For the Inherently Inquisitive
Whether you’re a seasoned traveller or new to the experience, Southern Exposure Tours creates inspirational journeys for active over 50’s. Our guided tours take people to exotic destinations throughout Europe, Asia, South America and Africa. Through the eyes of our guides, you will see, hear and taste far more than the average traveller.
When we think, ‘group tours’ the last thing we picture is a large tour bus carting people from museum to museum. By focusing on small group, intimate experiences, we’ve been able to maintain our relationships with our amazing local contacts. This means your holiday will feel as though you’re travelling with a bunch of new found like-minded friends, rather than in a group.
We know it can be difficult to find a small group tour that truly cares about your experience, especially for seasoned travellers. There’s nothing average about the way we show New Zealanders the world. So, if you’re not a ‘group tour person’, you’ve come to the right place.
Southern Exposure Tours have taken people cycling through South East Asia, hiking across South America and shown them just how much different cuisine you can fit into a single walking holiday. Our guests are quickly becoming a large, wonderful extended family of travellers; meeting on our tours again and again in exotic and far-flung corners of the earth.
So join us, and forge new friendships on the trip of a lifetime.
Experience of a lifetime
Discover the similarities that run through each of us, regardless of culture. Southern Exposure Tours small group travel take you to the heart of local communities to show you the exciting, wild world in which we live. You won’t regret it.
Personalised trips
Quench your wanderlust with a personalised journey where everything is taken care of. Simply pack your bag, open your mind and get ready to see things that guidebooks wish they could tell you about. Southern Exposure Tours will take care of the rest.
Local knowledge
Southern Exposure Tours have our wonderful local contacts on the ground in every place we visit. You can expect genuine interactions and rest assured that your pesos and dollars are supporting the local economy – not the corporate supply chain. It’s as real as it gets.
Featured Tours
Walking in the European Alps
FROM
NZ$12,580
DURATION
23 Days
INCLUDES
Swiss Alps, Cinque Terre, the amazing Italian Dolomites and Austrian Alps
NEXT DEPARTURE
19th Jun 2024
Greek Islands Walking & Food Tour
FROM
€4,590
DURATION
16 Days
INCLUDES
Athens, Samos, Paros, Naxos, Santorini, stunning walks and beautiful beaches
NEXT DEPARTURE
12th Sep 2024
Japan Walking and Culinary Tour
FROM
NZ$12,150
DURATION
16 Days
INCLUDES
Nakasengo Trail, foraging & cooking, Buddhist temple stay, nature & local experiences.
NEXT DEPARTURE
16th May 2024
Testimonials
Off the beaten track in Japan
SET took us to parts of Japan that would not be on most itineraries.
Highlights were hiking up a river valley in the Japanese Alps with snow topped mountains and clear mountain streams. Then walking parts of the Nakasendo Trail along ancient routes through lush green forests, small traditional wooden villages and rice paddy farmlands.
Staying in traditional inns, houses and Buddhist monastery in the countryside through the tour and finishing the day wrapped in a cotton yukata and a warming onsen bath was delicious.
The culinary side allowed us to feast on multicourse Japanese meals, experience the sights, sounds, smells and tastes of various fish and food markets, search out some amazing small bars and restaurants and partake in ancient Japanese culinary rituals.
What a fantastic, fun trip. A huge thanks goes to the wonderful, enthusiastic Japanese guide Ryoko and SET’s marvellous tour leader Silvana.
Totally fabulous trip to Japan
Totally fabulous trip to Japan. Two very experienced guides – Silvana from SET and Ryoko the local guide based in Japan. Thanks to both of them everything went totally to plan. Not a train missed even though on a couple of occasions we caught three back to back. Ryoko is slick when it comes to organisation and even the busiest of days were paced so we got maximum enjoyment from the experience. Japan itself was just beautiful and turned on great weather for us, particularly the days we were tramping. The Japanese Inns were a great experience, one not to miss. Overall just loved the experience that SET provided. Thank you Silvana and Ryoko. First class 🙂
Japan experience
Have just completed the Japan Walking and Culinary SET trip and had a wonderful time. The combination of food and walking is great. Even in urban areas we walked a lot, so no worries about the waistline. Rural and wilderness sights are worth the effort. Congratulations to Silvana and Ryoko for their organisation of this trip.
Japan far exceeded my expectations
The trekking of the ancient Nakasendo Trail was a real highlight and it was great to get off the regular tourist route and experience the beauty of natural Japan. Spring is a perfect time with all the new growth and wild flowers. The colour was extraordinary!
The food was both a visual and taste sensation.
Our guides Silvana and Ryoko were fantastic and gave us some great experiences. Also good to experience the different accommodations and stay with local people in their homes.
If you’re thinking about it, just do it!
Patagonia exceeded my expectations
I always wanted to go to Patagonia and prefer trips with a hiking focus. This trip exceeded my expectations. The scenery is superb and the organisation was such that we were able to make the most of every day. It was well organised with a good mix of activities. Sophia was most helpful, and I appreciated having local guides when we were hiking in Torres del Paine and El Glacier national Park.
A gastronomic Argentine Experience
A great trip for hikers. Well paced. Covered three glaciated areas, an island of penguins, boat trips in the Straits of Magellan and Beagle Channel, a walk around Tierra del Fuego. The gastronomic ‘Argentine Experience’ and the Tango show at the end of the trip were both authentic and a brilliant end to the trip.
Patagonia Highlights
My first time in this area
Silvana is a true professional who is passionate & knowledgeable with a finger on the pulse. A well balanced tour between excursions & free time. Highly recommend these tours.
Really enjoyed it!
What a lovely idea for SET to come up with. A trip in Silvana’s own extended back yard! A group of 10 people who didn’t know each other on Day 1 were a Team of 10 by Day 5. Thank you for providing us with the opportunity to escape for a few days. A highlight was my fishing prowess with a 3kg Salmon. But generally the quality of food throughout the trip was outstanding.
Top of the South scenery
This is an action packed trip discovering Nelson, Motueka and surrounds. It involves walking, biking and hiking in beautiful scenery. Silvana is incredibly enthusiastic about this area and you come away just as excited as she is about all it has to offer. The restaurants we went to were superb. The make your own breakfast packs in our motel rooms were just as ordered. The motel was excellent. A highlight was catching salmon for lunch along with the wine tasting at Gravity Vineyard. The bike ride was magical with a full tide beside us on the trail and the Able Tasman National Park is always beautiful. I would fully recommend this trip to people who enjoy the outdoors – walking, biking and hiking.
Top of the South Reunion Tour
Top of the South Thank you
Mark and I want to say a huge thank you to you and your team for organising our trip last week. Hard to believe the amount of fun and adventures we had in just 4 days! Exploring Nelson by foot after a great lunch was a good idea and gave us an appetite for the superb meal that evening.
Our initial concerns being first time e-bike riders quickly disappeared, as did the hours and time, and we thoroughly enjoyed the ride from Nelson to Mapua. The wine tasting and lunch that followed were a lovely reward. Successful salmon fishing, walking to Wharariki Beach, enjoying a beer at the Mussel Inn, the experience just goes on. And the gran finale of walking the part of the spectacular Abel Tasman completed a truly memorable time. Thank you so much, we would recommend this trip to anyone who enjoys great scenery, great company, food, etc. We are looking forward to having further adventures with you!
Action packed Top of the South tour
Just returned home for a rest (!) after our action-packed Top of the South tour. A delightful five days full of adventures, from tasting peanut butter to tasting wine, from cycling beside the sea to hiking the Abel Tasman coastline, from the Centre of New Zealand to Farewell Spit. Great food, great company, great fun, and a great guide. A memorable few days. Thank you Silvana!
South America, better than we had dared to dream!
The South America tour was better than we had dared to dream! There were too many highlights to mention. We discovered a continent that is a little off the beaten track for many New Zealanders. This made it very exciting.
I will be recommending to my friends that they tour South America and will most certainly point them at Southern Exposure Tours. I feel that prospective travellers will not get better advice or organisation anywhere.
SET is excellent
Our overall impression of SET is excellent. Very knowledgeable guides, very easy travelling. Really good hotels, good food.
I have already told my friends how good the trip was and to go and see Silvana if they are thinking of going to South America. We will be using her services to go to India next year.
Each day something new to see and enjoy
Great cycling trip with a good mix of sightseeing and cycling. Pedalling through villages was great and the people were friendly and welcoming. Each day something new to see and enjoy.
I loved every moment
I loved every moment of this trip, I travelled as an individual and SET organised all transfers and pickups so I didn’t worry about a thing.
Excellent and exceeded our expectations
This trip was excellent and exceeded our expectations. The food, biking and people were amazing . Thanks SET for such an authentic way to see Asia. We are sure you will have plenty of other cyclists joining you in the future.
Everyday included something different
Activities were a good range that mirrored what we asked for (genuine Vietnam, history and culture, food, nature). Everyday included something different – although the two weeks went quickly we felt like we packed so much in. Loved the variety and excitement of trying something different most days. Wonderful cycling trip for a group of friends. Two weeks exploring Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh to Hanoi. Plenty of cycling, including the Hai Van Pass was a highlight . We had an amazing local guide who shared his love, knowledge and passion for his country which ensured we left this trip already planning to return.
We enjoyed the Tour so much
As we enjoyed the Tour so much, we can say that SET organised the Tour very professionally as the itinerary went off without any problems. We followed the Tour as described and therefore we achieved in fact exceeded our travel expectations. We went on this Tour mainly for the Biking and were impressed with the Bikes provided and the areas that we covered – well done!
An amazing trip
An amazing trip. Seeing the country by push bike gives you a real insight into the scenery and culture of the country. Not only do you see areas that you couldn’t see by any other mode of transport, you get to smell the smells, hear the noises and meet the locals.
Excellent and exceeded our expectations
This trip was excellent and exceeded our expectations. The food, biking and people were amazing . Thanks SET for such an authentic way to see Asia. We are sure you will have plenty of other cyclists joining you in the future.
Great cycling trip
Great cycling trip with a good mix of sightseeing and cycling. Pedalling through villages was great and the people were friendly and welcoming. Each day something new to see and enjoy.
Enjoyed the Tour so much
As we enjoyed the Tour so much, we can say that SET organised the Tour very professionally as the itinerary went off without any problems. We followed the Tour as described and therefore we achieved in fact exceeded our travel expectations. We went on this Tour mainly for the Biking and were impressed with the Bikes provided and the areas that we covered – well done! All the local guides were outgoing, friendly and helpful to all members of the Tour Group. Their enthusiasm and manner never changed once during the tour – we could not have asked for better guides.
I have nothing but praise
What a wonderful tour we had. I have nothing but praise. The guides were helpful and interesting, the places they took us were outstanding, the accommodation was amazing, wonderful food and any minor queries were dealt with promptly. SE Asia is a great place for cycling especially as we were able to avoid riding in the busy places and were frequently able to interact with the locals. Changing the guides in each country meant we had a very different experience in each country. The itinerary was only a rough guide as they responded to conditions on the day and also had their own favourite routes. I will never forget riding through hidden paths in the jungle around Ankor Wat and coming across a remote temple with no other tourists around. We then rode several kilometres on top of the outer walls of the complex with the moat below us. Again, very few people on this route. This day has to be the highlight of our trip. Thank you so much for your help.
Brilliant
Having travelled with SET a couple of times before, I was familiar with the arrangements. The tour was very well organised with enough flexibility to suit me as I was travelling solo. The tour leader Baruch Fahey was a marvel – well organised, very engaged, full of useful tips, and his wonderful knowledge of history of Spain was a true privilege.
Couldn’t have asked for a better choice or ratio of free time to activities. Was up for a bit more walking, but this would have meant either a longer trip or less of other activities. a wonderful way to get a taste for the best of Andalusia., with a brilliant guide who is immersed in the history, culture and lifestyle of the region – definite recommendation.
Truly wonderful
Just a little hello from two of your happy campers to say thank you again for a truly wonderful walking tour and for sending us the lovely group photo as a memento of unforgettable times shared in such a stunning part of the world. I am sure the tour you led following ours, was equally amazing for your group and we have no intentions of letting the dust settle on our hiking shoes for any longer than necessary, before we embark on another wonderful and hopefully challenging, walking adventure. Keep up the great work!!
Unforgettable
The Greek Islands Food and Walking tour was full of wonderful experiences and fun and we learned a lot about Greek culture and the way the people live. Wonderful views and sunsets, delicious fresh food in beautiful settings and great walks made this tour unforgettable. The souvenir book sent after the tour is a great keepsake. We would highly recommend this tour.
Trip of a lifetime!
Fabulous, Trip of a lifetime! We are lucky to have travelled extensively over the years and we found that the value and overall experience provided by Southern Exposure Tours was the best group tour we have experienced.
The best travel company
I must say you are the best travel company I have dealt with over the decades. Your correspondence and all the extras have made dealing with you a fantastic experience.I will be endorsing your company to all travellers that I meet. Again thanks.
Amazing guide
“Silvana was an amazing guide; energetic, tolerant, patient and entertaining. Her in-depth knowledge of the places we explored was an absolute asset. Whether we were making connections with local trains or cable cars, to speaking the local language, she was a real gem. Spending time walking through each of these country’s alpine villages in a small group, was a great way to experience the local culture and cuisine. Thank you for organising a well-planned, action-packed trip. I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys walking!”
This was an amazing tour
This was an amazing tour. Really well organised and we had a wonderful variety of things to do and see. The places we visited and the hotels we stayed at made it a very special holiday, we didn’t feel like tourists at all. The scenery was unbelievable and every day was another beautiful day. The alpine meadows need to be seen to be believed and this tour certainly had us out seeing them. I would thoroughly recommend taking a tour with Southern Exposure Tours. Their professionalism was outstanding and we packed a lot of holiday into a relatively short space of time.
Absolutely fantastic
Thanks for organising such an amazing holiday, absolutely fantastic. Andrea was a great guide, well organised, knowledgeable and enthusiastic. We were kept busy and active and covered a lot of ground, we would have struggled to fit in all that we did had we been on or own.
The most enjoyable trips we had done
On a previous SET tour, we talked with some of our travel companions about the most enjoyable trips we had done. They rated the European Alps Tour, combined with the Amalfi Coast very highly, and we couldn’t agree more. The whole package was outstanding. If you enjoy hiking, want to explore a range of beautiful European walking tracks and see some amazing scenery, you should make this trip a priority.
Thank you for the fantastic trip
Thank you for the fantastic trip to Ecuador that you and your team planned for us. The planning process was excellent and SET took so much time in answering all my zillions of questions. SET was personal & professional. You made it so easy from beginning to end. It was customised perfectly for the 2 of us. Our guide was amazing!!! He was so friendly & knowledgeable. We got a real sense of the people, history & culture. In a short time we felt we had experienced the very best of Ecuador. We look forward to our next journey with you.
An outstanding holiday
We had planned the trip around wildlife viewing plus a Cuban experience. The wildlife in Costa Rica, particularly birds, was outstanding. Cuba lived up to expectations with great music, awesome cars and fascinating history. As Darwin enthusiasts Galápagos Islands was all we expected and still managed to surprise on a daily basis. Four nights in the Amazon at Napo Lodge was a great finale to an outstanding holiday.
Outstanding holiday
Costa Rica, Cuba, Galapagos and Ecuadorian Amazon Lodge: “We had planned the trip around wildlife viewing plus a Cuban experience. The wildlife in Costa Rica, particularly birds, was outstanding. Cuba lived up to expectations with great music, awesome cars and fascinating history. As Darwin enthusiasts Galápagos Islands was all we expected and still managed to surprise on a daily basis. Four nights in the Amazon at Napo Lodge was a great finale to an outstanding holiday.”
Absolutely speechless
“Absolutely speechless” We just got back to Queenstown this afternoon, we are absolutely speechless! What an amazing holiday! The trip went off with out one single hitch – it was like a well-oiled machine. The guide was amazing (Pepo), actually that is an understatement, that guy needs a massive pat on the back. I could carry on writing for pages but you get the drift. Once again thanks for an amazing life-changing trip
Experiences of a lifetime
My husband and I joined SET Tours for back to back Patagonia and Galapagos trips. Both were very efficiently organised and gave us experiences of a lifetime. The accommodation was usually in small family run/owned hotels/guest houses, which were welcoming and very comfortable. The refugios in Patagonia were also excellent, providing delicious food and better accommodation than we had perhaps expected. Our guides were very professional and well informed. The scenery and hiking were incredible and thoroughly enjoyable. In the Galapagos, we were land based and travelled between islands by boat. Our guide, Zambo, was outstanding. Again, we saw everything we expected to see and more. Swimming with hammerhead sharks had to be the highlight. Go soon for the trip of a lifetime. I would have no hesitation in recommending both trips and would give them 5 star ratings.
This trip so exceeded our expectations.
This trip so exceeded our expectations. We knew it would be special but this was the trip of a lifetime mainly due to the superb organisation and enthusiasm from our local guide Pablo. We are so pleased we chose a land based tour and got to enjoy the local culture and facilities .
Go the extra mile
Southern Exposure Tours have the skills and experience to organise their tours to a very high standard. The choice of itinerary is always interesting and well balanced. Clients benefit from the personal touch of the owners of the company who are always willing to go the extra mile to ensure the perfect holiday.
Outstanding holiday
Costa Rica, Cuba, Galapagos and Ecuadorian Amazon Lodge. We had planned the trip around wildlife viewing plus a Cuban experience. The wildlife in Costa Rica, particularly birds, was outstanding. Cuba lived up to expectations with great music, awesome cars and fascinating history. As Darwin enthusiasts Galápagos Islands was all we expected and still managed to surprise on a daily basis. Four nights in the Amazon at Napo Lodge was a great finale to an outstanding holiday.
Hot, hot, hot!!
Fabulous trip with surprises, contrasts, wildlife and culture at every turn – and great food and music! Loved every minute of it even though it was hot, hot, hot!!
A very high standard
Southern Exposure Tours have the skills and experience to organise their tours to a very high standard. The choice of itinerary is always interesting and well balanced. Clients benefit from the personal touch of the owners of the company who are always willing to go the extra mile to ensure the perfect holiday.
Amazing
This was an excellent and well organised trip and we had a great time. The variety of plant and animal life in this part of the world especially Costa Rica is amazing although you need patience because of course the animals in the National Parks are not waiting to be photographed. Special thanks to our guide Janet who worked hard for the group. We would recommend that you insist on having her for your tour leader for this trip because English is her first language so it was easy to discuss complicated matters and share subtle jokes. We appreciated her invitation to visit her home and meet the family horses at Monteverde.
We have now done five trips with SET
We have now done five trips with SET, which is a great indication of what we think of them. The trips have all been well planned and organized. Their leaders are carefully chosen, are friendly, knowledgeable and efficient and a lot of fun. We cannot speak more highly of Silvana, Nick and the team, and have no hesitation in recommending SET for a memorable overseas experience.
Exceeded expectations
“Just wanted to say how much I loved the trip – brilliantly organized (just completely the norm for you!), met some lovely people – and of course, your wonderful friends, hoteliers and guides. It really totally exceeded my expectations, and South America may well be a ‘return-to’ continent!!
Thank you, thank you and thank you!”
Thoroughly recommend
Our Patagonian trip was superbly organized and as a result we had a great time. It was great to have the expertise of Silvana who tailored our trip to our specific needs. The guide organized by her was invaluable – he knew the places, the restaurants, the walks and spoke excellent English and Spanish. This took the organizational pressure off us so we could concentrate on enjoying ourselves. There were two couples in our group – this meant the logistics and costs were very manageable. Overall it was a great trip and we would thoroughly recommend it to travelers wanting an adventure in Argentina and Chile.
A lifelong dream come true
A lifelong dream come true. Had always wanted to go to this part on the world. The grandeur of Torres del Paine, the glaciers, the icebergs, the lakes, Ushuaia and then the vibrancy of Buenos Aires what more could you ask for. This trip had it all.
Jaw dropping sights
Everyone has seen all the photographs and documentaries on Patagonia, so why go? SET takes you inside the ropes and provides the chance to see and feel for yourself the jaw dropping sights of the mountains and glaciers, and all that the National Parks have to offer. It is indeed on the “road to the end of the world”, but you will never forget that you took it.
Trip of a lifetime
For a wonderful trip of a lifetime to a lesser known part of the world, I can highly recommend Patagonia Highlights for the active adventurous traveller. Amazing scenery, interesting landscapes, and a great cultural experience
Stunning
Peru was a delight to visit: safe, easy to get around, great food, friendly people, stunning landscapes.
For someone like me who doesn’t favour group travel, SET set up small groups of seasoned travellers, with an itinerary which gave everyone time to experience places and events together or singly, and without arriving ‘en masse’ at sites of interest.
SET tour company lives its values of sustainability and eco-tourism, by connecting and supporting communities which we then had the privilege of visiting, and by linking in with local eco-tour operators. This meant we had more genuine experiences, through organized contact with the people and indigenous communities of Peru, which was a true highlight of the tour.
Unbelievable
“Unbelievable” Southern Exposure Tours did a great job organizing our holiday in South America. Our first stop was Peru and our Inca guide in the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu was passionate about everything Inca! We then travelled to Quito and Otavalo, staying in a 300 year old Hacienda. The last 10 days were spent on the Galápagos Islands Our time here was unbelievable. We enjoyed snorkeling a number of times. A 16 kilometer Walk on Isabella Is took us through many different levels of vegetation to see an active volcano. We would thoroughly recommend Southern Exposure Tours for all your Sth American Travels
We know you won’t be disappointed
Our trip was amazing and we were never left wondering what next. Met at the airport taken to our hotel & from there we were so well looked after. Everything was explained in detail, picked up each morning for sight seeing & transfers for our next adventures. I can highly recommend SET, we know you won’t be disappointed!!
Amazing guide
Our South American trip was busy, informative, fun and we became immersed in the different culture almost immediately. We were given words and phrases in Spanish so we could give something to the locals we met. Our amazing guide gave his all for the entire trip and we all felt as though we had known him for a long time. Congratulations to you all.
Unforgettable Adventure
During May 2015, we were lucky enough to tour Peru and the Galapagos Islands with Southern Exposure Tours. We cannot speak highly enough of their organization. The interesting and varied itinerary, the wonderful tour guides, the accommodation, and travel arrangements were all excellent and made up an unforgettable adventure. We thoroughly enjoyed the whole experience they provided and would not hesitate to recommend tours organised by this company. It is difficult to identify a highlight. From being able to meet Peruvian people in their homes, to learning about the history of the Incas, or experiencing the wildlife of the Galapagos we enjoyed every moment. Thank you.
Better than we dared to dream!
Better than we dared to dream! The highlights were too many to mention, but discovering a continent that is a little off the beaten track for many NZers was exciting. I will be recommending to my friends they tour South America and will most certainly point them at Southern Exposure Tours. Prospective tourists will not get better advice or organisation anywhere.
Definitely recommend SET
This was our first experience of a group tour and we would definitely recommend SET. The organisation from the NZ end and the local operators could not be faulted. Lenin Ampudia was an amazing guide, his warmth and calm efficiency is ideally suited to the tour guide role.
Wonderful organisation
Thank you all for your wonderful organisation and variety to show case what South America has to offer.
Awesome experience
Awesome experience
A Lifetime Journey
Great Tour itinerary
Fantastic Tour leader and local guiders
Worth every cent for this SET Tour.
Wonderful adventure
Our South American trip was a wonderful adventure, we really enjoyed, it was way beyond our expectations. The different cultures, scenery, history, cuisine, accommodation, our friendly travel group and your enthusiasm and great organization all contributed to making this a trip of a lifetime for us and we have many amazing memories and photos of new travel experiences we shared.
Better than we could have hoped for
It was with some slight fears that we booked an adventurous trip to South America but that was soon put to rest as the contacts with SET were from the start very professional and when we met our fellow travellers and our tour leader we were set for our 33 day adventure. Everything was as good or better than we could have hoped for and we have no hesitation in recommending SET and South America to would be travellers.
Hats off to you and your team
What a lovely surprise to receive the Sojourn Photo Book. It sure brings back some wonderful memories of a fabulous trip. I think I said previously that the trip was so well run, and much better than we had expected.
Hats off to you and your team and guides for giving us such a great experience. I have told quite a few people about your company, so I hope you get some feed back from them.
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