Expedition Support Programme

Alistair Cole Consulting can provide a full or expedition advisory programme for your organisation.

Alistair Cole Consulting supports schools in organising and delivering their own expeditions, providing expert guidance at every stage of the process via our Expedition Support Programme (ESP). From initial concept development and destination selection through to detailed planning, logistics, staffing structures, and risk management, we work in close partnership with schools to ensure every expedition is safe, educational, and genuinely rewarding.


Our team brings extensive experience across all aspects of expedition planning and delivery. If you have a project that requires expert support, you’ve come to the right people. Whether you are planning a jungle trek, a high-altitude climbing expedition, or scuba diving on remote reefs, we help turn ambitious ideas into well-executed realities.


We support clients throughout the entire expedition lifecycle, from feasibility planning and programme design to full 24/7 operational delivery. We can develop tailored training for your staff team and, where required, source experienced and qualified Expedition Leaders to ensure your venture runs safely and successfully. Whatever the scope of your project, we provide support that is proportionate, practical, and professional.


Our expertise includes programme design, logistics management, staff training, risk assessment, and compliance with current Health and Safety standards. We also advise on emergency planning, safeguarding, communications strategy, and operational oversight, drawing on significant experience managing complex expeditions worldwide.


Whether you are launching your first overseas expedition or refining an established programme, we provide the professional guidance needed to give staff, students, parents, and governors complete confidence.


Why organise your own expedition with ESP? 

  • Greater control over the programme
  • More opportunities for young people to participate in planning and preparation
  • Potentially richer educational value
  • Significantly lower overall costs compared to externally purchased packages
  • Once established, compliance systems can be reused for future visits

We also offer technical adviser services and our team hold NEBOSH, IOSH and higher Occupational Health qualifications, so can advise you on the latest Health and Safety issues in the wider outdoor industry.
We have specialist knowledge in the following countries and can put together bespoke expeditions for your organisation at short notice: 
 
Peru, Columbia, Ecuador, Belize, Yukon, Zambia, Botswana, Namibia, Egypt, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Ethiopia, Nepal, India, Bhutan, Vietnam, Cambodia and the Philippines. 

If you would like to discuss how we may be able to help, please contact us. 

Expedition Consultancy Overview Video Expedition Support Brochure

Responsible Tourism Policy

Where possible we design and operate expeditions in a way that gives the highest degree of long-term economic benefit to local communities, whilst maintaining and improving the environment:


  • We aim to use local suppliers wherever possible.
  • We aim to develop long-term relationships overseas.
  • We aim to be responsible in the disposal of waste e.g. bottles and packaging.
  • We aim to avoid buying bottled water wherever possible.
  • We aim to ensure that our type of tourism is appropriate to local conditions and does not overload local infrastructure.
  • We aim to send the majority of our paperwork via email, where this is not possible, paper will be from recyclable sources.
  • We take into consideration economic, environmental and cultural issues when looking at new destinations.
  • We aim to achieve zero litter policies everywhere we operate.
  • We aim to work closely with all relevant local bodies to help preserve and improve the environment.
  • We encourage our clients to use biodegradable shampoos and detergents to prevent pollution.
  • We encourage our clients never to buy products that exploit or aid in the destruction of habitats or species.
  • We encourage local involvement and provide financial support for economic, social or environmental projects that will benefit local communities.
  • We encourage our clients, through our literature and courses, to act in a socially responsible way.
  • We attempt to impart an insight and understanding of the host culture and community to our clients so that they can gain more from visiting them.
  • We run our offices in a responsible manner by monitoring, and where possible reducing, our energy usage, as well as recycling.
  • We support World Animal Protection's elephant friendly tourism pledge, promoting elephant friendly travel.
  • We provide regular and ongoing training in the principles and practices of responsible tourism.