Singapore-headquartered travel agency Chan Brothers Travel has rolled out Journey Within, a new series of travel experiences based on positive psychology, with a focus on personal growth and traveller well-being.
Unlike wellness retreats centred on spa treatments or mindfulness programmes, the series applies positive psychology practices and facilitated activities to different parts of the travel experience.
Chan Brothers Travel’s new series combines travel experiences with positive psychology practices to support personal growth and well-being, with Bhutan among its first destinations
“Every moment in the journey is deliberately designed to support specific psychological states: awe in the presence of extraordinary landscapes, gratitude and savouring at the table, genuine connection through structured conversations between travellers,” Chen Jingkai, general manager of strategy, transformation & people at Chan Brothers Travel, told TTG Asia.
The programme responds to evolving demand among travellers facing burnout, disconnection and the rapid pace of everyday life.
“Travellers today are looking beyond the destination itself, with greater emphasis on what they hope to gain from the journey; not in photographs, but in personal growth and well-being,” Chen stated.
Following consultations with positive psychology academics and practitioners, Japan and Bhutan were selected as the first destinations. According to Chen, both countries were chosen because “their culture, philosophy, and way of life do a significant part of the work for us”.
In Japan, one experience involves spending time at the edge of a mountain lake early in the morning as a facilitated activity rather than a conventional sightseeing stop. Bhutan was selected in part for its Gross National Happiness philosophy. The itinerary culminates in an ascent to the Tiger’s Nest monastery after several days of activities intended to develop greater attention to the surroundings and experiences.
All departures are facilitated by tour leaders without AI-assisted tools. Chen said human facilitation is an important part of the programme, requiring someone who can “read the group, know when not to speak, and be able to bring the group together”.
Journey Within operates with smaller groups and a slower itinerary, alongside a well-being assessment framework that records outcomes through a personalised Wellbeing Dividend Report. Chan Brothers also holds discussions with prospective customers before booking to assess group compatibility, which the company considers important for both individual travellers and the group. Journey Within tours will therefore be priced at a premium to the company’s standard packages.
Chan Brothers plans to expand the series selectively to other destinations and experiences. Chen shared that the company does not intend to roll out the format quickly or widely, with future locations selected where “landscape, heritage, and a certain quality of human pace intersect in ways that support what the science asks of them”.
