Elevate Destinations

Experts in socially responsible luxury travel. We design travel experiences that support conservation and local communities without skimping on comfort.

Testimonials from our travelers to Asia

EVERYTHING about the trip was amazing, thoughtfully planned, and perfectly orchestrated. The itinerary was perfect. This trip was life-changing! Everything from the planning phase to communication during the trip was seamless. Dominique and Emily listened, planned everything to accommodate us, and made sure we had to basically just show up! This was our 3rd trip that Elevate has done for us and we already have two more planned, and one more in the preliminary stages. We won't travel without them now!

— Donna Natrajan, India

Our trip to Japan couldn’t have been better. I was nervous about traveling with my 81 year-old father-in-law but Lana thought of every detail, from station attendants helping us navigate the train stations to alerting the guides of my need to be gluten free. Lana’s expert guidance allowed all of us to truly relax and enjoy the journey. I have recommended Elevate Destinations to at least a dozen friends.

— Laura Kurinij, Japan

The adventures and accommodations in Punakha, Thimphu and Paro were great. We particularly like the nunnery we visited, exploring Thimphu city, hiking Tiger's Nest, and tree planting. Thunder was one of the best guides we've had, and we travel a lot.

— Anu Menon, Bhutan

We will remember Japan forever. Dominique and Emily are responsive and thoughtful. This is the sixth trip we have taken with Elevate. The only obvious question is when and where is the seventh?

— Robin Giles, Japan

The trip to Sri Lanka was fantastic. We were pleasantly surprised with the country, the people and the different locales we visited. From the Tea Estates to the wildlife safari to the “surfer town” – everything was A+. Great planning and organizing by you – thank you for everything.

Krishan was a great guide, informative and engaging. Would highly recommend him. Look forward to the next adventure with you guys!

— Jaytee Kanwal, Sri Lanka

For my birthday this year, I decided to buy myself a solo trip. I had never traveled alone to a distant country, so I relied on Elevate Destinations to use their expertise to place me in the perfect location. They chose Ladakh, India, one of the safest places for women to travel alone. What I did not know at the time was how much this journey would change me. Being surrounded by beauty, witnessing all that nature has to offer and knowing that this place is so deeply connected to spirituality fed my soul so much that it overflowed. I will never forget my time in Ladakh. It is something I will cherish forever.

— Jessica Dolan, India

Throughout many years, I thought my independence in traveling instilled the greatest cultural experience. That view quickly diminished when Elevate Destinations planned a trip for my mom and I to Myanmar and Cambodia.

Lana was able to build a program for us that opened our eyes to the poverty yet hope in the communities while pairing us with guides who became not only our source of an honest depiction of the area but our friends. They shared stories to show us how they live, provided opportunities for home cooked meals, visits to villages untouched by tourists and opportunities I never thought I would experience. Everything was seamless and yet adjustable based on our desires to explore. We did not just witness the cultural differences, we experienced and left with them ingrained in our soul. Thank you Elevate Destinations and Lana, this trip will continue to live in our lives and the hope of the people will be cherished and prayed for.

— Shannon Plumstead, India

We were extremely pleased with Elevate in putting together an amazing trip to India! We had a number of specific requests outside of the usual travel plan, including visiting NGOs, especially those focused on empowering women and girls, and visiting pottery villages. Dominique was unfazed, working hard to put together something that met our many needs and taking into account our promises that we liked to stay very busy when we traveled. She provided expert guidance on what was/wasn’t doable and told us the pros and cons of the things that we would be missing if we added our special requests.

It’s hard to talk about the highlights – because the entire trip was so awesome – but our recommendations would be to go off the beaten path as well as seeing major sights. Going to an NGO in East Delhi gave us the chance to understand even a tiny bit better the struggle faced by many in the city, visiting potters and their families in their homes gave us a chance to better understand the long history of craftspeople in India, going to a village helped to understand life outside the bustle of the huge cities.

Through Elevate we had the opportunity to have in-depth discussions about India with our drivers, guides, staff at NGOS, and many others. Everyone was incredibly generous with his or her time and we are so grateful for that.

— Jan Goldstein and Shereen Arendt, India

Everything was done super well. The accommodations were fabulous. The train reservations and physical tickets were immensely helpful. All of our requests were heeded. We had a great time!

— Karen French, Japan

Elevate Destinations provided an experience of a lifetime. From the initial planning to coordinating local tours and on the ground transfers, my trip was a breeze. Their expertise in recommending the must see locations was invaluable. I would definitely arrange a trip through Elevate Destinations again.

— Sherri Pittman, Thailand

My trip to India was perfectly coordinated from beginning to end. As a solo traveler, I was taken care of by ground staff from beginning to end. The facilities I stayed at provided tremendous service and were excellent quality that were eco friendly, clean, safe and beautiful. The safari drives were amazing and filled with views of amazing animals and wildlife of all kinds including Tigers! It was an excellent adventure filled with cultural experience, fantastic food and learning of a new culture.

— Lisa Weaver, India

We had an amazing trip. All transitions were smooth, on time. All accommodations were excellent and interesting.

We went to Cambodia and Thailand. Spent three days visiting non-profits in Phnom Penh, then went to Siem Reap, beaches in Thailand and an elephant sanctuary. All aspects of the trip were excellent: food, accommodations, and experiences.

— Stacey Keare, Thailand