The Spirit of Extraordinary Journeys by extraordinary_journeys

The spirit of Extraordinary Journeys

Luxury travel for the wild at heart

The spirit of Extraordinary Journeys

Luxury travel for the wild at heart

Welcome to our world, where the extraordinary awaits.

Extraordinary Journeys crafts personalized experiences for the trips that matter most–thoughtfully planned, rich with meaning, and full of wonder and discovery.

As destination specialists, we bring deep firsthand knowledge and passion to every trip, designing journeys that awaken the senses and reveal the unique soul of each destination.

© Steamship Sudan, by Olivier Romano

A note from our Founder

At Extraordinary Journeys, we’ve always believed that travel should expand your mind, move your heart, and carry you beyond the familiar. Too often, luxury travel has become boring, flattened into Instagrammable hotels, sanitized itineraries, and one-size-fits-all bucket lists. For us, true luxury means depth, connection, and moments that stay with you.

We design journeys with personality, texture, and contrast— experiences that surprise, delight, and awaken. Along the way, you’ll meet inspiring people, discover unspoiled places, and savor moments that stir the senses.

We aren’t afraid to challenge you, because real travel—the kind that stays with you—often requires a bit of discomfort and the courage to step outside your comfort zone. It may mean seeing less, but experiencing more.

We believe in travel that introduces you not just to new places, but to new versions of yourself. Those transformative moments look different for everyone. That’s why we take the time to understand what sparks your sense of wonder, and how to guide you toward experiences that fulfill rather than overwhelm.

Extraordinary Journeys began as a mother–daughter company, and that spirit still runs through everything we do. At our core, we’re about nurturing the courage to grow—while quietly handling every detail so you can explore, question, and discover far from the madding crowds. Then return to a beautiful property, a perfect meal, and a comfortable bed after a deeply satisfying day.

We won’t just give you the trip you think you want. We’ll craft the one you didn’t even know was possible.

We believe in travel that pushes you further.

We believe that places have souls. We believe in the magic of slow, intentional travel. We believe that luxury lies in the excitement of the unexpected.

We believe in travel that pushes you further.

We believe that travel can shake something fundamental inside of us, reshaping our perspectives, and giving us a more meaningful way of engaging with the world.

Extraordinary Journeys gets to know you and your comfort zone, and invites you to explore the reward on the other side. Whether it's those extra six hours on Nepal’s dusty roads to reach a secluded boutique lodge, or the gentle push to hike deeper into Rwanda's mountains until you meet a silverback's gaze, we help you find your edge—and step just beyond it.

We believe in travel that pushes you further

Keeping it honest

We'll listen to your hopes and passions, but we'll also push back when we know something will better resonate with you. If a destination is losing its soul to overtourism, we'll suggest the undiscovered gem that captures what you're actually seeking.

Authenticity over aspiration, always.

© Olinto Atlas Mountain Retreat

Exploring the edge

The most memorable journeys begin beyond the familiar. With Extraordinary Journeys, you’re invited to venture further—into terrains and experiences beyond your comfort zone—because that’s where lasting memories are made.

A foundation of trust

Travel that pushes you further depends on a foundation of trust. We listen deeply and build long-term relationships with you to really understand your aspirations and boundaries.

© Feynan Ecolodge

Stories from our travelers

A multi-generational trip of a lifetime

Amazing experience from top to bottom. Each place was perfect in its own way. Every logistical piece was flawless. This will go down in the books. My mom was so happy to celebrate her 80th in such a special place. It was the right level of luxury with a touch of "roughing it". One thing that stood out throughout the trip was how completely taken care of we felt by the on-the-ground concierge team. They were responsive, thoughtful, and always a step ahead.

Wendy, after a family safari in South Africa

© Miles Holden, Alpine Helicopters

We believe that places have souls.

© Bartosz Hadyniak, Adobe Stock

Too often, tourism commodifies culture into performances for consumption—reducing traditions, communities and landscapes to services and spectacles.

From Patagonia’s rugged spirit of discovery to Botswana’s gentle yet wild at heart vitality, we choose destinations and curate itineraries that take you to the heart of a place and its people.

We believe that places have souls

Destinations that move us

We have travelled the far corners of the world and are passionate about sharing the places that have had a profound, personal impact on us. We prioritize partners and local properties that share our values, gravitating towards smaller hotels with a boutique feel and unique history, as well as hosts and guides who are truly passionate about the soul of the places they live in.

© Serra Cafema, Wilderness Safaris

Distilling the essence

While social media flattens the world into curated sameness, destinations with genuine soul offer something away from the crowds that is irreplaceably unique. In every trip we design, we help you reach the specific magic that exists nowhere else on earth.

Culture experienced, not performed

We protect the cultures we're privileged to experience—we don't extract from them. We design travel that is focused on genuine immersion, not staged encounters.

Stories from our travelers

Extraordinary connections that stirred the soul

The one word that best describes our trip is AWE. We were in awe, each and every day. This is not a word I use lightly. We were so touched by the people and the animals that we were often teary eyed. Awe is a spiritual connection to the divine and to something greater than ourselves, and we are so grateful for Extraordinary Journeys' knowledge, skill and assistance in helping us take this journey and connecting us to these wonderful countries.

Doug, after a journey through Botswana and Zimbabwe

We believe in the magic of slow, intentional travel.

© Tierra Patagonia

While others pack ‘must sees’ into dizzying itineraries, we champion a different philosophy: magic reveals itself only to those who pause.

Extraordinary Journeys crafts experiences at the pace of wonder, creating space for unscripted moments that stop you in your tracks, and allow you to tap back into your natural sense of awe. The most extraordinary discoveries happen not when hurrying between destinations, but when you sit still—still enough to witness a mother elephant’s gentle authority or to notice the bioluminescence trailing a small movement in midnight waters.

We believe in the magic of slow, intentional travel

Making space for the magic

From behind-the-scenes logistics to bespoke culinary experiences, our team has thought of everything so you don’t have to. What remains is pure presence—the luxury of being completely immersed, knowing that every detail has been expertly handled so you can focus entirely on the moment at hand.

© Planet Baobab, Natural Selection

Joy of missing out

We don't believe in checking off bucket lists or cramming in excessive ‘must sees’. We know each destination so well that we can confidently design trips with fewer stops allowing you to form deeper connections with the people and places you encounter.

Slow matters

Rushed, surface-level travel isn’t just bad for travellers, it can have a devastating impact on the places we treasure the most. Conservation of communities and wildlife is at our core.

© Kisawa, by Matthieu Salvaign

Stories from our travelers

A transformative journey that deepened lifelong bonds

The trip we planned and prepared for for months unfolded in the most magical way. Each hotel and location brought its own magic. The roar of lions heard from our beds, the kind you feel in your chest. The massive elephant eating leaves one meter from our tent. The surprise birthday cakes at our camps. The smell of sage as the sun warmed up the landscape. Dancing with the staff at Kanana as we celebrated my birthday; a core memory. Most importantly, the gift of time with the three of us. The opportunity to tackle adventures together. To connect deeply.

Anne, Glenn, Claire after their journey across South Africa, Botswana, Zambia

We believe luxury lies in the excitement of the unexpected.

© Tourism Northern Territory, by Helen Orr

Luxury is not just found in the comfort of the familiar, but in embracing the challenge and excitement of the unexpected. At Extraordinary Journeys, we're not just about white glove service and fine dining. Yes, you will have exceptional meals and stay in stunning accommodations. And, just as importantly, we celebrate what can't be curated: the unexpected detour that reveals a hidden waterfall, a resting herd, a breathtaking vista. The serendipitous encounters that become your most treasured memories.

To us, luxury isn’t just comfort, but wonder. Not just service, but delight.

We believe luxury lies in the excitement of the unexpected

An invitation beyond the familiar

We invite you to leave old definitions of luxury at home—those comforts will be waiting when you return. For us, true luxury lies in the thrill of discovering something you never knew you wanted: an invitation to the master’s studio, observing a family of hippos surfacing just as the sun sets, or an outdoor shower with views over the verdant jungle.

Harish, Adobe Stock

Making space for delight

The most rewarding part of our work is discovering new ways to surprise and delight our travelers—whether it’s celebrating your milestones, supporting your personal passions or finding a way for your child to connect with their favorite animal.

High touch care

Over two decades, we’ve built a global network of local experts—hosts, guides, agents, and a 24/7 concierge service—to support you at every moment, no matter how unexpected.

Stories from our travelers

Linda, after traveling to Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand WE BELIEVE LUXURY LIES IN THE EXCITEMENT OF THE

Breathtaking new experiences across Southeast Asia

This was our 5th adventure planned by Extraordinary Journeys, and like all before, it was an absolute dream come true! SE Asia and the experiences Amelia planned were off the charts. Every detail was thought through and managed. Traveling in Southeast Asia, with its language barriers and unfamiliar surroundings, could have been a source of anxiety and discomfort, but we never felt one moment of worry. We loved sharing our time with our guides and drivers; learning so much from them, all while exploring the jaw dropping beauty of our surroundings. Never did we think that it would end up being a million times better than we ever anticipated. Nothing could have been improved on.

Our Foundation

We believe that travel can be a powerful vehicle for change. Done in the right way, thoughtfully and with meaning, we can protect the natural world and support local communities while enriching the lives of travelers.

Great Being a Girl

Extraordinary Journeys has partnered with Great Being a Girl, an organization committed to ending period poverty in Kenya. Through the distribution of menstrual cups, education programs, and community engagement, Great Being a Girl is empowering young girls and women.

Planting the future

Through our partnership with the Fondation Insolite Bâtisseur, Extraordinary Journeys contributes to reforestation projects that go far beyond carbon offsets. By restoring mangroves and other critical ecosystems, these initiatives absorb carbon, protect biodiversity, and revive local livelihoods. Every trip you take helps create lasting ecological, social, and societal impact.

Our partners

Alongside our core projects, we support partners who protect the wild places our travelers visit. From safeguarding endangered species to preserving ecosystems and funding research, their work sustains fragile habitats and the communities that depend on them. Our partners include African Parks, the Amboseli Trust for Elephants, the Cheetah Conservation Fund, the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund, the Great Plains Foundation, and Tompkins Conservation.

Stories from our travelers

Ecuador proves EJ's magic works anywhere

We've just returned from Ecuador, our fourth trip with Extraordinary Journeys, and as always, we came home tired but deeply enriched. EJ has crafted journeys for us across eight countries, each uniquely different yet always defined by seamless logistics and exceptional service. From the moment we land to the moment we leave, everything is taken care of. As Shawn puts it, "All I need to do is show up." Every itinerary reflects our interests, brought to life by EJ's deep connections on the ground. It's the thoughtful touches that remind us why we keep coming back: after Ecuador, EJ made donations in our names to local animal shelters we support. Personal and unforgettable, just like every journey they've created for us.

Bill, after his adventure in Ecuador

Meno a Kwena, Natural Selection by Niels van Gijn

AFRICA

SOUTH AMERICA

AUSTRALIA & NEW ZEALAND

NORTH AFRICA & MIDDLE EAST

INDIAN SUBCONTINENT

SOUTHEAST ASIA

ANTARCTICA

JAPAN