(Lake Chapala, Mexico)

What began as a social meeting in New York between two professional travellers who share a belief that 'it takes a village', has quickly evolved into the newest bespoke tour company specialising in small group adventures to most interesting and beautiful villages in the world. Together they searched for off the tourist-trail places where their guests could be immersed into the local culture as they leave the every day and emerge into the extraordinary.

"Big Yellow Suitcase tours embrace slow travel principles," they say. "We encourage our guests to follow our lead. Why not stay a while and really get to know a place?" 

Right now they are beginning a tour of Ajijic in Mexico. You've missed this one, but there will be another from November 14-23, 2015. The tour based in captivating Ajijic on the shores of stunning Lake Chapala is a project both Wendy and Tom have worked hard to establish.

Wendy has owned and operated an events management company that has taken her around the world many times. Over the years she has nurtured a deep affection for particular places and a desire to share this fondness with other avid travellers.

Tom has been writing about travel for nearly twenty years. (A disclaimer here: Tom is a good friend and a genuine, fun guy. Having travelled with him, I can only say that his groups are in for a classy trip.) Tom Neal Tacker owns and operates an online magazine  which continues to lead him around the globe searching for unique cultural, gastronomic and historical insights.

Wendy and Tom share a passion for ‘slow travel’, which means having an ability to settle into a place, living as the locals do, getting to know a place well instead of rushing through it simply to tick off another goal on a bucket list of destinations.

Believing in cultural immersion and authentic interactions with interesting and talented local people is essentially what Big Yellow Suitcase tours are all about.

Although the Mexican tour has already begun, the good news is that there are several more around the world planned for 2015. First up is Thailand Between Beaches in mid April, 2015, a 9-day exploration of southern Thailand including four nights ‘glamping’ at Elephant Hills and Cheow Larn Rainforest Camps.

At Elephant Hills guests are treated to a unique mahout training course, a very interactive session with elephants as well as a dawn kayak excursion waking up with the gibbons as they announce ‘This territory is mine!’

For more information about other destinations such as Thailand, Sicily, Greece, New York City and the best gourmet regions in Australia, please see our tours page for the full Mexican itinerary and upcoming tours.  

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