Escaped the 9 to 5

The Escapers.

We left the 9 to 5 behind to explore the world, build freedom, and help others do the same. This is our story.

60+
Countries - Including 5+ Years in Southeast Asia
1M+
People Inspired to Escape
10+
Years Building Lives, Not Just Visiting
Brandon and Nick overlooking a stunning mountain landscape

Our Story

From Ordinary to Extraordinary

Once stuck in the daily grind, we made a choice - to live life on our own terms. Brandon opened a language school in Chiang Mai. Nick spent months building relationships with tour operators most tourists never find. Now we use everything we learned to help people travel Southeast Asia the right way - not the tourist way.

Read Our Full Story →
Brandon Willoughby

Brandon
Willoughby

Founder & Content Creator

  • Left a career in Finance to open a language school in Chiang Mai - he built something, not just visited
  • Full-time filmmaker and storyteller documenting off-the-beaten-path Southeast Asia
  • Has navigated Thai bureaucracy, visa systems, and local business relationships most tourists never encounter
  • Designed Thailand itineraries for dozens of travellers based on firsthand, street-level knowledge
Hawaii, USA

Nick
Tisinger

Operations & Community Lead

  • Adventure photographer and cinematographer who spent more time in Vietnam than most tour operators who sell it
  • Built relationships with longtail boat captains, guesthouse owners, and local guides across Southeast Asia
  • Traded corporate for a backpack and a camera - has been in the field for 10+ years
  • Knows which Krabi islands are actually worth the boat ride, and which ones you can skip
Massachusetts, USA
Nick Tisinger

Why Work With Us

Three Things That Make the Difference

Depth, Not Breadth

We don't cover everywhere. We cover Southeast Asia specifically - and we cover it the way people who've actually lived there would. The recommendations we give you are the ones we'd give a close friend.

No Hidden Agenda

We have affiliate relationships with platforms like Booking.com and Viator - and we're upfront about that. What we won't do is recommend something we wouldn't use ourselves. Your trust is worth more than any commission.

Actual Access

We have relationships with local guides, operators, and guesthouses that aren't on TripAdvisor. When we plan your trip, you get access to the version of Southeast Asia most visitors never see.

What Travellers Say

Real Trips. Real Outcomes.

"I'd spent weeks researching Thailand on my own and felt more confused than when I started. Brandon put together an itinerary in 48 hours that covered everything I cared about and nothing I didn't."

📍 2 weeks in Thailand - zero wasted days
Sarah, London - first solo trip to Southeast Asia

"These guys actually know the places they recommend. Not 'I read a blog about this' - they've been there, they have contacts there, and the difference shows in every recommendation."

📍 Off-the-beaten-path Chiang Mai - no tourist traps
James & Priya, Toronto - couple's trip to Northern Thailand

"I was skeptical about paying for trip planning when you can find everything online. But the difference between what I would have booked and what they planned was enormous."

📍 3-island Krabi route, local longtail contact, saved ≈ $400
Marcus, Sydney - returning traveller going deeper

Ready to plan your trip with people who actually know the place?

Tell us where you want to go, when, and what matters to you. We'll build the trip.

Brandon & Nick
Travel adventure Design My Trip →

Remarkable Escape Stories

Real People. Real Freedom.

Every journey is unique. Here are some stories from our community who decided to escape the ordinary and live life on their own terms.

Life after the Pandemic
Life after the Pandemic
How she turned uncertainty into the adventure of a lifetime.
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Is traveling for you?
Featured
Is traveling for you?
How to know if the travel lifestyle is the right fit for you.
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Escaping The 9 to 5
Escaping The 9 to 5
How she left her desk job to chase freedom and adventure.
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Solo Traveling
Solo Traveling
What I've learned from 5 years of traveling the world alone.
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Do you need money to travel?
Do you need money to travel?
Smart strategies to travel more, spend less.
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