Concept

Global Citizen Journeys launched in early 2017, with the team having designed hundreds of programs across the globe from Peru to Mongolia, Australia to Nepal and Norway to Jordan. After hearing the words "First we will see this.... then we will see this" while touring, he always responded "I don't want to see, I want to do."  It's with this mantra that he began developing experiences that incorporate activities that help define local culture. 

Who is a global citizen?

Global citizens are travelers who prefer to be immersed in the local culture. Whether you've been to one country or a hundred countries, you're not interested in just sight-seeing, rather experience-doing. You consider yourself a citizen of the world and recognize the power travel can have in not only yourself, but in those with whom you interact with while traveling.

Can you arrange vacations or trips other than immersive experiences?

We can absolutely design a tailor-made trip for you and have done so in more than 100 countries.  Perhaps you would like to extend your stay after a work conference in Delhi by a few nights, planning a birthday trip with friends in Africa or it's your honeymoon and you've dreamed of a tropical getaway in the South Pacific... We can and have pretty much planned everything and anything, but if it happens to not be our expertise, we will refer you to someone who is an expert.

How we work

After learning about your travel preferences, we will provide recommendations to you on where you may want to travel. If you already know when and where you'd like to travel, we are happy to provide a rough outline of the experience to you complimentary and provide a general budget for the trip. We only secure accommodations with a minimum of 3* as we will never sacrifice on cleanliness or safety. If you are interested in a tailor-made journey, we charge a planning fee of $250, which is non-refundable, however applied toward the cost of your trip. (This fee is waived for past guests.) In order to uphold our service levels with all clients, we require a minimum trip spend of $5,000USD exclusive of airfare.

Founder - Joshua Smith, MST

With a Masters of Sustainable Tourism and 15 years of traveling planning and roles with various tourism sectors, Joshua Smith is a leader in the travel industry space having developed relationships from Sudan to Papua New Guinea and Mongolia to Madagascar. He currently splits his time between Cincinnati, Philadelphia, but predominantly resides in Cape Town, South Africa.

After graduating with a degree in Public Relations & Marketing from Miami University of Ohio, Joshua Smith began his career with the international consortia Virtuoso in Seattle, WA in 2007. As manager of preferred tour operators, Joshua elevated his portfolio within the luxury leisure network through marketing and educational programs. Continuing his success, he placed focus on further developing the Tourism Board portfolio, acting as an integrated marketing consultant with over 40 governments. In 2010, Joshua co-founded 45 Degrees Marketing, a representation company promoting international ground operators to the US trade industry. Through this, he consulted with other brands such as Travel Marketing Worldwide, managing the Middle Eastern portfolio and served as the U.S. office for Asia Reps, a German-based company with a collection of luxury properties across Asia. 

In 2012, Joshua sold 45 Degrees Marketing and started a self-branded consulting company, immediately securing a contract with TRAVCOA as Independent Journeys Product Manager. Focusing on operational efficiency and destination development, Joshua created an expansive portfolio of over 140 tours in more than 70 countries eventually becoming Associate Director of Private Travel, managing the team of Custom & Private Journey Planners. In February 2013, Joshua launched Millennials in Travel, a career development and networking organization for young professionals in the travel industry. As CEO and Director of Strategic Development, Joshua created a network of eleven domestic chapters comprised of 2,200+ members in just 18 months. With numerous monthly events, an industry opportunity program and global alliances, Millennials in Travel has become the premier organization for future leaders of the travel industry. During this time, Joshua joined the board of the United States Tour Operators Association and National Tour Association's Young Professionals Advisory Board while also beginning to plan sessions and speak at conferences such as the New York Times Travel Show and Travel & Adventure Shows. 

In August 2013, Joshua was named on the hot list of "Rising Stars" by travAlliancemedia. Because of his success of developing Millennials in Travel, Joshua was featured on the December 2014 cover "Millennials Rising" on Travel Agent Magazine. In 2016, he left Travcoa and launched a boutique travel company called Global Citizen Journeys, an affiliate of Coastline Travel and part of the Virtuoso network. As a travel advisor, Joshua is focused on creating immersive travel experiences across the globe as well as planning honeymoons. In 2018, Joshua took a break from travel planning to work for South African Tourism as their West Coast Tourism Relations Manager in order to further his understanding of government processes while also obtained his Masters of Sustainable Tourism degree with Arizona State University. Joshua returned to his travel agency in 2020 and continues to serve as an 'industry insider' to media and governments by managing consultation projects through Joshua Smith Consulting. In January 2024 after an 18-month renovation, Joshua launched DigiNomad Retreats, a boutique property in Cape Town designed specifically for the digital nomad community.

Team Member - Sasha VanDenBosch

In January 2024, Sasha VanDenBosch became a team member of Global Citizen Journeys operating under her brand VDB Curated Travel. She has lived and breathed the world of travel and hospitality for most of her life. With a career that's taken her to the heart of the travel industry, she decided to take the plunge and follow her passion - creating unforgettable travel adventures.

Sasha's love for sustainable travel and her knack for collaborating with local experts have led her to spend months exploring the diverse landscapes of Africa, which she fondly calls her second home.

Known as the ultimate "go-to" person for recommendations on the coolest new eateries, hidden gems, and one-of-a-kind experiences, Sasha was inspired to channel her expertise into her very own travel venture. Aligned with the ethos of Global Citizen Journeys, VDB Curated Travel is not just about selling vacations; it’s about creating a seamless and unforgettable journey.

Team Member - Naison Sarumba

Naison joined the team as an Administrative Assistant in January 2023 supporting the team’s growth, primarily within the African continent. Naison was born and raised in Zimbabwe and relocated to Cape Town, South Africa in 2012. While in “the Mother City”, he worked at various hotel properties including the Taj Cape Town. While his travel has been close to home over the years, Naison’s desire & passion to see the world and interact with unique cultures is what drives him, even though his ultimate love is Southern Africa. His primary focus in 2024 is the launch of Diginomad Retreats, a property owned by Joshua in Cape Town and exclusively designed for digital nomads.