Tailor-Made Adventures Beyond the Ordinary
“With over 20 years crafting unique travel experiences that connect you deeply with every destination.
About Off The Beaten Track Travel
Founder-led travel planning for journeys worth doing properly
Off The Beaten Track Travel is a personal travel advisory built around thoughtful planning, honest guidance and journeys shaped with care.
Start a conversation Meet RichardWhat OTBTT is
A travel advisory for people who want the trip handled properly
Off The Beaten Track Travel helps clients plan holidays, cruises, bespoke luxury journeys, expedition voyages and more complex itineraries with a clearer sense of structure and support.
The business is founder-led by Richard Muff, which means clients work directly with the person shaping the journey. That matters when the trip involves multiple moving parts, unfamiliar destinations, specialist suppliers or simply the need for honest advice.
Some clients want a familiar holiday planned well. Others want small ships, remote lodges, private touring, expedition cruising or a more off-the-beaten-track journey. The common thread is careful planning.
Based in Queensland
Scenic Rim based, Australia-wide service
Off The Beaten Track Travel is based near Beaudesert in Queensland’s Scenic Rim, working with travellers locally, across Australia and internationally.
Founder-led
The person behind the planning
OTBTT is led by Richard Muff, a travel advisor with more than 20 years in travel and a particular interest in small ships, expedition cruising, remote regions and journeys that need more than a simple booking.
Richard’s approach is practical rather than performative. The aim is to understand how a traveller wants the journey to feel, then shape the route, pace, suppliers and details around that.
For the personal story, read About Richard Muff.
What we help with
From familiar holidays to complex journeys
The trip does not have to be ultra-luxury or expedition-only to be worth planning well. OTBTT can help with straightforward travel, mainstream cruise options and familiar destinations, as well as more complex bespoke and remote journeys.
Holidays and cruises
Well-planned trips, mainstream suppliers, familiar destinations, cruise holidays and travel handled with personal care.
Bespoke travel planning
Private touring, premium stays, villas, lodges, specialist guides and multi-stop itineraries shaped around the traveller.
Expedition and small ships
Antarctica, the Arctic, Kimberley, Coral Triangle, Papua New Guinea and remote cruising regions where ship choice matters.
How we plan
The value is in the decisions before anything is booked
Good travel planning is not just about finding available rooms, flights or cruises. It is about knowing what to include, what to leave out, where to slow down, which supplier fits, and how the journey will actually work on the ground.
OTBTT brings structure to that process. Richard helps narrow the options, explain the trade-offs and build the journey around what matters to the traveller.
For a deeper explanation, visit Travel Planning Services.
“The right journey is not usually the one with the most moving parts. It is the one where the pace, choices and support feel right.”
Richard Muff, Off The Beaten Track Travel
What shapes the business
Travel should feel considered, not copied from a template
Off The Beaten Track Travel was built for travellers who want more than a transaction. People want reassurance. Some want a better cruise match. Others want someone to handle the awkward logistics. Some want the kind of journey that is difficult to plan well without guidance.
Personal advice
Clients deal directly with Richard, with clear communication and practical guidance throughout the planning process.
Careful pacing
Trips are shaped around how the journey should feel, not just what can technically fit into the dates.
Supplier judgement
The right hotel, ship, guide, lodge or operator matters more than simply choosing the most familiar name.
Beyond the obvious
A stronger fit for travellers who value good judgement
OTBTT is especially well suited to travellers who want help choosing between competing options, understanding trade-offs, and building a trip that feels calm rather than overstuffed.
That might mean a cruise with the right cabin, a private journey with better pacing, a remote lodge, a small ship expedition, a family holiday with less stress or a long trip where the order of places matters.
Professional network
Independent advice, supported by trusted partners
Off The Beaten Track Travel is independently owned and operated by Richard Muff under licence from Main Beach Travel Pty Ltd. Richard is connected with Virtuoso, giving clients access to a global network of luxury travel partners, preferred relationships and added value where appropriate.
The network helps, but it is not the whole story. The real value is in knowing when a partner, ship, hotel, guide or itinerary is the right fit for the person travelling.
Founder-led travel advisory
Learn why working directly with the person designing your journey changes the planning experience.
Bespoke travel planning
For travellers who want more personal, considered and carefully shaped itineraries.
Where to go next
Explore the main ways to work with OTBTT
Travel Planning Services
For holidays, cruises, private journeys and complex itineraries planned with care.
Cruise Travel Planning
For ocean cruises, river cruises, small ships, yacht-style travel and expedition-style voyages.
Luxury Expedition Cruising
For small ships, remote regions, polar voyages and expedition-style planning.
Start the conversation
Planning something that deserves proper thought?
Whether it is a familiar holiday, a cruise, a private journey or something more complex, start with a conversation.
Start a conversation Founder-Led Travel Planning
Off The Beaten Track Travel is a founder-led travel advisory specialising in the design and management of complex, bespoke journeys. I work with travellers across Australia who value thoughtful pacing, careful sequencing, and experiences that sit beyond standard package travel.
My work focuses on travel that is difficult to plan well without experienced guidance — including expedition cruising, remote destinations, small ships, and multi-country itineraries where logistics, timing, and local knowledge matter.
Rather than selling pre-built trips, my role is to bring structure, clarity, and judgement to journeys that require a more considered approach.
Personalised Travel Planning: My Story
Hi, I’m Richard Muff — founder of Off The Beaten Track Travel. I specialise in personalised travel planning, creating unique journeys that uncover hidden gems and unforgettable experiences. My love of travel began on my first trip to Uluru. Standing in the heart of Australia and meeting locals, I realised how transformative authentic travel can be.
Later, an expedition cruise with Ponant from the far eastern reaches of Russia to Japan reshaped my idea of what travel could be. It wasn’t polished or predictable; it was raw, remote, and unforgettable. Those experiences taught me that the best journeys often lie off the usual tourist trail.
How I Offer Personalised Travel Planning
Over the years, I’ve explored the world through rail journeys, small group tours, expedition cruises, and independent travel. Each trip deepened my passion for uncovering hidden gems—but I also noticed something important. For many travellers, planning a trip was stressful, overwhelming, and time-consuming. That’s where personalised travel planning makes all the difference.
One of my first clients came to me with a long, complicated itinerary. I loved piecing it together. When the trip was over, they were thrilled with the seamless experience and have continued to travel with me ever since. Moments like this confirmed that helping people plan their journeys is what I was meant to do.
Why Personalised Travel Planning Matters
With over 20 years in the travel industry, I specialise in crafting personalised travel planning solutions for all types of trips—whether it’s a small cultural tour, a remote expedition cruise, or a complex multi-country journey. I work closely with trusted local partners to ensure every trip is seamless, safe, and memorable. I’ve rerouted families when flights were cancelled, designed round-the-world trips for clients with medical restrictions, and organised group travel to destinations that require extra care and planning.
Your Stress-Free Journey Starts Here
At Off The Beaten Track Travel, every itinerary I create is built on trust, detail, and care. Using my expertise in personalised travel planning, I ensure clients feel confident, stress-free, and excited from start to finish. Whether it’s exploring hidden islands, immersing in local culture, or discovering breathtaking landscapes, my goal is to help you experience the heart and soul of every destination.
I’m proud to be affiliated with Virtuoso, giving my clients access to exclusive benefits and insider experiences. But more than that, I’m proud to provide travel that is personal, carefully crafted, and unforgettable—because travel isn’t just my business, it’s my passion.
If you’d like to see how I work in practice, explore my Luxury Travel Planning page.
Ready to start your unique journey?
Want to know what it’s like to travel with us? Read more in our Off The Beaten Track Travel testimonials
Contact me today for a personalized travel consultation.