You’d suppose on our thirteenth yr as full-time vacationers, we’d be bored with all of the shifting round. However we proceed to fulfill individuals who encourage us, discover locations that take our breath away, and be taught new issues day-after-day–about different cultures and ourselves. Generally we take into consideration planting a root, like this yr it was in historic Richmond and the uncrowded seashores of Baja, but it surely’s by no means as a result of we’re sick of touring, it’s as a result of these locations steal a chunk of our coronary heart.
This yr we traveled to eight nations throughout North America, the Caribbean, Western Europe, Southeast Asia, and North Africa…with Tunisia being our eightieth nation! Buddy the Camper traversed the West and dipped into Mexico, however we spared him his 14th cross-country highway journey for our two East Coast journeys. We spoke at three journey conferences and attended two extra, to proceed our training on regenerative journey and cross-cultural connections. We starred in an Outdoors TV present and made the daring try and shoot a pilot for a journey present of our personal!
Although, the most important information of our yr was round glamping….We gained the American Glamping Affiliation’s “Trade Pioneer Award” and bought the inexperienced gentle for a second (world!) version of our e-book Comfortably Wild!
Learn on for HoneyTrek’s 2024 journey highlights and see what we have now cooking for 2025.
Baja Wellness
To start out our yr with a clear invoice of well being, we kicked off an annual custom of going to Baja California for physician appointments and a seashore detox. Los Algodones, Mexico is the dentistry capital of the world with 600+ dentists in a single sq. mile, providing amazingly reasonably priced and high quality care. After an amazing cleansing and crown (for $125!), it made us suppose that perhaps there are different forms of medical doctors that flock right here too, so we discovered a unbelievable basic practitioner and dermatologist so as to add to our medical-tourism journey. Good factor too, as a result of it seems I had basal cell carcinoma! After cryosurgery, we took the remainder of the week for R&R, tenting alongside the northern Gulf of California, taking coastal walks, and popping into San Felipe for our taco repair. With the reward of an exquisite seashore, we’re motivated to make one other journey for this yr’s annual checkups!
Starring in Outdoors TV’s Texas State of Thoughts
One of many biggest honors of the yr was Outdoors Journal selecting HoneyTrek for his or her “Texas State of Thoughts” TV episode and internet sequence! To curate the most effective adventures within the Lone Star State, seasoned cyclists biked Hill Nation, knowledgeable fly fishermen took on the Gulf Coast, wellness gurus blissed out in Dallas, and we used our world journey experience to spotlight the wealthy tradition of San Antonio.
Because the premier outside media firm within the nation, Outdoors introduced their top-notch manufacturing crew, ensuring the cinematography, pictures, sound, and lighting had been impeccable…and we did our greatest to seize the essence of the town! At first, we had been a bit nervous about having 9 folks with digital camera gear observe us round for 2 days, however the Outdoors workforce has such good vibes and San Antonio is an superior city, so the shoot was an amazing success…give it a watch, above!
Multi-cultural Malaysia
We love Southeast Asia and have at all times needed to discover the melting pot of Malaysia. Fabricated from distinct cultures…Malay, ethnic Chinese language, ethnic Indian, plus 95 indigenous teams, and British influences from their colonial days…Malaysia offers a strong style of the continent in a single nation. We began within the capital of Kuala Lumpur, a metropolis of unimaginable contrasts, from old-world road markets to trendy skyscrapers that rival Manhattan.
From there, we pressed on to Perak, a central Malaysian state with lush karst topography, cave temples, and wild west vibes from its tin growth days! (Watch this video for 9 causes so as to add Perak to your subsequent Southeast Asia journey!) Nonetheless, few locations exemplify the great thing about multicultural Malaysia greater than Penang. As Nice Britain’s first colony and port in Southeast Asia, it introduced folks from world wide to this little island, and collectively they created one in every of Asia’s most original locations. Immediately, the previous city is a UNESCO World Heritage Web site, and that’s just the start of Penang’s UNESCO standing…25% of the island is a Biosphere Reserve with historical rainforest! See this gallery.
Biodiverse Borneo
The world’s third-largest island, fringed by coral reef, lined with a 130-million-year-old rainforest, and teeming with endemic species, this can be a place of epic proportions. Whereas Borneo is shared with two different nations (Indonesia and Brunei), the Malaysian state of Sabah has probably the most protected rainforest, the island’s tallest mountain, wealthy indigenous tradition (38 acknowledged teams making up 59% of the inhabitants), and strong tourism infrastructure to entry these wonders…making it the pure selection for a Borneo journey!
We gave ourselves 12 days (we might have simply spent a month right here) to journey round Sabah and are so excited to share the most effective of Borneo with you. Learn this in-depth article, as we trek with orangutans, scuba dive the Celebes Sea, safari within the footsteps of David Attenborough, and hone in on the greatest issues to do in Sabah, Borneo.
Brunei: The Pleasant Sultanate
With an absolute monarchy that just lately carried out Sharia regulation, Brunei doesn’t current itself as a wonderful journey vacation spot. A lot much less, to achieve it from Sabah was going to take us over 10 hours by bus with 7 border checkpoints (every one reminding us that smuggling medicine was punishable by loss of life!) However us, we love a superb overland problem and imagine there’s good to be present in each vacation spot, so off we went! See the gallery from our Brunei journey, together with the largest stilted settlement on the earth, the fascinating museum of the Sultan of Brunei (one of many richest people), and the pleasant locals who made our journey!
Singapore Past the Bay
Within the early days of HoneyTrek, we slept on a bench within the Singapore Changi airport, and whereas some globetrotters may depend that as a rustic visited, we knew Singapore deserved greater than that. Solely a nation since 1965, Singapore has actually come into its personal as a world-class vacation spot for finance, expertise, and hospitality. However to be sincere, we had been frightened this glittering republic, recognized for its skyscrapers, luxurious procuring, and mega motels like Marina Bay Sands, can be a bit too good for our liking. After taking the prerequisite go to to the gorgeous Gardens by the Bay and historic Lau Pat Sat market, we sought out the extra native facet of Singapore. We ate at hawker stalls on the Previous Airport Street Meals Centre, watched a Hindu ceremony preparations at Sri Mariamman Temple, explored the endentured-coolie houses-turned-shops of Chinatown, and partook in Ramadan festivities within the Muslim Quarter of Kampong Glam. We realized the great thing about this metropolis is in its worldwide enclaves and the way harmoniously folks can reside in one of many world’s smallest nations.
Timor-Leste: Coolest Nation You’ve By no means Heard Of
By April 2024, we had been to each nation in Southeast Asia…besides Timor-Leste. Beneath Portuguese rule for 400 years and occupied by the Indonesian army from 1975-1999, this island nation has by no means hit the vacationer radar, however was calling our identify. This journey was going to be dear and logsitcally sophisticated, however we had a sense it could be a worthwhile journey…and it turned out to be the gem of our Asia journey!
With a rugged shoreline, colonial structure, plentiful marine life, and charming villages, Timor-Leste is completely attractive and was all of the extra particular with our new associates from Aero Dili. We befriended the flight crew and wound up happening an off-roading journey to their favourite locations from Dili to Baucau. Watch this video above to find Timor’s uncooked magnificence, see our shenanigans, and why this is likely to be the good nation you’ve by no means heard of.
Taking pictures a Journey TV Pilot in Indonesia
Did you catch that we’re engaged on a pilot for a journey present?! We wish to get off the overwhelmed monitor and spotlight the wonder, range, and human facet of regenerative journey. We wish to rejoice individuals who’ve adopted their desires and brought dangers to create a vacation spot that provides unforgettable experiences whereas being stewards of the native surroundings and group.
When on the lookout for the proper place for the shoot, we discovered Ngalung Kalla Retreat on the island of Sumba, Indonesia. See the gallery and keep tuned for the sizzle reel (it’s nearly executed!)
NJ Reminiscence Lane
The place did we reside earlier than we went nomadic? The charming Hoboken, New Jersey! Proper on the Hudson River, lower than a mile from New York Metropolis, The ‘Boken’s outside volleyball league is what first introduced me right here. Mike and I met enjoying doubles in Sinatra Park, we fell in love, and he wooed me to The Mile Sq.. We purchased a slice of a brownstone and spent three superb years in our first and final residence collectively. Twelve years later, we returned to our previous hometown and state for a correct trip, and we will’t let you know how nostalgic it made us. Watch this stroll down Hoboken reminiscence lane (full with throwback pictures of us as volleyball teammates and our previous residence) and a few nice highway journey concepts from 18th-century Lambertville to Exit Zero in Cape Might in this gallery.
Richmond…Who Knew?
With a daring accolade like CNN Journey’s primary decide for “America’s Greatest Cities to Go to,” Richmond was a spot we needed to expertise for ourselves. So whereas we had been in Virginia for a household marriage ceremony, we prolonged our journey to take a look at this trending metropolis. Set on the attractive James River, the capital of Virginia has over 400 years of historical past to dive into, with spectacular museums, attractive structure, and native characters from Thomas Jefferson to Edgar Allan Poe. Richmond has hit its stride lately, embracing road artwork, African-American tradition, culinary expertise, and native delight. We spent 5 unbelievable days right here and might say, from their lots of of murals to the category IV rapids working proper by means of downtown, it’s a metropolis that earns its stripes!
Keynoting Camp Indie
For those who’ve ever dreamt of ditching your desk job for a location-independent way of life, you’d love Camp Indie! Three enjoyable days had been had within the Berkshire Mountains, partaking in life-changing workshops + summer-camp-style enjoyable with like-minded folks considering outdoors the company field. From breathwork workouts to 90s pajama events, it crammed us up and taught us much more methods to seek out success and happiness. It was an honor to keynote this inspiring occasion and we will’t watch for subsequent yr. Hope to see you the weekend of June twentieth, 2025!
Really feel the Rush! Gold Nation Street Journey
To get again to California’s Wild West roots and plenty of of my favourite locations as a Cali child, we took a three-week Gold Nation highway journey. Freeway 49 winds by means of the Sierra Nevadas, connecting dozens of Nineteenth-century Gold Rush cities, from Yosemite Nationwide Park to Lake Tahoe. Along with historic websites, this route serves up attractive mountains, raging rivers, alpine lakes, and wine nation for a highway journey that’s bought all of it! Learn this weblog for an in-depth information and see these movies for some highlights:
@honeytrek One in every of California’s biggest river rafting adventures is undoubtedly The Center Fork of the American. Set 2,000 ft deep in a canyon of the Tahoe Nationwide Forest, this river is gorgeous and bursting with Class IV rapids. There’s even a Class VI speedy so gnarly the boat will get hurled over the 30-foot waterfall and the guides should catch it on the backside! Filled with thrills, magnificence, and good occasions, this @All-OutdoorsCA Rafting is a must-do Gold Nation journey! #AmericanRiver #RiverRafting #PlacerCounty #VisitGoldCountry #accomplice @VisitCalifornia ♬ authentic sound – HoneyTrek
Puerto Rico Glamping Consulting
HoneyTrek Glamping Consulting, the place we assist camp homeowners enhance their visitor expertise and enterprise total, is in its fourth yr. We normally conduct this as a five-hour Zoom workshop, however when the celebrities align we love to fulfill the homeowners on their land for a deep dive.
Jay, a budding glamping camp operator in Puerto Rico, had been saving our enterprise card for over a yr and phoned us as quickly because the deed to his 36 acres was signed. He was so enthusiastic about working with HoneyTrek and couldn’t have been nicer, inviting us to remain at his seashore home and tour us round PR, so we adopted our intestine to the airport and serendipity adopted go well with. The potential of this land was limitless, tucked within the lush mountains with views to a pristine seashore on the fringe of a colonial city, with an amazing group vibe. This dwelling context gave us so many concepts, and it’s been a pleasure to see them carried out!
Bonus: The ISA World Surf Championships occurred to be in Puerto Rico that week and within the hometown of our sports activities reporter buddy Jaimie! He scored us press passes and we bought front-row seats to this Olympic-qualifying occasion!
Miami’s Wild Aspect
We repeatedly work with tourism boards on storytelling campaigns, although enjoying within the huge leagues with Go to Miami had us a bit nervous. From celeb influencers to creators in our circle we respect, the content material bar was set excessive for this glamorous metropolis of six million folks…however we gave it our all!
Whereas recognized for its lengthy sandy seashores, Artwork Deco motels, Latin tradition, trendy artwork, and posh nightlife, we needed to indicate that Miami’s clubbing scene is just not its solely wild facet. Inside its county traces, there are two nationwide parks, one of many world’s largest wetlands, the third-longest coral reef, extra tropical fruit farms than wherever within the USA, and the world’s first conscious pocket park to understand the great thing about nature. It’s the contrasts of Miami that make it so particular.
See our gallery with tricks to benefit from Miami–from reside music in Little Havana to volunteering for sea turtles in Biscayne Bay.
Tunisia, Hidden Gem of North Africa
Tunisia completely blew us away. Roman ruins, Mediterranean seashores, rolling olive groves, and Andalusian villages…it had so many European qualities, but additionally the most effective of North Africa with bustling medinas, glittering mosques, wealthy Berber tradition, scrumptious delicacies, and the huge Sahara Desert.
Touring as a bunch of 5 seasoned traveler associates, we nearly didn’t use a tour firm, however we’re so glad we determined to go along with Tunisia Ecotourism. They helped us get deeper into the center of this dynamic nation and higher perceive its wealthy cultures. Touring from the three,000-year-old metropolis of Carthage to the untouched dunes of the Sahara, Tunisia’s breadth of wonders by no means ceased to amaze. Embraced by Tunisian hospitality, we had been welcomed into 18th-century guesthouses, bedouin desert camps, and troglodyte dwellings. We discovered to decorate like Berber beauties, cook dinner rougag bread, make wool, and weave rugs. Getting off the overwhelmed path and connecting with native communities, we fell in love with a rustic we barely knew…and hope you’ll too!
Try this gallery and movies under for highlights from our 10-day journey throughout Tunisia, the hidden gem of the Mediterranean and the jewel of North Africa.
TBEX Alaska
After we bought invited to talk on the Anchorage version of TBEX, the premier journey running a blog convention, we jumped on the likelihood to attend this week-long occasion in probably the most stunning states with a few of our favourite peeps! Every time we go to TBEX, our friendships develop deeper with our content material creator group–whether or not we’re sharing concepts at a roundtable dialogue or climbing into the wilderness.
After the classes, there was loads of playtime, from turning the Alaska Railroad right into a shifting dance occasion to a three-day journey with Revel Treks & Excursions + BlueWater BaseCamp into the Chugach Mountains, full with kayaking, mountain biking, glamping, moose-spotting, and new associates! Try this gallery for our Alaska highlights.
Colorado Residency
We preserve coming again to Colorado for thus many causes…it’s attractive, there’s at all times a lot happening, and our household lives right here! Regardless of the thinner air at a mile excessive, we discover Denver to be an amazing place to catch our breath between initiatives and reconnect with our group, so we did two housesits right here this yr! First, was a Civic Heart residence that we scored through the first-ever Outdoors Competition of all issues superior outdoor, and the second was a bungalow within the cute LoHi neighborhood, with a superbly lazy cat.
We had been so pleased to be round our household for the vacations, from trick or treating with our 1-year-old nephew to Thanksgiving with our cousins (full with vegan dishes and CU Boulder Soccer). Plus, native blogger associates Jules & Sherry at all times know the VIP haps, so we had some splashy moments too, like sitting entrance row at Denver Vogue Week and the Mile Excessive Tree Lighting with the mayor!
See a few of our favourite moments from dwelling like a Denver native and our epic facet journey to Leadville…the two-mile-high metropolis!
HoneyTrek Cares
For every of the tourism board initiatives we do all year long, we give again 5% of the funds to native nonprofits and volunteer with them each time doable. We do that as a result of we wish to assist the surroundings and under-served communities, but additionally expertise vacationer locations in a optimistic approach whereas exhibiting extra vacationers how enjoyable volunteering will be. From undeniably cool experiences like releasing child sea turtles to the less-sexy invasive species removing, every volunteer day connects us with superior locals and provides us a deeper appreciation of the place.
Listed below are a number of the volunteer orgs we supported in 2024 and we hope you possibly can too! Wetlands Institute, James River Affiliation, MORAES marine science, Particles Free Oceans, Mending Partitions therapeutic arts, American River Conservancy, Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund, Comply with the Footsteps adaptive sports activities, and Belief for Public Lands.
We Received The Glamping Pioneer Award!
We’ve been glamping world wide and writing about this type of eco-travel since 2012, however we nonetheless can’t imagine we gained the American Glamping Affiliation’s Trade Pioneer Award! Of their phrases, “The 2024 award goes to HoneyTrek, a trailblazing duo whose imaginative and prescient, ardour, and dedication have impressed the glamping group and past. Their groundbreaking work and relentless advocacy for sustainable journey proceed to pave the way in which for a brighter, extra adventurous future in glamping. HoneyTrek exemplifies innovation and serves as a shining gentle for your complete business….With a deal with eco-friendly lodging and immersive outside experiences, HoneyTrek evokes others to discover distinctive, significant journey. Their dedication to innovation in glamping makes them true pioneers, regularly elevating the bar for journey vacationers worldwide.” What an absolute honor!
Comfortably Wild Will get a Second Version!
BIG NEWS! We simply bought the inexperienced gentle from Falcon Guides for a second version of our glamping e-book, Comfortably Wild! Whereas the primary version featured the most effective outside lodging in North America, this spherical we’re embarking on a seven-continent quest for probably the most conscious and provoking getaways on the earth! Not simply taking a look at High 10 Lists and AI-generated outcomes, we wish to meet these small enterprise homeowners, attempt the actions, share meals, and sleep of their wonderland…whether or not that’s in Monaco or Mongolia.
We’re so obsessed with glamping, as a result of when executed proper, it honors the surroundings, native communities, and company for holidays with a optimistic affect for all. With passionate folks on the helm, it’s regenerative journey in its most stunning type, and we’re so excited to honor them and encourage extra folks with this new (hardcover!) e-book. See extra information right here.
2025 Preview
This world version of Comfortably Wild goes to majorly form our 2025. Our plan is to begin within the Southern Hemisphere (both Oceania or South America) then head to Europe by late Spring, Africa in summer season, and Asia by fall. We’ve an extended checklist of locations we’re culling down, however when you’ve got stayed at an awe-inspiring eco-lodge, safari camp, glampground, or boutique lodging immersed in nature ANYWHERE on the earth, we’d love to listen to your solutions.
Cheers to an amazing 2024 and an thrilling yr forward,
Anne & Mike
