Voyages d'Exception, a French tour operator, is preparing to relocate to larger offices in the Faubourg-Saint-Antoine district of Paris. The company is consolidating its teams from two floors into one fully renovated space. As it approaches its 15th anniversary, Voyages d'Exception is expanding its offerings, with cultural tours and train travel now accounting for about 20% of its revenue. The company has acquired the assets of Explorator, a brand known for cultural and off-the-beaten-path travel experiences. Four employees from Explorator will remain with the company, and Voyages d'Exception plans to integrate the two businesses to create synergies and modernize Explorator's technology. The tour operator is planning French-speaking group tours on luxury trains such as the Maharajas' Express in India, the African Explorer in southern Africa, and the Silk Road Express in Central Asia. These are complex and demanding products, but they are popular with customers, according to Lionel Rabiet, founder and director of Voyages d'Exception. The acquisition of Explorator is expected to strengthen this diversification. Explorator is known for its focus on cultural immersion and local interactions, and the goal is to revive the brand and expand its reach to new destinations. Maritime cruises will continue to be a part of Voyages d'Exception's offerings. Although its two main cruise destinations, Japan and Patagonia, have seen slower growth in 2026, the company plans to strengthen this segment in 2027. Voyages d'Exception operates with small groups of 15 to 25 passengers, which allows for personalized support and expert lectures while maintaining the unique atmosphere of these ships. Partnerships with Star Clippers and Windstar Cruises are expected to grow, with nearly a dozen departures planned with Star Clippers in 2027, including itineraries in Costa Rica, the Antilles, Panama, and the Mediterranean. For 2027, Voyages d'Exception is preparing new itineraries, including a cruise to Fiji and a river trip on the Kwaï River in Thailand, offering an alternative to traditional beach or classic tourist routes. As the company expands its product range, it needs to find more outlets through travel agencies, as B2B sales, which account for about 20% of the company's revenue, declined by 10% in 2026. Voyages d'Exception is focusing on Belgium, where it has recently hired Benoit Hodeige as a new sales representative. The market potential in Belgium is significant, as the company's penetration rate there is five times lower than in France or Switzerland. Lionel Rabiet acknowledges that Voyages d'Exception is relatively new to the Belgian market but believes that many travel agencies have the potential to sell its unique products. Expert lecturers will continue to play a central role in the company's offerings, with Raphaël Enthoven joining as a new speaker, while Hubert Védrine will accompany a trip on the Mekong River. Franck Ferrand, Jean-François Colosimo, and Pascal Boniface will also continue to participate in several departures. "With us, the lecturers are not just the cherry on top. They are sometimes the cake itself," Rabiet says with a smile.