A Q&A with Jack Witt from Active World Journeys – actively exploring and adventuring the world.
The unofficial NoHo motto is: “NoHo is only as great as its people.” This winter we are highlighting some of our awesome creative neighbors. This week features Active World Journeys, a North Hollywood-based tour operator that specializes in active travel experiences, both in the U.S. and around the world.
We asked Active World Journeys founder Jack Witt some questions so you too can have an adventure with some new pals.
What is Active World Journeys?
Active World Journeys provides hand-crafted itineraries in the USA and around the globe for people to slow travel and experience destinations and landmarks up close and personal. Many of our programs are cultural hiking adventures that feature cozy and/or rustic accommodations each night. And we always make time to see UNESCO World Heritage sites near us and taste the unique food and drink and simply immerse ourselves with the locals as much as possible.
Why did you start Active World Journeys?
It happened organically really. Back in 2013, a bunch of my fitness and health clients started asking me to organize nature walking and hiking trips. It blossomed from local and regional trips to active tours across the country and then it evolved globally. Almost 10 years later I can’t believe all the countries and magnificent trips we’ve gone on and all the friendships that have been made. I never planned it and I’m very grateful.
What are some of your past trips?
Costa Rica, Peru featuring the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu, Israel, Jordan, Egypt, Patagonia, Cuba, Africa, Spain and England.
Editor’s note: check out Jack’s latest post on Gorilla Trekking in Uganda.
How can folks prepare for an active world journey trip?
Most of my trips are doable for the average person. We’re not scaling large mountains or roughing it by carrying tents and food for several days on hikes. But when someone signs up for one of my active tours, as a professional fitness coach with a Masters degree in exercise science, I always give them preparation exercise notes and answer any questions they might have about getting in better shape to thoroughly enjoy their up-coming active trip.
Do you have any favorite trips?
Oh that’s a tough one because we’ve been to so many amazing places. However, if you had to press me I’d say so far Cuba is my favorite place…or maybe it’s Jordan…wait, probably Africa, lol.
What about local trips?
Joshua Tree, Death Valley, Big Sur and Anza Borrego are options for people who want to stay in California for my adventures. Some of my favorite places in the USA to take groups are the National Parks in southern Utah like Zion, Bryce, Capitol Reef, Arches and Canyonlands. South Dakota featuring Badlands National Park and Custer State Park is great too. And a lodge-to-lodge hike on the famed Appalachian Trail inside Shenandoah National Park in Virginia is perfect for hikers who want a taste of the AT without the long-distance and camping. I’ve even taken people bike riding from Key Largo all the way down to Key West. Those tropical drinks taste good after a day of riding!
Can you help folks who have a group and need help with an itinerary?
Absolutely. That kind of stuff is my passion. My custom programs for private groups of 4 or more people are under the “Custom Tours” tab on my website https://www.activeworldjourneys.com/
What trips are coming up?
I’m putting the final touches on a “New Mexico Hiking Adventure” for April 2022. I’m hosting a once-in-a-lifetime, 10-Day Discover Turkey Tour in June 2022. This fall will be a Columbia River Gorge Adventure in Oregon. (Read his Columbia River Gorge blog post) And, if it looks like we have the pandemic in the rearview mirror by the end of summer, I may do a New Year’s Eve in Havana tour so we can all let loose just a little more.
Where would you like to go next?
I’m personally slated to attend the TBEX Europe travel bloggers conference in March in Andalucia, Spain. Fingers crossed! While I’ve had groups in northern Spain on the Camino de Santiago Pilgrim Trail and also Madrid and Toledo, I’ve always wanted to check out southern Spain and the Moorish influence of Andalucia. And, being so close to Morocco, there’s an Atlas Mountain trek I’ve been wanting to scout out there for my groups that features staying with the local Berber people along the trail.
Well, before the pandemic hit, my speciality was small group travel and walking and hiking tours where people slow down and explore on foot and have more time to reflect and contemplate with beautiful scenery all around them. This segment of the travel industry is expected to be a trend in a covid/post-covid travel environment. But I’ve been doing it now for almost 10 years so I feel that Active World Journeys is positioned to easily and lovingly help people enjoy the magic of travel in a healthier and more respectful way going forward.