Viva Expeditions
Viva Expeditions is a New Zealand-owned travel intermediary that curates and resells small-group, expedition, and luxury tours to Latin America, Antarctica, the Arctic, Africa, and New Zealand, serving individual adventure, luxury, and solo travelers via its website and destination specialists.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2008
- HeadquartersAuckland, New Zealand
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
Viva Expeditions firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Viva Expeditions
- Legal name
- Viva Expeditions Limited
- Website
- https://vivaexpeditions.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2008
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Viva Expeditions is a New Zealand-owned travel intermediary that curates and resells small-group, expedition, and luxury tours to Latin America, Antarctica, the Arctic, Africa, and New Zealand, serving individual adventure, luxury, and solo travelers via its website and destination specialists.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Viva Expeditions industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Adventure & Expedition Travel Services
- NAICS
- Tour Operators (56152), Travel Agencies (561510)
- SIC
- Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Adventure & Expedition Multi-Day Tour Operators (THAKADAD)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Polar & Remote-Destination Expedition Tour Operators (THAKADAM), Adventure & Expedition Travel Agencies (THAKAFAB), Adventure & Expedition Custom Itinerary Planning (THAKAOAC), Small-Ship Expedition Cruises (Under ~500 Guests) (THAEADAC), Multi-Activity & Expedition Packages (Guided Adventure Trips) (THAJABAL)
Keywords
Where Viva Expeditions is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Auckland
- HQ country
- New Zealand
- HQ region
- Oceania
Offices2 records
Markets served
Viva Expeditions business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Tour Package Sales: Viva Expeditions acts as an intermediary/agent for third-party travel suppliers (airlines, hotels, cruise operators, tour providers). They earn commission on bookings made through their platform. The company facilitates travel arrangements and processes bookings and payments, earning revenue through the markup or commission on tour packages.
- Credit Card Administration Fees: The company charges administration fees for credit card payments (Visa and Mastercard accepted; American Express not accepted). This fee is debited at the time of payment.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Multi-year contract | Antarctica Expeditions (Premium) |
| One time/ perpetual license | Multi-year contract | Signature Tours (Luxury South America) |
| One time/ perpetual license | Multi-year contract | Small Group Tours |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Tours on Special/Discounted |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
Viva Expeditions product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Viva Expeditions is a New Zealand-owned travel intermediary that sells pre-packaged group tours and tailor-made itineraries to adventure and expedition destinations across Latin America, Antarctica, the Arctic, Africa & the Middle East, and New Zealand. It resells expedition cruises and tours operated by third-party suppliers (such as Quark Expeditions, Seabourn, and Ocean Albatros) and earns revenue through commission or markup on bookings, supported by destination specialists who customise itineraries and provide 24/7 in-journey support.
Product overview
Viva Expeditions is a New Zealand-owned and operated travel company specializing in adventure travel to Latin America, Antarctica, the Arctic, Africa, and New Zealand. The company offers a portfolio of tour styles including Small Ship Cruising (expedition vessels of 12-200 passengers), Small Group Tours, Luxury Tours, Signature Tours, Safari Tours, Hosted Journeys, Solo Tours, Rovos Rail Tours, Southern Lights Tours, Drifters Tours, and Unique Stays. Their core offering centers on polar expeditions (Antarctica and Arctic cruises), South American adventures (Patagonia, Machu Picchu, Galapagos, Amazon), African safaris, and New Zealand exploration. The company operates as a travel intermediary, arranging accommodations, transportation, and excursions through third-party suppliers while providing destination expertise, personalized itineraries, and 24/7 customer support.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Small Ship Cruising Tours Expedition cruises aboard small vessels ranging from private yachts carrying as few as 12 guests up to expedition ships of around 200 passengers, offering close access to landscapes and wildlife in polar and remote destinations. Designed for travelers seeking intimate small-ship expedition experiences.
- Small Group Tours Escorted small group tours that allow travelers to explore in a fun and exciting environment surrounded by like-minded people, requiring a minimum of 6 confirmed passengers to operate. Targeted at travelers who prefer group travel with a minimum guarantee.
- Luxury Tours Premium travel experiences to remote parts of the world featuring the best hotels and lodges, luxury small-ship cruises, and exclusive heli-tours. Built for high-end travelers seeking upscale expedition experiences.
- Signature Tours Refined, simplified, and perfected premium itineraries crafted by destination experts featuring highly-rated hotels and exclusive authentic experiences across South and Central America. Targeted at travelers seeking premium small-group and tailor-made journeys in South America.
- Safari Tours African safari experiences exploring wildlife-rich destinations including Botswana, Tanzania, Kenya, South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe, and other African countries. Geared to travelers seeking guided wildlife safaris across Africa.
- Hosted Journeys Adventures with like-minded travelers featuring extraordinary destinations paired with knowledgeable hosts and guides. Designed for travelers who want a hosted, group travel experience with expert guidance.
- Solo Tours Travel experiences designed for solo travelers offering the freedom of solo travel with journeys that are anything but lonely, including room-share matching services to reduce single supplements. Targeted at solo travelers, including dedicated departures to Antarctica for Solos.
- Rovos Rail Tours Luxury train journeys aboard Rovos Rail, offering classic African and continental rail experiences with refined accommodation and service. Suited to travelers seeking luxury rail travel across Africa.
- Southern Lights Tours Specialized tours to witness the Aurora Australis (Southern Lights), including options like Southern Lights by Flight departing Christchurch, New Zealand. Targeted at travelers seeking guided aurora-viewing experiences.
- Drifters Tours Off-the-beaten-path adventure tours for travelers seeking unique and unconventional destinations and experiences. Geared to adventure travelers looking for less mainstream itineraries.
- Unique Stays Specialized accommodation experiences featuring distinctive and unusual lodging options for memorable travel experiences. Designed for travelers looking for standout, characterful lodging.
- Antarctic Expeditions Polar expedition cruises to Antarctica including Antarctic Peninsula, South Georgia & Falkland Islands, luxury Antarctica options, and solo traveler departures. For travelers seeking polar expedition cruises to Antarctica.
- Arctic Expeditions Polar expedition cruises to the Arctic region including Spitsbergen, Svalbard, Iceland, Greenland, Canadian Arctic, Alaska, and North Pole destinations. For travelers seeking expedition cruises in the Arctic.
- South America Tours Multi-country and single-destination tours covering South America including Patagonia, Machu Picchu, Galapagos Islands, Amazon Jungle, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Peru, Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, and Uruguay. Geared to travelers exploring South America.
- Africa & Middle East Tours African safari and exploration tours covering Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Botswana, South Africa, Morocco, Egypt, Jordan, Madagascar, Rwanda, Mozambique, and Saudi Arabia. For travelers seeking African safaris and Middle East tours.
- Central America Tours Tours covering Central American destinations including Belize, Cuba, Guatemala, Mexico, Panama, and Costa Rica. Geared to travelers seeking Central America itineraries.
- New Zealand Tours New Zealand tours covering North Island, South Island, Stewart Island, and Sub-Antarctic Islands Cruises. Geared to travelers exploring New Zealand and surrounding waters.
- Ocean Albatros Antarctica Cruise 11-day Antarctic expedition aboard the Ocean Albatros, a state-of-the-art X-BOW vessel purpose-built for Antarctic waters, featuring whale watching, zodiac excursions, and citizen science programs. Targeted at travelers seeking a premium mid-size Antarctic expedition cruise focused on whales.
- Seabourn Pursuit Antarctica Cruise 14-day luxury Antarctic expedition aboard the Seabourn Pursuit featuring 264 passengers, complimentary Wi-Fi powered by SpaceX's Starlink, and included flights from Buenos Aires. For high-end travelers seeking an ultra-luxury Antarctica expedition with included flights.
- Ocean Nova Antarctica Cruise 11-day Antarctic expedition aboard the 80-passenger Ocean Nova offering at least two daily excursions, zodiac cruising, and shore landings on the Antarctic Peninsula. For travelers seeking a smaller-ship Antarctic Peninsula expedition.
- Antarctica Complete Expedition 23-day comprehensive Antarctic expedition aboard the Sylvia Earle covering South Shetland Islands, Antarctic Peninsula, Antarctic Circle crossing, South Georgia, and Falkland Islands. For travelers seeking the most comprehensive multi-region Antarctic expedition.
- Galapagos Cruise with Wendy Petrie Exclusive privately chartered luxury small-ship Galapagos journey hosted by Wendy Petrie, with only 7 suites available. Targeted at high-end travelers seeking an exclusive, hosted Galapagos cruise.
Quantifiable outcome
- NZ owned & TAANZ affiliated providing consumer protection
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Viva Expeditions
Customer profileSegments5 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Viva Expeditions technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Viva Expeditions partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- QantasminorAirline partner providing flight services for customers traveling to Viva Expeditions tour destinations. Qantas offers global reach particularly to Australasian routes.
- LATAM AirlinescorePrimary airline partner for Latin American routes. LATAM provides essential flight connections to South American destinations including Peru, Chile, Argentina, Brazil, Ecuador (Galapagos), and other key tour departure points.
- Air New ZealandcoreKey airline partner for New Zealand routes and connections to Antarctica expeditions departing from NZ. Strategic partner given company's NZ ownership and New Zealand destination offerings.
- Microsoft AdvertisingminorAdvertising partnership for targeted marketing campaigns. Uses behavioral data for site optimization, fraud/security purposes, and advertising delivery.
- Rainforest AllianceminorProud member organization. Rainforest Alliance works to conserve biodiversity and ensure sustainable livelihoods by transforming land-use practices, business practices, and consumer behavior.
- Adventure TravelminorProud member of Adventure Travel trade association. Adventure travel trade organization supporting and promoting adventure tourism operators.
- TAANZ (Travel Agents Association of New Zealand)coreTrade association membership providing consumer protection and industry standards. Viva Expeditions is TAANZ affiliated, providing customers with consumer protection guarantees.
- Chimu AdventuresminorRelated company under the same corporate umbrella (sister brand). Chimu Adventures (www.chimuadventures.com) likely serves as a related adventure travel brand.
- Quark ExpeditionscorePremier polar expedition cruise operator. Viva resells Quark's Antarctic expeditions including voyages to the Antarctic Peninsula, South Georgia, and Falkland Islands. Cancellation policy specifies 125 days for Quark-operated Antarctica cruises.
- Ocean AlbatroscoreX-BOW expedition vessel operator specializing in Antarctica cruises. Viva resells Ocean Albatros voyages including whale season expeditions and Antarctic Peninsula cruises aboard the 175-passenger vessel.
- Seabourn (Expedition)coreLuxury expedition cruise line. Viva resells Seabourn Pursuit and Seabourn Venture ultra-luxury Antarctica expeditions with 264 passengers, offering expedition experiences with high-end amenities and included perks.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Viva Expeditions competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Adventure Life: US-based small-group adventure travel company offering small-ship cruises and tailor-made trips to Latin America, Antarctica, Africa, and the Arctic. Closely comparable specialty tour operator with similar customer and product mix.
- Wildfoot Travel: UK specialist travel agency focused on polar expeditions and wildlife holidays to Antarctica, the Arctic, and Latin America. Niche peer with almost identical product focus and target customer.
- Aurora Expeditions: Australia-based expedition cruise operator focused on Antarctica and the Arctic, including small-ship voyages. Competes head-to-head with Viva in polar expedition cruising and is also a Viva supplier/partner.
- Audley Travel: UK-based bespoke tailor-made travel company specializing in Latin America, Africa, and other long-haul destinations. Closely comparable model offering custom itineraries via destination specialists, similar to Viva.
- Quark Expeditions: Premier polar expedition cruise operator that Viva resells, and a direct competitor for end-customer Antarctic bookings. Overlaps on product (Antarctic Peninsula, South Georgia, Falklands) and target customer.
- Chimu Adventures: Sister brand under the same NZ-based owner, offering very similar Antarctic, Arctic and Latin America expedition tours. Directly comparable as a near-identical specialty tour operator.
Broad incumbents
- Tauck: Premium escorted tour operator with Antarctica and Africa itineraries. Less direct overlap but competes in the premium/endemic-experience segment of the same customer base Viva targets.
- Intrepid Travel: Large global small-group adventure tour operator covering Latin America, Africa, and Antarctica. Overlaps on destinations and small-group style but at vastly larger scale and broader portfolio.
- Explore Worldwide: Established small-group adventure tour operator with global itineraries across Latin America, Africa, and polar-adjacent destinations. Overlaps on small-group style and target traveler profile.
- G Adventures: Global small-group adventure and expedition tour operator with overlapping Latin America, Africa, and Antarctica itineraries. Comparable business model (commission-based tour reseller) but much larger.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Viva Expeditions social profiles
Digital presenceViva Expeditions financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Viva Expeditions leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Viva Expeditions funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Viva Expeditions M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Viva Expeditions
What does Viva Expeditions do?
Viva Expeditions is a New Zealand-owned travel intermediary that sells pre-packaged group tours and tailor-made itineraries to adventure and expedition destinations across Latin America, Antarctica, the Arctic, Africa & the Middle East, and New Zealand. It resells expedition cruises and tours operated by third-party suppliers (such as Quark Expeditions, Seabourn, and Ocean Albatros) and earns revenue through commission or markup on bookings, supported by destination specialists who customise itineraries and provide 24/7 in-journey support.
Is Viva Expeditions a public or private company?
Viva Expeditions is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Viva Expeditions founded?
Viva Expeditions was founded in 2008. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Viva Expeditions based?
Viva Expeditions is headquartered in Auckland, New Zealand, in the Oceania region.
How does Viva Expeditions make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Tour Package Sales are the primary driver. The others are credit Card Administration Fees.
Who are Viva Expeditions's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Adventure Life, Wildfoot Travel, Aurora Expeditions, Audley Travel, Quark Expeditions and Chimu Adventures. Broad incumbents are Tauck, Intrepid Travel, Explore Worldwide and G Adventures.
Does Viva Expeditions have an API?
No public API is recorded for Viva Expeditions.
What industry is Viva Expeditions in?
Viva Expeditions's product category is Adventure & Expedition Travel Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAKADAD, Adventure & Expedition Multi-Day Tour Operators, with a secondary code of THAKADAM, Polar & Remote-Destination Expedition Tour Operators. Its NAICS code is 56152 and its SIC code is 7990.