TOM AVERY, WORLD-RECORD EXPLORER & EXECUTIVE PARTNER: A LIFE OF BOLD ENDEAVOURS

As one of the UK's foremost explorers, he has set records at both poles, retracing the legendary routes of his predecessors with a modern twist. In 2002, he became the youngest Briton to reach the South Pole on foot. Three years later, he led the fastest-ever journey to the North Pole by dog sledge, recreating Peary and Henson's controversial 1909 expedition and securing a place in the Guinness World Records. A second Guinness title followed in 2015 when he led the fastest coast-to-coast crossing of Greenland—often dubbed the Third Pole—joining an elite group of just nine people in history to have achieved this feat. His achievements have been recognised with prestigious honours, including the Medal of Merit from the Explorers Club, and he served as an official ambassador for the London 2012 Olympic Games. His expeditions have also raised over £100,000 for charity, primarily The Prince's Trust. 

Yet Tom's adventurous spirit extends far beyond the polar regions. In 2009, he founded Verbier Exclusive, a high-end chalet managing company that redefined luxury ski experiences in the Swiss Alps. Following its acquisition in 2023, Verbier Exclusive is now a cornerstone of the Eterniti Group, blending world-class hospitality with Tom's signature ethos of excellence.

Tom, your name is synonymous with record-breaking expeditions. How did your passion for adventure begin? What first drew you to the world's most hostile environments?

When I was seven, I read about the British explorer Captain Scott and was completely blown away by his extraordinary tale of heroism in a wild yet strangely beautiful icy world. As a kid, I had always loved snow and was drawn to the romance of his story. Of course, it ended in tragedy, but it really filled my wanderlust. As strange as it may sound for someone so young, I knew my life wouldn't be complete until I had followed Captain Scott to the bottom of the world.

Could you share one of your most unforgettable moments as an explorer? What made it so special?

Probably one of the most unforgettable moments was standing at the North Pole. It looked just like any other stretch of ice we had encountered during our 37-day expedition across the Arctic Ocean—a jumbled mess of multi-year sea ice. But at that precise point, we were standing at 90 degrees north. Every direction we turned was due south; there was no more east, west, or north. Every line of longitude converged beneath our feet—we were quite literally at the centre of the Earth's axis, with the whole planet revolving below us. We stood in every single time zone at once. And what made it even more special was that, against all odds, we had managed to prove the critics wrong by beating Peary's time to the North Pole by four hours, a record set nearly a century earlier, and in doing so, we helped confirm that he was likely the first person to reach it.

Robert Peary—a legendary, highly inspiring explorer indeed. What was it like to follow in his footsteps?

It was a completely unique experience! We travelled the same route he did, starting from his original base camp at Cape Columbia, on the northernmost coast of Ellesmere Island. We even discovered a signpost he had built nearly a century earlier, along with rusting old baked bean tins. It was surreal. Travelling in the same style he did, using the incredible Canadian Eskimo dog, is something I will never forget. We could feel his presence every step of the way to the North Pole. That connection to history, to these great characters of the past, is one of the things that continually fueled me on these expeditions. 

Beyond physical endurance, what kind of mental resilience is required to lead such high-risk adventures?

These expeditions are ultimately a test of mind over matter. Of course, the physical demands, strength and conditioning are enormous, but the real challenge is mental. Take the journey to the South Pole, for instance—you can go days, even weeks, without seeing a single landmark. On a cloudy day with no blue sky, it feels as if you're walking blindfolded for 10 hours straight. You may as well put a pillowcase over your head. It's brutally tough; there are a lot of reasons for feeling pretty miserable. The cold is fierce, and human beings simply aren't built for such conditions. But for me, the key is to focus on the positives. Despite the hardship, I remind myself how lucky I am to witness landscapes that so few people have ever seen. It's such a privilege to travel through these untouched wildernesses. And when it comes to personal motivation, I've always believed that I only get one shot at these challenges, so I make sure to give them everything I've got.

You then successfully transitioned from explorer to entrepreneur, founding Verbier Exclusive. How did your experience in extreme conditions shape your vision for top-tier hospitality?

Setting up Verbier Exclusive in 2009 was a natural transition. I had fallen in love with the place a decade earlier after spending a winter working there as a driver and guide. Over the years, I kept returning—to train for expeditions, to write my books—it became a second home. When my wife and I found out we were expecting twins, I realised I needed a slightly more sensible way of putting food on the table, so the adventures whilst they were still a big part of my life became secondary to running our fledgling travel business. 

Both polar exploration and luxury hospitality require meticulous attention to detail. Do you see any other unexpected parallels between these two worlds? 

Absolutely—polar expeditions and running a business are both all about teamwork, and there are so many crossovers. My most important role, whether as an expedition leader or as the head of Verbier Exclusive, is ensuring I have the best possible team in place. Once I do, my job is to empower them, whether we're out on the ice, in the office in the UK, or on the ground in Verbier. We're constantly dealing with adversity and risk, making group decisions, overcoming obstacles, and looking out for one another. And just like in exploration, having a sense of camaraderie and some fun also, is essential. Celebrating successes—whether reaching the top of a mountain, standing at the Pole, or achieving something remarkable in business—is incredibly rewarding. That team spirit is infectious, and I feel very, very blessed to have worked with such extraordinary teams, both on my expeditions and here at Verbier Exclusive, as well as within the wider Emerald Stay/Eterniti Group.

Finally, if you could embark on one last great adventure—whether in the Arctic, the Alps, or on other kinds of life grounds—what would it be?

People often ask if I want to climb Mount Everest. While I have immense admiration for anyone who's made it to the summit, it's not an expedition that appeals to me. I prefer escaping into the unknown, which is why I've often gravitated towards unclimbed peaks. The polar regions, in particular, remain truly wild and empty. I've also been fortunate enough to sail across the world’s three major oceans—the Pacific, the Indian, and the Atlantic—all childhood dreams of mine. But the expedition that's kind of next on the horizon is much closer to home, a mountain that has defeated me three times already: Mont Blanc. To finally stand at the summit, in winter, on skis, would be something that I would absolutely relish. I just need to get into a little better shape!