The history of Topas Explorer Group
The history of
Topas Explorer Group
Adventurous since 1973
A new travel concept gives birth to a pioneering agency
The wild years: A new era with fresh owners and bold plans
The program expands with summit climbs and Vietnam trekking
Opening of Topas Eco Lodge and the first vertures in Greenland
New biking trips and trail running events in Vietnam
1970’s
In 1973, Erik Gundersen, a young traveler, wanted to offer an alternative to the growing trend of charter tourism. During a moped journey across Europe, he heard about Morocco’s stunning landscapes and local culture. The idea was simple: create expedition travel where the journey is shaped by the group, and is focused on the adventure, exotic destinations, nature and the meeting with local cultures.
Later the meeting with the local miners in the Atlas Mountains, when i tried to cut out crystal from the mountain. The crystal was a Topas. By 1975, Erik founded Topas Globetrotterklub, offering bus expeditions with no fixed itinerary beyond the departure date, creating a unique, shared travel experience. The desire to venture further grew quickly. In 1975 and 1977, Erik and his team repurposed Bedford four-wheel-drive trucks into sturdy expedition vehicles, allowing groups to explore remote parts of Africa and reach places otherwise inaccessible.
In 1978, Topas took a bold step with its first Trans-Asia expedition, traveling in two cars from Denmark to Kathmandu. The 4-month journey was an unforgettable adventure, highlighting the essence of expedition travel as the group crossed borders, embraced diverse landscapes, and connected with local cultures.
By the late 1970s, Topas had become a pioneer in offering flexible travel experiences that brought people closer to nature, cultures, and the thrill of exploration.
1980's
In the early 1980s, Topas’ ambitions grew as new destinations were added, including Trans-Asia, Trans-Africa, Morocco, Nordkap, Turkey, and Andalusia. The fleet expanded with additional trucks, and trips now reached the Middle East, Norway, and Scotland. While the journeys were still loosely planned, the mindset remained focused on making the most of every situation, leading to many unforgettable stories along the way.
In 1981, Jørgen Nielsen, who would later become the owner of Topas, joined as a driver and tour leader. As the company expanded, Erik found less time for hands-on expeditions and in 1985, he decided to sell Topas to Jørgen Nielsen and Hans Peter Johansen.
By 1986, Topas introduced its first trips without the expedition trucks, taking travelers to Papua New Guinea, Rwanda, the Amazon, and Thailand. These trips also introduced trekking activities, which quickly gained popularity. By the end of the 1980s, trekking had become a central part of the journeys, and Topas began promoting these adventures as “active holidays,” combining exploration with physical challenge and immersion in nature.
1990's
In the 1990s, Topas embraced a shift toward pure trekking, introducing the first trekking-only trips. The share of trekking journeys grew rapidly, making up half of all trips by the end of the decade. This shift opened the door to new destinations like Nepal, Provence, Crete, Corsica, Mont Blanc, the Pyrenees, Czechoslovakia, and Turkey.
New trip types were introduced, including high route tours, where groups trekked from hut to hut, experiencing the landscapes up close. In 1995 and 1996, summit climbs were added to the portfolio, with trips to the tops of Mont Blanc and Kilimanjaro, giving adventurers the chance to push their limits.
As the decade progressed, hotel-based trekking trips were introduced, allowing guests to stay in one or more hotels throughout the journey. This included the purchase of a “summerhouse” in Corsica to serve as a base for these some of these tours.
In 1996, Topas expanded further with its first trekking trips to Vietnam. At the time, the country was just opening up to tourism, and this marked the beginning of a long-term relationship with Vietnam, which would become a key destination for Topas in the years to come.
By the end of the decade, Topas introduced new principles to ensure sustainability and respect for local cultures. Groups were kept small to minimize impact, and whenever possible, meals were provided by local families and businesses. The philosophy of “leaving only footprints” was emphasized, encouraging travelers to preserve the natural beauty and cultural heritage of the destinations they visited.
2000's
The 2000s marked a decade of significant logistics and product development, particularly in Vietnam and Greenland. Building on the sustainable principles introduced in the 1990s, Topas took on an exciting venture in Vietnam, collaborating on a Danida project aimed at creating eco-friendly, job-generating opportunities especially for women in the SaPa regon. This effort culminated in the opening of Topas Eco Lodge in the Sa Pa mountains in 2005, offering sustainable hospitality in Northern Vietnam.
To support these initiatives, Topas Adventure Vietnam, the company’s first subsidiary, was established. By 2003, it had expanded with an office in Hanoi, cementing Topas’ presence in the region.
Meanwhile, Topas began testing trips to Greenland in 1998, leading to rapid growth in offerings during the 2000s. In 2003, Topas partnered with Jackie Simoud to launch Blue Ice Explorer in South Greenland. Around the same time, activities expanded further north in Ilulissat. Investments were made in Hotel Icefiord in 2003/4 and Hotel Disko Bay, acquired in 2007, ensuring a high product standard.
To meet the increasing demand for small-scale boat tours in Disko Bay, Topas founded Disko Line in 2006. The company secured a passenger service contract with Greenland’s self-government, leading to the rapid expansion of its fleet to deliver reliable logistics in the region.
2010's
The 2010s brought further expansion and diversification for Topas, introducing new travel concepts and strengthening operations in Greenland and Vietnam. One of the product developments was the launch of cycling tours, following the acquisition of Regions Rejser. This addition required new logistical solutions, including specialized support with bicycles, buses, and mechanics to ensure smooth operations across Europe, Vietnam, and Laos.
In Greenland, Topas expanded its presence by acquiring Hotel Disko Island, Lyngmark Glacier Lodge (later Disko Mountain Lodge), and Panorama Guesthouse, reinforcing its commitment to high-quality travel experiences in the region. Meanwhile, Disko Line continued its growth, securing a new service contract for passenger transport in mid- and southern Greenland, bringing the fleet to over 10 boats handling both passenger and cargo transport.
Further consolidation came as Topas took full ownership of Blue Ice Explorer, following a generational shift, along with Igaliko Bygdehotel and Gardar Hostel, strengthening its position in South Greenland.
In Vietnam, new initiatives helped build the Topas brand. In 2013, the first Vietnam Mountain Marathon was introduced, an event that quickly gained popularity. By 2018, the race had grown to 3,000 participants, with 60% from Vietnam and runners from 60 different countries. This pioneering event brought significant attention to Topas Eco Lodge, which was recognized in 2017 as part of National Geographic’s “Unique Lodges of the World.”
Back in Denmark, Topas Travel expanded its offerings in 2018 with a new department specializing in tailor-made trips for individual travelers. Named “Greenland by Topas,” this initiative catered to those seeking personalized adventures in Greenland.
Explore the globe
Topas Explorer Group is a group of several companies. They all contribute to unique travel adventures whether it is in a beautiful and serene landscape, when nature is showing off its power, or in a mind-broadening meeting with other people. You can find links and read more about each company here.
We are an independent family-owned business. For over 50 years, we have been committed to thrill both guests and employees and will continue to do so in the future. Our key driving forces are curiosity and the expectation of adventure in everything we do.
The location of our activities is carefully selected with nature in a special role for the operation both as a working environment and as an important part of the product we sell. That is why we at Topas Explorer Group have a deep and natural interest in taking care of nature.