I am so glad you are here!

My adventures abroad began at a very young age, my parents would take us on family vacations and missions trips at least a couple of times a year. My wanderlust actually didn’t start there though, it began with my father flipping through the pages of his National Geographic magazines with me as a toddler and also with us watching nature documentaries together on the television, instead of cartoons. He introduced me to SO much of the world before even taking me out of the country for the first time at the age of 1 or 2.

The “wander” in me runs deep! When I graduated from high school at the age of 17, I moved to San Francisco for University and immediately after, went on vacation to Hawaii . . . and stayed. I got a job leading tours for a local tour company and couldn’t believe I was getting paid to go hiking, kayak with dolphins and help at a surf school! I made some friends who also had the travel bug and began exploring the world with them at a rapid pace. I would work, save, travel, repeat. Backpacking through over 10 countries in Europe, Island hopping the Hawaiian Islands, repeat visits to Costa Rica and more. After some time living and working on Maui, I enrolled into a discipleship training school (bible/evangelism school) on the island of Oahu. That school is missions based and sends groups out into the world to share the love of God after completing the coursework. I participated in my school, then moved back to Maui for a couple more years, eventually moving back to California. My time back in Cali didn’t last long though, I became stir crazy. I moved to Colorado for a year, hated it. Back to California I went, to regroup and bounce around the state for a bit, to see where I eventually landed. I finally settled in the foothills of Yosemite National Park in 2008, not far from where I grew up actually. The desire to recreate, travel and lead tours NEVER left me though. So after a few years of getting reacquainted with my old home, I began leading local group experiences as a travel hostess/planner in 2012, right in my own “backyard’ . . . Yosemite. I discovered my calling and it caught flame. It had never occured to me at that time, that I could also lead groups abroad. I was still traveling but just by myself and documenting my adventures on social media. I frequently received messages asking me to “bring me in your suitcase next time”, “can I come with you?’ etc. One day, it clicked, why NOT!?!?!? Why can’t I bring people with me and lead groups abroad just like I do in Yosemite?!?!? So I did just that! I got all of my ducks in a row legally and took my next group to ICELAND! Since then, I have spent the past 11+ years globetrotting around the world with family, friends and groups of strangers (who become friends), and let me tell you, it has been an incredibly expansive experience! Throughout this journey, I have learned what works and what doesn’t work in regards to leading groups of people around the planet. I have also discovered what I crave out of these experiences for myself and what I hope my guests go home with as well. It definitely hasn’t been a gentle learning curve at times but all of life’s curveballs (covid-19) on this journey have spurred growth and made me better at my calling. I am proud to say that I have now lead 45 groups around the world, curated custom trips for private clients and have even trained up other group trip/retreat leaders to lead their own trips!

I strive to make EVERY SINGLE TRIP unique, sustainable and life enhancing. An opportunity to commune with nature, connect with other cultures and humans and go on a thrilling adventures! You will NOT get a copy and paste trip with me. I owe it to you and myself to give more than that to each experience. This is why doing heavy research, working with/consulting locals, carbon offsetting flights in the cost of my trips and building in opportunities for human connection is of utmost importance to me.

If you’re here and still reading, if my story sparks something inside of you and you are ready for an incredible adventure; we are likely cut from the same cloth and I hope to meet YOU somewhere on our beautiful planet one day! Feel free to check out my upcoming trips! You can also contact me directly if you have any questions. :)

Keep Wandering, Hilda