Jonathan Schwartz

Travel Profile 

Africa: South Africa, Botswana, Tanzania, Kenya 

Asia: Israel, Indonesia, Japan, Singapore, Turkey 

Europe: Belgium, France, Iceland, Netherlands, Portugal, Serbia, Sweden, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Denmark, Germany, Ireland, Switzerland, Slovenia, Italy, Greece, Croatia, Hungary, Montenegro, Spain, United Kingdom, Norway

North America: United States, Canada, Belize, Guatemala, Jamaica, Panama, Costa Rica, Mexico, Honduras, Nicaragua, Saint-Martin

South America: Argentina, Colombia, Uruguay, Bolivia, Peru

Oceania: Australia, New Zealand

Experience & Passions

Travel has been the focal point of my professional life for nearly fifteen years. I’ve led 68 luxury active travel trips with Backroads across more than 14 countries for over 1,500 guests, managed a portfolio of boutique tour operators around the world, and marketed safari properties throughout East Africa. Along the way, I’ve traveled extensively, designed countless itineraries, and checked more than a few bucket-list adventures off my own list. Through these experiences, I’ve developed a deep appreciation not only for travel itself, but also for the destinations, cultures, properties, and experiences that make each journey unique. More than anything though, it’s the people who have left the greatest impression on me. The world is full of extraordinary places, but it’s the conversations, relationships, and connections made along the way that have stayed with me most.

Extensive travel has broadened my perspective, made me a more curious and compassionate person, and ultimately shaped the way I approach travel planning. These experiences, along with the relationships I've built around the world, give my clients access to an extensive network of trusted local partners, guides, hoteliers, and destination specialists. That network serves as the foundation for creating personalized, thoughtfully crafted journeys that go far beyond the typical tourist experience. My clients love working with me because, like me, they believe the best travel happens when you step off the beaten path, away from the crowds, and into the heart of a destination and its culture. After all, who wants the same trip as everyone else? I take the time to get to know each client first - their interests, travel style, priorities, and sense of adventure - and then design an itinerary around them. No two travelers are the same, and I don't believe their journeys should be either.

Whether it's a hidden neighborhood café, a family-run lodge, a meaningful cultural exchange, exclusive access, or simply the opportunity to experience a destination more authentically, I love helping travelers uncover the layers that make a place truly special. My approach prioritizes immersive experiences, exceptional hospitality, meaningful cultural connections, access to the natural world, and thoughtfully customized itineraries designed to create lasting memories long after the journey ends. 

Some of my favorite travel experiences 

• Multi-day, big mountain, backcountry cat-skiing trip - Nelson, British Columbia
• Late-night tango, open-woodfire asado dinner, and kayaking over glassy glacial lakes - Buenos Aires + Patagonia
• Private cheese tour and self-supported cycling adventure - Gouda + Dutch Countryside
• Trekked (*Tramped as the Kiwis say) numerous Great Walks, Milford Sound boat tour - New Zealand
• Cycled the famous and spectacular Sella Ronda - Italian Dolomites
• Travel by historic boat through Croatian islands - Split to Dubrovnik
• Vasa Museum, mushroom foraging with locals, the art of Fika  - Stockholm + Swedish Archipelago
• Proposed (she said yes) on a secluded beach along the Alentejo Coast - Portugal
• World-class beaches by motor scooter, indulgent massages, matcha tea ceremony, ancient temples - Honeymoon in Bali + Japan
• Private bush flights, boutique safari camps, lions roaring outside my room - Kenya + Tanzania
• Sail, snorkel, freshly caught seafood lunch in the San Blas Islands - Panama, Caribbean coast
• ATV adventures, hidden cave hotel, Ottoman-era mosque's - Cappadocia + Istanbul
• Endless hummus, sunrise from Temple Mount, swimming holes deep in the desert - Israel