Donkey Sunrise

From Backpacking Dream to Dream Client:
My Adventure with Donkey Sunrise

Sometimes, life just throws you the most wonderful curveballs. My journey with Donkey Sunrise is one of those stories that perfectly sums up my "go with the flow" mantra and how pure passion can lead to the most amazing collaborations.

For over a decade, I was deep in the corporate B2B world, building strategies, launching campaigns, and managing high-end partnerships. It was solid, but deep down, I craved more adventure. So, I did what felt right: I quit my job, gave up my apartment, sold everything, and took off with just a backpack and a one-way ticket to Guatemala, ready for whatever came next.

The search for a motorbike

Four months into my travels, I reached Colombia, and I was itching for some moto adventure – the kind you find by going truly off-road, away from buses and the usual tourist spots. I missed to be able to go into the wild, reaching places you can only get to on two wheels. So, I started looking for a place to rent a motorcycle.

A Win-Win Discovery

That's when Donkey Sunrise popped up on my radar. They offered rental bikes, amongst others, but so much more! What they were doing – offering incredible motorcycle travel experiences – was exactly what I had envisioned setting up myself, but in Portugal! I saw they were looking for volunteers, and after four months on the move, the idea of settling down in one spot for a bit felt good. It was a total win-win: I could lend my marketing skills to help them get back up to speed after a quiet COVID period, and in return, I'd get an insider's look at running an adventure travel business. They were just starting to grow again and definitely needed a hand, not just with marketing, but with streamlining their entire 'way of working.'

My Home Away From Home

My plan was to stay for a month. Just a quick stop, right? Ha! Well, that quickly turned into six months! Donkey Sunrise became my home away from home. I arrived thinking I'd just rent a bike, but they opened up a whole new world of motor travel for me. Meeting people from all corners of the globe who were exploring continents on two wheels sparked something in me. All I could think was:

Why have I never considered this before?!

My post-corporate life has always been about following my gut feeling. And when that feeling screamed, "Buy a motorcycle and keep exploring!", Donkey Sunrise helped me buy my own bike, and just like that, I was off, discovering South America on two wheels for months.

From Volunteer to Valued Partner

Even though I was on the road, we still kept in touch. Having spent so long helping them set up and professionalize the organization, Tim and I kept in regular contact – sharing wild travel stories and brainstorming "what's next" for Donkey Sunrise. Then, a few months later, the call came:

Would I officially like to be part of the team?

And just like that, Donkey Sunrise became my very first official client in the adventure scene. It's an organization that still feels like home, one I'm deeply passionate about, and now get to help grow every single day. Today, I'm their sparring partner for strategic decisions, we've launched a brand-new website, I manage their social media channels, we make key decisions on growth and investments, and we're constantly developing new tours and experiences.

A story to be told

This is a client where everything simply clicks for me – a brand with an incredible story, a place that gives me immense energy. I'm so proud to stand behind what they do and am fully committed to translating their amazing, positive local vibe into a powerful digital presence. Their story deserves to be heard by the world!

And honestly? We're just getting started.

Curious? Check out their instagram (warning: you might want to book a ticket to Colombia).