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That sense of adventure to discover the world is at the heart of Jules Verne. Established in 1978, our innovative small group escorted tours offer authentic travel with a twist for people who love to see the world. Packed with special touches and little extras, our expert guides will show you the true character of each destination and take you beyond the norm.
Our experience makes your experience special
We are passionate about travel and discovery. For over 40 years, we have been creating amazing tours that showcase the best of the world. We combine our experience and expertise with our enthusiasm and curiosity, to offer you unforgettable journeys that will inspire you for a lifetime. Whether you want to explore ancient ruins, marvel at natural wonders, or immerse yourself in exotic cultures, we have a tour for you. We are always looking for ways to make your travel experience more enjoyable, affordable, and memorable. That’s why we pay attention to every detail, from the service and value to the special touches and surprises. We also keep expanding our horizons, adding new destinations and experiences to our portfolio. With Jules Verne, you can travel with confidence and peace of mind, knowing that we have carefully crafted every journey to create an unforgettable experience for you.
We value your opinion …
We are always thinking ahead and planning carefully, but we also know that the best way to measure our success is by listening to you, our valued customers. We appreciate your honest feedback on our service, which you can share with us by filling out a short review on Feefo, where we have earned the Platinum Trusted Service award, or by sending us an email if you prefer. We want to hear from you, because we believe that our journeys are a partnership between Jules Verne and our guests. And we don’t just listen, we act. Every review is a chance for us to see things from your point of view, and many have led us to improve our itineraries, change our arrangements, and even create new tours.
Fellow travellers
Do you love travelling with people who share your interests and passions? Our tours are more than just trips, they are journeys of discovery. And what better way to end a day of discovery than with a stimulating and enjoyable conversation over dinner? Our tours are designed to encourage you to interact with your fellow travellers and share your insights and opinions on the places you visit. You will also have the opportunity to learn from our expert guides, who will enrich your knowledge and understanding of the culture, history, and current affairs. Our tours are not only about seeing the world, but also about talking about it!
Jules Verne sightseeing and expert local guides
One of the highlights of your tour with us is the sightseeing. We don’t just take you to the usual tourist spots, we show you the hidden treasures and the local secrets that make the destination so unique and amazing. You will have enough time and space to explore and enjoy each place, without feeling rushed or crowded. And you will have the best companions for your sightseeing: our expert local guides. They are passionate, energetic, and eager to share their love for their culture and people with you. You will learn so much from them, and you will have a lot of fun along the way.
Travelling solo…?
We understand that travelling solo can be an amazing adventure. We also know that solo travel is not one size fits all. That’s why we give you the flexibility to choose how you want to travel with us. You can join a mixed group of people where you will meet other solo travellers as well as couples and friends. Or, you can opt for one of our solo departures where you will travel exclusively with other single travellers who share your interests and passions. Either way, we work closely with our travel partners overseas to offer you the best deals and the most choices, so you can find the perfect tour for you. And we don’t think you should pay extra for travelling solo, so we try to reduce or remove the single-room supplements as much as possible.
Enjoy your stay in one of our carefully selected hotels and vessels
We carefully select hotels and cruise vessels that are not just comfortable and safe, but also full of character and history. You can stay in historic hotels that have been part of the destination’s history and culture for centuries. You can cruise on heritage vessels that have explored the waters of the destination since ancient times. We check the local hotel ratings and health & safety standards for you, so you don’t have to worry about anything. Just keep in mind that hotel ratings vary worldwide, and some standards may not match those in the UK. But don’t worry, we always choose the best hotels and cruise vessels for you.
Unique experiences
We want you to have the best time on our tours, and that’s why we have some amazing surprises for you. You will enjoy exclusive and unforgettable events that will make you feel the spirit and charm of the places you visit. You will be treated to special activities and experiences that will delight your senses and create lasting memories. You will also have the opportunity to interact with the local people and culture, and learn about their history and traditions. We believe that people are the heart and soul of every destination, and we want you to connect with them and share their stories. With us, you will have more than just a tour, you will have a life-changing adventure!
Personalise your tour
Whilst our tours follow a fixed itinerary, which is necessary for the smooth and safe running of our trips, we want you to have the best possible Jules Verne experience. That’s why you have the freedom and flexibility to create your own adventure. You can personalise your tour by adding extensions or extra nights before or after your tour and you can also combine tours, if possible, to see more of the destination you’re visiting. Do you have a preferred flight option for your tour? Let us know and we will do our best to accommodate your request. We also offer you the chance to upgrade to ‘Business Class’, where you can enjoy more space and comfort, separate check-in, and access to airport lounges. We have special rates available on selected dates, so don’t miss the opportunity to travel in style.
Tour only
If you prefer to make your own travel plans, you can choose our tour only option, where you can arrange your own travel to and from the destination. You can join the group at the first hotel and leave at the last. You just need to take care of your arrival and departure transfers, or you can book them with us. This way, you can save money and enjoy your tour at your own pace.
Privately Guided
For some of our tours, you have the option to book a private journey with us, if you want to enjoy a more personal experience with your family and friends. You will visit all the programmed sights with your own private vehicle and driver/guide, who will make your tour more flexible and enjoyable. You can choose any of the published departure dates, or request a different date that suits you better (we recommend the same weekday start as the published dates, to avoid any issues with pricing, opening times, and the itinerary flow). The supplements for the private tour are per person, based on two people travelling together. But if you have a larger group of three or more, the supplements will be reduced accordingly (we can give you more details on request). This option gives you more privacy and comfort to travel at your own pace.
Create your own group adventure
Do you want to travel with your own group of friends, family, or colleagues? Then you can book a private group tour with us, perfect for study groups, societies, or gatherings of friends and family. You choose your fellow travellers, and we’ll arrange a closed-group tour for you. This could be a private departure on an existing tour, or a customised arrangement tailored to your needs. We offer a special price for groups of 8 or more travelling together. You can contact us by phone or email to find out more about this option. We are always happy to help you plan your perfect group adventure.
Tried and Trusted
With a passion for innovation, exploration and inspiration, and a wealth of knowledge and experience between us, the Jules Verne team is proud of our multi award-winning service and delighted that our many repeat travellers are enjoying it too. Small enough to be flexible, large enough to be ground-breaking, and recognised for our professionalism by our guests and our peers, we put our customers at the heart of everything we do.
With Jules Verne, it’s personal
Our very individual service includes 24 hour access to the UK team, and a Personal Travel Expert for every guest, so you can contact the same person from the first enquiry to the end of your holiday, to give you advice and information on all aspects of the tour, to assist with any special requirements or bespoke alterations you may have, and to monitor travel arrangements from beginning to end.
Honest Pricing
Jules Verne tours offer exceptional value for money, and we take great care to provide you with clear and honest pricing; confirming what is included on every itinerary, showing the costs of any optional events or excursions you may choose to add, and noting the few instances where flight supplements may apply. With everything openly explained, you can rest assured that there are no hidden extras.
Early booking - Price Guaranteed
Booking early means that you have the best choice of tour dates, room types and flights. It also gives you more time to plan and more time to have something to look forward to. Our 100% Price Guarantee means your holiday price is fixed at the time of booking and you will never be asked to pay more, even if our costs increase at a later date. As prices more often rise than fall, early booking means you’re sure of fixing the best price; and if, on a rare occasion, we reduce the tour price, should you see your holiday priced at less than you have paid, Jules Verne will refund the difference in vouchers for your next tour with us.
Fully Protected
All Jules Verne tours and cruises are ATOL, ABTA and IATA bonded, which guarantees 100% financial protection, and gives you the peace of mind that your money is safe and secure.
Short Breaks & Long Haul
With carefully collated itineraries from 3-night city breaks to 3-week worldwide tours, we journey to lands less-visited or add an extra dimension to well-known destinations, travelling by air, rail, road, river, and sea, from dots in the ocean to the world’s largest landmasses.
Small Groups, Big Benefits
Enjoying the sociable ambience which only small groups can offer, every detail of a Jules Verne tour is thoughtfully planned to deliver the best experience for every guest. The range of tours spans the spectrum from cultural sites to sumptuous scenery and stunning safaris, focused on history, art, natural wonders, or wonderful wildlife, so whatever you choose, you will be travelling with like-minded people. Travelling as part of a small group enhances every aspect of a tour, from an amiable ambiance and individual service to avoiding the large coach queues, delving deeper into the destination’s culture, and witnessing local life in an informal setting. With an average group size of 10-16, and with some groups being much smaller to ensure the best possible experience, we can visit hidden gems off the beaten track, and you can be confident that your tour will operate.
At Jules Verne, we’re proud of our heritage. Our 45-year history is full of travel firsts that underline our continued commitment to extraordinary adventures and pioneering journeys.
Originally called Voyages Jules Verne, the company was founded in 1978 by Philip Morrell. His aim was to run an epic train journey from London to Beijing and then on to Hong Kong. After that successful inaugural trip in 1979, we soon became the first tour company granted permission to operate in China. This breakthrough positioned Jules Verne as the go-to organiser for tours to China, and, for the next decade, we worked with every major tour operator worldwide on their China programmes.
Following the worldwide success of that first rail journey, dubbed The Central Kingdom Express, we organised more inaugural journeys, including The Patagonian Express, The Raj Express and The Cape to Cairo Express. Yet more ground-breaking tours followed, as we continued to shape authentic experiences for travellers with a real sense of adventure.
Our clients have enjoyed a series of once-in-a-lifetime experiences since we started organising stand-out tours by road, rail, air and river more than four decades ago:
The ethos of Jules Verne has always been innovation and opportunity, just like its literary namesake, famous for his Voyages Extraordinaires writings. As a tour operator we have never been afraid to step into the unknown. We were the first to operate direct charter flights into Albania; Costa Rica; Uzbekistan, Syria, the Crimea, Agra for the Taj Mahal; Aqaba for Petra; Aswan for Lake Nasser; Kilimanjaro for the Serengeti and Harare for Victoria Falls, opening up travel beyond typical tourist resorts at the time.
In 1998 Jules Verne was acquired by Kuoni Travel and in 2015 REWE Group, and its tourism division DER Touristik, took over Kuoni Group’s tour operating activities. Our escorted tours currently span five continents, and we remain firmly rooted in our heritage of crafting inspirational voyages for discerning travellers, without compromising on quality.
Featured on our website are some of the most beautiful and interesting countries in the world. We believe tourism should work positively towards protecting the natural beauty, culture and wildlife of the destinations we visit so that future generations of visitors and residents alike can continue to enjoy them.
In most cases, we arrange sightseeing to be undertaken by expert local guides and escorts. Not only because we consider local people the best source of information on the sites visited but to ensure the communities which form an integral part of our tours, also benefit from tourism.
Accommodation
Where it is feasible to do so, we utilise ‘eco-friendly’ accommodations. Whilst precise definition will vary from property to property, it generally implies environmentally sensitive architecture and operations and an active involvement in schemes to support local communities and regenerate flora and fauna. Current destinations where this has been possible include Costa Rica, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Zambia.
Animal Welfare Policy
We believe tourism should work positively towards protecting wildlife. We want our customers to have an unforgettable holiday experience, but not at the cost of an animal’s welfare. Working with our local suppliers, we encourage good practice, and help them in making informed choices to better protect animals, their habitats, and the communities that live alongside them. Our customers can travel with peace of mind, knowing we strive for an ethical and sustainable approach to animal tourism.
Guidelines, Reporting and Grievance Channel
Our grievance procedure guarantees a trustworthy and at the same time transparent process in dealing with grievances about violations of human rights or environmental obligations. A grievance can be used to report suspicions of possible risks to human or environment rights or violations of due diligence obligation, such as forced labour, child labour, discrimination or the harmful contamination of soil, water and air, as well as detrimental noise and excessive water consumption which are linked to Jules Verne, its supply chains or its employees. Grievances can be submitted by employees as well as third parties via the grievance channel by REWE Group – anonymously, if requested.
Customer complaints, for example about the quality of Jules Verne products and services, are not considered grievances about human rights or environmental risks or due diligence violations. For these complaints, please do not hesitate to contact the customer service departments and hotlines.
We expressly encourage employees and external parties to inform us of any suspicion on human rights or environmental risks or due diligence violations. Whistleblowers must not suffer any occupational disadvantages as a result of submitting grievances. The grievance procedure follows a defined process, which is also set out in the Rules of Procedure and that complies with the German Act on Corporate Due Diligence Obligations in Supply Chains (LkSG) being applicable to the whole REWE Group (including us) due to its German parent company. Impartiality is guaranteed at all times; those involved in the procedure are not bound by instructions and are obliged to maintain confidentiality.
Supplier Code of Conduct Der Touristik Group
As an international travel group, DER Touristik Group is aware of the responsibility it has towards the host countries and their cultures, as well as towards customers, partners, employees and society. DER Touristik Group is therefore committed to ecologically and socially responsible corporate governance and, in particular, to respecting human rights. DER Touristik Group expects that its suppliers or service providers also observe these principles and has established the present Supplier Code of Conduct of DER Touristik Group (hereinafter referred to as “SCoC”) which serves as a cornerstone for the joint and effective implementation of these principles. Read the full supplier code of conduct here.
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VAT No. 805146159