What if traveling with a travel agency meant giving up your freedom? Auriane, an avid traveler and lover of the world, is convinced it doesn't. After several trips with the local agencies in our Nomadays collective – in Mongolia, Peru, and Indonesia – she shares with us a renewed vision of tailor-made travel.
Through her experience, she gives us an honest and vibrant account of the benefits of traveling with a local agency. But most importantly, she shatters the stereotypes: traveling with a travel agency isn't about paying more and losing flexibility. On the contrary, it means being guided without getting lost, discovering without rushing, living deeply authentic moments and exploring a country alongside those who live there.
Can you tell us about yourself in a few words?
"Auriane, 35 years old. In love with the world and everything that makes it both perfect and imperfect at the same time.
Travel is deeply woven into my life – whether with my best friend or my partner – because it feeds my curiosity about nature, different cultures, gastronomy and local crafts, the magic of meeting people… and all those unique little moments. Traveling is my way of staying connected with the world, and of reminding myself how beautiful this world is, despite everything. All of that with my camera, my smartphone, and my drone when possible!"
You've traveled with Nomadays to several countries. Which ones?
"I've taken three trips with Nomadays. Each about two weeks long, combining a mix of nature and culture, rich in experiences and authentic discoveries.
My first experience was in Mongolia, a country I'd been dreaming about for a long time – accompanied by Horseback Mongolia agency. Then I went to Peru, with Passion Andina agency. Finally, recently, I went to Indonesia with Azimuth Adventure Travel agency."
Which of these destinations impacted you the most and why?
"Without hesitation, Mongolia. It's a country that brings you back to essentials, that forces you to refocus. The vastness, the silence, the feeling of being tiny, the simple values of nomadic life and endless horizons… You lose all your bearings there, you put everything into perspective. Definitely, you feel displaced, forced to slow down with a completely different relationship to time."
Why did you choose to travel with a travel agency? Was it your first time?
"Mongolia was indeed my first trip through an agency. I love organizing trips, but I really appreciated co-creating it with Horseback Mongolia – and that was a real plus!
First of all, just for the mental load: not having to manage logistics and transportation (and the distances!) during the trip… it takes a huge weight off and allowed me to focus on living the experience.
Also, many areas are isolated in Mongolia, there's little or no infrastructure, not necessarily any signs, and the language barrier is real.
"Without someone who knows the terrain, access to nomadic life, families, and remote places would have been much more difficult, if not impossible."
— Auriane, avid traveler with Nomadays
So yes: first experience with an agency, and in that context, it was completely coherent and very liberating!"
How did preparing your trips with local agencies go?
« Local agencies are really flexible: you can give them a completely free hand or, like me, co-build the trip step by step. As I mentioned before, I love preparing my trips, digging deeper, learning – "traveling before I leave"... And precisely, with local agencies, I can keep that part that excites me, while being supported
You exchange directly with people who live on the ground, not impersonal platforms, and that changes everything: they know the seasons, the real distances, the good surprises as well as what's better to avoid.
