Blue Sky Escapes empowers curious, independently-minded travellers to venture into and uncover some of the world’s most spectacular destinations.
Whether it’s trekking in the quieter corners of the breath-taking Peruvian mountains, wandering with nomadic tribes through Mongolia’s otherworldly wilderness or exploring remote villages in the enigmatic Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan, there are some must-experience adventures which can seem daunting to even the most seasoned of travellers.
At Blue Sky Escapes, we offer our expertise and experience in navigating spectacular regions. We specialise in curating one-of-a-kind journeys which are authentic, extraordinary and transcendent; so as to spur you to step out of your comfort zone, discover the world we live in and enrich your sense of self.
We seek to inspire you to go from where you are – both figuratively and literally – to where you want to be. We invite you to be a part of the story, not only as you immerse yourself and seamlessly weave into the tapestry of your surroundings, but also as you take the journey within.
“In my twenties, I worked as a corporate M&A lawyer. My days were long and time off was in short supply. With whatever leave I got each year, I simply wanted to escape – to any far-flung place where I could be uncontactable; where the WiFi was weak; and where I could roam with abandon and experience the extraordinary.
I soon realised, however, that those journeys were not so much escapes from life but rather, a means to discover a truer life.
In a world under constant threat of bigotry, small-mindedness and an over-dependence on unfeeling technology, I was inspired by my journeys to build a business that stands for a more inviting world – a world unlocked and without barriers, brimming with rich experiences which shun discrimination and encourage self-discovery. This is the core of the Blue Sky Escapes philosophy. And sometimes, all we need to do is give ourselves that freedom to experience … just that something else.”
Krystal Tan
Founder of Blue Sky Escapes
A “Blue Sky Escape” is a transformative and invigorating experience. Like blue-sky thinking, it opens your mind and breathes life into fresh ideas. It takes you out of your comfort zone and enables you to get under the skin of wherever you’re headed. You return with new perspectives and a full heart.
No two journeys are the same. On a Blue Sky Escapes adventure, the traveller takes centre stage in our planning. We’re the arch-enemy to the cookie-cutter, pre-set itinerary. We believe that meticulous attention to detail and thoughtful touches are what makes each journey memorable. We want to get to know you and help you experience … just that something else. Our journeys are unique, at times unpredictable and almost always perfectly imperfect.
We invite you to be a part of the story, not only as you immerse yourself and seamlessly weave into the tapestry of your surroundings, but also as you take the journey within. What results is not just memories which will last a lifetime, but a transformation within and a shift in perspective – whether big or small.
Plan your perfect escape by filling in the interactive form on our Contact page. Alternatively, you can call us at +65 68754 5364 or drop us an email at ask@blueskyescapes.co. We’d be happy to answer any and all of your questions. No query is too big or small! For more information, find out how it works.
It depends. Please refer to the ‘Travel Tips & Insights’ section within each destination page to find out more about securing visas.
We only craft private journeys and work with everyone from solo travellers to large groups.
From time to time, we arrange trips which are tailored towards a specific cause and invite travellers to subscribe for the trip.
Costs for our journeys typically start from US$300 per person per day (excluding international/domestic flights), depending on the size of the group and nature of the journey. We’d love to be able to provide precise amounts for each experience but given the bespoke nature of each journey, costs will inevitably vary. We try our best to work with many budgets.
For bespoke experiences and ground handling of itineraries (which are all-inclusive journeys consisting of accommodation, guides, transport, experiences etc), we get trade discounts and net prices through our close relationships with our ground suppliers. Depending on the destination and group sizes, our margins can start from 15% on these discounted/net rates, which still enable pricing to be competitive.
The trip design and planning process is a collaborative one, where your dedicated travel designer will work along with you to curate a journey that suits your requirements. After receiving your brief, your travel designer will take a few days to craft and design your trip, and then present a sketch itinerary with ballpark costs to you. Should you like what you see, we will request for a USD150/pax working deposit to proceed so that our suppliers are able to prioritise your enquiry and secure services. This working deposit will be taken off your final invoice.
For hotel bookings, there is no mark up on rates - we typically earn a commission (usually 10% as the standard) from the hotels. Through our preferred partnerships with our properties and exclusive luxury travel networks like Virtuoso, we are able to offer exclusive VIP amenities (e.g. early check in / late check out, complimentary upgrades (subject to availability), free hotel/F&B credits, spa massages etc.) to you at no additional charge.
For flight bookings, we manage them through our preferred flight ticketing partners. We charge a booking fee of USD100 per ticket.
Drawing on our own experiences, we recommend setting aside at least six to eight days for each of our destinations (excluding flight times in and out) so that you have enough time to travel deeper, stimulate your senses and forge a truly memorable journey. We find that allowing yourself that headspace and time makes a big difference in ensuring that each destination is brought to life as you unwind and immerse yourself in your surroundings.
We accept payments via bank transfer, cheque or credit card.
We are headquartered in Singapore and are supported by our partners and teams based abroad and in our highlighted destinations. We also have an office in Peru that focuses on the treks we arrange in the Peruvian Andes.
We work with a carefully selected group of staff, guides and suppliers on the ground, all of whom have deep knowledge and understanding of our destination landscapes. We strive to ensure that our travellers are matched with the best possible guide(s) for their unique needs. Some guides are particularly good with a camera, while others may have great connections with families in remote communities. So whether it’s recipes for traditional Mongolian cooking that piques our travellers’ interest or the best storytelling visuals for their social media feed, we’ll strive to match you with the right person for each experience.
We are proud to be a conscious company in which sustainable travel is central to our philosophy and values; from taking care of our travellers, staff, guides, families and suppliers, to being respectful to the local people we meet, and preserving the pristine environments we travel through. Each journey we craft takes into account all of these components.
All of our staff, guides and suppliers are remunerated fairly. We also offer financial and socio-economic support to the local communities and home-stays we send our travellers to, providing them with a source of income from tourism while enabling them to enhance their guest facilities through contributions.
We insist that all our guides and travellers act with the utmost responsibility and sensitivity on their journeys. We do not condone littering or other forms of pollution. With respect to trekking journeys, we consciously advocate for the construction of toilet facilities and the removal of all fluids a requisite distance away from any water source, as well as the burial of all toilet waste. We adhere to these codes of conduct at all times, and encourage every traveller and guide who is a part of each journey to adhere to them too.
In the spirit of social responsibility, our staff, guides and suppliers on the ground periodically visit the local communities and home-stays to exchange feedback on the social and environmental impact of our journeys. Not only does this protocol ensure sustainable travel, it also allows us to be discerning about the places we send our travellers to explore so as to avoid any negative social change.
Finally, to mitigate any impact of the carbon footprint we leave behind, we work with One Tree Planted to plant a tree for every traveller we send on a journey.
Migration on a bullock cart, herding calves for milking, riding horses for hours over vast, rolling Mongolian grass plains (and we don’t mean trotting around in a fixed circuit with twenty other tourists), picking Boggie (the little Mongolian boy in the family we lived with) out of every heap of cow dung he could find to jump into, and even a magic ger. Thank you Krystal for the wonderful trip last October and we are so grateful we reached out to Blue Sky Escapes for a dramatic, real, life-changing (insert other hyperbolic adjectives) experience – we are looking forward to Bhutan (I saw the wild hemp growing on the sides of the roads) and Peru!
– Tzi Yang Seow and Jillian Soh
Blue Sky Escapes helped my husband and I plan our first trip to Machu Picchu! They took into account our novice nature in hiking, individual dietary restrictions etc and planned the most seamless experience for us. Going on a Peruvian adventure is quite daunting as is because of the numerous places and things to see, these guys got us the best tour guide, who made sure we didn’t miss a thing. They planned out a detailed itinerary with restaurant recommendations and packing suggestions which made life very easy for us. I would highly recommend them no matter what kind of adventure you are planning to embark on.
– Henna Thadani
The team at Blue Sky Escapes planned a customised Bhutan trip for our group of 5, taking into account numerous individual requests e.g. dietary restrictions, need for WiFi in the hotel, less strenuous hikes for the less fit, post-hike massages, etc. I highly recommend them for a seamless and well-planned trip itinerary + coordination.
– Karina Tham
Blue Sky Escapes planned our Bhutan trip and it was amazing. They arranged several uniquely local experiences for us (e.g. milking a cow and sampling local Bhutanese dumplings) and we really liked the tour guide BSE personally picked for us. We had a private van – every morning when we entered the van it was spanking clean. The driver and tour guide (arranged by BSE) were very accommodating and helpful. We had a good mix of activities, did some off the beaten track hikes and BSE really tailored the holiday to suit our individual needs (e.g took into consideration our preferences, fitness levels, scheduling constraints etc). We loved the holiday and definitely recommend BSE.
– Esther Foo
I had a stellar time travelling in Bhutan with Blue Sky Escapes. They really took the time to tailor a bespoke experience for me by talking through with me my expectations of the trip. I visited many places that were off the beaten track thanks to Blue Sky who took care to make the necessary arrangements. I would definitely recommend them if you are looking for a rugged, immersive experience in an exotic country that’s not the usual tourist fare. Looking forward to exploring Mongolia and perhaps Peru with them in the future.
– Jeanne Lim
Most amazing experience in Mongolia with these folks with impeccable planning and execution. Can’t go wrong.
– Yohei Ueno
I highly recommend Blue Sky Escapes for off the beaten path adventures and experiences! Went with them for the Mongolia adventures herding cattle on horseback for 3 days.
– Wei Yao Chin
Just everything you need to get you that life changing experience you’ve always dreamed of. Exceptionally organised, well-tailored, professional with great communication, on top of stunning and magical locations only locals know about – just priceless.
– Tiffany Steel
