Our History
Pioneer Expeditions was founded in 2006 with a simple aim – to create genuine off-the-beaten-track adventures and explore places few travellers had experienced before. Early expeditions included remarkable ‘Pioneer Firsts’, such as the north–south traverse of Liverpool Land in Greenland and being among the first groups to trek the full length of Peru’s Cotahuasi Canyon, the deepest canyon in the world.
Since those early pioneering journeys, we have continued to design innovative itineraries across the globe, from wildlife-rich expeditions and activity holidays to remote trekking and adventure travel. By building long-standing relationships with expert local guides and specialist operators, we have developed an exceptional network of partners who share our passion for exploration and responsible travel.
Today this experience allows us to create extraordinary tailor-made journeys, small group expeditions and luxury adventures to some of the world’s most remarkable places.
Pioneer Expeditions is a privately owned UK adventure travel company, run by its three directors who remain closely involved in designing and delivering every journey. Together they bring decades of expedition, travel industry and destination expertise to the company. Founder Philip Beale is a renowned explorer who has led several major ocean expeditions and is a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society. Laurenne Mansbridge has over 20 years’ experience designing and operating adventure journeys around the world, with particular expertise in wildlife destinations such as Madagascar. Rafe Mansbridge brings extensive travel industry experience, including his former role as Product Manager for Central America at Journey Latin America. Together they ensure every Pioneer journey reflects the company’s spirit of exploration, expertise and responsible travel.
