed over at the Ibis Budget La Villette hotel - a hotel we still use on occasion today.

Back then, the National Express was used as a primary mode of transport. Groups departed from Victoria Coach Station late on Fridays, and travelled overnight to Paris. After a packed weekend itinerary, they caught an overnight bus back to London to arrive bright and early on Monday morning - just in time for a shower and breakfast before getting back to work!

From the very start, Jakes and Carl knew that the secret of successful tours lies in knowing and understanding the passengers and their needs.

The Company Expands

2005: First year of Expat Explore
After the first year, Expat Explore had become a well-established name among expats living in London. In total, 12 Paris weekend tours departed in that year, along with four Amsterdam weekend tours. By the end of that year, hundreds of travellers had travelled with Expat Explore.

September 2006: First long Europe tour departs
The first long Europe tour (predecessor to the current Europe Explorer tour) was a 14-day tour that departed in September 2006 with 36 explorers in tow. It was an experiment that included places Carl and Jakes had discovered over the past three years.

July 2007: First 12-day Europe Escape tour departs
The first 12-day tour (the Europe Escape) departed on 22 July 2007 with 26 guests aboard. This was the start of a permanently scheduled tour program, and also the beginning of one of Expat Explore’s most popular tours to date.

2007-2011: Expat Explore branded coaches introduced
Between 2007 and 2011 the first Expat Explore branded coach was introduced. For the first time, Expat Explore tours were visible on the road and caught the attention of potential customers. From 2011 onwards, this resulted in a dramatic increase in the amount of Expat Explore tours on the road.

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