Founded in 1998, Laurus Travel is a boutique tour operator specializing in premium small-group travel with a focus on East Asia, Southeast Asia, and the Indian subcontinent.
For more than two decades, we have been designing journeys that go beyond sightseeing to foster a deeper understanding of the people, cultures, histories, and traditions that shape the destinations we visit.
Our Founders
Laurus Travel was founded by Julius Yan and Heidi Li, whose backgrounds helped shape the company’s distinctive approach to travel.
Before co-founding Laurus Travel, Julius built a successful career as a professional tour guide in China. His years of experience leading travellers provided firsthand insight into what makes a journey truly memorable. That experience instilled a deep appreciation for the critical role played by guides in helping travellers understand a destination.
That perspective continues to influence the company today. Laurus places exceptional importance on recruiting and working with knowledgeable, engaging, and professional guides who bring destinations to life through their expertise and personal insight.
Heidi brought a complementary perspective through her background in journalism and business. Her interest in culture, learning, and thoughtful communication helped shape the educational philosophy that remains central to Laurus Travel. Combined with a strong commitment to responsible management and long-term planning, her contributions helped establish the foundations upon which the company was built.
Together, Julius and Heidi created Laurus Travel around a simple idea: travel should be enriching, authentic, and professionally managed from beginning to end.
Our Mission
Our mission is to provide enriching travel experiences that encourage cultural understanding, personal growth, and meaningful engagement with the world.
We seek to create journeys that inspire curiosity, foster respect for different cultures, and leave travellers with a deeper appreciation of the places they visit and the people they meet.
While every traveller returns home with photographs and memories, we hope they also return with new perspectives and a broader understanding of the world.
Our Region of Expertise
Since our founding, we have focused on a carefully selected range of destinations in East Asia, Southeast Asia, and the Indian subcontinent.
Rather than attempting to operate tours around the globe, we have chosen to concentrate on regions that we know exceptionally well. This specialization allows us to develop a deeper understanding of our destinations, maintain strong local partnerships, and continually refine the experiences we offer.
From China and Japan to South Korea, Vietnam, Cambodia, India, and beyond, our tours reflect decades of experience and ongoing attention to detail.
Small Groups, Better Experiences
We believe that smaller groups create more rewarding travel experiences.
Smaller groups allow for greater flexibility, easier interaction with local communities, and more meaningful engagement with cultural and historical sites. They also encourage conversation, camaraderie, and shared discovery among travellers.
Our tours are designed to be personal rather than impersonal, creating an environment where travellers can engage more deeply with both the destination and one another.
Exceptional Guides
A great guide can transform a good trip into an unforgettable one.
Because one of our founders began his career as a tour guide, Laurus has always placed exceptional importance on guide quality. We understand that guides are not simply providers of information; they are interpreters of culture, storytellers, educators, and ambassadors for their countries.
We devote considerable effort to identifying and working with outstanding local guides who possess not only extensive knowledge, but also the ability to communicate, engage, and inspire.
We believe that guides should be respected and fairly compensated for the expertise they bring to their work. This philosophy has helped us build long-term relationships with many exceptional professionals and remains one of the defining characteristics of the Laurus Travel experience.
Thoughtfully Designed Journeys
Every itinerary we offer is the result of careful planning and continual refinement.
Our goal is not simply to visit destinations, but to create journeys that are balanced, comfortable, educational, and memorable. We regularly review and improve our itineraries to ensure that they continue to meet the expectations of today’s travellers while preserving the qualities that have long distinguished Laurus Travel.
We are keenly aware that a traveller’s time is valuable. For this reason, our tours do not include scheduled shopping stops and remain focused on meaningful experiences rather than commercial activities.
Our Core Values
Integrity, Mutual Respect, Dedication, Life-long Learning, Innovation, Humility and Curiosity.
