My name is Katja Johnson-Schmidt, and I am the founder and travel consultant behind Beyond Breathtaking Travel. Over the past decade, I've had the privilege of traveling to more than 30 countries across all seven continents before turning 30. My travels have taken me from exploring Christmas markets in Europe to summiting Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania to cruising aboard a small expedition ship below the Antarctic Circle. Every photograph on this site was taken during one of my many adventures around the world. I proudly consider myself a "traveler" rather than a "vacationer". I love immersing myself in new cultures, connecting with local people, and experiencing new sights, sounds, and flavors.
My favorite trip so far was my first journey to Africa, where I hiked through Uganda's Bwindi Impenetrable Forest to see mountain gorillas in their natural habitat
Travel planning is more than a hobby for me; it's a true passion. I believe everyone deserves a seamless, thoughtfully planned vacation. I'll use my personal travel experience, international connections, and research skills to create unique and memorable itineraries tailored to your travel style.
By day, I work in Business Development for an aerospace and defense contractor. I earned my bachelor's degree in Unmanned Aircraft Systems Science from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and my master's degree in Applied Business Analytics from Boston University. I've been married to my husband and travel partner, Matthew, since 2019, and I'm the proud mom of our daughter, Seraphina.
The rise of artificial intelligence has brought a variety of applications to both daily life and advanced technologies. Many people use Large Language Models (LLMs) to help with writing emails, creating grocery lists, and even travel planning.
While I believe that AI is a groundbreaking tool that will help make advancements in science and technology, I will not be using it for any part of creating travel itineraries.
Artificial intelligence is exactly that - artificial. Travel is one of the most human experience you can have. AI can‘t possibly quantify the experience of landing in a new city, brain fogged from jet lag, and having to navigate the French metro system in order to get to your hotel, only to find out you can’t check in until hours from now. It hasn‘t felt the rush of adrenaline you get after summiting Mount Kilimanjaro. And it certainly won’t know about that hole in a wall restaurant in Kathmandu that serves the best naan you’ll ever have.
When planning travel, I use recommendations from real people through personal connections and online forums and extensive research through a variety of websites, books, and social networks. If you would like references for how I picked each stop on your itinerary, please let me know in advance so I can be sure to track my research.
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