Welcome!
ABOUT US: MAI JOURNEYS
I’m Jemma, the Founder of Mai Journeys. I am really looking forward to greeting you or seeing you again on one of our Tours.
Having travelled for most of my life, exploring new destinations has become integral to who I am. The excitement of waking up in a new hotel, the joy of exploring food markets, and the thrill of discovering hidden city gems are all experiences that fuel my passion for travel.
At Mai Journeys, we are dedicated to crafting unique travel experiences for exceptional women. Our tours are not just about visiting popular destinations, but about immersing yourself in diverse cultures and forming meaningful connections with like-minded individuals, all in a safe and enriching environment.
We meticulously design and host journeys and creative retreats worldwide. We have fostered enduring partnerships with like-minded organizations that share our principles and bring our visions to fruition.
As a small company, we are a close-knit team of incredibly passionate individuals. We draw on our vast collective global experience to design and host unique journeys and creative retreats.
And we can’t wait to share our favorite corners of the world with you.
What’s in a name?
‘Mai’ is a Maori word, and depending on how it used, have a few distinct interpretations. Used as ‘tae mae’, it means Come In; ‘hoki mai’ means Come Back; ‘hoko mai’ means Coming; and ‘nau mai!’ or ‘haere mai!’ means Welcome! A greeting.
We searched for a word that encompasses our feelings towards our Guests and how we want our Company to be. We want to both welcome you, and ensure you feel welcomed. It is an enormously powerful word, and one we are proud to use.
Our new ‘Logo’ is an artistic depiction of the blending of the two cultures from the two countries I call home: Australia and New Zealand.
The central spiral symbolises the koru, a spiral shape based on the appearance of a new unfurling silver fern frond. It is an integral Māori symbol, symbolising new life, growth, strength, and peace. Its shape conveys the idea of ‘perpetual movement’.
The surround is an Indigenous Australian depiction to symbolise a ‘meeting’ place, a ‘resting’ place. A place to sit in a circle and connect, to talk, to understand.
We wanted an image to represent what Mai Journeys offers as a company and what our guests get/take away from a Mai Journeys experience. Mai Journeys is all about connecting, meeting, understanding, talking – and perpetual movement.
*Mai Journeys Acknowledges Country: the traditional custodians and owners of the lands we operate in and across the lands we travel through. We also acknowledge and pay respect to the Elders’ past, present, and future.
What to expect from our small-group tours?
Our goal is to provide an intimate, immersive travel experience that connects you to new places and new people. Our tours are filled with immersive excursions such as cultural workshops, local market visits, and historical site explorations, a little adventure like hiking or snorkeling, and fantastic opportunities to spend time with interesting and like-minded women.
Who travels with us? We believe that age is just a number. Our trips are open to women of all ages, with our guests typically falling in the mid-40s to early 70s range. Whether you’re single, married, widowed, retired, a professional, or a homemaker, you’re welcome to join us. What unites us is our shared passion for travel, learning, and culture. The women who travel with us are interested in connecting with people who share a common interest in experiential travel, culture, cuisine, and learning. Our tours attract curious, open-minded travellers who are accepting of being fluid, adventurous and share the same values of cultural immersion and connection.
Every Mai Journeys is custom-curated by us to uncover, immerse, and stretch your cultural imagination. Every day is different; nothing is set in stone. There is ample time for you to relax and enjoy your own company if you wish, and of course, plenty of time for good food, good wine, good shopping, and great company!
Most importantly: On a Mai Journeys tour, you will be nurtured from start to finish. We are there to ensure you feel like you are travelling with a group of friends rather than strangers. We want your journey with us to be one you will remember forever.
ABOUT US: MEET US
We work with people who share the same travel ethos – to offer amazing journeys and experiences to women who seek them out. Mai Journeys and our fabulous partners & collaborators strive to offer inspiring destinations, craft authentic journeys and tailor new ways for you to discover the world.
JEMMA WILSON
Founder / Tour Host
Weakness: Cook Books
Favourite Flower: Peonie
Favourite Song: Joeline by Dolly
Favourite Summer Wine: Pinot Gris
Favourite Winter Wine: Syrah
Favourite Food Region: Japan
Sweet or Savoury: Savoury
Cook or Clean: Cook
Indulgence: Good food
Favourite People: The Husband & The Kid
Travel Souvenirs: Materials & Ceramics
Favourite Destination: Can’t choose
Where Next? The World is our Oyster
Ultimate Dinner Party (This Week):
Frida Kahlo, Helen Mirren, Janis Joplin, Victoria Beckham, Michelle Obama, Jane Goodall
I grew up in Australia, and after graduating from the Sydney College of Fine Arts (many moons ago!), I started to jump on planes and never really stopped. Through a lifetime of utterly unique travel, I have been able to nurture my longstanding love of photography, art, food, textiles, and architecture. I do have to pinch myself sometimes.
I have been travelling ever since I was a child. I circumnavigated Australia with my family in a caravan when I was young, re-did most of that journey in my late teens as a backpacker, travelled Europe, & bought a one-way ticket to America. I hopped on a plane from New York to New Orleans to Mexico. After travelling through Mexico, Central America, & Cuba,. This led me to work in the travel industry, starting as a guide in Latin America and later moving to England, where I worked for specialist tour operators in various roles. I’ve had the privilege of working for different travel operators and agencies, each of which has shaped and enriched my journey.
My approach to travel has evolved over the years. While I still relish days filled with surprises and fabulous experiences, my nights have taken on a new preference—a good hotel! I appreciate comfort, good food, and good wine, and these are the elements I strive to incorporate into my tours: eventful days and luxuriously comfortable nights. I firmly believe in the concept of ‘travelling well ‘, but I also understand that this definition varies for everyone.
I strongly advocate for experiential travel and believe in being a traveler rather than a tourist.
TANYA AITKEN
Flight Guru
Tanya joined the travel industry to travel, and 25 years on, above all else, that is still what she loves to do, but now mostly with her family.
Travelling for as long as you can, as far as you can, is a mantra she lives by.
Travel fuels her soul: the experiences, the opportunities, the cultures, the adventures.
She has been lucky enough to have a career that is a labour of love. Planning holidays with a high degree of skill, attention and knowledge has become her trade mark.
Tanya is the Owner/Operator of House of Travel Papamoa, Mount Maunganui and The Crossing. Tanya books and looks after all the flights for our Mai Journeys guests; easy or complicated, she is genuinely the Flight Guru.
ANDREA POWIS
Collaborator / Tour Host
For Andrea, a wonderful travel industry career that has spanned over 30 years has led to a life-long passion for travel which has never abated. Many happy years have been spent exploring the 4 corners of the earth and she still finds there is not enough time to see it all.
She loves sharing her passion for travel with her guests and clients whenever and wherever possible. Her commitment is to Escort high-quality and stylish tours that give women the opportunity to discover new places or maybe some old favourites; meet new friends or reconnect with old friends; and provide the space to indulge in some much-needed ‘you’ time.
Whether travelling with girlfriends, family or solo, Andrea provides an environment that takes care of everything and allows you to experience, rejuvenate and connect. And she also makes sure there is plenty of time for a glass of bubbles and a cocktail or 3 throughout!
SARAH HOYLAND
Collaborator / Tour Host
Sarah’s passion for globetrotting began early, traveling with her parents who instilled in her a spirit of adventure.
On graduating from college with a degree in Hospitality Management and Tourism she winged her way to India and on to Africa where she spent 7 months traversing the continent, followed by a stint backpacking through Europe. When the money ran out, she returned to Australia and joined the team at The Classic Safari Company in Australia, becoming a Director in 2002. Sarah has helped build a formidable company that creates exceptional itineraries for discerning travellers.
Over the years, Sarah has travelled to all seven continents, visited over 58 countries, and honed her haggling skills to perfection worldwide. She is happiest when shopping in an Indian bazaar and sharing her vast knowledge and fervent love of exotic destinations with clients.
YORIKO
Local Guide – Japan
Yoriko was born and raised in Kyoto but spent over 20 years living in the UK and the US. ‘Living abroad was an incredible opportunity that allowed me to experience life in a different culture, but it also deepened my appreciation for the beauty and culture of my hometown.’
One of her greatest passions is mountain climbing. She is also a cooking instructor with a love for food. Lastly, she is passionate about sewing kimonos by hand and wearing them. Learning about the kimono makes her feel proud to be Japanese.
‘Kyoto is a magnificent place filled with breathtaking architecture, delicious food, fascinating people, and rich history. Every tiny detail is a piece of art; & I am always thrilled to show it to you.’
We would be lost in Japan without Yoriko.
AHMED
Local Guide – Morocco
This is Ahmed. He is from Agadir, a city in the Atlantic Ocean between Casablanca and the big Sahara. He is married and has a daughter named Ikhlas (13 of age in 2023).
‘I do love my job which was actually my father’s, so I am following in his footsteps. I have been guiding for over 20 years, and I always enjoy showing people my home land and sharing with them the culture of my country.
Each tour is a new experience, and each place has something special; but the places I most love are Essaouira, the Atlas Mountains, the Sahara and the two imperial cities Fes and Marrakesh where you can experience the exoticism of the Orient, the order in the chaos, and admire the architecture and visit the colorful souks.’
Ahmed is very much loved by all our Guests!
ZOE THOMAS
Tour Host
Zoe was born in Scotland but grew up in Bahrain, Canada, and England.
In her twenties, she taught English to children in a tsunami-affected village in Sri Lanka, where she fell in love with the people, culture, food, and way of life. She made the island her home for several years, designing exquisite tailor-made holidays for families, small groups, and incentives.
When not on the road, Zoe dedicates her time to meaningful projects. She has worked on numerous NGO initiatives and is currently living in Malawi, Africa, where she is coordinating a seminar event for young refugees.
As a mother of a 4-year-old daughter, she is keen to keep exploring and pushing the boundaries of travel to influence the next generation.
SHEELA
Guard Dog
This is Sheela – our gorgeously ferocious Guard Dog!
She sits at my feet most of my working day. She tells me when it is time for a walk, when it is time for dinner and when it is time for The Kid and The Husband to come home.
She is in love with me – until The Husband walks in. Then I am forgotten.
Above all else (except The Husband) she loves food. A girl after my own heart!
She will welcome you into our home with a gift, one that is usually wet with slobber. But hey, those who enter must adapt!!