About - Red Lantern JourneysRed Lantern Journeys

Since 2004 travelers have trusted Red Lantern Journeys to recommend, plan, organize, and guide their adventures in Asia. Whether you’re traveling independently or in a small group, we use our in-depth knowledge of Asia to plan responsible, private tours and treks filled with exclusive access and unique, culturally focused activities and adventures to fit your travel style.

Our Ambition

The founder of Red Lantern Journeys, Ambrose Bittner, works in this industry because he sees travel as being positive for us as individuals and positive for the world in general by bringing disparate people together to create understanding and acceptance between cultures and nations and individuals. We understand that travel can have negative consequences as well. We want to understand those negative consequences and educate our guests about them– and how to mitigate them–so that the overall result of an individual’s trip is positive for everyone involved. Our sincerest hope is that each of our guests returns home from their trip happy, fulfilled, and with a new perspective on their place in the world…and that those people who worked to make their trip happen or came in contact with them during their travel feel the same way!

As part of our commitment to giving back, Ambrose has supported the Mitrata-Nepal Foundation for Children, a St. Louis-based non-profit that supports children’s education in Nepal, for over 15 years by organizing fund-raising events and serving on its board and visiting the programs in Nepal.

Value Added Services

US-based Personal Travel Consultant

An expert in your destination countries who will guide you through the process to arrange your trip and answer all of your questions. We speak your language!

Local Mobile Phones or SIM cards (where available)

To make it easy for you to contact your guide, driver, or in-country client service rep, and for your family or friends back home to contact you.

VIP Fast Track Arrival Services

Where available, you’ll be able to bypass long immigration lines.

Visa-on-Arrival Services

No need to mail your passport to an embassy for a country like Bhutan where we can arrange for a visa on arrival. In fact, we’ll explain the best way to get visas for your all of your destination countries, whether it’s on arrival, in advance, or online.

In-country Emergency Support

Beyond just customer support, emergency help is just a phone call away should you ever need it.

In-country Customer Support Managers

To ensure your trip is running smoothly and to help with local logistics or unplanned disruptions to your trip if necessary. The support managers are intimately familiar with your itinerary because they were the ones who coordinated the bookings.

Why Red Lantern?

Registered Seller of Travel in Washington State

Red Lantern Journeys is located in Seattle, Washington. We are incorporated in Washington State as a limited liability company, and do business under the trade name Red Lantern Journeys. We are a registered seller of travel in Washington State, number 602422249. Washington State is one of only a handful of states that require sellers of travel to be registered and follow strict guidelines for holding payments in trust accounts, truth in advertising, and handling refunds. When you book a trip through us, your payments are deposited directly into a trust account and those funds can only be used to pay for services directly related to your trip.

Accredited by IATAN

Since 2005, Red Lantern Journeys has been accredited by the International Airlines Travel Agent Network (IATAN). Accreditation by IATAN means that we have met and must continue to meet a stringent set of business standards and that we are a member in good standing of the travel industry.

A+ Rating with the Better Business Bureau

We’re proud of this! View our company listing on the Better Business Bureau website.

Secure Payments

We are based in Washington State, which is one of only a handful of states that require sellers of travel to be registered and follow strict guidelines for holding payments in trust accounts, truth in advertising, and handling refunds. When you book a trip through us, your payments are deposited directly into a trust account and those funds can only be used to pay for services directly related to your trip until your trip is completed. Visit Our Policies page to learn more about booking, payment, cancellation, and refund policies.

US-based Company

If an Asia-based travel agency goes out of business or fails to live up to its promises, you have no recourse to a refund or substitution of services. While their prices may look good, check to see if they have cancellation or refund policies posted on their web site not many! No matter where you live or where you are travelling, we provide the same policies and high level of customer service.

Full Service

Red Lantern Journeys helps you plan and book detailed, customized itineraries for your trip based on the style of travel and activities that you are interested in. Based on an interview with you, we will research, recommend, and reserve:

Accommodation (hotels, resorts, lodges, guest houses, and ryokans)
Local transportation (flights, airport transfers, cars, trains, and buses)
Tours with personable and knowledgeable local, English-speaking guides
Use of local mobile phones or SIM cards while you travel
VIP arrival services at some airports
Activities (such as tours, shows, meals, culinary classes, cruises, diving, rafting, golfing, trekking, meetings with renowned local experts and dignitaries, etc.)
Trip insurance
International Flights through our flight desk partner

Network of Local Partners Throughout Asia

We have carefully selected the best local ground operators and guides in each country to provide services for your trip. If you ever need help during your trip, an in-country client services manager will be there for you.