{"id":33727,"date":"2026-02-09T15:47:18","date_gmt":"2026-02-09T15:47:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bondahx.com\/index.php\/2026\/02\/09\/these-tour-agencies-are-redefining-holidays\/"},"modified":"2026-02-09T15:47:18","modified_gmt":"2026-02-09T15:47:18","slug":"these-tour-agencies-are-redefining-holidays","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bondahx.com\/index.php\/2026\/02\/09\/these-tour-agencies-are-redefining-holidays\/","title":{"rendered":"These tour agencies are redefining holidays"},"content":{"rendered":"


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Why Singaporean travellers are choosing intentional travel, and paying more for it<\/strong><\/h2>\n

For years, travel was about efficiency: tick off as many sights as you can, squeeze as much value as possible into a fixed number of days, and move on quickly to the next destination. But for a growing group of travellers, especially post-pandemic, that formula no longer satisfies.<\/p>\n

Instead, more people are turning towards intentional travel<\/strong>, a term that refers to curated journeys designed beyond the typical packaged tours. Such tours place importance on meaning, depth, and mindfulness at their core. These travellers are willing to slow down, return to the same place multiple times, and even pay a premium\u2014not for luxury, but for care, context, and connection.<\/p>\n

Companies like V Folks, Kitabi Travel, <\/strong>and SoulTrips by Druk Asia<\/strong> are meeting this demand, offering plant-based culinary immersion, hands-on cultural craft, and spiritually mindful journeys. We spoke to the founders to uncover why Singaporeans are increasingly drawn to travel that moves beyond ticking boxes \u2014 and how small, curated trips are reshaping what it means to explore the world.<\/p>\n

V Folks: Plant-Based Travel with purpose<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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(L to R) V Folks co-founder Jay and his co-founder; V Folks at Senai\u2019s SuperFruits farm<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

One company leaning firmly into values-led travel is V Folks<\/strong><\/a>, a curated travel company founded in September 2023 by 39-year-old Jay Yeo. Specialising in premium vegetarian and vegan travel, V Folks builds itineraries around cultural immersion, hands-on experiences, and slower-paced journeys. While plant-based travellers form the core audience, 25% of its guests are non-vegetarians, drawn by the quality of food and the depth of experiences offered.<\/p>\n

Before starting V Folks, Jay worked across finance, project coordination, and volunteering, including with Youth Corps Singapore National Council. A post-COVID period of soul-searching and backpacking \u2013 combined with his own plant-based lifestyle \u2013 led a close friend to suggest he channel his talent for planning meaningful trips into a full-fledged travel company catered to people with plant-based diets.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cAt its core, V Folks was started to breathe a fresh air of life into people worn down by the daily grind,\u201d Jay shared.<\/p>\n

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V Folks\u2019 Kulai 1D trip includes visiting a gac fruit farm, vegetarian food served in restaurant.\/ Image Credit: V Folks<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Jay believes V Folks is Singapore\u2019s first travel company dedicated entirely to plant-based itineraries. Previously, the co-founder shared that vegetarian\/vegan travellers often relied on Malaysia-based operators or mainstream agencies that struggled to deliver on dietary and experiential needs. While initial scepticism about V Folks existed, word-of-mouth quickly grew, with many customers returning alongside family and friends.<\/p>\n

Today, V Folks runs two to four Malaysia trips monthly, ranging from day tours to a spanning a few days, apart from regular overseas departures to Thailand, Vietnam, and China. Guests range from their 30s to 70s, with more than half being over their 50s, plus a growing number of families and younger travellers drawn to hiking and nature-based experiences. Marketing is produced in both English and Chinese to reach a diverse clientele, including members of churches and temples, reflecting broader shifts towards health-conscious, plant-based travel.<\/p>\n

Even V Folks\u2019 short trips carry depth: a one-day Kulai trip under $90 includes a visit to the Hakka association to learn local history, while overseas itineraries feature tea-plucking in Hangzhou or family-style cooking classes in Guangzhou to revive hands-on bonding often lost in urban life.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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(L to R) Travellers learning to write ancient Dongba script and tie-dying their own cloth with the Bai tribe.\/ Image Credit: V Folks<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

What sets V Folks apart is its unhurried pace and immersive approach, Jay shared. In Yunnan, for example, guests visit the Naxi tribe, entering the home of a former village chief\u2014a space rarely accessible to typical tour buses. Travellers can choose to dress in traditional attire, learn Dongba scripts, and participate in ancient food-making practices. Tie-dyeing with the Bai ethnic tribe allows guests to leave with a tangible, handmade memory rather than a mere souvenir.<\/p>\n

\u201cBeing younger than mainstream travel planners, we are more adventurous in exploring deeper corners and experiences that most tourists miss,\u201d Jay explained.<\/p>\n

Every itinerary is personally scouted by Jay and his co-founder, from restaurants that cater to strict dietary requirements to immersive cultural activities that foster connection. Local partners and guides play a crucial role; their energy and vitality shape the guest experience, making even routine moments meaningful.<\/p>\n

Private trips are a growing segment, ranging from family getaways during school holidays to spiritual groups or corporate bonding trips, all aligned with the plant-based philosophy. Across all journeys, mindfulness and conscious intention guide planning, ensuring that participants return refreshed, invigorated, and shifted in perspective.<\/p>\n

Jay shared that V Folks emphasises transparency and value through its specially selected vegetarian restaurants. Moreover, he added that there are no hidden charges or coerced spending stops, with all costs included upfront. A standard eight-day trip starts at S$1,899.<\/p>\n

Looking ahead, V Folks plans to expand short getaways and hiking-focused itineraries, reflecting Jay\u2019s view that modern society\u2019s lethargy and burnout create a growing need for travel that reconnects people with nature, community, and themselves.<\/p>\n

SoulTrips by Druk Asia: Travel for the soul<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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(L to R) Joni Herison, founder of Druk Asia and SoulTrips; Bhutan\u2019s Tiger Nest.\/ Image Credit: Druk Asia<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

If V Folks reflects values-led living, SoulTrips<\/a> <\/strong>by D<\/a><\/strong>ruk Asia<\/strong><\/a> embodies the emotional and spiritual dimension of travel \u2014 what its founder calls \u201ctravel for the soul.\u201d<\/p>\n

Founded in 2010 by Joni Herison, Druk Asia began by promoting Bhutan, a country that resists checklist tourism and encourages travellers to slow down, reflect, and reconnect. According to Joni, back then, only around 200 Singaporeans visited Bhutan annually; today, that number has grown to 7,000\u20138,000, helped by direct flights and Druk Asia\u2019s role as General Sales Agent for Drukair since 2012.\u00a0About 95% of Druk Asia\u2019s journeys to Bhutan are private tours, while its public tour groups are capped at 10\u201312 guests.<\/p>\n

For Joni, success is measured not in numbers but in transformation. According to Joni, many travellers often return with a slower perception of time, renewed priorities, and a lighter emotional state<\/a>. Bhutan\u2019s old-school depth and authenticity \u2013 from centuries-old suspension bridges to passionate local guides \u2013 are central to this shift.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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(L to R) Punakha Dzong ; Ogyen Choling Palace Museum.\/ Image Credit: Druk Asia<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Since 2010, Druk Asia has brought 21,000\u201322,000 travellers to Bhutan, ranging from young adults to retirees, often travelling as families. Many describe profoundly moving moments, from quiet reflection to tears at Tiger\u2019s Nest, overwhelmed by Bhutan\u2019s unfiltered energy. Some experiences have even been life-changing, such as a traveller leaving her consultancy job to work with Mountain Hazelnuts<\/a> and later co-creating hands-on agricultural tours. An 11-day trip to Bhutan starts at S$4,890 per person<\/a>, excluding flights.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think that is the travel that we prefer: to bring people surprises that they didn\u2019t even expect on a trip\u2026 sometimes you may even bump into the King of Bhutan and have a short conversation with him,\u201d founder Joni said.\u00a0<\/p>\n

By 2023, in response to demand for transformative journeys beyond Bhutan, the company launched SoulTrips, offering curated experiences in Asia, Central Asia, and Europe. Each itinerary takes six months to a year to plan, with moments of surprise deliberately built in to preserve the joy of discovery.<\/p>\n

SoulTrips works closely within local ecosystems, collaborating with tourism boards, guide associations, and communities. Apart from their own curated tours, SoulTrips also partners with international travel agency Europamundo<\/a>, allowing travellers to explore Europe with guided flexibility rather than ticking off sights on a checklist.<\/p>\n

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(L to R) Chew Jetty; Penang\u2019s famous Cheong Fatt Tze Museum.\/ Image Credit: Druk Asia<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Closer to home, SoulTrips\u2019 S$870 Penang: Community & Wellbeing Tour (4D3N)<\/a> blends heritage, tradition, and wellbeing in Malaysia\u2019s multicultural island state. Organised with the Ningpo Guild Singapore, the itinerary frames Penang\u2019s social fabric as a living system of care\u2014from clan houses and temples to philanthropic institutions and Chinese associations. Travellers explore historic sites such as Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion (aka Blue Mansion) and Penang Buddhist Association, participate in traditional Chinese medicine sessions, and experience ancestral clan heritage \u2014 all in a deliberately slower, reflective way.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cPeople ask why Singaporeans would want to go to Penang with us when they can just eat Penang food,\u201d added Florence Ang, Marketing Director. The answer is the difference: understanding why places matter, not just what they offer.<\/p>\n

Mental wellness, for SoulTrips, isn\u2019t a retreat added on but cultivated naturally through mindful presence in each trip, Joni said. Each journey sparks curiosity, joy, and awareness of the moment, helping travellers reconnect with themselves, others, and the world around them.<\/p>\n

Looking ahead, SoulTrips is expanding thoughtfully, with philanthropy-driven journeys<\/a> to Bhutan and a holistic wellness partnership with Oriental Remedies launching in 2026. Travellers will receive pre- and post-trip wellness assessments, framing wellness as a journey rather than a destination. Across all initiatives, the ethos remains the same: to move travellers away from ticking boxes and towards journeys that leave them lighter, more curious, and quietly transformed.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s the work of human being, right? We should just be being in the moment but we end up becoming human doing, so that our 24 hours a day is doing things because that\u2019s what we are trained to do,\u201d said Florence.<\/p>\n

Kitabi Travel: Curating Japan beyond the guideboo<\/strong>k<\/h3>\n
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(L to R) Heidi Tan, founder of Kitabi Travel; 2023 Kobe Sweets Tour includes making Japanese sweets.\/ Image Credit: Kitabi Travel<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Another agency embracing intentional, deeply curated travel is Kitabi Travel<\/a>, founded in 2023 by Heidi Tan, the former founder of FLOR Patisserie. A trained pastry chef, Heidi ran FLOR for 15 years, crafting Japanese-inspired pastries that celebrated seasonal fruits and building close relationships with Japanese farms and artisans \u2014 informal connections that now form the backbone of Kitabi Travel\u2019s unique itineraries.<\/p>\n

Kitabi Travel grew organically from a 2019 baking class in collaboration with Japanese pastry chefs in FLOR, organised in partnership with the Kobe prefectural government that wanted to share Japanese fruits in Singapore. Guests were fascinated by the artistry behind the Japanese seasonal pastry, and in order to have access to fresher ingredients, suggested food trips to Japan be held instead.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Even when the collaboration paused during COVID-19, demand for more collaborations persisted after the pandemic.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Then, in the spring of 2023, Kitabi Travel was officially born, with Heidi hosting the first overseas tour to Kobe, where travellers made and sampled a range of traditional Japanese sweets.<\/p>\n

In sweets tours, participants immersed themselves in making sweets such as cookies, cakes and other daifuku (sweet rice cakes). Other tours that Kitabi Travel offers<\/a> include Sake & Food, Food & Crafts, Fermented Food across Japan.<\/p>\n

Rather than relying on traditional travel agents, Kitabi partners with a Japan-based PR specialist embedded in the local F&B scene, granting clients access to experiences most tourists never see: learning directly from professional chefs inside their kitchens, reserving entire small restaurants, or visiting rural pottery studios where artisans teach personally. Heidi personally scouts venues, liaises with artisans, and with her fluency in both Japanese and English, ensures language and cultural barriers are bridged.<\/p>\n

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(L to R) Travellers will explore a Kagoshima vinegar brewery, and harvest tea leaves in Shirakawa.\/ Image Credit: Kitabi Travel<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The philosophy at Kitabi Travel is simple: immersive, out-of-the-ordinary experiences. Tours travel in small groups, keeping interactions intimate and flexible. Guests might make miso in Kobe and take it home to ferment, harvest tea leaves in Nagoya under a farmer\u2019s guidance, or craft pottery in countryside studios. Each activity is tactile, memory-rich, and designed to engage all the senses, leaving participants with lasting personal connections to both craft and culture.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe will be drinking tea, living tea, breathing tea\u2026 it\u2019s about the whole process, not just the end product,\u201d Heidi explains.<\/p>\n

Since its inaugural spring tour in 2023, Kitabi has expanded to seasonal offerings such as early summer tea harvest and autumn pottery tours. By 2025, Kitabi had hosted 152 guests across nine tours, with nearly half returning for a second experience. The agency attracts higher-income travellers seeking depth, culture, and authenticity over standard sightseeing. For example, the five-day Kagoshima tour, priced at $4,600, typically attracts older travellers in their 30s to 50s seeking a more luxurious, refined experience.<\/p>\n

Heidi also noted that Japanese prefectural governments have increasingly shown strong interest in Kitabi\u2019s tours, which they perceive attract mindful travellers who demonstrate respect for local culture \u2014 a contrast to mass, low-cost tourism.<\/p>\n

Running intimate tours requires careful planning: Japan\u2019s punctuality culture, inaccessible rural locations, and traditional ryokan accommodations demand pre-trip guidance and flexible arrangements, such as private onsen windows to balance comfort with authenticity.<\/p>\n

Each itinerary is designed to encourage curiosity, reflection, and personal engagement, Heidi shared. Guests aren\u2019t just visiting Japan \u2014 they\u2019re meeting people, sharing stories, and understanding local traditions in ways that foster deeper appreciation.<\/p>\n

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(L to R) Kagoshima kids\u2019 camp also includes interacting with animals on a far and spending time at a local elementary school with Japanese kids for cultural immersion.\/ Image Credit: Kitabi Travel<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Looking ahead, Kitabi is launching a Kids Camp in rural Kagoshima<\/a> in September, bringing parents and primary school children together for bamboo harvesting, cooking bamboo rice, and rice planting. The program reflects the brand\u2019s ethos: travel as education, connection, and shared growth.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cI want to see more mindful Singaporeans living intentionally and appreciating nature, starting young,\u201d said Heidi.<\/p>\n

Reflecting on her entrepreneurial journey, Heidi shares that passion accounts for only 10% of success; the rest comes from hard work, perseverance, and knowing when to walk away from what isn\u2019t working.\u00a0<\/p>\n

More meaning, less mileage<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Across these three agencies, the message is clear: intentional travel isn\u2019t just about doing less \u2014 it\u2019s about doing things differently. Whether it\u2019s tasting, crafting, hiking, or meditating, travellers are seeking experiences that leave a lasting emotional and intellectual impact rather than a collection of photos or stamps on a passport.<\/p>\n

As travellers grow more discerning, they are choosing depth over density, meaning over mileage, and journeys that linger long after they return home. And for a growing number of them, that difference is worth paying for, in a cozier, curated group setting that prioritises connection, discovery, and mindful presence.<\/p>\n