THE WORLD’S WILDEST SURVIVAL ADVENTURES

Founded by the winner of the TV Show Alone

From castaway islands to African savannahs. Real wilderness. World-class instructors. Challenge with invisible safety.

FIND YOUR ADVENTURE

Only 5 Star reviews

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The Newsweek logo in bold red letters on a white background.
A simple black and white line drawing of two hands in American Sign Language forming the phrase “I love you,” with the thumb, index finger, and pinky extended while the middle and ring fingers are folded down.
National Geographic logo featuring a yellow rectangular border to the left of the words National Geographic in bold, black, uppercase letters on a white background.
Channel 4 logo in black and white
The word PLAYBOY in bold, uppercase, black letters on a light gray background.
The Times newspaper logo, featuring the words THE TIMES in bold black serif font with a crest including a lion and a unicorn in the center.
The Telegraph logo in black Gothic-style font on a light background.
Financial Times logo with FT in bold black letters on a peach square, followed by the words FINANCIAL TIMES in black capital letters on a white background.
The Newsweek logo in bold red letters on a white background.
A simple black and white line drawing of two hands in American Sign Language forming the phrase “I love you,” with the thumb, index finger, and pinky extended while the middle and ring fingers are folded down.
National Geographic logo featuring a yellow rectangular border to the left of the words National Geographic in bold, black, uppercase letters on a white background.
Channel 4 logo in black and white
The word PLAYBOY in bold, uppercase, black letters on a light gray background.
The Times newspaper logo, featuring the words THE TIMES in bold black serif font with a crest including a lion and a unicorn in the center.
The Telegraph logo in black Gothic-style font on a light background.
Financial Times logo with FT in bold black letters on a peach square, followed by the words FINANCIAL TIMES in black capital letters on a white background.

Our Signature Experience:
Desert Island Survival

Desert Island Survival is a wilderness expedition company that puts you on uninhabited islands and in remote wild places with world-class survival instructors. The adventure that started it all is our signature island experience. For up to 11 days, you’ll live as a tribe on a pristine, uninhabited island.

5 days of hands-on training
with world-class survival instructors.

3 days cast away with just a knife, a fishing line and your tribe.

1 proper celebration in comfort with your tribe.

This isn’t a holiday.
It’s a primal reset.

You’ll learn to build fire, catch fish, forage, and sleep under the stars. You’ll laugh with strangers who quickly feel like family. And you’ll find out how stripping life back to the basic essentials can totally reset you.

FIND YOUR ADVENTURE
207 Days Away 8 Spots Left
1 Dec – 11 Dec 2026 11 days

PANAMA

ISLAND ADVENTURE

£3,600 Deposit: £490
BOOK YOUR SPOT
214 Days Away 6 Spots Left
8 Dec – 18 Dec 2026 11 days

MALDIVES

ISLAND ADVENTURE

£3,990 Deposit: £490
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59 Days Away 1 Spot Left
6 Jul – 16 Jul 2026 12 days

TONGA

ISLAND ADVENTURE

£4,350 Deposit: £490
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202 Days Away 7 Spots Left
26 Nov – 5 Dec 2026 10 days

PHILIPPINES

ISLAND ADVENTURE

£2,650 Deposit: £490
BOOK YOUR SPOT

More than islands

Desert Island Survival was just the beginning. Founder Tom Williams has expanded the survival formula into jungles, rivers, forests, and tribal lands across the globe.

From kayaking through Botswana’s Okavango Delta to an ‘Alone’-style adventure in the wilds of Sweden, each expedition is a hands-on experience designed to test you and ignite something deep inside. Wherever you go, the heartbeat of every adventure is the same: learn, survive, celebrate.

FIND YOUR ADVENTURE
113 Days Away 12 Spots Left
29 Aug – 4 Sep 2026 8 days

SWEDEN

RAFT EXPEDITION

£1,950 Deposit: £490
BOOK YOUR SPOT
77 Days Away 6 Spots Left
24 Jul – 4 Aug 2026 12 days

BOTSWANA

KAYAK, BUSHCRAFT & LUXURY SAFARI

£4,350 Deposit: £490
BOOK YOUR SPOT
26 Days Away 6 Spots Left
3 Jun – 12 Jun 2026 10 days

SWEDEN

SURVIVAL ADVENTURE

£2,900 Deposit: £490
BOOK YOUR SPOT
35 Days Away 4 Spots Left
12 Jun – 21 Jun 2026 10 days

TANZANIA

TRIBAL ADVENTURE & LUXURY SAFARI

£3,990 Deposit: £490
BOOK YOUR SPOT

How it works

Every expedition follows the same rhythm, a balance of learning, challenge, and celebration that transforms a wild environment into the adventure of a lifetime.

Phase 1: Learn

Train with expert instructors
and gain essential survival skills.

Phase 2: Survive

Put those skills to the test in raw,
untamed wilderness.

Phase 3: Celebrate

Return stronger, clearer,
and full of stories to tell.

This rhythm runs through every adventure. Whether you’re castaway on a desert island or deep in the African savannah.

Why choose us?

Because no one else does survival adventures like we do.

Extraordinary Locations

From untouched islands to wild rivers and savannahs. Places you simply couldn’t reach on your own.

The Best
Instructors

Supremely skilled bushcraft experts who know not only how to teach survival, but how to make it fun.

Authentic
Yet Safe

We walk the tightrope of real challenge and invisible safety, so you feel the thrill without the contrivance.

Proven
& Trusted

100% 5-star reviews, featured in The Times, NatGeo, and the Financial Times.

People love us

T u

Our honeymoon with Desert Island Survival in the Philippines was unforgettable: white sandy beaches, crystal clear water, lush jungle, and coral reefs right at the shore.

20 hours ago
Alex Gardner

Beautiful scenery, lifelong memories, and a complete disconnect from technology. I came out of burnout with deep realisations that led to major life changes.

3 weeks ago
George crawshaw

Being immersed in nature and out of my comfort zone had a profound impact on my nervous system and perspective. I left with skills for future adventures.

a month ago
Scott Radford

World class instructors and life changing experiences. We had brilliant prep, tools and skills, and I never felt unsafe under the team’s provision.

a month ago
Eric Preston
Local Guide

We learned survival skills, reconnected with nature, and took incredible life lessons from it. Tom made us feel prepared to go out on our own.

a month ago
Connor Swenson
Local Guide

One of the most epic adventures of my life: a chance to disconnect from technology, reconnect to nature, and challenge myself in a survival situation.

a month ago
Dalaney Davis

Living by the tides and sun made the days feel long in the best way. The experience was world-class, and every challenge became a highlight.

a month ago
Josh (JP)

The Pembrokeshire experience was absolutely amazing: bushcraft teachings, wild experiences, and Naomi’s knowledge, stories, and warmth around the campfire.

a month ago
Diogo Barardo

Every single person in the crew is amazing. The experience itself is the best adventure you can have, and you will come back a different person.

4 months ago
Lia Avetisyan

Tom McElroy and Azrael were incredible. It was mind blowing how much they knew, and how much they managed to teach us in such a short time.

Edited 4 months ago
Sarah-Jane Short

A truly phenomenal Panama adventure, delivered by talented instructors who worked so hard to prepare us with knowledge, positivity, and confidence.

a year ago
Adrian Johnston

It is hard to put into words how amazing the Panama trip was. Tom and his world-class team were inspirational, knowledgeable, and supportive.

a year ago
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  • A woman wearing athletic gear climbs a palm tree in a tropical forest setting during the daytime.
  • Two people stand in shallow ocean water watching a small motorboat with four passengers approaching from the sea under a.
  • Furveying a rocky shoreline for survival resources on a desert island.
  • Person with headlamp standing in water under a starry night sky. Great for team building activities.
  • Small campfire made of sticks on a sandy desert island, essentials for survival.
  • Group of friends toasting with beer cans during a Sweden survival adventure in the forest
  • View from a boat approaching a sandy beach with dense palm trees and greenery in the background.
  • Two men sit by a palm tree at the beach, smiling and laughing together during a team building retreat. One wears a blue.
  • Boating survival on a desert island, group holding coconuts at dusk.
  • Survival experts discussing desert island survival techniques on a tropical beach.
  • Refugee friends toasting on the beach with canned drinks, enjoying a relaxing moment on a sunny desert island.
  • Palm trees on a tropical desert island beach with a person navigating the shoreline, emphasizing survival skills.
  • Man using a bow drill to start a fire on a sandy beach, smoke rising.
  • Group of people posing with a makeshift raft on a sandy beach, possibly related to famous castaways.
  • Man starting a fire with a bow drill. He's holding the burning tinder bundle.
  • Bow drill fire starting kit on a tree stump, demonstrating how to start a fire with a bow drill.
  • Man using a bow drill to start a fire on a beach. Survival skills demonstration.
  • People unloading supplies for a Virgin Adventures desert island survival trip in Panama, 2025.
  • Man drinking rain water

Not for everyone

Please note: these experiences are not for everyone. Expect a full digital detox, insects, open nature, and life with fewer modern conveniences like toilets or showers. It is about stepping out of your comfort zone and becoming comfortable with a little discomfort.

Who thrives on our adventures:

Open-minded
explorers

Challenge-seekers
ready to test themselves

Growth-minded
adventurers who want to push through adversity

For those people, the reward is worth it: resilience, connection, and the wildest stories of your life.

Begin your adventure

Find your adventure

Take the first step. Answer a few questions and find which expedition best suits you & gives you a true primal reset.

View upcoming trips

Ready to Book? See all upcoming expeditions and find the dates that fits for you.

FAQ

We don’t do contrived tourism. We run real survival adventures in genuine wilderness, led by world-class instructors, with invisible safety. You’ll disconnect from your daily life, live simply in nature and experience an adventure and reset unlike anything you have ever experienced before.

Yes. Our instructors are certified Wilderness First Responders, and each location is handpicked for safety, calm waters, no dangerous wildlife, and a clear evacuation plan. You’ll experience the thrill of adventure without unnecessary risk. As our founder Tom says, “Guests should feel the adventure, not the risk.”

None. Most guests start as beginners. You’ll learn everything from fire lighting to shelter building before the survival challenge begins.

They’re designed to stretch you but not break you. Five days of guided training, then a three-day challenge with your tribe that pushes you just outside your comfort zone. It’s the perfect balance of discomfort, growth, and joy.

No problem. Our 7-Day Cool Off guarantee gives you a full refund, and you can reschedule up to 90 days before departure (valid for 24 months).