Our story, mission, and the people behind Soft Compass
Soft Compass was founded in 2005 by a group of passionate travelers who believed that exceptional travel experiences should be accessible, authentic, and transformative. What began as a small operation specializing in European cultural tours has evolved into a comprehensive tour operator with global reach.
Our journey over the past two decades has been driven by a simple philosophy: to create travel experiences that go beyond sightseeing to foster genuine connections with places and people. We believe that travel, when done thoughtfully, has the power to broaden perspectives, challenge assumptions, and create lasting positive impacts for both travelers and the communities they visit.
Today, Soft Compass is proud to serve thousands of travelers annually, designing journeys that range from small group adventures to bespoke private experiences across six continents. While we've grown in scope and scale, our founding commitment to personalized service and authentic experiences remains unchanged.
Our mission is to create travel experiences that inspire, educate, and connect people across cultures while contributing positively to the places we visit.
We're committed to exceptional quality in every aspect of our services, from the first consultation to the final day of travel.
We operate with transparency, honesty, and ethical practices in all our business relationships and travel operations.
We seek out genuine experiences that reflect the true character of destinations and create meaningful connections.
We're dedicated to responsible travel practices that respect environments, cultures, and communities.
We embrace diversity and create travel experiences that are accessible and welcoming to people of all backgrounds.
We bring enthusiasm and deep love for travel to everything we do, inspiring our clients to explore and discover.
At Soft Compass, we believe that exceptional travel experiences begin with understanding. We take the time to understand your interests, preferences, and travel dreams before crafting journeys that align perfectly with your vision.
Our approach is defined by several key principles:
This approach has earned us both industry recognition and the loyalty of travelers who return to us for journey after journey, year after year.
Our diverse team of travel experts brings together decades of experience, firsthand destination knowledge, and a shared passion for creating exceptional journeys.
Founder & CEO
With over 20 years in the travel industry and having visited 87 countries, Sarah founded Soft Compass to create meaningful travel experiences that go beyond the ordinary.
Director of Operations
Emily ensures that every journey we create is executed flawlessly. Her background in luxury hospitality and logistical expertise keeps our operations running smoothly across the globe.
Head of Product Development
David leads our team in researching, designing, and testing new tour experiences. His innovative approach and cultural sensitivity have shaped our most popular journeys.
Senior Travel Consultant
Specializing in custom journey design, Olivia works closely with clients to transform their travel dreams into reality. Her attention to detail and creativity have earned her a loyal clientele.
Sustainability Director
Michael oversees our responsible tourism initiatives, ensuring our operations align with our commitment to sustainable and ethical travel practices across all destinations.
In addition to our core team, we work with an extensive network of local guides, specialists, and partners around the world who share our values and commitment to exceptional travel experiences.
We maintain active membership in the Association of British Travel Agents, ensuring we meet rigorous industry standards.
Our Air Travel Organiser's Licence provides financial protection for our package holidays that include flights.
Our International Air Transport Association accreditation allows us to book flights directly with airlines worldwide.
We're committed to meeting Travelife's rigorous sustainability standards for tour operators.
Tour Operator of the Year - United Kingdom
Top Specialist Tour Operator
Silver Award - Best Special Interest Holiday Company
Excellence in Responsible Tourism
Contact our team of travel experts to begin planning your next adventure
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