Comprehensive Guide Course

The Expedition Guide Academy's Comprehensive Guide Course (CGC) is a 7-day intensive training designed for those seeking to build the core skills and knowledge required to guide aboard expedition cruise vessels. It lays the foundation for you to enter the industry as a safe, professional, and confident guide, or to upskill if you are already an established expedition guide.

Since launching our first course in 2019, we’ve continuously refined and improved the CGC based on real feedback from students, operators and industry requirements.

Participants gain a deeper understanding of safe operating procedures and best practices, along with the teamwork and field skills needed to perform professionally in expedition environments, both on and off the ship.

You’ll also find this course personally challenging and rewarding. The time spent training, learning, and living alongside your fellow participants offers a great and unique opportunity for personal growth and genuine connection.

This course might not be for you if you prefer dry feet, short days, and fancy hotels!

We currently offer the Comprehensive Guide Course in both Denmark and New Zealand, with two possible enrolment options.

1. CGC + EGA Comprehensive PTGA Assessment (ASM)

(Training followed by assessments)

This is ideal for those ready to complete both their training and assessment in one extended programme.

You’ll first complete the full seven-day Comprehensive Guide Course, followed by three additional days of Polar Tourism Guides Association assessments (PTGA assessments). These assessments are internationally recognised within the expedition cruise industry and are designed to verify that you can perform to professional standards in real-world conditions.

Many participants choose this option to:

Complete everything in one go
Prepare to join your first ship or start the hiring process soon
Because they have the time

By the end of the ten days, you’ll leave with both your EGA Training Certificate and, if successful, a range of core PTGA qualifications.

2. CGC Stand-Alone (Training Only)

(Focus purely on skills and learning)

Join the seven-day training course. This stand-alone version is ideal if you want to focus entirely on developing your skills before undertaking formal assessment later on, or if you’re still exploring whether expedition guiding is the right path for you. The CGC Stand-Alone does not have the EGA Comprehensive PTGA Assessment component.

Many participants choose this option to:

Gain experience and skills before committing to assessments
Build confidence behind the helm and in team operations
Refresh or deepen their guiding skills without the pressure of evaluation
Because they don't have time for the 10-day program

The training syllabus is the same for both CGC options, and participants receive the EGA Training Certificate.

CGC Course Outline

Course Content

Living and Working on Ships
Field Navigation
Field Communication
Working with Small Boats/Zodiacs
Driving Small Boats/Zodiacs
Group Dynamics
1.5-hour Yoga session focused on personal well-being onboard the ship
Online pre-course component

Location: Denmark & New Zealand

Approximately 60 hours of contact time during the course + 10 hours of self-directed learning pre-course

Language: English Proficient

Age: 18+

Previous experience: None required

Who is the course for?:

Seasoned guides already working on ships who would like to train and potentially prepare for PTGA assessments and those new to the industry, wanting to work as an expedition guide onboard ships.

The course is designed for anyone looking to become more skilled, safe and confident in expedition guiding.

Minimum: 4 participants

Maximum: 6 participants

Price: USD $3997

Living and working on ships

Theoretical segment based on the online material, as well as knowledge of the "soft skills" involved in expedition guiding. Learn about the specifics of living and working aboard an expedition cruise ship. Throughout the course, we'll cover life on board as an expedition staff member, staffing structures, roles onboard, professionalism, terminology and strategies for excelling in a ship-based workplace.

Field Navigation

During the course, we'll focus on using handheld GPS units for field-based activities specific to expedition operations and professional best practices.

Field Communication

Participants can expect to use handheld VHF radios while driving zodiacs and operating in the field. We'll practice becoming proficient with the use of handheld VHF units in the field.

Working with Small Boats/ Zodiacs

Part of being an effective and efficient team member is working as shore staff for Zodiac operations. The aim of this element is to learn about zodiac operations from a landing party perspective. Safely catching zodiacs, loading and unloading guests and uses of shore-stranding equipment are all elements that make up this part of the course.

Driving Small Boats/ Zodiacs

Knowing how to safely drive zodiacs is a must-have skill for any expedition professional. Becoming familiar and proficient with zodiacs takes time and practice. With this course, you'll spend your time hands-on in the Zodiac as you learn the techniques and strategies required for becoming a safe and professional small boat driver.

Segment content

Learn the boat/gear
Troubleshooting
Driving techniques & guest management
Safe driving stances & management of self
High-speed manoeuvring
Low-speed manoeuvring
Embark/ disembark guests
Man overboard (MOB)
Passenger & self-rescue strategies
Anchoring techniques
Towing and being towed
Gangway operations
Beach approaches & departures
Soft skills around guiding and managing guests

Pre-course Learning

We realise that participants will have a range of experience levels and come from different backgrounds. To ensure we maximise our learning during the actual course, there will be an online learning component to be completed before attending the course. We find it important to have all participants on the same page regarding terminology and basic concepts around the course segments to maximise our time focusing on practical training and theory, best done when together. Expect to receive this material a month out from the course start. Please note that this is a mandatory component that must be completed before the course starts. The EGA can not issue your training certificate without completion.

We believe in a holistic approach to being an expedition guide; thus, the course outline for our Comprehensive Guide Course also consists of the unique content below:

Group Dynamics

An important part of working on expedition vessels is to work well within teams. You will get the taste of this during the course, simply because you (might) live together at the venue for over a week, you learn together, you fail together, you struggle together, and you share joyful moments. Groups are very different, depending on who is part of them. But most often, it's some of the same dynamics that take place within a group. We believe that an important step in being aware and conscious of group dynamics, within your team, is to understand what you bring to the group yourself - in other words, understand what you have in your personal "backpack". This will help you understand your reaction in situations and to be a more empathic and self-aware team member.

During the course, we will facilitate an approximate 4-hour session on this with our Organisational Consultant in organisational psychology.

*Please note that this session is different in the New Zealand Comprehensive Guide Course.

Personal well-being on board the ship

Because we believe in a holistic approach to being an expedition guide, we see the importance of focusing on how to maintain your personal well-being during the season. If you are doing well mentally and physically, you can take good care of guests and be Your Best Guide. There are many ways to do this onboard, and we are all different and need different things to feel good and to be healthy. During a 1.5-hour yoga session with our yoga instructor, you will be introduced to an option.

Practical Course Information

When you have booked

Once you have booked a spot on the Comprehensive Guide Course, you will receive a confirmation email, followed by a Practical Information email, with specific pre-course information. This will include the exact meeting times, location details, how to get there, what to bring (gear list) and what to expect. Please note that this information is provided after booking.

Arrival and Departure

The course itself is 7 days of training; however, in the interests of maximising course delivery and instructor contact time, participants will need to arrive in the afternoon/early evening the day before the course start date. Participants will depart the morning after the last day of your program. The EGA will inform you of the exact time you need to arrive - and depart, which will be the same time for all participants. This information is provided in the Practical Information email mentioned above.

Facilities

The training takes place both outside and indoors. We will spend a lot of time on the water, on the beach, in green areas, and indoors at the EGA Venue. At the venue, students will have coffee, tea, multiple milk options and sugar available throughout their time with us.

Accommodation

We offer accommodation on-site, at our training facility, referred to as the EGA venue. You're more than welcome to organise your own accommodation and stay off-site, but we do encourage participants to stay on-site and engage in the full immersive learning experience, living with and getting to know your fellow students. It's also a fantastic way to see what it might be to stay close together with others, which is your reality on board expedition ships.

If you wish to book our accommodation, please choose the 11-night option if you are doing a Comprehensive Guide Course followed by the EGA Comprehensive PTGA Assessment and the 8-night option if you are doing a CGC Stand-Alone.

*Please note that you will leave on the morning after the last day of your training if you are booked on a CGC Stand-Alone.

Training Certificate

On completion of the Comprehensive Guide Course, you'll receive a 'Training Certificate' from the Expedition Guide Academy outlining the course content covered. This is not only useful to you in your personal training development, but it is also useful to companies and potential employers. Since the EGA is an accredited training provider, this certificate is approved by the PTGA. Use this certificate to outline what you have been training, when you apply for your job as an expedition guide.

Qualification and assessment

If you are looking at booking our Comprehensive Guide Course that's followed by the assessment, please make sure that you head over to our Certification with the EGA page for more details on this.

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