Lost in the Jungle, Found His Tribe: How ExoTrails CEO Michael Wong Blazed A Trail For Outdoor Enthusiasts

Born in Kuching, East Malaysia, Michael Wong was introduced to nature’s wonders at a young age by his mother, a dedicated nurse who made sure her three children experienced the outdoors regularly. His father, a fitness enthusiast, also influenced Michael’s passion for wellness. Michael Wong’s childhood, imbued with a love for nature and fitness, laid the groundwork for his future endeavors.

After spending 40 years in Canada, his adventurous spirit found a fitting setting. His professional journey has spanned various design-oriented ventures, including furniture design and the development of hotels and resorts in China, the U.S., and Canada. However, Michael never saw himself as a traditional businessman. Instead, he viewed his work as a manifestation of his passion and knack for identifying opportunities.

During his formative years, his curiosity and adventurous spirit led him on countless explorations, often venturing into the wild without a map or a specific destination. His only companions are his trusted truck, often loaded with all the camping and outdoor essentials he needs to spend a day or longer exploring uncharted territories.

These adventures, which included getting lost and encountering wildlife, were all integral to his experience and fostered an appreciation for nature.

In his career, Michael Wong recognized the importance of personal time, especially in the fast-paced business of fitness and wellbeing, double-down on his time at California Fitness & Yoga Centers Vietnam.

He had been the mastermind behind concepts, designs and execution for 10 years before his departure. He found solitude in nature, which became a form of meditation for him, helping him stay grounded and mindful of his responsibilities as a leader.

Recently, Michael Wong redefined his role as a businessman, understanding that success extends beyond transactions. For him, true success lies in the value one delivers and the positive impact one’s products or services have on others. This mindset has led Michael Wong to redefine business and success, placing a premium on value creation and positive impact.

A Leap That Gains Momentum From A Misstep

Back in June 2022, Michael Wong followed Google Maps on a solo trip to La Ngâu in Vietnam. What should have been a straightforward adventure turned into an exercise in frustration. A whole kilometer, off-course! It was a wake-up call. Vietnam, a country with landscapes that take your breath away and trails that snake through untouched wilderness, lacked a reliable app to guide the growing legion of outdoor enthusiasts.

The spark ignited. Michael Wong, an explorer at heart, decided to be the change he wanted to see. ExoTrails was born, fueled by his thirst for adventure and a desire to help others discover “the transformative power of getting lost (in the best way possible).”

ExoTrails is more than just a fancy GPS app; it is a philosophy of utility. When the idea of ExoTrail came about, it was designed for a user or a group of users to have the ability to ensure that wherever they’re going is accurate, wherever they’re going has been verified, and wherever they are going, there is an element of safety. These 3 key fundamentals are the essentials that propelled ExoTrails to what it is today.

Michael Wong speaks with an almost reverent tone about the way nature jolts you awake and reconnects people to something bigger than yourself. He is on a mission to lure people out of the fluorescent purgatory of gyms and offices and back into the wild, whether it’s a weekend hike through a national park or a full-blown expedition into uncharted territory.

Not All Who Wander Should Be (Literally) Lost

A naturalist, Michael Wong, voted against getting lost unintentionally. A way out is every trailblazer’s non-negotiable. No matter how calm one might be, this situation would enable them to lock themselves in their heads rather than create an opportunity for them to emerge into nature.

“Heading out to nature does wonders for my overall energy and mood,” Michael Wong says. “It has been proven that we are all connected to nature in some form of energy or chi.” Though this ethereal element permeates everywhere, one has to unplug to plug in this intangible current of nature.

This is not some trendy “back to nature” fad for Michael Wong. His passion for the outdoors is woven into the very fabric of his being, whether in the taiga or in the land of tiger plants. Having spent his childhood in the wilderness of Alberta, Canada, Michael Wong envisions ExoTrails as a bridge connecting the urban environment with the raw beauty of the wild.

ExoTrails caters to a whole spectrum of explorers: the adrenaline junkie chasing the next heart-pounding climb, the solace-seeking nature enthusiast yearning for quiet communion with the trees, and even families looking to create lasting memories together on a scenic walk.

Imagine planning a trip with ExoTrails as your trusted companion. You can ditch the overthinking and embrace the spontaneity—that phượt (read: wanderlust) spirit, as they call it in Vietnam. The app takes care of the logistics, ensuring you have accurate trails, safety information at your fingertips, and even recommendations for immersing yourself in the local flavor through food and accommodation.

No more getting lost like Michael Wong on his La Ngâu trip!

In Vietnam, family outings are common, often involving parents, children, and even grandparents. The style of camping in Vietnam differs from that in Canada, with smaller cars and trails often accessible only by walking or motorbike. The versatility and adaptability of the Vietnamese people shine in these situations, making the most of whatever circumstances they encounter.

These outings offer a unique bonding experience, with families coming together to share meals and experiences in the great outdoors; they all can be facilitated with ease by ExoTrails.

“One, Two, Three, 4.4 Thousand Trails!”

A trailblazing app named ExoTrails has taken outdoor exploration to a new level in Vietnam, showcasing over 4,400 trails for 14 different outdoor activities. Spearheaded by CEO Michael Wong, this venture meticulously maps, verifies, and curates each trail, with every hidden incline and winding turn carefully documented.

“Preparation and safety are paramount in outdoor adventures,” Michael Wong emphasizes, “The more our users know about their destination before their trip, the better.” This ethos reflects the primary value of ExoTrails: providing accurate mapping of trails and essential information to enhance the logistic planning and tracking of every outdoor experience.

Yet outdoor exploration is inherently tied to Mother Nature’s unpredictability. Trails are blazed just to be blazed again; they may vanish or alter due to changing weather conditions. Addressing this, Michael Wong explains, “Most trails we document exist in smaller villages and towns, created over time by farmers, cows, or children. We aim to offer an adventurous yet safe outdoor experience. We have plans to periodically revisit popular trails, and weather reports help us plan ahead.”

Michael Wong‘s infectious enthusiasm for ExoTrails mirrors his love for outdoor adventures. His vision is to surprise and inspire people, not only with the app itself but with the opportunities it unlocks. With meticulously documented breathtaking landscapes and hidden gems of Vietnam just a tap away, ExoTrails is an unfolding treasure chest of adventure.

And who knows, one day we will wake up to island hopping routes or an accessible technology that can “karst” a spell on trail-mapping in caves!

Sneak Peek On Chapter 2

ExoTrails is a movement rather than a mere app; it marks the beginning of a movement, a clarion call for adventurous spirits who believe in responsible exploration of the great outdoors. At the helm of this initiative is Michael Wong, the CEO, who dreams of establishing ExoTrails as the epitome of exploration and responsible outdoor recreation in Vietnam.

However, ExoTrails is more than a simple running tracker. Understanding the core value every gymer has been exercising for, Michael Wong encourages users to take their fitness routines from the confines of the gym to the vast expanses of the outdoors. He believes that regular indoor training is an essential preparation for outdoor activities like hiking, trekking, or marathoning.

In an era where mixed reality (MR), virtual reality (VR), and augmented reality (AR) are redefining boundaries, ExoTrails is poised on the brink of infinite possibilities. Take, for example, a user in France who has never been to Asia, let alone Vietnam.

They could virtually traverse the Vietnamese trails before deciding to physically embark on the journey. This unique fusion of technology and outdoor exploration is exactly the niche that ExoTrails is geared up to fill.

Building on this technological innovation, ExoTrails is currently developing an AI-powered chatbot, named Exobot, as part of their roadmap. Exobot’s mission is to act as a companion, helping users plan comprehensive trips across Vietnam. This eliminates the need for users to figure out where to go, how to get there, where to stay, and what to eat. All this information is collected and regularly updated by a team led by Michael Wong. This unique combination of technology and nature exploration is the direction ExoTrails is confidently moving in.