Rooted in Principle.

Rising to Adventure.

Journeys designed to envelop you: physically, culturally, mentally.

At Root & Rise Travel, we believe adventures should move you through the world and open new ways of seeing. Too often, busy professionals travel to escape, only to return more burned out than before. Through our travel agency, we created a better way: go further, linger longer, and see deeper. Because transformation shows up in the most unexpected moments.


Founder & Travel Designer

Hi, I’m Kim Donovan

In my childhood spent traversing the globe, culture wasn’t learned; it was practiced by living among the locals. Wildlife wasn’t chased; it was treated with reverence.

Fast forward to adulthood. As a CPA-turned-running coach, I knew how to chase goals, but not always how to slow down. Travel became the space to exhale, reset, and reconnect with what truly matters.

I realized when travel is more than tourist traps and fighting crowds, something shifts within you.

South Africa, where my dad lived for 30 years, always felt welcoming. On safari with my family, hearing the lions roar, and sharing homemade meals with community members, I felt alive. It wasn’t about the escape; it was about the renewal.

And so, the seeds for Root & Rise were sown

I returned home inspired to preserve the places, wildlife, and cultures I experienced. I began supporting conservation efforts like the Center for Biological Diversity and Panthera, while becoming a founding member of 100 Women Who Care in Albany, New York.

But one question lingered: 

"How can busy professionals reset and reconnect with their loved ones on vacation, while ensuring communities and ecosystems flourish?"

Your antidote to travel as escape is here

I created R&R to design trips for those who need space to breathe and to return home renewed, knowing their travel didn’t just feel good—it did good.

With my planning expertise, I guide you through the maze of vetting aligned experiences, so all you need to focus on is your restoration.


Because when travel is done right, you savor it slowly and curiously, you leave space for the unexpected moments, and you preserve the communities you meet along the way.

If this sounds like the kind of adventure you crave, then let R&R craft a journey that stays with you long after your return.

Start my rooted journey

Travel that rises above the ordinary

Inner and outer journey

Our Rooted Map aligns intentions up front, and our Rising Echo keeps the reset alive when you return, so inspiration doesn’t fade faster than your jet lag.

Principled adventure

Every partner is personally vetted to ensure your presence leaves a Rising Return—benefits for local communities and ecosystems. We don’t just talk about ethical travel. We live it in every relationship and every journey we design.

Luxury redefined

Not thread count, not gold-framed tiles, but the quiet confidence that every detail is handled with care. Luxury is being able to say, “I’ve got nothing to worry about, except whether I want sunrise hiking or one more hour of sleep.”

Every journey leaves something good behind

In a world where travel has caused harm, we believe we have the power to change this. That’s why we created The Rising Return. Our impact initiative drives the kind of travel that protects ecosystems, preserves culture, and supports communities. The best part? You get to steer the ship by giving back to the places that shaped your transformative experience.

How It Works

01

Built-In Impact

With every journey, we give back $100 to support local initiatives tied to your experience. From anti-poaching rangers, and frontline conservation teams to coral restoration projects and women’s cooperatives, your travel leaves a positive impact.

02

Sustained Involvement

When you return home, you’ll receive a curated list of the partners supported on your journey. You can choose to deepen your impact through additional donations, volunteering opportunities, or sponsoring community programs.

03

Continued Connection

Through the Rising Echo, you’ll get biannual updates on initiatives you support, stories of the difference you’ve made, and opportunities for further engagement.

Be part of our mission

“I believe travel is about rooting where you visit, understanding the land and her people, not just passing by. It’s the act of slowing down that makes you a different person. That’s the rise.”

- Kim Donovan, Founder of Root & Rise  

Your questions, answered

FRequently asked

What does sustainable travel actually look like on an R&R journey?

For us, sustainability isn’t a side project; it’s our foundation. On every trip, we partner with locally-owned businesses to ensure benefits stay in the community. Every partner is vetted against strict ethical and environmental standards. And a portion of every journey contributes to The Rising Return, our initiative that protects ecosystems, supports communities, and preserves culture.

What’s your approach to wildlife encounters?

We only support ethical, observation-only encounters that respect animals and their habitats. That means no touching, riding, feeding, or performances. Our goal is to keep wild animals wild—we are guests in their world. If you ever find one of our partners falling short of this promise, we want to know immediately. 

What do you mean by transformative adventure? Do I have to be an extreme athlete?

Not at all. For us, a transformative adventure is about the internal journey, not just the external one. Whether you’re rafting through the Sacred Valley in Peru or sipping tea with monks in Japan, each adventure is designed to move you physically or mentally. Our experiences are always within a low-risk profile suitable for you and your loved ones. The goal is a personal reset, not an extreme sport.  

Let’s design the map for your reset.

Every adventure starts with a conversation. Let’s design one that leaves you renewed and does good along the way.

Start my rooted journey