Our Team 
Our Tour Experts Jo began her work in marine conservation back in 1990 when she joined WWF in Hong Kong to begin their Marine Conservation Programme; a significant task in a place that had no laws to protect the coastal waters and where massive development was taking place before the handover to China. During her seven years with WWF, she was instrumental in bringing in new legislation and setting up four Marine Protected Areas.
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Our Team Steppes Travel is made by the people who work here. Incredible holidays are made possible because of their vast travel experience and the great enthusiasm they bring to their work.
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Our Tour Experts We carefully select our experts based on their knowledge, companionship and influence, ensuring that you can travel with the most knowledgeable leaders in the field.
Galapagos Islands
Cruise with Jo Ruxton & New Scientist
| Departure date | Duration | Prices Start from | Tour Expert | Max Group Size | Status | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 07/06/20 | 11 Days | £6,995 ex. flights | Jo Ruxton | 15 | AVAILABLE | Reserve your place |
Join our special Galapagos Island charter in collaboration with New Scientist. This is a fantastic opportunity to explore the Galapagos Islands, with marine conservationist and producer of the documentary A Plastic Ocean, Jo Ruxton. Jo has worked with the BBC Natural History unit and was part of the celebrated Blue Planet team.
Spend eight days exploring the archipelago with opportunities to explore a selection of islands on foot, by panga (dingy) and snorkelling. The cruise and excursions will be led by your Galapagos National Park guide, someone who can impart their knowledge and passion of the island’s history, geology and wildlife. In addition to leading excursions, your guide will give daily evening lectures and be available to answer all the questions you may have during the week.
Introducing your expert
Jo Ruxton
01285 601 784
Key Highlights of this Itinerary
1Galapagos Islands exploration
Explore eight varied islands including Isabela, Espanola and Fernandina
2Jo Ruxton
Accompanied by Jo Ruxton, co-founder of the Plastic Oceans Foundation
3Galapagos Science centre
Exclusive behind the scenes access at the Galapagos Science centre
4Luxury accommodation
Travel aboard the Natural Paradise a high-end motorboat
Explore our suggested itinerary
- Day 1Quito
- Day 2Quito
- Day 3Quito to Santa Cruz Island
- Day 4Isabela Island and Fernandina Islands
- Days 5-6Isabela Island
- Day 7Chinese Hat and Mosquera Islets
- Day 8Floreana Island
- Day 9Espanola Island
- Day 10San Cristobal to Guayaquil
- Day 11Guayaquil
Jo Ruxton
Over the past 18 years, Jo has been involved in numerous underwater filming projects around the world, from Antarctica to the pristine reefs of the Caribbean and the Pacific Ocean. More recently Jo co-founded the Plastic Oceans Foundation to draw attention to the problem of plastic pollution in our oceans. Her award-winning documentary, A Plastic Ocean is a must-watch for anybody with an interest in the health of our planet. Jo will accompany the group and give two lectures during the cruise.
New Scientist Discovery Tours
New Scientist is an English-language magazine that covers all aspects of science and technology. In 2019, they launched a range of new amazing science-inspired New Scientist Discovery Tours across the globe. With experts on board and in the company of fellow travellers who enjoy the discovery of science. Steppes are pleased to support this partnership and have some great tours with New Scientist to India, Madagascar, Hawaii, Galapagos, and Japan.
Galapagos Wildlife
There are few places on earth that can rival the wildlife of Galapagos, with an abundance of colourful creatures seemingly unafraid of humans. During your time in this living laboratory of evolution get close to many endemic species – about 97% of the reptiles and land mammals and 80% of the land birds are endemic, and more than 20% of the marine species are found nowhere but the Galapagos Islands. Highlights include marine and land iguanas, Galapagos penguins, Nazca and blue-footed boobies, waved albatross, sea lions, giant Galapagos tortoises and the majority of the 13 Darwin finches.
Galapagos Conservation Trust
Steppes is a Gold Corporate Member of the Galapagos Conservation Trust, the only UK charity that is focussed solely on conservation in the archipelago. As such we continue to support ongoing conservation projects in the archipelago and recently donated to the development of a citizen’s science website on which the public can post information about single-use plastic pollution in the Galapagos. When you book a trip to the Galapagos Islands with Steppes Travel, you will also benefit from a complimentary, six-month membership with the Galapagos Conservation Trust.
Includes / Excludes
Important Information
Activity Level
Moderate ActivitySingle Supplement
Travelling on your own? Our group tours are perfect for solo travellers, as travelling as part of an organised group in faraway places provides security and peace of mind. We handle all of the arrangements for you and there will be a local tour guide on hand throughout to provide advice and help if needed, as well as the expertise of a Tour expert.
Flexibility
To allow flexibility, our group tours do not include international flights as standard. We can arrange international flights on your behalf and the above is an indication of the cost, based on return flights departing from London. All international flights from the UK are ATOL protected.
What is included
- Travel with Jo Ruxton throughout
- Six-month membership to the Galapagos Conservation Trust
- Bed and breakfast accommodation in Quito
- Welcome meal and city tour in Quito
- Domestic flights between mainland Ecuador and the Galapagos
- Full board meals and snorkelling equipment on the Natural Paradise boat
- English speaking National Park guide in the Galapagos
- Tourist card $20 and national park fee $100
- The use of our Steppes Travel App whilst travelling
- Tea, coffee and water onboard
- 24 hour assistance whilst travelling
- Group transfers throughout
What is excluded
- International flights to and from Ecuador
- Gratuities
- Visa
- Travel insurance
- Alcoholic and soft drinks onboard
Why a Steppes expert-led group tour
1.Experience matters
We have been running insightful and groundbreaking group tours since our inception in 1989. We have worked with institutions such as the British Museum and Victoria & Albert Museum and run wildlife tours in conjunction with conservation agencies such as Fauna & Flora International, Wildlife Conservation Society, the Orangutan Foundation, Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund and the Jane Goodall Institute.
2.Like-minded travellers
Steppes Travellers are like-minded people; interesting, interested and curious. Our group tours, usually consisting of eight to ten travellers, aim to create an easy and informal atmosphere – we have a lot of fun on our tours and many friendships have been formed.
4.Peace of mind
When you travel on one of our group tours, you will be looked after by our local agents and your tour expert with the back-up of our 24-hour emergency number and duty manager. All our holidays are fully bonded and protected – our ATOL number is ATOL 6495.
3.It’s about who you know
We have developed an enviable pool of expertise from which to choose our tour experts, who we carefully select based on their knowledge, companionship and personality. Often, these experts can use their influence to facilitate private access to sites not typically open to the public.
Our future tour dates
For further information about any of these tours please call 01285 601 784
| Departure date | Duration | Prices Start from | Tour Expert | Max Group Size | Status | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 07/06/20 | 11 Days | £6,995 ex. flights | Jo Ruxton | 15 | AVAILABLE | Reserve your place |
Get in touch with our travel experts for tailor-made holidays
Get in touch with our travel experts to start creating your tailor-made holiday.
Expert-Led Group Tours
Explore similar expert-led group tours
With an average group size of just eight to ten people our group tour itineraries enable you to travel to some of the most intriguing regions of the world in the company of experts guides in the field and, of course, with likeminded people.
Why Choose Steppes?
Our knowledge and expertise sets us apart. So too our curiosity. A curiosity of the world and of you, and your passions. It is this that drives us to create a journey that is really bespoke to you.
Are you ready to discover extraordinary?
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