Introducing NJILA: A New Chapter in Culturally Rooted Luxury Travel
Updated: Nov 18, 2025
November 2025
A new kind of travel experience has arrived. NJILA is redefining what it means to explore the world — one journey at a time.
Rooted in sustainability, cultural authenticity, and the celebration of the African diaspora, NJILA offers intimate, small-group tours that invite travelers to see the world through a richer, more connected lens. Founded by Alice Marcelino, an Angolan-Portuguese artist and experienced tour director, and Markus Sherman, an experiential travel designer and cultural educator, NJILA bridges heritage, community, and luxury in every detail of its curated experiences.
The First Journey: Portugal, Fall 2026
NJILA’s inaugural destination — Portugal — reveals a story often untold. This one-of-a-kind itinerary uncovers the deep African influences woven into Portuguese history, cuisine, and contemporary culture. Travelers will dine in family-owned restaurants blending African and Luso traditions, walk the same paths once shaped by the transatlantic world, and engage directly with the local artists, scholars, and chefs redefining what it means to belong.
With just 15 guests, the Portugal Heritage Journey offers a balance of intimacy and discovery — an invitation to travel consciously and connect meaningfully.
“NJILA was born from a desire to reimagine travel as an act of cultural exchange,” says Founder Alice Marcelino. “Our tours go beyond visiting places — they’re about understanding the stories, people, and legacies that have shaped them. Portugal, with its layered connections to the African diaspora, is the perfect place to begin.”
Sustainability Meets Storytelling
Every NJILA journey is guided by a commitment to ethical, regenerative travel. The company partners exclusively with local businesses, historians, and creatives, ensuring that each experience benefits the communities it celebrates. From small-group sizes to eco-conscious vendors, NJILA’s model ensures that travel remains both transformative for guests and sustainable for hosts.
Bookings Open December 2025
The inaugural Portugal Heritage Tour opens for booking in December 2025. Interested travelers are encouraged to secure their spot early — only 15 seats are available for this immersive, once-in-a-lifetime experience.
For those who believe travel should do more than move us — it should connect us — NJILA offers the beginning of something extraordinary.
🌍 Discover More and Reserve Your Place: www.njilatravel.com
📸 Follow NJILA on Instagram @njilatravel for stories from our journeys.
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