At Not in the Guidebooks, we’re passionate about travel. It’s not just great for travellers. It can be a great way to support local communities too. Or discover more about our planet, to help protect it for future generations. But it’s not enough to just see the world. We want to help you really experience it too. That’s why we’re poised to become the world’s number 1 provider of authentic, local travel experiences. To help you really get under the skin of wherever you go, and see what makes it so amazingly special. But why do we think this, and how does it work? Read on to find out more!

Experience the world

At Not in the Guidebooks, we want to help you make the most of your time away. We don’t offer traditional sight-seeing trips or overcrowded bus tours. Instead, we offer truly unique travel experiences, so you can actually get hands on and go right to the beating heart of a new location. Learn to cook the local cuisine or speak the language. Spot rare wildlife and unique natural scenery. Discover hidden bars loved by locals. And, most importantly, share this time with your loved ones to create truly unforgettable memories.

Like the back of their hand

We’re experts in local travel, but we aren’t the local travel experts. No, that title has to go to our unique hosts in each of our over 100 different locations. They know a thing or two about their hometowns – many of them have lived their whole lives in that spot. From the perfect times to come and go, to the coolest places to visit, to all of its best kept secrets. They know better than anyone else what makes their home so magical. They want to help you experience that.

Put the personal back in travel

Real, human connections are one of the most powerful things about travel. Experiencing the world through someone else’s eyes and coming back just a little bit different. Which is another reason why we love working with all of our amazing local hosts. Not only are they there every step of the way to ensure you have the most amazing experience possible. They also help you create genuine, personal connections both with a location and the people that bring it to life.

Sustainable, responsible, eco-friendly

According to beachmeter.com, it’s not uncommon for less than 10% of the money you spend on your holiday to actually go directly to the local communities you visit. We work to ensure that every single one of our experiences are sustainable, eco-friendly, and responsible. In short that means they don’t harm the planet, and they support the local communities that you’re visiting. You can read more about that here.

Suited to you

We offer experiences to fit into any itinerary. Don’t have a lot of time? They can last anything from a few hours to a full week. Looking for some private time with loved ones? You can book fully private experiences, or go on a group trip to meet like-minded travellers. Don’t feel particularly active? We offer everything from cycling the central Italian hills to tasting the finest street food in Bangkok. In short, you can do what you want, with whoever you want, for as long as you want.

These are just some of the things that make Not in the Guidebooks so special. If you want to explore more of the amazing experiences we have to offer, why not have a look around the site? And don’t forget, we’re crowdfunding at the moment! If you’d like to join our journey and share in our success, head to our crowdfunding page to find out more.