Explorer X delivers custom-crafted travel, providing explorers with resources, tools, and pre- and post- mentorship on achieving personal transformation through independent travel.
SEATTLE, WA – Jake Haupert, Founder of Evergreen Escapes and Co-Founder of the Transformational Travel Council, (TTC), continued pioneering transformational travel in the marketplace this week with the launch of new custom travel brand, Explorer X. Additionally, Explorer X announced the acquisition of Muddy Shoe Adventures, a company started in 2012 by Haupert’s fellow TTC Co-Founder, Michael Bennett, Ed.D., effectively uniting the Co-Founders of the TTC in their quest to shift the paradigm in travel.
“In a time where walls are going up around the world, creating meaningful global connections has never been more important,” said Haupert. “The process starts on the individual level, by opening yourself up to the X, the unknown, to new perspectives and personal growth. Based on ancient wisdom and contemporary science, we’ve developed a framework that guides and supports the traveler in their pursuit of personal transformation and global change."
Explorer X delivers custom-crafted travel, providing explorers with resources, tools, and pre- and post- mentorship on achieving personal transformation through independent travel. Guests are given the “The Hero’s Journal: A Seeker’s Guide to Travel,” which uses guided prompts to translate insights into action before, during, and after a trip, uncovering the natural, cultural, and historical context of their destinations and challenge the way they think, act, and explore their surroundings.
Built around the guiding practices of transformational travel as set forth by the Transformational Travel Council, Explorer X helps travelers set purposeful intentions, embrace challenges, and take time for reflection and restoration. By zeroing in on the “why and how” to travel as opposed to the more traditional, “what and where,” they’ve crafted 3 programs that serve the traveler, where mentorship on the art of travel takes the journey inward takes center stage and the destination, culture and activities become the supporting cast. Their innovative, Project X, is a journey into the unknown, the mystery destination, your ultimate answer to the sacred call of adventure!
“We try to get our guests into HERO mode. A hero travels with heart, fully engaged, practicing resolve, and wide open to the unknown,” said Haupert. “Achieving transformation is a personal journey, but we want to be there as a guide and resource throughout that process.”
Defined as “any travel experience that empowers people to make meaningful, lasting changes in their life,” transformational travel is a growing movement in the industry. In a comprehensive study on The New Adventure Traveler, researchers from the Adventure Travel Trade Association and Eastern Carolina University, identified “transformation” as the top motivation for North American adventure travelers.[1]
In addition to handcrafted, custom travel experiences, Explorer X will be re-launching the Muddy Shoe Adventures series in 2019. These trips will be small-group, scheduled departure adventures led by a Travel Mentor who facilitates and guides conversations and reflections that uncover what the traveler is truly seeking, not just on the road, but in life. Guests also engage in pre-adventure group discussions that help them prepare for their journey, connect with one another, as well as a series of post-trip activities and discussions that support them in integrating what they learned into their lives. Each guest also receives optional one-on-one mentoring from their mentor. Upcoming trips include journeys through the Swiss Alps, Italian Dolomites, Tasmania, and Chilean Patagonia.
[1] Viren, Murray, Vogt (2017). The New Adventure Traveler. Retrieved from the Adventure Travel Trade Association: https://www.adventuretravel.biz/research/the-new-adventure-traveler/
Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.
