Exeter International

Greg Tepper founded Russiatours, Inc. (which later was renamed Exeter International) in 1992 with the idea that a new way to travel in Eastern Europe and Russia was finally possible. With the end of Intourist's monopoly (and its counterparts in Eastern Europe), a totally new approach to travel in Eastern Europe was now possible. Gone were the mandatory depressing hotels and horrible restaurants – and in their place were stunning five star and fully renovated properties. The established Eastern European tour operators were slow to introduce a deluxe travel product and the established luxury tour operators were uninterested in focusing on Russia and Eastern Europe, which until then had not had a luxury travel option. Exeter International stepped in and since 1992 has established itself as the leading deluxe tour operator to Russia and Eastern Europe.

Today what sets Exeter International apart from all other tour companies is the attention to detail and exclusive excursions that are so difficult to arrange in this part of the world. Deluxe hotels and fabulous restaurants are generally available now to all travelers in Eastern Europe, but the sophisticated traveler wants more of his or her experience. With extraordinary connections in all the major cities of Eastern Europe, Exeter International is able to take its clients behind the scenes like no other company can. Backstage tours, gala dinners in private palaces, world-famous lecturers (including author and presidential advisor, Suzanne Massie) are all staples of the Exeter International experience.

Exeter International now sends over 1,500 deluxe travelers to Russia and Eastern Europe each year. The company has been listed in Travel + Leisure as one of the top custom travel arrangers in the US (Sept. 2001, The Bespoke Vacation) and also on Travel + Leisure's A-List of the top 70 travel agents and consultants in the US (Greg Tepper was named as one of four on the list as A+). Condé Nast has also listed Greg Tepper in its top travel agent lists every year since 2001 and also named him to the Travel Agent Advisory Board. Exeter International's tours have been written about in the New York Times, Condé NastTraveler, Travel + Leisure, TheWall Street Journal, Town & Country magazine, Departuresmagazine, Food + Wine, the Chicago Tribune, the Los Angeles Times, the Financial Times and many other publications. Exeter International is a Marketing Partner to Virtuoso and Signature, two of the most prestigious associations of travel agents in the world.

In June of 2005, Exeter International opened a new office in London headed by Ala Osmond (formerly of Rocco Forte Hotels) to begin marketing our product to the UK, Ireland and parts of Continental Europe. This office joins our offices in Moscow and St Petersburg, which specialize in deluxe outbound travel for the Russian market, as well as handling high-end incoming clients from our offices in London and the US.

Destinations