Opening up the world’s remotes in ultimate comfort & safety
From being the only luxury operator to offer trips in mainland Yemen to island hopping by explorer yacht in the Pacific, we have a genuine track record in delivering unique experiences in the world’s most interesting destinations.
Whether heli-skiing in Pakistan, staying in bespoke camps on idyllic beaches in Gabon or enjoying private audiences with tribal elders in Papua New Guinea, it’s all validated through our on-the-ground recces and built on our special network of contacts – including government authorities and scientific researchers.
Throughout, we’re incredibly proud of our impeccable safety record, and the support we’ve given to remote communities.
That could be sharing seabed mapping data with Fijian chiefs looking to protect their ancestral waters or setting camera traps in the Congo to document wildlife behaviour.
All footage taken on Cookson Adventures trips
Blank areas on a map or curious corners of the earth – those are the places I want to go and discover
Recces
There’s no alternative to getting on the ground. That’s why all our trips in remote areas are extensively recced – stress testing logistics, looking for improvements and validating the trip. It’s also the chance to shake the hands that open doors, negotiating that special access for our clients – whether gaining access to a ancient sites after dark or setting up private audiences with village elders.
Contacts
Over our years, we’ve built up an exclusive global network of authorities, from government contacts and international researchers to domestic fixers and even the local sheikh. These are the people that not only have the latest information, but are able to permit special experiences.
Accommodation
Despite operating beyond traditional infrastructure, we approach accommodation from scratch to deliver the standards our clients expect. In wilderness areas that might be building a one-off luxury camp entirely bespoke, whether you’d like massage tents or hot tubs. Otherwise, it might be bringing in an expedition yacht, looking at capabilities such as range and heli capacity to explore further. We’ve even uplifted existing accommodation, from bringing in private chefs to installing AC.
Safety
Our unblemished safety record is something we take real pride in. We have a complete approach, starting by commissioning pre-trip security reports from global leaders in international security. This, combined with our experience on the ground, will dictate our approach. That might be bringing in close protection officers professionals or simply liaising with the government to receive a police escort and making plans for wildlife movements.
Track record
We have experience at the cutting edge where others don’t. From helicopter trips through Chad, Pakistan and the Central African Republic to world-first submersible dives in the Pacific, we’ve got a track record in delivering trips in the world’s most remote regions.
Positive impact
Travelling off the tourist track, employing local guides and visiting communities brings much-needed resources to remote regions that wouldn’t otherwise receive them. All while without negatively impacting day-to-day life. And, we can also see you get involved in conservational or philanthropic projects, getting hands on with experts to see their vital work up close. We’ve donated heli hours for wildlife translocations in South America, brought along researchers looking into identifying new species in Antarctica, and worked with local community members looking to protect some of the last remaining dragon blood trees in Socotra.
A few sample destinations
Central Africa
Wonders hidden in the jungle
We have the most experience of operating across Central Africa of any ultra-luxury operator. We’ve undertaken multiple fact-finding trips to Gabon, setting up luxury camps where humpbacks breach off white-sand beaches. And, we’ve brought journalists to stay with Ba’aka tribe in the Central African Republic, learning how they continue a traditional way of life deep in the jungle. Then, clients have set up camera traps with conservationists in the Republic of Congo, and stayed on the side of erupting volcanoes in the DRC. Throughout, we’ve used helis to provide that special access to remote regions.
Middle East
Beyond the headlines
“That makes camping – in Cookson’s case, in style of course – the only real option for exploring the island’s heroically dramatic landscape”
This is what the Financial Times’ Head of Africa had to say of our bespoke camp trips in Socotra, the Yemeni island that’s evolved in isolation. Famous for its dragon-blood trees and welcoming culture, our clients have swum with dolphins, had NYU professors bring its unique anthropology to life and enjoyed special access through our relationships with local sheikhs. Then, on the mainland, we’ve brought guests among such UNESCO world wonders as centuries-old clifftop forts and technicolour palaces – safely and securely.
The Pacific
Remote island hopping
We’ve used yachts as platforms to explore some the planet’s most remote islands. In Papua New Guinea, that’s meant private audiences with tribal elders, heli trips out to secret waterfalls and incredible lunch setups deep in the jungle. Then, in the diving meccas of Cocos Island and Socorro, we’ve showcased the world’s sharkiest waters, bringing along research vessels so guests can contribute first hand to whale-shark tagging programmes. We’ve also pioneered world-first submersible dives in the likes of French Polynesia, Fiji and the Solomons, going deeper with leading marine biologists.
Asia
Searching out special experiences
In Pakistan, we’ve worked with the military to see our clients ski new routes in the Himalayas – even using this as the inspirational backdrop to a thought leadership retreat. There’s also exciting on snow leopard conservation projects to get involved in. Then, we were the first to pioneer luxury bespoke camps in Vietnam’s Son Doong – the world’s largest cave. As always, these setups are the chance to showcase a truly special environment in comfort. Think private-chef dining overlooking tumbling internal waterfalls and moss-clad caverns large enough to fly a 777 through.
Wider Africa
Untapped natural & cultural beauty
Heli safaris among Chad’s otherworldly geography, desert-adapted wildlife and near-ancient cultures. Private-island luxury in Madagascar. Searching for new species in Angola’s Okavango source lakes. Or, setting up cultural journeys in west Africa that trace our clients’ ancestry. Wherever your interests lie, we’ve got the contacts and experience to not only create these special trips, but to identify the most interesting experiences.
Latin America
New experiences
Spending time with the llaneros cowboys of Colombia, taking helis out to indigenous villages. Swimming with dolphin megapods in Costa Rica, staying in grass-roofed eco lodges. And, using superyachts to visit great grey whales in Baja California or meet prepositioned gaucho horses to ride through Andes in Patagonia. We re-imagine the approach to favourite destinations, finding unique experiences and the best way to deliver them for our clients.
North America
Using explorer assets
We also specialise in opening up destinations that might be closer to home, finding the right assets to platform unique experiences. In Alaska, we’ve used fixed-wing planes to get deeper into national parks than helicopters, where guests can paddleboard glacial-blue rivers in search of the local wildlife. Then, we’ve used explorer yachts to go beyond traditional infrastructure in the fjords of Canada’s Great Bear Rainforest. Following the salmon run, kayak, trek and tender among an ecological symphony – taking in everything from bubble-net-feeding whales and wheeling eagles to coastal wolves and all-white spirit bears.
