Naturetrek Traveller Reviews

Both holidays - Amazon Wildlife Cruise and Brazilian Pantanal Just Jaguars were fantastic. I enjoyed every second. The cornucopia of bird life and animals was astounding, enhanced due to the experience and vast knowledge of our guides Paulo in the Amazon and Fiorella in the Pantanal. The accommodation on the boat on the Amazon was basic but was clean and comfortable and that was all that was required. Food was good and plenty of it. Accommodation in the Pantanal was good as was the food. Everyone was very friendly and helpful. On our last evening after a trip on the river we were treated to a sundowner with lots of little nibbles all nicely laid out on a table on the riverbank - bliss. My time in Brazil has been the best experience of my life the only thing I did'nt like was having to leave it all behind and go home. I'll be back!

Very helpful and friendly throughout the whole booking experience. Would use them again.

Our leader Jaume knows the area well and shared his enthusiasm for the birds and the environment. Problems were overcome without drama and we made good use of the time despite not having ideal weather.

The holiday was organised without hitches.

We took an Amazon Cruise with Naturetrek and followed it up with a Just Jaguars tour(also with Naturetrek) in the Pantanal. Both experiences were fantastic - the Amazon Cruise highlighted the remoteness of upstream River Negro whilst the Jaguar tour allowed us to see 5 different jaguars and 2 ocelots. The Naturetrek guides from South Wild were extremely knowledgeable and the food and accommodation were good.

Naturetrek - the first time we have used and can thoroughly recommend the 2 tours that we experienced. All the flights were punctual apart from our last flight home from Heathrow to Glasgow which was delayed by over 3 hours. The tours had been well thought out to provide more than possible (verging on almost certain) chances to see certain elusive wildlife. Altogether much more wildlife seen than we expected!! On arrival home, Naturetrek organised a Dropbox to allow our Amazon Cruise fellow travellers the opportunity to share their images.

If you value your senses do not go on this trip! Your ears will be assaulted every night, every morning and all day by the songs of nightingales. They will keep you awake in their attempt to drown out all other singers. In the morning they will deafen you whilst hiding in the cypress trees where they are joined, as you go meandering up the track by the hotel, by a chorus of the local sparrows, sitting on their doorsteps in the trees warming up in the morning sun and, chirping madly. Later on in your excursions, they are still there, singing their heads off but joined now by competing Cetti’s Warblers to say nothing of marsh frogs who have obviously read Aristophanes and perform the Croaking Chorus to perfection. Those of you who are good enough at bird song will also have to listen out for Melodious, Sardinian and other warblers all joining in. So watch your ears! As for your eyes, if you enjoy ballet, or even if you don’t, just watch the bee-eaters in their endless, multi-coloured display – I assure you, you WILL be dazzled. And the glorious coral pink flamingos are outrageously flamboyant. Seeing a huge pink flock of them flying across the sky is an experience to cherish. Trying to pick out elusive stone curlews – who do actually show themselves if you watch long enough – as do the Little Bustards – is quite demanding. And beware, gazing upwards for long periods at short-toed eagles, flying glossy ibis, pratincoles, storks, terns, gulls, black kites, larks will probably make your neck ache as well – but watching the Lesser Kestrels flying madly around, landing and mating is worth the effort! It doesn’t help either to try counting the numerous avocets and black-winged stilts to be found with large numbers of other waders like Little Stints, Ringed Plovers and Dunlin who scuttle about on the beach down at La Crau. ??? Flowers too, are beautiful at this time of year, and nothing can prepare you for the vast, vivid yellow expanses of the flag iris, showing off flamboyantly in all the ditches and lagoons. And everywhere, the lovely white horses of the Camargue with their little brown or dark grey foals shine out among the greenery. When it comes to your sense of taste, please don’t expect to go home slimmer as the food at your hotel does not allow for that! I am afraid you will get genuine croissants and French bread for breakfast; lots of good bread, delicious cheese, meats and very sweet local strawberries for lunch – best not to eat too much or drink too much wine then, as you have the afternoon’s birding to contend with! Back at the hotel, the evening meals are full of the flavour of the local Herbes de Provence with light and delicious puddings as well which just force you to eat – really, it’s not your fault! So, on the whole, if you do not wish to be amazed at the sound and beauty of this area and its wildlife and replete with food – DO NOT GO ON THIS TRIP!

Naturetrek takes great care with its holidays. They always try to give of their best and find the best places for wildlife. Their tour leaders are very knowledgeable, good-natured and helpful. You are made to feel at home in the group no matter what your level of interest is.

Naturetrek excelled themselves with the choice of the renovated farmhouse near Siracusa for the Spring Birding in Sicily tour.The farmhouse was full of old world charm and a delight in its own right but with all the necessary facilities,and how marvellous to look out over the estate vineyards and citrus groves at first light,listening to a dawn chorus of Nightingales, Golden Orioles, Sardinian Warblers and the like.Most of the group were so enthusiastic that we usually had a pre, pre breakfast walk. The food was excellent throughout.Dave Nevitt and Luca Sattin were wonderful guides, not only because of their natural history knowledge but also their attentiveness to the clients.Birding excursions visited a good mixture of habitats while additional highlights included a trip to the craters on Mt Etna and dinner at the Baron`s palace.WE have travelled widely on all continents so we do not hand out such accolades lightly.Well done to all concerned[INcluding the super-efficient office staff].

It is easy to see why Naturetrek have such a great reputation in the wildlife tour world. Courteous and efficient preliminary arrangements, followed by clear ,detailed information on flights check-in information,itinerary,trip reports,checklists,and pre-departure pack. Guides and transport ready and waiting at the airport, followed by smooth transfer to our accommodation multi-talented guides with wide knowledge of birds, lepidoptera, flora, reptiles, geology and local history.Always ensured that all trip members had seen the various species and quick to resolve any practical problems--all done with a good humour.We would be delighted to join Baturetrek on future trips.

This was the third holiday with Naturetrek and for health reasons will be my last. All holidays have been excellently led by knowledgable, pleasant leaders who have kept control of strict visit lay outs without any problems for holiday makers like myself. They provide excellent knowledge of their subjects and can provide varied and truly enjoyable local foods for lunch. Worth every penny.

Provide all the information one can need to have an excellent, informed, pleasant holiday. Always able to provide satisfactory answers to questions. Always value for money. Would recommend them to anyone interested in wildlife.

Covering the basics, the hotel was comfortable, the food local and plentiful, lunches followed us to where we were on the day. The tours were all so different covering the birds and flowers which the guides pointed out with explanations and knowledge. Wild Narcissus, plenty of orchids and the meadow flowers that we used to have in England. Butterflies streamed from the sward, Marsh Fritillaries, Woodland ringlets in profusion. We saw lesser spotted eagles and dippers and of course Storks on the chimneys. The outings to watch the bears in the forest were really interesting, 15 on the first viewing and 6 on the second. Safely tucked into a hide with the rangers for protection. I think everyone in the group enjoyed our trip and there was a friendly atmosphere which bonded the band of people all with different lines of interest and abilities. For the photographers the hotel had fabulous views of the Carpathians and a neighbouring gorge where we could spot Chamois and a bear with a baby, and the tours covered landscapes of great variety, you couldn't fail to take home really impressive pictures as souvenirs of a magnificent holiday.

Rob is so knowledgeable, knowing details of everything we saw. His recognition of tiny birds was amazing and he would wait until even the slowest of us could see it, He could spot a Goshawk flying over the woods and a Roe deer sprinting over a field. He was kindly, patient and we learnt so much from his expertise that we would like to go on another trip with him next year. His organisational skills meant that the whole trip went smoothly and he took into account all the special interests of our disparate group. Dan, the Romanian guide filled us in with the history of the area and people, architecture of the villages and also had a considerable knowledge of the local flora and fauna.

This was a birdwatching trip to the Carpathian Mountains and the Danube Delta in Romania. We travelled in a group of 12 with 2 guides in comfortable mini buses, staying in simple but clean and comfortable accommodation. Day trips were very well organised and the range of locations varied. Food was great too. I have recommended it to friends and family already

Good communication, friendly advice and follow up

The hotel was very well chosen, a family run hotel with superb views of meadows and mountains. The program was excellently organised with trips to a good variety of locations and including two trips to see bears from bear hides. The guides were very well informed and interesting. The lunches were wonderful fresh Romanian food which was brought to some beautiful spots. The group was a good size and with similar interests.

All aspects very well organised and with carefully chosen tour guides. Costs often inclusive. This last holiday the only extra costs I had were tips.

A week in Northern Hungary spotting so many different butterflies with an enthusiastic leader always ready to help with identification. The flower-filled meadows were stunning and the woodland walks provided numerous day flying moths and interesting insects as well as the butterflies.

Very good pre-tour information and rapid replies to any emailed questions. The provided tour leader was experienced and capable and related well to the entire group. The local guide made sure everything ran smoothly and shared much interesting information. Naturetrek ensured a varied week, accurately described in the brochure, which enabled everyone to enjoy the holiday.