A Little Bit About Us

How it all began

The idea was born on the Great Wall of China in 2006, where our founders met two local women who offered to help them explore the wall and learn about its history. After an unexpectedly enlightening tour, Paul Melhus and Dave Vincent (ToursByLocals Co-Founders) felt lucky to have met their impromptu guides, but uncertain about how to compensate them. The women were selling souvenirs, which didn’t feel like fair payment for their time and expertise. Paul and Dave wanted to make sure these guides, and others like them, were able to earn a fair wage as full participants in the tourism industry. They wondered how they could replicate the fantastic guiding experience they’d just had, but take away the luck of meeting the right person, and the uncertainty of arriving at a fee. On the flight home, Paul and Dave began to imagine ToursByLocals: a platform that empowers tour guides all over the world to reach an audience of travellers looking for local insight, and gives travellers a reliable way to book a reputable local guide, anywhere they travel.

Where we are now

Nearly two decades later, ToursByLocals has sent over 2.5 million travellers on tours. We're a thriving online marketplace where you can find one-of-a-kind, curated local experiences everywhere you travel. And when we say "everywhere", we really mean it! Here you can find thoughtful, charming, bright and creative local tour guides offering private tours in over 170 different countries. Our customer support team spans 4 continents, and are always ready to help, any time of day or night.

Why we do it

We stand up for human connection, once-in-a-lifetime experiences, memorable moments, and meaningful connections. We’re here to take you to the places we love. To meet the people who bring those places to life. To share stories that connect us all, no matter who we are, where we’re from, or how far we’ve travelled. We’re here to inspire the curiosity that moves us into new experiences, changes our perspective completely and becomes a part of us forever. We’re here to keep travel human.