Black Travel isn’t a trend. It’s a reclamation — of space, voice, and belonging. It’s redefining who travel is for, and empowering people of color to see themselves in the world not as spectators, but as active participants on a global stage.
YouLi is proud to support the travel brands shaping this movement through journeys built on representation, cultural exchange, and community.
In this spotlight feature, we spoke with Sophia Boyer, co-founder of Sankara Travel, about the community-rooted philosophy behind their trips, the power of experiential learning, and the moments that continue to shape their mission.
Sankara Travel didn’t begin with a business plan — it began with two educators sitting in a bar, frustrated by how travel was often stigmatized or inaccessible for the very communities who could benefit most from it. That night, over cocktails, Sophia and her co-founder Shannon, wrote the values that still ground Sankara today:
Experiential learning for all, joyous and stress-free adventures, responsible and economically just travel, and the cultivation of a global community.
What started as a conversation soon became a mission — one that recognized the real barriers that had long shaped global travel.
“Many Black travelers and other underrepresented groups were hesitant to explore the unknown or felt unsure about traveling internationally. There were also practical limitations, such as U.S. citizens not having passports, which made planning trips difficult.
Another major challenge was what I call the “beer budget, champagne rate” phenomenon—people wanted luxury experiences or $8,000 trips but had budgets closer to $1,500. These gaps made it clear that both accessibility and realistic expectations were major hurdles for underrepresented travelers in the industry."
For Sophia, these early observations weren’t discouraging — they were clarifying. If travelers lacked confidence, support, or clear pathways into the world, Sankara would build them.
“Our approach to travel is rooted in community and belonging. The sense of connection we cherish in our home communities has been cultivated over the past 30 years through deep, reciprocal relationships with other communities.
We want our travelers to experience that same feeling.
To us, belonging is synonymous with community, and we extend that philosophy to every aspect of our company. Our tour providers and partner locations are considered part of our extended family."
That philosophy has guided Sankara even through tough times. When tour operators across the globe lost all income during the pandemic, Sophia and Shannon didn’t step back — they stepped closer.
“During the pandemic, when travel came to a halt, we prioritized supporting our tour operators financially. And whenever possible, we also sponsor them to travel outside their regions to expand their horizon—for instance, taking our Jamaican representative to Kenya to deepen her connection with her African roots, and bringing two Brazilian leads to East Africa to experience our luxury tours firsthand.”
Because of this commitment, travelers don’t arrive at staged hospitality. They arrive into a community that already exists, already cares, and welcomes them with genuine warmth and familiarity.
At its core, Sankara is a global classroom. The team works with colleges, HBCUs, tribal institutions, school communities, and lifelong learners, designing trips that combine cultural immersion with academic depth. Travelers aren’t just seeing new places, they’re learning, contextualizing, and expanding their worldview through direct experience.
Sophia describes Sankara’s approach with clarity:
“We see our work as both educational and transformative. Our tours are designed like engaging lectures—immersive learning experiences where travelers leave feeling relaxed, rejuvenated, and cared for, while also gaining a deep understanding of the people, cultures, and brilliance of each location.
For example, on a trip to Kenya, travelers experience the vibrant energy of Nairobi, the breathtaking landscapes and wildlife of the Maasai Mara, and the tranquility of the Indian Ocean coast—all while staying in luxury hotels and resorts.
They come to understand the rich diversity of ethnic groups and that Nairobi is not just a city in Africa but a thriving tech hub that can compete globally.
By structuring trips this way, we help reshape perceptions—challenging preconceived notions or biases about Africa and Black travel, and showing both our community and the wider travel industry that these destinations are dynamic, luxurious, and full of opportunities for learning and growth.”
The impact of this model is profound. Students discover academic concepts in real-world contexts. Educators find new ways to bring global perspectives into their classrooms. And travelers of all ages experience a version of Black Travel defined not by barriers or stereotypes, but by curiosity, connection, and possibility.
Some of Sankara’s most powerful moments happen when no one is trying to create them. Sophia has watched countless travelers open up to the world in unexpected ways, often in places that challenge their assumptions and expand their sense of what’s possible.
One story, she says, has stayed with her for years.
“There have been so many incredible experiences with our travelers, but I often notice it on the last day of a tour, when people tell us they don’t want to go home. Hearing that they feel more fulfilled, connected, and enriched than they do back home is always a powerful confirmation that we’ve done our job.
One moment that sticks with me is a trip I led with a middle school group to Guatemala. The students were captivated by the volcanoes, the vibrant colors, and the presence of indigenous communities—so much of which was entirely new to them coming from an inner-city school in Boston.
One evening, we stayed at an eco-lodge in the Copán area, which didn’t have 24-hour electricity. That night happened to be one student’s 13th birthday, so we had a cake and celebrated together. Dinner ran a couple of hours longer than planned, and then—suddenly—the lights went out.
I expected chaos or frustration, but instead the students turned on their flashlights and started chasing fireflies in the pitch-dark jungle. It was a spontaneous, joyful, completely free moment, and I realized right then the kind of transformative experience travel can provide."
Years later, those students — now adults — still talk about that trip. It’s a reminder that transformation doesn’t always happen at the landmarks. Sometimes it happens in the dark, in the quiet, in the magic no one could have planned.
As Sankara’s community grew, so did the work behind the scenes. Culturally immersive, academically aligned travel requires more than great itineraries; it demands systems, structure, and a level of coordination that ensures every traveler and every partner is cared for with integrity.
Sophia describes the early years as both exhilarating and demanding. She and her co-founder were building everything from the ground up — refining itineraries trip by trip, balancing academic depth with traveler wellbeing, and coordinating complex programs across continents. With no loans and limited grant funding, they grew deliberately, shaping a sustainable nonprofit model that stayed true to their mission.
“Before finding YouLi, growing a business that supports diverse travelers came with significant operational challenges. We had to build our community from the ground up and design tight, well-structured itineraries, refining them through multiple trips and participant feedback. Each tour required careful, hands-on planning to ensure that every detail matched what we promised.
As a company, we divided responsibilities strategically: one cofounder focused on community engagement and itinerary development, while the other managed contracts, finances, legal compliance, and insurance.
One of our biggest challenges was capital. We didn’t take out loans, and as a nonprofit, we were selective and competitive about pursuing grants. This meant we had to bootstrap extensively, ultimately developing a revenue-generating nonprofit model."
Those challenges made one thing clear: Sankara needed an operational foundation that could match their standards, simplify the work, and give the team space to focus on the relationships that make their trips so powerful.
That’s where YouLi came in.
Finding the right platform wasn’t just about simplifying admin — it was about choosing a system strong enough to support Sankara’s standards. Their trips span continents, age groups, academic programs, and community partnerships, and the team needed a tool that could bring all of those moving parts together without losing the personal care that defines their work.
When Sophia discovered YouLi, it wasn’t the features alone that stood out — it was how naturally the platform aligned with the way Sankara already operated. A tool built for thoughtful, community-centered travel felt like an extension of their mission.
“Honestly, there isn’t just one feature or tool that stands out—YouLi has been our all-encompassing, concierge-level trip planning service from day one. We started working with YouLi very early in our trip planning, and Jen, the CEO, even met with one of our co-founders in Boston, becoming an integral part of our community.
During the pandemic, we were invited to multiple online sessions for companies that use YouLi, and it was clear that there was a shared ethos—traveling with consciousness—which aligns perfectly with the technological side of YouLi.
The platform’s tools, from managing payment plans to customizing pages and coordinating group trips, have made serving our travelers seamless and efficient. Overall, we are extremely grateful for YouLi and have been fans since day one!”
For Sankara, YouLi is not just software, but a reliable foundation behind every itinerary. Automated payment plans, customizable trip pages, and flexible group coordination tools give the team the structure they need to stay organized while focusing on what matters most: supporting their travelers and nurturing their global community.
It’s the kind of partnership that allows Sankara to scale with intention — grounded in relationships, supported by technology, and able to grow without losing the heart of what makes their work special.
Sophia’s optimism for the future of Black Travel is grounded in what she’s already witnessing — greater visibility, greater agency, and deeper connection across continents.
“For me, it’s such a powerful experience to no longer be the only Black traveler in a rural community in Guatemala, or the only Black person from the U.S. at a beach resort in Senegal. Seeing other Black travelers in these spaces is energizing.
What excites me most is witnessing how the destinations themselves evolve—how the people who live there gain ownership and agency in their travel industries.
Representation in travel is evolving in ways that are more visible, more inclusive, and more collaborative than ever before.”
For Sankara, this future is already unfolding in classrooms, on coastlines, across continents, and in every traveler who discovers a fuller sense of themselves out in the world.
Sophia’s guidance for other travel brands is simple, powerful, and rooted in lived experience.
“My advice for travel brands looking to better serve the Black Travel community or create more inclusive travel experiences would be to be very intentional with your partnerships. Quick scaling and chasing revenue isn’t always sustainable. Instead, focus on identifying a clear niche and understanding your ideal customer—trying to appeal to a broad, generalized audience can make managing group trips much more difficult.
Additionally, leveraging tools like YouLi can be a game-changer. The technology not only elevates your business but also streamlines operations, allowing you to focus on creating meaningful, high-quality experiences for your travelers. In short: be selective, know your audience, and invest in tools that help you deliver at your best.
Explore their programs, global learning experiences, and upcoming trips at sankaratravel.org, or connect with them on social media for stories from their community — Facebook, Instagram.