Bienvenue aux Explorateurs ~ ExGld
Bonjour!
I’m so thrilled to share the news of our next big expedition, but first we also have news of our board elections. Congrats to Dr. Professor, Denorae, and Scylla who were all elected to the board and will serve from 2026-2028. I also want to say a huge thank you to all of you who took the time to vote, thank you!
With that said, I’m really excited about our plans for 2026. I want to also note that just because this is the first announcement about plans in 2026, doesn’t mean we won’t also offer local experiences throughout the year. We have a lot on our minds, this is just something that takes a lot of pre-planning.
Mythical Creatures of France ~ June 2026
In 2018 and 2019, we traveled together to Molokai and to the Wadden Sea. Those journeys bound us through the pillars of the Explorers Guild: story, discovery, and community. Now, another horizon awaits us.
In June 2026, up to twenty Explorers will gather in France for a nine-day expedition. Our path begins in Paris and winds westward to Nantes. Along the way we will trace myths in the streets, ride mechanical beasts, and explore the crossroads where imagination, art, and natural history intertwine.
This expedition is more than a trip. It is a continuation of our unfolding tale. Having met the Asteri in the Redwood Realm, we now seek their kind abroad. I have in fact confirmed the existence of an enormous (rideable) elephant and an underwater menagerie of impossible beings, but now I want to share them with you.
What to Expect
This trip is a hybrid of community and personal exploration. The Guild will organize shared experiences every other day, leaving time for individual wanderings and discoveries. The schedule strikes a balance for our style of exploration, celebrating the communal experience, while also allowing unstructured time for individuals to use as they see fit.
Our Guild-led events include:
A Street Art Tour exploring the work of Codex Urbanus
Steeplechase Paris, our signature playful challenge
Les Machines de l’Île in Nantes, a cathedral of imagination and invention
And a fourth experience still to be finalized
Between these moments, Explorers will have free days to chart their own adventures.
The Explorers Guild will coordinate:
The expedition theme and story framework
Group lodging for 16–20 participants (6 nights in Paris, 2 in Nantes)
Train travel from Paris to Nantes
Group tickets for official Guild events
Communication channels on Slack for both the curious and the confirmed
Participants are responsible for:
Booking their own flights
Managing personal meals
Covering lodging, travel, and ticket payments by the Guild’s deadline to reserve a place
Planning individual adventures during free days
Joining the Journey
If your heart quickens at the thought of wandering through mythic streets, tracing murals under moonlight, or standing before the great mechanical creatures of France, this is your invitation.
The Guild is gathering its company of dreamers and adventurers.
The plans are forming. The story is waiting.
Join us, our next chapter begins in France.
Now is the time to start considering if this trip is for you. Logistics information is coming together. Please fill out this form to express your interest.
We invite you to join the #2026-france-curious Slack channel to start connecting with other Explorers who are considering this trip. The free days on our schedule are intended for people to discover France on their terms. Already there’s been talk about escape rooms, dining experiences, museums, market treasure hunts, and art events but certainly there’s more that we don’t know about.
Some people are considering arriving earlier and leaving later to attend various events out in Europe. All of this is encouraged. Right now, the Guild is primarily interested in getting to know who is interested and the level of their commitment.
We have secured housing in Paris which balances: location, cost, and proximity to one another.
All participants must be official Explorers Guild members for 2026 and receive a sign-off from a France trip leader (currently Dr. Professor or Scylla).
Dates & Destinations
We are locked in on our dates of June 6 - 14th, 2026.
June 6: Arrival in Paris and the “Line in the Sand” gathering
June 7–12: A sequence of Guild events and individual explorations in Paris
June 12 -14: Explorations in Nantes as we cap off with Les Machines de l’Île
June 14: “Semper Explorandum” in Nantes, marking the close of the group journey
Cost
The overall cost of the journey is going to depend on a number of factors. Per person estimates are:
Roundtrip airfare ~ $1,200
Accommodations ~ $900
Tickets ~ $200
Food ~ $300
We are trying to minimize costs where we can, which is part of the reason for the guild to organize group housing solutions.
Guild Trip
As this will be an official Explorers Guild trip, we ask that all Explorers attending are members (2026 membership information will be sent out in January). Explorers attending will also need to abide by our Code of Conduct.
Still reading? Still interested? These are all good signs!
We will be divulging more information in the coming weeks/months but now is the time we’re gauging interest in our expedition.
The two things you can do today is:
Fill out this form to express your interest
Join the #2026-france-curious Slack channel and let the channel know what you’re excited about.
Both of these options will offer Explorers access to our participant planning doc which has this information, along with more details on the itinerary and on the Paris accommodations.
I’m so excited to share the grand adventure of France with you all. The thrill I felt when scouting was incredible and the wonder of Les Machines de l’Île is something I don’t think any of you will forget.
Semper Explorandum Explorers!