About LiNGER
LiNGER is a luxury travel company specialising in sabbaticals and longer holidays,
where travellers LiNGER longer, travel responsibly, immerse themselves in the culture, absorb, engage, and explore.
A traveller on a LiNGER trip is someone who appreciates a private, bespoke travel planning service.
Our meticulously designed sabbaticals and holidays combine active pursuits with altruistic and cultural experiences.
Founder’s Q & A
Why LiNGER?
LiNGER was born out of a passion for travel and a desire to do more to help protect our planet.
What’s your background?
I have spent the last 25 years travelling the world, from journeying overland through every country in Latin America to studying and working in Belize, Bolivia, Canada, Mexico and Nicaragua. I took a sabbatical in 2010 to spend a year researching and travelling through South East Asia, China and India, and, more recently, Africa: Kenya, Zanzibar, São Tomé & Príncipe, Morocco and Tanzania.
I became involved with complex trip planning for South America specialist operators in the early 2000s. One of my initial projects was for a renowned landscape photographer and his mission to capture images of the extreme cardinal points and edges of the continent – part of a global project with a 104-year-old camera. Since then I have planned sabbaticals and experiential holidays for a great number of families, couples and solo travellers – a client base founded on trust and transformational travel experiences, which expands through word of mouth recommendation.
Why LiNGER?
LiNGER was born out of a passion for travel and a desire to do more to help protect our planet.
What’s your background?
I have spent the last 25 years travelling the world, from journeying overland through every country in Latin America to studying and working in Belize, Bolivia, Canada, Mexico and Nicaragua. I took a sabbatical in 2010 to spend a year researching and travelling through South East Asia, China and India, and, more recently, Africa: Kenya, Zanzibar, São Tomé & Príncipe, Morocco and Tanzania..
I became involved with complex trip planning for South America specialist operators in the early 2000s. One of my initial projects was for a renowned landscape photographer and his mission to capture images of the extreme cardinal points and edges of the continent – part of a global project with a 104-year-old camera. Since then I have planned sabbaticals and experiential holidays for a great number of families, couples and solo travellers – a client base founded on trust and transformational travel experiences, which expands through word of mouth recommendation.
Who is your clientele?
I have worked with private individuals, families and senior business figures from all over the world where creativity and depth of knowledge is required for a highly personalised and logistically complex trip, ranging in duration from a couple of weeks to over a year of tailor-made sabbatical travel.
What’s your approach?
I aim to meet all my clients and ensure at least one face-to-face (on-line or in person) encounter before a holiday or sabbatical trip takes place, especially when working with someone for the first time. I have always found that this helps in getting to know the client to build trust and as a result create a rich and extraordinary trip.
My philosophy towards trip planning is the ‘slow travel’ approach – although this can of course be a challenge depending on time restrictions and an individual’s desire to see more.
I endeavour to provide contrast and variety and strive for continuous traveller engagement, balancing the needs and interests of children and adults to ensure the trip is enjoyed by all.
Accommodation may have elements of the most simplistic to sprinklings of high-end luxury which results in both standing out in – hopefully – the best of ways. At all times I try to avoid mainstream mediocrity, one night stays or awkward and overly staged events and activities.
What sets you apart?
The LiNGER philosophy will immerse travellers in authentic and transformational travel experiences and endeavour to incorporate something on every trip that gives back.
Steve Wilson, Founder – LiNGER
Laura Trace – Project Manager
Guiding small groups across South America in the early 2000s endowed Laura with a local’s depth of knowledge of the region. Throughout her twenty years in travel, based in both the UK and Canada, she has drawn on her insider expertise to design journeys with a difference.
Some of Laura’s most memorable experiences have been watching polar bears swimming in the Arctic, hiking the remote Lares Trek in Peru, and impromptu games of football with local children in little villages rarely visited by tourists.
Laura’s top travel tip – “The best part of travel for me is the journey itself, as you never know who you are going to meet and what you will experience. I remember being greeted by a family of playful otters on the transfer to the lodge in the Amazon – it was one of the highlights of the trip! The ethos of LiNGER really resonates with me, in embracing the unexpected and immersing yourself in the destination”.
Julia Bysshe – Marketing and Business Development
Julia left a successful corporate career to join LiNGER and brings her knowledge of Marketing and Project Management to the area closest to her heart: Travel.
Having lived in several countries across South America and Europe, cultural and linguistic experiences are a true passion for Julia. Performing and dance has also taken Julia across the globe, from Rio de Janeiro to Kazakhstan.
Julia’s top travel experience: “I get most from travel by interacting with the people I meet. One great example was in Buenos Aires. I joined in a keep-fit session in a park and the group invited me to share maté tea with them afterwards. We all went on to a concert, then to a tango milonga, neither of which I would ever have found otherwise. I like it best when I’m the only foreigner there, experiencing life as a local.”
James Palmer-Jones – Website & Graphic Design
Winner of the prestigious AGFA design award, James is responsible for LiNGER’s website, branding and creative design work, working closely with Julia. He launched Sear Genius, his Graphic Design & Website Design Agency, in 2003 after several years’ experience working in the UK and Europe for media and corporate clients.
His collaboration with LiNGER has ignited a deeper yearning for future travels alongside his young family.
James’ perspective on travel: “The most important thing for me is allowing the next generation to explore our marvellous planet. Understanding other ways of life is the best way to raise our children to be responsible and open-minded.”
Testimonials LiNGER
India Family holiday, Dec 2022
“The itinerary that Steve put together worked perfectly; we saw so many different places but without feeling like we were rushed or constantly on the road and the hotels we stayed in were full of charm. It really was the holiday of a lifetime.”
Tim & Deborah
Indonesia Sabbatical, Jul-Aug 2023
“We have had a truly memorable trip. We have had such a range of great experiences during the past few weeks and have stayed in places we would never have found ourselves.”
Richard & Laura, Law-firm Partner
Beyond Safari in Tanzania and Zanzibar, Family sabbatical, Jul-Aug 2023
“Every lodge has been extraordinary. What has surprised us is how each one has raised the bar even higher. Really many congratulations on preparing such an incredible itinerary!”
E & S, Law-firm partner and Family
Central America road trip, Family Sabbatical, Jul-Sep 2023
“We went on 8 flights, to 5 countries, stayed at 12 hotels, crossed 3 land borders, and must have had about 30 tours – all of it meticulously planned and executed by Steve at LiNGER.”
Jon Pierce & Family
Central America road trip, Family Sabbatical, Jul-Sep 2023
“From the very first call to discuss where in the world we should head, to returning home, LiNGER were there with us, ensuring everything just seamlessly fell into place.”
Jon Pierce & Family
Japan Sabbatical, Oct 2023
“The planning of the trip in terms of travel, pickups, was seamless and hotels were really very special. We thank you so much for helping us enjoy a really fantastic trip.”
G Fugard
Costa Rica & Nicaragua, Solo Sabbatical Part Two, Feb-Mar 2022
“My trip was amazing, and Steve knows all the people and places en route which meant that I did not worry about a thing and genuinely looked for to each new destination with total confidence that it would be right.”
Anna Guyer, CEO Greenhouse PR
Costa Rica & Nicaragua, Solo Sabbatical Part Two, Feb-Mar 2022
“I would not hesitate in recommending Steve and his approach to travel – he really has a wonderful perspective that helps to bring the places you visit to life and gives you an experience to remember.”
Anna Guyer, CEO Greenhouse PR
Iceland, Denmark & Faroe Islands, Family Sabbatical, Jul-Aug, 2022
“Your planning help and imagination really helped make this trip. That includes your exquisite professionalism in coordinating everything. Thank you, thank you, for making this such a special time.”
Marie, Glenn & Family
Honeymoon in Nicaragua, Jul 2021
“I could not be happier. You chose such special and memorable places and I have so many great memories. You just don’t know! My SnapChat tells a cultural story. So much more than the typical vacation.”
Kathryn Phillips
