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Adventure awaits: The rise and rise of expedition yachting
By Rory FH Smith | 11 November 2025 | Cars & Yachts
The expedition yachting trend is far from slowing down – in fact, our appetite for exploration is bigger than ever. We set sail to find out more
Think of yacht charters and most minds will conjure up images of a dazzling white superyacht bobbing majestically in an Italian inlet or off the coast of Ibiza, the Cote d’Azur or Greek Islands. And they wouldn’t be wrong – that’s where the vast majority of these floating palaces still reside each summer. But there’s a small but growing yacht charter contingent up to something much more interesting: expedition yachting.
“Clients are becoming more curious about destinations outside that traditional Mediterranean and Caribbean milk run,” says Guy Mannering, retail charter broker at Cecil Wright. “There’s certainly a growing appetite for itineraries that feel a bit more unique.”
But that might be a bit of an understatement if Guy’s stories are anything to go by. The former captain of yachts measuring up to 50m speaks of expeditions to Antarctica, Patagonia, Greenland and remote parts of Indonesia.
“Even within the Med and Caribbean, people are asking far more detail in their itinerary than they have done before, to make sure they’re seeing places that are slightly off the beaten track,” he adds. “A lot of younger members of the families are pushing their parents to break out of the norm and do more adventurous trips. I think social media is probably playing a big role in that.” 
Beyond Guy’s personal experience, there are clear signs that the yacht market is becoming more audacious, with a significant rise in the number of adventure-ready explorer yachts being commissioned. According to a report from brokerage Smart Yachts earlier this year, the number of explorer yachts in production has nearly doubled from 58 in 2020 to 105 in 2025, with an estimated 786 explorer yachts in existence around the world.
“Even the term explorer yacht makes you think: where else can we go? And what might be interesting?” asks Guy. “If it’s got a submarine on the back of the yacht, then what exactly are we going to be seeing if we chartered a yacht like that?”
While regular yachts can access some remote corners of the globe, explorer yachts are particularly well suited to it. Equipped with large fuel tanks for long-distance cruising, Ice-class or double-skin steel hulls, large garages for equipment, raised helms for better visibility (ideal for spotting icebergs), as well as deep steel hulls for handling rough seas and helicopter decks for remote access, explorers are the yacht of choice for many wanting to sail on the wild side.
THE LOCATION: PATAGONIA & ANTARCTICA
Given the relative proximity of these two remote wildernesses, the ultimate expedition that takes in peaks of Patagonia at the tip of South America and the biting cold of Antarctica is a charter between the two.
“For me, it’s the ultimate thing that you could ever do in terms of Expedition style travel,” says Guy. Charters can consist of sailing around Patagonia before taking a private jet to King George Island in Antarctica, and then using the yacht as a base for further on-land expeditions and activities like heli-skiing. “Other than going into space or beneath the ocean, you can’t get more remote in terms of an experience,” adds Guy.
THE YACHT: SCINTILLA MARIS
The rugged 45.6m explorer yacht was first built in 1988 as a Dutch trawler, before being converted in 2023 as a yacht fit for exploration. Sleeping 10 guests in five staterooms with eight crew, the steel hulled, hybrid-electric Scintilla Maris has a 9,000 nautical mile range, which is ideal for covering off large distances in remote corners of the world. Fit for operating in icy, cold regions, it has high vantage outposts, which are well suited for wildlife watching, such as whales, birds and awe-inspiring icebergs.
THE LOCATION: INDONESIA
For those seeking warmer climes, look no further than Indonesia and its 17,000 islands, many of which are remote and uninhabited. From wild Komodo dragons, to beach life in Bali, and diving in remote crystal-clear waters, Indonesia is a sun-drenched spot ripe for exploration. “I’ve cruised into similar areas myself, and the waters are just crystal clear for perfect conditions for using submarines,” says Guy. “Having a yacht that can go there and also host people on board with all these bits of kit and toys stored away is ideal.”
THE YACHT: LA DATCHA
Despite its ice-classed hull, La Datcha is an ideal yacht for exploring the deep blue around the Indonesian islands, with its three-person submersible, two helicopters, sauna, gym, observation lounge and helipad. With enough room on board for 12 people across six cabins, the 77m yacht was built by Damen Yachting in 2020.THE LOCATION: GREENLAND, ICELAND & NORWAY
“Greenland (along with the Norwegian fjords) is very under-explored, always quiet, and yet offers the chance to see polar bears, whales, and the Northern Lights – especially in the summer,” says Guy. When it comes to dramatic scenery, you’d be hard pushed to beat the region’s numerous waterfalls and towering fjords.
THE YACHT: KING BENJI
At 47m, explorer yacht King Benji was built in 2024 by Dunya Yachts. With enough room for 10 people in five cabins, including a full-beam master suite, Benji is well suited to carrying the equipment needed for extreme exploration, with a huge aft deck 10tonne crane. In addition, the yacht features a hot and cold plunge pool-jacuzzi, sky lounge, dedicated observation pod and a whole host of kit to use in the water.