Big Trips

2027 Trips

Sign ups for 2027 Trips are a little different this year. If you’re interested in a trip, let me know (best way is to comment on the posts in the private FB group but emailing acornexpeditions@gmail.com is okay too).

Your name will be placed into a raffle for that trip and the raffle will be drawn on August 12th. Everyone that is left over will be waitlisted.

Panama Dive Trip

Dates: January 31st - February 8th, 2027

Spots available: 9 people

Captain: Brittney

Cost: $2850 per person

Payment Plan:

$500 due to claim spot starting August 14th (if your name is drawn in the raffle on August 12th)

$800 due September 25th, 2026 as a lock in payment

$800 due November 20th, 2026

$750 due January 8th, 2027

Bougie level: 3/5 the first half of the trip we’re staying at a conservation center and the second half of the trip we’ll be staying at a cute place.

Physical difficulty: 5/8 diving can be a lot of work!

Dive Cert Level: All levels with your last dive being within 6 months of this trip. Good buoyancy is key for this one!

This one is for the DIVERS! We’ll be traveling to Panama on an Ocean to Ocean trip, starting on the Caribbean side and ending on the Pacific side. While on the Caribbean side we’ll be learning and working at a conservation center, specifically getting educated about coral and sponge conservation. I am a firm believer in trying to understand the world that we love so so much, and although we all love our flashy ocean animals I feel as if coral gets overlooked despite its huge importance. This half of the trip will be a combination of classroom time and dive time. Some of our dives will be fun dives while others will be dives where we use the knowledge we’ve gained during the classroom sessions to assist with the local coral conservation efforts. After our time on the Caribbean side we’ll transfer overland to the Pacific side to dive in Coiba National Park. This protected marine reserve is a part of the “Shark Triangle” along with the Galapagos and Cocos Island, most divers will see some sort of species of shark on each dive. We will be completing 14 dives on this trip and you will walk away with a greater appreciation for all things big and small in the ocean.

Ireland + Wales + England

Dates: June 26th - July 5th, 2027

Spots available: 9 people

Captain: Mandy

Cost: $2600 per person

Payment Plan:

$500 due to claim spot starting August 14th (if your name is drawn in the raffle on August 12th)

$750 due December 18th, 2026 as a lock in payment

$750 due February 12th, 2027

$600 due May 21st, 2027

Bougie level: 3.5/5 lodgings will be nice and cute.

Physical difficulty: 3/8 mostly city walking with some easy hikes.

Over the course of 10 unforgettable days, we will delve into the rich history, breathtaking landscapes, and distinct cultures of Ireland, Northern Ireland, Wales, and England. From vibrant cities and charming villages to dramatic coastlines and scenic countryside, this trip is a blend of exploration, adventure, and authentic local experiences.

Our adventure begins in Dublin, where we'll discover Ireland's global story. From there, we'll journey north for a scenic excursion through Northern Ireland, taking in the awe-inspiring Giant's Causeway and exploring the historic streets of Belfast. Speaking of glorious public transportation, we’ll zip across the Irish Sea by ferry, to marvel at the medieval town of Conwy and its magnificent castle. While in Wales, we’ll be staying in Eryri National Park, combining scenic hikes with adrenaline-pumping ziplining. As we wave goodbye to Wales, we’ll be traveling through some of the most scenic parts of England while we make our way to foggy London town. There, we'll have several days to explore some London classics like Big Ben and the Tower of London combined with some lesser-known gems like the Sky Garden and Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese (Yes, that is the real name of the pub. No, it does not just serve cheese.) When we venture outside London proper, will we solve the mystery of Stonehenge? Probably not. Is that going to keep us from trying? Heck no, because we’re obviously gonna go peep those stones. Speaking of peeping stones, we’ll also be venturing outside London to ogle the exceptional masonry of the Canterbury Cathedral and those sweet, sweet pearly white cliffs of Dover. Our Captain, Mandy, has explored this area of the world extensively and is excited to show you all the highlights!

Alaska

Dates: July 18th - July 26th, 2027

Spots available: 7 people 

Captain: Brittney

Cost: $3900 per person

Payment Plan:

$500 due to claim spot starting August 14th (if your name is drawn in the raffle on August 12th)

$1500 due January 8th, 2027 as a lock in payment

$1000 due March 26th, 2027

$900 due June 11th, 2027 

Bougie level: 3.5/5

Physical difficulty: 6/8 hiking in Alaska tends to be on the more difficult side.

Alaska! This will be our fourth time as a group going to Alaska, and there will be only one more time after this and then we will have visited ALL 8 National Parks within this massive state. On this trip the National Parks that we are focusing on are Katmai and Glacier Bay. Does Katmai sound familiar? That’s because this is the home park to Fat Bear Week and those bears are exactly the ones that we are hoping to see. We’ll be boarding onto a small float plane to visit this park, seeing as there are no roads there, and we’ll be visiting the iconic Brooks Falls to watch some of Alaska’s best known bears fish during the salmon run. This part of the trip will be based out of Anchorage where we will also be fitting in some amazing hikes within Chugach State Park. The second half of the trip will be based in Juneau and Gustavus. Most people visit Glacier Bay National Park just on a cruise but we’ll be visiting by land, by sea and by bike. We’ll see massive glaciers, hike gorgeous trails, and hopefully see many whales as this is the peak of whale watching season in the area (think humpbacks, orcas, minke and gray whales as possibilities). So if wildlife, hiking, and National Parks are your thing…this trip is for you!

France

Dates: August 26th - September 4th, 2027

Spots available: 7 people 

Captain: Ciara

Cost: $2900 per person

Payment Plan:

$500 due to claim spot starting August 14th (if your name is drawn in the raffle on August 12th)

$800 due February 19th, 2027 as a lock in payment

$800 due April 16th, 2027

$800 due July 16th, 2027

Bougie level: 5/5 staying at cute lodgings

Physical difficulty: 3/8 there will be a lot of walking on this trip, but it’ll all be city walking.

FRANCE! This trip will be a combination of charming towns, great food and a little frolic amongst the French Riviera. On this trip you’ll visit Mont Saint Michel in Normandy. This iconic medieval village is a must see and looks exactly like a fairytale. You’ll visit cute little towns along the French Riviera. While you’re down south you’ll be basing yourselves in the elegant town of Nice where you’ll be able to explore the narrow cobblestone streets in between your activities. You’ll be having a private food tour in Lyon, the culinary capital of France, where a local will take you to all the best food places and you’ll sample all the local dishes paired with wines. You’ll get to explore the alpine town of Annecy, known as the “Venice of the Alps” for all of it’s canals. And yeah, I guess you’ll see some highlights of Paris while you’re there too. If you’re looking for an adorable trip thats a little more comfortable than other Acorn trips, this one is for you!

Brazil

Dates: October 7th - 16th, 2027

Spots available: 10 people

Captain: Morgan + Matt

Cost: TBD

Bougie level: 4/5 staying at cute places.

Physical difficulty: 6/8 the first half of this trip is active with some jungle hiking and some river snorkeling, but the second half is all safari-style.

Did you see our photos from last year’s Brazil trip and say “WOW I want to see all those animals in real life too!” Well here is your second chance! You’ll start this trip in the gorgeous town of Bonito (perfectly named). While in Bonito you’ll be hiking to some waterfalls and snorkeling in two of the world’s clearest rivers. While exploring in these natural spaces you’ll be able to enjoy so many different bird species including visiting a crater famous for it’s red-and-green macaw population (along with the occasional toco toucan who will show up just to make all the other birds panic). Mid-trip you’ll be flying up to the Northern Pantanal where you’ll see a LOT more birds but ALSO some amazing mammals. Here you’ll spend time searching for jaguars, ocelots, different fox species and capybara. Reptile lovers will also enjoy searching for anaconda and you’re sure to see MANY caimans. So if you’re looking for an amazing time exploring natural spaces while looking for some rare wildlife, this trip is for you!

Madagascar

Dates: November 7th - November 22nd, 2027

Spots available: 9 people

Captain: Brittney

Cost: $3600 per person

Payment Plan:

$500 due to claim spot starting August 14th (if your name is drawn in the raffle on August 12th)

$1000 due May 28th, 2027 as a lock in payment

$1100 due July 30th, 2027

$1000 due September 17th, 2027

Bougie level: 2/5 some lodgings will be nice, some will be super basic.

Physical difficulty: 5/8

MADAGASCAR! This trip is for my wildlife lovers who are also easy going travelers. Madagascar is HUGE and travel within this country can be a little bumpy and uncomfy… but those are some of my favorite types of trips so buckle up! We’ll be a little all over the massive island for this one. Highlights include traveling to Andasibe-Mantadia National Park to seek out the largest lemur species, the Indri, to hear its haunting call. This park hosts 13 other lemur species, over 100 species of birds and is one of the best places to spot the huge Parson’s chameleon. We’ll be experiencing sunrise at the iconic Avenue of Baobabs, enjoying these massive beautiful trees with a morning glow. We’ll be staying within Kirindy Forest Reserve with the hopes to see Madagascar’s largest carnivore, the fossa. Kirindy is also the primary habitat of the world’s smallest known primate: Madame Berthe’s mouse lemur. We’ll spend the later portion of the trip getting our feet wet in Nosy Be, exploring surrounding islands above and below the water. Opportunities for divers and snorkelers will be available. Not only does this area host more than 700 species of sea slugs, we are also visiting during whale shark season. There will be optional ‘low and slow’ dives creeping around for macro life and a day where we really cross our fingers for those whale sharks… so we’ll be enjoying some of the largest and some of the smallest amazing creatures of the ocean. This trip includes many in-country flights, many long roads, and some flexibility and patience… so if all of this sounds like your type of jam, this one is for you!

FAQs

What do these prices include?

Prices of each trip include all lodging, activities and in-country transport. Some meals are provided if we are doing special tour days in which meals are included. These will be listed in the itinerary for you so you know how to properly budget for meals. YOU will have to pay for and book your own flights to and from our starting and end point. I can help assist you if booking flights makes you nervous. You will also have to pay for anything extra that is not included in the official itinerary.


What happens if I have to drop out?

Your $500 deposit is fully refundable up until the first real payment is due. That first real payment is called your “Lock-in Payment”, and paying that tells me that you’re all set to go on the trip. That lock in payment typically marks the start of me putting in deposits for bookings, so after that point your money is no longer refundable. Please make sure you can for sure make the trip work before committing to that lock-in payment.

Do these dates include travel time?

The dates listed include what your probable travel time will be (to make it easier for you to request the days off at your work). To explain this a little better, I have searched routine flights from various common places that we all fly out of and have built in travel days into the itineraries. If you are coming from an area that is very far away, or in a totally different time zone you may need to extend (or if you’re lucky, reduce!) your travel dates based on your available flights. Once you’re given your Info Packet on the trip you have signed up for you will be given an exact date and time that you should be in the destination by along with proper airport codes to assist you in booking the correct flight. I have provided the airport info in the description of each trip so you can do a little research into flight prices before committing to the trip.

Once happens once I get a spot on a trip?

Once you secure a spot on a trip you’ll be placed into a group chat with the others that are on the trip with you. Not too long after joining in that trip you’ll get an info packet that includes what flights you should be looking at, a packing list, tips on packing and insurance, medical info for that trip, my own personal packing list for that specific trip, and specific cultural things and tips for travel. Closer to the trip you’ll receive the full very detailed itinerary..

 Even MORE FAQs

  • Included in the price of each trip is all of your lodging, activities, in-country transport, and any visa fees.

    Airfare, personal meals, souvenirs and anything done outside of the provided itinerary is NOT included in the price of the trip.

  • Since flights are no longer included in the cost of the trips, I will be guiding you on which flights to book. I will provide everyone with correct airport codes, dates and times that they should be booking their flights for each trip. I can even still book the flights for you, it will just have to be paid for separately.

  • Before deciding to join a Brittney Trip, you will be completely aware of the payment plan for the entire trip. To claim a spot there is a deposit that is fully refundable UP UNTIL THE FIRST BIG PAYMENT (this deposit is put towards the final cost of your trip so it is not an additional payment). There is typically a few months between putting the deposit down and when the first actual payment is due, once that first actual payment is paid you are locked into the trip and money can no longer be refunded (your money at this point will be tied up in bookings). I form a group chat for each trip so we can all get to know each other and discuss trip details, and once everything is booked you’ll get a fully detailed day-to-day itinerary that will basically paint you a picture of exactly what to expect. Closer to the trip, you’ll get a packing list, with packing tips and we have a Zoom meeting where we can all see each other and chat about how excited we are.

  • A huge part of traveling with me is making new, life-long friends. If you’re a friendly and easy going person that is looking to travel and make new friends, I guarantee you this is for you.

  • These trips are budget trips, and that typically means that I would rather spend our budget on experiences and activities rather than a 5 star resort. That being said, some trips are fancier than others. ENTER: The Bougie Scale.

    This is a scale of 1-5… with 1 usually representing a lot of camping and 5 representing a very large mansion. A rating of 3 guarantees that you’ll have a regular ol’ bed every night (boring, I know). But as always, I can promise it’ll be memorable.

  • This is a scale of 1 - 8. If you haven’t picked up on it, I like being outside. I like being physical. I love hiking, biking, climbing, kayaking, rafting etc. Am I a professional at any of these things?? Absolutely not. And these trips are a great entry-point for people who want to experience these things, but have zero background in them. But some trips will require some training beforehand, just to make it the most comfortable for you. Every trip will have a clear communication of why it is rated with a certain difficulty level, and I encourage you to challenge yourself to experience something new and unique.