About Us

The World Leader in Private Jet Travel

For more than twenty years, TCS & Starquest Expeditions has operated innovative journeys to legendary places by private jet, with an emphasis on in-depth educational experiences and highly personalized services. We are also committed to enhancing the environmental, social, economic, and educational conditions of the places and people we visit.

In 1991, the world's first private jet tour operator, TCS Expeditions, was founded by T.C. Swartz and Charlene Brannon, pioneers in the educational travel industry for more than twenty years. In 2003, Starquest Expeditions was created by the same team who wanted to further develop educational private jet programs to include more options that allow travelers to customize their journeys. Both companies were acquired by the TUI Travel® Group of companies, one of the world’s largest and most successful travel and tourism organizations. Today we are reunited as TCS & Starquest Expeditions—with the same management team, a combined staff of experienced professionals, and the same dedication to extraordinary educational private jet travel that travelers have come to expect from us. In all, we have operated more than 200 expeditions to more than 150 destinations around the world.

Some of the most distinguished universities, museums, and cultural organizations in the country—including National Geographic, the Smithsonian Institution, the Harvard Museum of Natural History, Columbia University, the Art Institute of Chicago, and the University of California at Berkeley—sponsor our expeditions and bring world-class experts to our expeditions.  

Our expeditions are moderately active, usually feature multiple destinations, are two to three weeks long, and go around-the-world or are regionally-focused. They are fully staffed with a team of renowned experts in history, art, and other fascinating fields; an expedition physician; an expedition chef; and an experienced and professional tour staff.

During our expeditions, our travelers enjoy insider-access, some of the finest accommodations available, and exclusive events featuring traditional entertainment and authentic local cuisine. Our itineraries are flexible so that travelers may tailor their experiences to their own interests. On a typical day, for example, a traveler may spend the morning exploring a highlight of a destination in small groups, and in the afternoon enjoy their choice of personalized excursions on their own.  

For each destination on every one of our expeditions, we transport supplies to medical clinics or schools, or donate funds to essential services and innovative projects, or support the work of local artisans.

We also operate a select number of private, specially customized trips for small groups of friends and families.

With decades of experience and an incredible wealth of expertise, we know what it takes to go above and beyond expectations.