Our Story

We are not offering only a trip to visit the main tourist sites, we are offering a glimpse as a different world, filled with many wonderful people and many fascinating cultures.

Experience is everything

We will help you uncover the real wonders of New Zealand, Latin America & Antarctica. By using our expertise to offer creative, personalised itineraries that will challenge your senses and allow you to travel with confidence.

Our story begins in South America, where we spent many years working as tour guides and travelling independently to the furthermost reaches of the continent.

During that time, we formed many great and long-lasting friendships with people from all walks of life. Our friends share with us their knowledge and experience and offer their ideas and support, they have welcomed us into their homes and their families, and through them we have learnt about the true spirit of South America

Our deep passion for the people, the culture and its spectacular landscapes combined with our desire to make South America and all its beauty and mystery accessible to travellers who desire creature comforts and genuine experiences was the driver for us to form Viva.

Since 2009 we have had the pleasure of showing thousands of travellers not the main tourist hotspots, but a glimpse of a different world, filled with many wonderful people and many fascinating cultures.

Our team of incredible destination specialists have lived and breathed Latin America & Antarctica. They take pride in creating personalised travel itineraries, they know it is the little things that make a big difference and as such strive to go that extra mile for every one of our wonderful passengers.

Read full Viva Story here

Our New Zealand story is somewhat different. At the end of 2019 our spirits were soaring, 2020 was set to be a record year! Then along came COVID-19 and everything changed. Borders closed, planes stopped flying, everything just stopped. There is much more to the story which you can read here.

Never ones to be idle we set to work on a project that we had been planning for some time, inbound tourism into New Zealand, as after all there is only one place we know better than Latin America & Antarctica, and that is our home, New Zealand.

Our experience with luxury lodges and unique experiences throughout Latin America has given us a unique perspective on what we can offer travellers. We are proud to call New Zealand home, and we are proud to be able to offer you some truly unique ways to explore magical Aotearoa, New Zealand.

Our luxury weekend escapes and short breaks as well as our longer packages are personalised for you, based on your interests, your passions and your desires. So, don’t just dream it … Live It! with Viva.

Brendan Robbers
Brendan Robbers Director
Rachel Williams
Rachel Williams Director

Our business is operated through Viva Expeditions Limited and Viva Aotearoa Limited, trading as Viva Expeditions

Meet the Team
Rachel Williams

Founder & Managing Director
Tara Sutherland

Operations Manager
Pia Knarston

Destination Specialist
Ersan Fedai

Marketing Executive
Melinda Cleaver

Tour Manager
Franco De Antoni

Tour transport & logistics
Marco Hidalgo

Photographer
Laura Pattara

Travel Writer
Dr Ian Griffin

Lead Astronomer, Astrophysicist & Aurora Junkie
Miranda Satterthwaite

Antarctic Academy Director

Stephen Voss

Guest Photographer: Southern Lights by Flight
Brad Phipps

Guest Photographer: Southern Lights by Flight
Ruth Topless

Guest Photographer: Southern Lights by Flight

Personalised Itineraries, Group Tours & Small Ship Cruises in some of the world’s most pristine destinations.

Peace of mind

We want you to travel with confidence. Knowing everything is taken care of and all your arrangements are guaranteed. We are with you 24 hours a day, and our team are just a phone call away at any time. So, whenever you need us, we will be there! We are NZ owned & are TAANZ affiliated.

Specialists

We use our expertise to offer creative, personalised itineraries that are individually designed for you, based on your preferred style, accommodation, and interests. We know our destinations inside out and have all travelled extensively, we also conduct regular checks of our hotels, ships, and services to ensure quality.

Real Experiences

Tailor made experiences and small group tours designed for you! We offer the major highlights but also the more off-the-beaten track regions always offering unique experiences and cultural interactions. Uncovering the local secrets and ensuring you have the trip of a lifetime

Value for money

All of our tours represent excellent value for money. We work hard to secure the best rates for our guests with no hidden costs, and once booked the services are guaranteed. We are ready to help, with no obligations, in fact we will save you valuable time in planning your incredible journey.

Enquire Today

We use our expertise to offer creative, personalised itineraries that challenge people’s senses and allow them to travel with confidence. We believe that true inspiration and growth comes from real experiences and immersion in the world around us. It is about interacting with the people, discovering the culture, finding the best local cuisine, and being blown away by the hidden treasures, the beautiful scenery, and the majestic vistas. We will help you explore natural wonders and the diverse wildlife, seeking the best and most genuine experiences in some of the most remote places on earth.

It’s the little things
that count.

Our Custom Tours give you the freedom and flexibility to design an itinerary that is perfect for you. Choose from our selection of inspiring independent itineraries here on our website which can be tailored to suit you, or let us know your requirements and our specialists will be happy to design a perfect itinerary to suit your interests, dates and budget.

Alternatively embark on a fully escorted Small Group Tour with us. A group tour gives you the opportunity to explore these destinations in a fun and exciting environment surrounded by like-minded travellers. All our small group tours provide the perfect balance between organised sightseeing and free time for independent discovery.

Or how about a Small Ship Cruise to Antarctica or the Arctic? A river cruise up the Amazon? Sailing around the Galapagos Islands? Or discovering New Zealand’s magnificent Fiordlands from the sea? Small ship cruising allows you to access regions that are inaccessible by road, pristine and remote locations that are unspoilt, untouched and truly magical.

Enquire Now

Our Favourite Tours

Browse All Tours
21 days

  • Small Ship Cruising: Small ship expedition cruises are a wonderful way to explore. Choose from Antarctica cruises & Sub-Antarctic Island cruises, Arctic cruises or sail the Patagonian Fiords, Galapagos Islands Cruising or New Zealand’s wonderful Fiordland.
Antarctica, South Georgia and Falklands Odyssey

This is an epic voyage of discovery aboard the Ocean Endeavour. Follow in the footsteps of Shackleton to Antarctica, South Georgia and the Falklands

Price from $14,290 USD
View Tour
22 days

  • Expedition: Looking to get off-the-beaten-track and explore some of the harder to reach destinations on offer. We have some great Expedition travel options for you!

  • Small Ship Cruising: Small ship expedition cruises are a wonderful way to explore. Choose from Antarctica cruises & Sub-Antarctic Island cruises, Arctic cruises or sail the Patagonian Fiords, Galapagos Islands Cruising or New Zealand’s wonderful Fiordland.

  • Wildlife and Nature: Our wildlife and nature holidays will take you to some of the most remote and unspoilt regions in the Southern Hemisphere. Discover rich exotic wildlife in Latin America, magnificent marine wildlife in Antarctica and spot spectacular birds in New Zealand.
Scott & Shackleton's Antarctica Ross Sea

Voyage from New Zealand on an epic Antarctica expedition. Explore surreal landscapes, discover wildlife, & the historic huts of Scott & Shackleton

Price from $17,836 USD
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14 days

  • Small Ship Cruising: Small ship expedition cruises are a wonderful way to explore. Choose from Antarctica cruises & Sub-Antarctic Island cruises, Arctic cruises or sail the Patagonian Fiords, Galapagos Islands Cruising or New Zealand’s wonderful Fiordland.
Journey to the Antarctica Circle

The most in-depth exploration of the Antarctic Peninsula. Extended time in the region allows you to cruise beyond the Antarctic Circle

Price from $11,790 USD
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