I always had a desire to travel from a young age, and while I didn't get to travel much as a kid, I was still lucky enough to visit some of the UK's favourite destinations, like France and Spain with my family. We would camp and I thought it was the biggest adventure ever!
After I left my small city of Derby and went to University in Sheffield, I started to meet people who had travelled further than France and Spain, and I became obsessed with the idea that I could actually explore this wonderful world of ours - if I worked really hard and saved, I could do it!
Whilst at Uni, I dipped my toes into travel with small trips to Europe, gearing me up for a big adventure I had not yet planned. Then, while working in a bar together, I met a friend who suddenly made that dream seem more realistic - she was moving to New Zealand and asked if I wanted to go with her. I was only 21, so my first thought was, 'New Zealand, where the hell is that?'
But I took a chance - I did all the research I could and planned to move there for a year. Five years later, I still hadn't come back home! I lived in New Zealand for 2 years, then Australia for another 2 years while travelling extensively throughout SE Asia and India in between, taking month stints exploring that part of the world. I certainly got that big adventure I'd been waiting for.
From South Korea, Taiwan, Japan, and Borneo, to living on a boat in the Philippines, exploring the caves in Vietnam and diving in Malaysia, I met some of the most interesting and inspiring people on my journey. I backpacked for months through India, travelling through remote parts of the northeast all the way down to the south, until I well and truly fell head over heels in love with the country. I have returned time and again, and I don't see myself stopping any time soon.
When I finally returned to the UK, the only job for me was in the travel industry. I took the risk (again) and moved to Manchester where there were more opportunities and luckily it worked out for me. I spent 3 years working in travel before Covid sadly hit and we all lost our jobs. I spent some time working in product design and management, but the desire to travel never left.
I eventually quit my job and headed for Kenya, where I did an art residency and spent six weeks volunteering and backpacking across the country. Working in the Masai Mara for 3 weeks at an NGO, we painted rainwater tanks through some of the most remote villages in the Mara. On the drive to and from work, we'd spot lions, and watch zebra and giraffes grazing - a truly unrivalled commute.
Once I got home, I found a job that I was really excited about and with luck on my side once again, I started working at Wild Frontiers a couple of months later. Now I can channel my passion for India and Southeast Asia into planning unforgettable trips for like-minded people - the adventure continues!
MOST POPULAR QUESTIONS FOR JESS
What is the most memorable travel experience you've arranged for a Wild Frontiers traveller?
There are too many to choose from! But there are a couple of standout trips that have really stayed with me.
The first that springs to mind was helping a lovely family plan their very first trip to India. With everyone hoping to experience something different, it was a real pleasure working together to create an itinerary that reflected each person's interests. From culture and wildlife to food and time to simply soak up the atmosphere, it was incredibly rewarding to design a journey where everyone felt they had something to look forward to. Hearing how much they fell in love with India when they returned made all the planning worthwhile.
For Central Asia, I particularly enjoyed organising a first solo adventure for a female traveller exploring Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan. I still remember our initial consultation call and how excited, but understandably nervous, she was. Her husband was no longer able to join the trip, but she decided to go anyway, and I loved that sense of adventure.
She embraced absolutely everything. She hiked through Kyrgyzstan's spectacular mountains, stayed in remote yurt camps, shared meals with local families, watched traditional folk performances and immersed herself in cultures that were completely new to her. Seeing her confidence grow throughout the journey (she would email me whilst out there!) and hearing how much she had achieved was incredibly rewarding.
Alongside these more adventurous journeys, I also love organising milestone trips — I think they feel really special. Whether it's a special birthday, honeymoon, wedding celebration or a long-awaited adventure with family or friends. It's a privilege to help create experiences that people will remember for years to come, and is one of the most rewarding aspects of my job.
Why travel to Indian Subcontinent and Central Asia with you?
I have extensively travelled across the Indian Subcontinent and Central Asia over the years, from backpacking through India in my early twenties and still visiting the region every year since. I'm a naturally curious traveller and enjoy discovering a destination through many different experiences.
I've been instrumental in developing key experiences with our local partners and the only way to do this is to get out there, and get involved firsthand. Utilising my partners’ local know-how & my keen desire to help our clients 'see behind the curtain' I'm particularly proud of including some really niche experiences.
I am open to literally doing it all! I love hiking and walking, trying out the local food, walking around the busy markets, visiting the local crafts & art in the area, if there is a new and exciting experience to be had, be sure I'll do it. More recently, I have found myself picking up a pair of binoculars and saying 'look at that cool bird in that tree over there.' So I think my broad range of interests really helps me create journeys that feel well balanced, exciting and immersive.
I also like to gently encourage travellers to look beyond. Sometimes that means suggesting a slower route, adding an unexpected place, staying somewhere a little more unique, or introducing an experience they might not have considered, whether that's walking through the remote landscapes of the Pekoe Trail in Sri Lanka, or exploring with a specialist birding guide in India, or venturing a little further off the beaten track in the Kyrgyzstan mountains.
I love helping travellers uncover experiences that suit them, even if they hadn't considered them at first. More often than not, those unexpected moments become the highlights of the trip, leaving clients with a deeper connection to the places they've visited.
The most rewarding feedback for me is when clients come back saying, “I would never have chosen that myself, but it was the highlight of my trip!”
What can travellers expect when working with you on their Wild Frontiers adventure?
My clients can expect a very personal approach from the first call. I take the time to listen, how they like to travel, what pace suits them and what they hope to experience.
A key part of my role is using my knowledge of the destinations to make sure their trip feels well balanced. I’ll often suggest adjustments based on my own personal experience, perhaps spending longer in a particular place because I wish I had, changing the route to include a destination they may not have thought about, or adding in an experience that will enhance their trip.
I work closely with our trusted local partners to ensure every element of the journey runs smoothly, from knowledgeable guides and carefully selected accommodation to transport arrangements - the smaller details that make a big difference. Whether clients are looking for charming boutique hotels in India, or luxury hotels in Sri Lanka, or authentic homestays and yurts in Central Asia, I enjoy finding the right combination that works for them.
My aim from day one is to make the planning process as enjoyable and reassuring as the trip itself.
Do you look after the full trip package?
I look after the journey as a whole, from the initial idea through to the moment clients return home. Tailor-made travel is about much more than arranging flights and hotels; it is about creating a seamless experience.
For Central Asia especially, journeys can involve multiple regions and need different transport arrangements ( that don't always run every day! ) that require careful planning. I consider everything from the most efficient routes and realistic travel times to the right balance between activity and downtime.
I understand that many travellers value reassurance and ease, particularly when visiting destinations that feel unfamiliar. From providing advice on local customs and practicalities to ensuring dietary requirements, transfers, guides and the finer details are all taken care of, my aim is to make complex journeys feel effortless.
Whether a traveller wants an in-depth cultural journey through India, a walking adventure in the Himalayas, a wildlife-focused itinerary, or a slower exploration of the Silk Road, I can help create the right combination of experiences, accommodation and logistics.
Ultimately, the goal is to create a trip that feels completely personal.
Our South India tailor-made, solo journey with our own driver, and guides when needed, put together with the help of Jess from WF, was a perfect combination. The itinerary was busy and interesting with a great mix of on-the-go exploring and down time.Our guides were experienced and knowledgeable; our driver amazing and reassuring; and our accommodation generally ritzy and comfortable. The highlights were many: from the splendor of ancient temples in Tamil Nadu, tigers and elephants in Nagerhole National Park, cruising the balmy backwaters of Kerala, to walking in the well trodden footsteps of long-age traders from distant lands in ancient Kochi.