About Fernweh Travel & Tours
Fernweh Travel and Tours is a privately owned boutique tour operator offering unique and authentic journeys throughout the world. Every itinerary is carefully designed to ensure that all of our clients get to experience each country’s colorful and diverse culture. Our aim is to provide a comprehensive tour, including educational, culinary, cultural, artistic, and sometimes improvisational encounters.
Our process is simple, we try and test every aspect of an itinerary. We drive every road, we sleep in every hotel, we eat in every restaurant, we visit every museum, and we see every show. When it comes to guides, we have vetted and personally met each one, and we only hire locals, meaning our tour managers and guides are native to the area they are working in.
We know that your time away is precious and we will make your experience unforgettable!
Why Choose Us?
Who’s Behind the Curtain?
Lisa Sample
Fern|weh
[‘ fern:veh] german
A German word which translated means “far-woe” or “far sickness.” A longing for far off places, especially those you haven’t seen yet. An ache that reminds us we have to get out and see the world!
My passion for travel began at a young age. Growing up with two German grandmothers (hence my name), I was immersed in history, language, and culture early on. In my early 20s, I joined my mother and her nursing team on several medical missions to the Dominican Republic, serving as a translator. Those experiences were not only eye-opening but incredibly rewarding, offering me a humbling perspective on the world.
This exposure inspired me to study Spanish and pursue a degree in Hospitality and Tourism Management, which laid the foundation for my next adventure.
In 2003, I joined Amber Road Tours, a privately owned company specializing in small group tours to Southern Europe. Alongside the owners, Jonathan Bassett and Sonya Conti, I co-created three unique itineraries across Spain. Over nearly a decade, I traveled back and forth to Europe, refining the Spain tours while helping the company expand its destinations beyond Italy.
These experiences have taught me that travel doesn’t need to be extravagant to be meaningful. Some of the most memorable moments happen in the simplest of settings. I’ve found that sitting at a local’s kitchen table, sharing a home-cooked meal, can be just as fulfilling as visiting iconic landmarks.
Ultimately, travel is less about the stunning places we visit and more about the connections we make along the way. As humans, we instinctively seek out similarities in others and search for common ground. It’s through these connections that we come to realize that our way of doing things isn’t always the best way.
At Fernweh Travel and Tours, we are dedicated to offering authentic experiences that foster lasting relationships between people and places. I am committed to ensuring that your travels are immersive, engaging, and meaningful—not just a tour through a destination, but an experience you live through. That’s why my tours focus on regional exploration: less time on a coach, more time interacting with the local community.
Consistency and value are paramount. I strive to make each of my itineraries as unique and fulfilling as the last, incorporating elements of surprise and spontaneity without ever sacrificing the quality of the experience. When you join us, you can rest assured that each tour will always feature the following six core elements:
- Small group tours (never more than 14 guests)
- 4-5 star boutique hotels within walking distance of the city center
- Unique regional itineraries
- Arrival and departure transfers from designated airports/locations
- Minimum coach time
- Only the best native tour guides
As travelers, we all share an innate longing to continue exploring, a “fernweh” feeling, as my grandmothers would say—a longing for places we’ve never seen before. When that feeling strikes, you can trust that we will always provide the same high level of service you received on your first journey with us.
Sean R.
Sean is the perfect guide combination. Son of an Irish mother and Spanish father, he was born and raised in Madrid and considers himself strictly a local “Madrileño” guy. He is fluent in both English and Spanish and holds a degree in medieval history and has a passion for humanities. He loves traveling up and down Spain and still remains fascinated by its land and cultures. His passion and enthusiasm for the country are contagious and he loves sharing it with visitors! As an active tour guide for over a decade both locally and overseas, Sean is the ideal guide to show you the heart and soul of Spain.
Miguel
Olá! I’m Miguel, a proud Portuguese native with a lifelong love for languages, culture, and connection.
Born and raised in the charming central town of Entroncamento, I grew up dreaming of becoming a teacher. But in 2007, life took a different turn – I became a certified Official Tourist Guide, and that’s when I discovered my true passion: sharing the beauty of my country with travelers from around the world.
After years of working internationally as a Tour Manager, I now focus on what I love most-showing visitors the heart and soul of Portugal. From historic cities to hidden coastal villages, I’m always excited to unveil the scenic routes, cultural stories, and local secrets that make this country unforgettable.
I’m a wanderluster, a wine nerd, a motorcycle enthusiast, and above all, someone who loves creating meaningful, memorable experiences through travel.
Let’s explore Portugal together!
Charlie G.
¡HOLA! Me llamo Charlie. Almost twenty years ago, I left my native Charleston, SC for Andalusia, in the south of Spain. I’d planned to stay for a year, maybe two at the most, but then I met Concha, my media naranja. (In Spanish, that’s the “other half of the orange,” ie, soul mate.) Concha and I were married in Jerez de la Frontera in 2010, and we’ve been learning from and laughing with each other ever since. We might even be inadvertently creating a new language: Just the other day, to respond in the affirmative, I didn’t say YES or SÍ, but rather YÍ. And you know what? Concha didn’t bat an eye.
Here in Andalusia my lifelong passion for writing and storytelling has found not just a new language to work in, but new forms. A few years ago, the popularity of a video I made about Andalusian Spanish led to a book of humorous essays, ¿Qué Dices, Teacher?. More recently, I’ve been doing stand-up shows in small theaters around the region. It’s all so unexpected, and so welcome. I even eat spinach now, thanks to a traditional Andalusian recipe that includes chickpeas, bread crumbs, and cumin!
I look forward to sharing some of my Andalusian adventures-and maybe a recipe or two-with you in the coming months. In the meantime, you can find my videos on social media at @amerizano. For essays in English about my life in Andalusia, check out https://charliegeer.substack.com/
Elizabeth
Digital Marketing Specialist
I’ve always been drawn to the way marketing can tell a story and unite people through shared experiences. For me, travel is one of the most exciting stories to tell. Every destination has its own sites,people, and moments that deserve to be shared. At Fernweh, I get to do something I’m passionate about and make our travels come to life online. Whether it’s posting photos that spark curiosity or sharing the little details that make each trip special, I love helping others feel included on our tours from anywhere!