Our Team
Kirsten Gardner
CO-FOUNDER AND JOURNEY MAKER
Passionate about the people, landscapes and cultures of Latin America and Asia, Kirsten enjoys designing active trips that offer contrasting views of a destination. Like pairing a challenging tea-house or mountain lodge trek with a few nights at a boutique wellness resort or upscale city hotel. She also loves helping travelers explore destinations through a culinary & Permaculture lens - arranging time with farmers, makers, purveyors and chefs to share their craft.
Prior to founding Outlier Journeys, Kirsten held leadership roles for award-winning tour operators and was partner at a highly respected boutique marketing firm representing the finest hospitality products in Latin America. She holds a Permaculture Design Certificate from Oregon State University and is a graduate of and mentor for the wmnsWORK Tourism Business Accelerator. She's a home chef, gardener and mountain biker, Semester at Sea (F05) alumni, a member Women's Travel Leaders and Snoqualmie Valley Women in Leadership. She prefers hotels that come with a fluffy dog.
Favorite Hotel, Lodge or Camp: Hacienda Zuleta in Ecuador, Nebesa Chalets in Slovenia, Trasti & Trine in Norway, Lapa Rios Lodge in Costa Rica
Favorite Cities: Mexico City, Helsinki, Lima, Singapore
Favorite Remote Escape: Northern Chilean Patagonia, Brazil's Pantanal & Atlantic Rainforest, Mustang District of Nepal
Podcast Appearances:
Masters in Travel: How to Maximize ROI from Attending Trade Shows & Insight from the Supplier Perspective
Soul of Travel: Immersive Global Travel & Business-Building for Humanity
Choices: The Risk-Reward in Travel Agency Operations & Unintentional Mentors with Lila Fox
Jeff Stivers
CO-FOUNDER AND JOURNEY MAKER
Jeff has always opted IN for an adventure and believes that new experiences in far away places have the power to broaden our perspectives. He has seven years of designing active and immersive trips in Eastern and Southern Africa and knows that a wildlife safari may be one’s goal at the outset but often it’s everything else; the local history, ecology, and human connections made that transform a trip into a rejuvenating and sometimes life altering journey. Jeff likes to get his traveler's moving, arranging cycling, hiking, and kayaking as key trip components and has deep connections with some of the best local adventure outfitters on the planet.
Prior to founding Outlier Journeys, Jeff led Product Development in Africa, Asia, and the Pacific for an award-winning global tour provider. He holds an anthropology degree and minor in African studies from The Colorado College and has conducted archaeological research on Easter Island, Sudan, Niger, and Tanzania. His claim to fame is a National Geographic article inclusion on the Lost Tribes of the Green Sahara where his left hand can be seen in the corner of an image. He’s a father of two rambunctious boys, dedicated husband, gardener, fly fisherman, AMC 03 Tanzania Study Abroad Alumni, and never tires of seeing big cats.
Favorite Hotel, Lodge or Camp: Ruckomechi Zimbabwe, Sungani Zambia, Chiawa Zambia, Ngare Sero Kenya, Kings Pool Botswana, Borneo Rainforest Lodge Malaysia, Lapa Rios Costa Rica
Favorite Cities: Udaipur, Quito, Kyoto
Favorite Remote Escape: Borneo’s Maliau Basin, Empakai Crater Tanzania, Okavango Delta Botswana, Rishikesh India, Cascade Mountains Washington
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Leslie Holgate
TRAVEL DESIGN AND CLIENT EXPERIENCE MANAGER
Leslie has turned her love of adventure, language, and local culture into a passion for travel that goes well beyond the surface. Leslie got her start in the industry volunteering in Thailand with a community-based tourism organization, before working with small-ship expedition and African safari companies. A dream to live abroad and learn Spanish led her to Patagonia, Argentina, where she spent nine years hiking, eating, and raising her son while exploring the country from north to south. She considers Argentina a second home, and brings firsthand knowledge of Latin America as both a traveler and a local. Her experience spans six continents and a wide range of travel styles, from the Galápagos Islands to Southern Africa. At the heart of every trip is the belief that the best travel is connected to the people, food, nature and rhythms of a place. Based in the Seattle area, Leslie will stop to say hi to every dog she passes and is happiest discovering the world one coffee shop at a time.
Favorite Hotel, Lodge or Camp: Charming Residences & Suites in Argentina, Posada El Capullo in Uruguay, Takinoya Ryokan in Japan
Favorite Cities: Buenos Aires, Tokyo, Paris, Vancouver BC
Favorite Remote Escape: Argentina’s Lake District in Northern Patagonia, Iberá National Park in Argentina, Khao Sok National Park in Thailand, Lake Atitlán in Guatemala.