what makes us bolder
Proper adventures. Spectacular places. Experienced people behind every journey.
WHY BOLDER?
We believe adventure should mean something.
Adventure should be fun. It should ask something of you. It should take you somewhere spectacular and give you stories you've genuinely earned.
That's why we create adventures built around real experiences rather than manufactured programmes. Students climb, paddle, trek, explore, contribute and discover what they're capable of along the way.
Because the best adventures don't need to tell young people they're developing. They give them the opportunity to find out for themselves.
The thinking is straight out of the Bolder philosophy: genuine challenge, achievement, friendship, discovery and wonder are their own reward.
PROPER ADVENTURE
Genuine challenge in spectacular places. Adventures that students actually want to do - and achievements they can be genuinely proud of.
PEOPLE YOU CAN RELY ON
Experienced leadership, trusted local partners and expert support from your first conversation to the journey home.
PURPOSE THAT COMES NATURALLY
Culture, conservation, learning and connection are part of the experience - never something we bolt on to make an adventure sound more worthy.
support you can count on
expert support
Experienced people by your side, with clear communication, practical guidance and available when you need us.
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proven systems
Every adventure is fully risk assessed and supported by Bolder’s industry-leading safety management system.
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TRUSTED PARTNERS
Experienced local teams bring specialist knowledge of the destinations, activities and environments we explore.
meet BOLDER
Good adventures start with good people.
We've spent years creating, leading and supporting adventures for young people around the world.
We've learned what makes a brilliant trip. What teachers need from the people behind it. And why the details that students never see matter just as much as the adventures they'll never forget.
Bolder brings that experience together with a personal approach. We're small enough to know our schools, experienced enough to know what we're doing, and always at the end of the phone when you need us.
SIMON ADAMS
Founder & Director
Simon has spent nearly two decades delivering school adventure travel, including eight years leading one of the UK's established school expedition businesses.
He's also an outdoor educator, experienced senior instructor and expedition leader, with experience across paddlesports, mountains and adventures around the world.
He founded Bolder with a simple idea: give young people proper adventures, and give teachers the experienced support they need to make them happen.
Simon's background includes senior roles at World Challenge and Interski followed by more than ten years at Outlook Expeditions, including eight years as Managing Director.
gEMMA ADAMS
Product & Marketing Manager
Gemma brings a strong mix of marketing, operations and hands-on adventure travel experience to Bolder. With around eight years with Outlook Expeditions, she understands both what makes a brilliant adventure and what it takes behind the scenes to deliver one well.
Her experience ranges from supporting teams in the operations room to working as a Hub Manager in Borneo. An enthusiastic adventurer herself, Gemma now helps shape Bolder’s products, stories and the experiences we create for schools.
HOLLY PENDER-SMITH
Office Manager
Holly is one of the people who keeps everything at Bolder moving in the right direction. Organised, capable and endlessly dependable, she supports everything from systems, compliance and social media to the hundred-and-one details that keep things running smoothly behind the scenes.
She brings calm, order and a great sense of humour to the team — although when it comes to adventure, Holly would probably choose a swimming pool and a comfortable bed over a night under canvas.
DAVE BROWN
Technical Adviser
Dave brings more than 30 years of outdoor, coaching and technical experience to Bolder, across everything from mountaineering and ski touring to white water, sea kayaking and paddlesports.
A highly qualified instructor, coach and technical adviser, Dave has worked with outdoor centres, UK National Mountain Centres and Military Adventurous Training Centres, and holds specialist qualifications in both operations and risk management.
He provides Bolder with independent technical advice, bringing another hugely experienced pair of eyes to how we plan and manage adventure.
FRANCESCA GALLONE-CASSWELL
Adventure & Responsible Travel Consultant
Frankie brings extensive experience in expedition planning, product development and responsible travel to Bolder. She spent several years with Outlook Expeditions, including as Head of Product & Planning, helping shape adventure programmes around the world.
She also holds an MSc in Responsible Tourism Management from Leeds Beckett University. A keen traveller and adventurer herself, Frankie helps Bolder create experiences that are exciting, thoughtful and genuinely responsible.
READY TO DO SOMETHING BOLDER?
You don't need to have the whole adventure figured out.
Tell us about your students, what you'd like them to experience and where you're thinking of going. We'll help you take it from there.