Naturetrek Traveller Reviews

Having started bird watching seriously 4 years ago, I wanted to experience quality birdwatching during the breeding season, in a range of Mediterranean habitats---salt marshes, dry stony steppes, and up in the limestone hills. I wanted time for photographing birds, flowers and countryside. Having only seen Flamingos at an aquarium and bird sanctuary, the experience of seeing thousands of Flamingos flying and wading free in their natural habitat was awe-inspiring. My other passion is bee-eaters which we found flying around in great numbers and nesting. The whole trip was an unbelievable experience and I can't wait to go on another trip.

Naturetrek has been a professional company from start to finish. The guides are experienced and could cater for any taste---my friend and I would use a camera before binoculars! On these trips you tend to find people who may be more interested in birds or flora or other wildlife but this makes it a much more interesting group. We were out all day but never rushed or tired, in fact I did a pre-breakfast walk each day for the photography and others came too.I would happily recommend this company and indeed will use them again.

As usual, this Naturetrek holiday was most enjoyable and well organised, with excellent leaders whose technical knowledge, people skills and patience was second to none. The hotels were both good and the Hotel Costa del Fiori an outstanding location. In my experience, such holidays are made primarily by the quality of the leaders and the makeup of the client group and both worked well in Sardinia. The holiday is probably best suited to those who wish to learn about the birds, butterflies and plants in enjoyable surroundings without having to walk too far.

This was my fourth holiday with Naturetrek and, whilst they are not cheap, I have always found them excellent to work with, great attention to detail and always answer the phone quickly! Coming from Scotland, direct flights are not always possible, but they do their best to find those that are.

A wonderful week visiting varied Southern Portuguese locations of both botanical and ornithological interest. Excellent, enthusiastic leaders keen to share their knowledge and good quality accommodation and food. An ideal quieter time of year to view the spectacular Algave flora and to see numerous raptors and Great Bustards displaying.

We have holidayed several times with Naturetrek. Their tour leaders have always been of the highest quality, knowledgeable yet approachable and their itineraries are well thought out and planned to gain the most from the areas visited.

Enjoyed our wildlife holiday to Sicily including a visit to Mount Etna and Greek and Roman amphitheatres as well as excellent bird watching and agrotourismo guesthouse.

The first time we had a holiday with Naturetrek and were very impressed

As novice birders the knowledge of the guides never ceases to amaze. Both guides shared this knowledge to enable us to differentiate between similar species. Their 'spotting' abilities were more than impressive.

This is the 5th holiday we have booked with Naturetrek and it won't be our last. The brochure and website are excellent. They are very accessible if there are any queries and usually reply the same day. No worries about the accommodation, it is always excellent as is the food. They catered for my 'dairy free' diet, even the picnic lunch supplied by the guides, really impressed. If you want an ultimate wild life experience you could not better them.

Great bird watching and plant identification to perfection

efficient and informative

A long weekend in the New Forrest,focusing on the flora and fauna of this stunningly beautifull region. Based at the Beaulieu Hotel. The accomodation was first class, as was the food.

The trip was superbly guided by Jon Stokes, born and bred locally, he worked hard in indifferent weather to show us the very best the area had to offer. His knowledge of the natural history of the area was second to none, and we even managed a bit of a twitch when a rare american wader flew in. Everything was very well organised, including the pre start literature.

Each day was fully utilized even on the couple of days when the weather was rather inclement at times and we missed out on our outdoor picnics! It was my first visit to the area and the countryside, the variety of birds especially the raptors, and the friendliness of the local people in the places we visited all made for an exceptionally enjoyable holiday. Jaume is a very patient and pleasant leader and certainly makes sure that everyone gets the best out of the holiday

Very well organized from booking , information and literature provided, and the follow up tour reports. Accommodation used was very clean, comfortable and friendly.m

10 day holiday to Romania taking in the Carpathian Mountains, the Danube Delta and the area surrounding Tulcea. It far exceeded our expectations. Our hotels on the ground had large comfortable facilities with friendly efficient staff and our flotel on the Danube was wonderful. The 6 crew members were delightful, the dining room was the main focus and we were treated to wonderful table displays and excellent meals. The birdwatching was beyond belief with possibly 30 cuckoos each day! Herons, grebes and terns galore, we sometimes didn't know which way to turn to see everything. All of this was capped with a visit to Piatra Craiului National Park to see brown bears and we were not disappointed. We sat quietly in a hide and watched as, over a period of time, eight brown bears including two cubs entered the clearing in front of us to find food. It was a fantastic sight to see these rare creatures so close to us. Best birdwatching holiday we have had in 20 years of guided holidays.

Naturetrek are professional and efficient. We live near Manchester and they have no problem in arranging our flights from there, if possible, rather than London. We have always had good accommodation, good food and excellent tour leaders from the UK and the local guides used have a wealth of knowledge about their own surroundings and the wildlife within and an enthusiasm which is contagious. Our two local guides on this particular holiday were both mid-twenties with so much knowledge of the wildlife and the history of their country it amazed us. They were also fluent in many languages. We could not have asked for better guides. We feel we are really "looked after" when we travel with Naturetrek. Good value for money also.

A wonderful week of walking around the Scilly islands, with boat trips to all inhabited islands. Starting in the fog, we had a ghostly introduction to the islands, arriving in the mist on a ferry blasting its foghorn. Then the sun came out, and we walked at a leisurely pace all day every day (when not on a boat), pausing to bird-watch and identify flowers with our excellent Naturetrek guide.Boat trips took us to see shearwaters, storm petrels, seals, puffins, razorbills, guillemots and fishermen out catching pollack. The unique mix of colourful coastline, exotic flowers and a medley of birds, including some exotic migrants, is unbeatable so near to the UK mainland. I'm seduced by the Scillies!

Naturetrek was efficient and helpful with pre-trip mailings. Their literature is very informative, allowing a detailed idea of what the trip will involve, including illustrations. Their tour guide was absolutely superb, with an encyclopedic knowledge of the Scilly Islands and their wildlife - both flora and fauna. Thank you!