Booked Trips

What Booked Trips does

BOOKED Trips is a privately held, founder-led experiential travel company founded in October 2022 by Jalisa Whitley and headquartered in the United States. The company curates and sells book-inspired, small-group travel experiences (10–12 travelers per trip, single occupancy) for women, with each itinerary anchored to a specific work of literature that informs on-the-ground activities, meals, and cultural immersion. Destinations span South Africa, Mexico City, Costa Rica, Ghana, Morocco, Vietnam, Kenya & Zanzibar, Colombia, Panama, and the Dominican Republic, with trips priced from $3,100 to $7,500 per person and structured around a $500–$1,000 deposit plus monthly payment plans.

The core product is the group travel experience, bundled with a pre-trip BOOKED Box containing the featured book, a curated destination playlist, and items from small businesses. The company layers on a Maya Angelou Travel Scholarship program for women of color, publishes a 'Travel Through Books' blog for top-of-funnel content marketing, and partners with mission-aligned local operators (Girls Trip Tours, Inclusive Morocco, Book Bunk, Kgabo Safaris, Soul Life Travel, Essence of Kenya, Impulse Travel) and a designated official bookstore (East City Bookshop).

Revenue mechanics are direct-to-consumer: bookings are captured via Google Forms on the WordPress website with follow-up conversion, there are no resellers or agency intermediaries, and the company does not operate a proprietary software platform. Marketing is concentrated on Instagram (4,315 followers), LinkedIn, Facebook, the blog, and an email newsletter. As of October 2025, BOOKED Trips had hosted more than 100 women travelers from 23 US states plus Canada, Kenya, and South Africa, operating without disclosed external funding and with a team consisting of the founder and one fellow (Natalie Sifuma).

Name

Booked Trips

Legal name

BOOKED Trips

Website

https://bookedtrips.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2022

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Others

Revenue model

1. Group Travel Experiences: Revenue generated from selling all-inclusive book-inspired group travel packages to women travelers. Packages include accommodations, activities, meals, ground transportation, and trip materials (book, playlist, curated items). Single occupancy pricing ranges from $3,100 to $7,500 per trip depending on destination and duration.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

BOOKED Trips curates and delivers small-group, book-inspired travel experiences for women. Each trip is centered on a specific book, with travelers receiving a pre-trip BOOKED Box (featuring the book, curated playlist, and items from small businesses) and then participating in a guided, culturally immersive itinerary in the destination country. All-inclusive packages cover single-occupancy accommodations, activities, select meals, ground transportation, and trip materials.

Product overview

Booked Trips is a book-inspired travel company offering immersive, small-group travel experiences for women. The core offering is the book-inspired group travel experience, where travelers receive a pre-trip BOOKED Box containing the featured book, playlist, and locally-sourced items, then participate in curated itineraries that bring literature to life. The company also offers the Maya Angelou Travel Scholarship for women of color, and publishes free Travel Through Books Guides as a content and marketing resource. All offerings center on connecting literature with authentic cultural travel experiences.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Book-Inspired Group Travel Experiences Small-group (max 12 travelers) book-inspired travel experiences for women that connect travelers with destinations through literature. All-inclusive packages include single-occupancy accommodations, activities, select meals, ground transportation, and trip materials centered on a featured book.
• South Africa Experience (Johannesburg & Cape Town) An 11-day, 10-night immersive journey through Johannesburg and Cape Town, South Africa, inspired by Trevor Noah's 'Born A Crime'. Includes ground transportation, select meals, accommodations, and cultural activities focused on Black South African history and culture.
• Kenya & Zanzibar Experience A 12-day, 11-night journey through Nairobi, Kenya and Zanzibar, Tanzania, inspired by Kenyan writer Troy Onyango's short story collection. Includes accommodations at Social House Nairobi boutique hotel and curated cultural activities.
• Vietnam Experience (Hanoi, Lan Ha Bay, Hoi An) A 9-day, 8-night immersive trip through Hanoi, Lan Ha Bay, and Hoi An, Vietnam, inspired by 'The Mountains Sing' by Nguyễn Phan Quế Mai. SOLD OUT per published status.
• Maya Angelou Travel Scholarship A $5,000 scholarship program honoring women of color who embody exploration, creativity, and social justice. Provides financial assistance for participation in BOOKED Trips experiences. 2026 winner includes Aishatu Ado, an Afro-German author, poet, and peace technologist.

Named customers4 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Inclusive MoroccocoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Morocco's first openly queer-founded and -led travel company created by Bilal El Hammoumy and Rania Chentouf. Founded in 2020, it ensures tourism dollars support locally-owned businesses and stay in the local economy. Featured in Condé Nast Traveler's 2024 Bright Ideas in Travel. BOOKED Trips partners with them for Morocco experiences including Marrakech, Fez, and Sahara Desert trips.
• Girls Trip TourscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSouth Africa-focused tour company led by Eyitemi Popo. Specializes in Black history and culture tours in Cape Town. BOOKED Trips partners with them for South Africa experiences to provide authentic, community-centered tours.
• Curiocity AfricacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJohannesburg-based creative company founded by Bheki Dube. Operates Fox Street Studios in Maboneng, a former printing house. Provides local guides (Gail and Tshepo) for Johannesburg experiences including art walks, Soweto tours, and braai events. Partners for South Africa experiences.
• Book BunkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganization co-founded by Angela Wachuka and Wanjiru Koinange that is transforming Nairobi's colonial libraries and co-directs the Nairobi LitFest. BOOKED Trips partners with them for Kenya experiences to connect travelers with local literary culture.
• Essence of KenyaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTravel company founded by Samantha Wakaimba. BOOKED Trips partners with them for on-the-ground experiences in Kenya.
• Impulse TravelminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal tour company in Cartagena, Colombia. BOOKED Trips partners with them for Colombia experiences.
• Kgabo SafarisminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBlack-run safari company in South Africa. BOOKED Trips partners with them for Pilanesberg National Park safari experiences on South Africa trips.
• Soul Life TravelminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCosta Rica-based travel company founded by Sadie. BOOKED Trips partners with them for Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica private experiences.
• East City BookshopminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWoman-owned bookstore in Washington, DC. Official bookstore partner providing signed copies of trip books for BOOKED Boxes. Purchased books from East City Bookshop for South Africa trip including Born A Crime by Trevor Noah.
• Social House NairobiminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBlack-owned boutique hotel in Nairobi's Lavington neighborhood. Kenya's Leading Boutique Hotel (World Travel Awards) and ranked among top 15 Black-owned hotels worldwide by Observer magazine. Partner hotel for Kenya & Zanzibar experiences.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves3 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php?id=61555043799473
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/booked-trips
• Instagraminstagram.com/bookedtrips

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Booked Trips