Remote Lands vs Abercrombie & Kent: which is better for Asia?

Remote Lands works only in Asia as a private travel designer, based in New York and Bangkok with teams on the ground in every Asian country. Abercrombie & Kent plans private trips and runs group journeys worldwide, with more than 3,000 staff in over 65 offices across 40 countries.

Remote Lands vs Abercrombie & Kent: which is better for Asia?

Remote Lands suits travellers who want an Asia-only designer with teams in every Asian country and itineraries such as 7 days in Chugoku and Hiroshima from US$25,000 per person; Abercrombie & Kent suits travellers who want a worldwide operator with over 65 offices, a Japan by Luxury Train journey and ATOL cover on UK flight-inclusive packages.

What does each company sell?

What each company's own website says, read 3 November 2026.

• Remote Lands: Works only in Asia as a full-service private travel designer for high-end and intrepid trips. Source
• Abercrombie & Kent: Plans private trips through its own experts and runs guided group itineraries, including safaris and voyages that use its own five-star wilderness lodges and riverboats. Source

What do they offer in Asia?

What each company's own website says, read 3 November 2026.

• Remote Lands: Its Aman Jet Expeditions are small-group journeys for 16 to 18 guests across Asia and beyond, from Japan and China to India and Laos. Source
• Abercrombie & Kent: Sells a Japan by Luxury Train journey aboard the Seven Stars in Kyushu. Source

Do they have their own people on the ground?

What each company's own website says, read 3 November 2026.

• Remote Lands: Based in New York and Bangkok, it has country managers and teams on the ground in every country in Asia. Source
• Abercrombie & Kent: Has more than 3,000 staff in over 65 offices across 40 countries supporting its journeys. Source

Who leads or plans the trips?

What each company's own website says, read 3 November 2026.

• Remote Lands: Vets every guide, stays in every hotel and tries every restaurant before recommending them. Source
• Abercrombie & Kent: Its group journeys include the services of an A&K Resident Tour Director, or a suitable guide on pre- and post-tour extensions. Source

What do they cost?

What each company's own website says, read 3 November 2026.

• Remote Lands: Its Chugoku and Hiroshima itinerary in Japan runs 7 days, 6 nights, from US$25,000 per person. Source
• Abercrombie & Kent: Its website, read 3 November 2026, does not say.

What is included?

What each company's own website says, read 3 November 2026.

• Remote Lands: Prices are per person on double occupancy and include hotels and taxes, daily breakfast, airport transfers, touring with a private car, driver and guide, activities and entrance fees; lunch, dinner, flights and extras such as helicopters and yachts cost more. Source
• Abercrombie & Kent: All its journeys include accommodation, meals and fully guided sightseeing as noted in the itinerary, park and entrance fees, coffee, tea, soft drinks and water at included meals, bottled water while sightseeing, porterage of up to two bags per person, internet where available, hotel taxes and internal flights where indicated. International airfare unless noted, passports and visas, border fees, excess baggage, other meals and drinks, optional activities and A&K's own travel protection plan are not included. Source

What are the deposit and cancellation terms?

What each company's own website says, read 3 November 2026.

• Remote Lands: Cancelling 90 days or more before departure costs 15% of the total trip cost, 30 to under 90 days 50% and under 30 days 100%, with refunds also subject to hotel, airline and vendor policies. The deposit can be paid by major credit card or cheque. Source
• Abercrombie & Kent: Under its US terms, the deposit per person is 10% of the programme price for Small Group Journeys and Private Journeys, 15% for Expedition Cruises, 25% for Small Jet Journeys, Tailormade Journeys, Canal Barge Cruises, Sanctuary Stays and Japan by Luxury Train, with full payment for Educational Study Tours. Cancelling Small Group Journeys, Private Journeys or its Condé Nast escapes costs $500 per person at 121 days or more before departure, 25% at 120 to 91 days, 50% at 90 to 61 days and 100% at 60 days or less; Expedition Cruises lose the deposit, up to $3,000, at 121 days or more, then 25%, 50% and 100% on the same bands; Tailormade Journeys and Sanctuary Stays cost 10% of the programme price, up to $2,500 per person, at 121 days or more, 20% at 120 to 91 days, 50% at 90 to 61 days and 100% at 60 days or less. Source

What other deposit and cancellation rules apply?

What each company's own website says, read 3 November 2026.

• Remote Lands: A nonrefundable planning fee of $500, which counts toward the trip, comes first; then a deposit invoice of 35 to 65% confirms the trip, after which it books all hotels, flights and touring. Source
• Abercrombie & Kent: Under the same US terms, Small Jet Journeys in Europe and the Seven Stars train cost 10% at 181 days or more, 25% at 180 to 121 days, 50% at 120 to 91 days and 100% at 90 days or less; other Small Jet Journeys cost 10% at 211 days or more, 25% at 210 to 181 days, 50% at 180 to 121 days and 100% at 120 days or less. Canal Barge private charters cost 25% at 121 days or more and 100% at 120 days or less, individual barge bookings 25% at 91 days or more and 100% at 90 days or less. Internal air is 100% non-refundable once final payment is made; UK and Australian bookings follow their own terms. Source

How is my money protected?

What each company's own website says, read 3 November 2026.

• Remote Lands: Its website, read 3 November 2026, does not say.
• Abercrombie & Kent: Under its UK tailor-made holiday terms, flight-inclusive packages and ATOL-protected flights have financial security under its Air Travel Organiser's Licence, number 2881, issued by the CAA. Source

What do reviewers say?

Each platform's figure for each company, never added together.

• Remote Lands: Google: 5.0 out of 5 from 125 reviews. Read 3 November 2026; each platform's figure stands on its own.
• Abercrombie & Kent: 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.

Richard Jasinski · Uncompromised Travel · written from Valencia · first published 4 November 2026 · updated 4 November 2026