Echo Charlie
Echo Charlie
South and Central America
Why we love Echo Charlie
Born from more than 20 years of pioneering expedition experience with White Desert, Echo Charlie is a bold new name in adventure travel, creating extraordinary journeys to some of the world’s most remote and little-explored places. Its private expeditions combine expert-led exploration, exceptional access and the romance of aviation, designed to reveal destinations in a way few travellers ever experience.
At the heart of every journey is a fully refurbished DC-3 aircraft, its vintage character paired with modern avionics, comfort and advanced safety features. Limited to just 12 guests, each expedition offers a rare sense of exclusivity, with direct flights between remote destinations allowing travellers to bypass conventional airports and spend more time immersed in the places they have come to discover.
Echo Charlie currently offers two remarkable journeys across Latin America. The Peru to Patagonia expedition moves through cloud forests, desert landscapes, the Atacama and the wilds of Patagonia, combining ancient cultures, extraordinary wilderness and landscapes of astonishing contrast. The new Colombia to Guatemala journey explores a very different side of the continent, travelling from Medellín and Colombia’s remote wilderness to the vast Llanos plains and the Caribbean island of Providencia, before continuing into Guatemala’s Mayan heartland, Tikal and Uaxactún.
What makes Echo Charlie so special is the seamless way these wildly contrasting places are connected. Rather than simply travelling between destinations, the aircraft becomes part of the adventure — carrying guests directly into remote landscapes where each landing begins an entirely new story. These are journeys for curious travellers who want to go beyond the familiar, with comfort and reassurance without compromising on the spirit of true exploration.
Good to know
- Each departure is limited to just 12 travellers, ensuring intimacy, personalised guidance, and the freedom to explore without crowds.
- Guests travel aboard a lovingly restored 1940s Dakota DC-3, retaining golden-age charm while upgraded with state-of-the-art safety and navigation systems.
- Both itineraries, Peru to Patagonia and Colombia to Guatemala, can be travelled in either direction and connect places few travellers will ever visit in a single journey.
- With seamless logistics, minimal layovers, and curated experiences throughout, guests travel in comfort while the Echo Charlie team handle every detail.
- A new journey, this one reaching beyond the Americas, tracing the North Atlantic into the deep Arctic, is in the pipeline. Stay tuned for more.
White Desert
White Desert
Antarctica
Why we love White Desert
White Desert has built its reputation as a true leader in polar exploration. With unmatched logistical expertise and an unwavering commitment to sustainability, they make what once seemed impossible not just possible—but seamless, safe, and spectacular.
Antarctica remains the ultimate frontier — vast, untouched, and profoundly moving. From ice tunnels sculpted by nature to the endless silence of the polar plateau, every moment is unforgettable. White Desert offers an extraordinary blend of luxury and exploration in the heart of this remote wilderness.
Here, comfort meets conservation. At their avant-garde camps —Whichaway with its cosy, Scandinavian-inspired pods, the futuristic, space-age Echo, or new Alpine-style Explorer — guests wake in heated interiors with panoramic views, dine on gourmet meals, and relax in lounges that feel like outposts on another planet.
Each curated experience — be it visiting emperor penguins, venturing to the South Pole, or exploring ice-tunnel cathedrals — is designed to connect travellers to a landscape that is both timeless and fragile.
White Desert is committed to preserving Antarctica’s pristine environment while enabling extraordinary travel experiences. As the only carbon-neutral operator on the continent, they offset all emissions from flights, operations, and camps through accredited carbon projects.
Energy use is minimised with solar arrays, low-energy systems, and strict waste management protocols — everything, and we mean everything, is flown out for responsible disposal. White Desert also supports conservation and research, partnering with scientists and funding initiatives that protect fragile polar ecosystems.
White Desert Antarctica – where luxury and the sublime converge at the bottom of the world.
Good to know
- Camps host up to 12 guests in exquisitely appointed pods; think sauna, gourmet dining, and sweeping ice landscapes with no compromise on comfort
- Fly from Cape Town to Wolf’s Fang Runway — White Desert operates its own blue-ice runway in Antarctica and uses ski-equipped aircraft for in-camp transfers
- Trips run during the Antarctic summer (mid-November to early February), when there’s 24-hour daylight
- Carbon neutral since 2007, strong sustainability practices (waste removal, minimal footprint camps, testing sustainable aviation fuel), working under IAATO guidelines
Southern Crossings
Southern Crossings
Australia, New Zealand and Fiji
Why we love Southern Crossings
Founded in 1986, Southern Crossings was born from a love of travel, hospitality, and the desire to showcase the unparalleled landscapes and rich cultures of Australia, New Zealand and Fiji. Over the decades, they’ve grown into one of the most respected DMCs in the region — still boutique in size, but big on heart, service, and ambition.
With teams based in Australia and New Zealand, and strong partnerships throughout the islands of Fiji, they specialise in creating one-of-a-kind experiences that go beyond sightseeing. Think private vineyard tastings with the winemaker, stargazing with an astronomer under the namesake Southern Cross, or exploring remote island communities in style.
What sets Southern Crossings apart is not just what they know, but who they know. Their long-standing local connections open doors for guests to experience places and people in ways that are immersive, authentic, and unforgettable.
Australia
The allure of Australia is well-known to many within the luxury travel sector, yet its sheer diversity continues to surprise and captivate even the most seasoned travellers. This vast continent delivers an astonishing range of travel experiences, from the ancient red heart of the Outback to the vibrant cosmopolitan cities, and from the pristine white sands of its coastal fringes to the lush, ancient rainforests. It’s a land of breathtaking contrasts and endless possibilities.
Thanks to Southern Crossings’ deep local knowledge and strong supplier relationships, you’ll always have access to the best guides, hidden gems, and luxury stays. If your clients are looking for an antipodean adventure packed with wow-factor and woven with local insight, this is the team you want on the ground.
New Zealand
From the majestic fjords of Milford Sound to the thrilling bungy jumps of Queenstown, and from the vineyards of Marlborough to the captivating cultural performances of Rotorua, New Zealand is a country of extraordinary contrasts and unexpected delights.
The team knows every hidden trail, every boutique lodge, and every opportunity for a truly authentic encounter. A recent client remarked that their heli-hiking experience on a glacier, followed by a gourmet picnic overlooking an untouched fiord, was the highlight of their extensive travels.
If ever a country was made for tailor-made luxury travel, it’s New Zealand.
Fiji
While perhaps less explored by mainstream luxury travellers, Fiji and its islands offer unparalleled opportunities for barefoot luxury, cultural immersion, and truly pristine natural beauty. We would argue they are perfect as relaxing extensions to your clients’ Antipodean adventures or, indeed, as destinations in their own right for those seeking authentic island experiences.
The Southern Crossings team specialises in curating bespoke itineraries for the islands of Fiji, ensuring that every moment is infused with tranquility, luxury, and genuine connection to these idyllic islands and their warm, welcoming people.
Good to know
- Southern Crossings’ team is comprised of lifelong residents and experienced guides across Australia and New Zealand – meaning every itinerary is infused with insider knowledge, hidden gems, and authentic cultural connections.
- Every itinerary is custom-designed – there are no set templates — ensuring each journey reflects your clients’ personal interests, travel style, and preferred pace.
- As proud advocates of responsible travel, Southern Crossings prioritises eco-conscious suppliers and experiences that give back to local communities, making every journey meaningful and mindful.
- With an amazing black book filled with 40-years’ worth of contacts, the team has access to an array of sporting personalities and world-class premium chefs within Australia and can organise truly personal meet and greets and introductions.