Wander Intentionally
At Kulture Adventures, we believe that travel is more than just visiting new places and jumping on some giant company's yacht—it’s about creating meaningful connections, supporting local communities, and immersing ourselves in diverse cultures.
Our mission is to make travel accessible, educational, and enriching for everyone, while also giving back to the communities we visit.
Our Story
Kulture Adventures was born out of a shared passion for travel and a desire to make a positive impact on the world. CoFounded by Kelvin Turner and Ashby Owens, two seasoned travelers and nonprofit professionals, our company is dedicated to providing curated travel experiences that focus on culture, learning, service, immersion, and fun.
As coworkers for a large international nonprofit, Kelvin & Ashby both prioritized relationship building as the key to successfully working in communities around the world. Kelvin working in Africa, Ashby in Latin America, they fostered lasting relationships with amazing people from east to west.
Life moved on, but Kelvin & Ashby remained close friends. Sitting one day at a favorite cafe in Norfolk, Virginia, our 'home,' they asked each other - 'with all these relationships built and cherished, how could we continue to support those friends, and share the very different, rooted way we have experienced travel with our communities at home?'
From that, Kulture Adventures Travel came to life.
Kulture Adventures is in an exciting part of the journey, honing their mission while living it, and letting this movement become what it needs to be - one that ultimately uplifts communities they live in and communities visited.
Kulture Adventures Mission
01
Cultural Immersion
So often travel is focused on luxury, without rooting it in the actual country being visited. We believe you can have both! Travel is only enriched when we dive a little deeper, beyond consuming luxury services, to experiencing them, while learning about vibrant cultures, next to a local guide.
02
Support Small, Local Businesses
Up to 80% of tourism revenue leaves the country visited, due to foreign-owned businesses that swept in for profit. We look for local companies, entrepreneurs and small businesses to ensure the majority of the money we spend benefits the community we are visiting.
03
Make Travel More Accessible, Affordable, Connected
We seek to change the way both the tourist and the community visited experience tourism, by rooting experiences in culture, creating space for local people to tell their own stories.
With a desire to make travel more accessible for the average American (and beyond!), we aim to keep pricing affordable, and are starting a scholarship program to benefit first time travelers. Ask us for more info!
Meet the Team
CoFounder and Chief Adventure Officer
Kelvin Turner II
Hey Adventurers,
I’m Kelvin Turner, a travel enthusiast and one of your Chief Adventure Officers at Kulture Adventures. With a passion for exploring the world’s hidden gems and learning about diverse histories and cultures, I have been blessed to work across five continents and travel to over 35 nations.
By day, I navigate the world of philanthropy and public health as a Program Officer for a health conversion foundation. My mission is to drive positive change and make an impact on community health and well-being. From Early Childhood Education to access to healthy food and opportunities for exercise, I strive to create healthier communities.
One of my deepest passions is empowering communities of color. Through my work and travels, I am committed to creating opportunities, fostering inclusivity, and celebrating the rich heritage and contributions of diverse cultures and the diaspora.
But let’s talk about food! I can’t resist a culinary adventure, and our trips promise just that. From street food tours to cocktail classes, we’re diving into local flavors and culture.
Get ready for an adventure of a lifetime! Let’s explore the world together, making lasting memories and new friendships along the way.
CoFounder and Chief Adventure Officer
Ashby Owens
Hola Adventurers!
I am Ashby Owens, a world resident and one of your Chief Adventure Officers at Kulture Adventures. I’ve been traveling pretty constantly for the past 20 years, both professionally and for pleasure. During this time, I have had the opportunity to work on five continents and travel to about 35 nations! Working primarily in Latin America, I have visited Colombia over 30 times and love bringing new friends with me!
Outside of planning adventures for wonderful people, I am a nonprofit professional, focused on business operations and strategic planning. My approach to life and work centers around relationship building, listening, and curiosity, with the hope that I can continue to learn, grow, and leave a positive mark on this world. This approach has helped me build and sustain relationships with many of the great local companies and individuals we will meet on our trips.
I am also a dance teacher of kizomba and semba, two social partner dances from Angola—so get ready to find all the good music and dancing with me!
Let’s explore the wonderful world of travel, guided by great local companies, and get a taste of great food, spectacular cocktails, rich culture, and FUN! Let’s enjoy the journey of a lifetime together.