About us
Get to know us – who we are and our travel ethos
Unique adventures
Expert partners
Sustainable trips
Fair pricing
Our journey
With a passion for travel, and over ten years experience in the tourism industry, we have developed a community of trusted local operators and guides across Europe, Asia and the Silk Road. Our established network of knowledgeable and innovative partners offer high quality cultural, adventure, and culinary experiences. Otherlands’ traveller-centric model, connecting you directly with local experts, is more cost effective for you and puts the local community at the core of your experience.
James
My biggest joy when travelling is connecting with creatives and experimenting with local cuisine. I enjoy the dynamic diversity of cities, but I happiest exploring wilderness areas and lesser-visited places. I like to leave a place with a positive influence, however small, whether planting a tree or passing on a favourite book.
Originally working in the conservation sector, I moved into the travel industry after visiting a Brazilian community-based initiative and seeing tourism's positive impact for rural communities. Ever since, I have been a passionate explorer, believing travel to be an eye-opening experience and a wonderful way to meet new life-long friends.
Location: United Kingdom
Favourites: Georgia, Armenia
Wishlist: Albania
Tim
Other than seeing awe-inspiring wonders, I believe exploring new places offers exciting opportunities of learning and challenge. My greatest travel memories are the people I have met on my journeys - the unique characters and stories that I do not have the chance to encounter in my everyday life.
Riding Pakistan's Karakorams into China's Pamir mountains sparked my love for travel. I began exploring the Himalayan summits and the historical cultures of the Silk Road. I often return to my favourite destinations to reunite with local friends to enjoy experiencing the destination in a new light, visiting unsung places and hidden surprises.
Location: Singapore
Favourites: Jordan, Italy
Wishlist: Armenia
Our Approach
Local Experts
Our local partners enable you to deeper explore the charming and unusual, connect with eccentric artisans and warm storytellers, whilst hitting the iconic classics. A strong believer in sustainable tourism, our selected partners promote slower experiences rather than superficial tick-the-box trips; visiting less but better, offering opportunities of organic, impromptu conversations and unexpected encounters.
Every trip is personal
Once we discuss your interests, motivation, and budget, we provide informed advice to best design your enriching journey. You are then matched and correspond with local experts, who with our support plan your trip from start to finish. Travellers pay partners directly, agreeing to their booking conditions. We believe this model better benefits local operators while being more economical for travellers.
Whether an itinerary review service, recommending a group tour, or designing a full custom itinerary we advise how to best avoid tourist hotspots, help you navigate overwhelming information and choices, and avoid any pitfalls to ensure an evocative and immersive travel experience.
Positive tourism
Travel has an unavoidable carbon footprint, predominantly from transportation and accommodation, and a potentially damaging impact if mismanaged. To ensure our adventures have a positive impact, Otherlands and its family of partners commit to sustainable tourism practices:
Climate & biodiversity
- Otherlands offsets its annual operational emissions using UN Gold Standard mitigation projects.
- Otherlands offsets travellers' international flight emissions - one less thing for you to think about!
- Promote sustainable destinations and itineraries that do not include a domestic flight.
- Include public transport where beneficial, particularly between city hubs.
- Encourage clients to travel to destinations by rail, as an alternative to flying, where feasible.
- 5% of our profits are directed to in-destination biodiversity and community projects.
Local communities
- Travellers make payments directly to local businesses, cutting out typical middle man fees.
- Selection of locally-owned and sustainable accommodation providers.
- Partner with and support environmental and social initiatives that deliver sustainable tourism experiences.
- Avoid mass tourism destinations and sites that are negatively suffering from over-tourism.
- Highlight to travellers the local challenges and solutions in the destination.
- Source locally produced organic and seasonal food.
- Actively support the elimination of single-use plastics.