Advisor Insights: How Dorena Chin Found Her Calling in Expedition Travel

In a world where bucket lists have become battle cries and travellers crave deeper, more meaningful experiences, one advisor is leading the charge into the unknown—literally.

After 15 years in the corporate world, working full-time at Walmart’s head office, The Travel Agent Next Door advisor Dorena Chin made a bold leap: she left her 9-to-5 behind to follow her lifelong dream of becoming a full-time travel professional, specializing in expedition and adventure travel.

“It had always been in the back of my mind,” she shares. “But it felt like a retirement plan. Then travel took off, the office life started demanding more, and I had this gut feeling—this was the time to go all in.”

The spark that started it all? Selling her first Antarctica cruise in March.

Her focus now is clear: personalized, one-on-one expedition travel planning—no large group tours, no cookie-cutter itineraries. Instead, she’s helping curious, driven clients immerse themselves in the most remote parts of the world—think Galápagos, Greenland, and Antarctica—through locally-led experiences rich in education, culture, and wild discovery.

“It’s not for everyone,” she says candidly. “But for those it is for, it’s life-changing. These aren’t luxury poolside vacations. They’re immersive, science-rich, educational adventures that challenge your worldview and reward you tenfold.”

And she’s not just selling it—she’s living it.

In 2022, she joined an advisor FAM with HX (formerly Hurtigruten Expeditions) that sailed from Iceland to Greenland to the rugged, remote Torngat Mountains in Northern Canada—a place she once thought she’d never reach due to its logistical challenges and lack of infrastructure.

“It had been on my bucket list since childhood. I grew up reading stacks of National Geographic, dreaming about places like this. When I got the chance to go, I didn’t hesitate. That trip changed our lives. My husband was lucky enough to get to come with me and when we came home we redid our bucket list according to activity level, because none of us know how long we’ll be healthy. So we redid our bucket list to push all of the “soft places” to the bottom.”

Since the pandemic, she’s noticed a shift in her clientele as well.

“My clients are looking at more than just a relaxing experience. There’s nothing wrong with all inclusive, but that’s that’s a different type of vacation. They want culture. They want impact. They want to learn while they travel. That’s where, you know, the Expedition can come in.”

And yet many clients don’t even know it exists—or think it’s out of reach. “Some people didn’t even know tourists could go to Antarctica. They thought it was just for scientists!”

That’s where travel advisors come in as educators.

Chin now hosts regular Zoom info sessions, offers personalized client consultations, and even invites expedition leaders and BDMs to speak with her clients directly. “It’s about building trust, painting a clear picture of the experience, and making it accessible and understandable.”

For other advisors looking to tap into a niche, her advice is simple but vital: experience it yourself.

“You can’t sell what you don’t know. If you haven’t gotten into a Zodiac, stood in a fjord, or talked to a scientist on board, you won’t be able to prepare your clients properly.”

It’s a niche that requires patience and a long lead time—many clients plan years in advance—but it’s a deeply rewarding one. And for clients who crave more than a lounge chair and buffet line, it’s the future.

“There’s no nightly entertainment. There’s no Cirque du Soleil and buffets. But there is a science lab, and there is a chance to spot polar bears, black bears, whales—all on the same day.”

The unpredictability and wonder of expedition travel are exactly what make it so special.

“It’s immersive and it’s educational, that’s the thing. It’s really educational. And you’ve got to be interested in that. You’ve got to be interested in expanding your mind and learning about new places, new cultures.

It’s not just about travel. It’s about transformation. And I get to help people experience that. What could be better?”