Cotravel AG

What Cotravel AG does

Cotravel AG is a privately held Swiss tour operator specializing in educational 'Studienreisen' (study trips) with expert accompaniment, founded in 1994 in Allschwil BL and now headquartered at Herostrasse 12, Zürich, where it operates as a brand within DERTOUR Suisse AG (itself part of DER Touristik Group and the REWE Group conglomerate). The company's core product is small-group (15-25 participants) all-inclusive study tours to destinations across Africa, Asia, Australasia, Europe, North America, Latin America, and the Middle East, accompanied by named specialist guides (journalists, scientists, cultural experts) and priced in CHF at approximately CHF 4,150-7,990 per person plus single supplements. Its principal go-to-market channel is 'Leserreisen' (reader trips) co-branded with flagship Swiss media partners including NZZ, Tages-Anzeiger, Schweizer Familie, CH Media (Berner Zeitung, Der Bund), and Südostschweiz, supplemented by direct-to-consumer booking via cotravel.ch, phone/email sales, and social media presence on Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram. Revenue is generated through package tour sales (flights, accommodation, ground transport, expert accompaniment, entrance fees, CO2 compensation via myclimate) plus commission on HanseMerkur travel insurance add-ons; payment terms are a 30% deposit with 70% balance due 45 days before departure. Underlying technology is a web-based booking and customer management system integrated with DERTOUR Suisse AG infrastructure; no proprietary AI/ML, API, or app offerings are disclosed. Cotravel holds the TourCert CSR certification (first Swiss tour operator awarded, 2019) and benefits from Swiss travel guarantee (Reisegarantie) customer protection.

Name

Cotravel AG

Legal name

cotravel, DERTOUR Suisse AG

Website

https://cotravel.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

1994

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Cotravel AG is a Swiss tour operator specializing in expert-led small-group educational study trips worldwide, marketed primarily as co-branded reader trips (Leserreisen) through flagship Swiss media partners such as NZZ and Tages-Anzeiger, and operating as a brand under DERTOUR Suisse AG (REWE Group).

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Educational Travel Services

NAICS

Tour Operators (561520), Tour Operators (56152), Travel Agencies (561510)

akta.pro primary industry

Educational & Student Multi-Day Tour Operators (THAKADAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Package Tour Wholesalers (Pre-Packaged FIT/Group Programs) (THAKAJAC), FIT & Private Tour Operators (Customized Day Tours) (THAKAEAC)

Keywords

• Educational travel services
• Study tours
• Expert-guided tours
• Reader trips
• Group travel packages

Headquarters

HQ city

Allschwil

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Supply Chain, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Package Tour Sales: Cotravel generates revenue through the sale of all-inclusive study travel packages that include international flights, accommodation, ground transportation, expert accompaniment, guided tours, and entrance fees. Trips are priced as complete package arrangements with pricing in CHF.
2. Travel Insurance: Revenue from recommending and arranging travel insurance products, specifically HanseMerkur Travel Premium 365 policies. Cotravel earns commissions on insurance add-ons purchased alongside travel packages.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Cotravel AG operates as a study travel specialist (Studienreisen) offering educational tours with expert accompaniment (Fachbegleitung) to destinations across Africa, Asia, Australia/Oceania, Europe, North America, Latin America, and the Middle East. Trips are sold as all-inclusive packages priced in CHF that cover international flights, accommodation, ground transportation, expert accompaniment, guided tours, entrance fees, and integrated CO2 compensation through myclimate. Many trips are delivered as Leserreisen (reader trips) co-branded with Swiss media partners such as NZZ, Tages-Anzeiger, and Schweizer Familie. Travel insurance through HanseMerkur is offered as an add-on.

Product overview

Cotravel AG operates as a study travel specialist (Studienreisen) offering educational tours with expert accompaniment to destinations worldwide. The core product is the Studienreisen program featuring small group travel with specialized Fachbegleitung (expert guides), often delivered as Leserreisen (reader trips) in partnership with major Swiss media organizations. The company also offers travel insurance through HanseMerkur as an add-on service. All trips are organized under the DERTOUR Suisse AG umbrella and feature CO2 compensation through myclimate.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Studienreisen (Study Trips with Expert Accompaniment) All-inclusive small-group educational travel tours (15–25 participants) led by specialist Fachbegleitung (expert guides such as journalists, scientists, and cultural experts) to destinations across Africa, Asia, Australia/Oceania, Europe, North America, Latin America, and the Middle East. Packages include international flights, accommodation, ground transport, expert accompaniment, guided tours, entrance fees, and CO2 compensation via myclimate. Sold per person in CHF.
• Leserreisen (Reader Trips) Co-branded study trips organized in partnership with Swiss media partners including NZZ, Tages-Anzeiger, Der Bund, Berner Zeitung, Sonntagszeitung, Basler Zeitung, Schweizer Familie, Südostschweiz, and other regional Swiss newspapers and magazines; promoted through editorial channels and reserved for partner readership audiences.
• Reiseversicherung (Travel Insurance) Travel and cancellation insurance offered in partnership with HanseMerkur, specifically the Travel Premium 365 product covering cancellation costs and travel interruption. Priced at CHF 239 per person (CHF 30,000 annual cancellation coverage) or CHF 389 per family (max 2 adults, CHF 60,000 annual coverage), auto-renewing annually unless cancelled 1 month before expiry.

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor, flagship and major.

• DERTOUR Suisse AGcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCotravel is a brand of DERTOUR Suisse AG, operating as the study travel division. DERTOUR provides operational infrastructure, industry relationships, and corporate backing for Cotravel's travel operations.
• myclimatecoreStrategic or Co-development Partnermyclimate provides CO2 compensation services integrated into all Cotravel trip prices. Flight emissions are offset through myclimate climate protection projects in developing and emerging countries.
• HanseMerkurminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHanseMerkur provides travel insurance products (Travel Premium 365) that Cotravel recommends and sells to customers. Cotravel receives commissions on insurance policies arranged through their bookings.
• Neue Zürcher Zeitung (NZZ)flagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerNZZ is a flagship media partner creating Leserreisen (reader trips) for NZZ subscribers. Featured trips include Japan-China and West Canada study tours promoted through NZZ editorial channels.
• Schweizer FamilieflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerLong-standing media partner with dedicated study travel section on cotravel.ch. Offers exclusive trips like Vietnam (with Kurt Aeschbacher), Malta, and Jakobsweg promoted to Schweizer Familie readers.
• Tages-AnzeigerflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerMajor media partner for reader trips promoted through the Tages-Anzeiger newspaper and digital channels.
• CH Media (Berner Zeitung, Der Bund, etc.)majorGTM or Marketing PartnerCH Media group partnership encompassing multiple regional newspapers including Berner Zeitung and Der Bund, with dedicated study trip offerings for their readership.
• SüdostschweizmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerRegional media partner offering study trips including New Zealand promoted through Südostschweiz editorial channels.
• Edelweiss AirminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSwiss airline used for flights to destinations like Azores. Cotravel books group flights with Edelweiss for trip packages.
• TourCertcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCertification body that awarded Cotravel/DERTOUR Suisse AG the first CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) certification for a Swiss travel operator in 2019.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• TUI: Europe's largest integrated tourism group offering mass-market and specialty tours across DACH. Relevant as a broad incumbent competing for the same pool of German-speaking leisure travelers via scale, brand, and distribution.
• DERTOUR: Parent brand of Cotravel's operating group (DERTOUR Suisse AG) and a major German tour operator with a broad portfolio of package, study, and specialty tours. Relevant as the broader commercial context within which Cotravel operates.

Direct peers

• Schöne Reisen: German quality-tour operator focused on small groups, expert guidance, and culturally rich itineraries. Comparable to Cotravel in the premium, small-group educational travel segment for the DACH market.
• Studiosus Reisen: Germany's leading educational tour operator offering expert-led small-group cultural tours across the globe. Closest direct peer to Cotravel in product format (expert accompaniment, small groups, multi-day itineraries), with comparable brand positioning around cultural depth over mass tourism.
• Eberhardt Travel: Established German tour operator with a broad portfolio including study, cultural, and round-trip formats. Comparable to Cotravel in the educational and cultural travel category, particularly for older German-speaking travelers.
• Gebeco: German tour operator with a strong portfolio of study and educational travel experiences for culturally curious travelers. Direct competitor in the expert-led, culturally immersive travel category with overlapping customer demographics in the DACH region.
• Chamäleon Reisen: Berlin-based operator offering themed small-group tours with local expert guides across more than 30 countries. Comparable in small-group, expert-led, culturally immersive positioning targeting educated German-speaking travelers.
• Ikarus Tours: Operator of themed study and expedition-style tours with expert guides, focused on culturally curious German-speaking travelers. Comparable to Cotravel in small-group, expert-accompanied travel philosophy and destination breadth.
• Dr. Tigges: Specialist in educational and study tours across Europe and worldwide, with expert accompaniment as a core feature. Highly comparable to Cotravel in target customer (educated, culturally curious travelers) and trip-format positioning.

Regional players

• Knecht Reisen: Swiss tour operator offering cultural, study, and special-interest trips primarily to Swiss customers. Direct geographic overlap with Cotravel in the Swiss market and adjacent in product positioning, though smaller and with less media-partnership scale.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/cotravel
• Facebookfacebook.com/cotravel.ch
• Instagraminstagram.com/cotravel_reisen
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cotravel-ag

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Cotravel AG