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RGS Expeditions Database

Explore 10,000+ expeditions and 6,500+ reports in our open-access record of global geographical exploration and research.

The RGS Expeditions Database is a unique record of worldwide exploration and research spanning more than a century. It contains over 10,000 past, ongoing, and planned expeditions, plus over 6,500 post-expedition reports primarily from the 1960s onwards, with historic records dating back to the 1920s.

Entries can be visualised on an interactive map, and include expeditions funded by the Society, projects advised by our staff and Fellows, and other records submitted by the community.

Use it to inform your planning, to research past explorations, or to contribute your own plans, progress and findings and help prolong the database’s lineage.

What would you like to do?

Search the RGS Expeditions Database

Planning an expedition? Learn from the experiences of those who have gone before you. Our database holds a unique digital record of over 10,000 worldwide expeditions spanning more than a century.

Benefits of researching the RGS Expeditions Database

  • Discover previous work: See who has visited your intended region or undertaken similar research.
  • Gain valuable insights: Access summaries, locations, contact details, web links, and details of published materials, including pre-expedition brochures, final reports, academic articles, and multimedia outputs.
  • Refine your plans: Use complex search terms based on destination, activity, or research subject to tailor your results.

Each record provides a summary of the expedition, the location(s) in which it took place, publicly available contact details, and relevant URLs. You'll also find information on literature and other content and resources produced as part of the expedition, offering a rich source of information and context for your own pre-expedition research and planning.

Tips for effective searching

  • Country: This is the most reliable search criterion; use it whenever possible.
  • Region: Best used in conjunction with other criteria to avoid overly broad results.
  • Location: Finds expeditions within a selected radius of your entered place name.
  • Keyword: Enter a word from the expedition name, team, or description.
  • Report: Tick this box to list only expeditions that have produced a post-expedition report.

Note that many Society-supported expeditions prior to the 1960s were instead reported in the Geographical Journal and can be accessed via JSTOR. Yet more early expedition reports can be found in our library catalogue and consulted via the Foyle Reading Room.

Consult an expedition report

Many expedition reports in the database can be downloaded directly as PDFs via links in their publication records.

If a digital copy isn't immediately available:

  • Visit in person: Make an appointment to consult reports at the Society in the Foyle Reading Room. This service is free to Society members and for a small daily charge for non-members.
  • Request a digital copy: For those unable to visit, we may be able to scan and provide a digital copy. A charge of approximately 10p per page may apply.

To consult a report, first search the RGS Expeditions Database to identify the specific reports you need, then email explore@rgs.org with your request.

Register your planned or completed expedition

Share your expedition with the world and contribute to a valuable global resource. We encourage expedition leaders to register their projects, whether in the planning stages or upon completion.

Register

Benefits of registering

  • Increase visibility: Allow potential collaborators, sponsors, and interested parties to discover your project (once you are ready to make plans public).
  • Create a record: Document your expedition's achievements for the public record.
  • Connect with the community: Indicate your willingness to share knowledge and contribute to the exploration community.

Important notes

  • Inclusion in the database does not imply endorsement by the Society.
  • You can request an update or removal of your entry at any time.
  • Your entry should appear in the RGS Expeditions Database within approximately 10 working days.

To notify us of any changes or to update an existing entry, please email explore@rgs.org

Contribute an expedition report

Have you returned from an expedition? We encourage you to share your findings by submitting a post-expedition report.

Ready to submit? Please email your final post-expedition report to explore@rgs.org. We will contact you within 10 business days to confirm receipt and with any additional queries.