ABOUT ME
Who is writing the blog?
Welcome to my website! I am Agnes from Hungary. As you are already reading these lines, I suppose we share something in common: the curiosity about countries and their cultures, not especially the first choice of travelers. This blog has a focus for the moment on the Middle East and the Indian subcontinent.
I have been an international tour guide for over 12 years. So I have some idea about what makes a trip good, how to make a good itinerary, and how to get authentic travel experiences.
I work with several local guides who also help me give you the best advice. I want to make sure you get the most updates information and an unbiased understanding of a destination. Hence the name: Voice of Guides!
In my free time, I’m a low-budget traveler, well in my 30s, so I prefer a private room in the guesthouse than a bed in a dormitory, but I rather reduce my costs of accommodation as much as possible. However, I never miss going on some exciting cultural tours that helps me better understand the place.
What is this blog about?
The problem is that we entirely depend on the media to form an opinion about remote places. If the destination constantly gets negative media coverage, we develop fear. Some other destinations hardly pop up in the news feed, so we do not think about going there, like Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Kosovo, Bosnia Herzegovina, Eastern Turkey or India.
That is why I want to provide you with sufficient information (best itineraries, travel tips, essentials to know) to travel to less-traveled parts of the world that is often much more rewarding.
Every country on earth is worth a visit. They all have something unique, let it be the landscape, the people, or customs. However, traveling without an open mindset is worthless. It does not matter where you go until you approach everything with honest curiosity.
In the end, it is not a monument but the people you meet along the way and the authentic cultural experiences that make your trip meaningful. Visiting famous sites is essential. But take your time to chat with locals and understand how they live, what they think, what their problems are. Try local food, eat where locals eat and observe what is around you!
Traveling is learning, and every place has something to teach you.
I encourage you to get out of your comfort zone and head to unspoiled places. Isn’t it more interesting to find out for yourself or listen to the people who have already been there?
Don’t over-plan your trip with a day-by-day itinerary. Leave some room for unplanned adventures and spontaneity to make the most out of your trip.
Well, traveling is not only fun and pleasure as it looks on the Instagram photos, especially as a solo traveler. Bad things happen sometimes. The challenges you face are part of the package called traveling.
Get a deeper connection to a place so that it builds into your personality. This is how traveling transforms into an endless learning procedure instead of a pure “wellness experience”.
If you want to read more about me, check out this honest interview with me.
How can this blog help you?
If you can resonate with the above, then you hopefully will find plenty of useful information on this site so that you feel comfortable visiting less-known corners of the world and getting a deeper connection to a destination.
On this website, you find posts about
- the best itineraries in a destination
- the most authentic local tours and tour packages
- city guides and practical information
- recommended books to read, movies to watch, or virtual tours to take
- local culture, mindset, current events
- everything you should know before traveling to a destination
My free ebooks give you an introduction to cultural aspects, customs, surprising facts, and anything that helps you get more ready for the trip, apart from the practical info.
Sign up for my email list here to get access to my “Understanding India, Iran, Iraq, Oman, Jordan and Lebanon” ebooks, travel itineraries and tips for the best local tours
I advise you on the best local tours or tour packages to make the most of your trip. They help you get behind the scenes and often become the most memorable part of your tour. And I don’t want you to miss that!
I will never forget the tour in Medellin, Colombia, once the most dangerous part of the world, where Stevin told about how it was to grow up there. A former policeman from the Balkan war helped us understand the psychology of war. Or my last experience, the Alternative Tour Beirut, was also something that made me deeply connect to Lebanon.
Group tours
You can also join one of my group tours to some less-traveled destinations in the future, starting with Ladakh (India), and later probably to Iran, Iraq, Syria and Lebanon. These cultural tours focus on getting a deeper understanding of places that get much less attention in the media. These countries made the biggest impact on me; this is where I met the most hospitable people, so it is my mission to help people know the true face of these countries.
When organizing my trips, I combine my experiences as an individual traveler and an international tour leader with over 15 years of experience. The trips are planned for small groups (maximum 8-14 people). This way, you can get an authentic experience and feel like traveling with friends. Fewer people want to visit these countries, although I’m trying to make them more popular! This is mainly because of a lack of information, so the unknown generates fear.
The tour guide is a crucial part of the tour. Their life experience and knowledge are some of the most important things that make a difference compared to an individual trip. So, I carefully select the best guides and partners who share the same views as me.
Who do I recommend my trips to?
– For any age group. The most important thing is to be open-minded and enjoy being an explorer in places without mass tourism, with all its inconveniences and imperfections.
– Also, for those who don’t usually travel in groups, certain places are challenging to explore alone, even for experienced travelers. Planning a trip involves a lot of stress. But the most important thing, and what I miss the most during my solo travels, is the wealth of insider information I get from the tour guides and the fact that you can even get to places you wouldn’t otherwise be able to access through the connections of the local offices.
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Despite the deepest efforts, mistakes happen. Should you discover any incorrect information I appreciate you write an email to info@voiceofguides.com.
