Small Group Travel with a Strong Travel Philosophy

Travel philosophy that connects

Travel designed around people, not numbers

Our travel philosophy guides every journey we create at Ventura Travel. Small group travel is a core principle that shapes how we experience the world, allowing deeper encounters, more presence, and a stronger, more personal connection to the people and places you visit, shaped by respect, curiosity, and shared moments.

Our travel philosophy across trip types

Our travel philosophy adapts to different trip formats, guided by the same values of care, quality, and meaningful experiences.

Our values shape every journey

At Ventura TRAVEL, our travel philosophy is built on three simple values, Fun, Fair, and Focus. They define how our trips feel, how we travel with you, and the impact we leave behind. Every journey is designed around these principles, from the experiences we choose to the people you meet along the way.

Fun Travel should feel alive. Our trips are designed to spark curiosity, joy, and genuine human connection. Shared moments, great food, laughter, and unexpected encounters are what turn a trip into a memory you carry for life.

Fair Travel should benefit everyone involved. We work closely with local partners, pay fairly, and build long term relationships on the ground. This creates more authentic experiences for you and ensures that tourism supports local communities in a meaningful way.

Focus We are specialists, not generalists. Our trips are designed by destination experts who work closely with local partners and return regularly to the places they curate. Each trip responsible focuses on only a small number of journeys, allowing deep attention to quality, partners, and details. This focus enables unique experiences, better access, and a level of care you can feel throughout the trip.

How our founder sees travel

Written from my perspective as a traveler and founder

When I founded Ventura Travel, I wanted travel to feel personal, thoughtful, and shaped by real encounters. Small group travel makes this possible, but philosophy alone is not enough. That is why every trip creator at Ventura still receives a personal three hour training on how to research destinations, build routes, and design experiences that truly matter.

This shared foundation gives me confidence that on every small group trip you book with us, you can feel our travel philosophy in action. It is easy to create one great trip. It is much harder to maintain that level, to keep questioning details, and to resist the temptation to stop going the extra mile. We work hard to do exactly that, every day, so you can trust that we offer you the best trip on the market, again and again.

Andre Kiwitz, Founder of Ventura Travel

Our Travel Philosophy in Practice

These cornerstones define how we design and deliver small group travel. From routing and timing to encounters and local presence, each principle shapes journeys that feel thoughtful, balanced, and deeply connected to the places you explore.

Thoughtful routing

We design routes with intention, using open jaw flights and smart connections to avoid repeating the same path. This creates smoother journeys, better flow, and more time spent experiencing places instead of backtracking.

Diverse transport

Travel should feel varied and alive. We combine private buses with public transport, trains, jeeps, and local options, creating journeys that reflect real life while keeping comfort, safety, and rhythm in balance.

Handpicked stays

We choose family owned and locally run accommodations over chains. Each stay has character, local roots, and a sense of place, so you feel the difference the moment you arrive.

Meeting people

Encounters go beyond listening. You meet locals who share their stories, invite interaction, and open a window into their daily lives, turning visits into human connections.

Living presence

We look beyond museums and ruins to understand today. You explore food culture, education, social topics, and daily realities, gaining context for how places truly function now.

Right timing

Timing shapes experience. We avoid peak crowds, visit places at quieter moments, plan sunsets outdoors, and steer clear of overcrowded weekends to keep experiences calm and meaningful.

What this travel philosophy means for you

Our travel philosophy is not something you read about. You feel it every day on the road. Through small group travel, thoughtful design, and local presence, our principles turn into experiences that feel calmer, deeper, and more personal from the first day to the last.

The people behind every journey

Great trips do not happen by chance. They are shaped by people who research deeply, care about details, and understand places from the inside. Local guides and trip creators turn our travel philosophy into lived experiences, day after day.

Soledad

Trip Creator, Peru & Bolivia

Designing trips for Peru is more than a job for me. It brings me real joy to welcome guests from all over the world and show them my home country as it truly is. I have spent years on research trips, walking routes, talking to guides, and negotiating with small hotels to create access to places and experiences most groups never reach. When I see the happy faces of our travelers and know they experienced Peru in a deeper, more personal way, that is all the motivation I need.

Marie

Trip Creator, South East Asia

Travel has shaped my life for many years. I grew up on the island of Mauritius, studied in China, and discovered my passion for exploring new horizons along the way. For more than a decade, I have lived and traveled across Asia, and five years ago I chose to make Cambodia my home.

Designing trips is a job I truly love. It’s my way of sharing the places I’ve discovered and loved through my own travels. At Ventura, we create journeys that go beyond sightseeing, where travelers can experience daily life, hear local stories, and enjoy unique, sometimes unexpected moments. Those authentic experiences, found nowhere else, are what make each journey special to me.

Johan

Johan, Tour Guide Coordinator

I grew up near Kruger National Park, where the outdoors shaped how I see travel. It taught me that great experiences depend on great guides.

My role is to ensure every guide meets high standards of skill, safety, and local knowledge. Training is essential. We invest in qualifications, continuous learning, and shared standards so guides lead with confidence and create meaningful experiences.

Well trained guides make travelers feel safe, informed, and free to enjoy the journey. That is how we keep our travel philosophy consistent across all destinations.

Consistency and quality control

Creating one great trip is challenging. Maintaining that level across destinations, years, and changing conditions is even harder. Our travel philosophy depends on clear standards, continuous review, and the discipline to never stop improving.

Continuous trip reviews Every trip is reviewed regularly by our teams. Routes, accommodations, activities, and timing are reassessed to ensure they still meet our standards and reflect current local realities.

Structured traveler feedback Traveler feedback plays a central role in improving our journeys. We listen carefully, identify patterns, and turn insights into concrete adjustments that improve future trips.

Ongoing guide and partner training Quality depends on people. Guides and partners receive continuous training, clear expectations, and regular evaluation to ensure experiences stay consistent, safe, and meaningful.

Constant refinement, not repetition We question details even when trips perform well. Maintaining quality means resisting shortcuts, refreshing experiences, and continuing to go the extra mile long after a trip is established.

Clear responsibility and ownership Every trip has defined ownership within our teams. This ensures accountability, fast improvements, and a consistent travel experience aligned with our philosophy across all destinations.

Responsibility without buzzwords

Responsibility is part of how we work, not how we market. Our travel philosophy focuses on fair collaboration, long term thinking, and small group travel that respects places and people without overloading them.

Fair partnerships

We work closely with local partners and pay fairly for their work. Clear agreements, mutual respect, and shared responsibility form the basis of every collaboration.

Long term relationships

We build partnerships over time instead of switching for short term gain. This creates trust, stability, and experiences shaped by people who know their place deeply.

Small groups, lower pressure

Small group travel reduces strain on communities, accommodations, and natural sites. It allows meaningful encounters without overwhelming places or disrupting daily life.

Who This Way of Travel Is For

Our travel philosophy is not designed for everyone. It works best for travelers who value depth, connection, and thoughtful experiences over speed and volume.

Curious travelers who want to understand places, not just visit them

People who value local context, stories, and everyday life

Travelers who prefer small groups and shared experiences

Those who appreciate thoughtful planning and flexible moments

People comfortable traveling at a human pace, not a checklist pace

How our trips feel

Words can explain our travel philosophy, but the feeling comes from being there. This video gives you a glimpse of what it is like to travel with us, shaped by small groups, real encounters, and thoughtful moments on the road.

Click to play video – by activating, external content will be loaded.

A glimpse behind the scenes

Every journey starts long before you arrive. This glimpse shows how our teams work together across destinations, cultures, and time zones to design, plan, and deliver trips shaped by care, curiosity, and shared responsibility.

#VenturaLife

To create unforgettable trips, you need exceptional people. Meet the team behind the scenes who design, plan, and run every journey. Work remotely or from one of our global offices, collaborate with our international community, and visit the social projects we support.

Our Offices

We are an international team with five offices around the world.

Our vMembers

Meet our amazing vMembers and discover what they love most about working at Ventura.

VSocial

Explore the projects we support worldwide and see how travel creates a positive impact.

FFF Days

Once a month we celebrate our values: Fun, Fair, and Focus, keeping our culture alive.

Our travel philosophy across trip types

Our travel philosophy adapts to different trip formats, guided by the same values of care, quality, and meaningful experiences.

Small Group Travel

Small group travel is the core of our travel philosophy. We design these journeys from start to finish, with care for rhythm, emotion, and detail. Every element is chosen to turn a trip into a lived story, not just an itinerary.

Platforms

On our platforms, we work with partners who share our vision of travel. While we do not design each trip, we select carefully, stay involved, and ensure experiences meet our standards and values.

Private Trips

Private trips are shaped by individual wishes, which limits our influence on every detail. Our focus is on trusted partners, clear delivery, and making sure the trip matches what was promised.

Our values shape every journey

How our founder sees travel

Written from my perspective as a traveler and founder

Andre Kiwitz, Founder of Ventura Travel

Our Travel Philosophy in Practice

Thoughtful routing

Diverse transport

Handpicked stays

We choose family owned and locally run accommodations over chains. Each stay has character, local roots, and a sense of place, so you feel the difference the moment you arrive.

Meeting people

Encounters go beyond listening. You meet locals who share their stories, invite interaction, and open a window into their daily lives, turning visits into human connections.

Living presence

We look beyond museums and ruins to understand today. You explore food culture, education, social topics, and daily realities, gaining context for how places truly function now.

Right timing

Timing shapes experience. We avoid peak crowds, visit places at quieter moments, plan sunsets outdoors, and steer clear of overcrowded weekends to keep experiences calm and meaningful.

What this travel philosophy means for you

You Travel with Flow, Not Friction

Thoughtful routing and open jaw flights mean your journey feels smooth and natural. You avoid backtracking, spend less time in transit, and have more energy for what matters. Each day connects logically, giving your trip rhythm instead of rush.

You Become Part of Local Life

Meeting people goes beyond listening. You interact with locals who share their stories, invite conversation, and open their world to you. These encounters make places feel personal and give meaning to everything you see.

The right place, the right moment

Right timing changes everything. You avoid peak crowds, visit places when they feel alive, and enjoy moments like sunsets outdoors instead of rushing indoors. This creates space for calm, presence, and lasting memories.

The people behind every journey

Soledad

Trip Creator, Peru & Bolivia

Marie

Trip Creator, South East Asia

Johan

Johan, Tour Guide Coordinator

I grew up near Kruger National Park, where the outdoors shaped how I see travel. It taught me that great experiences depend on great guides.

Well trained guides make travelers feel safe, informed, and free to enjoy the journey. That is how we keep our travel philosophy consistent across all destinations.

Consistency and quality control

Responsibility without buzzwords

Fair partnerships

We work closely with local partners and pay fairly for their work. Clear agreements, mutual respect, and shared responsibility form the basis of every collaboration.

Long term relationships

We build partnerships over time instead of switching for short term gain. This creates trust, stability, and experiences shaped by people who know their place deeply.

Small groups, lower pressure

Small group travel reduces strain on communities, accommodations, and natural sites. It allows meaningful encounters without overwhelming places or disrupting daily life.

Who This Way of Travel Is For

Our travel philosophy is not designed for everyone. It works best for travelers who value depth, connection, and thoughtful experiences over speed and volume.

Curious travelers who want to understand places, not just visit them

People who value local context, stories, and everyday life

Travelers who prefer small groups and shared experiences

Those who appreciate thoughtful planning and flexible moments

People comfortable traveling at a human pace, not a checklist pace

How our trips feel

Click to play video – by activating, external content will be loaded.

A glimpse behind the scenes

#VenturaLife

Our Offices

We are an international team with five offices around the world.

Our vMembers

Meet our amazing vMembers and discover what they love most about working at Ventura.

VSocial

Explore the projects we support worldwide and see how travel creates a positive impact.

FFF Days

Once a month we celebrate our values: Fun, Fair, and Focus, keeping our culture alive.