The UK’s leading provider of science-inspired tours, New Scientist Discovery Tours, has announced 15 new tours for 2025, as well as three new eclipse tours already planned for 2026 and 2027.
Guided by a leading expert, academic or custodian in their respective field, every unique tour is designed for curious minds, promising to take guests on a fascinating journey of discovery.
From wolf-watching in Yellowstone’s Lamar valley and witnessing the magnificent monarch butterfly migration in Mexico, to experiencing the wonders of rewilding first-hand in Portugal’s Greater Côa valley and uncovering mysteries of the night sky at Aurora Sky Station in Sweden, New Scientist Discovery Tours offers immersive experiences like no other across the world.
Read on to find a selection of the new tours below…
1. The great monarch butterfly migration: Mexico
14 January 2025 – 6 days from $5,195 USD
Witness one of the world’s most astounding wildlife events, the monarch butterfly migration, which occurs each year in the forested Central Highlands of Mexico and features the most delicate of creatures. This all-encompassing itinerary offers extensive time among the butterflies, as well as a chance to enjoy authentic cultural encounters.
Travellers will be accompanied by experts throughout, who will be on hand to explain the origins of the migration through a series of talks, walking seminars and fireside chats, covering the topics of migration biology, complete natural history of the monarch butterfly, the effects of, and adaptations to, climate change in the monarchs’ winter home, conservation strategies to protect summer breeding grounds for monarchs in North America and the origins of their migration in connection with the last glacial period during the Pleistocene Epoch.
WHAT’S INCLUDED:
- Five nights’ accommodation on twin share basis
- Services of a professional expedition leader(s) and assistants throughout
- Evening wildlife and cultural presentations
- All meals from dinner on day 1 through to breakfast on the final day
- Airport transfers on day 1 and final day
- All activities and entrance fees, taxes, permits and service fees
- 24-hour support
2. Science of astronomy and ice: Sweden
23 March 2025 – 4 days from £3,299
During this tour, spend time exploring Abisko National Park, an area preserved by scientists since the 1900’s. Travel to the Aurora Sky Station, known as one of the best places to view the Aurora Borealis where you can meet with experts who will teach you more about the northern lights. From here, stay at the unique Ice Hotel. Every year, when the river Torne freezes, blocks of ice are harvested to create this luxurious igloo hotel, which is the world’s largest hotel made of snow and ice. Stay in one of the hotels unique ‘ice rooms’, with temperature of -5 to -8 degrees Celsius.
Accompanied throughout by Jamie Carter, a freelance science and travel writer with 25 years’ experience writing about the night sky, eclipses and astronomy. He has written for over 50 publications, including Forbes, SPACE.com, Live Science and BBC Sky at Night magazine. He is the author of A Stargazing Program for Beginners.
WHAT’S INCLUDED:
- 1 night accommodation at the Abisko Turiststation
- 2 nights at Icehotel (1 night in a “cold room”, 1 night in a “warm room”)
- Land transportation as indicated in the itinerary
- Entrance to sites visited
- Arrival/departure group airport transfers
- Welcome dinner at Abisko Turiststation
- Breakfast each day
- Chairlift excursion to the Sky Station
- Thermal one-piece suit, boots and mittens rental to use while staying at the Icehotel
- Transfers to and from Abisko and the Icehotel
3. Yellowstone wolf & wildlife winter safari: USA
8 February 2025 – 7 days from $8,095 USD
Enjoy a wonderful wildlife odyssey through Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks, with extended wolf-watching time in Yellowstone’s Lamar valley. Accompanied throughout by New Scientist wildlife reporter Corryn Wetzel, you will take a deeper look at the science of Yellowstone’s geology, wildlife and extreme thermophiles.
Guests will be accompanied by a tour leader who will further reveal the natural history and geology of Yellowstone through a series of talks, walking seminars and fireside chats covering the geology of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem and geothermal features and their volcanic origins, the life and natural history of the grey wolf, predator and prey interactions between wolves, bison and elk, the scientific process of wolf conservation and reintroduction into Yellowstone, and how wolves restored Yellowstone’s balance.
WHAT’S INCLUDED:
- Six nights’ accommodation on a twin-share basis.
- Fireside talks from New Scientist writer, Corryn Wetzel.
- Guidance from a professional expedition leader throughout.
- Evening wildlife and cultural presentations.
- All meals, from dinner on day one through to breakfast on the final day.
- Cold-weather gear including a parka and boots during your trip.
- Airport transfers on day one and on the final day.
- All activities and entrance fees, taxes, permits and service fees.
- 24-hour support.
4. Conservation in the Côa valley: Portugal
11 April 2025 – 4 days from £2,180
Discover the unique, unspoiled landscapes of the Greater Côa valley. Learn how, through rewilding, wildlife’s natural rhythms are creating wilder, more biodiverse habitats that encourage nature to flourish.
Guests will spend two days exploring the region accompanied by Fernando Romão from the Rewilding Portugal team who will introduce you to the Rewilding projects in the area. Rewilding Portugal is a non-profit organisation whose mission is to promote nature conservation through rewilding measures. Its aim is for the Greater Côa valley to be a wilder place, with fully functioning ecosystems and abundant wildlife, where natural processes and complete food chains play key roles in the regeneration of the landscape. The area is home to vultures, eagles, otters, pond turtles and the Iberian wolf, a strictly protected species in Portugal.
WHAT’S INCLUDED:
- Three nights’ accommodation in the Côa valley.
- Group transfer from Porto airport to Côa valley on day 1.
- Group airport transfer on day 4.
- The company and insight of rewilding expert Fernando Romão for 2 days.
- An English-speaking tour leader throughout.
- Daily breakfast, as well as two lunches and three dinners.
- Water, limited wine and tea/coffee with included meals.
- All entrance fees, visits, excursions and transportation listed in the itinerary.
- Transport throughout.
- Water, limited wine and tea/coffee with included meals.
- Talks and walking seminars from members of the Rewilding Portugal team.
- All accommodation and internal transport.
- Gratuities for drivers, local guides and restaurant staff.
- 24-hour support.
5. The science of primary rainforests and wetlands: Malaysian Borneo
11 August 2025 – 10 days from £5,399
Explore Malaysia’s primary rainforests and wetlands teeming with rare and endangered species as Alfred Wallace did before writing his 1869 book The Malay Archipelago. Expect to see orangutans, sun bears, civet cats, langurs, gibbons, proboscis monkeys, rhinoceros hornbills and many more. The tour will be accompanied by author and editor Dr Martin Cohen, who has led and guided expedition cruises and overland safaris for over 25 years and has also conducted numerous wildlife surveys and biodiversity monitoring programs.
WHAT’S INCLUDED:
- Accommodation on twin share basis in all mentioned lodges and hotels
- Gratuities for local guides, drivers and porters
- All permits and entrance fees
- Nine breakfasts, five lunches, two packed lunches and eight dinners
- Presentations and walking seminars from local experts
- All tours and excursions
- Group airport transfers
6. Arctic expedition cruise with Richard Dawkins, Svalbard, Norway
22 June 2025 – 12 days from £14,395
Explore the northernmost region of Earth, the realm of the polar bear and the midnight sun, while travelling aboard the Greg Mortimer, which is at the cutting edge of nautical technology. This cruise will be a truly enriching trip of a lifetime.
Enjoy a full programme of talks, shore visits and Zodiac boat safaris covering topics including glaciology, botany, marine biology, astronomy and the history of polar exploration, deepening your connection to this remote and rugged archipelago. Accompanied by and with talks from Richard Dawkins and speakers from New Scientist, including Leah Crane and Russell Arnott, along with the highly knowledgeable and supportive expedition team, experts in exploration, science and wildlife.
Richard Dawkins is perhaps the world’s most famous athiest; he rose to fame following the publication of his 1976 book ‘The Selfish Gene’ which popularised the gene-centred view of evolution, and criticised views of creationism, as well as coining the term meme.
WHAT’S INCLUDED:
- 10 nights aboard the Greg Mortimer polar expedition vessel
- Full board throughout the cruise, including snacks, tea and coffee, plus beer, house wine and soft drinks at dinner
- One night at a hotel in Oslo with breakfast
- Return flights between Oslo and Longyearbyen, Svalbard
- Captain’s welcome and farewell receptions on board
- Talks from Richard Dawkins and New Scientist guest speakers
- Talks and guided activities from the onboard expedition team
- All Zodiac cruising and landing activities led by the expedition team
- Transfers between airports, hotels and your ship
- Free limited wi-fi onboard
- 3-in-1 AE Expeditions polar jacket
- Complimentary use of muck boots during the voyage
- Photo log of the expedition by the onboard photographer
- Daily cabin service
- Half-day exploring Longyearbyen
- Port surcharges, permits and landing fees
- 24-hour support
7. The science of the Amazon expedition cruise: Brazil
19 August 2025 – 9 days from £4,999
Discover the Amazon’s untouched native forest, which is the habitat of exotic birds such as parrots and toucans, howler monkeys, three toed sloths, frogs, snakes, peccaries and tapirs. While sailing, look out for giant river otters, piranhas, various species of caiman and pink river dolphins. Spread over 42 million acres, the Pantanal is the world’s largest tropical wetland and one of the most pristine, sprawling Bolivia, Brazil and Paraguay.
Begin in the charming city of Manaus where you will board the small and comfortable motor yacht Desafio, chartered exclusively for this venture to travel up the Rio Negro, the least inhabited river in the Amazon river basin.
WHAT’S INCLUDED:
- 2 nights accommodation in Manaus
- 6 nights accommodation in a twin shared cabin
- Accompanied by English-speaking host
- Guided excursions
- Welcome dinner in Manaus
- Full board whilst onboard the MV Desafio
- Soft drink and local beer with included meals
- Group airport arrival and departure transfers
- All entrance fees, visits, excursions and transportation as per the itinerary
- Accompanied by local English-speaking guides
All tours include the full touring itinerary as described (such as internal transport, entry to sites, museums, and attractions, talks and walking seminars). For more information on the itineraries above and to book, visit newscientist.com/tours or email [email protected] to connect to a New Scientist Discovery Tours agent.
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For further press information, please contact:
Tilly Everard | Hannah Carlisle | Emma Arthurs
Rooster.
T: +44 (0)203 440 8930
E: [email protected]
Notes to Editors:
Tour pricing correct as of 09/09/2024
About New Scientist Discovery Tours
New Scientist Discovery Tours offers science-inspired tours, expeditions, weekend breaks and cruises, creating carefully curated itineraries to the world’s most fascinating destinations. Designed for curious minds, tours are tailored for guests with an appetite for expanding their knowledge while travelling.
As part of New Scientist, the world’s leading science and technology magazine, the tour provider has an expansive network of editors, science specialists, academics and authors, who lead its experiential and exploratory trips.
Launched in 2015, New Scientist Discovery Tours currently offers over 55 tours and experiences worldwide to a committed audience of travellers. New Scientist Discovery Tours help travellers discover science through the joy of travel with minimal environmental impact, in a way that doesn’t harm the environment, people, cultures or wildlife.
In May 2024, New Scientist Discovery Tours was shortlisted in the 2024 PPA Award’s ‘Innovation of the Year’ category.
For more information on the itinerary and to book, visit newscientist.com/tours or email [email protected] to speak to a New Scientist Discovery Tours agent.
