Wandering Earl

On a Wandering Earl Tour, it's important to us that you never feel like you just "passed through." We want you to enjoy authentic experiences and to meet wonderful people away from those involved in mass tourism. We want you to really understand the destinations you’ve explored with us.

Our tours are built with the help of an extensive network of local contacts and friends in each country, people that share our vision and with whom we’ve worked for many years. Together we ensure that our itineraries are absolutely full of rewarding activities that other companies can’t offer. These experiences are away from the tourist crowds and are the result of our friends sharing their knowledge and opening up their communities to us.

I often find myself in Portugal when I have some time between trips. It’s one of those places that keeps pulling me back. Good friends, favorite parks to wander through, great food, attractive neighborhoods and maybe even a karaoke bar you might catch me in if you’re lucky.

I’m especially excited that we’re offering a Wandering Earl tour to Portugal next April. It’s a trip built around food, history, and local connections, from the backstreets of Lisbon to the vineyard terraces of the Douro Valley and the riverfront energy of Porto.

There’s a lot packed into this brand new itinerary, so check out more details in the comments.

There’s a fun little game in my newsletter each week where you try to guess the location of a photo. The more specific, the better.

Sometimes, many people guess correctly. Other times, only a couple or even none at all. I'll always do my best to stump you all!

If you haven’t subscribed yet, you can check it out here: https://wanderingearl.com/travel-email/

Wandering Earl - My Life of Travel Useful, honest travel advice and insight from my 19 years of nonstop travel around the world (*104 countries).

Travel feels different when you’re not rushing from highlight to highlight and you actually have time to connect with a place, the people in it, and the rhythm of daily life. What kind of places are you most curious to experience next?

If you’ve never had coffee in Vietnam, you’re seriously missing out.

Coconut coffee, salt coffee, and of course, egg coffee, each one completely different and worth trying.

Locals often enjoy their coffee on tiny street-side stools, but you’ll also find incredible modern cafés throughout the country. It’s all part of the experience.

Vietnamese coffee is easily some of the most unique in the world.

Come get caffeinated in Vietnam with us this September, or next year. More details in the comments.

From the moment you sign up for a Wandering Earl Tour, you’re not just a name on a list.

There’s a team behind the scenes that genuinely cares about how the trip unfolds for you. Questions get answered. Details get noticed. Support shows up when you need it, quietly and consistently.

On the road, that same attention continues through experienced tour leaders who know the places, the logistics, and the people. It’s the kind of care that makes travel feel easier, more relaxed, and a lot more human.

Things we don’t do on a Wandering Earl Tour:
• Use big tour buses or move in large groups
• Get stuck in a rigid schedule
• Lock ourselves into big hotel contracts
• Rush through places just to keep moving

Things we do:
• Travel in smaller groups
• Choose places to stay because of location, character, and comfort
• Build in flexibility so days can unfold naturally
• Work closely with local guides, drivers, and communities
• Create unique activities with the help of our local friends

The details matter. They shape how the whole trip feels.

You’ve probably heard of The Who… but have you heard of The Hu?

They’re a Mongolian folk metal band that blends heavy rock with traditional instruments and throat singing, creating a sound they call “Hunnu rock.” It’s powerful and deeply connected to Mongolian culture.

Music like this is a reminder that Mongolia’s traditions are very much alive today, showing up in everything from ancient practices to modern creativity.

We’ll be exploring all of that on our next journey through Mongolia in May 2027.

What do you think?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jM8dCGIm6yc&list=RDjM8dCGIm6yc&start_radio=1

The HU - Wolf Totem (Official Music Video) Official music video for 'Wolf Totem' by The HU.The Hu Live At Glastonbury here: https://thehu.ffm.to/liveatglastonburyGet your tickets here:https://thehu.ff...

While most of you know Wandering Earl Tours for our scheduled small group trips, that’s actually just part of what we do.

We also create fully-customized private tours in over 50 countries. Each trip is built from scratch, using all of my experience, trusted local friends and long-standing contacts. And we can handle any group size from 1 to 20 people.

As always, these trips feel personal, immersive and genuinely different from standard tours. They’re also very fun and great value.

Need a few solid recommendations? Want us to handle everything so you just need to show up and enjoy it all?

If you’ve got a trip in mind, just let me know and see what we can do!

There will always be reasons not to go. Work, timing, uncertainty, “maybe next year.”

But next year isn’t guaranteed, and neither is this version of you.

Travel isn’t about ignoring safety. It’s about understanding it well enough that it doesn’t keep you frozen. When trips are planned carefully and supported on the ground, you get to be present instead of anxious.

Life keeps moving. We help you move with it.