BIO
Chris Joondeph, known as @Authentic_Traveling, is a travel content creator from the United States with a particular focus on food and culture. He is known for his fun, engaging videos that really make it feel like you’re traveling along with him.
When it comes to travel, Chris is all about getting the local experience in order to understand a place through the perspective of those living there. There is a reason so many people call him the “Millennial Anthony Bourdain”. For Chris, it’s not about visiting the most popular tourist sights, but rather finding the hidden gems and quirks that showcase destinations with a unique and positive perspective.
One theme throughout his work is cultural appreciation. Chris has a unique ability to pick up on the little details that make a culture tick and showcase them with a fresh perspective. In that respect his content is very different from other travel content creators as he puts new spin on travel content showcasing some of the simple everyday experiences that help him connect with his audience.
Chris’s travel journey started back in 2013 when he went on a solo backpacking trip through Central America from Panama to El Salvador. This showed him that it was really possible to just pack up a few things, jump on a plane, and figure everything out on the fly while getting totally immersed in the culture.
In 2021, Chris took his first trip to Nigeria where he met his now wife, Adenike Joondeph. The two married in 2024 and managed a long distance relationship while waiting for her visa to the United States. Eventually the time apart and travel got to be too much and Chris left his job to start a business venture with his wife bringing foreign tourists to Nigeria on culturally immersive group tours. The two host several group tours throughout the year. More information about these tours is available on their Instagram page: instagram.com/authentic_traveling_tours
As Chris has perfected his craft, his global audience has grown. He shows an alternative perspective about the places he visits in an educational, funny, and engaging format. You can see more of his content on Instagram, TikTok, YouTube or Facebook at @authentic_traveling.