Owner of London-based Travel Matters, Karen Simmonds told TTG her agency was “thrilled” after being approached by the Galapagos Conservation Trust to help plan and market the exclusive eight-day sailing due to depart in May next year.

Partnering with tour operator Go Barfoot Travel, who will also sell the trip, Travel Matters has been tasked with running the “customer facing” side of the cruise and will take enquiries and process bookings.

The agency will also organise ground arrangements and flights from the Ecuador mainland to the island of Baltra, from where the cruise will set sail.

All proceeds from the £4,500pp journey, which is now available to book, will be donated to the Galapagos Conservation Trust, which works towards protecting wildlife and their habitats in the Pacific Ocean destination.

Simmonds said: “We were approached by the trust a few months ago. They had already done a similar cruise but wanted to do their next one through the trade and with companies which had experience putting on environmentally friendly trips.

“The Galapagos is such a unique ecosystem and the best way to see it and understand it is by cruising.

“We’re very pleased to be working with Go Barefoot as they have a great reputation in sustainable travel and they organise their trips with a real touch of diligence.”

The sailing will take place on a catamaran, with 14 places available to the public. Passengers will be joined on their journey by a trip “ambassador” who has yet to be announced, but Simmonds said they would be “a big name in conservation”.

The cruise will be followed by a further sailing to the Galapagos in November 2017.

“Going forward we’re hoping to work with more conservation charities,” Simmonds added.