Designed for people who are seeking meaning beyond materialism, Tour de Force specialises in classic car trips around Europe, as well as high-end 4×4 adventures in Africa. Jenny Southan reports

In a world saturated with chain hotels, over-visited landmarks and off-the-shelf itineraries, Tour de Force offers something radically different: the chance to get behind the wheel, drive deep into remote landscapes, and rediscover adventure in style.

Founded in 2015 by husband-and-wife team Duncan and Verity Milligan, who met in Kathmandu, Tour de Force began as a consultancy for those seeking long distance adventure (think London to Cape Town). Today, it has evolved into a finely tuned operation designing intimate, curated driving expeditions in 4x4 campers or rare vintage vehicles.

With over 20 years working in the adventure travel industry, including driving over 100,000 kms across the globe, often in very remote areas, the Tour de Force team understand what makes a great road trip.

“Our clients always say the same thing: ‘I’ve done all the best safaris and lodges – now I want something that pushes me a bit,’” says Duncan.

What began as a consultancy for “adult gap years, sabbaticals and midlife crises” has evolved into a finely tuned operation designing intimate, curated driving expeditions in 4x4 campervans or rare vintage vehicles. These are no ordinary road trips. Guests traverse vast, wild terrains – from the deserts of Namibia to the coastal roads of California – either in their own classic cars or high-spec campervans that have been sourced on their behalf.

“It’s a very niche business,” Duncan explains. “We organise driving adventures where the journey is as important as the destination and every element within it is carefully curated by us."

Tour de Force taps into the growing appetite for experience-led luxury: a filet steak and a glass of "really good" red wine under a star-filled African sky; a sunrise picnic deep in the bush with no other safari trucks in sight; an impromptu dinner party among new friends who started the journey as strangers.

“We’ve been described as ‘the travelling dinner party,’ and it’s our favourite compliment,” Duncan says. “Clients travel at their own pace along carefully chosen routes, and then meet up for lunches and dinners at the end of the day and share stories. They are like-minded people, but many would never normally do group travel. They just love the shared experience.”

Each journey balances pared-down comforts with just enough indulgence. While guests are welcome to muck in – helping the chef, doing their own washing up – they also enjoy the support of a professional expedition crew that includes a mechanic and a medic. The whole experience is centered around creating a tension between luxury and adventure. One night camping out under the stars, the next in a beautiful lodge with the best shower you’ve ever had.

Verity, who comes from a television production background, leads the design of the hotels, food and cultural experiences, while Duncan handles mapping, logistics and navigation. Their combined expertise results in trips that feel spontaneous yet seamless, adventurous yet safe.

“It’s a curation,” says Verity. “We read books, speak to people, and handpick boutique hotels that you wouldn’t normally find. We deliberately avoid the famous places – we don’t want to contribute to overtourism.”

Destinations range from the deep south of Africa to the backroads of Europe. A new tour in Italy is in the planning stages, with an emphasis on art, food and local culture. In California, the company recently ran a bespoke tour for Eagle E-Type owners, many of whom enjoy driving their cars outside of the UK.

“People become friends,” Duncan reflects. “They buy the thing – the car – but it’s the experience that comes with it that really matters.”

Tours typically run just four times per year, and cost around £16,000 per person for two weeks in Africa, including mobile camps and support crew. The company also adds a tourism development levy to each trip, ensuring local impact as part of its sustainable philosophy.

Despite the ultra-premium feel, Tour de Force is not about being pampered. It’s about real, raw, immersive luxury – where the value lies in connection, curiosity and challenge. "There is an expedition feel. You are not pandered to. Clients like the lo-fi aspect," says Duncan.

“Luxury is all about being in your comfort zone,” Verity says. “But you need to be out of your comfort zone for the magic to happen. That’s the bit that’s memorable. It’s either a five-star hotel or a shack on the beach – I don’t want anything in between.”

Their typical client? Often a CEO. Someone who has conquered the business world and is now ready to invest in something more personal.

“They’ve achieved success. The question now is: what’s next? What’s meaningful? That’s where we come in.”

The ethos is quietly subversive: don’t just spend money – spend yourself. Tour de Force is not for mass market travellers. It’s the Coutts of travel – private, considered, and deeply bespoke.

“We’re tapping into a latent need,” Duncan concludes. “Our clients aren’t searching for us. They don’t even know they need to do this – until they discover it.”

The next Tour de Force 4x4 adventure will be through Limpopo, Mozambique and Eswatini in September 2025.