Exploration + Adventure
Not just any vacation...
intoMOTION Travel fuses exploration and adventure for folks of all ages through exclusive and engaging international tours. We've got wanderlust and love traveling with others who do too. With a passion for bringing cultures together, we'll ensure that you're not just another tourist in the impressive cities we visit; you'll become a local and build life-long friendships along the way!
What are you waiting for?
Upcoming Tour Menu
Spanish Expedition
February 14-24, 2025
Designed for Middle and High School students interested in practicing and mastering the Spanish language, our unique tour offers the perfect mix of tourism and life as a local. For the first half of the journey, students will explore Barcelona and Madrid while eating out and staying in apartments. For the second half, students will travel to the beautiful coastal town of Málaga and will either stay with a Spanish host family or with the tour group in a hotel. This tour will inspire future travel, for sure! READ ON>>
Costa Rican Adventure
February 15-23, 2025
It’s the tour you’ve all been waiting for—one packed with wildlife, thrills, and loads of natural beauty! And best of all, it’s for all ages so your whole family can join in! You’ll practice your Spanish language skills, walk on suspension bridges through breathtaking cloud forests, zipline on some of the longest courses in the world, paddleboard in the ocean, see a diverse range of animal species, and even go white water rafting! Grab your friends and family and get gone! READ ON>>
Portugal + Morocco
October 11-19, 2024
Experience two different cultures and all kinds of new experiences on our Portugal and Morocco adventure. Starting in Portugal, we’ll explore its dramatic coastline and fairy-tale castles. Then we’ll head south to magical Morocco. If bustling souks and incredible craftsmanship aren’t enough for you, then how about a sunset camel ride and a night glamping in the desert? After a taste of these two places, you’ll be ready for more. READ ON >>
Ladies’ Spanish Adventure
APRIL 18-26 2025
This unique tour is built for ladies (sorry gents!) who long for a bit of excitement, adventure, and exploration! Join us for 10 days of outrageous fun as you walk, eat, and explore your way through Spain’s greatest treasures in Barcelona, Madrid, and Málaga. We’ll take care of the planning so you can simply show up and dive in. You won’t want to say, “Adiós,” we promise! READ ON >>
Italian Vacanza
October 10-18, 2025
Embark on a captivating journey through Italy's cultural treasures, from the romantic canals of Venice to the artistic marvels of Florence and the ancient splendor of Rome. Experience the essence of each city, from gondola rides in Venice to Renaissance art in Florence and iconic landmarks in Rome, all encapsulating the rich tapestry of Italian history and culture in one unforgettable trip. READ ON >>
Iceland for Sweethearts
September 18-26, 2025
Welcome to The Land of Fire and Ice, where volcanos and lava-fields meet glaciers and waterfalls. This trip is for active couples (or pairs of friends) who love to explore together. Step into the healing waters of The Blue Lagoon, rated one of National Geographic’s 25 Wonders of the World. Make footprints on the black sand beaches. Catch the Northern Lights. Hike the beautiful landscape of Game of Thrones. Come see why Iceland is making everyone’s travel bucket list! READ ON>>
Exploring the Holy Land
JUNE 12-22, 2024—Postponed until further notice
Few places clutch us like Israel. For 2,000 years, everyone from pilgrims and politicians to students and skeptics have dreamed of exploring this ancient/new land that still shapes our times. While there are many wonderful ways to make the journey, we’re leading a group of people who want to be travelers instead of tourists! People who are just more curious. Who want to taste the whole menu, look behind the waterfall, sip tea with shopkeepers—slowly. We think you’ll love it—come on along! READ ON >>
New Zealand + Australia
MARCH 5-16, 2025 (Optional Extension March 16-20)
Two Countries. Endless Adventures. Experience New Zealand and Australia in one amazing trip! Geothermal beaches and zipline adventures. Volcanos and waterfalls. Kangaroos and hobbits (yes, in Hobbiton!). Bring your camera for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. This one’s for adults!
British Theatre Tour
July 27-august 6, 2024
Shakespeare said, “All the world’s a stage, And all the men and women merely players.” Be a player in the adventure of a lifetime! Join us for ten days, seven shows, twelve excursions, new friends, and endless memory making. This tour, created for high school students, leans heavily into theatrical performances but is balanced out by walking, biking, punting, and even hiking throughout London, England and Edinburgh, Scotland. READ ON >>
Adventures in Switzerland
june 11-19, 2024
Designed for Middle and High School students interested in a multi-cultural, nature-loving adventure, our tour offers experiences both urban and outdoors. While traveling among French- and German-speaking areas of the country, you will marvel at the diversity in culture, architecture, and language. You’ll hike, bike, boat, and train their way through five cities and towns. Explore the UN’s Palace of Nations as well as the majestic Swiss Alps—all while enjoying delicious cheese, chocolate and of course, fondue! For both language students and those just looking for an active international adventure, this is a trip not to be missed! READ ON >>
Meet Our Guides
Erica Oswald
Erica has been a High School teacher, Academic Tutor, Photographer and Mom. She's passionate about international travel and has years of experience facilitating cross-cultural exchanges, both locally and overseas! Erica founded intoMOTION Travel to empower people of all ages to discover their specific passion, purpose, and path through the unique hands-on experiences that only travel can provide.
Candelaria Barraza ochoa
Candelaria has served as a highly-engaging middle school Spanish teacher for the last eight years. Students appreciate her dedication to culturally responsive teaching as they are immersed in new cultures and a new language, all while having fun! Candelaria loves traveling and taking students on exciting adventure! .
Jenifer Cox
Jenifer has been encouraging students and those around her to “keep up” with all that life has to offer through travel for most of her life! Jen has been a teacher for 26 years, a mom for 8, a techie for 12 and a lifetime traveler and adventurer! She believes life experiences are the best teachers, and the more you can experience the more you will learn. She loves laughing and learning from others, and firmly believes life is better in groups!
Joyce Bernhoft
Joyce Bernhoft has been a world traveler for over 35 years and a world language teacher for 27 years at El Camino Fundamental High School. She believes that travel is the best teacher and that everyone should experience a culture different from their own at least once in their life. When she is not traveling she is learning languages on DuoLingo or playing with her cats. .
Laurie CaRruth
Laurie Carruth learned to love travel on her family’s annual summer road trips. When she finally left the United States for her first international adventures, she discovered a true passion for travel which led to a career as a travel advisor. Laurie especially loves immersing herself in the culture of a place. She is always the first to join a folk dance, learn a new recipe, or assist an artisan in a craft.
Michelle Dunnaway
Michelle is a musician, massage therapist, bookkeeper, writer, and mom. In lieu of stamps or coins, she has spent her life collecting people and their stories wherever she goes. Flexible and optimistic, Michelle loves planning, organizing, and embarking on adventures to both far-away places and her own backyard.
John Friedrich
John Friedrich is a lifelong educator, coach, husband, dad of two, avid golfer, and traveler. He and his wife, Angie, have planned numerous golf tournaments and travel events for players of all abilities and have also played many prestigious courses across the globe themselves. They love getting to know new people and believe that sharing experiences, a round of golf, and a beverage in the clubhouse afterwards is the best way to go about doing it.
Phil Oswald
Phil Oswald is a professor of New Testament who happens to also be a journeyman pastor who has traveled the world and stays up-to-date on the latest discoveries and intrigues in the Middle East (Israel/Jordan/Egypt), Greece, Turkey, and India. His unique craft is bridging the timelessness of stunning places with the captivating stories and people who still call those locales home.
Our Guides are (ALWAYS)...
Kind. First and foremost, we care about you—your thoughts, feelings, and unique needs!
Professional. We’ve got it handled—and you can rest easy knowing the details are planned and perfected!
Fun. We have a sense of humor and really enjoy being with friends—old and new!
Responsible. You can trust what we say; your safety and comfort are our top priority!
Testimonials
“As a Spanish teacher who has dreamed of taking students on an immersive trip that teaches students to be humble, open-hearted travelers, my experience with intoMOTION left me convinced this is the best option for my students. The combination of small-group travel that is at once professional and language-community-culture-centric met my needs to see my students challenged and yet supported. We literally practiced every skill taught from first year to AP, whether it was navigating Barcelona, using the metro, ordering meals, and then topped by a homestay with loving families. My students discovered strengths they didn’t even know they possessed, created friendships in Spain with families and each other that will last a lifetime. We all did, together. Erica is such a professional at every level, and bent over backwards for everyone to have an ideal experience. Her personal connection with locals sets this trip apart from anything I found offered from larger companies and left me and our students feeling at the wheel with all the tools needed to have the experience of a lifetime. I’ll be happy to bring students back this summer and again in February 2020!”
— NICOLE P.
“Best trip I’ve ever been on! I loved how pre-planned everything was! For example, you anticipated that we’d need to get a quick lunch during the bike tour and made great suggestions. If I were on my own, by the time I figured out where to eat, time would have been up. Also, I LOVED that you really cared (and it showed) if everyone felt included, heard, and was having a great time. That personal touch is something you won’t find with most, if any other tour groups”
— BRITISH ISLES LADIES GETAWAY 2022 TRAVELER
“It was clear that a TON of planning went into the trip because it was nuthin but easy for me. I liked that we never had to figure out driving on the other side of the road, all the attractions and transportations were pre planned, pre-paid, pre-arranged. I got to be like a kid without having to make decisions. I loved the guided tours (drivers/live guides) I learned so much. I loved the bike tour for easy physical activity to help my body and get some ground covered in a really easy fun way. Thank you for prompting drivers and others for information. I was too foggy to think about questions but loved listening to the conversations that were started. Laundry service made it easier to pack lite. I loved being told what time to meet, if it would be rugged or street wear adventures, and if this was a long stretch before food or toilet so that I could prepare. Our guides (Erica and Michelle) were knowledgable, kind, caring, personable and well-balanced between willing to connect with sincerity and lightheartedness. I liked when we had the bus to ourselves and the picnic to just our group so that we could bond as a gang; I also liked that there wasn’t an expectation for every one to be all together constantly - nice balance.”
— MARY S.
“This trip was everything I had hoped it would be and more. Each day was such a great adventure and I learned so much along the way. Not only was Erica fun and easy to get along with, she had our trip perfectly organized from start to finish—still allowing for free time. I highly recommend booking this trip; you will make memories that will last a lifetime.”
— TIFFANY S.
“[Since meeting her in college 15 years ago], all the generosity Erica came across with [then] is still there in her passion to show and share with you new places, new cultures, and new travel adventures. She is photographer, tour guide, mom, teacher, and avid hiker all wrapped in non-stop energy.
It takes a lot of energy and coordination to put these things together. From Chelsea buns at Fitzbillies in Cambridge, to castles in St. Andrews, and the best fish and chips in all the world in Dublin, Ireland, not to mention hanging out in the Wicklow mountains and seeing where the set of Kattegat is filmed (thank you McDonnells), and biking tours through Buckingham and Kensington palace, Erica had our tour through the UK lit. Friends have asked me who I’d recommend to take them through Europe. Glad you asked...”
— FRANK S.
Check out photos from our past tours!
Photography courtesy of Fits and Stops Photography