Sean Nelson
Founder
A leading private travel specialist, Sean organises bespoke, insightful journeys to Socotra and Oman for discerning clients, based around his rich and varied, 30 year experience of the region. He has been nominated the Conde Nast Top Travel Specialist for Oman since 2012.
A former Officer in the British Royal Marines, he also served in the Royal Army of Oman's Desert Regiment for 3 years in the 1990s. Since leaving the armed forces, he has worked globally as a professional expedition leader, risk management consultant and development director in the NGO sector, setting up on-the-ground community and environmental projects in Africa, Central and South America and Borneo.
In 2006, Sean founded Hud Hud Travels, Oman's leading provider of professionally run private luxury camps and events. His principles in intelligent, luxurious and low impact tourism have been widely celebrated in the international press and by innovators in the tourism industry. In 2016, Sean founded Oman Expeditions, specialising in bespoke luxury camps and expeditions to the most remote and beautiful places in Oman,
Sean is also the founder of Nelson Expeditions. A travel company offering bespoke, off the map excursions, with a philanthropic bent. These are logistically complex trips, from Mongolia to Central Africa and Brazil, which expose clients to issues from elephant poaching, to the plight of endangered jaguars in the Pantanal.
Sean is a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society and an arabic speaker.
International expert network
Over the past decade, Sean has built up a rich network of specialist in Arabia, ranging from Arabia’s leading whale and dolphin expert, to anthropologists, geologists, archaeologists, astronomers and ornithologists. These specialists play an important role in Sean's bespoke expeditions, bringing the country to life, for travellers with specialised interests.
Local expert network
Socotra Expeditions works with Socotra's top local experts and fixers, from guides, drivers and botanists to dive experts, fishermen and cultural experts, to ensure his clients have an enriching and authentic experience. Whether a client wishes to explore the coast on a dhow, go fishing on a private boat, dive among Socotra’s coral reefs, wind or kite surf, explore the island’s unique flora and fauna, bird watch, trek through the dragon blood trees, wadis and climb amidst dramatic landscapes, explore the island’s magnificent caves or learn about the ancient Socotri’s way of life, we will use our top contacts to create and deliver their bespoke Socotra expedition.