Here at TourScoop, we’re dedicated to helping you find your perfect match tour. Here’s our deep-dive review on Abercrombie & Kent.
A pioneer in the world of luxury adventure travel, Abercrombie & Kent offered its first African safaris in 1962. Today, the company travels to more than 100 countries on all seven continents, offering guests insider access, immersive experiences, and the high-end service for which the brand is known.
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A&K has more than 55 offices in more than 30 countries staffed by some 2,500 travel experts. That local, on-the-ground expertise helps set the company apart and creates memorable journeys for travelers no matter where they go.
TourScoop takeaways
- Destinations: Tours travel to more than 100 countries on all seven continents
- Tour Size Average: The company’s Small Group Journeys have a maximum group size of 18 guests. Expedition cruises have no more than 199 guests, and Private Jet Journeys top out at 48.
- Tour Type: Luxury small-group travel tours, small-ship expedition cruises, and private jet trips
How to book
Tours can be booked through your preferred travel agent, via the Abercrombie & Kent website, or by speaking with an A&K Travel Consultant at 866-620-5889.
Credibility check
Abercrombie & Kent’s list of awards and honors is lengthy. Over the years it’s been named the World’s Leading Luxury Safari Company by the World Travel Awards, Best Luxury Tour Operator by Travel Weekly, and the Best Luxury Escorted Tour Operator by the Travvy Awards. On TravelStride, Abercrombie & Kent has a rating of 4.1/5 based on 59 reviews.
Tour destinations
Abercrombie & Kent travels to more than 100 countries on all seven continents. New tours for 2024 include the 10-day Norway & Denmark: A Fjordland Journey that includes a fireside dining experience in a traditional Norwegian lavvo (tent), a 10-day Tailor Made Greece: Mythic Cities & Enchanting Isles journey that travels to off-the-beaten-path locations, and a nine-day Colombia: Bogotá to Cartagena small group journey that features stops at little-visited sites. African safari tours also remain popular options.
Tour types
Abercrombie & Kent offers several different small-group travel experiences. Its Luxury Small Group Journeys (with a maximum group size of 18 guests) include stays at luxury hotels and are led by an A&K Resident Tour Director who provides travelers with insider access to the destination.
With a max group size of 14, Wings Over the World Journeys include privately chartered flights between destinations to maximize travelers’ time on the ground. Marco Polo Journeys are limited-edition trips with a maximum of 18 travelers that take guests to exclusive events and festivals and off-the-beaten-path destinations. During holidays, school breaks, and other seasonal times of year, Luxury Family Journeys are also offered, with a maximum group size of 24.
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Travelers can also see the world by water on Abercrombie & Kent’s Luxury Expedition Cruises, which travel to rarely visited destinations on high-end, all-inclusive, small ships featuring all-balcony accommodations and a capacity of no more than 199 guests. Private Jet Journeys travel from destination to destination on a chartered 757 with a dedicated flight crew and are limited to no more than 48 guests. For a truly personalized experience, guests can design their own itineraries around their interests on a Luxury Tailor Made Journey led by A&K local guides.
A&K offers 70 different Small Group Journeys, 15 Luxury Expedition Cruise itineraries, three Private Jet Journeys, and more than 120 Tailor Made itineraries.
Tour guides
All Small Group Journeys include a Resident Tour Director who leads the group from beginning to end and is joined by local expert guides along the way. These directors have lived for decades or even their entire lives in the tour destinations and are intimately familiar with the culture, history, and wildlife.
Expedition cruises feature a team of real-life explorers and passionate experts that include renowned scientists, recipients of the Polar Medal, and native cultural experts.
What’s included
Abercrombie & Kent’s Small Group Journeys include:
- Airport meet and greet with private transfers
- A Traveling Bell Boy for luggage handling
- Full breakfast daily; select lunches and dinners
- Breakfast in bed on select days
- A choice of activities
- Mid-journey laundry service
- Internet access
- Entrance fees, taxes, and all gratuities except Resident Tour Director
- 24/7 A&K on-call support
Luxury Expedition Cruises are all inclusive every step of the way, which means travelers can expect:
- An exclusively chartered voyage led by A&K’s Expedition Team
- Pre- and/or post-cruise stay at a well-situated hotel
- Airport meet and greet and transfers
- Private balconies with every onboard accommodation
- Butler service with every suite
- A culinary program featuring French-inspired cuisine, house drinks, and afternoon tea and pastries
- 24-hour room service and breakfast in bed on board
- Complimentary expedition parka, backpack, and water bottle and use of waterproof pants, boots, and trekking poles
- Zodiac excursions led by expert naturalist driver-guides
- Enrichment program, lectures, and presentations
- Laundry service on board
- All gratuities, port charges, and taxes
- Complimentary Wi-Fi on board and in hotels
- Onboard service from an English-speaking staff, including an accredited physician
- 24/7 A&K on-call support
What’s not included
International and internal airfares are not included but are detailed on the Dates & Prices page for each trip.
Typical travelers
The majority of Abercrombie & Kent travelers are between the ages of 45 and 64 and are people who are professionals and entrepreneurs with a strong curiosity about the world. Travelers tend to want a deeper knowledge and appreciation of the destinations and are looking for eye-opening and impactful experiences.
Guests tend to be primarily Americans, with many Canadians, British, Europeans, and Australians as well.
Communication
Each guest (or their travel agent) works with a dedicated A&K Travel Consultant from the planning stages to departure. Guests can also download the A&K app for easy access to all of their travel details.
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While traveling, guests remain in constant communication with an A&K rep on the ground, such as their local tour guide or Resident Tour Director.
Loyalty program
With a guest’s third trip with Abercrombie & Kent, they are invited to join the Marco Polo Club. The loyalty program offers members-only savings on A&K travel, acknowledgment and gifts when traveling, members-only onboard receptions on A&K’s Luxury Expedition Cruises, a priority waitlist on sold-out journeys, and exclusive member communications and events.
Sustainability efforts
Established in 1982, A&K Philanthropy (AKP) partners with communities in destinations where the company travels. A&K’s local offices support more than 45 projects focused on areas like conservation, education, health, and enterprise. Organizations supported include Peru’s Children of the Rainbow School, the Cambodia Clean Water Project, and the Chipego Bike Shop in Botswana.
Many journeys give guests the chance to visit an AKP partner project and see the impacts for themselves. That could include visits with local schoolchildren, tours of community medical facilities, and opportunities to learn about and observe local conservation efforts.
Health and safety practices
Travelers can opt to purchase a travel insurance plan through A&K’s Guest Protection Program. Benefits include trip cancellation and interruption reimbursements, compensations for travel and baggage delays, and emergency medical services.
Family companies
Abercrombie & Kent is part of the A&K Travel Group, which also includes the newly reimagined Crystal cruise line and travel tour company Cox & Kings.
