About us
About Keystone Journeys; Our Partners; Our Agents
What we are all about.....
Keystone Journeys is passionate about making your travel memories be of remarkable places, authentic journeys, interesting traveling companions and resplendent local people. We offer unique travel options spanning the globe - from New Zealand to Central Asia. We are a small company comprised of a dedicated group of people who draw on a huge collective global experience.
We focus on meaningful travel experiences and the celebration of cultural heritage. We want you to immerse yourself in ancient cultures, local communities and customs, and develop appreciation, mutual respect and understanding. We truly believe that enriching travel experiences come from an understanding of place.
Our website, and company, reflects decades of our own first hand travel and touring experience. We value the relationships we have built over the years with our fellow Operators in Africa, South America, the Middle East, Morocco, Asia and Antarctica. And of course, New Zealand. We have, with our partners, crafted journeys that provide amazing opportunities to connect with incredibly diverse places, cultures and people. We have decided to surround ourselves with people and partners who share our same travel ethos - to offer amazing journeys and experiences to those who seek them out.
Wanderlust is a wonderful disease and for the lucky ones who get to act on that wanderlust, they can only be all the more wiser for it.
How we work / Responsible practices .....
As we are a small and personal company, we offer a far more intimate level of service than some other larger Companies may be able to offer. We handle your queries personally - from your initial request to your final booking. You will benefit from receiving practical advice and travel tips from our own personal experience.
We will not sugar coat the realities of certain destinations, we will not promise anything unattainable and we will not tell you something we do not know. Travel outside your normal day-to-day routine can sometimes be confronting, challenging and frustrating; we are here to provide you with the best possible advice - and insight - to ensure your choice is one that provides the best travel experience for you.
All of our documents (Tour Itineraries, Travel Vouchers, Invoices etc) are sent via email. We do not send any paper work via mail unless we are specifically asked to do so. Our office tries to minimise any negative impact on the environment in any way we can. Keystone office crew offset our own carbon emissions with schemes here in New Zealand. We also maintain minimum waste policies and we recycle just about everything we can. We are not perfect of course - our goal is to always narrow the gap between principle and practice. It is ongoing...
Keystone Journeys + House of Travel Papamoa .....
We are very excited to announce that Keystone Journeys and House of Travel Papamoa have now combined resources in order to heighten Adventure Travel's profile. Jemma is now working in - and from - the House of Travel office as the new
in-house Adventure Travel Specialist. All New Zealand based enquiries can now come through to Jemma at House of Travel.
In the Media .....
Sydney Morning Herald; Sunday Dream - June 17th 2012. About Iran, and the Persian Delights Culinary and Cultural Tour.
Dish Magazine - Issue Number.. - Keystone Journeys Culinary Tours.
Travel Nine MSM - Adventure Travel - Longest Overland Adventures - The Full Circuit South American Overland Tour - Quito to Quito
Bradt Travel Guides - African Travel Guide (UK)
Who we are.....
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Jemma - Founder Jemma's taste for travel developed as a young girl when her family embarked on a one year caravan tour around Australia. She 're-did' most of that trip as a backpacker in her late teens, sailed the Pacific Islands, traveled parts of Europe, settled enough to study photography and painting at a Sydney Art School then decided to buy a one way ticket to America. She traveled from New York to New Orleans then hopped a plane for Mexico. After traveling through Mexico, Guatemala, Belize and Cuba she fell in love with Central America and then entered the Travel Industry as a Guide. Jemma spent major time guiding groups for a large Adventure Travel company through South and Central America. A move to London and an Operations position for another large Adventure Travel company followed. More travel - Africa, Brazil, Argentina, Chile and the Galapagos Islands - and then a move to a smaller London based company specialising in South America and the Galapagos. And of course, further independent travel - Eastern/Western Europe, Asia, the Middle East and Africa/North Africa. A Kiwi husband and a baby made the decision to move to New Zealand an easy one, and Keystone Journeys was born. Travel has enriched Jemma's life immeasurably; the places she has traveled through and lived in, the people she has met, the experiences she has had on the road, the thrill of landing in a new country and exploring new cultures; all of this is impetus to continue with her passion for travel. Contact: jemmaw@hot.co.nz |
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Nardia - Utterly Indispensable Nardia has worked for some of the biggest and best tour companies out there, and some of the smallest. She has been in the Travel Industry for over 15 years and there is not much she does not know. Having worked in Sales an Marketing in a couple of remarkable UK based adventure companies, she has a plethora of travel based knowledge. Her independent - and work related - travel has taken her through Eastern/Western Europe, Africa/North Africa, Asia, the Mediterranean, Central and South America and the Middle East. She indulges her love of travel whenever she can - she is an adventurous soul and is a firm believer that traveling is all about the experience. She is passionate about our responsibility towards our planet and its' people and is all about breaking boundaries - and she is always on the look out for a new destination to visit.
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Rian - Co-Founder Rian departed New Zealand for his big OE to Europe many, many, years ago. After traveling Europe and then working in IT in London, he scored a job as a Driver on an Overland truck in Africa with a major Overland Adventure Travel company. He loved it so much, he and a friend bought their own Overland truck and contracted out. This was the beginning of his long love affair with Africa. He has been an Overland Driver, Operations Manager, Owner/Operator, builder and designer of Overland Trucks and a Workshop Manager. He has lived and traveled in the UK, Europe, South America and the Middle East. He now lives in New Zealand but he is a seasoned traveler with first hand experience of just about all we sell on the Keystone website .
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Malcolm - UK Rep Malcolm has over 20 years experience in travel having been a self employed travel consultant for most of that time with a short period owning two travel agencies with ten staff. He has traveled across several continents including North & South America, Europe, North Africa and the Indian Ocean. He has years of experience in sending clients off on round the world tours as well as shorter continental tours. He has now been an agent for Keystone Journeys for over 3 years so can help you plan your next or first overland trip, whether you are 20 or 60. For Malcolm, traveling off the beaten track, interacting with the locals and getting involved in their culture is what real travel is all about. Some of his best experiences have been staying with families in Brazil and Mexico and talking to students in Tunisia whilst it was still a dictatorship. Call him to discuss your best Keystone Journeys journey.
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Ric - Flights from Australia (Travel Managers Australia)
Ric has worked
in the Travel Industry for over 25 years and has arranged travel for clients travelling all over the world. His own travel
experiences have taken him to North & Southern Africa, Europe, the Middle
East, Asia, the Pacific and the Americas. From 2008 Ric has run his own
business as a personal Travel Manager under the Travelmanagers Australia Group,
a network of over 360 mobile agents Australia wide. He has been awarded one of the top 10 Travel Managers nationally for the last three years and also nominated as Best Travel Consultant (Corporate) for the National Travel Industry Awards for 3 consecutive years. Ric is there to help out Australian clients with their airfares and tour queries.
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Maree - Flights from New Zealand (House of Travel New Zealand) Maree is a Senior Consultant at House of Travel, New Zealand and has been in the industry for over 15 years. She has traveled extensively, and she loves the excitement and challenges of helping clients fulfill their travel dreams. Maree is there to help our New Zealand clients with their airfares and Insurance queries.
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Some of the amazingly Intrepid People we work with.....
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Andy - Africa Overland Tours for the Over 40's Andy has been running tours through Africa since 1990. He started working as a tour guide on the dark continent driving old German army trucks in the days when top speed was 60 kph downhill, bridges had to be built to cross rivers and officials at borders often went on strike. Andy's reputation as an expedition leader and driver secured him employment with three well known overland companies. He led and drove six month long Trans Africa Expeditions from London to Nairobi with up to 20 passengers from all over the world as well as shorter safaris in Central, East and Southern Africa. In 2005 he set up his own Safari company. Andy's vast knowledge of the continent and the people guarantee an unforgettable safari. For Andy, Africa is unlike any other place in the world, a truly awe inspiring continent. He loves to share his unique experience and knowledge; his passion for the continent ensures that it will be in your blood forever. |
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Ben - Asia Overland Comfort Level Tours Ben spent seven years working for and with Dragoman, the highly successful British based overland company, which took him to over eighty countries in Africa, The America’s, Europe, Asia and the Middle East - but time after time he ended up working back in Nepal and the Subcontinent. Even when he was not working, he returned again and again to Asia - to his beloved Nepal and the mountains of the Himalayas. Ben launched his own Nepalese based company in September 2008 with an exploratory trip in Nepal. His working life on the road has given him vast experience and knowledge, as well as an insatiable passion for travel and for sharing this with fellow travelers. |
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Adam - South America Expedition Tours Adam is a former UK and European Coach driver and diesel mechanic with many years experience of running adventure tours throughout South America. After many years running tours for different companies in South America, he decided it was time to use his experience, ideas and enthusiasm to offer people the complete South America tour. He has used his overland background to form a unique style of travel satisfying the needs of those who wish to see beyond the whistle stops and into the very heart of South America. Adam believes it is important to have time to fully enjoy every unique part of the continent, with time to stop and soak up the atmosphere and culture. This is why his trips are longer than most; South America is a huge and inspiring continent, there is so much to see it can take people months to absorb all that they have experienced, and a lifetime to enjoy the memories and achievements they found along the way. |
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Rachel and Brendan - South America Premium Overland Tours Before beginning their Premium Overland Expeditions in South America, Rachel and Brendan worked for many years running tours, working as tour leaders and guides in South America. It is this knowledge that enables them to create unique, exciting and well thought out itineraries. Their tours are born from a love of South America; a passion for its people, its culture and its landscapes. They make South America accessible to keen travellers who desire a few more creature comforts and quality experiences that what may have previously been on offer. Due to the amount of time they have spent in Latin America they have formed many long lasting friendships with people from all walks of life. These friends share their knowledge and experience, and offer their ideas and support. Through them Rachel and Brendan have learnt about the true spirit of South America. This spirit is reflected in all of their tours. They offer a glimpse into a different world, filled with wonderful people and fascinating cultures. |
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David - West Africa Overland Expeditions Dave has previously worked as a Tour Leader / Driver / Mechanic for Dragoman for 5 years. He ran tours throughout South America, Africa, the Middle East and Asia. But nowhere captured his imagination the way West Africa did and it is by far his favourite region in the world. He loves the music, the culture, the dramatic landscapes and the larger than life characters. He went on a trip from London to Accra as a passenger with Dragoman in 2003 and had such a great time he knew he had to go back there one day. In 2007 to 2008, he led the trip from London to Douala and back, and though it was a challenge at times, he had a wonderful time full of happy memories. Fast forward to April 2009, he was driving a Dragoman truck through Russia and Mongolia. Through independent travel and working for Dragoman, David has spent nearly two years in West and Central Africa and has a true passion for the region. |
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Merilynn - South America +East Africa Over 40's Escort We are delighted to have Merilynn Crean Escort Over 40's tours for us. Merilynn has over 30 years experience working in the Travel Industry; from Managing a Travel Agency to being an Owner / Operator of her own House of Travel outlet. She has developed and Escorted tours to such diverse places as Malta, Spain, Portugal and Morocco and Merilynn and her husband have personally traveled and explored over 85 countries. Merilynn is a member of the NZ Institute of Travel and Tourism. “Travel awakens the senses and instils in you a hunger to see more of our beautiful world” she says. Merilynn will be Escorting our 2013 Peru + Bolivia tour and our 2013 Gorilla Safari tour. |
