Outlier Journeys

Zambia delivers one of the intimate wildlife experiences on the African continent - with quiet sightings, close animal encounters and wonderfully uncrowded landscapes.

But on Jeff’s most recent trip to Zambia, one of the most unexpected joys came after dark, when the team at Chiawa Safari Lodge gathered to sing. Their warmth, harmony and energy was truly on point.

However, it’s wasn’t the liquid courage of evening sundowners that made them sound so good!

“I learned that choir singing is a large part of Zambian culture. It’s been a foundational part of how they share stories, reinforce community bonds and express their spirituality for centuries. This type of performance at the lodge is not only appreciated by guests, but taps into a major thread of the local’s cultural identity and enables them to share an integral part of their lives with visitors.” - Jeff Stivers.

All photos taken by Jeff Stivers at Chiawa Safaris

Towards the northern edge of Chilean Patagonia, the vivid turquoise Futaleufú River tumbles down from the snowmelt in Los Alerces National Park, drawing whitewater enthusiasts and thrill seekers from all over the world.

The river’s name comes from the indigenous Mapuche language and translates as “Big Water.” Twenty-six miles of continuous IV-V rapids ensure that the action never stops, though competent and skilled guides (plus adequate safety boats) help ensure that even novice rafters have a great time, though every passenger needs to paddle!

But this remote area of Patagonia isn’t all high stakes adventure. There are gentle stretches of water for casting a perfectly placed fly, valleys and forests for hiking among ancient, giant trees, cycling and horseback riding across alpine meadows, lazy farm-to-table dinners and plenty of dogs looking for scritches. The only thing you won’t find are the crowds.

Futaleufú isn’t the easiest place to access. You can fly to Esquel in Argentina and cross the border. Or do what I did and include it as a stop along a long roadtrip down Chile’s famous Carretera Austral. A few days in a comfy bed, sharing meals around the communal table and soaking in the riverside hot tub at cozy Pata was a top highlight from my drive through Chile two years ago.

We’d love to help you get there and discover this gorgeous hidden corner of Northern Patagonia! A favorite spot in a country with no shortage of awe-inspiring natural beauty.

From her son’s favorite kioscos, to the iconic asado, the treasured practice of merienda and the debate over batata vs. membrillo, Leslie Holgate penned a culinary love letter to her former home in Argentina and the food experiences she misses the most. Her new post is on our blog (link in bio) and is a must-read for Argentina bound travelers who truly want to eat like a local and understand the cultural rituals and norms surrounding food.

Leslie H

Sometimes the best connection happens when there is no signal at all!

Our clients Chuck and Linda recently hosted their children and grandchildren for 10 days off-the-grid in Alaska’s wilderness. From the coastal glaciers and marine life of Kenai Fjords National Park to the vast, awe-inspiring mountains and tundra of Denali National Park, this trip was a study in Alaska’s diversity and contrasts, a far cry from crowded cruise ports. Many miles were hiked, glaciers were climbed, bears were spotted, kayaks were paddled and fun was had by all ages, from 8 to 80!

Thanks to Alaska Wildland Adventures and Camp Denali for keeping it simple and wild as intended. In a world of excess, less can be more.

ETA, EES, ETIAS - what do these acronyms even mean?

If you are heading to the EU or UK, you’ve heard of these terms. But we’re still fielding questions from understandably confused travelers about what permissions they need to travel to Europe, and when to obtain them.

The EES (The European Union’s Entry/Exit System) is a digital border management system using biometrics to replace traditional passport stamps (RIP to a well-stamped passport.) It registers the entry and exit of non-EU nationals traveling into the Schengen area for up to 90 days. You can’t apply in advance and you must complete registration procedures upon your first arrival into the EU. And it is what is largely responsible for the airport horror stories you may have seen on the news, with exceedingly long immigration lines upon arrival and departure.

The rollout has been messy and the experience differs from airport to airport. For additional support, we’ve been arranging VIP meet & assist services for most of our travelers to Europe, for the past several months and beyond. Not every airport has an expedited immigration line that you can pay for, but a mighty and determined greeter can save you hours and whisk you past the worse queues.

The ETA (Electronic Travel Authorization) is a digital travel permission required for visa-exempt foreign nationals when visiting or stopping over in the UK. It costs 20 GBP, is secured through a government website, and is valid for up to 2 years or the life of your passport. You need this if traveling to England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. You DO NOT need this if connecting via Heathrow and remaining airside (in transit.) An ETA can take a few days to process so we recommend applying for yours at least 2 weeks prior to your dates of travel. There are imposter websites selling ETAs for inflated rates. Only apply via the official government site.

The ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorization System)…doesn’t exist yet. It will supposedly be an online pre-screening application for Visa-free visitors that will come with a fee. The system is supposed to go live in late 2026. But we’ll cross that bridge when we come to it.

One of the things we love about designing trips to Japan is nudging travelers to explore beyond the destinations that everyone talks about and into places with real depth.

Arima Onsen, tucked into the hills above Kobe, is one such place. It has drawn people to its mineral-rich waters for centuries, and Tocen Goshoboh is the kind of ryokan that makes that history feel close, not staged. Founded in the 12th century, it is Arima’s oldest inn; timbered, atmospheric, and built around the deep rust-colored “golden” spring that gives the town so much of its character.

Leasa and Brian, currently on their second Outlier Journeys trip to Japan in under a year, just stayed here and sent the kind of note we love. While researching author Junichiro Tanizaki’s connections to Arima, they found themselves reading about Goshoboh and the town’s evolution after the 1995 earthquake. Their takeaway: “What a fascinating place!”

Exactly.

This is facet of Japan that we try reveal in every journey: not just a beautiful hotel, but a place with layers - literary, historic, local, lived-in.

And then there was dinner. Their verdict: “the finest kaiseki meal we have experienced. Amazing!”

For travelers looking for Japan beyond the obvious stops, Arima is a strong reminder that the best experiences are not always louder or newer. Sometimes the right answer is a quiet ryokan, 800 years of history, and an extraordinary meal at the end of the day.

We’re so excited to introduce you to Leslie Holgate, the newest member of our travel design team and someone who has turned a love of adventure, language, and local culture into a passion for travel that goes well beyond the surface.

Leslie got her start in the travel industry volunteering in Thailand with a community-based tourism organization, before working with small-ship expedition and African safari companies. A dream to live abroad and learn Spanish led her to Patagonia, Argentina, where she spent nine years hiking, eating, and raising her son while exploring the country from north to south. She considers Argentina a second home, and brings firsthand knowledge of Latin America as both a traveler and a local.

Leslie’s experience spans six continents and a wide range of travel styles, from the Galápagos Islands to Southern Africa. At the heart of every trip is the belief that the best travel is connected to the people, food, nature and rhythms of a place.

Based in the Seattle area, Leslie will stop to say hi to every dog she passes and is happiest discovering the world one coffee shop at a time. We’re thrilled to have her on our team and assisting Outlier Journeys travelers with her knowledge, passion and excellent attention to detail!

Next Trip: She has plans for a family language trip in Uruguay this summer and is studying Portuguese with her sights set on a visit to Brazil.

Favorite Hotel, Lodge or Camp: Charming Residences & Suites in Bariloche, Argentina, Posada El Capullo in Colonia, Uruguay, Takinoya Ryokan in Hokkaido, Japan

Favorite Cities: Buenos Aires, Tokyo, Paris, Vancouver

Favorite Remote Escape: Argentina’s Lake District in Northern Patagonia, Iberá National Park in Argentina, Khao Sok National Park in Thailand, Lake Atitlán in Guatemala

We receive (and delete) hundreds of marketing emails every week, so it takes something truly unique to catch our eye! And this special experience in Baja is just too cool not to share.

To celebrate 25 years of business for our friends Bryan and Sergio have created a singular experience blending music and nature’s majesty at their Camp Cecil de la Bahía on Magdalena Bay. Accompanied by three professional opera singers, 12 lucky travelers will take to the sea to spot Magdalena’s famously friendly gray whales. While the whales spout and swim astride the boats for scratches, their voices will carry across the water, in a setting unlike any concert hall on earth! The serenade continues by night, where guests will gather round the fire for performances at camp, followed by conversation about the conservation and community-led tourism projects that TOSEA is so passionate about.

Even better - this special event benefits - the organization working to make Todos Santos the first zero-waste community in Mexico. $1500 from every booking will support their mission.

Dates are January 26-28, 2027 and cost is $2000 per guest + tax. And you can extend your adventure into the Sierras or the Sea of Cortez by pairing this with their other exceptional camps for a deeper exploration of Baja’s wonders.

This is an easy trip for our local followers with Alaska Airlines flying nonstop SEA to Los Cabos multiple times daily. And a great escape from the winter gloom!

Interested? Please get in touch!

Turkey, Slovenia and Peru.

Three very different destinations and just a taste of where Outlier Journeys travelers are exploring this month. In the Andes and in Europe, May is one of our favorite months for exploration.

Comparatively, our “high season” summer numbers for these destinations are relatively light. And that is intentional. Helping you to avoid the huge crowds, the high prices and/or the hot temperatures. And travel better.

Ready to explore outside of peak season? Reach out to begin the conversation.

These days, flying is more chaotic than ever. Between long immigration lines, cancellations due to fuel shortages and certain airlines cutting customer service personnel, it can be tough out there as a passenger.

Through our partnership with Global First, we arrange flights for our travelers, primarily in first and business class. While ticketing includes a service fee, what you receive in return is a dedicated air concierge desk who answers queries and fixes mishaps 24/7, without the need to wait on hold for hours or queue up to speak to the only available service agent at the gate (along with everyone else who just deplaned.)

Once, when Dubai Airport closed due to to flooding, rebooked a client traveling from Uzbekistan to Madagascar on a RTW ticket (which has a whole slew of specific rules attached). They arrived only one day later without paying anything additional out of pocket. Talk about a miracle worker!

Occasionally they also offer competitive rates for business & first class, particularly on newer long-haul routes. We just saved clients around $700 on flights to New Zealand by booking with our air partners vs. directly with the airlines at their published rate.

Is this service for you? If you have the highest tier with your preferred airline and a direct line to a real person who addresses you by name when they pick up, then probably not. Or if you are a deal/point maximizer who is looking for the absolute cheapest route, regardless of how painful the seat or connection is, you can find that on your own time.

But if you value a trifecta of “flattest, fastest, best value, great service” combined with “connections you are most likely to make”, this service might be for you.

It never hurts to ask. There’s no fee to research options.

PS: If you are sitting on a pile of cc or airline points/miles, now is also a good time to look at redeeming them for travel within the next 9 months. We don’t assist with reward travel but has you covered with all the tricks and tips.

Big thanks to for continuing to look after our travelers!