Two friends. One shared vision. Countless uncharted moments.

Uncharted Tours began long before it had a name.

Back in 2013, at a travel creator conference called TBEX, two strangers—Ian Ord, the innovative founder of Where Sidewalks End, and Rick Calvert, the visionary behind TBEX—met for the first time. Both were already deep in the world of travel: Ian was designing immersive, community-led experiences that empowered local voices; Rick was building the world’s largest platform for travel storytellers to share their journeys and inspire millions.

They kept in touch. They kept dreaming. And over the next twelve years, one idea kept coming back:

“What if the stories people read online — the ones that push us to live fully, travel deeper, and connect more meaningfully — could become journeys they can easily take?” 

Journeys that not only transform the traveler, but also uplift the communities and cultures they visit.

In 2025, that idea became reality. Uncharted Tours was born.

Bringing together decades of experience in ethical tourism, storytelling, and industry innovation, Ian and Rick launched a new kind of tour company—one that turns the content we’re inspired by into something tangible. Something bookable. Something deeply human.

Today, Uncharted Tours is the meeting point of their two worlds: grounded, authentic travel and powerful storytelling. Every tour is built with local partners. Every itinerary supports community impact. Every step is guided by a shared belief that travel should mean something.

We’re not here to sell you a vacation. We’re here to help you live the kind of story you’ll want to tell for the rest of your life.