Connecting people & places,
through travel

Welcome to travel,

the way it should be

We craft private travel for small groups seeking meaningful connection. Curated and led by passionate locals who share their culture, cuisine and lifestyle, for a sense of place most travelers never get to see!

Group of happy people posing for the camera

Stress-free, sustainable travel planning for an incredible vacation you can feel good about.

As passionate, sustainable travel designers, we craft your custom itinerary with intention, to connect you with the local community through engaging experiences centered around the natural and cultural heritage of your destination.

Travel Like It Matters

We are values-based and mission-driven, which means every trip is designed responsibly, in alignment with our values. Socially and environmentally conscious travelers appreciate our commitment to creating meaningful, positive impact.

Where We Travel

Features of Every CTC Trip

How We Roll

"Celebrated 40yrs of marriage touring the stunning Lombardy region of Italy. Huge thanks to Tara at Conscious Travel Collective for customizing a perfect itinerary with passionate & knowledgeable guides especially our driver, our dear Italian friend Francesca and the beautiful women in Milan who graciously welcomed us into their home for a cooking class making homemade Pasta, Ragu and Tiramisu.

Vacanza Perfetta !!"

J. H on her trip to Northern Italy, October 2023

Where we tavel

Your Next Favorite Place...

Two alpaca, one looking right at the camera, with Macchu Picchu in the background. Photo credit: Alex Azabache

Women with long dresses that have caught air from their movement, they are part of a festival in Oaxaca, Mexico. Photo credit: Isai Matus

Peru

Oaxaca

Northern Italy

Two women sitting outside of a cafe, one is taking of photo of others not in the scene

Croatia

Slovenia

A woman is sitting on a balcony with a glass of wine in her right hand, and her left hand protecting her eyes from the sun, she has a big smaile on her face. photo credit: Olga Lioncat

Basque

Colombia

Mexico City

Vermont

Features

What Makes Our Trips So Special

Crafted for Connection

Each trip we design is as unique as your group. We take your investment (time, energy and financial) to heart. After countless trips planned, we've learned a few things about how to make the most of your precious time traveling! 

Here are just a few of the things we prioritize;

Image is one of our guides from Oaxaca, Mara. She is sitting in a tuk tuk with a bouquet of ling stems flowers gathered in her hands

Local Connections

We partner exclusively with small, local businesses and guides. 

Because who better to introduce you to their city & share their culture than the folks who call it home?

You'll connect with passionate

✔ Local guides

✔ Hoteliers

✔ Artisans

✔ Chefs

✔ Farmers

hotel room with wood plank ceiling with seems to be very old, and bright square windows very light is coming through

Sustainable Luxury

Relax and unwind in comfort in beautiful boutique properties carefully selected for their aesthetic and representation of local culture

Our Travelers love

✔ How the design gives a sense of place while being totally luxurious!

✔ The prime locations.

✔ The intimacy of boutique hotels.

✔ A personal touch not found in larger accommodations.

✔ Knowing your stay supports the community.

A women is smiling and holding out a cup of fruit and juice with a spoon sticking out

A Taste of the Destination

Amazing food and beverages are essential ingredients to every journey. With your CTC-planned trip, you’ll connect with a variety of the destination's most passionate and talented creators of all things delicious!

This can look like

✔ Hands-on cooking classes

✔ Walking food tours, 

✔ Visiting local farms and markets

✔ Dining on everything from Michelin-starred restaurants to street vendors

A group of women travelers posing with women from a local indigenous community in peru, they are all smiling

Respect, Honor, Preserve

Many destinations are home to an indigenous population. We honor them by acknowledging their culture, history, and contribution. Deepen your

connection to the place by hearing diverse perspectives, with curiosity and compassion, to fully meet the destination in its fullness

You'll be invited to;

✔ Hear from elders, shamans, and knowledge keepers

✔ Respectfully engage with communities

✔ Understand future impacts

✔ Observe ritual Celebrations

A couple is warming their hands over an outdoor fire with snowy mountains in the backgroud, at Hotel Plesnik in the Logar valley

Take it Outside!

Mother Nature makes the most breathtaking art, doesn’t she? The destinations we visit are naturally stunning. Our itineraries get you outdoors to enjoy them! 

Active means something different to everyone, so we have lots of ways to get you outside - 

✔ Hiking

✔ Cycling

✔ Sailing

✔ Visiting farms

✔ Touring (and tasting) at wineries

✔ Hammock lounging  

A blurred image of women dancing at a festival in oaxaca Mexico

Experience Culture

We learn a lot by understanding what is honored or celebrated. It helps to forge deeper bonds and offers a chance to join in the festivities and have an amazing time!

You’ll have standout moments like:

✔ Visit Sacred Sites

✔ Special Community Events

✔ Festivals

✔ Seasonal Gatherings

✔ Ritual Celebrations

Three women with their brightly colored weaving products laid out in front of them

Social Enterprises/ NGOs

We are intentional about finding & supporting businesses that are built around community uplift, use travel as a source for good, and promote positive, community-led change.

You’ll get opportunities to:

✔ Visit areas transformed by the community

✔ Support local artisan cooperatives

✔ Dine on foods sourced from community gardens

✔ Support small, women-owned businesses

People on a sailboat, smiling with the sun close to setting behind them. Photo credit: maksim goncharenok

Connection and Fun!

Something magical happens when you try something new with other people. Get out of your comfort zone and really embrace your silly side. You don't want to let these moments pass by!

Make memories while you;

✔ Shuck (& eat) oysters from the sea

✔ Learn Salsa dancing

✔ Make prohibition-era cocktails

✔ Try your hand at spinning yarn 

✔ Take the helm on a sunset sail

✔ Paint frescos in the style of the Venetians

How we roll

How We Roll

Positive Impact

Local businesses that are working to preserve and honor their community is our #1 requirement when we are establishing partnerships. We work directly with our partners, without brokers or wholesales, to make sure they are paid fairly, and the dollars spent stay within the local economy.

Small Group

Smaller is better? We think so! Big tour buses and headsets take a back seat to make room for more human connection. We design for intimate groups of anywhere from 4 to 12 travelers.

Local Focus

Your trip guides proudly call the destination home and eagerly share their love and cultural insights with you! We always offer locally owned (& gorgeous) boutique properties. Carefully crafted experiences, plus local food and wine of all varieties! This is what a truly immersive experience looks like.