This year Knowmad Adventures grew from the passion project of a few, to something altogether larger than ourselves – a movement of independent-minded explorers, a sum much greater than its parts. It’s been an absolute whirlwind full of joys and, at times, seemingly unconquerable challenges.
Song by Sam Cooke
The holiday season encourages us to pause and think about those we are grateful for. Giving a gift can be a great way to say thank you or share in a friend’s passion and interests.
We have started our own holiday tradition here at Knowmad, every year we participate in a microlending program to help small business owners in South America. Each December we work with Kiva, an organization that works with micro finance institutions to provide loans to people without access to traditional banking systems.
Kristen, Eirik and Lillian embarked on a 20-day trip of a lifetime last July. They explored a multitude of regions while traveling to Ecuador last summer, starting out at a phenomenal ecolodge in the Amazon Jungle, visiting Cotopaxi National Park, and enjoying time in the Galapagos Islands.
Tara talks with Fashionable about using the versatile Mamuye Tote and Eyerusalem Passport Wallet during her travels in Patagonia. Click the link to read the full Knowmad Adventures + The Mamuye Tote Travels to South America article on the Fashionable blog.
Mind-blowing, historical, challenging – these hikes will get your heart pumping and the scenery will take your breath away.
The Minnesota Landscape Arboretum in conjunction with Knowmad Adventures is proud to host this encore of the beloved, “Crossing the Andes: Explore Chile, Argentina and Patagonia.” This 13-day small group trip from January 21st to February 2nd will highlight the incredible landscapes of Chile and Argentina as well as the varied cultures throughout these regions while visiting Santiago, Chilean wine country and coast south to the Patagonia and across the Andes by way of fjords and glacial lakes into beautiful Bariloche, Argentina ending in vibrant Buenos Aires. From Buenos Aires you will have the option to extend your adventure and visit the magnificent Iguazu Falls.* We will enjoy exclusive private garden visits curated by a variety of designers, architects, and garden owners. This trip attracts mostly travelers over 50 with wide ranging interests as well as a taste for horticulture and gardens. As the small group adventure is nearly sold out, registration will be closing very shortly. Inquire today to join!
Update: This trip has already departed. Please use the below trip idea as a starting point and contact a Knowmad Trip Specialist at 612-315-2894 or [email protected] to begin planning your private and custom Chile and/or Argentina adventure today!
PLEASE NOTE: If you’ve reached this page and you’re looking for information on Midwest Mountaineering’s Spring 2016 Expo, please click here.
We invite you to this fall’s Outdoor Adventure Expo hosted by Midwest Mountaineering and the U of M, November 20 through 22.
After returning home from a phenomenal custom Inca trail trip in Peru, Mary Fransen took time to reflect on the incredible memories she and her friends created not too long ago. She remembered hiking curiously on paths forged hundreds of years ago, exchanging stories with friends, and marveling at intricate agricultural terraces and magnificent ruins. Mary shares with us that their guide Wilfredo, “had such a passionate connection to the trails, the Incan sites, and the history that he shared with us. And, is seemed like there was no joy greater for him than to share this with us. At pinnacle locations, he pulled out a flute that he had made himself and played for us. He created such a heart-felt connection with our group. Truly, one of the most unforgettable people I have met while traveling.”
“The ability to more fully understand one’s own culture and place in the world by experiencing other cultures” – Stephan, Knowmad Traveler
“It means soaring into new adventures while grounding me within my roots” – Joy, Knowmad Traveler
I asked our Knowmad Adventures past traveler community what travel means to them and a common thread emerged in their answers.
The era of covid has been brutal for the travel industry and many others. It can be hard, but even for us adventure lovers there are silver linings. Check out these incredible deals for future travel that allow you to get a trip on the calendar with unbeatable values and flexible conditions while supporting some of these Knowmad favorite unique, locally-owned property partners. These are unprecedented Knowmad exclusive promotions and they won’t last!
We’re extremely proud to announce that Knowmad and Co-Founder Jordan Harvey have earned the Travel + Leisure A-list honor for being the top Patagonia, Chile, and Argentina specialist. Our 7th year running taking home the hardware, you may think as time goes on our excitement would begin to fade but rather it builds, striking a different chord each year. This year it feels especially significant. It’s a simple, yet profound symbol of Knowmad’s bright future.
We are proud to be one of the only companies in the world to receive both the Condé Nast Top Specialists and Travel + Leisure A-List awards, and also have two award-winning Specialists (Renee Davies is Condé Nast’s top Ecuador & Galapagos Specialist).
Journey through the rugged and otherworldly terrain of Southern Bolivia, exploring lagoons, volcanoes and Uyuni salt flats before ending in the capital of La Paz, perched atop the Andes Mountains, stopping at the historical rich communities of Potosi and Sucre along the way. Ideal connection with Chile’s Atacama Desert or start and finish in La Paz.
Our trip could not have been better. You attended to every detail, no matter how small. Being met at every airport, hot tea and water in the van, all the charming hotels. How special you made Tripp’s birthday 3 times during the day! All our guides and drivers, the experience in Amaru and the Amazon. And of course our guide, Harry, who really is the best!
By traveling alongside Knowmad you will be taking part in culturally and environmentally sustainable travel. You will be spreading the love, and the wealth. You will be doing Good Works. Learn more about Knowmad’s eco-travel efforts.
The Knowmad team put together the trip of a life time for us. Everything was perfect, from the guides to the accommodations to the activities, and your extensive knowledge of the area and personal relationships with the people we met in Chile were invaluable. We can’t recommend Knowmad highly enough.
After traveling to Chile two years ago with Knowmad Adventures there was no question as to who was going to help plan my trip to Peru! Thank you so much to Knowmad Adventures. The places they recommended, connections, and knowledge of these regions were impeccable. I highly recommend using Knowmad Adventures to plan your next trip to Peru or Chile!
Our trip was everything we dreamed it would be and more. Your group did a great job everywhere we went. We especially loved our guide Paula, and Explora was top notch too. All perfect.
Please don’t ever change the way you operate. You fulfill lifelong dreams and provide people with the chance to live what they thought could only be read about.
You put together a one-of-a-kind vacation for my group that I’ll long remember and enthusiastically recommend. I thank you and look forward, with much anticipation, to my next adventure with you.
We got back last night and I must say that the organization of the entire trip was AMAZING. We all loved Peru and thanks to Knowmad we even enjoyed it a lot more. Thanks a lot Jordan for everything as we had sooooo much fun. I’ll definitely recommend you to anybody that wants to experience Peru.
Journey through the rugged and otherworldly terrain of Southern Bolivia, exploring lagoons, volcanoes and Uyuni salt flats before ending in the capital of La Paz, perched atop the Andes Mountains, stopping at the historical rich communities of Potosi and Sucre along the way. Ideal connection with Chile’s Atacama Desert or start and finish in La Paz.
