The HCP Story

Our Story

High Country Passage was founded in 1978 by Thomas L. Peirce. Tom had a lifelong passion for travel and learning, and was one of the pioneers in the field of organization-sponsored educational travel. Our company's first commercial tours were small group affairs, focused on anthropology and archaeology and inspired by the peoples and history of Meso, Central, and South America and Southeast Asia.

Over the years, High County Passage has steadily expanded its destination expertise and has been fortunate to create and lead world-class tours for many of our nation's leading academic, museum, and membership institutions. We now design and operate programs throughout the world—North America, Mesoamerica, the Caribbean, Central and South America, Antarctica, Asia, Southeast Asia, the South Pacific, Papua New Guinea, Australia, New Zealand, India, Southern Africa, East Africa, North Africa, the Middle East, Europe, and the Arctic. Beginning in 2006, HCP will offer a series of World Leader Symposia focusing upon recent international events and featuring some of the leaders who helped shape recent world history.

HCP's family of dedicated travel veterans is committed to creating exceptional travel experiences that foster a deeper understanding, appreciation, and sense of stewardship for the natural and cultural riches of our planet.