In Tribute to Arthur Frommer: The Spirit of Adventure Lives On
This week, the world lost a pioneer of thoughtful travel, Arthur Frommer. His guidebooks didn’t just tell you where to go—they inspired why you should go. At Mountain Kora, we share Frommer’s belief that true adventure lies in curiosity, connection, and self-discovery.
Frommer once said: “Travel isn’t worth the fatigue or the expense of it unless it is associated with ideas and with people, unless it stretches you, unless it makes you a somewhat different person when you return than what you were when you began.”
It’s a philosophy we carry in every journey we craft. We don’t chase tourist stops or cookie-cutter itineraries. Instead, we seek the unfiltered, often unpredictable beauty of exploring a place that challenges assumptions and sparks new perspectives.
Frommer believed in travel as a tool for transformation, calling it “an activity of immense excitement … an experience that, to me, is an essential purpose of a civilized life.” His words ring true to anyone who has arrived at a Swiss mountain hut with a local guide, foraged with tribes under expansive skies in the Kalahari of Botswana, or sipped rice wine with locals at a Himalayan teahouse.
Like Frommer, we at Mountain Kora know that the heart of travel is curiosity—a hunger to understand cultures, meet people, and see the world through someone else’s eyes. That curiosity isn’t just about stepping into foreign lands; it’s about stepping outside your comfort zone.
Travel forces you to examine your assumptions and, in doing so, allows you to see yourself more clearly. It’s not just about the destinations—it’s about the stories you collect, the people who challenge you, and the ways you grow.
As Frommer reflected on his own journeys: “It has been a learning experience.” What better legacy to honor than to embrace travel not as a checkbox of places seen but as a lifelong classroom of discovery?
To those dreaming of your next adventure, let Frommer’s ethos—and ours—light the fire: go somewhere unexpected. Listen, learn, and let the world change you. Whether it’s a trek through Sherpa communities in Nepal, a panoramic, inn-to-inn experience in the Swiss Alps, or a wild walk through the bush in Botswana, every trip can carry you closer to the essential purpose of a meaningful life.
Arthur Frommer’s voice has gone silent, but his message remains as vibrant as ever. At Mountain Kora, we hope to keep that spirit alive, one trip at a time.
So, where to next?
