My husband and I got Sak Yant tattoos with Ajarn Yod through Where Sidewalks End in March 2026. Our entire Sak Yant experience was smooth and amazing! Our English-speaking guide Nuch was kind, sweet,... See more
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We engaged WSE on three occasions in Chiang Mai [Sak Yant, Local Tour, and Monk], and had three unique and amazingly fulfilling experiences! Each of our guides were wonderful people; engaging, th... See more
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Our Sak Yant experience with our guide Wao and Ajarn Tu Nametta was beyond incredible! Wao was the perfect guide and translator, making sure we were accommodated in every way possible and feeling like... See more
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Oaxaca is so popular it can be really easy to slide into a tourist bubble and never really see anything truly authentic. My tours with Where Sidewalk Ends changed all of that. With locals I was abl... See more
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Company details
- #63 of 77 best companies in Tour Operator
- #13 of 17 best companies in Cultural Tours Provider
Written by the company
An off-the-beaten-path Tour Company with a focus on responsible, positive-impact tourism. We find the best experiences worldwide that you don't find in your everyday Guidebooks!
Contact info
1910 Thomes Ave, 82001, Cheyenne , United States
- connect@wsetravel.com
- wheresidewalksend.com
4.6
Excellent
131 reviews
Replied to 100% of negative reviews
Typically takes over 1 month to reply
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Fantastic experience
Fantastic experience! Victor was an amazing guide. Highly recommended!
November 7, 2025
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No guidance or information
There was no guidance or information. I could have gotten the same or better experience if I would have hired a driver. I would have liked to know the significance of the flowers in the celebration and spoken to some farmers.
November 3, 2025
Reply from Where Sidewalks End
Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback, Anita. We’re sorry to hear that this experience did not meet the expectations you had for the day.
The Marigold Fields experience is designed as a seasonal visit during Day of the Dead, giving guests the opportunity to spend time in the marigold fields while capturing the moment with professional photography. We understand from your comments that you were hoping for more cultural explanation during the visit, and we appreciate you sharing that perspective as we continue refining the experience.
We hope the professional photos helped capture some special memories from your time in Oaxaca during the Day of the Dead season.
Thank you again for joining us, and we hope to have the opportunity to welcome you again in Oaxaca, or for another cultural experience elsewhere with us in the future.
Reply from Where Sidewalks End
Thank you so much for your kind words, Faith. We’re very glad to hear that Victor helped make your Oaxaca Ancestral Mezcal Experience feel so special. Spending time with the families who produce mezcal and learning about the ancestral process is something we love sharing, and it’s wonderful to know Victor helped bring that to life for you.
We’d be delighted to welcome you back anytime in Oaxaca, or for another cultural experience with us elsewhere. Happy travels!
The family was beautiful
I want to start by saying the family we met with and our guide were all amazing. The experience was beautiful and it was so nice learning and speaking with the family on their traditions and getting to see the holiday in a different way. However, my self and the friends that I booked with all felt the group size was way too big. While everyone in our group was incredible respectful, it sort of felt like watching animals in a zoo with how big we were which is something I really hate to do and find disrespectful when I’m travelling.
On top of that, we didn’t actually get to do everything the tour described, for example putting together to offrenda - I know most people brought photos and things to add to the offrenda.
I also personally feel like we were way over charged for this tour. The meal size was incredibly small and the amount of mezcal we drank was certainly no where near how much we paid. Unless majority of the money I paid for this tour was given to the family, it feels like I’m paying a big company to profit off of someone else’s lives and traditions.
It was a great tour and very informative, but I don’t think I would be booking again as the group size made everything feel very impersonal on a holiday that should be about celebrating those closest to you.
November 3, 2025
Reply from Where Sidewalks End
Thank you so much for sharing your experience with us. We are really glad to hear that you connected with the family and enjoyed learning about their traditions.
We also hear your concern about the group size. This event was created by the host family of women mezcal producers who invited us to help them share how their village celebrates Día de Muertos. They chose the group size, a standard small group of up to 18, and the format based on what they are comfortable hosting at their palenque on their mezcal tours throughout the year. We followed their lead to support their project.
This experience is not designed as a mezcal or food tour, although those elements are part of the evening. Additional food and mezcal were offered, and we will share your feedback with the family so they can continue refining how they host this part of the experience and make sure it feels clear to everyone who attends.
The focus is on the family’s celebration and on giving visitors a respectful window into their customs and their home. Revenue from this event is shared directly with the family who co-designed and hosted the night. We are a very small company working closely with local communities, and these collaborations help families share their traditions in the way they choose while enabling them to earn a fair livelihood doing so.
It is unfortunate to hear that parts of the evening felt less personal than you hoped. Your feedback is appreciated, and we will share it with the family as we continue improving the experience together.
Thank you again for being with us during such a meaningful time of year. The family and our local team were very happy to welcome you into their home and traditions.
Very nice tour
Very nice tour! Lovely intimate experience with a local family. Thanks again!
November 3, 2025
Reply from Where Sidewalks End
Thank you so much for your kind words, Viënna. We’re very glad you enjoyed the Matatlán Day of the Dead Experience and the chance to spend time with Lidia and her family. Experiences like this are special because they allow guests to connect directly with local traditions in an intimate setting, and we’re happy Octavio and Magaly could help guide the day for you.
We’d be delighted to welcome you back anytime in Oaxaca, or for another cultural experience with us elsewhere. Happy travels!
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HIGHLY RECOMMEND!!!
This was such an incredible and special experience. Our guide and translator was the kind of soul. He truly is the best at what he does!! I appreciate every bit of this experience and I highly highly recommend!
November 10, 2025
Reply from Where Sidewalks End
Thank you so much for your kind words, Monica. We’re very glad to hear that your Sak Yant experience in Chiang Mai with Ajarn Dej felt so special, and that Khun Khai helped guide and translate the day with such care. Moments like these are deeply personal, and it means a lot to know the experience resonated with you.
We truly appreciate your recommendation and would be delighted to welcome you back anytime in Chiang Mai, or for another cultural experience with us elsewhere. Happy travels!
The most beautiful experience in Chiang Mai
Khai de tour guide and Wit the driver were very kind.
Khai explained a lot about Buddhism and was very patient during the consultation with the monk. He made sure I understood the monk advices, was comfortable with the tattoo design and understood the meaning.
The place is chaotic, a lot of visual pollution, but I left the experience in peace and very emotional. The monk capture a lot of my feelings during the consultation and the meaning was a perfect to my life aspirations.
November 7, 2025
Reply from Where Sidewalks End
Thank you so much for sharing your experience, Heloisa. We’re very glad to hear that your Sak Yant experience in Chiang Mai with Ajarn Rung was so meaningful for you. Khun Khai takes great care in helping guests understand the consultation, the design, and the meaning behind the Sak Yant, so it’s wonderful to know his patience and explanations helped you feel comfortable throughout the process.
It means a lot to hear that the consultation resonated with you and that you left the experience feeling peaceful and connected to the meaning of your Sak Yant. We’d be delighted to welcome you back anytime in Chiang Mai, or for another cultural experience with us elsewhere. Happy travels!
Good tour but did not learn much about Day of the Dead
Learned about the history of Mitla, but the day of the dead part was very short, not very informative, and in general we didn't learn much about day of the dead/how the places, activities, and traditions related to day of the dead. I was hoping to learn the latter and have a unique authentic experience. It was a good tour but truthfully felt a lot like the tours you find on viator rather than a curated experience as described.
November 3, 2025
Chiang Mai sak yant experience
Everything was arrange on e dot . Smooth n seamless . Guide n Ajurn was glad . Have known of WSE for a long time even though its my 1st time engaging time n wont be e last .Ajurn Rung is amazing. Even though I have read beforehand n been inform no photos/videos are allowed cos female. I went ahead with Ajurn Rung base on my gut feel it has to be been or don't do at all.
Was my 1st time in Chiang mai n arranging for Sak yant was actually an impromptu decision before I go. Though I had wanted to do it for e longest time. The only regret I didn't get it done sooner .
November 4, 2025
Unprompted review
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Service was wonderful
Service was wonderful. The gals doing the makeup session were so artistic! The cost was a bit high considering what was included. It will be interesting to see the professional photos.
October 29, 2025
Reply from Where Sidewalks End
Thank you for your kind words, Beth. We’re very glad to hear you enjoyed the makeup session and the artistry of the talented local artists who helped bring the Day of the Dead look to life.
We work with experienced local makeup artists and professional photographers and aim to ensure they are paid fairly for their craft, which is an important part of how we run these experiences. We hope you enjoyed the professional photos once they were delivered and that they captured some beautiful memories from your time in Oaxaca during Day of the Dead.
We’d be delighted to welcome you back anytime in Oaxaca, or for another cultural experience with us elsewhere. Happy travels!
Worst tour of my life
I did a Day of the Dead tour with Where the Sidewalk Ends and I feel like I was scammed by this tour, it was 3 hours long and we spent over 2 hours of that in a hot courtyard being lectured about the day. Everyone looked miserable and I saw someone fall asleep it was so boring. The guide walked us to the cemetery then left to look for other guests so the "tour" was only around 10/15min long. You essentially pay for a VERY overpriced and mediocre meal with terrible service. Ordered drinks that never came, multiple times they would start to serve our table and serve two people their meals then serve the entire rest of the tables and then come back to our table to say they had run out so we needed to wait for them to make more. I wasted my money on this and I wish I'd left to spare my time because it's not even worth going even if you don't get your money back. Awful experience, tourist trap for sure and I wouldn't ever recommend this group or this tour and if I met anyone planning to do it I'd probably tell them not to bother even going.
November 1, 2025
Unprompted review
Reply from Where Sidewalks End
Hola Gerri, we’re very sorry to hear the experience didn’t meet your expectations. The talks at the start of the evening are meant to help guests understand the meaning and traditions behind what they’ll later see in the cemeteries, fostering empathy and respect for local families. The food is prepared by a respected local woman-chef using traditional Oaxacan recipes, curated to share the authentic flavors of the season.
We wish you’d let us know during the event so we could have made things right at the time, but we’d still like the chance to do so now. Please message us directly so we can review your experience together.
The guide is essential for this once in a lifetime experience
The guide was so helpful in explaining everything to me and made sure that I understood everything that was needed for a very serious and scared experience!
October 12, 2025
Reply from Where Sidewalks End
Thank you so much for your kind words, Megan. We are honored that you chose us for your Sak Yant experience and glad to hear Khun Aod’s guidance helped you feel comfortable and supported throughout such a meaningful ceremony. We’re grateful for your trust and would be delighted to welcome you back anytime in Thailand, or beyond.
The BEST Sak Yant Experience!
Our Sak Yant experience with our guide Wao and Ajarn Tu Nametta was beyond incredible! Wao was the perfect guide and translator, making sure we were accommodated in every way possible and feeling like a part of our group. Ajarn Tu Nametta understood our hopes for the Yants as well as the energy we needed and the results are stunning. Would absolutely recommend!
October 4, 2025
Reply from Where Sidewalks End
Thank you so much for your kind words, Kristalyn. We are honored you chose us for your Sak Yant experience and so glad to hear that Wao’s care and attention helped make the day feel so welcoming and comfortable. It’s wonderful to know that your time with Ajarn Tu Nametta felt meaningful and aligned with the energy and intentions you brought to it. We are grateful you placed your trust in us and would be delighted to welcome you back anytime in Thailand, or beyond.
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Went on the sak yant Chiang Mai tour…
Went on the sak yant Chiang Mai tour with our tourguide Noi and it was a life changing experience!
From the moment we met our guide he was extremely helpful in all aspects and did a wonderful explaining what it we should expect and what things mean. He safe took us to our destination explaining everything each step of the way to ensure we have the best possible experience. The sak yant tattoo experience was perfect being that we were lucky to have caught Ajarn Rung when he was not busy so we could take our time with questions we had. Def looking forward to coming back soon and getting more done with Ajarn Rung. Thank you to WSE, Noi and Ajarn Rung for a once in a lifetime experience!
September 27, 2025
Unprompted review
Reply from Where Sidewalks End
Thank you so much for your wonderful review, Yunjoong. We are honored you joined us in Chiang Mai and glad to hear that Khun Noi’s guidance and support made the journey feel smooth and meaningful. It is great to know your time with Ajarn Rung left such a lasting impression and that the experience felt both personal and profound. We are grateful you chose us and would be delighted to welcome you back anytime for another blessing with Ajarn Rung, or for future experiences in Thailand and beyond.
The Rise of Female Pulqueras & Mescaleras: Oaxaca’s Agave Traditions Reimagined
I love learning from ancestral wisdom traditions around the world, especially the vibrant lands of Oaxaca, Mexico.
The seemingly simple yet profound act of ‘turning water into wine’, or in this case, working with an agave plant to ferment pulque or distill mezcal, provides a window into a world that is rich with context, character, and connection.
As an added layer, I love bearing witness to women stepping into traditionally male dominated roles, like that of a Pulquera or Mescalera; women who choose to RISE & THRIVE in Oaxaca agave traditions, against all odds.
It reminds me that context is always changing and culture is never a fixed point.
Recently I had the opportunity to join a Oaxaca Artisanal Mezcal Experience with WSE Travel. Their ethos, ‘Where Sidewalks End’ takes willing explorers off the beaten path, while creating a positive impact on the communities and environment.
The relationships they bridge are real. Something I felt immediately.
September 20, 2025
Reply from Where Sidewalks End
Thank you so much for your thoughtful review, Steph. We are honored you joined us in Oaxaca and that the experience reflected the resilience and ancestral knowledge of the women leading agave traditions today. Your words mean a lot, and we are grateful for the chance to share these connections with you.
Incredible Guides Showing You the Real Oaxaca
Oaxaca is so popular it can be really easy to slide into a tourist bubble and never really see anything truly authentic.
My tours with Where Sidewalk Ends changed all of that. With locals I was able to find the best things both in the city and outside, discovering really special places and amazing people.
I have taken many tours and so many guides are just worn out or phoning it in. But the guides on my tours were inspiring, honest, opinionated and happy to share. I learned a lot about Mexican culture and issues facing it today.
September 3, 2025
Reply from Where Sidewalks End
Thank you so much for your kind words, Ayngelina. We’re so glad your time with our guides helped you see a more authentic side of Oaxaca, both in the city and beyond. It means a lot to hear that their knowledge and passion left such an impact, and we are grateful you chose to explore these places and stories with us. We would love to welcome you back anytime, whether in Oaxaca or beyond.
I wouldn’t change anything
I wouldn’t change anything. I feel honored to have the Sak Yants ajarn Rung bestowed upon me, and he was fast and his workmanship was impeccable. I love my guide Wao also, she made everything very comfortable and I liked our time together. Would do it again and also highly recommend.
September 15, 2025
Reply from Where Sidewalks End
Thank you so much for your generous review, Jeffrey. We’re honored that your Sak Yant with Ajarn Rung felt so meaningful, and that Wao helped make the experience comfortable and memorable. It’s wonderful to know everything felt just right for you. We would be delighted to welcome you back anytime.
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Wonderful experience from top to…
Wonderful experience from top to bottom. Highly recommended!
September 3, 2025
Reply from Where Sidewalks End
Thank you so much for your kind review, Skylar. We’re so glad you enjoyed your Chiang Mai Ink Experience with Ajarn Dej, and that Khun Noi was there to guide you through it all. We truly appreciate your recommendation and would love to welcome you back anytime, whether in Thailand or beyond.
Very pleased with my experience getting…
Very pleased with my experience getting a sak yant. The whole morning was seamless thanks to Steven picking me up and making me feel comfortable from start to finish. He was so accommodating and wanted me to know he was there for me the whole time. As it was my first ever sak yant and tattoo in general, I was a bit nervous but Steven updated me every step of the way. Ajarn ya was also so kind and patient with me. Very happy I found WSE!!!
August 28, 2025
Unprompted review
Reply from Where Sidewalks End
Thank you so much for your thoughtful review, Meghan. We’re so pleased to hear your first Sak Yant felt comfortable and supported from start to finish. With Steven’s care and guidance, and Ajarn Ya’s kindness and patience, we’re grateful the experience could unfold in such a smooth and meaningful way. We appreciate you choosing WSE for this important step and would be happy to welcome you back anytime.
WSE were so accommodating
WSE were so accommodating, especially when i was after a date that was unavailable in the website. After messaging they opened up a time for me. Its not often you receive such good service and my expeeimce (Sak yant tattoo) blew me away. So special and will return next time.
August 4, 2025
Reply from Where Sidewalks End
Thank you so much for your review, Paula. We’re glad we could help find a time that worked for you and that your Sak Yant experience felt so meaningful. Khun Su’s guidance and Ajarn Yod’s artistry are at the heart of what we strive to offer, and we’re grateful you chose to share this moment with them. We’d be delighted to welcome you back anytime.
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