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IN BRIEF
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Between Lyon and Le Puy-en-Velay, I transformed a childhood passion into a daily profession: travel planner. My favorite playgrounds? The United States, Tanzania, and Costa Rica. From the American west coast to the beaches of Zanzibar, from the Arenal volcanoes to the mists of Monteverde, I imagine tailor-made itineraries that give meaning to travel. With my company, Kanoa – “freedom” in Hawaiian – I provide comprehensive organization, while my clients maintain control over the bookings. Here’s how these three destinations have shaped my style, and how my passion has become my profession.
United States: the promise of the great West
The United States have been my first professional love. Their vast landscapes inspire road trips that tell a story at every turn. I love connecting iconic cities like San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Las Vegas to national parks – Yosemite, Grand Canyon, Zion, Bryce, Arches – for a subtle balance between urban culture, nature, and timeless moments.
On the West Coast, I prioritize stops designed for breathing: sunrise at Valley of Fire, scenic road along Highway 1, sunset at Big Sur, slow travel in the vineyards of Sonoma, or a design pause in Palm Springs. The itinerary adapts to the age of the children, desires for adventure or comfort, pace, and budget.
Tailor-made road trip: from the coastline to the deserts
A typical itinerary can start in San Francisco, head to Yosemite for its redwood forests, then glide into the mineral heart of Utah – Zion, Bryce, Capitol Reef – before ending on the Pacific coast. I incorporate unique accommodations, local cafés, accessible hikes, and a few confidential experiences: stargazing in the desert, photo workshops in Monument Valley, local tastings in Paso Robles.
Traveling with family in the United States
For tribes, I anticipate transfers, compact distances, and alternate learning and fun. The desire to escape can also take more playful forms: flying to Florida and discovering Orlando with family is an excellent entry point for a first contact with America before heading to the wild West.
Tanzania: between savanna and lagoons
Tanzania offers an unforgettable face-to-face encounter with nature. From the plains of Serengeti to the Ngorongoro crater, safaris weave the tapestry of a powerful journey, punctuated by pauses by the Indian Ocean. In Zanzibar, the architecture of Stone Town responds to coral reefs and fragrant spices, for a finale that is both cultural and beachy.
I build circuits that respect the rhythms of wildlife and travelers: rising at dawn to follow the trails, lunch under an acacia, observing a migration, then falling asleep in a lodge tent with the distant call of hyenas as the soundtrack. Families enjoy private vehicles, couples intimate addresses, and everyone a discreet but constant accompaniment.
Ethics and a light footprint
Luxury in Tanzania rhymes with respect. I prioritize engaged camps, local guides, and low-impact experiences. Sea activities are organized in protected areas, far from overcrowding. To travel smart, I also advise avoiding excess in luggage: this selection of often-overvalued travel items helps pack lighter and freer.
Costa Rica: the “Pura Vida” tailored
In Costa Rica, nature takes center stage. Between volcanoes, cloud forests, and beaches of the Pacific like those of the Caribbean, each day changes scenery. From the suspension bridges of Monteverde to the hot springs of Arenal, turtles in Tortuguero to howler monkeys in Manuel Antonio, I guide itineraries to multiply experiences without rushing.
The accommodations, often eco-lodges integrated into their environment, encourage morning observations from the terrace: toucans, hummingbirds, and iguanas become neighbors. Activities alternate canopy walks, gentle rafting, nature hikes, beginner surfing, and lounging in secret coves.
Parents, children, grandparents: a pace for everyone
A multi-generational trip benefits from a well-paced rhythm: a minimum of two nights per stop, optimized transfers, punctual French-speaking guides. For inspiration, I gladly share ideas for marine itineraries to better understand the ocean: these tips for a family trip across the Atlantic extend the “Pura Vida” spirit along the water.
Where my passion for travel became my profession
I grew up traveling and then stopped my first career as an event project manager to train in tourism. The traditional role of a travel agent didn’t suit me: I wanted to create tailor-made experiences, listen, adjust, and tell stories. I then discovered the role of travel planner and launched Kanoa, an independent studio that designs fully personalized itineraries.
Launching during the Covid period seemed crazy; yet, that’s when everything came together. I built a precise method, from the initial brief to the interactive travel diary, with one obsession: to free the traveler from constraints while giving them the freedom to book and decide. Today, I truly live from my passion, and I measure, every day, the trust placed in me.
My creation method: from listening to the itinerary
Everything begins with an in-depth exchange. We define your desires, date constraints, budget, and style. I then propose detailed itineraries, a selection of accommodations, sightseeing, activities, and recommended addresses, with a realistic timeline and alternatives if the weather or logistics disrupt the plan. You book, I refine: the perfect balance between autonomy and support.
My daily routine as an entrepreneur is enriched with creative tools and research. To optimize ideas, I explore topics such as these requests to ChatGPT dedicated to travel entrepreneurs, useful for structuring research, smoothing out a comparison of steps, or testing a new itinerary approach.
Practical tips and additional inspirations
Preparing for a major departure does not mean giving up spontaneity: on the contrary, a clear framework frees up improvisation. I recommend a day-by-day outline, maneuvering margins, not-too-long transfers, and a list of “wild card” addresses to adapt to moods and climate. In terms of luggage, the useful prevails over the gadget; in terms of budget, I balance must-sees and local gems.
Are you hesitating between a long trip and a short getaway? A European escape can become an itinerary laboratory to test your ideal pace before venturing further. This step-by-step progression reassures, refines desires, and prepares for the wonder of vast horizons.
Why these three destinations remain my favorites
The United States for the vastness of spaces and the drama of the roads; Tanzania for the animal intensity, the ground ethics, and the safari/ocean alliance; Costa Rica for its biodiversity laboratory and gentle pedagogy of travel. Three terrains, one common thread: the art of marrying freedom, the right rhythm, and encounters to build memories that do not fade.
