As an expedition leader in Adventure Tours, you want to take explorers on journeys that will show them great things and (more importantly) earn you lots of money, but if you don't have the right equipment, you won't be able to take anyone anywhere.

The game lasts three rounds, and in each round players start with six cards in hand. On a turn, either you play a card to the right of your player board as an expedition supporter — thereby increasing your technology, provision or clothing resources — then draw a card to end your turn, or you play a card above your player board to represent the explorer who has hired you to take him on a trip. To be hired by that explorer, though, your expedition must meet the demands of that explorer card in the category shown, such as having a technology level of at least five. When you place an explorer, you carry out the special power shown on that card, such as giving other players additional cards, taking an extra turn, or stealing equipment or explorers from others.

Once a player has laid his final card, the round ends immediately. Players earn money equal to the value of the explorers lying above their boards, then lose two coins for each card still in hand. The player with the most money after three rounds wins.

In the expert game, each player board has different starting values for the technology, provision and clothing resources as well as a special unique ability that a player can use once during a turn.