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Forward Travel
Tailor-Made Itineraries
Curated journeys
Few people are aware of these countries. Fewer people have set foot in them. Be the exception. While the rest of the world crowds the familiar, step into the lesser-known and the least-visited places of this big, beautiful world. Contact us.
The Forward Travel difference
With over 12 years of experience and more than 1,000 satisfied clients, Forward Travel creates personalised journeys for sophisticated globetrotters.
Creativity and consideration go into the crafting of original itineraries based on where you want to go and what you want to do.
People who are intimately familiar with the land will accompany and enlighten you about their culture, history, and wildlife.
Travel should be considerate. Give back to local communities, economies, and ecosystems when you do it with us.
You may also want to check out our process.
You choose your travelling companions (minimum 2 people). Forward Travel designs the trip around your destinations, dates, pace, and interests and appoints a local guide exclusive to your group. This format is ideal for families, friends, and workmates who want something customisable with the flexibility to adjust sightseeing and downtime along the way.
You join one of our special departures as part of a group of 15 like-minded travellers led by a Forward Travel escort plus local guides. This option is for those who like a set itinerary, fixed dates, and the opportunity to mix and mingle.
David Smyth is a respected commentator on trends and practices in the travel & tourism industry.
Stories, tips, and experiences to inform and inspire your next trip.
Algeria’s best experiences lie beyond standard guidebooks. To make the best of your trip, trade rushed coastal loops and one-night desert add-ons for full days exploring Djemila’s mountain ruins, walking Constantine’s suspension bridges, camping deep in the Tadrart Rouge, discovering Tassili n'Ajjer’s ancient rock art, and exploring the M'Zab Valley. Algeria is finally shedding its […]
November unlocks unique travel experiences worldwide with vibrant Day of the Dead vigils and monarch migrations in Mexico, Bhutan’s Black-Necked Crane Festival, Rajasthan’s Pushkar Camel Fair, Alba white truffle hunting in Italy, whale shark snorkelling in Djibouti, Zambia’s massive fruit bat migration, and southern spring wildlife encounters from Patagonia to Antarctica. November opens with candlelight. […]
Botswana covers roughly 581,730 square kilometres, close to the size of France, yet holds a population of just 2.7 million, making it one of the most sparsely populated countries on Earth. The Kalahari Desert spreads across nearly 70% of that land, though water still defines much of what travellers come to see. Diamond mining has […]
October is globally for ideal shoulder-season travel. Experience clear Himalayan skies while trekking in Nepal, participate in harvest festivals in Georgia, Morocco, and Italy, optimise your wildlife viewing sessions in Kenya, Namibia, and Zambia, and catch the beginning of opening seasons in the Sahara, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Patagonia, and South Georgia. North of the […]
Angola covers 1,246,700 square kilometres, making it the seventh-largest country in Africa, yet it remains one of the continent's least-explored destinations. Portugal ruled the territory for close to 500 years, until independence arrived on 11 November 1975. A 27-year civil war followed, ending in 2002, and Angola has spent the decades since reopening the roads, […]
Algeria is the largest country in Africa. It spans 2,381,741 square kilometres from a Mediterranean coastline to the deep Sahara. It's also one of the continent's least-visited countries, which means the sites below rarely see a queue. It has seven UNESCO World Heritage Sites, which are the ruins of the Al Qal'a of Beni Hammad, […]
Forward Travel designs small-group tours and tailor-made itineraries for some of the world’s most remote and remarkable destinations, from Antarctica and the Arctic to Patagonia, India, and beyond. We help experienced travellers move past the ordinary and into deeper, more meaningful travel experiences in places that many will only ever see on a map. Want to join a small group tour or plan a custom itinerary? We’re here to help you go beyond the expected and experience the world differently.
FOUNDER & DIRECTOR
David Smyth has spent a lifetime travelling the world and has made it his life’s mission to help eager explorers like you access experiences you wouldn’t find on your own or with commodity tour package providers.
Bring your dreams, ideas, and wish lists to David and let him crystallise your vision into an inimitable itinerary.
Plan your journey
Tell us where, what and when — we'll match you with curated tours and tailor-made itineraries. Or Build your own itinerary.
More than 1,000 happy customers, accreditation from ATIA & CATO, plus membership in ATTA, LATA, WATO, Safe Travels & Traveller’s Choice.
You’re the independent type who knows where you want to go, when you want to go, and what you want to do. Leave the planning to us. We will work with you to prepare a one-person itinerary that covers your interests and helps you create lifelong memories.
Australia’s Travel Hotlist Revealed: Where We’re Heading In 2026
15+
Years of experience
85+
Destinations worldwide
All
Group sizes
"Move past the ordinary into deeper, more meaningful travel."
Small-Group Tours & Tailor-made Itineraries 2026, 2027 & 2028
David's introduction
David Smyth
Founder · Forward Travel
Forward Travel is a boutique tour operator and travel concierge crafting tours with both custom and fixed itineraries for solo travellers and small groups of discerning explorers across the globe. We create personalised itineraries for more than 85 destinations, including obscure ones, on all 7 continents, informed by first-hand expertise and a world-class network of local connections. Plan a trip with us.
Want to plan a trip?
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Stories from the road
Real journeys, real words — hear from explorers who've travelled the world with Forward Travel.
“David crafted a once-in-a-lifetime safari for us. Every detail, from the lodges to the guides, was flawless.”
Emma & James Wilson
Australia→Kenya
September 2024
