Rhiannon Hutton Luxury Travel Specialist

What began as a routine familiarisation trip to China became a life-altering ordeal. In Hijacked: A Journey to Peace and Purpose, Rhiannon recounts the harrowing day she and nine other women were held hostage by a bomber on a bus in Xi’an — and how that moment reshaped everything.

Written initially as a raw, late-night release during a difficult divorce, this memoir is not just about trauma. It’s about the quiet wisdom of intuition, the slow path to resilience, and the unexpected strength that emerges when life veers off course. Rhiannon weaves together her story of survival, the years of hidden PTSD, and how travel — the very thing that once led her into danger — became her medium for healing and helping others.

Guest: Rhiannon Hutton, founder of The Luxury Travel Specialist, curator of transformative journeys. More than 20 years in travel, now author and resilience advocate.

In this episode: Rhiannon opens up about her evolution from a shopfront agency to luxury bespoke travel, and the pivotal, terrifying experience in China that reframed her outlook on life and work. She discusses trusting instincts, the emotional aftermath, and how challenging experiences can serve a greater purpose. The conversation also touches on her upcoming group wellness journeys in Bhutan, designed for those navigating trauma.

Listen to the full episode