AHEAD OF THE OCEAN FILM FESTIVAL IN LONDON NEXT WEEK, STEPPES TRAVEL SPOTLIGHTS EXPERIENCES IN OCEAN HOPE SPOTS
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October 2025: Ahead of the Ocean Film Festival in London from 16–18 October, adventure tour operator Steppes Travel is spotlighting its ocean holidays that give back to the seas, highlighting its portfolio of journeys within Mission Blue Hope Spots and Marine Protected Areas, from St Helena to the Galapagos.
Now in its third year of partnership, Steppes Travel is proud to once again sponsor the UK tour of the Ocean Film Festival as part of its ongoing commitment to protecting and celebrating the world’s oceans. This year, Steppes’ focus has been on raising awareness and support for the endangered African Penguin through a fundraising initiative in aid of the Seabird and Penguin Rehabilitation Centre (SAPREC) in South Africa.
To celebrate the Ocean Film Festival coming to London, Steppes has compiled a list of destinations that have been given Hope Spot status by marine conservationist Sylvia Earle’s Mission Blue project. These Hope Spots rely on the revenue from tourism to help fund their protected status. From trips to Indonesia’s coral triangle to an exclusive Galápagos charter in partnership with the Galapagos Conservation Trust (GCT), please see Steppes Travel’s extraordinary experiences below.
By travelling to these destinations, guests become active supporters of marine conservation, helping to secure a sustainable future for the world’s oceans.
Galapagos Cruise with Galapagos Conservation Trust
This exclusive charter voyage with the Galápagos Conservation Trust sails aboard the Natural Paradise and is deliberately limited to 15 guests to ensure a low-impact and an intimate traveller experience. Over ten days, travellers will explore the islands of South Plaza, Rabida, Bartolome, Santiago, Santa Cruz and Genovesa and dive into the heart of Galápagos’ marine ecosystems through guided snorkelling, panga rides, and land excursions with expert naturalists.
Highlights include a visit to South Plaza - a small island with steep cliffs formed by rising lava and now covered by Opuntia cacti - home to one of the largest sea lion colonies as well as colourful yellow and red land iguanas. A fixed donation is built into each booking to support GCT’s ongoing conservation programmes, and guests are offered optional field visits to research stations where they can meet scientists investigating marine iguanas, sharks, coral reefs and more, providing a living demonstration of how tourism revenue underpins conservation outcomes.
The Galápagos charter builds on Steppes Travel’s broader sustainability commitments through the Steppes Fund for Change, which aims to mitigate climate change through education, conservation, and community development.
£££: Steppes Travel’s expert-guided ten-day Galapagos Cruise with Galapagos Conservation Trust is priced from £7,250 per person, including accommodation, all meals, exclusive excursions to GCT projects, a substantial donation to GCT, listed transport and listed activities. Excludes international flights.
Raja Ampat: Cruise to Misool & Beyond
Set within Indonesia’s Coral Triangle, Raja Ampat offers rich marine biodiversity, home to more than 500 species of coral and over 1,000 species of reef fish. The archipelago’s remote position has helped preserve some of the planet’s healthiest reefs. Steppes’ voyages through this Mission Blue Hope Spot explore the islands aboard carefully selected yachts such as Rascal and Tiger Blue, giving travellers access to mangrove-fringed lagoons, coral gardens alive with manta rays and turtles, hornbills, crested cockatoos and bird-of-paradise nesting sites. The Misool Foundation has been set up to safeguard the most biodiverse reefs on earth, and every stay directly supports the protection of a 1,220 km² no-take marine reserve, proving that carefully managed tourism can fund real, measurable conservation. Highlights include an early trek on the Kri Peninsula to spot the rare Red Bird of Paradise and a visit to Arborek Village to learn about local responsible fishing practices.
£££: Steppes Travel’s expert-guided eight-day Indonesia – Cruise Raja Ampat is priced from £8,245 per person, including accommodation, listed transport and listed activities. Price based on excursion aboard Rascal. Excludes international flights.
St Helena: Swimming with Gentle Giants
The waters surrounding St Helena are some of the most pristine in the world thanks to limited human pressure and the island’s narrow continental shelf which draws marine life close to shore. This unique geography makes St Helena one of the best places on Earth to encounter whale sharks, offering unforgettable opportunities to snorkel alongside the world’s largest fish in crystal clear waters.
All whale shark experiences are operated by Steppes Travel’s trusted partners, accredited by the St Helena government to ensure the highest standards of responsible marine tourism. These encounters provide not just awe-inspiring moments but also an economic incentive for the island community to preserve its ocean heritage.
£££: Steppes Travel’s expert-guided eight-day St Helena: Swimming with Gentle Giants is priced from £4,365 per person, including accommodation, listed transport including internal flights, and listed activities. Excludes international flights.
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