Hosted trips for Instagram travel creators

Can Instagram creators get hosted travel collaborations?

Yes. If Instagram is where your audience is, you can apply to be hosted by Explera in Thailand, Japan, South Korea or New Zealand. We arrange agreed parts of the trip on the ground, and you publish coverage in your own voice. It is a travel influencer collaboration based on hospitality, not a paid campaign.

Do I need a minimum number of Instagram followers?

If Instagram is your primary channel, your follower count there decides your tier, and hosted tiers start at the threshold set out on the programme page. Below it, the Spotlight tier is considered case by case and normally covers one activity or tour, with no hotel. Reviewers also check engagement quality and where your followers actually live.

What do I have to post on Instagram?

You post the Instagram deliverables written into your agreement, which normally means a pre-trip announcement and a set number of Reels or Story sets after the trip, each tagging @expleradmc with the venue geotag. Because every applicant owns a website, a blog post is part of the package too. Typically:

• A pre-trip announcement post tagging @expleradmc, after approval and before you travel.
• Reels or Story sets from the trip, tagging @expleradmc and geotagging the venue.
• A blog post on your own site with a link to the agreed Explera page.
• Usage rights so Explera can repost your content with credit.

Which formats work best: Reels, carousels or Stories?

Use the format that suits the moment: Reels for movement, sound and place; carousels for detail, routes and practical information; Stories for the day as it happens. Your agreement fixes what must be delivered, but editorial choices inside it are yours. Explera never scripts or pre-approves your content.

• Capture vertical footage throughout the day, not only at the headline activity; transfers and quiet hotel mornings often carry a Reel.
• Save carousels for information your audience will keep: costs you paid, opening times, what to wear.
• Screenshot Stories as you post them. They disappear after a day, and the screenshot is your proof.

How do I disclose a hosted trip on Instagram?

Turn on Instagram's Paid partnership label and also say it plainly at the start of the caption or on screen, for example with #ad and a line such as “hosted by @expleradmc”. The label alone is not always enough. The rules follow your audience's market (for a UK audience, see the ASA), and your agreement gives the exact wording.

Do I have to tag @expleradmc?

Yes. Tag @expleradmc on every Instagram deliverable, including the pre-trip announcement, and add the venue geotag where the agreement asks for it. @expleradmc is also Explera's handle on Facebook, X, YouTube and Threads, and every applicant confirms they follow it on each of those profiles.

Which destinations and niches suit Instagram?

All four destinations work well on Instagram; the best one is whichever your audience already wants and your season allows. Thailand suits islands, food and nightlife; Japan suits seasonal colour and design; South Korea suits city nights, markets and beauty; New Zealand suits big landscapes and road trips. The luxury and food guides show how each niche is hosted.

How do I prove my Instagram posts?

Submit each post in the creator portal with its live link and at least one screenshot that shows the @expleradmc tag and the disclosure. For Stories, the screenshot is the record. If something needs fixing, you get a note explaining what, and you can submit again.

How do I apply?

Apply through the application form with your Instagram handle, your blog or website and your preferred destination and dates. A reviewer for that market checks your account and replies; if you are approved, you sign the agreement in the portal before anything is booked.