Why STC?

We're inspired. Are you?

Last October, I travelled to Jordan for the first time. I shared dinner with the Bedouin and slept under star filled desert skies.

I have experienced the stillness of deserts before, and travelled to many amazing places over the past 21 years, yet as dawn broke amid the silence of Wadi Rum and the sun's rays began transforming the sand from a deep purple to a vivid red, I sat utterly spellbound.

In that moment, I remembered what it is we do here at The STC that's so important: we help people like you find your own unique 'moment'.

This isn't just our company, or our job, it's our passion.

If you're inspired, we should talk.

Adrian Ferraro, STC Director

We're different

Giving your travel direction

We are a travel agency specialising in expeditions, adventure travel and unique holiday experiences. In short, this is what we’re all about:

• Knowledge, expertise, passion and inspiration.
• Promoting a responsible approach to educational tourism.
• Knowing who’s who in the travel industry and knowing which operators do what, where, how and why.
• Building great relationships with some of the best travel and expedition companies in the UK and using that relationship to your advantage.
• Offering independent, impartial advice, fighting your corner and ensuring you get the very best travel experience possible.

We think it’s all nicely summed up in the phrase ‘giving your travel direction’.

Financial Protection

The STC is an approved agent for ATOL (Air Travel Organisers’ Licence) protected tour operators and travel providers.

For your peace of mind and total financial security, we will only ever recommend you to arrange travel that includes flights from the UK as part of an ATOL protected package. Whilst other forms of financial protection exist, ATOL is the only one that will cover all eventualities, from operator failure to changes in foreign office advice on the country being visited.

Payment for the travel services we arrange is made directly to the ATOL licence holder and you are therefore covered financially by their ATOL. The Specialist Travel Consultancy does not handle any client money and we are therefore are not required to provide financial protection. This arrangement entirely satisfies the strict guidelines of the UK travel industry regarding consumer protection.

ATOL Protection extends primarily to customers who book and pay in the United Kingdom.

Travel Partners

We work with over 45 of the best holiday, tour and expedition operators in the UK.

Each has been chosen for their expertise in a particular region, activity or specialist arena, enabling you to access a wealth of experience and expertise through just one company.

A sample of the many companies we act as agents for include: Acorn Venture, Aqua-Firma, Audley Travel, The Adventure Company, Cedarberg Travel, Discover Ltd, Diverse Earth, Dragoman Overland, Exodus Travels, Explore!, Geckos Adventures, Go Russia, Mountain Kingdoms, The Imaginative Traveller, Intrepid, Madventurer, Outlook Expeditions, Peregrine Adventures, Steppes Travel, Tangent Expeditions, Trans Indus, Travel Indochina, Utracks, Wildlife & Wilderness, World Expeditions and more

Adding Value

We add value to your travel experience through the wealth of ours. We are not a tour operator, and do not claim to be one.

We enable you to gain more from your trip through our knowledge of the market, our contacts and relationships with tour operators and expedition companies, our extensive knowledge of travel and adventure opportunities around the world and our passionate approach to creating itineraries that take you beyond the ordinary.

It’s why our clients return to us year on year.