Michaela Eckmüller
Travel Designer
Hello, I'm Michi! Since the beginning of 2023, I have been part of the Take Memories team. On the phone, I take your wishes and ideas and occasionally advise you on planning your dream trip. However, my focus is on After-Sales: I accompany you until departure, take care of your final documents, and answer last-minute questions so that you can start your vacation relaxed and full of anticipation.
So many similarities connect the countries of the Orient – each one has shown me a very unique character during my travels. This became especially clear to me in Oman and the UAE. Oman enchanted me with its pristine landscapes – from fjords and mountains to vast deserts and lonely beaches. The UAE, on the other hand, showed me a completely different side of the Orient: modern city life, extraordinary amusement parks, countless shopping opportunities, and a culinary scene that leaves almost no desire unfulfilled.
On my bucket list
Egypt
At the top of my list is a tour through Egypt. I would start in Cairo to see the new Grand Egyptian Museum. On a Nile cruise, I want to explore the various historical sites along the river, such as the Valley of the Kings and the temples in Luxor, Edfu, Kom Ombo, and Aswan. I also find the Wadi El Gemal National Park very interesting. And to finish off, a few days on the beach for snorkeling and relaxing – perfect!
Discovering EgyptMy next trip
Jordan
My next private trip has not yet been decided. But if it is not this trip to Egypt, I am also very interested in Jordan with the impressive rocks of Petra and the Dead Sea. Jordan is also great to explore as a tour, and I hope it presents another side of the Orient to me.
Discovering JordanAbout Michi – How the Orient conquered my heart
My fascination with the Orient goes back to my childhood. When I first heard the story of Aladdin and the magic lamp, it was a world of pure fantasy for me: the exotic, the distant, endless deserts, men in long, white robes. I was convinced that such a thing could not really exist, that they were just stories made up for children like me.
However, this image has never really let me go. The older I became, the stronger the desire grew to find out what of this concept is real and what is fantasy. I wanted to see these vastnesses and this foreign world with my own eyes, not just know it from books.
When I was out there myself, I realized how close some of these childhood images actually are to reality – and how much more multifaceted the Orient is at the same time. To this day, I am fascinated by exactly this mix: the familiarity with old stories and images, paired with the realization that each country has its own often surprising side. That is what makes my work exciting for me to this day.
Moments that particularly excited me
Iftar in the desert
One evening that particularly stayed in my memory was an Iftar in the middle of the desert at the Bab Al Shams Resort. At the buffet, one Arabic delicacy lined up after the other, while traditional dance performances and spectacular shows brought the night to life. Right next to it, the camels dozed under a breathtaking starry sky.
It was exactly this magic from traditions, Arabic aromas, and the silence of the desert that made the evening something very special and reminded me once again where my fascination for the Orient comes from.