ABOUT

A 'maven' (from the Yiddish word 'mevyn') is a person with a deep understanding of a subject built up over many years of practical experience (unlike an 'expert' who typically has formal training).

Mavens are the people you turn to for advice, whether it's about cars, fashion, computers or travel. Imagine you need winter tires. Is there someone you'd ask for advice? That's your tire maven!

Barry Devolin's first passion has always been travel. He made his first trip to Europe when he was 15, and has subsequently lived in 4 countries, visited 40+ more (does East Germany still count?), crossed 48 American states and explored 12 Canadian provinces & territories.

In 2015, Barry and his wife Ursula took their kids George and Molly (13 & 11 at the time) on a six month backpacking trip around the world. They took 17 flights, visited 19 countries and stayed in more than 40 places in Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Southeast Asia and Australia. Barry planned every step and stop, and in so doing, learned that complex travel planning is his true calling.

And so, after several decades in government and academia, in 2018 Barry launched a new career in the travel industry. His goal was (and is) to share his love of travel with everyone he meets, and to show them that they can have the advantages of group travel without its stifling lack of freedom and flexibility. To this end, TravelMaven offers travellers small group tours that still allow people to do what they want.

TravelMaven offers guided tours for independent-minded travellers. A few years ago, someone described us by saying, “Barry looks after us, but we get to do what we want.” That pretty much nailed it. We’re here for people who like the freedom of doing their own thing but also like knowing someone’s got their back.

Most travellers either plan everything themselves or hand it all over to a tour company. With DIY travel, you’re in charge of the research, the bookings, and solving problems on the go. With traditional group tours, someone else handles the details, and you mostly just follow the program. TravelMaven sits somewhere in the middle. We offer the peace of mind and organization that group tour folks enjoy without the rigid schedules and crowded buses that make independent travellers cringe.

Our small group tours are designed to give you just enough structure, especially in places where DIY can feel a bit overwhelming, like Africa or Southeast Asia, while still leaving plenty of room to explore on your own. We take care of the logistics so you can focus on the experience.

You can travel with us in two ways: join a scheduled tour, usually with Barry as your escort, or choose a private tour, set to your own dates, led by one of our trusted local partners. Either way, we think you’ll love the mix of freedom, support, and fun. 

When Barry started TravelMaven in 2018, his expectation was the company would offer 10 one-week tours to different cities around the world each year. However, things have evolved in some unexpected directions. 

CLASSIC TOURS
Our original Cape Town walking tour soon developed into Best of South Africa, now our most popular trip. This and our other South Africa itineraries make up about 40% of our business. Interest in East Asia has also grown, supported by Barry’s regional experience.

ROTARY TOURS
TravelMaven developed a partnership with Haliburton Rotary in 2021 to offer tours to their annual Rotary International Convention. We also run service-focused tours and fellowship tours built around shared interests.

SAFARI TOURS
The popularity of our Kruger Safari sparked a full safari lineup, with Borneo Safari and Haida Gwaii Safari now added to our offerings.

LONGSTAY TOURS
In early 2026, we will run our first LongStay program: VIETNAM LongStay.

TRAIN TOURS
In September 2026, we launch our first TrainTour: SWITZERLAND TrainTour.

BARRY

Barry founded TravelMaven in 2018 after years of exploring the world. He researches and plans all of our tours and guides many of them, bringing practical experience and a steady hand to each trip.

URSULA

Ursula is TravelMaven’s CFO, Rotary Brand Manager, and a tour guide. She manages our Rotary tours, served as President of Haliburton Rotary in 2021–22, and now chairs the club’s Rotary Tours Committee.

MOLLY

Molly is TravelMaven’s Director of Marketing and also helps guide some tours. She manages our social media and website and contributes to the planning of our upcoming safari programs.