kabarsula Pete Rawley acquires tour operator Byroads Travel bandar SLOT INDONESIA

Evolution Travel Collective (ETC) co-founder and industry leader Pete Rawley has acquired Byroads Travel, a small group touring business offering fully escorted itineraries across about 16 destinations.

The purchase fulfils a long-held ambition that began in the late 1990s when Rawley started his career with Peregrine Adventures.

With limited departures and groups of as few as eight travellers, Byroads is designed to appeal to the curious traveller who wants to explore a destination in a small group, with all the day-to-day details taken care of.

Byroads has been operating for almost 20 years, initially founded by former Peregrine Director Richard Mole and later owned by long-time operations specialist and friend Steve Mortimer. Under both owners, the business has built a strong reputation for excellent service and thoughtfully planned itineraries.

A key point of difference is Byroads’ approach to departures. Rather than operating multiple departures throughout the year, each destination has a single departure only, carefully selected around what is considered the best time to visit.

“I understand that we may not be for everyone due to our limited departures, but that’s ok,” Rawley said. “We pick what we see as the absolute perfect time of year to run our once-off departure and we don’t plan to expand on that.”

Another element Rawley is keen to retain is the combination of an Australian tour escort with some of the best local leaders and guides available in each destination.

“After 30 years in small group travel, I understand the importance of the local leaders who run the tours – it’s a must as they understand their homeland and bring that cultural expertise to the travelling experience,” Rawley added.

Rawley is also keen to build on Byroads’ existing offering while exploring new destinations and itineraries.