Gabby and I arrived at the sprawling Olympia in London with open minds and a craving for fresh travel ideas. Travel is one of our great shared passions – with many of our best memories being overseas experiences together – typically when we are immersed in the local culture, whether that be enjoying a bottle of wine at a cozy bar, meeting new people, or taking in scenery so stunning it seems almost unreal.
But in truth, seeking new ideas for ourselves wasn’t the only reason we booked tickets to Destinations: The Holiday & Travel Show…
You see… over 90% of boosst clients cite travel as a priority and something they hope to do more of in the future. It’s an incredibly unifying passion, shared by clients of all ages, whether pre or post-retirement. After all, travel offers us so much – from embracing new cultures and making friends over shared experiences to simply being awestruck by the world around us.
So, here are our highlights from the show…
VentureSail
https://venturesailholidays.com
“The Earth is two-thirds water, yet we spend most of our lives on land.”
The first stand to catch our eye was VentureSail, which offers a unique way to explore the world’s oceans and rivers. With over 400 routes available, passengers are encouraged to get involved on deck – though no prior sailing experience is necessary, and you can do as much or as little as you please. Freshly prepared meals and a comfortable berth guarantee a good night’s sleep.
Their fleet ranges from luxurious private-cabin island hopping in Croatia (each cabin with its own ensuite) to classic tall ship adventures in Denmark with shared quarters. Their trips cater primarily to 40- to 60-year-olds, often couples or small groups, and destinations span Scandinavia, Cape Verde, the Canary Islands, the Caribbean, the Scottish Hebrides, and seemingly everywhere in between. The only requirement? You need to be comfortable climbing an 8ft vertical ladder.
Andante
https://www.andantetravels.co.uk
“The first specialist UK operator to go beyond the surface of cultural travel, to dig deeper into the past and create unique explorations of some of the world’s most important heritage sites.”
Andante offers small group travel to some of the world’s most fascinating archaeological sites. Their key differentiator? Each trip includes a dedicated tour manager who travels with you, alongside local heritage experts who provide deeper insight—often individuals who have actively worked on the archaeological sites themselves.
With 40 years of experience, Andante knows how to craft incredible journeys. Their trips cover a vast range of destinations and historical periods, from Carthage and Rome to Albania, Egypt (where the highly anticipated Grand Egyptian Museum opens in Giza in 2025), Turkey, the Ottomans, Petra, Mongolia, and Mexico. There are also UK-based trips for those looking to explore history closer to home. Some itineraries focus on a single destination, while others weave together multiple locations to tell a larger historical narrative. Nearly all packages include flights, making them a hassle-free, one-and-done booking.
Not in the Guidebooks
https://www.notintheguidebooks.com
“Immersive experience-led travel, crafted by locals, curated by us.”
We had the pleasure of meeting Carol, the CEO and founder of Not in the Guidebooks, who gave us a brilliant insight into their offerings. Their mission is to provide authentic experiences, helping travelers avoid tourist traps and discover unique, locally-led activities.
Their website allows you to search by destination or by experience – whether your interest lies in wellness retreats, foodie adventures (restaurants and cookery classes), horse riding, hiking, painting, or photography.
Unlike traditional package holidays, their experiences are designed as modules to be added to a longer, self-planned trip. For example, while spending time in Portugal later this year, we could choose from 34 unique add-ons, such as a nine-hour Douro Valley wine tour or a six-night hiking expedition in the Azores.
Yellowwood Adventures
https://yellowwoodadventures.com
“Small group & tailor-made cultural & hiking tours to undiscovered, authentic destinations—always taking the path less traveled.”
We met founder Sam, who left his city job in London for a three-month solo hiking trip in Ethiopia. That experience was so transformative that he dedicated the last decade to organizing similar adventures for like-minded travelers.
Yellowwood specializes in taking you to lesser-known gems, such as Malawi, Uganda, Mongolia, Bhutan, Slovenia—and, of course, Sam’s beloved Ethiopia.
Wild Expeditions
https://www.wildexpeditions.info
“Small group, low-impact experiences with local conservationists to some of the most remote and wild places on the planet.”
If this were Crufts, Wild Expeditions would have been our ‘Best in Show.’ We met Becca, an expedition leader and mountain guide, and Chris, a professional wildlife cameraman (who, when not leading trips, films for the BBC!).
Their small-group trips (maximum of six to ten participants) include Kyrgyzstan, Guyana, West Africa, and Ladakh. Two of these focus on snow leopards, where—with Becca’s local connections—you have a more than 95% chance of spotting one. Another trip, which particularly intrigued us, takes travelers deep into West African rainforests to observe the critically endangered western chimpanzee alongside conservationists dedicated to their survival.
Harji’s India
https://harjisindia.co.uk
“India travel experts with an unparalleled depth of knowledge to craft tailor-made holidays.”
India has long been a favorite destination for boosst clients, and Harji’s India impressed us with their specialist expertise. Unlike big-name operators (Trailfinders, Audley Travel, Kuoni), Harji’s sole focus is India and its neighbouring countries, offering meticulously planned, deeply personalised itineraries.
If India is on your bucket list, speaking with their team could be invaluable.
Bhutan Green Travel
https://www.bhutangreentravel.com
“the Himalayan tours and treks specialists.”
Have you ever been curious of how a country would look if it prioritised happiness of its people over anything else? Well, that’s exactly what Bhutan committed to, in a public speech in 1971, when it joined the United Nations. The country takes great pride in measuring GNH – Gross National Happiness, instead of the usual GDP – Gross Domestic Product, as a measure of success. As a result, many parts of the country will feel backwards to anyone who has grown up in a developed country. Over 60% of the population make a living from livestock and industry is in its infancy. Over 70% of the land is forest, and the main revenue generator for the government is the export of hydroelectricity to India. In fact, Bhutan is the only carbon negative country in the world.
If you believe the pinnacle of travel is experiencing a culture which is a true contrast to your home life, Bhutan really is a must see. It is an undeniably beautiful country and it’s only in recent years that it has really opened its doors to tourists. The famously prohibitive Visa entry cost has dropped significantly, now sitting at $100USD per person per day.
Bhutan Green Travel is a family owned business and they specialise in private and small group tours. Prices are very reasonable, albeit flights can be a challenge with only a handful of operators. They offer a range of brilliant preplanned itineraries but are also very willing to build a custom itinerary based on your interests, be that spirituality, hiking or birdwatching.
The Bucket List Company
https://thebucketlistcompany.co.uk
“The simplest way to tick off the big items on your bucket list.”
This one reminds us of Ronseal – it really does do what it says on the tin. The Bucket List Company specialises in small group travel for the big ticket items still on your list, from Everest Base Camp, to summiting Kilimanjaro, Gorilla Trekking in Uganda or perhaps the Inca Trail.
Interestingly, they also offer training weekends in the UK (Exmoor, Brecon Beacon, Snowdon) which you can book onto ahead of a big trip to get used to the distance is you’ll be covering and the kit you need on a challenging trip.
Scenic Car Tours
https://www.sceniccartours.com
“The UK’s leading tour operator for the driving enthusiast.”
Scenic car tours take all of the hassle out of organising a fantastic driving trip, be there across Europe or further afield. Many of their trips begin in the UK, allowing you to drive your own car – while others start with a flight and the collection of a hire car of your choice.
Their itineraries give you the best tried-and-tested routes to follow and the price you pay includes your accommodation stopovers. Each day you can take your time and stop wherever you please along the way – or you can race on to your next destination and spend the day exploring it to your hearts content.
A trip that caught our eye for any classic car enthusiasts… they offer an 11 day itinerary from the UK to Italy, to follow the Mille Miglia race, as the cars wind their way through the beautiful Italian scenery.
Looking for solo travel?
Many boosst clients travel solo, but finding group trips intentionally designed for solo travelers can be a challenge. Here are two companies tackling that issue:
One Traveller
https://www.onetraveller.co.uk
“A family-run company offering solo holidays designed for like-minded mature travelers.”
Whether you are a mature single or just want some time to yourself, we got the impression that One Traveller really understands the mindset of a solo traveller. Many of their long trips include a pre-trip get together to meet your fellow travellers in a social environment before you pack your bags or head to the airport, which we thought this was a really neat idea to break down the barriers of solo travel.
Many of their trips are cruises, but one land-only trip that stood out to us was a seven night tour of the Loire Valley, with some great hotel stays, château tours and fantastic restaurants.
Solos
https://www.solosholidays.com/uk
“Exclusively for solo travellers looking to share unforgettable experiences with small groups of like-minded people.”
While One Traveller specifically market themselves to mature solo travellers, Solos are age inclusive and offer trips of all lengths to pretty much any destination you can dream of. They offer everything you would expect to see from a great tour provider (fair prices, local guides, thoughtful itinerary planning and well chosen accommodation), and cater it all to solo travellers.
Their website has a brilliant ‘last minute’ section, so if you fancy heading off on a big trip this week, is the perfect place to start your search.
Overall, Destinations truly delivered on travel inspiration. Whether sailing, hiking, or seeking deep cultural immersion, the show confirmed what we already knew: there’s a whole world out there waiting to be explored!
Don’t forget that boosst clients can access our own ‘Travel & Experience Directory’, a community built database of trips and experiences our clients and team members have loved. It’s a great place to pick off your next trip, plus, if it’s helpful, we can connect you with the author to learn more before you book.
You can access the boosst Directory from the Home Screen after you have logged in to the boosst Portal: LINK
