About Us
All our private tours are made to keep you off “the beaten track”. This means that we will take you to all the places that a traveller should not miss. But away from the usual touristic hustle, sharing with you places, people and culture we know and love. Therefore we want you to feel like a fellow traveller or a friend that came to visit, not as a tourist. We will give you time to “soak everything in”.
Above all, our goal is based on qualified service, client satisfaction, honesty and professionalism. Furthermore, we do not make tours for large groups that contribute to the mass-tourism, destructing heritage and nature. Our private tours are designed for private groups.
You will be guided by someone that has a passion and knowledge about nature, history, wine, local customs and gastronomy. That is to say, that your guide will make your time with us rewarding.
We enjoy meeting new, different and open minded people seeking new experiences.
Choose a trip or tour, and let us be the ones TakingUThere!
João Dickmann
Founder of TakingUThere, New Travel Experiences. Born in Portugal, lived in different countries during his youth. But always having Portugal in his heart. Being an off-road driver for over 25 years, he knows Portugal and Morocco inside out. Therefore travelling literally “off the beaten track”, making friends along the way and getting to know their culture. All this led him to organize tours and trips for friends and family. Above all, taking them to remote places that are not normally seen, but are of extreme beauty.
All this led to the foundation of TakingUThere. A travel experience company that can take people to parts of Portugal and Morocco left unseen.
He and his team members put their heart and soul into each experience. As a result, taking you beyond the destination, away from the usual touristic hustle.
Ricardo Macieira-Coelho
Working for more than 20 years as Art Director at a magazine and newspaper publisher, joins the TakingUThere team.
Spending a large part of his time traveling by motorcycle through Portugal, he learned to appreciate his country. In other words, the culture, nature and history of Portugal, having a special passion for wine regions.
Ricardo added his precious knowledge to the TakingUThere team. Therefore, having the skills needed to present to our travelers everything that Portugal and Morocco has to offer.
It is with great affection that he shares all his knowledge with the TakingUThere travelers, aiming at your total satisfaction in each of our tours.
Maia Horta
Born in the former Portuguese colony of East Timor, she grew up in Lisbon. Later spending many years in the United States and Germany, where she pursued her arts studies.
As the homesickness (saudade) grew, she decided to move back to her beloved childhood city. Back in Lisbon since 2000 and loving it!
Above all, what fascinates her, is Lisbon´s contrast. In other words, the light and shadow, geographical ups and downs, layers of history and incredible views, having a unique light that you will never forget!
In conclusion, if you want a different “point of view” of this amazing city, and Portugal, she is the one to show it to you.
Rodrigo Mendonça
He is the most traveled member of the TakingUThere team. Born in Canada, he lived in several countries (Canada, Portugal, Italy and Macao). Having worked as a Flight Attendant for many years, gave him the opportunity to interact with different cultures and ways of life.
Therefore being in contact with cultures of North, South and Central America to Europe, Africa as well as Asia.
In conclusion, he has a passion for culture, history, and all that is antique. So he will be your guy for giving you a amazing experience in Portugal and Morocco.
Paulo Levy
Born in Lisbon and son of Lisbon born parents, he is our true “Alfacinha”. However he also lived in Sweden and England. Passionate about nature and cuisine, for decades he owned 2 bars in Lisbon’s most typical neighborhoods, the Bairro Alto.
Therefore, having worked in tourism in Portugal, he knows Lisbon by heart, day and night, like no one else.
In conclusion, be it visiting “typical Lisbon”, or the surrounding regions, or listening to great Fado, he is the ideal person to accompany.
Fernando Pereira
He is a motor biker for “only” 35 years. Since ever, his passion is reconciling off-roading and traveling. For several years he organized trips in Portugal and Morocco and is an expert off-roader going beyond the “normal roads” of these two countries.
His professional career in Portugal has been linked to leading publications about motorcycles, boats and cars but also as an off-road tourism guide. His promise is to provide unforgettable trips, whatever the vehicle, to those that choose to ride with him.
