Discover new worlds with Lernidee adventure travel

Discover new worlds, experience cultures, meet people: Lernidee's adventure trips open up new perspectives on the world that go far beyond classic holiday offers.

At a River cruise on the Mekong or a train journey through Vietnam, the Berlin-based company accompanies Learning idea This takes people in small groups to little-known and impressive worlds. In an interview with the German trade journal, he describes... Managing Director Felix Willeke the recipe for success and introduces the new Mekong Star.

DHB: How did the learning idea concept come about?
Felix Willeke: The company Lernidee Erlebnisreisen (Learning Idea Adventure Travel) has its roots in a language school: In 1986, Hans Engberding, a Russian teacher in West Berlin, founded the language school "Lernbrücke" (Learning Bridge). His rather unorthodox approach met with resistance from the government at the time, which is why he went into business for himself. From classic language courses, a Russian language travel course soon emerged, including a language course on the Trans-Siberian Railway – a daring project during the time of the Iron Curtain. This idea was recognized as a "good learning idea" and forms the nucleus of the company.

In the following years, we quickly moved away from purely language-based travel and redefined "learning": not as the didactic transmission of knowledge, but as getting to know one another and creating connections. Our company aims to provide experiences that money can't buy. Instead of long, academic lectures about the sights we visit, we prefer carefully selected, immersive moments. This might be, for example, a visit to a family's home for a vodka tasting or a mini-internship with a goldsmith in Uzbekistan.

To avoid misunderstandings, the name was expanded to "Lernidee Erlebnisreisen" (Learning Idea Adventure Travel) in 2002: The aim of not being didactic and not appearing like a typical study tour is central. Our typical guests are curious about history, culture, and above all, the local people. They often have an affinity for technology and are interested in details, such as the steel used in ship hulls or track gauges on railways. Relaxation in the sense of classic leisure trips plays a subordinate role, as the company consciously positions itself between a study tour and a boutique experience, without being solely a provider of study tours.

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DHB: Which countries were in the program and which countries have been added?
Willeke: In the 1980s, the focus was on the states of the former USSR, namely Russia, Ukraine, the Baltic states, Central Asia including Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan, as well as Mongolia and China. The Trans-Siberian Railway was primarily organized for the Moscow-Beijing route, creating a strong affinity for Southeast and East Asia. In the 1990s, we also undertook excursions to other regions such as Egypt, Cuba, and South Africa, though with varying degrees of success.

Around 1999/2000 came the turning point: We began designing our own special trains. This gave us the freedom to set our own timetables, stop where there was something to see, and quickly traverse monotonous sections of the route. The rail travel concept was further developed into a "cruise on rails": a rolling hotel where luggage remains on board. From 1999/2000 onwards, this concept was rolled out in various regions, including the countries along the Trans-Siberian Railway, Central Asia, Southern Africa, India, Canada, and Spain. Additional Southeast Asian destinations were added, strengthening our position as a rail expert in the industry.

In parallel, the cruise business in Europe accelerated from 2005 to 2006. This resulted in the construction of the first Mekong ship, the Mekong Sun. Lernidee traditionally operates in regions that are sometimes less stable economically, politically, or economically. We are accustomed to dealing with challenges in our destinations. Therefore, Mekong ships have been an important part of our portfolio since 2005. With the annexation of Crimea in 2014, diversification became a strategic priority, as we gained a realization of just how fragile geopolitical circumstances can be from one day to the next!

From 2016 onwards, new brands and travel formats were developed, including Belvelo, to reach new target groups and regions. Company founder Hans Engberding, at 74, remains active as a travel developer. We are also developing new trips and destinations. Currently, we offer charter trips in Papua New Guinea and around Madagascar, as well as a new train journey in Vietnam. Construction of the third Mekong River cruise ship has just been completed, and a potential expansion on the Amazon River with a partner is being explored.

Between 2021 and 2024/25, we completed three to four small company acquisitions. Among others, we now have a Galapagos specialist, a small tour operator for trips to Switzerland, a Northern Europe tour operator, and a UK specialist in our group of companies.

DHB: A key focus of the offering is the Mekong fleet and the new ship "Mekong Star"?
Willeke: Our involvement on the Mekong began in 2005 as part of our diversification strategy. Lernidee pioneered the challenging northern section of the Mekong. Contrary to popular belief that cabin cruisers were not feasible there, the Mekong Sun was built in 2005. Today, we operate three ships on the Mekong; the Mekong Star is the newest vessel and was commissioned in November 2025. In the south (Vietnam, Cambodia), there are fifteen to twenty ships operating. We, however, operate a fleet of three ships on the less-traveled northern section of the Mekong.

DHB: Why a third ship?
Willeke: Over the past few years, we've repeatedly received feedback that while our existing ships are charming and beautiful, they're a bit too basic for some guests. Cabin sizes of 12 or 16 square meters are no longer sufficient for some of today's target groups. Therefore, starting in 2024, the Mekong Star was built with the clear aim of offering the greatest possible comfort on the northern section. The cabins range in size from 21 to 39 square meters. With the Mekong Star, we may be sacrificing 30 percent of individuality and charm, but in return, we gain 100 percent more comfort.

DHB: How would you describe the travel experience on the northern Mekong and what are the future plans?
Willeke: A journey on the northern Mekong is characterized by its intense, wild, and unspoiled river character. The route typically leads through largely uninhabited areas; the karst mountains between northern Laos and southern China provide a breathtaking backdrop. In contrast, the southern Mekong in Vietnam and Cambodia is about one kilometer wide, the surrounding area is flat, dotted with floating markets and riverside villages, and offers a classic introductory experience to Southeast Asia. In the north, the experience remains more pristine and conveys the "undiscovered Southeast Asia" that is no longer found in the south.

A current element of the travel experience is the dam and lock, which serves as a daily activity – particularly appealing to guests interested in engineering. There are also opportunities for individual stops: at a sandbank for an evening barbecue or further downstream at a village. While the villages have become somewhat accustomed to visitors since 2005, the impact of tourism remains minimal. Ten arrivals per year, each with around 20 guests, mean "anything but mass tourism," but rather "no-impact, high-value" tourism.

Yes, operationally the fleet can still be expanded: In the medium term, we are considering building a fourth ship in Laos. This would likely be in the area of ​​the 4.000 Islands in southern Laos. Navigation is and will remain challenging. There are rapids and no continuous waterway from the Himalayas to the southern Mekong. A ship operating in the central section from the southern Laotian border region to Cambodia can only be operated if it was built there and sails exclusively there.

DHB: You were on board the Mekong Star for its maiden voyage. Did everything go as planned?
Willeke: The Mekong Star's maiden voyage took place after a very tight construction schedule, further complicated by severe flooding in Laos at the turn of the year. This led to delays. I boarded with a certain amount of apprehension and a long checklist, but returned with great euphoria. The goal of building the best ship on this stretch of the river was more than achieved. What was designed over two years ago using a CAD program has become reality, completed on time and within budget. For me, this is a cause for satisfaction and a touch of pride.

InfoAt the invitation of Lernidee, the editorial staff of the German trade journal "Deutsches Handwerksblatt" had the opportunity to travel on the Mekong Star from Vientiane to the Golden Triangle in Thailand. The travelogue and the evaluation is independent and reflects the personal opinion of the editorial team.
lernidee.de

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