Meet Axelle Guillaumond | Founder of Escayalla, Travel Planner and Travel Designer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Axelle Guillaumond and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Axelle, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
That’s the question everyone asks me! Why? Why did I move to Jordan and start my own business to help people discover Jordan like a local? Of course, I didn’t end up here by chance. It’s the result of lots of little things, of life events! Nothing predestined me to work in tourism. Before, I was a social worker. After working with homeless people, young offenders and immigrants, I had to say enough is enough! For my mental health, but also, and above all, for my ethics! Social work is a peculiar world where we are asked to do more and more with less and less. Harassment from management, physical violence towards us. Social work is a symptom of a society that is going wrong, and I didn’t want to be complicit in that! So I decided to leave. I needed to reconnect with human beings, which was the main reason I became a social worker in the first place. I went travelling for a few months with a single goal in mind: to reconnect with people! As I met people, I realised that I could no longer do my job, but that I had to do it differently. I had to create my own solution for my professional and personal fulfilment. So I combined the things I love most: Jordan and meeting people! That’s why today I’m going to meet the locals in Jordan to enable them to benefit from the country’s growing popularity with tourists. I accompany all French-speaking travellers who want to experience Jordan first-hand, but above all, meet the Jordanians, discover Jordan, its landscapes, its culinary culture and me over a cup of tea in the desert!

What should our readers know about your business?
I think what I’m most proud of is having dared to do it and continuing to believe in it despite numerous obstacles! Since October 2023, Jordan has no longer been a country that attracts travellers due to the geopolitical context. They are afraid and, out of ignorance, think it is a dangerous country, even at war. Of course, this is not the case at all; it is a true haven of peace! However, this period, when you work in tourism, makes you question everything! I wondered about my future, for myself and my business. It is often said that entrepreneurship is not a sprint, but a marathon! This is partly true! It is a marathon of perseverance and resilience! I had to dig deep within myself to find solutions to continue developing my business and bring Jordan to life through social media so that no one forgets that this country is magical! I created women’s trips to meet Jordanian women, an ebook for travellers who want to venture out on their own in Jordan, a book of Jordanian recipes, culinary boxes, and a partnership with a ceramist to create plates and dishes inspired by traditional craftsmanship. I never gave up because I believe in what I do! So if there’s one thing to take away from all this, it’s that life isn’t linear and that not everything we imagine comes to fruition. There are plenty of surprises that you have to adapt to in order to grow! I bend like a reed, but I never break, even in the face of storms!

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
If my best friends came to Jordan, it would be THE trip of a lifetime! Well, with my own little local touch, of course! Day one: arrival in Amman, the capital. Explore the historic city centre and its history at the crossroads of civilisations, not forgetting a local appetiser with Omar, a Palestinian Jordanian who passes on his cultural heritage through cooking.

Then on the second day, I’ll take them to explore Ajloun to meet a woman from the Jordanian countryside, Umm Sameer. The goal? To immerse ourselves in her daily life, which involves cooking for the whole family and making traditional cane furniture. We’ll have to lend a hand!

Then, we’ll head to the Dead Sea, a place that is set to disappear within 50 years due to global warming. So we too must do our bit. The objective? To meet with an association that organises waste collection to protect the sea. With all this plastic, we can make coasters or tote bags.

Come to Jordan without seeing Petra? Impossible! Let’s go and immerse ourselves in a family that was born and raised on the site. It’s the best way to share the way of life in the caves of Petra.

And finally, come to my home, the Wadi Rum desert. No electricity, no network, no water. The silence of the desert, the starry sky, and above all, an encounter with Bedouin culture thanks to my partner, who was born in this desert.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
When embarking on an adventure like mine, the most important thing is support! I was lucky enough to have the encouragement of my family and friends! They know me, they knew that Jordan was in my blood, but above all, they knew how unhappy I was in France. So they supported me every step of the way, always with a kind word to keep me going! Even today, when I’m feeling a little down, I know I can turn to them. They’ll help me see the bigger picture and keep moving forward with my head held high and my heart light! Thank you to them! Ultimately, I’m not going on this adventure alone, I’ve brought everyone I love with me!

Website: https://escayalla.fr/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/axelle_en_jordanie/?hl=fr

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61550299792359