Orbridge Big 5 Safari in Kenya 2026 - outstanding! Highly recommend. Comfortable, safe, well appointed accommodations. Amos Kibata is an amazing local tour guide. Drivers for game drives were competent, helpful, friendly. Good food at lodges. Kenyan people welcoming and gracious. Wildlife is incredible. All stops were well vetted for safety. Balloon ride over Savannah was picture perfect. read more

We experienced the Flavors of Sicily tour and our preparation info and materials were thorough. Our travel arrangements have been as efficient as I could expect. Food delicious. Guides knowledgeable and well chosen experiences every day with free time to relax. We would definitely travel with Orbridge again! Wonderful trip!! read more

I recently went on an Orbridge trip to Parks and Lodges of the West. The scenery of course was beautiful. But this was a university trip with a negligible educational component. The tour director would occasionally read from a pamphlet during our long bus rides. Eventually one of our fellow guests, a geologíst, offered to give some excellent talks about the landscapes we were passing through. We were directed to view the films at the various visitor centers. The lodging was fine. But the overall experience was a bit tedious. The tour director did not appear to appreciate that she was directing a group of well educated and Mobile people with abundant prior travel experience. Becky read more

Great sites, all logistics handled. Guide very knowledgeable. Perfect trip. This was our 2nd!

I was on a six day trip with Orbridge in August, 2024. It was AMAZING! The trip I took was the Inside Passage of Alaska from Sitka to Juneau. We were on a small ship called the Chichagof Dream and so we were able to go into places that larger ships are unable to go. Because Orbridge focuses on education, they provide two naturalists on the ship and these folks were fantastic. They knew where to look for the wildlife, answered a gazillion questions, served as general assistance when a guest had a personal issue and tracked our progress on a map which was watched closely. The Orbridge pre-trip assistance was terrific. They answered questions quickly, provided a great pre-read package of information and made it easy to plan. We saw humpback whales daily (sometimes more than once), two kinds of puffins, sea lions, seals, sea otters, calving glaciers, bears and a ton of birds. The scenery was stunning. Our trip included two glaciers. At one we spent about 90 minutes just listening to it and watching ice calve. The other we were able to go out on small boats to get closer. We got a private access to a fishery that you cannot normally visit which was really neat. We spent several evenings tucked up into tiny coves with no-one else around which was just magical. Along the way coming out from one glacier visit we provided an impromptu ride to some Wilderness Rangers who gave a very interesting talk. The Orbridge naturalists also gave talks. The folks on the trip were a wide range of ages and backgrounds. Folks got along nicely and although I was traveling solo I was "adopted" by a group of six traveling together. I slept only 6 hours a night as I didn't want to miss anything and I am already trying to figure out how to get back again! I recommend Orbridge highly. read more

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Orbridge's Southeast Alaska expedition aboard the intimate 76-guest Chichagof Dream delivers an unparalleled luxury wilderness experience that surpasses all expectations. This meticulously curated seven-night journey from Sitka to Juneau combines the vessel's ability to access remote channels and waterways impossible for larger ships with exceptional onboard amenities including hand-crafted meals, complimentary wine and beer, and unique features like a Himalayan salt cave for post-adventure relaxation. The educational program stands out with two expert naturalists and an Orbridge Expedition Leader providing fascinating insights into Alaska's ecosystems and indigenous cultures, complemented by authentic presentations from Native Tlingit interpreters. Daily guided kayaking, hiking and skiff excursions offer intimate wildlife encounters with humpback whales, orcas, brown bears and bald eagles, while exclusive shore visits to conservation sites like the Alaska Raptor Center and Hidden Falls Hatchery provide access unavailable to larger groups. The personalized service, with crew members who learn every guest's name, and thoughtful touches like nightly turndown letters detailing the next day's adventures, create an atmosphere more reminiscent of a private yacht than a commercial cruise, making this expedition the gold standard for luxury Alaska travel. read more

It seems that Orbridge travel located in Bainbridge WA is in financial trouble. Any travel company that tells their customers they are not fit to travel on an excursion because they have concerns about the Covid protocols which are being used and cancels their trip. Then the Orbridge says they are not going to refund a dime of the 10's of thousands of dollars. And when the employees leave, the company must be "circling the drain". Don't get caught spending tons of money on a trip with them, only to lose all !!! read more

We sent them a large check via regular us mail a few weeks prior to deadline for our trip. Two months later get another bill for the same amount. We obtained a copy of the check and it had been washed and deposited in another individual's bank account. We were not notified until the last minute that they "did not receive payment". We think it arrived and was sold by an Orbridge employee to an identity theft ring that created the fraudulent bank account. Still investigating. Had to close our bank account but hopefully will get reimbursed by our bank. Use caution with this company. read more

Orbridge was the tour company that lead our Flavors of Tuscany tour we took in May. The tour was fantastic. Everything was first rate and would book with them again read more

Orbridge's Death Valley, Yosemite, and California Parks trip was the worst we have ever been on. Hours and hours wasted on a bus with no commentary by the on-board naturalist, very little time allowed for exploring the parks, and a changed itinerary without notice made for a miserable and expensive week. Everyone in our group was disappointed, including the tour guide who could do nothing to change the plan established by the head office. Never using Orbridge again, under any circumstances! read more

I've just returned from Southeast Alaska, my 7th Orbridge tour over the last decade. Traveling is one of my primary passions and Orbridge does it right. Even in this era of Covid, where things can be more difficult to manage, the logistics of my tour were handled perfectly. I couldn't recommend them more highly! read more

I traveled to the Galapagos Islands with Orbridge and every part of the trip was excellent. The ship was beautiful and small, the Orbridge guides and crew were outstanding, food was locally sourced and delicious. Everyday we were off the ship exploring the Islands with our guides who led hikes, snorkeling and skiff rides to learn about the islands. It was very well organized and planned. I plan to travel with them again! read more

READ ALL THESE REVIEWS AND DON'T BOOK!!!! My elderly uncle (an experienced solo traveler almost 80 years old) paid over $25,000 for this "trip of a lifetime" to Antartica with Orbridge to have it be a complete nightmare!! It has been a year now and they refuse to refund the trip and compensate for losses that THEY caused him to incur! Not to mention all the emotional trauma. Starting with not picking him up from the airport due to a 2 hour delay in the flight (which they booked) to actually REMOVING him from the ship in the boarding port of Ushuaia (super small town at the end of the world basically) on Jan 2022 after yelling at him after he respectfully expressed genuine concern over a flimsy mask one of the STAFF (Girard Baker) was wearing over his giant bushy beard when everyone was required to wear a properly fitted one. Instead of addressing his concern and making him feel at EASE, they yelled at him and demanded he leave the boat with NO help securing other accommodations at literally the END OF THE WORLD! I know my uncle, he is very mild mannered and did not deserve this type of treatment by the staff being in full compliance of covid rules himself and simply concerned about one other staff member! Solo and elderly travelers beware! This is not the company that will care for you. Covid caused a lot of stress for everyone, but you can't blame the customer for this blunder when he was in compliance and not threat to anyone or bothering any guests. read more

DO NOT EVER BOOK A PRE OR POST TOUR OPTION WITH ORBRIDGE TRAVEL. What I have read in previous negative reviews is absolutely correct. Once the travel tour is over, you are ceremoniously dumped at the post-tour site and left to your own devices. We took the Stunning Scotland Tour, and signed up for the post tour option for 2 days at St. Andrews, which cost an additional $3,000, plus an additional $250 per person to play the Dukes Course the next day. On the day before the post tour began, we were given a typed itinerary--an hour and a half drive to the Falkirk Wheel for a 10:30 visit, a pub lunch at 1:30, a tour of the old course at St. Andrews at 3:30 and check into the old course hotel at 5 p.m. Our itinerary even said we should wear comfortable walking shoes. Our driver picked us up in Edinburgh, took us directly to St. Andrews, and knew nothing about a stop at the Falkirk Wheel. We arrived at 10:45 a.m. There was no one there to guide us. We went into the Old Course hotel. They also knew nothing about where we were to be or have lunch, AND our rooms would not be ready until 4:00 p.m. We found out where we were supposed to have lunch because one of our fellow travelers just happened to ask our tour guide the day before the post tour began. So here I sit while my husband tries to get the info for the Old Course tour and golf tomorrow at the Dukes Course waiting for our room to be ready in 4 hours! I'll be anxious to see if anyone will actually be here to take us to the airport on Wednesday! read more

I would not recommend because of Orbridge failure to follow their own cancellation policy during the pandemic. We were scheduled for Galapagos. So many people were dying in Ecuador, bodies were left in the street, and yet, Orbridge refused to return my money. read more

Took the Yosemite and Death Valley trip and extension. Most days lunch on your own consisted of being dumped outside a supermarket or convenience store. I understand that we were in remote locations but other operators packed or ordered picnic lunches. Is that so hard? One day we were dropped at 11 am at a restaurant that wasn't open til noon. Once was a restaurant with a bunch of slot machines that reeked of cigarette smoke. Not a lot of concern was given to 20+ people in their 70s and 80s and their morning toileting needs. An hour for breakfast and hygiene needs. One couple got sick and coughed and hacked. No effort was made to assure anyone about whether this was Covid. On the morning in Monterey, even though we had a perfectly lovely breakfast at the inn, the leader insisted that we go to his favorite place for breakfast. When asked about the rationale as it seemed illogical, he declared that he had been a tour leader with experience and knew best how to arrange the itinerary. So we went, waited 30 minutes in line and we're served admittedly tasty breakfasts, of which we only ate 20%. We could have been having a perfectly fine leisurely breakfast at our b&b with ample time for digestive and oral hygiene prior to going to the aquarium. I felt that he was doing what he wanted, and not taking others' needs into consideration. We were cautioned not to use the bus restroom through out the trip. Oh yes, we had the same full size bus for 5 people on the extension. What a waste. Never again! read more

I do not recommend travel with this tour company. They accept no accountability for any problem that arises. You pay a premium price for poor service. read more

Do not select this company for any travel or for a tour. If anything goes wrong with your trip they are not accountable or responsible. We booked a trip to Africa. The itinerary was cutting it too close to catch our flight back to the US at the end of the trip on the last day. When we missed our flight due to THEIR itinerary, they did everything they could NOT to help us. They were extremely rude when we called from Africa stranded. They told us we were the only customers this has ever happened to, which was a lie. They told us to find our own way home after we missed the flight they told us to purchase for the trip. The airline did not have a flight from Africa back to the US available until the following week. They provided no help, no compensation and were the most rude, self serving company I have dealt with. DO NOT give this company your travel business. read more