Gift of Go is an exciting new expedition operator offering limited numbers of epic journeys in little-known parts of the world through a series of expertly researched and meticulously curated “Collections”. Their inaugural Collection, entitled “Diamonds/Wild Tales + Lost Trails“, is set in Brazil’s little-known Serra do Espinhaço region, one of the most ecologically diverse and under-visited places on the planet. The company will be leading 14, 21, and 28 day trips in the region between March and September 2024. Gift of Go’s founders will also craft & guide a limited number of bespoke itineraries in the region upon request.
A “GOGO trip” is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to journey into the living Story of a Place, in small groups of no more than 8 travellers (and 10+ crew members), allowing each traveler to experience what life is truly like in a part of the world far from their own. On the surface, the trips are about exploration and “re-discovery” – of little-visited historic villages, vast wilderness areas, and a labyrinth of forgotten trails – but at their core they are about discovery in its purest form – enriching, immersive journeys into a distant place, time, and way of life, with the potential to change the way travellers see the world. With weeks on end of trekking, bushwhacking, horseback-riding, and off-roading, the expeditions are as demanding as they are rewarding.
Gift of Go’s trips embody the true meaning of sustainable travel, with itineraries carefully crafted to support local communities, whilst being meticulously curated and compellingly guided. Throughout each expedition, travellers will experience constant immersion, candid, unforced conversation, and genuine, heart-felt interactions with local people from all walks of life, as they traverse one of the most stunning, remote, and forgotten regions of Brazil.
The Expeditions in “Diamonds/Wild Tales + Lost Trails” will variously cover distances equal to that from Paris to Budapest (28 days) and Barcelona to Rome (21 days) over varied terrain, with homestays in dozens of unique & memorable communities, including a little-visited UNESCO World Heritage City (Diamantina), and dozens of bucolic colonial-era mining towns, festive agricultural communities, elegant historic villas, mystical railway towns, and enchanting quilombos (backcountry settlements founded by former slaves).
The expeditions are as challenging and dynamic as they are unique, designed to push & pull travellers through as many of the diverse cultural, geographic, and historic realities that underlie a place’s existence as time allows.
Co-Founder Eddie Lott says, “We are living in the Golden Age of picture-perfect places, carefully-crafted ‘authenticity’, and readily-collectible ‘once-in-a-lifetime’ experiences. GOGO trips are different—in our minds, there is simply nothing more compelling, profound, or enriching than experiencing real life in a world far from our own.” In this sense, the company’s trips are less like vacations and more like immersive stories -more purposeful than recreational; more exhilarating than relaxing; and more enlightening than simply educational. “Our shared mission as an expedition—to explore a place to the absolute fullest within a limited timeframe—is ambitious, but it’s also what makes our journeys epic.”
Once the epicentre of the global diamond trade, Brazil’s Serra do Espinhaço was abandoned and largely forgotten by the outside world for nearly two centuries. Today, with 3 UNESCO designations, 2 globally recognized biodiversity hotspots (the Brazilian Savanna & the Atlantic Rainforest – each home to thousands of irreplaceable species that are facing multiple, urgent threats), and an estimated 3,000+ species of plants (comprising 7% of Brazil’s total biodiversity), the region is of upmost importance, and is being recognized as one of the most spectacular places on earth.
The Mosaico do Espinhaço accounts for nearly 5,000,000 acres of adjacent protected land, spanning a whopping 19 Conservation Units. The expeditions will traverse 8 of them, including a stunning and rarely visited National Park, three State Parks, various Municipal Environmental Protection Areas and a State National Monument. Along the way, the groups will summit multiple peaks (including the tallest in the region), bathe in oasis-like hot-springs and icy waterfalls lined by white-sand beaches (there are 37 waterfalls on the 28-day itinerary), and cross countless crystalline streams, creeks, and rivers.
With Brazil, in general, continuing to be one of the most under-visited countries in the world (ranking 47th in international tourism receipts in 2019, despite ranking 6th in natural & cultural resources in the World Economic Forum’s T&T Competitiveness Index the same year), it isn’t a stretch to say that the country’s Serra do Espinhaço may be one of most under-visited regions on earth. As the rare UNESCO World Biosphere Preserve to contain both an UNESCO World Heritage City (Diamantina) and a UNESCO GIAHS designation (for the centuries-old symbiosis between local flower-pickers & high savanna fields), one would think the region would at least be well-visited by Brazilians. Yet in 2021, its largest conservation unit, Sempre Vivas National Park, received just 51 visitors, the majority of whom were researchers from the scientific community. In a world in which major regional destinations are routinely touted as being “off the beaten track”, the Espinhaço is closer to being “off-the-radar”.
What you will experience on the journey:
Gift of Go divides its expedition itineraries into Chapters, including:
“The Serra” (The Mountains) – An epic trek across a land of white-sand-beach waterfalls & pristine cola-coloured rivers; a labyrinth of lost trails winding across Dr. Seussian-landscapes; soaring peaks, colonial villages, and a slow-motion carousel of lush mountain vistas.
“The Garden” (The Hinterland) – A pack-mule and jon-boat supported traverse of a land of big cats, sharp plants, and disappearing trails; lost beaches and nameless peaks; disputed lands; forsaken ranches; fearless residents; and the most biodiverse ecoregion of the most biodiverse country on earth.
“The Sertão” (The Lowlands) – Horseback riding, 4×4 overlanding, and hiking across a land of festive cow towns, mystical railway settlements, and far-flung single-family villages; ice-cold cervejas & hot spring resorts; legendary waterfalls; legendary hospitality; and miles of open road.
“The Berço” (The Cradle) – An enriching trek through a forgotten land of dramatic landscapes & thunderous falls; wilderness campsites, intimate homestays, and wood-fired meals over tales of hardship & glory; culminating in a descent down a slave-built highway that cascades gracefully into the City of Diamonds.
Trip Dates:
6 May to 19 May (An Exploration of the Highlands of the Brazil (14 days) – $18,995 per person
June:
3 June to 23 June (A Diamantine Tale (21 days) – $27,995 per person
August:
5 Aug to 1 Sept (Diamonds/Wild Tales + Lost Trails, (28 days) – $36,995 per person
March, April, September:
Bespoke trips (minimum 10 days per trip) – starting at $1,500 per day, per person.
The Team:
The team behind Gift of Go have spent over 3 years meticulously exploring routes, documenting trails and sites, examining literature, creating maps, building relationships with local communities, and running test trips.
Authenticity is at the absolute core of everything Gift of Go does as a company—from the settings that travelers will visit, to the accommodations where they’ll sleep; the meals that they will eat, to the way each expedition is guided. It is rare to see such a profound level of curation on a trip of this scale. The team at Gift of Go works alongside locals from all walks of life: from historians to cooks; cowboys to activists; biologists to business owners; housewives to mayors; and teachers, firemen, miners, and countless other individuals in between—to develop the infrastructure necessary to house, feed, and guide visitors along the routes. 10+ full- and part-time crew members will accompany travelers during each journey to assist with things like trail navigation, driving, boating, carrying packs, and revealing the deeper essence of the region. There are a minimum of 2 guests per trip and a maximum of 8, and travelers must be ages 25 & up to apply.
Gift of Go’s Founders are:
Eddie Lott: Expedition Leader, country guide, and translator. Texas-born Eddie has dedicated himself to the study of Brazilian history, society and geography for over 2 decades. He first ‘re-discovered’ the Serra do Espinhaço in 2018 and has spent 3+ years since documenting its wondrous nature & people, dedicating more time to the field study of the region than any foreigner since Sir Richard Burton & Augustin de Saint-Hilaire in the 19th century. The words, photographs, and videos on Gift of Go’s website are his own, many of which can be found in his upcoming chronicles of the region entitled “The View Strikes at Once: A Portrait of the Serra do Espinhaço and its Inhabitants”.
Elisa Oliveira: Expedition Coordinator, country guide and translator. Brazilian-born Elisa first encountered the Espinhaco during a last-second weekend getaway with her mother in 2019. After repeated return trips to the region, she decided to go all-in, trading a promising career in architecture for one of exploration, dedicating herself entirely to understanding and documenting the Espinhaco’s geography, logistics, infrastructure and communities. Bringing multi-week itineraries to life in this little-visited part of the world requires steadfast determination, impeccable planning, outstanding communication, and (lots of) patience.
The Gift of Go giving back policy:
Giving by Going: Community Based Travel
https://www.thegiftofgo.com/givingbygoing
Accommodation during the Expedition is authentic, with nights spent in homestays, historic inns, wilderness campsites, pousadas, historic homes and lodges. The emphasis is on genuine human interaction with the community rather than opulance. All food will be provided, including delicious home cooked meals after long days on the trail. Transport varies from trekking to horseback, boat to vintage 4×4 vehicles.
No prior trekking or outdoor experience is required, but all applicants must undergo a physical examination and receive their doctor’s approval in writing prior to the trip.
Applicants must be 25 years of age or older.
