We make world travel easy, safe, and affordable! Lauren & BJ design and lead small-group Around the World tours, wildlife safaris & Buddhist pilgrimages.
From the spiny forests of Berenty to the lush rainforests of Andasibe, the remote canals of the Pangalanes to the bustling capital, Madagascar showed us just how much life can evolve on one island. We encountered dancing sifakas, elusive aye-ayes, and a kaleidoscope of lemurs in between. From remote reserves to rescue islands, every stop gave us a different window into Madagascar’s wild and wonderful world. And we get to do it all again with our second group of the winter (hello, Southern Hemisphere!) starting this weekend!!
08/07/2025
In Andasibe, Lemur Island offers a rare chance to get up close with Madagascar’s most famous residents. These lemurs were rescued from the illegal pet trade or situations where they couldn’t survive in the wild. While it’s not a substitute for spotting lemurs in their natural habitat, this small sanctuary provides a second chance for the lemurs and a memorable encounter for visitors. The brown lemurs here are particularly naughty & funny!
08/06/2025
Get a glimpse of what trekking to see mountain gorillas in Rwanda is like...and then add our Rwanda extension on to a Kenya safari next September or October! ❤🦍🦍🦍
The "GMA" co-anchor got a closer look at mountain gorillas in their natural habitat. There are only about a thousand still in existence and a third live in V...
08/06/2025
08/02/2025
Welcome to Palmarium Reserve, a lush corner of Madagascar where lemurs leap through the trees and the forest feels alive with magic. A three hour boat ride from Toamasina, this private reserve offers an intimate look at some of the island’s most iconic species in a semi-wild setting. We heard the call of the Indri and witnessed the antics of the black-and-white ruffed lemur!
Just across the Pangalanes Canal lies Aye-Aye Island, home to Madagascar’s most misunderstood lemur. With radar-dish ears, haunting eyes, and that famously long finger, the aye-aye is a true oddity of evolution, and a species you almost never see in the wild.
07/30/2025
Berenty Reserve, Madagascar
07/28/2025
Meet Madagascar’s Star Orchid (Angraecum sesquipedale), a flower with a secret so deep, it baffled 19th-century scientists. When Darwin saw its foot-long nectar spur (the long green bit you see under the flower here), he boldly predicted that some unknown moth must have an equally long tongue to pollinate it. Decades later, the Xanthopan morganii praedicta was discovered, a hawkmoth with a 12-inch proboscis, just as Darwin had guessed.
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We specialize in affordable and authentic small-group Around the World journeys, in addition to cultural, meditation, & Buddhist groups around the globe. We like to think that we provide “tours for people who don’t like tours!” Each group trip considers the needs and interests of the individual guests and is handcrafted to deliver the best experience possible.
We are a small, family-owned business with a clear mission: to create itineraries that are authentic, accessible, and affecting. We have lived on the road for 6 years (since January 2013), personally designing the details of each of our custom itineraries. We craft each trip to maximize the greatest good for the greatest number, including our guests, our partners, and the local community.
Keep it Real
Authenticity is crucial to our itineraries. Authenticity informs everything from our choice of cities, hotels, restaurants to the timing of tours to coincide with local festivals when possible. Your time, effort, and interest are precious resources and should be honored with a true experience.
Keep it Simple
The devil is in the details, and, indeed, international travel planning can make some people feel like they’re in hell! We simplify your life by handling all of these crucial details. We make our trips all-inclusive, provide packing lists, local language and cuisine cheat sheets, and even advise on the best international airfare.
Keep it Local
We honor our destinations by keeping money in the local economies. We hand-select the best locally-owned hotels, restaurants, and guides in order to sustain and grow these vibrant communities. Our trips support locally-based non-profits in many of our destinations.
Keep it a Good Value
We strive to make our trips as accessible as possible, and this includes financial accessibility. We believe travel should be in reach of anyone who craves it. We pride ourselves on the competitive price of our personalized services, backed by years of experience and knowledge that money simply can’t buy. The personal attention you receive on our tours make these experiences priceless.
