G Adventures to launch range of luxury tours in January 2026

Small-group tour operator G Adventures is set to launch a selection of high-end itineraries in collaboration with National Geographic in January 2026.

Speaking to Aspire’s sister title Travel Weekly at World Travel Market in London, G Adventures founder Bruce Poon Tip explained the brand will take over the formerly US-only National Geographic-run tours, while retaining the expertise of the organisation’s “expert lecturers”.

From 2026, 29 National Geographic Signature with G Adventures trips will launch across destinations including South Africa, Vietnam, Japan, Central Asia, Peru and Jordan, offering “unprecedented access” to museums and a range of facilities carrying out research into big cats in Africa and Machu Picchu in Peru.

Poon Tip said: “We ultimately wanted to not just take over this business but make it better and differentiate it from any other product that has ever existed. If we have that luxury product with the community element to it, that is something that only we can do.”

He is optimistic about the success of the tours, adding: “We will more than double if not triple the size of this business once it goes outside of North America.”

The announcement comes 18 months after the operator introduced its collection of premium Geluxe trips, which Poon Tip said has been its “most successful launch product” in its 35-year history.

He said: “In our first quarter this year, we grew 38% from the first quarter last year, and we are growing in every capacity – all brands and brand styles are growing.

“The UK is ahead of that target leading the charge, while I will admit the rest of Europe is a little soft, but the UK, United States, Canada and Australia are booming.”

Another addition to the brand’s “upscale” offering will be air-conditioned and terrain-adjusted Lando vehicles across South American overland tours from next year.