Focused Escapes are small group, semi-private experiences and experiential tours.
We believe travel, when done right, can change you.
It can challenge the things you believe. Introduce you to new and wonderful people. Restore your faith in humanity. Open your eyes to this beautiful planet. Teach you new skills. And leave you craving more.
These are the kinds of trips we craft by hand for just 10-12 travelers at a time to destinations that are truly unforgettable.
With our roots in travel photography and food blogging (and our contacts with local photographers and food bloggers around the world), we pay special attention to food… and great places to take photos. But we also stay flexible to allow for special events and opportunities that pop up on the ground.
Our trips are built for people who like unconventional travel, eating well and taking great images but they are not traditional food, photography or tourist tours.
To see all our destinations on a 5-year calendar, go here.
Otherwise, add your name to an interest list below and we’ll contact you with more details when the trip is ready. Adding your name to this list doesn’t obligate you in any way. It just helps us send information to those who want it first and sometimes adding your name to an interest list gets you a discounted seat when you’re one of the first to register.
All our tours require an interview before we accept your registration.
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Croatia
Unique Features: Stunning coastline, crystal-clear water, historic sites like Dubrovnik and Split, beautiful islands, and amazing culinary scene influenced by the Mediterranean.
Ideal Traveler: Beach lovers, history buffs, foodies, and sailing enthusiasts who appreciate a mix of historical exploration, coastal relaxation, and culinary experiences.
This trip includes private chef. Private water activities. Access to islands only reachable by boat. Avoiding tourist crowds. Vacation in the sun. Swim, snorkel, dive, shop, vineyards, cafes, history. Price range: $7,000.
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Rep. of Georgia
Unique Features: Breathtaking landscapes, ancient wine-making, unique blend of Eastern European and Western Asian culture. Incredible array of culinary and wine-inspired cuisine. Polyphonic singing. Plus healing sulfur baths.
Ideal Traveler: Perfect for travelers seeking a sensory-rich journey into a land full of profound natural beauty. Exceptional for food and wine lovers. Also ideal for spa-goers and travelers looking for unique, off-the-beaten-path experiences with insider experiences. Price range: $5,000.
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Cuba
Unique Features: As a country that has been largely off limits to Americans, Cuba has always had a certain sense of forbidden mystery. We’re excited to take you there with an eye for good photos and unique experiences. It’s photography, vintage cars, salsa dancing, drinking honey from a hive, taste-testing rum and cigars, revolutionary sites and more. Cuba offers a step back in time with a unique political history.
Ideal Traveler: Cultural explorers, history enthusiasts, lifelong learners and travelers interested in music and dance who enjoy immersive experiences and are curious about different social and historical contexts. Price range: $7,000.
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South Africa
Unique Features: Three African countries, one tour. Awe-inspiring landscapes, wildlife safari, warm-water penguins, helicopter ride, gourmet meals, vineyards, cultural diversity and historical depth.
Ideal Traveler: Animal/wildlife enthusiasts, history buffs, wine lovers, and foodies looking for a well-rounded, holistic travel experience blending nature, culture, adventure and history. Price range: $7,000.
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South Korea
Unique Features: It’s beautiful Asian city meets med spa tour. It’s a vibrant metropolis known for its cutting-edge technology, fashion, K-pop culture, rich economic history, palaces, nighttime-vibe street photography, state of the art facials, hair growth treatments and more!
Ideal Traveler: Anyone looking to dip their toes in a medical tourism destination. Urban explorers, pop culture fans, tech enthusiasts, and foodies who want to witness the great Korean “wave” mixed with traditional heritage. Price range: $5,000
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Tanzania
Unique Features: Legendary wildlife, stunning natural beauty, luxury glamping tent camps, the Big Five animals, gourmet meals and luxury accommodations plus some tours include tribe experiences, too. With our inside connections, you’ll see more and avoid the crowds.
Ideal Traveler: Animal and nature lovers who enjoy luxury experiences. Price range: $9,000
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Easter Island
Unique Features: One of the most remote and enchanting destinations in the world. Famous moai statues, stunning natural landscapes, and rich Polynesian culture. Private photo shoots with local models dressed in native garb. Astrophotography with clear, unpolluted night skies. Luxury accommodations. Beginner and advanced photographers welcome!
Ideal Traveler: Travelers interested in photography, history buffs and those interested in archaeology and anthropology. Great for travelers who appreciate remote, off-the-beaten-path destinations and want to understand the historical significance behind human creations. Price range: $7,000
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Peru
Unique Features: Home to the awe-inspiring Machu Picchu, an iconic symbol of Incan ingenuity perched high in the Andes. We go by train through the Sacred Valley but the altitude is still taxing on some.
This trip is an extraordinary mix of history, culture, and natural beauty. It's a melting pot of indigenous and mestizo cultures with vibrant traditions. And the cuisine is renowned worldwide.
Ideal Traveler: Travelers who seek a little bit of everything: Iconic travel sites, history, food, cultural richness, adventure and a little trekking challenge.
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Bhutan
Unique Features: The only country in the world that prioritizes Gross National Happiness offering visitors a chance to see a society that values collective well-being and spiritual fulfillment. Iconic sites like the Tiger’s Nest perched on a cliff face offer awe-inspiring views. Plus see colorful displays of traditional dance, music, and Buddhist traditions.
Ideal Traveler: Adventurers interested in off-the-beaten-path cultural experiences. Perfect for nature lovers and hikers, too. Requires a certain level of physical fitness with quite a bit of walking. Great for the physically active. Go while you still can! Price range: $8,500
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Morocco
Unique Features: From the exotic cities (with snake charmers, spice markets and merchants selling everything from high-quality rugs to olives)… to camel back in the Sahara desert and the fishing village of Essaouira where we stay in an artist's dream and make real argan oil by hand. It’s rich cultural heritage wrapped in luxury and adventure with insider experiences only negotiable with the power of a group.
Ideal Traveler: History and culture buffs, who like a bit of luxury with their adventure. Food lovers rejoice! Also great for shoppers and those who appreciate intricate architecture and crafts. Price range: $7,000
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Uganda
Unique Features :Trekking for mountain gorillas is a once-in-a-lifetime, thrilling adventure that offers a profound and intimate wildlife experience. We hire porters and chairs to help with the climb and unlike other tours, we do this experience twice to ensure we get good photos. We think everyone should do if you can afford it. We will likely combine this trip with Tanzania or Kenya to maximize the value of your international flight. And fly instead of drive which adds to the price but it’s considerably worth it.
Ideal Traveler: Adventure seekers with the ability to handle a physical challenge even if you're in your 70s. Animal/wildlife lovers. Price range: $12,000
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Egypt
Unique features: Home to ancient wonders like the Great Pyramids, the Luxor and the Sphinx. It’s dotted with temples and tombs that span thousands of years and a cruise along the Nile is essential. It’s luxurious and relaxing. Shopping experiences include Egyptian cotton, spices, textiles, perfumes, and crafts. With our contacts on the ground, we take only smaller, luxury boats and avoid crowds.
Ideal Traveler: History/culture lovers and iconic travel seekers who have an interest in ancient sites and modern history. Price range: $8,000
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Namibia
Unique Features: Other-worldly. Stunning. Desolate. Friendly. Shockingly beautiful. Namibia is a photographer’s dream. You’ll see and photograph stone-still, petrified trees, quiver trees, majestic red sand dunes, sand-filled abandoned ghost towns, a cheetah interaction experience, meet local tribes, photograph an old shipwreck, penguins and more!
Ideal Traveler: Photographers, nature and environmental enthusiasts and travelers who like off the beaten path destinations with insider experiences. Price range: $7,000
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Provence
Unique Features: Quite possibly our most visually stunning experience. Celebrated for its lavender fields, Provençal cuisine, charming villages, and vibrant art scene influenced by artists like Van Gogh and Cézanne. You’ll overnight in quintessential chateaux and visit the best fields in the right photo light. The lavender fields of Provence are iconic, and stretch across the landscape in vibrant rows of purple.
Ideal Traveler: Romantics, culinary enthusiasts, nature lovers, and art aficionados looking for picturesque landscapes and a taste of French culture and lifestyle. Price range: $6,000
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Bali
Unique Features: Insider photography guide. Intricate art, dance, and music. Famous for its spiritual and serene atmosphere, towering rice terraces, picturesque landscapes, vibrant ceremonies, and beautiful beaches.
Avoid the tourist crowds/shows with behind-the-scenes performances.
Ideal Traveler: Adventure travelers who seek cultural immersion and natural beauty. Photographers looking to avoid traffic and long lines of Instagram photographers. Anyone looking for an inside tour of a well-traveled and much loved destination. Price range: $6,000
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Jordan
Unique Features: Probably our most well-rounded trip, this destination has everything from historical sites, to desert, to places made famous in movies, to good food, fascinating culture and even a water hike. You’ll float in the Dead Sea, sleep in a bubble in the desert and camel-through Petra. One of our favorite trips!
Ideal Traveler: Cultural explorers, religious pilgrims, eco and nature tourists, wellness seekers, photography buffs, movie fans, history and archaeology enthusiasts, adventure travelers. Price range: $7,000
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Antarctica
Unique Features: Vast icebergs, towering glaciers and snow-covered landscapes. Penguins, seals, and whales. One of the least visited continents on earth. The remoteness and challenging conditions offer a sense of exclusivity and solitude that is increasingly hard to find in other parts of the world.
Ideal Traveler: The ultimate adventurer! Animal lover and those who want one of the most travel experiences possible.
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Mystery Tour
Unique Features: You’ll have no idea where you’re going, only that you’ve never been there in the past. You’ll answer a long survey about your preferences and travel history, then we find the perfect destination for you in the months you’re available for travel. It’s natural to feel the most comfortable when things are certain, but research shows you feel the most alive when they’re not.
Ideal Traveler: Flexible travelers with a willingness to trust and see where it leads them. Price from: $7,500
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Tanzania Family Trip
Unique Features: From lions and cheetahs to native tribes and local languages. Tanzania has adventure, education, amazing life experiences and more. You’ll hunt with a Hadzabe tribe, make ugali with the Datoga tribe and safari with wild animals all along the way.
Ideal Traveler: Families with kids 8+ ready for a life-changing experience. Animal and nature lovers. Price range: $6,800 per person and up
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Seoul Family Trip
Unique Features: Spring Break in a vibrant Asian city known for its cutting-edge gaming technology, fashion, K-pop culture, palaces, fortress walls, TikTok famous cafes and state of the art skincare. Includes tech and gaming locales and a K-pop concert as well as the opportunity to partake in revolutionary medical-grade treatments for your skin and hair growth.
Ideal Traveler: Culture-curious families with kids older than 10. Kids who already have an interest in high-tech gaming, skincare, fashion and Korean culture will adore this tour. Price range: $3,000
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Morocco Family Trip
Unique Features: Spring Break in exotic Morocco with our inside connections. Amanda's kids were born and raised in Morocco. She knows all the best things kids love to do. It's our world-famous tour reimagined for families with kids age 8-21.
Ideal Traveler: Adventurous families looking for a fun, safe and unique way to see Morocco. Price range: $3,000
See all our trips on a 5-year calendar, here.
Or go here for help picking the right tour.
Want to take a private trip?
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A look inside these adventures…
What’s typically included on each tour:
An early arrival day after long international flights (unless otherwise stated)
Most meals (except on arrivals and departures)
Most gratuities
Most single supplements
What’s not included:
International airfares (except on Mystery Tours)
Transfers if you don’t stick to our itineraries
Travel insurance, medical evacuation insurance
Covid or sickness related expenses
Any other expenses that pop up on the ground for emergencies or requested changes to the itinerary.
“You're extremely organized, you think outside the box to give special experiences, you're down-to-earth and fun with incredible enthusiasm."
—Dawn Bauman
“Outstanding travel planning - great value, well-researched travel itineraries with outstanding, professional guidance.”
— Scott H