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27/05/2024

You can’t add days to your life

But you can add life to your days. ✨

22/05/2024

Anita and Bob are just back from Sedona and the Grand Canyon, where they went on an adventurous Pink Jeep Tour, took a historic train, rode mules on the rim of the Grand Canyon, and explored Route 66!

Aum Journeys doesn’t just plan international trips. We love helping you explore your own backyard too!

20/05/2024

One of my favorite things to do in my free time is try new recipes, especially recipes from different cultures. So it’s no surprise that when I’m traveling, I love to learn these cooking techniques straight from the source. I’ve had some of my most memorable travel experiences when indulging in culinary travel around the world. In these photos you can see:

🇮🇹 Making cavatelli in Sicily
🍕 Mozzarella making in Tuscany
🌿 Pesto making in Cinque Terre
🥟 Dumpling making in China
🌳 The finished product of a farm-to-table cooking class in Croatia
🍜 Hand-pulled noodle demonstration in China
🐟 Piranha fishing (which were later cooked and eaten for lunch!) in the Peruvian Amazon
🇹🇷 Traditional cooking class in Turkey
🥚 Farm-to-table cooking class on the slopes of Mt. Etna

If you’re looking to get your culinary travel on, Aum Journeys has all the hook-ups. Just let us know what flavors you want to indulge in and we’ll find an expert who will give you the behind the scenes cooking experience you can’t find on TripAdvisor or Google!

17/05/2024

Want to go to Italy but do something a little different than the standard Rome-Florence-Venice etc?

Check out Puglia. It’s a region of Italy in the heel of the boot that is gaining popularity, so the sooner you get there, the better. Puglia is known for stunning beaches, incredible cliffside scenery and towns, and of course olive oil and wine production, among so much more.

Aum Journeys is your expert in all things Italy, so just tell us what type of vacation is calling your name and we’ll bring it to life!

16/05/2024

Tiffany and Kevin are just back from an anniversary trip to Jamaica. Just check out how blue that water is…😍

15/05/2024

Hillary and Steve are just back from Scotland, where they tried some amazing Scottish food, did some hiking, visited the Highlands, Hillary designed her own purse in Edinburgh, and so much more! 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

Scotland is really popular this year and I’m just loving following along with all these adventures designed specifically for Aum Journeys travelers. 😍

08/05/2024

There’s no “right” time, just time and what you do with it. ⏰

07/05/2024

✨ Itinerary Highlight ✨

planned to take part in the Banff Marathon this June and decided to make a whole adventure of it! Not only will they be achieving a huge physical accomplishment in Banff, but they will then go on to:

🔭 Go stargazing in the national park
🚠 Drink in the breathtaking views from the Banff Gondola
🏔️ Explore the electric blue Lake Louise and Lake Moraine
⛰️ Ride in a huge ice explorer vehicle on a glacier and walk on a glass Skywalk over the cliff
🌊 Go white water rafting in Jasper National Park
🥘 Savor the flavors on a small group foodie tour
🗺️ Pop down to Montana to explore Glacier National Park
🎣 Enjoy a private half day fly fishing excursion

Jealous? Me too!

If you’re traveling for an event and need help creating something special around it, Aum Journeys has your back. Visit www.aumjourneys.com/plan-your-trip/ today to get started.

06/05/2024

32 days.
120 miles of hiking.
Thousands and thousands of steps.
Countless breathtaking views.
1,895 miles of driving.
Friends that will last a lifetime.

New Zealand was the absolute perfect fit for me. I made nature my gym, drove on the left side of the road, and spent more than half a month solo traveling. Such a safe destination, full of one-of-a-kind flora and fauna - truly otherworldly.

It is 100% not possible to visit New Zealand without letting it transform you.

Let it transform you too. ✨

02/05/2024

My last day in New Zealand. 😭

We hiked the Omanawanui Track, which is actually very close to Auckland/easy day trip distance.

One of the highlights today was that I saw a group of kakariki birds! They were so beautiful. They are red-crowned parakeets that are bright green with blue wings and they make the most spectacular little sounds too. I had given up on seeing them on this trip but as luck would have it, they flew in front of us as we were leaving the hiking spot! 😍 🦜

01/05/2024

Karangahake Gorge walk, which includes a walk through a creepy old tunnel of almost three quarters of a mile! 😱 I swear I thought Pennywise was going to appear at any moment. 🤡

But it’s actually a rail tunnel. There are other tunnels under the mountain you can walk through (make sure you have a flashlight) and explore as well.

This is an easy, family friendly walk in the southern part of the Coromandel peninsula of New Zealand, with so much mining history to explore and many different routes, views of the river, and bridges. Free entrance and not super overrun with tourists either. 👌

Only a 5 minute drive from the tunnels and gorge you can find Owharoa Falls, which look so perfect to me that they could be some of those fake waterfalls you see in a mall or something… but nope, just New Zealand being amazing again!

30/04/2024

Cathedral Cove

Coromandel Peninsula, NZ

“Off the beaten path” New Zealand!

28/04/2024

I’m really glad I survived today. 😅 But I might be starting to push my luck at this point. 😱

PS-a true friend holds your backpack for you when you’re afraid of heights and having a panic attack. 😅

25/04/2024

Hopefully all of these New Zealand posts lately will have you running out the door yelling “I’m going on an adventure!” Just like Bilbo soon. 😅

24/04/2024

Sorry for the long post but I really wanted to share this revelation I had today with you guys…

Mt Tarawera Crater hike - an experience that’s not possible to do on your own because the mountain belongs to a Maori tribe, is closed to the public, and is considered sacred. The only way to access it is by joining one of these tours with a Maori guide.

The day starts with a little off-roading and we entered an area with lots of gates and surveillance, then a traditional Maori chant before setting out. It was pretty cool being the only ones on the mountain, without other tourists.

This is a relatively short hike (2 hours) but includes some REALLY steep parts. Check out these videos from today - it was pretty crazy...

You might be thinking “Wow, she’s really brave. She’s always doing these super adventurous things!”

But the truth is, I’m almost always the most afraid and nervous person on these things, no joke. I’m always thinking of the worst case scenario and “What if” this or that happens? I have several times considered turning back, hesitated, and wondered what I have gotten myself into...

I thought the more things I did like this - outside of my comfort zone - the less anxious and afraid I would be each time. But I realized something today, after putting myself in these kinds of situations repeatedly for years at this point...

It doesn’t go away. At least not for me. The anxiety you feel for these kinds of things is something you either have or you don’t. What you DO get better at is facing those moments of discomfort and TRUSTING that you will be okay. Thinking how many people have done it before you and been just fine...

I do not consider myself a super brave person. But I do PRACTICE facing my fears every single day. And it’s like a muscle that needs to be exercised. Like doing a workout you don’t feel like doing but feeling great afterwards for doing it.

And it’s a pretty good feeling coming out on the other side of your discomfort, with not only some spectacular views to show for it, but a sense of confidence in yourself and your abilities that may be just a little bit stronger than it was before.

Definitely check out my Instagram stories to see the videos. 😱

22/04/2024

The Tongariro Alpine Crossing - one of the most popular day hikes in New Zealand and a challenging 21 km one way hike on the North Island.

We got so lucky because there was almost too much wind to make the crossing, but just in time the wind died down and the sun even came out for us!

This one takes a little pre-planning, as it starts and stops in different locations, so requires transportation coordination. A guide is also recommended since it is an active volcanic landscape.

Overall, a truly amazing experience and a must for hiking enthusiasts when in this part of the country. 💯

20/04/2024

“As you start to walk on the way, the way appears.” -Rumi

18/04/2024

The Marlborough wine region in New Zealand, known for its Sauvignon Blanc, and set against the beautiful backdrop of the mountains. It’s also one of the sunniest parts of the country!

You can do a standard wine tasting tour here with a very knowledgeable guide, and there are also fun tours you can do from winery to winery on e-bikes.

As usual, I favored the Pinot Noir, which New Zealand also has a lot of well-known varieties of. 😊 🍷 🍇 The fall colors of the vines during this time of year were 😍 and also less crowds to contend with. 👍

17/04/2024

Okay, guys. I’m here to answer the age old question… Driving on the left side of the road / right side of the car!

I’ve booked so many self drive trips for clients to Ireland, Scotland, New Zealand, etc where the best and most economical option for getting around is renting a car, but I’d never done it personally until this trip. Everyone I asked had always said it just took a little getting used to but then totally fine… and the verdict?

They were right!

Not gonna lie, I was a little nervous at first (okay, a lot nervous). But now I’m driving around the whole country like a seasoned pro and here are my words of wisdom if you’re going to be trying it out yourself on your next trip:

🚗 Remember, the rest of the car is to the LEFT of you instead of the right. Get used to positioning your BODY / yourself always in the middle of the road, closest to oncoming traffic. (And my apologies to the traffic cone who took the brunt of this lesson while I was figuring this out within my first 5 minutes at the wheel. 😬)

🚗 Turning left is easier than turning right, unlike at home.

🚗 Don’t be alarmed if you accidentally turn on the wipers a few times instead of the blinker when you’re first getting used to it, since they’re switched.

🚗 When parking on the side of the road, watch for traffic, as you’ll be exiting the vehicle where the cars are coming from rather than at the sidewalk.

In New Zealand the roads are so well-maintained and there is signage to warn you of everything. There’s not much traffic so it makes it a breeze. I’m so glad I did this because there truly is no better way to explore a place than with your own set of wheels. 🏎️ 😉

Just take your time and you’ll be fine!

16/04/2024

I have a pretty fast-paced itinerary with a lot of driving. But you know one of the best things about New Zealand? You can always break up the drive time with some fresh air and get moving with a hike.

The Rakaia Gorge Walkway is a beautiful path that follows a glacial river and valley and is partway between Tekapo and Christchurch, along the scenic route through the center of the South Island.

In other news, I drove through a proper city today on the left side of the road and I’m definitely getting the hang of it and less white-knuckled lately. 😅

15/04/2024

Mt John Summit Circuit - approx 6 miles and I went the hard way around so I could skip the gym today. 😉

The views of Lake Tekapo were stunning and it was so calm like a mirror. I liked that this trail barely had any tourists on it. In fact, I had it almost all to myself apart from a couple of small groups on horseback!

Tonight I’m going back for a stargazing tour, since this place is known for some of the darkest skies in the world and there are some amazing telescopes. I don’t think I’ll be able to get any pictures but I’m so excited to get my astrology geek on and I’ll share some info about the tour in stories!

14/04/2024

Today I hiked what’s called the Ho**er Valley Track in Mount Cook National Park, New Zealand, and I must say - I could get used to this hiking a different stunning natural area every single day and never running out of places to go!

This trail was about 7 miles and very flat / family friendly. It leads to a glacial lake - the perfect place to have lunch surrounded by every shade of blue you can imagine. 😍

PS - to get more of the full effect, check out my Instagram where I was able to post some videos!!

13/04/2024

Something that most Aum Journeys travelers get as a complimentary VIP experience when they visit Queenstown New Zealand and have the time in their itinerary? A visit to the ONSEN Hot Pools overlooking the beautiful river and valley.

I’m glad I got to experience this firsthand today. Definitely just what the doctor ordered after a week of adventuring! 💆 🫧 🛁

12/04/2024

Kia ora from Fiordland!

Today I was supposed to do a heli-hike trip to the Kepler Track, but due to the cold and the clouds being so low, we were re-routed to the Routeburn Track. The Routeburn is also one of New Zealand’s Great Walks and we were able to hike up to Key Summit with *gasp* NO RAIN today!!

It’s an alpine area where you can see many different mountain ranges meeting, a myriad of different colored mosses and ferns, and some great lake views.

Today was a cold one so I layered up. Check out my Instagram stories for videos from today and if you’re looking for tips for how to dress for outdoor activities when traveling in the shoulder season to many different destinations.

I’m hoping for warmer weather for the rest of this New Zealand autumn trip, and I’ll be traveling north, further from the South Pole, so 🤞.

10/04/2024

Day 3 - the day we were pretty close to having to be helicoptered out instead of walking. We traversed waterfalls and walked through rushing water for most of the day!

The rain made it quite the adventure and the waterfalls from every direction were absolutely incredible to see. And I feel like a total badass for having done this. 😉 (With the moral support of my new friends Aniek, Julia, and Max of course!)

10/04/2024

And just a last post for more photos!

Have questions about the Milford Track, what it entails, and how to check this one off your bucket list? Just ask! I’ll talk your ear off about it. 😊

New Zealand is absolutely gorgeous so far and definitely my kind of place. Hiking every day, being outside, and the locals are so so friendly. I can’t wait to see what else this beautiful country has in store.

10/04/2024

Day 2 the most difficult day with the climb up to McKinnon Pass and then the descent. We had hot chocolate with misty views and then a side hike to Sutherland Falls at the end of the day.

Beautiful turquoise blue waterfalls along the way and every shade of green moss, fern and other plant life. We also saw a glimpse of the world’s only alpine parrot - the Kea bird! Flying over us and squawking echoing through the rocky landscape. 😍

10/04/2024

The Milford Track - one of New Zealand’s famous Great Walks. It’s 3 days of walking, approximately 40 miles when you include side walks, around 5750 ft of elevation gain, and 3500 ft descent.

I’m going to do my best to split up my posts by day. We experienced almost every type of weather on our trek!

Beautiful weather on day 1, flat/easy day of walking, great conversation and new friends. ☺️

The experience overall was epic, incredible, and definitely one for the books. It was a challenge and a much needed solo adventure for me.

The human body can do amazing things if you let it!

29/02/2024

Okay - now for the less glamorous side of travel… Skincare!

Is it just me or do your skin and lips get SUPER DRY after a few hours on a plane? I swear, every time I head to Europe, I battle dry skin and scalp for at least the first week, and I’ve been trying different things to combat this on every trip. I’ve finally compiled some tips you might find useful for your next long haul trip…

👄 Carmex! ‘Nuff said.

🧼 Use dandruff shampoo when you travel. The water is different in every part of the world. I always get a dry, itchy scalp in Europe, and dandruff shampoo has helped x10000.

🌊 Drink water! All.day.every.day. I’m not kidding. Chug that s***!

☀️ Moisturizer on your face with SPF every single day. Even if it’s cloudy outside.

👁️ Eye drops have become my new saving grace on planes - especially if you’re a contact lens wearer.

Do you have any tips or tricks to share? Leave them in the comments! 👇

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32 days. 120 miles of hiking. Thousands and thousands of steps. Countless breathtaking views. 1,895 miles of driving. Friends that will last a lifetime. New Zealand was the absolute perfect fit for me. I made nature my gym, drove on the left side of the road, and spent more than half a month solo traveling. Such a safe destination, full of one-of-a-kind flora and fauna - truly otherworldly. It is 100% not possible to visit New Zealand without letting it transform you. Let it transform you too. ✨

Where else can you get a fried calamari burger other than in Palermo? 🧐 🦑

Uh oh. This is NOT good. I was having a sweet tooth craving. Fighting it for a couple hours at least. Finally I started scrounging around in my kitchen to see if I could make something… looking for sugar, chocolate, whatever I could get my hands on… Then I thought to myself.. WTH am I doing? I am living in ITALY. This is unacceptable and I should be ashamed of myself for trying to scrape together some sad little dessert in my apartment. It is 9pm, mind you. So I put on my shoes and jacket and walk outside and I KID YOU NOT, this is what I find probably less than 20 paces from my front door. I can literally see it from my balcony. And it is open at 9 at night. 😳 I thought I was doing well with all the walking and not drinking etc etc… but it is all downhill from here. 😂

Lecce 😍

Come with me to #LecceItaly ❤️🇮🇹 #pugliagram #puglia #lecce #basilicadisantacroce #aumjourneys #traveladvisor #planyourtrip #italyexpert

Let's go to Venezia. 😍 #veniceitaly #bubbles #traveltoitaly #italia @bauervenezia

Puerto Rico honeymoon in a nutshell! #discoverpr @discoverpuertorico @kathleenbergbeauty

What is paradise to you? @thehouseofaia

Denali National Park cabin views. 😍 #denalinationalpark #explorealaska McKinley Creekside Cabins & Cafe

Aum Journeys Alaska Adventure

Aum Journeys travelers Ashleigh, David, and Shawn just returned from an epic trip to Alaska and they made this awesome video to document their trip! Is Alaska on your bucket list? 🤩

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Aum Journeys LLC

It is our belief that life is not made for punching in and punching out. Life is meant to be lived to the fullest and travel is the perfect thing to fill it with. Too often we spend our days in a grueling grind and don’t set aside the resources and time to make travel a priority. I’m here to help you realize your bucket list items and turn them into a REALITY!

Want a unique experience that takes in all the best of a destination? Then Aum Journeys is right for you. We can create a trip that is tailored to your specific interests and preferences. No two travelers are the same and that’s why it’s our goal to get to know you and what makes you tick before recommending a trip.

Never worked with a travel advisor before? Check out our VIDEO that breaks down the process from start to finish.

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Aum Journeys Alaska Adventure

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