Timbuktu was founded just over ten years ago with a clear goal: to make even the most remote destinations accessible to adventurous travelers. Timbuktu can take relatively complex and slightly amorphous travel plans and transform them into a well-organized, perfectly tailored trip. They do so by offerings specially curated journeys that can be put together like puzzle pieces so that clients wind up with their dream holidays. Each trip is developed with one of the company’s extremely well-qualified travel experts.

Enjoy a private tour of Varanasi Timbuktu

How does it work? If you and your friends have determined that its time for an exotic safari in Botswana, you can browse through several options. If you find an itinerary that you like, you have the choice of a luxury, mid-range or “shoestring” place to stay. Some travelers like to end their trips in more deluxe accommodations, others might prefer a five-star experience throughout their journey. You can choose to go for the cheaper option for a few nights in Khawai, but then decide between the luxurious Duma Camp (about $2,000 a night) or the mid-range Linyanti Bush Camp (about $600 a night). Your travel expert can advise you on the best lodges for honeymoons, family trips, fishing or walking safaris.

A five star retreat in Botswana Wilderness Destinations

Guests can also customize a trip based on whether they prefer a more “classic” trip or one with a more off-the-beaten track feel. And in fact, you can include both in your itineraries in destinations that include Sri Lanka, Antarctica, Indonesia and India, among others.

Try a horseback riding safari Timbuktu

Timbuktu has also developed its own specialty tours. On a recent trip to Thailand, our travel expert included all the classics, such as Wat Pho, the temple that houses the 45 meter reclining Buddha, but also made sure to include a bike trip to Bang Krachao (known as Bangkok’s Green Lung). Since one of my sons was obsessed with Muay Thai, our guide somehow managed to include a boxing lesson in a local outdoor ring in the middle of the jungle. Our guides were all local experts who escorted us to some terrific and lesser-known lunch spots and were more than willing to make last-minute special requests.

A prayer ceremony Timbuktu

One of my favorite parts of taking a Timbuktu trip is the organization’s commitment to the communities where they send guests. In Africa, the company makes a donation for every trip booked to a variety of charitable endeavors. For example, Timbuktu supports CAMFED, which provides schooling and educational resources for young women in some of the most disadvantaged communities. In South America, Timbuktu supports Rewilding Chile, a group that protects wild spaces through the creation of national parks, ecosystem restoration and community engagement. In Thailand, Timbuktu only sends guests to elephant sanctuaries that their teams have personally visited and that are committed to safe and sustainable practices.

Wildlife in Antartica Timbuktu

Timbuktu’s unique approach to customized trips, expert guidance and extremely knowledgeable advisors makes it easy to experience an ideal adventure in almost any location in the world.