ABOUT TRAVEL FURTHER
Travel, just a little differently.
I'm Kathryn Mentor. I started Travel Further because I've always been drawn to interesting places, particularly those that take a little more effort to understand.
I've spent years exploring places that many travellers never quite get around to visiting. Somewhere along the way, I realised that I enjoyed working out how to make those journeys happen almost as much as travelling them.
Travel Further brings those two things together: journeys I've explored myself, local people I've come to know and the pleasure of helping others experience somewhere different.
Too many trips try to fit in too much.
I've learned that staying another night, returning somewhere you liked or accepting an unexpected invitation can be much more memorable than squeezing in another famous sight.
That's the sort of travel I want Travel Further to offer.
How this started.
Some of my best journeys have involved a bit more effort.
I've travelled from Beijing to Tallinn by train in the middle of winter, crossing Mongolia and the Siberian steppe at -36°C. I've driven a rickshaw 3,000 kilometres across India, from Kerala to Rajasthan, and spent time with cowboys in Kazakhstan and gauchos in the Andes.
But what stayed with me wasn't just the places or the adventures. It was the people I met, the unexpected conversations and the things that happened when a journey didn't go quite to plan.
I've also learned when it's worth making an extra effort and when it isn't. A good journey isn't necessarily the one that covers the most ground.
Over time, friends began asking for help planning their own trips. I discovered I enjoyed working out the routes, finding good places to stay and putting people in touch with local guides and hosts.
Travel Further grew from there.
Today I personally host very small group journeys, design independent trips and help travellers make more of their stopovers in Central Asia.
What I bring to the journey.
I go first.
I spend time in the places I recommend, trying the routes, hotels, trains, restaurants and experiences rather than relying only on what looks good online.
Good judgement.
More isn't always better. I know when an extra night somewhere will improve a journey, when a simpler experience is worth including and when something really isn't worth the detour.
The right people.
A good driver, a knowledgeable local guide or a guesthouse owner who knows everyone can completely change a journey. I've spent time building relationships with people whose knowledge and hospitality I value.
The practical side.
Before starting Travel Further, I spent much of my working life in senior technology roles, where planning, managing complex projects and solving problems were part of the job.
Travel is different, but I bring that same attention to detail to organising these journeys.
Room for the unexpected.
A good plan gives you confidence to travel. It should also leave enough space for the things nobody could have anticipated.
Who this suits.
Travel Further is for curious people who want to understand a place rather than simply pass through it.
People who appreciate a good hotel and an excellent meal, but are equally happy with a simpler experience when there's a good reason for it.
People who enjoy travelling independently, travelling with a small group or sharing an adventure with their family.
And people who like having the important things properly organised, without feeling that every hour of their holiday has been decided for them.
You don't need to be particularly adventurous. Just interested in going somewhere a little different.
Where would you like to go?
You might have a particular place in mind or simply be curious about Central Asia.
Tell me what interests you. We can work out whether a hosted journey, an independent trip or a stopover would suit you best.