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Denell Falk, President & Founder

It takes a traveler to know one — a statement to which Denell Falk can attest and the ethos with which she has guided Civilized Adventures for 30 years. Denell works behind the scenes to ensure that her team can provide the high standard of custom travel planning for which Civilized Adventures prides itself. Her 40+ years in the industry have given her a wealth of industry knowledge, connections with guides and operators around the world. It’s these relationships and know-how that pave the way for exceptional, personalized experiences.

Denell’s spirit of adventure was sparked at an early age, by her first trip to Newfoundland with her grandmother. A desire to discover new destinations and cultures lead her to later treks through Fiji, New Zealand, Australia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, and Hong Kong. She also explored Europe, overlanded across Africa, trekked in the Himalayas, kayaked in the Arctic and Antarctic, and snorkelled the pristine waters of the Seychelles and Papua New Guinea.

Perhaps most importantly, Denell understands how to travel well. Her “civilized” approach means more time in new places, carefully crafted itineraries and efficient transfers. In short: maximizing the fun stuff! With forethought, precision, and nuance, Denell and her team have opened doors to new cultures, fostered understanding, and ignited a sense of wanderlust for discerning travelers.

Favourite Type of Travel

Denell’s favorite place is in the back of a land cruiser armed with a big-lensed camera and binoculars, witnessing the wonders of nature on an African safari. She also finds inspiration when introducing travelers to life changing experiences in foreign lands, helping create memories that linger for a lifetime.

In Denell’s Words:

Travelling nurtures the soul and opens our hearts. We show respect and friendship for the people we visit and support conservation of the wildlife, environment, and special places we are fortunate to see.

Kylan Falk, Managing Director

With a passion for travel and exploration, Kylan officially joined the family business in 2012. Through dedication and a natural aptitude for the industry, Kylan has ascended to a top-level travel advisor, with a specialization in African safaris and Antarctic expeditions.

As a hands-on leader, Kylan is actively involved in trip planning, sharing his extensive knowledge, and instilling a culture of excellence. By prioritizing meticulous planning and attention to detail, Kylan ensures that operations run seamlessly, striving for perfection in every aspect of the business.

Kylan’s profound understanding of this niche market and unwavering commitment to his client’s experience, he continues to shape the company's success, upholding Civilized Adventures’ trusted name as a leader in custom travel planning service.

Amanda Hopkins, Custom Travel Advisor

Since first catching the travel bug in her early 20’s on a trip to Ireland’s Cliffs of Moher, Amanda has embraced adventure travel and loves to create exciting experiences for others. Amanda works diligently to provide her clients with unique activities and can often be found researching new destinations to find hidden gems. Having travelled in 23 countries, Amanda’s goal is to give travelers something they perhaps didn’t even know they were seeking - whether that’s visiting rural villages in the Middle East, witnessing baby sea turtles hatch in Costa Rica, or photographing an African sunset. Amanda loves to work with active, adventure-seeking travelers who wish to experience an intimate in-depth destination experience. Her genuine excitement around orchestrating travel is evident right from the first meeting.

Lena Dojcinovic, Custom Travel Advisor

Lena lived in France for 22 years, India for 7, and now brings her global citizenship to Civilized Adventures to create personalized adventures for her clients. She has traveled extensively in India, Sri Lanka and Nepal, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar, throughout Europe, and in Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia. She infuses the trips she plans with her first-person experiences. Lena understands the adaptability international travel requires, and works meticulously with her clients to come up with out-of-the-ordinary adventures, yet in a very civilized style. She attends to every detail as if it were her own vacation, then adds in activities that match her clients’ interests, whether that’s a cooking class with a local family, taking a tuk- tuk to market or meeting with monks at a temple. Lena’s excitement about travel is evident in every trip she creates.

Andrew De Angelis, Custom Travel Advisor

With over 20 years in the industry and experience in 56 different countries, Italian-born Andrew brings infectious energy and enthusiasm to custom travel planning. Prior to moving to Canada from Italy in 2013, Andrew worked as a tour guide in Europe and South America. His carefully designed trips encourage travelers to push just that little bit beyond their comfort zone - the reward is incredible life changing and the memories are treasured! Guests rave about their experiences, whether that’s walking at Iguazu Falls after hours, sitting with silverback gorillas in Rwanda, or gazing out at Crete’s Balos Lagoon from a secret viewpoint. Ask Andrew about joining him on one of his annual trips to South America, Japan or Italy.

Michela Sileo, Custom Travel Advisor

Whether she’s planning a culinary getaway in Italy, a wellness retreat in Southeast Asia, a cruise in a tropical paradise, or a family trip in Europe, Michela creates detailed, insightful trip proposals that reflect her careful listening to your travel goals. As a former resident of Switzerland and Italy prior to immigrating to Canada in 2015, Michela enthusiastically shares her insider’s perspectives to create extraordinary experiences for her clients. Michela’s travel favorites are: fine local food & wines, Formula 1 and Grand Prix racing, recharging at wellness resorts, and active family adventures in Europe or the Caribbean. Michela has the confidence and expertise that enable her to take a trip from standard to extraordinary unforgettable, all the way from start to finish.

Mithlesh Kumar, Custom Travel Advisor

Mithlesh Kumar’s passion for travel was sparked during a road and train trip across India with his family. Exploring diverse cultures, historic sites, and scenic landscapes, he discovered the joy of adventure and connection that travel brings. Since then, Mithlesh has been dedicated to crafting meaningful experiences, believing that the best trips are those filled with spontaneous moments and authentic local encounters. His philosophy is that true travel magic happens when you embrace the unexpected.

At Civilized Adventures, Mithlesh thrives in an environment where passion and exceptional service come together. With his wealth of firsthand experience and deep knowledge of travel, he excels at creating unforgettable journeys. Mithlesh loves hearing from clients who return with incredible memories, and he’s always eager to provide thoughtful, out-of-the-box solutions to ensure every trip is nothing short of extraordinary.

Jucyara Schubert, Custom Travel Advisor

Jucyara Schubert’s passion for travel took off during her first trip to England and Scotland, where the historical grandeur and rich cultural heritage sparked a lifelong desire to explore. With 43 countries under her belt, Jucyara believes that travel is not just about visiting new places, but about fully immersing yourself in local traditions and connecting with the people. This love for authentic experiences, combined with her talent for crafting unforgettable journeys, makes her a key part of the Civilized Adventures team.

At work, Jucyara thrives on creating exceptional trips that exceed expectations. Her dedication to detail, combined with her leadership skills and passion for team collaboration, ensures every project is flawlessly executed. Whether she’s planning a client’s dream adventure or balancing her passion for running and psychology, Jucyara brings the same energy and enthusiasm to everything she does. For her, the most rewarding part is knowing she’s helped travelers create lasting memories through carefully curated, life-changing experiences.

Tara Leigh McIntosh, Director of Sales and Marketing.

My journey has taken me from corporate boardrooms to digital innovation, from luxury resorts to cultural deep dives, and from structured education to world-schooling my children across continents. Every step along the way has shaped my passion for creating meaningful experiences, whether for clients, teams, or my own family. I've explored 17 countries and 3 continents.

With a corporate background spanning 25+ years in international IT talent acquisition and management, I’ve spent my career helping businesses scale, build high-performing teams, and develop sustainable growth strategies. In digital marketing, I worked closely with entrepreneurs to refine their messaging, elevate their brands, and create impactful online experiences

At the end of the day, the greatest adventures—whether in work, life, or travel—are the ones that push us beyond the horizon of what we thought was possible.