Custom & Private Expeditions

Custom Expeditions allow you to take one of our existing itineraries and customize it to match your dates and interests. Custom Expeditions are offered for select itineraries only and can be arranged for groups as small as two people. They are a cost-effective way to arrange a private group trip.

Private Expeditions allow you to work with our travel experts to create your dream trip from the ground up. You'll work directly with our team to develop a fully custom, guided trip for your private group (of 2 or more), taking advantage of our expertise and network of partners. Because of the level of planning and service involved, we charge an upfront non-refundable planning fee of $500-$1,000 for our Private Expedition services. This cost will be deducted from your final balance should you decide to book.

For Custom Expeditions with Oceanic Society, you can expect to pay approximately 10-20% more than the published price of our standard group departures. Costs will depend on your group size and needs, destination, and level of customization.

For Private Expeditions, we charge an upfront, non-refundable planning fee of $500 (for 1-10 day trips) or $1,000 (for 11+ day trips) after an initial conversation to assess your needs. If you decide to book, this fee will be deducted from your final invoice. Your Private Expedition costs will depend on many factors. We will work closely with you to ensure your expedition plans align with your budget.

Our Custom Expeditions begin with one of our existing itineraries and are customized to your dates, group, and interests. In many cases, travelers choose to keep our itineraries as they are, but take the trip privately on their own dates. In other cases, we customize the trip's original itinerary to match the travelers' needs by adding additional stops, spending more time in specific places, or making other adjustments. Here are a couple of examples of recent Custom Expeditions we have arranged:

• Custom Kenya Safari + Gorillas and Chimpanzees in  Uganda: Building off of our award-winning Kenya safari, we designed and led a 19-day Custom Expedition for a couple that combined a conservation safari in Kenya during migration season (including time in Masai Mara, Mugie Conservancy, and Watamu), with a visit to the forests of Uganda (Kibale and Bwindi) to see chimpanzees, gorillas, and more.
• Custom Borneo Adventure: Building off of our Borneo itinerary, we designed and led a 15-day Custom Expedition for a couple wanting an extended exploration of the incredible forests of Borneo. They spent time in Tabin Wildife Reserve,  Danum Valley, along the Kinabatangan River, and in Sepilok, with outstanding wildlife viewing throughout the trip.

Our Private Expeditions start with your needs and are designed from the ground up. We have designed and led a wide range of Private Expeditions, including Galapagos ship charters, Indonesian boutique liveaboard trips, Antarctic cruises, safaris, and more. Here are couple of examples of recent Private Expeditions we have led:

• Snorkeling adventure in Sulawesi and Alor, Indonesia for a couple celebrating their 40th wedding anniversary—This 18-day expedition brought our guests into the heart of the famed Coral Triangle as they celebrated 40 years of marriage. Staying at boutique eco-lodges and guided by our local partners, we worked together to create an unforgettable private adventure.
• Last-minute couple's dive escape to Fiji—Sometimes life gets in the way, and you can't make your plans until the last minute. No worries! This couple contacted us in January looking for a March departure to Fiji for 10 days of scuba diving and island adventure. We worked with our local partners to create a seamless experience that included diving at Rainbow Reef, eco-luxe accommodations, a coffee tour, and plenty of time for seaside relaxation.

Oceanic Society's award-winning expeditions are designed by and for people who love nature, and every trip supports ocean conservation. While every trips is a bit different, we put together answers to frequently asked questions about our trips, from group size to food to what gear to bring. Learn more about what to expect when traveling with Oceanic Society.