(38 Reviews)
100% Recommended

Melanie Psaltakis

Gaithersburg, MD

Wellness and Adventure Travel Specialist

A little yoga on New Zealand's Routeburn Track
A little yoga on New Zealand's Routeburn Track

I have always been a traveler. From multi-gen cross-country camping trips as a kid, to being immersed in New Zealand culture for a year as an AFS student. From living and wandering around Europe, Micronesia, and the United States for numerous years as a military spouse, to encouraging my kids to seek their own adventures in Europe, Asia, Africa, Central and South America. I believe travel can change the way we view ourselves and the world.

I am also a wellness and adventure enthusiast. I run, cycle, lead a local hiking group and am an E-RYT 500 yoga teacher. I've completed 100-mile charity bike rides, several multi-day cycling trips and hiking excursions, and have created and led my own yoga retreats in Greece, Italy, and Sweden.  In 2019, I was even the Wellness Host on a small-ship UnCruise Adventures Alaskan cruise!

My passion is to combine travel and wellness, specializing in and designing wellness vacations, small group adventure tours and tailor-made journeys. In 2020, I further committed to the promise of travel for renewal and regeneration by completing the world's first Transformation Travel Design Program, with the goal of expanding and deepening traveler connection, meaning, and purpose. 

With wellness and small group adventures being the fastest growing trends in travel, I am perfectly poised to help you plan your unique experience. This includes self-guided itineraries, small groups, private groups, center-based and point-to-point hiking and cycling trips, wildlife walks, summits, and polar excursions. Here are a few examples: 

  • Nourish your body and spirit at a wellness resort and spa in Costa Rica that is committed to sustainability and social consciousness.
  • Preserve the environment and benefit local communities on a walking and wine holiday in one of the world's best yet largely undiscovered wine regions in Italy while not missing out on delicious local cuisine.
  • Explore New Zealand predominately on foot, taking in the main highlights and many off-the-beaten-track attractions such as Jurassic-like rainforests, glaciers, volcanic peaks, and golden beaches.
  • Make a lower carbon choice by exploring the world on two wheels, from gentle cycling tours in the Loire region of France to a fully supported expedition in Morocco's High Atlas Mountains. Or maybe pedaling the length of Vietnam while exploring its unique culture and cuisine.
  • Focus on protecting and nurturing wildlife and biodiversity aboard a small ship voyage, accompanied by National Geographic explorers, award-winning photographers, marine biologists, naturalists, archaeologists, and ornithologists in locations like Alaska, Hawaiian Islands, Pacific Northwest, Galapagos, Mexico's Sea of Cortez, Belize and Guatemala, Egypt, the Chilean Fjords, the Maldives, and Papua New Guinea. 
  • Travel responsibly and in comfort while witnessing Antarctic wildlife such as penguins, seals, and whales, or exploring the Arctic wilderness of Canada, Greenland,  Iceland or even Russia!

For solo travelers, friends, families, groups, culture and wildlife enthusiasts, active and not-so-active travelers! What kind of traveler do you want to be? Where do you want to go? When will you make those discoveries you've been dreaming about? How do you want to travel in the world?  

 

Customer Testimonials

Trip Was Amazing

The trip was amazing and Melanie was just the best to work with! When we had a flight cancellation on the way to Germany, Melanie helped get us re-booked and even helped to cancel the tours that were impacted. If you're thinking about using a travel agent for upcoming trips, definitely check with Melanie!
Adam D. Indianapolis, IN

My Reviews

7 of 9 people found this review helpful
Incredible experience!
Melanie makes traveling to distant places so easy. She does her research and knows all of the best places to go and the best things to do there. She is exceptionally organized and takes all the stress out of travel. I went on a yoga retreat with Melanie where we did yoga and hiking and had a plenty of beach time. She is the best yoga teacher I have ever had. An amazing trip all around!
By  Laurie  from  Gaithersburg, MD
Traveled to  Bermuda ~ Caribbean
I would recommend this agent to my family and friends

Melanie Psaltakis responded:
That was a super fun trip - lots of laughs and amazing experiences! Thank you for the review!

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5 of 6 people found this review helpful
Flexible and knowledgeable:)
Melanie’s expertise has been indispensable planning and adapting our travel plans over the last couple of years. She has advised me on several vacations and her knowledge of destinations coupled with what we as travelers prefer has been exceptional!
By  Hillwalker  from  Seattle
Traveled to  England ~ Europe
I would recommend this agent to my family and friends

Melanie Psaltakis responded:
Thank you so much for your kind words. It's been my pleasure to work with you on several itineraries and I look forward to being of service again soon!

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8 of 13 people found this review helpful
Met Every Expectation!

Melanie is a world traveler, detail oriented and makes traveling stress free. My husband and I had just landed in Stockholm at the beginning of the pandemic. No sooner had we landed when we discovered that our return tickets were canceled. Of course there was initial panic but Melanie, using her extensive travel knowledge, guided us through the process of finding return tickets when many countries were shutting down incoming travel. We will be using Melanie for future travel in much less stressful times.
By  Mary  from  Darnestown, Maryland
Traveled to  Sweden ~ Europe
I would recommend this agent to my family and friends

Melanie Psaltakis responded:
Thank you for the review! It was indeed a stressful time at the beginning of the pandemic and I am happy I was able to help reduce that foreboding and get you home safely - and that you got to see the Northern Lights too!

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6 of 9 people found this review helpful
Namaste
My eight day yoga retreat to the mountains of Umbria in Italy were fabulous. Melanie is well-organized, professional, knowledgeable and is great to travel with. Any trip she organizes will be a winner!
By  Yoga traveler  from  Gaithersburg, MD
Traveled to  Umbria ~ Italy ~ Europe
I would recommend this agent to my family and friends

Melanie Psaltakis responded:
Thank you for the review! Umbria is truly a special place in Italy. I look forward to helping you plan your next trip!

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2 of 2 people found this review helpful
Trip of a Lifetime was planned very well.
Melanie asked what type of trip experience we wanted in Italy --see everything in 2 weeks or spend time only in Tuscany at a slower pace. We chose option 2. Next, Melanie found hotels and train itineraries that met our chosen pace. We did a food walking tour in Siena and, in Cortona, had a private driver for an all-day wine tour (6 of us) to 3 wineries. I recommend the investment in these activities since the tour guides were excellent and we did not have to figure out how to read the road signs in Italian as we whizzed past them!! Lastly, we had a problem in Milan when the driver left us stranded. I called Melanie and she fixed the mishap on the spot. A driver showed up about 45 minutes later and we were on our way again. Great trip. When we are ready for the next adventure, Melanie will get a call. Lisa H.
By  Lisa H.  from  Alexandria, Virginia
Traveled to  Italy ~ Europe
I would recommend this agent to my family and friends

Melanie Psaltakis responded:
Thank you for taking time to write a review of my services for your trip to Tuscany. I love co-creating perfectly paced trips that take into account special interests while also making sure all the logistics flow smoothly. I'm glad you called me when the driver didn't show up in Milan so a solution could be found to get you on your way. I look forward to working with you again when you are ready to travel again!

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Destination Expert:

  • New Zealand
  • Greece
  • Italy
  • Guam
  • Scandinavia

Travel Specialist:

  • Wellness
  • Independent Travel
  • European Culture
  • River Cruises
  • Cycling

Top Travel Partners:

  • UnCruise Adventures
  • Azamara
  • Europe Express
  • Project Expedition
  • AmaWaterways

Certifications/Awards:

  • Select Wellness Program
  • Transformation Travel Council Travel Designer
  • 100% Pure New Zealand Specialist (Silver)
  • Exodus Travels Cycling and Walking/Hiking Badges
  • Exodus Travels Self-Guided and Private Groups

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