Mongolia is Scott Tay’s second home. He has been there over 30 times, especially since he he participated in almost every client trip when he first launched his adventure travel company Beyond Expeditions. Although no stranger to other destinations off the beaten path, the avid explorer is particularly fond of Mongolia’s dramatic landscapes, harsh nature, and nomadic culture. It’s why Beyond Expeditions started by organising tours to the landlocked country, Tay explains.
Seven years on, the company also conducts adventure tours in Ladakh, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Madagascar, and Bhutan. But Beyond Expeditions is not so much a tour company as it is an agency dedicated to transformative adventures; it aims to introduce paradisiacal spots while facilitating personal growth. It is through adventure travel that clients can confront their inner demons and find purpose in life, Tay says.
“A person’s true character is revealed when they are pushed outside their comfort zone. For example, will they still be kind and respectful when they are tired and uncomfortable? Our experiences promote humility and appreciation for life’s simple pleasures, such as having a hot cup of simple tea in the freezing Taiga winter.”
Minor inconveniences like the absence of toilets or showers become insignificant when one can let go of expectations, he adds. And he’d know—he’s been roughing it since he was a teen. Having grown up with his nose in travel books and magazines, he embarked on his first backpacking trip at 17 and returned with a simple desire: to help travellers gain easier access to unspoilt territories. Now that he has woven his passion for escapades into his career, he no longer sees what he does as a job, but a lifestyle.
While having creative freedom is a bonus, operating a boutique travel company comes with certain impositions. A common one is having to meet clients’ needs even at odd hours. That said, Tay’s most challenging task has been in hiring “competent, visionary team members”.
“We want people who align with our mission of using adventure travel for transformation. Travel isn’t just about loving travel. It’s about being adaptable, conscious, and dedicated to our cause.”
Scott Tay on the mindset of Beyond Expeditions’ employees
With human development his lodestar, it’s no surprise that Tay has a big heart for people. Through his Beyond Limits charity expedition campaign, he has so far raised over $220,000 for beneficiaries such as the Singapore Cancer Society and Down Syndrome Association. Cancer survivors are invited to join these expeditions to advocate for their causes and this year’s expedition involves an eight-day trek through the Tian Shan mountains of Kyrgyzstan. All proceeds for this edition will go towards the Breast Cancer Foundation.
As is the case in other industries, Tay believes the future of the travel industry hinges on AI and that the world will increasingly resemble episodes of Black Mirror, where human-technology integration becomes the norm. For this reason, he expects the travel sector to undergo dramatic changes over the next five to 10 years.
The evolution may be unnerving but it will create exponential opportunities. “Just look at what Meta is doing with VR and AI glasses. it’s incredible. One day, we may no longer need to visit destinations physically,” Tay avers.
“When technology makes our world smaller, we’ll need to find new meanings and purposes. The metamorphosis will be fascinating to witness and be a part of.”
Art director: Ed Harland
Videographer: Alicia Chong
Photographer: Mun Kong
Photographer’s assistant: Melvin Leong
Hair: Sarah Tan
Makeup: Keith Bryant Lee using Lancome
