About La Belle Route
At La Belle Route, we believe travel should do more than check a box. It should change you!
Founded by Mary Howerton, a 20+ year leader in student and group travel, La Belle Route was created to offer something different. After decades in the industry, it became clear that many travel programs had become transactional focused on volume rather than meaning.
La Belle Route was built to change that.
We design custom journeys that are intentional, immersive, and deeply connected to place.
Every itinerary is thoughtfully crafted to go beyond sightseeing, bringing travelers into the story, the culture, and the experience in a way that feels personal and lasting.
Our approach blends:
• Hands-on, experiential learning
• Meaningful cultural connection
• Seamless, high-touch planning
• Elevated, thoughtfully curated experiences
Whether traveling with students, families, friends with common interests or private groups, our goal is the same: To create journeys that feel purposeful, inspiring, and unforgettable. This is how to travel with intention.
IN THE PRESS:
Founder Mary Howerton was featured for her perspective on purposeful travel and building meaningful experiences: Read the feature in Valiant CEO
Mission & Vision
At La Belle Route, we design journeys that awaken curiosity and connection. Each experience is crafted to reveal the richness of the world - its cultures, innovations, and quiet wonders - while reminding travelers how beautiful discovery can be when it’s done with intention.
We believe travel should inspire reflection, spark creativity, and leave the world a little brighter than we found it.
We imagine a world where travel is more than movement: it’s meaning. Where people explore not just to see new places, but to understand them.
Our vision is to inspire a global community of curious, compassionate travelers who seek depth over hurry and authenticity over routine. At La Belle Route, every path leads somewhere beautiful - not only across landscapes, but within ourselves.
Our Story
La Belle Route was founded by a small team of experienced travel professionals who believe that exploration should leave a lasting imprint, both on the traveler and the world itself.
We saw a need for a gentler kind of travel: one that feels intentional, personal, and transformative. So we built a company that slows down, listens closely, and designs experiences that allow the world to unfold naturally.
Our name, La Belle Route - French for “The Beautiful Journey” - reflects that spirit. To us, beauty isn’t found only in grand destinations, but in the quiet details - the conversations shared over dinner, the way light hits a city street, the feeling of discovering something for the first time.
Every trip we design carries that philosophy forward. We don’t follow a single route; we help each traveler find their own.
Our Core Values
Curiosity First: We approach the world with open eyes and open minds, believing every place has something to teach us.
Honest Connection: Travel is about people. We value genuine exchanges and experiences that bring travelers closer to the communities they visit.
Mindful Discovery: We explore thoughtfully - honoring local cultures, protecting the environment, and moving with respect wherever we go.
Crafted with Care: Every journey is built by hand. We focus on details that make travel feel effortless, intentional, and deeply personal.
Beauty in Every Route: “La Belle Route” is both our name and our promise - that the journey itself can be as inspiring as the destination.
Contact Us
Whether you’re looking for help with payments, financial aid, or general trip details, we’re here to help — simply fill out the form to get started!