20 August 2025
In today's world of experience-driven travel, itinerary planning is no longer just a logistical task it has become an art form. Travellers today crave more than sights; they seek moments that matter, authentic local immersion, and the freedom to wander off script. The modern itinerary must strike a delicate balance between structure and spontaneity, offering both depth and discovery. Crafting such journeys demands intuition, creativity, and a deep understanding of what truly moves a traveler. Here’s how industry leaders like Thang Long Tours, Turalux, Tamarind Global, SKIL, and Plan B Tourism are navigating this shift transforming itineraries into meaningful, memorable experiences.
1. Personalisation through Storytelling – "We believe that itinerary building is no longer a simple rendition of logistics, and is becoming more about story," says Emma Le, Inbound Director, Thang Long Tours and Travels.
"Every traveler has their own rhythm, and we create journeys that are reflective of desires, sentiments, and physical engagement. Travellers today are looking for more than just stops. What they want is meaning and connection. This is the creative foundation of our itineraries; strong personalization, local flavour, cultural experience and moments of self-discovery. It's never about where you are going, but how each moment invites you to reflect. Following our motto of 'Experience truly, like the locals', we embellish seamless travels narratives that feel personal and authentic. Whether you find yourself sipping a quiet café au lait in a back canal of a city or steeped in a local tradition for the first time, there are countless details inviting you to reflect on your own story. In experience-driven travel, the path of live choice in itinerary building becomes an art, and journeys become living canvases."
2. Emphasis on Local Immersion - "In today's world of experience-driven travel, itinerary planning is no longer just a logistical task—it has become an art form. Travellers today crave more than sights; they seek moments that matter, authentic local immersion, and the freedom to wander off script. The modern itinerary must strike a delicate balance between structure and spontaneity, offering both depth and discovery. Crafting such journeys demands intuition, creativity, and a deep understanding of what truly moves a traveller.” Mir Musa Bhaghirzade, Sales Director, Turalux shares, “Experience-led travel requires more than logistics; it requires cultural empathy, creativity, and an appreciation of place.” From learning to weave in Georgian villages to savouring home-cooked meals in Azerbaijan, Turalux brings soulful design to each journey.”
3. Integration of Multisensory Experiences - “We believe itinerary planning today is much more than logistics — it has evolved into a true art form: an emotional and sensory journey. In today’s world of experience-driven travel - we are the ones who organize structure with spontaneity and precision with personalisation. We don’t simply map the destinations, we curate stories that develop through taste, touch, sound, sight and soul. Whether that is a private meal underneath the stars featuring local food, or a sunrise walk with a historian (and not a tour guide), or music and rituals that belong to the region, we bring destinations alive through immersive, multi-sensory moments. With a team of over 400 dedicated professionals, and offices across India and key international markets, Tamarind Global is adept at reading each traveller’s pulse. Our bespoke itineraries show our respect for culture, community, and sustainability, and reflect the individuality and dreams of our clients. Our human-first branding, up to date technology and partnerships based on trust are what elevates us. With every itinerary, we don’t just deliver a trip — we deliver an unforgettable masterpiece of experience, memory, and meaning." – Louis D'Souza, Managing Partner, Tamarind Global
4. Sustainability and Ethical Choices - We believe itineraries are an art form where logistics and storytelling come together. The current climate of experience-based travel indicates that where you go and how you feel when you arrive are only two pieces of a much larger process. We create journeys that are thoughtful and immersive, and speak to the purpose of the traveller. "Itinerary design for us, is not just about the movement of people, it’s about the movement of hearts." This idea, moving people emotionally before and after a destination, is an art we believe can be used to achieve a higher purpose, advocating for sustainability and ethical travel. SKIL's approach is to minimise carbon footprints, work with responsible suppliers and offer our clients ways to travel with a focus on values. From our perspective, innovation is designing new experiences, while still being accountable and conscious of the future. As the corporate and MICE travel industry begins to shift, SKIL is excited to lead by example in grabbing the market, where creativity, technology and ethics blend together effortlessly.” Ramanpreet Singh, Chief Growth Officer of SKIL Travel
5. Balancing Structure and Spontaneity - "I think itinerary planning has matured into a high art form that emphasises deliberate planning while allowing for a measure of spontaneity," says Rana Abu Alhala, CEO and Founder, Plan B Travel & Tourism. "Travellers are not simply looking at places but have moved toward seeking personal experiences that touch the soul and matter to their personal interests and inner journeys. We seek to create itineraries that are flexible yet planned, curated yet spontaneous whether it is a pilgrimage or retreat or custom holiday. Plan B Travel & Tourism is in the business of creating experiences, some of which have the potential to touch the heart, while others might touch the pocketbook. Each journey we design, incorporates cultural richness, comfort, and flexibility, along with the heartfelt knowledge that sets us apart."
Ultimately a good trip is not about the destinations, but the depth of engagement in the journey. The best approach is to create travel that is both prescribed and free. Because when the structure of the plan meets the soul of the intention, your experience becomes memorable.
