EpiCurated Travel Philosophy and Founder
Travel isn't just "going on vacation". Travel is education embodied. We learn about other people, other places, other times. We are inspired and awed, engaged and encouraged.
"Culture & Curiosity" are at the heart of what EpiCurated offers. Learn something on your travels, however that might look.
We strive to help everyone enjoy safe, fun, and engaging travel. Whether you are planning a road trip, a solo vacation, your first trip overseas, a friend reunion, or a grand tour, we want to make that trip the best you've had.
We also believe everyone should travel, no matter your budget or experience level. We can help you with a shoestring trip to a city you've never explored, a week in Europe, or three weeks across Asia. Hiking and eating power bars, staying in midpriced hotels and eating reasonably priced dinners, or spa retreats and luxury accomodations. Michelin starred restaurants? We can do that, too.
Travel should be meaningful as well as memorable, and our goal is to provide that level of travel for our clients.
Our mission is to give travelers opportunities for exploration by providing logistical support and local insights so that you can focus on the beauty and experiences of the world around you.
Who We Are
Our story
The founder of EpiCurated Travel, Emily Atkinson, has had wanderlust her whole life. She grew up camping and hiking with her family in places like Big Bend National Park and Enchanted Rock in Texas, and got jobs where she could work outside in nature or had time and ability to travel, like Philmont Scout Ranch, teaching high school, teaching overseas in Tokyo, and Holden Village.
As an artist and arts educator, Emily has enjoyed introducing her students, friends, and family to new places, new cultures, and new cuisines. She started traveling solo in 2006 after moving to Japan, and discovered a love for the freedom and flexibility that allowed. She made some mistakes along the way - getting on a train going the wrong way in Japan, or not realizing she needed a reservation to eat dinner in Italy on a Friday night - but the mistakes are part of the story!
She loves to find the out-of-the way spots that your typical tourist doesn't know about - to eat, to sit in hot water, to view art or architecture. . . And she has trouble saying no to a cooking class!
She started EpiCurated Travel to help people have the types of experiences that she's loved and grown from. She has thought that being a travel agent would be pretty great since she was a kid - and now she is one!
This is Emily in the early 2000s on a Windjammer Cruise in the Bahamas. This company no longer exists, sadly, but there are other sailboats out there!
The Curator
Emily Atkinson
Founder and Fora Certified Travel Advisor, specializing in bespoke itineraries across North America, Europe, and Asia, focusing on immersive experiences and cultural discovery.