Khiri Travel, the leading sustainable Asia DMC, is first and foremost about the countries it operates in. Our core values of Global/Local, Passion, Trust, and Entrepreneurs codify this commitment: the local teams are passionate, creative, and very knowledgeable about their destinations.
The country teams find themselves supported by the passionate, caring People Behind Khiri Travel.
Our country management teams are experts in the travel industry, particularly in the destinations where we operate. They are the perfect people to discuss your client’s requirements with!
At Khiri Travel Sri Lanka, we prioritize meaningful travel experiences over traditional touring. Our expert knowledge allows us to uncover hidden gems across the island. We focus on connecting travelers with people and creating lasting memories. From meeting renowned personalities to dining with local families and exploring off-the-beaten-path locations, we offer diverse and immersive experiences tailored to individual interests.
Khiri Travel Myanmar offers authentic experiences that go beyond typical tourist routes, focusing on genuine interactions and meaningful local encounters. Our Signature Experiences redefine the ordinary, emphasizing true Burmese hospitality and cultural immersion. With an extensive network, our diverse experiences range from film fixing for the BBC to organizing cross-country car rallies and traditional ceremonies. Join us to meet fascinating personalities, from former royalty to artists, and explore uncharted territories with us.
Willem started the Khiri Travel in late 1993 and was soon supported by his longtime friend, Frans Betgem, who took an active role in the company between 1998 and 2011. Frans is still an active Director in the company. Khiri Travel’s Vision and Core Values were shaped by our founders in these early years. Frans and Willem spent much time traveling together and remain best friends.
Passion for travel has been in Willem’s blood since a young age. Being Dutch, his first explorations in Europe were on a bicycle. His career in the travel industry started with selling airline tickets at a student travel organization in the 1980s. He moved to Thailand in 1987 to further his career in the travel industry. He has been there ever since.
Willem founded Khiri Travel in a small room of a Bangkok shop house in 1993, with a bold vision to establish a “one-stop travel shop for the Greater Mekong sub-Region.” Almost 30 years later, Khiri Travel operates in eight countries with 13 offices across Asia.
Frans is a historian & traveler from Amsterdam in the Netherlands. He was involved in managing Khiri Travel until 2012 and now runs Green Trails, a small company in Chiang Mai. He is also involved in research on the history of Thailand and Chiang Mai in particular, and publishes articles on his blog site Travel and History. He also is the founder of Chiang Mai Memories, a popular Facebook group, and organizes historical tours through Chiang Mai a la Carte. Frans is very often on the road researching new itineraries and keeping abreast of the latest developments in tourism in Thailand.
Since 2016 he has been involved in a project to preserve the samlor, the traditional bicycle taxi, in Chiang Mai. Besides travel, his other passion is cycling which he does every morning before sunrise. He has a lot of plans for the future, but retirement is not one of them.
Known as ‘Khun Nong’ to the Khiri team, Kritsana has always been alongside Willem and has seen Khiri Travel through its growth and evolution since its inception in 1993. Kritsana remains the Director of the company, and is very involved with regional charity work, including Khiri Reach.