Advance access to our most exciting 2024 tours…

  • Trips as low as $4,500.

  • Coveted destinations 20-30% off other small-group tours.

  • Most gratuities and meals included.

Focused Escapes are small group, semi-private experiences and experiential tours.

We believe travel, when done right, can change you. It can challenge the things you believe. Introduce you to new and wonderful people. Restore your faith in humanity. Open your eyes to this beautiful planet. Teach you new skills. And leave you craving more.

These are the kinds of trips we craft by hand for just 10-12 travelers at a time to destinations that are truly unforgettable.

With our roots in travel photography and food blogging (and our contacts with local photographers and food bloggers around the world), we pay special attention to food… and great places to take photos. But we also stay flexible to allow for special events and opportunities that pop up on the ground.

Our trips are built for people who like unconventional travel, eating well and taking great images but they are not traditional food, photography or tourist tours.

Adventure Travel Made Easy

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  • Tanzania for Families

    June 22 - July 1, 2024 and December 22 - 31, 2024 (9 days)

    9-day trip of a lifetime for families with kids age 8 and over.

    From lions and cheetahs to native tribes and local languages. Tanzania has adventure, education, amazing life experiences and more.

    You’ll hunt with a Hadzabe tribe, make ugali with the Datoga tribe and safari all along the way.

    Activity level: Low to moderate. Must be able to get in and out of vehicles and walk at least a half mile on sand during the hunt. You may also need to run really fast when chased (just kidding!!).

    Full Price: apx $6,800/person

  • ECUADOR w/ GALAPAGOS ADD-ON

    May 19-26, 2024 are the dates of the mainland tour.

    The Galapagos add-on would start May 26 and run through June 1.

    It’s old-world Andean culture meets luxury dining and spa. Local medicine men, musicians, weavers, artisans and the world’s coolest spa.

    You can also add the wildlife-rich Galapagos Islands.

    Activity level: Moderate. City walking and a 30-minute uphill climb from the shaman. Galapagos requires getting on and off boats, snorkeling, gentle hikes.

    Full Price: $4,500 for the mainland portion.

  • SOUTHERN NAMIBIA- SOLD OUT

    JUNE 7-18 2024 (11 nights) - Sold Out

    Other-worldly. Stunning. Desolate. Friendly. Shockingly beautiful.

    Namibia is a photographer’s dream. You’ll see and photograph stone-still, petrified trees, quiver trees, majestic red dunes, sand-filled abandoned ghost towns, meet local tribes, photograph an old shipwreck, penguins and more!

    Professional photographer guide.

    Activity level: Moderate to high. Long distances on soft sand — sometimes uphill. In and out of safari vehicles and a boat.

    Full Price: $6,899/$6,249

  • CROATIA (only different)

    SEPTEMBER 5 - 14, 2024 (9 nights)

    Ancient Roman civilization meets glittering cosmopolitan beach. Instead of driving, we’re going by private yacht!!

    You’ll arrive in style. Wander fortified cities, explore cobblestone streets, explore the blue and green caves, snorkel and soak up mesmerizing Adriatic sea views.

    All with private chef, luxury accommodations, endless water sports and private crew.

    Activity level: Moderate. Cobble stone streets, snorkeling and vineyard tours.

    Full Price: $6,999 - $8,799 depending on room type.

  • Georgia Food and Culture Tour

    REPUBLIC OF GEORGIA

    October 12 - 21, 2024 (10 days)

    Be the first! Breathtaking landscapes. Cave cities where you can walk through millennia-old tunnels and chambers carved into the rock. Joyous Georgian polyphonic singing and energetic traditional dance performances that reflect the country's soulful spirit. Legendary hospitality. A food and wine lovers paradise. Plus spa!

    You will eat and drink very well on this tour!

    Activity level: Moderate. Some walking on hills and steps.

    Full Price: $4,997/$4,597

  • PATAGONIA RAFTING

    DECEMBER 7-16, 2024

    We’re going to raft our way through Patagonia. It’s outdoor adventure in one of the most stunningly beautiful settings in the world!

    It’s Patagonia on a raft with friends, food and lots of fresh air.

    You’ll gain a greater understanding of yourself and this beautiful planet.

    Activity level: High. we’ll be rafting, climbing, and hiking. Class 5 rapids (or otherwise take a horse). Exercise at least 1 hr/day before the trip.

    Full Price: $8,500-$9,500

  • MYSTERY TOUR

    TRY A MYSTERY TOUR

    3 departures — spring, fall and Nov/Dec

    Sign up for a Mystery Tour (or 2) and you’ll have no idea where you’re going only that you’ve never been there in the past.

    Activity Level: Guests fill out a survey prior to the trip. We match you with the best trip for your abilities!

    Mystery Tour locations are not destinations featured on this page. They are completely separate trips to undisclosed locations until the day before your flight. Europe, Africa, Asia, the Americas.

    Full Price: $7,500 (includes international flight)

  • UGANDA

    January 13-22, 2025 (10 days)

    This is the trip that changes you forever. Two primates, one tour. Start with two gorilla treks and end with chimpanzees.

    Trip includes internal flights instead of 8-hour drives. Plus extra permits to gorilla trek twice instead of once.

    Activity level: Extremely high. Bush trekking. Running through the forest sometimes in mud. If you’d like to be carried, add $600. Click “more details” for specifics.

    Full Price: $8,500-$9,500. Accepting deposits only. We need a minimum of 8 to build this tour.

What’s typically included on each tour:

  • An early arrival day after long international flights (unless otherwise stated)

  • Most meals (except on arrivals and departures)

  • Most gratuities

  • Most single supplements

What’s not included:

  • International airfares (except on Mystery Tours)

  • Transfers if you don’t stick to our itineraries

  • Travel insurance, medical evacuation insurance

  • Covid or sickness related expenses

  • Any other expenses that pop up on the ground for emergencies or requested changes to the itinerary.

FAQ

  • We’re offering you FOUR ways to save money on your 2024 travel with Focused Escapes.

    1) Premier Access means “book ahead” discounts and the lowest prices of the year.

    2) Multi-trip discounts expire November 10, 2024: Book two or more tours and save $200-$300 on each tour (discounts applied to your final payment). Two tours saves $400. Three tours saves $750. Four or more tours saves $1,200 (or $300 on each tour).

    3) Share-a-room discounts are almost always available: Bring a spouse or friend and both of you will enjoy a reduced price when you elect to share a room.

    4) Refer a friend bonuses earn you $250 off your tour as a thank you for the referral (once they’ve paid a deposit)

  • Discounts are spread across all the trips that you book and deducted from your final payment.

    If you book 2 trips, you’ll get $200 off the final payment of both trips.

    3 trips saves you $250 on each trip.

    Four or more trips saves you $300 on the last payment of each tour.

  • No! Savings increase the more you book.

    If your schedule (or your budget) only allows for one trip in 2024, you can still benefit from early Premier Access pricing, shared room discounts and refer-a-friend bonuses.

  • All of our trips require a minimum number of guests for the trip to move forward.

    Your deposit holds your seat and is nonrefundable unless we don’t meet our minimum.

    Once the minimum is met, we will let all guests know and move forward with final contracts and payments.

    If the minimum is not met, we will let you know and offer you the option to apply your deposit to another trip or refund it.

  • Premier Access and Multi-trip bonuses are only available until Nov 10, 2024.

  • We highly encourage you to purchase comprehensive, cancel for any reason, travel insurance.

    Your deposits are non-refundable unless WE cancel or don’t move forward with the tour.

    Cancellations outside of this, made more than 6 months in advance, receive a full refund minus your non-refundable deposit and credit card processing fees. (Example: $5,000 tour = $5,000 refund - $1,000 deposit - $200 credit card processing fees = $3,800).

    Cancellations between 3-6 months receive a 75% refund minus your non-refundable deposit and credit card processing fees ($5,000 tour = $3,750 - $1,000 deposit - $200 processing fees = $2,550.

    Cancellations 60 and 89 days before departure receive a 50% refund minus your non-refundable deposit and credit card processing fees ($5,000 tour = $2,500 - $1,000 deposit - $200 processing fees = $1,300.

    Cancellations between 30 and 59 days before departure receive a 25% refund minus your non-refundable deposit and credit card processing fees ($5,000 tour = $1,250 - $1,000 deposit - $200 processing fees = $500.

    Cancellations within 29 days of departure, no refunds will be issued.

    Final payments for all trips are due a minimum of 60 days before departure. 90 days for trips to some African countries.

    Remember, our cancel policies aren’t here to pocket your money. In nearly every case, we pay a nonrefundable deposit for your seat on a plane, train, car, boat or bus. If we don’t get our money back, we can’t get your money back. That’s just how it works.

  • We will most likely give you a warning unless you lose your cool and do something you can’t come back from.

    After the point of no return, we will arrange a separate transfer for you and take you to an airport hotel where you can try to change your flight home or finish your stay.

    You’ll forfeit any remaining activities and fun. Your extra expenses are on your own.

    Booking these tours means you accept these terms. They are repeated on our terms and conditions page, on your contract, on our Kindness Policy and verbally during our interview process.

  • Anything that jeopardizes the safety of yourself or others.

    Yelling or intimidation of wait staff, hotel employees, guides, staff or another guest in anything other than an emergency.

    Any kind of racial slurs or malicious comments about gender, ethnicity or religion.

    Any use of your body to intimidate others.

    Any intimidation or threats that are leveled against another person are reasons you will be removed.

  • All kinds -- Rafting, climbing, hot air ballooning, interacting with wild animals, driving in cars, boats, buses, trains, small planes, big planes, ATVs, helicopters, zip lines, confined spaces.

    We sometimes encounter cigarette smoke, hookahs, cigars, rum, too many margaritas, pickpockets, graffiti, drunkards.

    You could get food poisoning, altitude sickness, nausea, blisters, sunburn, dehydration or headaches among other ailments.

    We may fall victim to earthquakes, floods, hurricanes, snowstorms, typhoons – all sorts of natural disasters in addition to man-made ones – acts of terror, robbery, assault, strike, civil unrest, big football games, parties, festivals, people who pull you into a circle and want you to dance with them (yikes!).

    Locals may want you to scale walls, catch a wave, dig in dirt, drink water from a creek, taste test something from their plate, smoke weed.

    You can opt out of most activities by simply saying: no, thank you.

    When you decide to engage, you take full responsibility for the risks.

    You’re also at the risk of: personal growth, memorable experiences, enhanced fitness, cultural understanding, stress relief, bonding with others, appreciation for nature and conservation efforts, overcoming fears, thrill and excitement, living life to the fullest.

Testimonials

  • "I've been with you on several trips now (France, Tanzania, Jordan, Morocco). I love that you plan the trips to include options for exploring the culture of the places we visit. I keep coming back because even though I'm not a die-hard photographer, I like being on trips where everyone is so kind and willing to share their photography advice and creativity. One guy, named Peder, even shared a lens with me because mine bummed out on the second day of the tour. It's a fantastic community of people who usually want to give more than they get."

    Vicki Carson

  • "Honestly, your trip to Namibia ranks up there as one of my top travel experiences of all time. I'd never been on a trip before where everything was accounted for including the excursions and meals. It was so easy. You had scheduled activities as well as free time where I could work on my own photography while others worked on theirs or rested back at the hotel. There was freedom to explore at each place which fueled my own creativity. It was exactly how I would have planned it myself, but I benefited from the shared transport and having others to experience things with…which equated to making new friends. Having a photography guide there was an extra bonus too!"

    Marisa White

  • "I love traveling so it's hard to pick a favorite trip or destination. But your trip to Tanzania in 2021 is among my all time favorites. I think I was more aware of everything -- the environment, the grasses, the smell, the vastness. I like that your trips aren't cookie cutter and you're always looking for unique, special experiences without hordes of other tourists. I understand that things go wrong when traveling and I'm thankful you're there to fix them on the ground when they do. One less thing I need to worry about."

    Diane Hollands

  • "I attended Focused Escapes' first Mystery Tour, and it was a high quality offering just like everything in their catalog. Unique experiences, attention to detail, superior customer service, and fun are just some of the words I'd use to describe this trip."

    Gilbert Magbag

  • After Morocco and Egypt, I look forward to enjoying future trips with you. I'm a single woman traveling alone so I look for places with fun themes and places I wouldn't go on my own as a single female traveler."

    Bonnie Blunt

  • "The Mystery Tour that went to Ecuador was a lot of fun! As a small group, we experienced the culture, food and people. Each day was filled with various stops and activities! My hat is off to Lori, Amanda and their staff for creating a wonderful experience!"

    Don Lehman

Want more ways to save?

Bring a friend or refer a friend — and get $250 off for each household you refer.
+ Your friends can take advantage of these Premier Access discounts when they book ahead, too.

Need help? Call us!

Schedule a time here.

We’ll help you find the right fit and make sure you get
the biggest discount possible.