For over three decades, Cosmos has opened up the world for smart, savvy, practical travelers. Our expertly planned vacation packages combine all the benefits of group travel with the flexibility of independent free time to create a balanced experience for each and every traveler. Our friendly, knowlegeable Tour Directors make every destination come to life and offer a wide variety of optional activities to heighten your enjoyment.

Each trip is packaged to include all the must see sights, transportation, accommodations, a tour director and ample time on your own. At Cosmos, we've refined the concept of affordable travel to ensure that the journeys you take will be as priceless as the memories you make.

Cosmos history

In 1928, Antonio opened a company specializing in motorcoach touring called Globus Viaggi. The company began with a fleet of 12 coaches which operated local excursions for European tourists in Switzerland. Antonio's frequent trips across the scenic lake led him to consider opportunities in a different market tourism. His entrepreneurial instinct pushed him to gradually acquire some motorcoaches to transport tourists around the Lake Lugano area. In 1928, Antonio opened a company specializing in motorcoach touring called Globus Viaggi. The company began with a fleet of 12 coaches which operated local excursions for European tourists in Switzerland.

By 1950, Globus Viaggi had grown to a fleet of 33 coaches and featured overnight excursions to Rome, Venice, the Dolomites and the French Riviera. Gradually, these became regularly scheduled tours and grew longer to cover more ground. Later that decade, under the leadership of Werner Albek, Antonio's business partner, Globus pioneered the concept of Grand European Touring by offering first-class European tours to North Americans. By 1961, the company launched its Cosmos arm, which featured affordable, budget-priced European touring for the cost-conscious British traveler.

The coach tours were so successful that Cosmos soon introduced another form of travel for the British market: air holiday packages to the sunny destinations of southern Europe. By 1968, Cosmos air holidays became so popular the company formed its own airline, Monarch Airlines. Monarch Airlines started out modestly with two used Britannia aircraft and eventually blossomed into one of the most successful European charter companies with a large fleet of modern jets and its own engineering division.

Under the flagship of Sergio Mantegazza, current president and son of Antonio, the company began expanding its markets beyond Great Britain and North America. Since 1974, tour packages have been sold in Australia, New Zealand, Canada and most recently in Southeast Asia. Starting in the 70's, the company also aggressively expanded its tour offerings, introducing travelers to more countries than any other tour operator with packages to Africa, Antarctica, South and North America, Europe, the South Pacific and Asia.

Today, the family of companies consists of more than 30 tourism and aviation businesses, serviced by a group of more than 5,000 professionals worldwide. Combined, Globus and Cosmos carry about 500,000 passengers a year making the company the leading operator of guided vacations worldwide. Cosmos attributes its success to the ideals of founder Antonio Mantegazza. For three generations, his vision, hard work, love for travel and commitment have guided the company. These values are the cornerstone on which Cosmos was built and will continue to grow.