Q: Why travel with Cross Cultural Journeys?
A: Simple: We focus our attention on arranging all the details of your journey so that you don't have to! With our contacts and years in the field, we have connections to people, places, companies, festivals, and events that the first time visitor cannot hope to have. Our job is to set up and deliver a thoughtful, brilliant trip; your job is to relax and enjoy it, not having to worry about a thing.

Q: How are you different from other tour companies?
A: First, we plan journeys that are flexible, with time for serendipity, not "tours." We offer the opportunity to experience the world differently, we travel to "be with" the people in their culture, not "look at" and merely photograph a destination.

Q: What kinds of people travel with CCJ?
A: People like you! Our travelers range in age from 16 to 85, with the majority in their mid 40's and 50's, and come from all over the country. They bring to the group a rich variety of interests, spiritual pursuits, and perspectives. Many of our travelers are sophisticated world travelers who choose our trips for the content we offer through our uniquely qualified trip leaders, and who travel with us regularly, while others have never traveled with a group before. Our travelers frequently find that they have a great deal in common with one another and because our journeys typically have a theme, the group is rather focused. One commonality of our travelers is their desire to deeply experience the people and culture of the places we visit and the desire to learn from their experiences.

Q: I’m not so sure about traveling with a group.
A: We continually receive feedback from our travelers saying they had never traveled in a group before (Our travelers are often quite independent, and they want to ensure that they have plenty of alone time and flexibility) and that they were surprised and delighted to find that being part of the group was one of the highlights of their experience. Long after the journeys has ended, many of our travelers continue to stay in touch with each other.

Q: How large are the groups?
A: We feel that the group dynamics and the interface with the culture works best when we do not descend in hordes, and for the most part, we keep the group size to around fifteen. Occasionally, in compelling circumstances, we arrange a larger group.

Q: Who leads the trips?
A: We plan trips based on travelers' interest. When we find a leader who has a particular expertise in, and passion for, a particular culture or region that coincides with what we know our travelers are looking for, then we are likely to put a trip together. The leader serves as the bridge to the culture, and is his or her only responsibility on the trip is to be available to you. Unlike other travel companies, we also send along a trip manager who works with the local land operators, and who handles all the details to ensure a smooth and seamless experience.

Q: Are the itineraries "fixed"?
A: Yes and no. On one hand, we do handle absolutely all of the details and arrangements so that you don't need to think about them, you just need to be and experience. At the same time, having that basic planning in place allows us to be flexible when we come upon a festival or we are invited into a local home for tea, or come upon some "can't resist" opportunity. Our leaders and managers recognize the value of serendipity, and are able to be creative and flexible as unforeseen opportunities present themselves along the way.

Q: Is it possible to have a single room?
A: Yes, it almost always is (occasionally a specific hotel might not be able to accommodate singles, but this is the exception). However, if you would like a roommate, we do our best to pair you with someone we feel would be a good match based on information we gather from our phone conversations and a pre-trip questionnaire that you fill out before departure.

Q: How difficult are the journeys?
A: Each trip is different. If you have a question after reading the itinerary you can call our office or e-mail us and we would be glad to address any individual concerns you may have.

Q: Is travel safe these days?
A: Travel, like life, has inherent dangers. At the same time we work with exceptionally reliable and skilled professionals in each country, people we know we can trust implicitly. In terms of international politics: as the world situation changes we keep in close contact with the United States Department of State and our contacts in the countries. Should we need to cancel a trip for safety reasons, you will receive a full refund. Our travelers' safety is always our top priority.

Q: What if I get sick while away from home?
A: We strongly recommend that you acquire travelers' insurance to provide coverage should you or someone in your family become ill or have an accident. We will provide you with information on insurance and an application once we have received your deposit.