Here are many of the burning questions potential teammates ask. Each individual expedition also has its own Exped FAQ tab, to provide team-specific answers. Contact us if your question remains unanswered or to request the Handbook for the team you’re keen to join.
How do I join an expedition team?
The first step is to choose your ultimate expedition – you can search by location, departure date or expedition style. It can be a difficult decision so SCHQ are on hand to supply additional information in our comprehensive Expedition Handbooks, and to talk you through the nitty-gritty of each expedition to help you choose your ideal experience. Once your questions are answered, you can complete our Booking Form and pay a deposit – SCHQ will come back to you if any further details are needed before approving your space on the team.
How much does an expedition cost?
The cost for each expedition is listed on the relevant Expedition Detail page. All pricing is per team member and you can find expedition-specific inclusions and exclusions in the Detail tabs. A deposit is required on booking, with the balance due 90 days before departure or in installments if preferred. Our Payment page includes further information on how to pay (including options for £GBP and $USD), and on the different deposit amounts required.
How do I prepare for an expedition?
Visit the Get Ready section for guidance and further advice on everything from training to kit and visas. Each Expedition Detail page outlines the fitness requirements and prerequisites for that particular expedition so if you have any specific concerns or questions, get in touch with SCHQ who will be happy to help.
What kit will I need for an expedition?
The comprehensive Expedition Handbook includes a recommend kit list specific to each expedition and SCHQ are on hand if you require further detail. In addition, our Journal features a number of useful resources from gear reviews and buying guides to expert advice to help you prepare your expedition equipment. On booking, teammates will also be provided with a number of discount codes for our kit partners.
What’s your ethos?
Secret Compass redefines what is possible by creating pioneering projects in the world’s wildest places. Secret Compass is built around a team of trusted experts who combine a passion for exploration with industry-leading professionalism. Secret Compass reignites your primal need for adventure, providing the catalyst for you to come alive and achieve the extraordinary.
Is this a holiday?
While you may well use your annual leave to join a Secret Compass team, we plan and deliver expeditions, not tours. We have rough, outline itineraries and stated aims which the team are expected to work together to achieve. As with any kind of adventurous, expeditionary travel, there will be an element of the unknown which sets this endeavor apart from a normal ‘holiday’. Our Expedition Detail pages highlight what you can expect from each outline itinerary, or request an Expedition Handbook for the nitty-gritty details.
How do you manage risk?
Read about our rigorous, military-grade risk management approach in the Risk section of Get Ready.
Can you plan me a custom trip?
Absolutely. We love getting our teeth into ambitious adventures for individuals, small groups or organisations. Get in touch to get the ball rolling.
Can you give advice for my private expedition?
We’d love to help you plan your next expedition professionally, and our Custom Consultancy has been set up to do just this. Depending on your budget and time frame, we can help with anything from a stand-alone pre-departure risk or medical assessment to full planning, logistics, staffing and back-up on the ground. Contact us today to discuss your expedition aspirations. We are a small and very busy team so although we’d love to, are not able to provide expedition advice for ventures in which we are not involved.
Who’s a typical Secret Compass teammate?
There really is no such thing as a typical team member – our expeditions attract intrepid participants from all over the globe and from all walks of life. Drawn together by their shared enthusiasm and our team-focused approach to the expedition aims, our team departures are made up of solo travelers, couples, friends and strangers.