Rare Experiences

By emphasising human connection and stories, Fernwayer’s private day tours transform luxury travel into an experiential journey.

For seasoned travellers Vinitaa Jayson and Alok Singh, co-founders of Fernwayer, the thrill of setting off on a new adventure never diminishes. Beyond five-star hotels or Michelin-starred restaurants, they look forward to the rare, meaningful connections that bring a place to life, such as swapping stories with a village elder or listening to the seafaring anecdotes of coastal fishermen. “We love to travel,” says Vinitaa.

“After every trip, our conversation was never about the luxury suite we stayed in. We didn’t remember flights or meals, but we did remember people’s names and the stories they told us.” Such connections – and the people who can make them happen – were hard to find, however, and the tours offered in glossy travel agency brochures or mass platforms felt unoriginal.

The couple always wanted to dig deeper when they travelled. “We wanted to get a better understanding of a place, more of a sense of wonder,” says Vinitaa. “Fernwayer grew out of that. We thought, ‘What if we could capture the magic of our experiences and make it available to others?’” With this in mind, the San Francisco-based couple quit their successful corporate careers and set up Fernwayer in 2024 – a high-end travel marketplace that provides the off-the-beaten-track and meaningful experiences they always looked for. Each experience is clearly defined and bookable instantly – just like booking a flight, hotel or table.

Whereas most travel companies focus on the logistics of booking flights and hotels, Fernwayer specialises in private day tours – cultural experiences that take the traveller into the heart of the local community. “Our goal is to shift how people plan their travel, and we believe the key is to plan the experiences first,” says Alok. In Madrid, for example, clients can book a walk with a traditional flamenco bailaora, learning about the history of this art form first-hand from the dancer as they amble along side streets, before watching an authentic performance.

In Málaga, an exclusive adventure unfolds on a boat: guests watch a diver retrieve barnacled wine bottles from a secret underwater cellar and harvest oysters from the same marine bed, before savouring the vintage with fresh shellfish. Cross the Strait of Gibraltar into Marrakesh and guests can enjoy a lavish Moroccan feast in a magical setting, where a professional storyteller regales them with stories inspired by The Arabian Nights.

Some experiences include access to annual festivals and after-hours entry to iconic sites. Fernwayer’s curated tours also stand out by way of their intimacy. Over 90 per cent of the tours are only available as a private booking; even group options are limited to eight people to avoid the bustle familiar with larger tours. Experts from every walk of life lead the experiences, from architects to actors, fishermen to academics, and historians to chefs. “We engage storytellers and we call them ‘experience makers’ because that’s really what our portfolio is about – the rare things, the human connection and the magic and mystery of discovering a new place,” says Alok. Authenticity is guaranteed, and with responsible tourism a priority, over 80 per cent of the revenue remains in local pockets.

Fernwayer already operates in ten countries, including Italy, Portugal and Türkiye, as well as further afield in Argentina, Chile and Mexico. The list will soon include France, Japan and Peru, and new experiences are regularly added to the site. From a short outing to a full itinerary, the intrepid traveller is promised an unforgettable adventure and a connection to people and places.