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For almost five years we have traveled non-stop, exploring the most interesting destinations, meeting the most amazing local guides, learning the most useful local tips, and helping wonderful people discover more about the planet they live on. 

Developing an Around the World itinerary has always loomed large in the back of BJ’s mind, especially since his 1995 adventure around the globe. We wanted to take the concept of an Around the World trip and create one that is accessible to anyone keen on such a journey. Most Around the World vacations on the market cost between $83,000 and $148,000+ and usually take between 50 and 80+ guests. That didn’t sit right with us; we think world travel is beneficial and necessary for growth, empowerment, and connection and should be made as accessible as possible, with a small, like-minded crew. 

Using creative planning, commercial flights (as opposed to private jets) and our huge virtual Rolodex of resources, we’ve created a brilliant, fully escorted, all-inclusive 28-day Around the World itinerary for a fraction of other options on the market.

We’ve chosen these destinations carefully based on their range of authentic experiences, their important heritage sites, and also the ease of travel between them. We knew we wanted to cover the classic “bucket list” items: the Taj Mahal, Angkor Wat, Machu Picchu, the Pyramids. But we also wanted to address our guests’ more recent desire to experience Bhutan, often referred to as the Last Shangri-la. Food plays a big role in every city, and we can’t wait to eat our way through the modern culinary hotspots of Hong Kong, Madrid, and Lima.

This journey is very much in line with our mission, to maximize the greatest good for the greatest number, including our guests, our travel partners, and the local community. Included in your trip price are donations to 4 local non-profits, as well as carbon offsets for all of your flights.

We hope to travel Around the World with you!

Neih hou & welcome to Hong Kong! Our tour will officially begin at dinner on October 6, but if you’d like to arrive early and get a jump on jet lag, we can help arrange that.

Situated on the southeast coast of China, Hong Kong’s location on the Pearl River Delta and the South China Sea has made it one of the world’s most thriving and cosmopolitan cities. Once a British colony, Hong Kong became a Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China in 1997. This arrangement allows the city to enjoy a high degree of autonomy, including retaining its capitalist system, independent judiciary and rule of law, free trade and freedom of speech.

We’ll cross the harbor by ferry this morning on our way to Victoria Peak. Did you know the name Hong Kong means “Fragrant Harbour”? Our ferry crossing will allow amazing panoramic views of this incredible skyline. Then we’ll get a bird’s eye view from Victoria Peak, overlooking Victoria Harbor and the surrounding islands.

Today we’ll also get a crash course in the phenomenal cuisine of Hong Kong with a local food tour. This walking tour will not only highlight foodie favorites but will give an insight into the Kowloon area of Hong Kong.

If you’re up for it (literally!), tonight we can watch the famous nightly laser show on the Victoria Harbor, “A Symphony of Lights.” It is the world’s largest permanent light and sound show, according to Guinness World Records.

Choum reap sor! We’ll depart early on the morning of the 8th to fly to the Siem Reap in the Kingdom of Cambodia. Here, the Khmer Empire created what was the world’s largest civilization in the 12th century. The most famous relic of this civilization–featured today on Cambodia’s flag–is Angkor Wat, the largest religious monument in the world. We’ll visit Angkor Wat as the sun rises behind its iconic peaks and afterward we’ll wander its bas-relief lined hallways.

However, Siem Reap is much more than Angkor Wat. This area is home to loads of gorgeous temples, many being slowly reclaimed by nature (including the picturesque Ta Prohm). We’ll explore Angkor Thom, the last capital of the Khmer Kingdom, along with its many temples and terraces. Bayon temple is a favorite of ours, featuring 172 large-scale smiling faces wherever you look.

We’ll explore temples our first full day October 9th, and we’ll enjoy the nightlife of Siem Reap that evening. You can sample local Khmer cuisine or enjoy one of the many international restaurants along Pub Street. Included on this portion of the journey is a heavenly 1-hour foot massage for your hard-working tootsies!

The next day you have a choice of exploring Siem Reap independently, to rest, shop, or wander leisurely (and perhaps go for round 2 on a foot massage!) The other option is to head a bit further out of town to Beng Mealea, a gorgeous sandstone temple complex that is mostly unrestored and being slowly reclaimed by the jungle. We’ll be accompanied by a well-established photography guide who will also take us into nearby villages to experience daily rural life.

 We’ll bid farewell to Cambodia and take a short flight to Bangkok, Thailand. Welcome to your home along the Chao Phraya River for the next 3 nights. Open your window shades–we’re staying directly across from Wat Arun, the iconic riverside temple in Bangkok! We’ll dive right into that famous, delicious Thai cuisine tonight on a food and cultural tour with a local guide.

On October 12 we’ll tour Bangkok’s best sites, including the stunning Grand Palace. This huge complex (2,351,000 ft²) began construction in 1782 when the capital of then-Siam was moved to Bangkok. Don’t miss the highly revered Emerald Buddha; this 26-inch statue has a golden wardrobe for each season, and the clothes are changed by the King himself. In addition to other sites, we’ll also explore the grounds of Wat Pho and marvel at its giant reclining Buddha (151 feet long).

Have you ever tried a Thai massage before? Included on this leg of the journey is a 90-minute traditional Thai massage. Somewhere between a shiatsu massage and passive yoga, this highly therapeutic (and fully-clothed) massage is not to be missed.

On October 13th, the day is yours for resting, shopping, or exploration. We can take you to the Chatuchak Weekend Market, if you like, which is the largest market in all of Thailand. Stocked to the gills with household goods, antiques, food, and clothing, this market boasts more than 15,000 booths over 27 acres.

Kuzuzangpo la! Although on many people’s radar (including yours!), the Kingdom of Bhutan still feels like a secret destination. Bhutan has never been colonized, and it retains a strong sense of identity and national pride to this day. In the 1970’s, this Buddhist nation developed a concept called “Gross National Happiness,” a way to chart development and progress in a more holistic way than the Gross Domestic Product.

We’ll arrive in Paro and enjoy a farm home visit and an outstanding home-cooked meal. The Bhutanese national dish, ema datsi, is a spicy chili and cheese concoction that you can sample if you dare!  The next morning we’ll visit iconic Taksang monastery, or Tiger’s Nest, the holiest site in Bhutan This picturesque complex hugs a cliff wall 3,000 feet above the valley floor (for a total altitude of 10,240 feet). It’s a ~2 hour ascent, but we’ll take it slow and steady as we hike to the monastery, reveling in the fresh forested-mountain air around us. If you like, you can even ride a pony much of the way to the top!

Our last day in Bhutan, we’ll tour the sites in Paro and Thimphu–the only national capital city in the world without a single stoplight! Visit the impressive dzong fortresses and the colorful Buddhist temples; Bhutan’s Vajrayana Buddhism looks much different than the Theravada Buddhism of Cambodia and Thailand. Tonight we’ll enjoy a special private cultural show, including a masked dance & local music.

Namaste! Welcome to Nepal, home to eight of the world’s ten tallest mountains, including Mount Everest. In fact, if we’re lucky, we’ll get to see Mount Everest during our flight from Bhutan to Kathmandu!

Although Nepal is famous for its Himalayan peaks and trekking, the Kathmandu Valley (4600 feet altitude) is incredibly rich in culture and history and is a destination unto itself. Nepal is very dear to both of our hearts and we can’t wait to share it with you.

Although the majority of Nepal is Hindu, there is a very visible Buddhist minority, and our guest house is just a few hundred meters from one of the largest and most revered stupas in Tibetan Buddhism: Boudhanath. Here you can witness and participate in kora, or the circling around the stupa as a meditative act. This Tibetan Buddhist enclave is a serene home base, perfect for exploration and reflection.

Over the next couple days, we’ll explore other Hindu and Buddhist temples around the Kathmandu Valley, including Pashupatinath and Swayambhunath. We’ll take a short drive (~45 minutes) to Bhaktapur, one of the three ancient kingdoms of the Kathmandu Valley. Here we’ll enjoy a traditional home-cooked Newari meal with a local family, always one of the highlights of our Nepal tours. During other meals, you’ll get to sample traditional Tibetan fare as well as Nepal’s homegrown favorite, dal bhat.

It’s been awhile since you’ve had a massage, right? Included in your stay in Kathmandu is one 60-minute massage at a local Tibetan clinic.

Option: Some guests may wish to take a sightseeing flight to see Mount Everest (if we didn’t get a clear view on our Bhutan to Nepal flight. These flights are around $220 USD and are not included in this trip package.

Namaskar! We’ll take a short flight to India’s bustling capital Delhi and be on our way by private vehicle to Agra (~4.5 hour drive). We’ll rest in a comfortable 5-star hotel in Agra where you’ll be our guest for a relaxing, nourishing Ayurvedic massage during your stay.

Our first full day in Agra we’ll explore some fantastic sites, including the expansive Agra Fort. It was here that the man who commissioned the Taj Mahal, Shah Jahan, lived his last days under house arrest. We’ll visit Gurudwara Guru Ka Taal, a Sikh place of community and worship, and you’ll get insight into one of the world’s youngest religions. We’ll also have the opportunity to visit a non-profit school for underserved children (one of the recipients of this tour’s donations). You’ll learn more about daily life in India, with all its beauty and its challenges. 

Finally, it’s time to see the crown jewel of India: the Taj Mahal. We’ll depart for the Taj Mahal early in the morning and you’ll be among the first people to behold the beautiful white marble at sunrise. We’ll have an expertly guided tour of the Taj Mahal, and then you’ll have time to explore independently. Take your time to really inspect the semi-precious stone inlay in this hardy Makrana white marble; rest your eyes on the geometric patterns and the soft calligraphy that decorates the facade. It took over 20,000 workers and artisans over 20 years to create this masterpiece, a mausoleum dedicated to a beloved wife, a timeless testament to love.  

After a leisurely lunch, we’ll drive back to Delhi and stay at a very comfortable hotel near the airport. If we have time tonight, we can take a trip to Dilli Haat, an open-air handicraft market that represents artisans from all over the entire country.

Assalam Alaikum and welcome to the land of the Pharaohs! We’ll be met by our expert team that will guide us through immigration and customs, and we’ll head to our home base for the next three nights–a guesthouse that looks directly upon the Giza Pyramid complex and the Sphinx. These structures are an unbelievable 4,500 years old; the Great Pyramid is by far the oldest of the ancient Wonders and is the only one still in existence. Tonight from the comfort of our own roof (or room!) we can watch the ancient and the modern combine for the nightly laser show, a quirky but endearing experience.

Our first day will be spent with an expert guide and Egyptologist, exploring the sites of Giza, including Saqqara, Memphis, and Dahshur. These were all very important ancient sites in Egypt, the “playground” where the construction of pyramids was perfected. We’ll visit the Step Pyramid, the first freestanding stone building in history and the first pyramid ever built. Around Saqqara, we’ll explore the tombs as our guide explains their significance and deciphers the stories told in the beautiful hieroglyphics lining its walls.

We’ll head back to our neighborhood and explore the Giza Pyramids, the Sphinx, the Valley temple, and the tombs of Idu & Qar. Fancy a climb into the center of the Great Pyramid? Let’s go! 

The next day we’ll enjoy the new Egyptian Museum at Giza, having recently been relocated from its old location in Cairo. The pieces in this museum are jaw-droppingly mesmerizing and at times downright otherworldly. Cast your eyes upon the funerary mask of Tutankhamun, behold the mesmerizing wooden statue of Ka-Aper, and venture into the mummy room if you wish!

The rest of the day is your to rest or to spend more time at the Giza Pyramids, as the entrance is located directly across a small street from our guest house. Or perhaps you want to unwind on the rooftop terrace and just gaze out upon the ancient pyramids….the choice is yours!

Buenas días!Welcome to Spain’s capital, home of delicious tapas and even more delicious artwork! Our days in Madrid will be relaxed and you will have the opportunity to branch off based on your preferred interests.

For the art lovers, we recommend exploration the “Golden Triangle of Art” along Paseo Prado: the Museo del Prado (considered to be among the greatest museums of art, with the best collection of artworks by Goya, Velázquez, El Greco, Rubens, Titian, Hieronymus Bosch, José de Ribera, and Patinir); the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum; and the Reina Sofía Museum (Pablo Picasso’s powerful piece Guernica, along with works by Dalí and Miró).

For the food-lovers (aren’t we all?), we’ve included a famous Madrid food tour, and there are plenty of tapas & wine venues to wet your whistle along the way. Did you know that Madrid is home to the oldest continuously operated restaurants in the world? Sobrino de Botín, founded in 1725, was a favorite of Ernest Hemingway, and it is said that Francisco de Goya worked there before he attended art school. Madrid also has amazing nightlife for those of you wanting to burn the midnight oil!

If you’ve already visited Madrid or just in the mood for something different, we can send you on a day tour of nearby Toledo, a historic city and UNESCO World Heritage site.

Essentially, you let us know what you want to experience in Madrid, and we can make it happen. In addition, you get a BONUS hour in Madrid, as Spain turns their clocks back one hour on October 28th!

Bienvenidos a Peru! The morning of October 29, we take a non-stop daytime flight to Lima, Peru. The flight is 11.5 hours (although, timezone-wise, Lima is 6 hours earlier than Madrid). We’ll take it easy upon arrival and we’ll relax in our hotel in the stylish seaside Lima neighborhood of Miraflores.

The next day we’ll tour Historic Central Lima, a UNESCO World Heritage site. The colonial cathedrals and palaces are absolutely lavish.  The Convento de San Francisco is known not only for its Baroque architecture but for its maze of catacombs discovered only in the 1940’s.

We’ll also get acquainted with Peruvian cuisine with a local food tour, as Lima is considered a modern culinary hotspot. In fact, Peru has been named the World’s Leading Culinary Destination every year from 2012 to 2016!

On October 31st, we’ll take a morning flight to Cusco (1.25 hours), take a scenic drive to Ollantaytambo and board a train to Machu Picchu Pueblo (formerly Aguas Calientes, names after the town’s hot springs). Our two-hour train ride is a scenic introduction to the Andes mountains, as we ride along the beautiful Urubamba river for much of the time. Tonight we stay in the quaint town of Machu Picchu Pueblo, readying ourselves for a sunrise trip to Machu Picchu.

Peru has been inhabited since 9,000 BC and has had complex societies since 3000 BC. The Incas were an immensely powerful state in the 15th century; the crown in the Incan empire was, of course, Machu Picchu. On the morning of November 1, we’ll have a special private guided tour of Machu Picchu, along with independent exploration time. Sunrise is a palpably special time at these ruins, as the morning fog parts to reveal what had been hidden for hundreds of years. The structures themselves are impressive, but they are closely rivaled by the stunning Andean mountain landscape that kept them a secret for centuries. 

In the afternoon we’ll take the train back to Cusco. There is a certain charm to Cusco that we can’t get enough of. This Unesco World Heritage Site was the stunning capital of the Inca Empire from the 13th until the 16th century, and it is South America’s oldest continuously inhabited city. The blend of the ancient Incan foundations, topped with the ornate relics of the Spanish invasion and colonization, make this city a marvel at every turn. It’s no wonder that the Constitution of Peru designated Cusco as the country’s Historical Capital!

We’ll share one final dinner together and reflect on our epic Around the World trip. We may have started in Hong Kong as strangers, but we close in Cusco as a family, bonded by our wonderment at this amazing world we live in.

Photo Album

Please click a photo to see an enlarged version; you can use your arrow keys or mouse to navigate within the album. All photos here have been taken by BJ or Lauren during their travels.