Naturetrek Traveller Reviews

we had a very good tour leader who took us to some wonderful sites for Sweden's special butterflies. the weather was unseasonably cool but in spite of this we saw several non UK species and had excellent photo opportunities. Our base hotel was comfortable run by a most welcoming couple.

Well up to the standard I have come to expect. This was my seventh tour with Naturetrek.

We went to see Musk Oxen, and we saw them in groups of up to nine, also single sightings, even sightings from our bedroom window. The Dovre Mountains were spectacular. The accommodation at Kongsvold. was an excellent position for touring the area. The Lodge's Restaurant is noted to be one of the best in Norway, serving wonderful food. Our Driver Guide, Bard, was excellent at searching out wildlife and very knowledgable.

Naturetrek had everything well organized, we were out and about making sure not to miss anything everyday.

It helps when one is in the company of enthusiastic people with which one shares a similar interest in the wildlife and wildness of a country that feels remote. The lack of roads certainly adds to this feeling. Sailing, was our only way to the creeks where we could witness the fishing antics of the Bears both black and brown. This was by a twelve berth ketch. The raising of the sails was exciting, aided our passage and also controlled any rolling. The crew were not only experts at handling the craft but doubled as naturalists in their own right. Combined with the official naturalists as part of the trip we were surrounded by very knowledgeable people, all good spotters too. There were some accomplished fishermen too which meant fish was occasionally on the menu. Talking of food, it was unbelievable what creative dishes came out of the galley, including fresh salads until the last day. There were times when we were surrounded by so many whales busy using different feeding techniques resulting in some spectacular activity, It could sometimes be difficult to know in which direction to look. We had several very close encounters which left one feeling in awe of these huge majestic mammals. Then there were the glaciers. We were able to walk to one and the other we sailed to in aluminium hulled jet boat. It is difficult to appreciate the scale of these structures. The noise and spectacle of the glacial calving shall remain with me for a long time. The icebergs in the terminal morine were colourful, every shade of blue. The shapes moulded by wind and water. All in all we had a large slice of experience of wilderness, such a contrast to everyday living.

Naturetrek as a tour operator, have great experience of small group specialist activity. The focus of the holiday is clearly defined and activities graded so the participants can judge if their level of fitness matches the requirements of the tour. The general theme of wildlife activity can attract very knowledgeable participants. It is not unusual to be educated by fellow travellers. The tour leaders usually have extensive experience in photography as well as an in depth knowledge of the natural history of the region. The photography tips are a bonus. I have always felt confident in the tour leaders regarding our safety. This trip we were safely shielded by the tour leader from a close encounter with a black bear. Calmly talking to the bear was enough to encourage it to take an alternative pathway, the pepper spray was not needed. The size of the parties allows for an intimacy with the wildlife as well as close communication with one another. Each trip is packed with experiences , "full on".

I had a truly wonderful experience on this trip that I returned from on the 19th July 2015, the wildlife was incredible but the holiday was made by the fantastic crew on the ship Island Odyssey. They worked so hard to ensure that everything possible was done to make our experience one that we will never forget and they succeeded in every way. I hope that this trip is run many more times and I would erge anyone with an interest in Alaska to try and go on the trip. I know that I may sound if I have gone over the top but as someone who has travelled widely over the last few years this holiday stands out as one of the best I have taken. Kev gooding

I have travelled with Naturetrek on quite a few occasions over the last few years and they have been consistently excellent in the holiday experience they deliver to the traveller. On my last trip to Alaska British Airways cancelled our flight home at short notice and this led to our tour guide having to deal with numerous queries from myself and my fellow passengers, he did this to a superb degree and could not have tried harder to ensure that each passenger had their travel arrangements sorted prior to our returning home. I would certainly recommend Naturetrek as a tour company to trust if anyone is thinking of a trip in the future.

Surpassed expectations. Our leader made us feel fully involved with the plans for each day, giving alternatives for those who did not feel they wanted to participate in the original itinerary. It was especially important to be flexible due to the exceptionally hot weather. Hotel very good. Support from Naturetrek also very good as one party member broke a tooth in Gordon Ramsey's restaurant at the airport. Naturetrek were able to arrange for dental treatment at Interlaken on the journey out.

Staff very friendly and accommodating.

I went to see European butterflies and was not disappointed, and the scenery was stunning and so was the weather and the company Our guide knew exactly where to go he was brilliant

Very efficient and kept me up to date at all times

1 week in Swiss alps. Good weather. Basic hotel but friendly and good food. Excellent location. Activities were well planned and varied with expert guiding and support.

Everything straightforward both before and during the holiday. Last minute booking done quickly and accurately.No problems.

Our group contained experts in orchids, butterflies and all flowers, plus a Romanian guide who had worked for years with wolves and bears, plus an English guide with expertise in birds and moths. All this meant the fantastic fauna and flora of the stunning mountain scenery was spotted, named and photographed. We stayed in a locally run guest house, serving regional food, with a horse tethered on the grass and bear poo observed a few paces away. Every meal, drink, fantastic picnic and request is provided all in the reasonable cost, by Naturetrek, who make excellent use of local people and services.

Naturetrek offer a huge range of tours with guides across the world . Theiy explain clearly what level of walking will be expected and what wildlife and plants you can expect to see, the guides are professional and highly skilled. There is no better way to travel, to learn, to observe, and truly experience the locality.

Very good admin and preparation. Accomodation comfortable family owned & just right for us. Great food. Exceptional tour leader - knowledgeable about many aspects of natural world and managed the different levels of experience in the group very well indeed. Good number of butterfly species seen and seen well. Would recommend to others

See above

We travelled into the pack-ice and saw four polar bears feeing on a ringed seal. We were able to watch the bears form the ship for over four hours. We also saw reindeer, an arctic fox with a dead guillemot, walruses on the ice and on land, thousands of Brunnich's guillemots nesting on cliffs, large numbers of little auks, and many more birds, seals and some whales. The scenery was truly stunning and the walks enabled us to experience the arctic tundra, flora and overall environment, with plenty of time to take photographs and enjoy the experience. The staff and experts on board were excellent, providing informative lectures and photographs, and always ready to answer our questions. The ship was comfortable, the food excellent and the staff friendly and efficient.

Naturetrek operates efficiently and provides good pre-departure information. The office staff are friendly and available to answers any queries. The tour leaders and experts sent with us were very knowledgeable and enthusiastic. They went out of their way to ensure we saw as much wildlife as possible.