About

We work with travelers on an ultra-personalized basis, offering our creativity, expertise, and connections to create unique and unforgettable adventures.

Our small team of dedicated specialists brings decades of experience planning unique luxury adventures around the world.

It started almost by chance.

As with almost all travel stories, it wasn’t part of the original plan. We specialized in Japan and did not intend to help travelers with adventures to other destinations. Our founder and first two hires came from backgrounds where we arranged trips to countries around the world, but Japan is such an engaging destination that we did not tire of focusing exclusively on it.

We have our wonderful repeat travelers to thank for asking us to take the leap. At first, we resisted. But finally we agreed that they were right: after all, we’re passionate about Japan — yet also love so many other countries, as well (including the ones mentioned in our stories below). While we’re no longer invitation-only, we continue to focus primarily on our gracious and adventurous repeat travelers.

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Andres Zuleta, Founder

Recognized as a top travel specialist by Condé Nast Traveler, Andres has spent years living in Japan and enjoyed long-term stays in locations including Medellin, Oaxaca, Chiang Mai, Havana, and Lisbon. Favorite destinations include Mexico, Japan, Australia, India, Vietnam, Colombia, Portugal, and the Galapagos Islands.

Memorable adventures.

  • Winding through the Andes in Colombia and Ecuador, and snorkeling with penguins in Galapagos.

  • The inimitable atmosphere of Varanasi, and breathtakingly majestic trip atop Himalayan mountain roads to Ladakh in northern India.

  • Road trips in Hokkaido and Shikoku, with impromptu stops to swim in lakes and pristine waterfalls along the way.

  • Mouthwatering market tacos in Tijuana, margaritas overlooking the ocean in Ensenada, and wine pairings surrounded by the beautiful scenery of Mexico’s Valle de Guadalupe.

Gwynnie Vernon, Operations Specialist

Gwynnie’s passion for travel was ignited when what began as a year-long study abroad program turned into moving to Tokyo full-time to pursue a degree in Japanese literature. In the four years they were there, she delighted in exploring both the urban and rural sides of Japan, with its unique culinary, artistic, and natural offerings.

Currently based in the Pacific Northwest, other places they’ve traveled to include France, Canada, India, Sweden, Ireland, and various regions of the USA, with Utah and New Mexico in particular being favorite states to visit.

Memorable adventures.

  • Seeing a total solar eclipse near the Ganges River in Benares, India.

  • Spending a month on a rural farm-restaurant and foraging for mountain vegetables in Ina, Japan.

  • Watching the moon rise over the breath-taking rock formations while camping in Canyonlands National Park, Utah.

  • Ice-fishing and snowmobiling (followed by an evening enjoying some sauna time) in Loos, Sweden.

Kathie Callum, Sales Specialist

Hailing from Greater Boston, Kathie has spent as much of her life outside the U.S. as she has in it. She has studied and worked abroad in Canada, Ireland, and Scotland, and loves any opportunity to travel. She has also visited Japan, Germany, Italy, France, Sweden, Morocco, India, China, Russia, Chile, Argentina, and Australia.

Memorable adventures.

  • Enjoying a last-second invitation to a traditional Hindu wedding ceremony in Khajuraho, India.

  • Offering incense and participating in a Goma fire ceremony at a mountaintop Buddhist temple on Shigisan in rural Ikoma Japan.

  • Watching a captivating ballet at the Mariinsky theater before pirouetting along the canals of St. Petersburg, Russia during the White Nights.

  • Leaving the only footprints on a white-sand beach facing a turquoise bay at Luskentyre on the Isle of Harris in the Western Isles of Scotland.

Megan Fussell, Operations Specialist

Megan’s passion for travel started when she had the opportunity to live and study in Paris. She spent time traveling to many European countries, with some of her favorites being Sweden and Norway. Afterwards she continued her adventures to Asia where she spent time backpacking in Japan and visiting South Korea. 

Memorable adventures.

  • Driving from Tromsø to the island of Sommarøy while enjoying stunning views of the blue sea, multi-colored houses, and stopping by the breathtaking Ersfjorden along the way.

  • Snowshoeing through Mt. Takachi in Hokkaido and afterwards stopping by an open-air onsen on the side of a snowy mountain.

  • Indulging in a warm fondue meal while overlooking Swiss mountains in the charming village of Mürren.

  • Kayaking on the beautiful Lake Louise, hiking to Peyto Lake, and walking on the Athabasca glacier in Alberta, Canada.

Natalie Watenpaugh, Sales Assistant

Since studying abroad during her senior year of university on Semester at Sea, travel has been Natalie’s passion, and led her to circumnavigate the world twice by age 25. Her favorite destinations include Japan, Cambodia, Iceland, Nepal, and Thailand. 

Memorable adventures.

  • Traveling via camper van throughout Iceland in the quiet shoulder season of October, waking up next to majestic waterfalls with no one around.

  • Watching the alpenglow on Mount Everest from Kala Patthar and witnessing the pure quiet and beauty of this remote part of the world.

  • Traveling through Thailand via motorbike, occasionally getting lost with forced pit stops for coffee during monsoon downpours.

  • Experiencing the pristine and calm waters of the Indian Ocean while in Mauritius, where the mountainous topography and peaceful ocean make for a beautiful contrast.

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Piper Christian, Operations Director

Piper's wanderlust was awakened by studying abroad during college in both Spain and Brazil. She's been working in the travel industry ever since, crafting client journeys to some of the farthest corners of the globe. India, Japan, Mexico, Egypt, Turkey, and Colombia are just a few of her favorite destinations.

Memorable adventures.

  • Exploring East Africa from Uganda to Rwanda, with a few stops to hang out with chimpanzees, golden monkeys, and gorillas.

  • A slow-paced wander along the lush northern coast of Colombia and then on to Medellin, just in time for the colorful annual flower festival, and finishing in the highlands in and near Bogota.

  • Driving a camper van from Cape Town through South Africa and Namibia, then heading east along the Caprivi Strip to Botswana with self-drive safaris along the way.

  • Getting off the beaten path in Eastern Turkey, from Trabzon on the Black Sea coast to Erzurum, Kars, and the Armenian border.

Boutique Explorer Sales Director Roni Sivan

Roni Sivan, Lead Trip Designer

Based in Austin, Texas, Roni lives for travel and loves helping adventurous people bring creative trip ideas to life. With extensive experience traveling through over 40 countries across 5 continents, favorite destinations include Italy, Bhutan, Cambodia, Argentina, and Norway.

Memorable adventures.

  • Driving the breathtaking Garden Route along South Africa's southern coast.

  • Hopping between charming cobblestoned Tuscan villages in the Italian countryside.

  • Exploring jaw-dropping landscapes, boutique wineries, and sleepy gaucho towns in Northwest Argentina.

  • A trip through Colombia with a local friend, ringing in a new year in Cartagena, taking in the stunning beauty of Tayrona National Park, and discovering food and history in Bogota.

Vanessa Miller Boutique Explorer

Vanessa Miller, Operations Specialist

Vanessa has called both Japan and Singapore home, traveled throughout Asia and North America, and lives for adventures and experiencing new places. She loves diving into details and has helped facilitate amazing and unique experiences for travelers since 2017.

Memorable adventures.

  • A self-drive adventure through the forested inland area of Honshu, Japan, sampling remote hot-springs along the way.

  • A New Year’s Eve spent in the hills of southern Bali, watching the 360 degree fireworks along the horizon.

  • A trek through western Canada’s impossibly emerald lakes and glorious forest waterfalls.

  • Experiencing the chic and culturally rich Mexico City, people watching from cafes and taking in the amazing history of art and culture.

Winnie King, Executive Assistant

Winnie's passion for travel and wanderlust has been a lifelong companion, sparked by early exposure to diverse destinations. Her adventurous spirit and love for exploration have shaped her into a seasoned traveler, always eager to embrace new cultures and discover the beauty of the world.

Memorable adventures.

  • Exploring the oceanic wonders of Puerto Rico through a mesmerizing snorkeling encounter with the bioluminescent bay.

  • Walking through the quaint towns of the Dominican Republic to immerse beautiful culture, savor delectable cuisine and enjoy the company of welcoming locals.

  • Embarking on annual winter road trips across the states to chase the thrill of snowboarding in the freshest powder at sunrise.

Take the next step.

Get in touch to start planning or brainstorm your next adventure.