Is Abercrombie & Kent a good company to book a luxury trip with?
By Richard Jasinski·Updated 4 November 2026
Abercrombie & Kent sells private and small group journeys, safaris, cruises and private jet trips. It also runs its own lodges and riverboats. It reports more than 3,000 staff in over 65 offices and 40 countries. Its deposit and cancellation terms differ by journey type and by country.
Is Abercrombie & Kent a good company to book a luxury trip with?
It depends on what you need: A&K offers private, small group, safari, cruise and private jet trips, holds ATOL number 2881 for UK flight-inclusive packages and sets US deposits from 10% to 25% by journey type. Check the terms for your journey type and country before you book.
What does Abercrombie & Kent sell?
What Abercrombie & Kent's own website says, read 3 November 2026.
- Trip types: Sells Private Travel, Small Group Journeys, Safari, Cruises and Private Jet trips, plus Sanctuary Stays, Canal Barge Cruises and the Seven Stars in Kyushu luxury train. Source
- Own properties: Offers safaris and voyages in its own five-star wilderness lodges and riverboats. Source
- Planning: Has experts who craft private trips to order. It also runs guided itineraries for likeminded travellers sharing the experience. Source
Who is behind it?
What Abercrombie & Kent's own website says, read 3 November 2026.
- Founder: Names Geoffrey Kent as its founder and describes itself as well-travelled since 1962. Source
- Offices and staff: Reports more than 3,000 staff in over 65 offices and 40 countries, with on-the-ground support for each journey. Source
- UK company: Contracts UK tailor-made holidays through Abercrombie & Kent Limited of Cheltenham, England, company number 1082430. Source
- US address: Gives a Downers Grove, Illinois address in its US booking terms. Source
- Guides: Includes an A&K Resident Tour Director on group journeys. It names polar explorers and well-connected local guides among its experts. Source
How is your money protected?
What Abercrombie & Kent's own website says, read 3 November 2026.
- UK flight-inclusive packages: Provides financial security for flight-inclusive packages and ATOL-protected flights under ATOL number 2881, issued by the CAA. Source
- US terms: Names no trust account or bond in the US booking terms we read. Source
- Guest Protection Program: Does not include its Guest Protection Program in the journey price. Source
What are its deposit and cancellation terms?
What Abercrombie & Kent's own website says, read 3 November 2026.
- US deposits: Asks for a deposit of 10% of the programme price on Small Group Journeys and Private Journeys on its US terms. Expedition Cruises are 15%. Source
- US deposits, other journeys: Asks for 25% on its US terms for Small Jet Journeys, Tailormade Journeys, Canal Barge Cruises, Sanctuary Stays and Japan by Luxury Train. Source
- Australian deposits: Asks for 25% of the total cost or AU$1,000 per person, whichever is higher, on its Australian terms for Tailormade Journeys, Small Jet Journeys, Canal Barge Cruises and Sanctuary Stays. Source
- UK Tailormade deposit: Asks for 15% for Tailormade on its UK terms. Source
- Final payment: Asks for final payment 120 days before departure on its US terms for all journeys except those listed at 180 days, which include Small Jet Journeys excluding Europe and Japan by Luxury Train. Source
- US cancellation, group and private: Charges $500 per person when cancelling 121 days or more before departure on Small Group and Private Journeys, then 25% at 120 to 91 days, 50% at 90 to 61 days and 100% at 60 days or less. Source
- US cancellation, Tailormade: Charges 10% of the programme price up to $2,500 per person at 121 days or more on Tailormade and Sanctuary Stays, then 20% at 120 to 91 days, 50% at 90 to 61 days and 100% at 60 days or less. Source
- Internal air: Treats all internal air as 100% non-refundable at the time of final payment, with some exceptions. Source
What help is there while you travel?
What Abercrombie & Kent's own website says, read 3 November 2026.
- On the ground: Has on-the-ground guardian angels who provide 24/7 support. Source
- UK Duty Manager: Gives a Duty Manager number, +44 (0)20 7998 4141, for UK tailor-made trips if there is no local representative. Source
- Travel insurance: Makes appropriate travel insurance for everyone travelling a condition of booking in its UK terms. Polar and select expedition cruises on its US terms need proof of at least $100,000 per person in emergency evacuation and repatriation cover. Source
How is Abercrombie & Kent rated?
Google: 4.9 out of 5 from 20 reviews; Trustpilot: 4.4 out of 5 from 795 reviews, newest 3 November 2026. Read 3 November 2026; each platform's figure stands on its own.
Abercrombie & Kent: the questions people ask
What does Abercrombie & Kent sell?
It sells Private Travel, Small Group Journeys, Safari, Cruises and Private Jet trips, plus Sanctuary Stays, Canal Barge Cruises and other journey types.
How big is Abercrombie & Kent?
It reports more than 3,000 staff in over 65 offices and 40 countries.
Is Abercrombie & Kent ATOL protected?
Its UK company holds ATOL number 2881, issued by the CAA, for flight-inclusive packages and ATOL-protected flights.
What deposit does Abercrombie & Kent ask for?
On its US terms the deposit is 10% for Small Group and Private Journeys, 15% for Expedition Cruises and 25% for several other journey types. UK and Australian terms differ.
When is final payment due with Abercrombie & Kent?
On its US terms it is 120 days before departure for most journeys. It is 180 days for Small Jet Journeys excluding Europe and Japan by Luxury Train.
What are Abercrombie & Kent's US cancellation charges?
For Small Group and Private Journeys it is $500 per person at 121 days or more, then 25%, 50% and 100% as departure nears. Tailormade and Sanctuary Stays follow a 10%, 20%, 50% and 100% scale.
Does Abercrombie & Kent offer help while you travel?
It has on-the-ground guardian angels providing 24/7 support. Its UK terms give a Duty Manager number for problems during a trip.
Is travel insurance required by Abercrombie & Kent?
Its UK terms make appropriate insurance a condition of booking. Its US terms require proof of at least $100,000 per person in evacuation cover for polar and select expedition cruises.
Where can I check these facts myself?
Every line on this page links the page of the company's own website it was read from, read 3 November 2026.
Is any company on this page paying to be here?
No. No company on this page is a partner of Uncompromised Travel; none paid to be on it.
Read next
Built to answer the question in the main heading. What is shown: what each company published on its own website, read on 3 November 2026, with links to the pages read, with its Google and Trustpilot figures where the listing carries the company's own name, from the Uncompromised Travel luxury tour operators table. Cards are in alphabetical order. Photos show the places named in their captions, not any company's trips. No company on this page is a partner of Uncompromised Travel. How this site earns · How we work.