[1] The company was established by the Russ family,[2] and currently offers a range of expedition cruises and excursions in Antarctica, Subantarctic, New Zealand, Australia, the South Pacific and Japan.

[3] One of the founders, Rodney Russ, when aged 17, obtained a four year internship with the New Zealand Wildlife Service.

[6][7] After studying at Otago University, in 1985 Russ established an eco-tourism business, Southern Heritage Tours, to manage an increasing number of guiding and lecturing assignments, including taking guided tours for the Historic Places Trust to areas like the Otago goldfields.

[10] In 2003, the company entered a new charter agreement for the Akademik Shokalskiy's sister ship, Professor Khromov that it renamed the Spirit of Enderby.

[6] Aaron and Nathan Russ, the two sons of Rodney and Shirley, began going on the expedition tours from when they were about eight years old.

[15] The company has extended its range of cruise destinations to include the Philippines, Japan, Indonesia and the Kimberley in Western Australia.

These scholarships provide an opportunity for young people to take part in expedition cruises for two thirds off normal rates.

[17][18] In 2020, Heritage Expeditions provided the transport and support for the making of a slow–TV programme, Go Further South about a voyage on the Akademik Shokalskiy, from New Zealand via the subantartic islands to Antarctica.