The guides were wonderful on our Safari throughout Tanzania Naiman Mungure Nathan Arnold We never needed anything more they were at our service 24/24 . Total luxury from beginning to end .!!! Andrea P read more

Wilderness Travel - Travel Services Near Me - Berkeley, California

I have been on a couple of Wilderness Travel trips, and I have been more than happy with each excursion. Highly recommend. I just got back from a couple of weeks away while Hiking the Spanish Pyrenees with Wilderness Travel. Awesome trip, bucket list for me. read more

Wilderness Travel - Hiking the Spanish Pyrenees. Parque Natural Valles Occidentales, Pyrenees, Spain. (5 Sept. 2025) - Travel Services Near Me - Berkeley, California

I took the hiking trip in the Greek isles (Tinos, Naxos and amorgos) 9/1/25. It should be billed as a hiking and eating trip as the food was absolutely amazing!! The hiking was fabulous! Our guides could not have been any better - perfect in every way - Karolos and Kostas. Great accommodations. Every need addressed. And swimming in the Aegean Sea - you will be spoiled for life. read more

An absolute FANTASTIC experience with WT in Tanzania. People ask us what was the best part and we answer ALL of it. The guides were absolutely wonderful: Mzee, Chili and Henry. The food was amazing, especially given we were out in the bush. The accommodations were top notch. Game drives were an adventure with the guides taking us places others didn't. We visited the home office and met Katy personally. She arranged a 50th wedding anniversary celebration that we will never forget (see the video below). The WT family is a wonderful caring team. Thank you. read more

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The best in the business. First class !! Educational and fun! The guides were all superb and they took us to the lost interesting unusual places. Loved my trip to Morocco and am going to India with them as well. read more

We have been on several Wilderness Travel trips: Norway, Tasmania, Dolomites, Mt Blanc, etc All have been amazing!!! The trips are so well organized, the leaders have all been wonderful, and the activities chosen have been outstanding. We really trust this company - have never had a bad day when traveling. Great communication from the office before departing. Highly recommend!!!! read more

Took the Turkey Turquoise Coast trip. Us (75 years old) and our other 70+ year old friends. Wonderful experience. We'd score it higher than 5 * if possible. Land portion including the Cappadocia Extension was marvelous. Take the balloon ride! Nine days at sea (with daily land excursions) was something special. Jump into the Med, float on your back and marvel at the fact you are in fricking Turkey. One piece of advice, life on the gullet is camping not glamping. Food was amazing...even for a steak and potatoes kind of guy like me. And to top it all off our guide was spectacular. Extremely knowledgeable, easy to understand and down to earth friendly. We are very very likely to use Wilderness Travel for our next trip. read more

Our Ultimate Namibia and Botswana trip this past July was truly the adventure of a lifetime! Wilderness Travel does an amazing job on all their Africa Safari trips but this exceeded all expectations. The lodges are incredible, first class! Our trip leader Franco was so attentive and has an encyclopedic knowledge of African wildlife which we encountered in abundance during our morning and afternoon game drives. We went tracking with the San tribe men and visited their camp. The ancient rock art in Tsodilo Hill was really breathtaking. We won't go to Africa (or anywhere else) with any other adventure travel company. read more

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We just returned from the Hiker's Journey to Portugal. This was our second trip with WT and was again extraordinary, exceeding all expectations. The trip planning was a breeze thanks to Jenn. Our guides, David and Alexandra, were incredibly knowledgeable, super organized and tons of fun. We had a great, diverse group who got along really well. The itinerary was perfect, covering many beautiful walks/hikes and destinations that we would never have visited on our own. We are WT devotees and will be going to New Zealand next year with them! read more

I am not a big fan of guided group trips as I like to explore places at my own speed and agenda but I am sold on Wilderness Travel. the itinerary was perfect, the guides extremely knowledgeable and fun, and the overall experience an A+. I look forward organizing a group to take my next trip with. read more

Subpar company The trip to Namibia was not the trip described in the glossy brochure. WT didn't accurately prepare clients for the destination. We went in March, it was extremely hot and unpleasant. Most accommodations did not have fans. The guides were not communicating with each other, safari vehicles broke down, just a really unprofessional operation. Office staff didn't adequately address concerns, but instead blamed our amazing travel agent. They simply don't seem to care about repeat business or customer satisfaction. Never again will we travel with this outfit. read more

Love this company! It's one of the few businesses left where you can actually talk to a real live person! Just returned from their Croatia Istria trip. It was a wonderful balance of cultural sights, hikes, and culinary offerings. Our leaders - Nena and Zuzana - were top-notch, ever calm, informative, and accommodating. They were very tuned into the group; able to make adjustments along the way, such as amending hikes to take advantage of more shade during a heat wave. Accommodations were first rate, particularly the Alhambra. Loved all the opportunities to experience regional specialties such as fresh truffles, fish, olive oil, and wine in picturesque settings. My only suggestion for anyone wanting to take this trip - make sure to take some extra days in Slovenia! Hats off to Wilderness Travel for yet another well-curated itinerary and live guidance throughout! read more

Wilderness Travel - Hiking on the island of Rab - Travel Services Near Me - Berkeley, California

I went to Turkey this summer for a 50th birthday celebration with friends, and it far exceeded my expectations! Being a bucket list destination, I was expecting a high level of quality, and Wilderness Travel delivered. From the excellent guiding, the luxury of our gulet boat, the food of course, and the moment of truth...the hot air balloon experience in Cappadocia! Wilderness uses the best services in all areas, and I felt safe, cared for, and very much part of the process of daily activities. I highly recommend a Private Journey through WT, especially if you aren't a "group traveler" and want more control over your itinerary. read more

My family traveled to Cape Town and Zimbabwe with Wilderness Travel this summer and was blown away by the experience. Incredible wildlife viewing by safari jeep, mountain bike, train car, boat, and on foot. We spent lots of time in the look up blind watching elephants just a few feet away. (sooo many elephant babies!!), We also saw lions and cubs, giraffe, zebra, warthogs, hyenas. We spent time in the new rhino sanctuary learning about their reintroduction to the park and walking with the rhino. The conservation work Imvelo and Wilderness Travel are doing in the national park is so impactful. It felt good to know our money is contributing to the rhino sanctuary and helping to sustain the local school, medical clinic and surrounding villages there. We will certainly be traveling with Wilderness Travel again! read more

Just completed our 2 week Galápagos and Peru extension journey with our family of 16! WT attention to detail and first class customer service was so appreciated. Our guides, Fernando (The Galápagos) and Americo and Joel (Peru) were beyond amazing. Truly a trip of a lifetime. The hotels were all amazing and The Passion Yacht for The Galápagos is the way to go. Highly recommend! Having every single detail, meals, tickets, passes for Machu Picchu and WaynaPicchu hikes, transportation and EVERYTHING all handled by the WT team was such a peace of mind. We did not have to worry about one single thing or detail. Truly a vacation for families traveling with kids/teens. Adventures for all. When you have your teens say " we want to do it again." Speaks volumes!! Food was absolutely amazing too. Do it. Book it. You won't be disappointed in any way. Hats off to WT. Can't wait to use you again for our next family adventure. read more

Wilderness Travel is the BEST company to choose for the Galapagos Islands! We went as a family of 7 and every expectation was blown out of the water. Their team in the office quickly and thoroughly answered all our questions leading up to the trip (and we had a lot), and once we arrived we felt like we had the islands entirely to ourselves! Obviously, the animals were incredible (I was able to see everything on my "wishlist"), but the trip leader is really who made this a once in a lifetime trip. Fernando was kind, patient, funny, and an encyclopedia of knowledge (of course I've forgotten 90% of what I learned already!) He would give short "presentations" at the end of most days explaining the history of the islands, the geology, evolution, Darwin, and how modern politics affect tourism (for better and worse), which added a whole other dimension to our experience.. The boat crew was also magical. We were welcomed with tea and hot snacks immediately after returning from snorkeling excursions, fresh juice and fruit after walks in the sun, and feasts every night with a shocking amount of variety in meals. We were also traveling with a young child and the staff was extremely helpful (even offered babysitting during dinner) in making our trip as easy as possible. We were on the boat "the Passion" and there was a wonderful outdoor dining table that we ate at almost every meal, giving us nearly 360-degree views of the islands as we sailed to the next destination. It's one of the nicest yachts I've been on -- multiple different areas to lounge, a big screen TV/movie area, spacious bedrooms, and there was even a HOT TUB on the top floor! We would go back again in a heartbeat! read more

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I had the privilege of taking a trip to Turkey with Wilderness Travel. It was an incredibly special experience and the most memorable trip I've ever been on. The Wilderness Travel team puts so much thought into their itineraries and the guides are so knowledgeable and kind. You really feel taken care of! Wilderness Travel balances adventure and luxury so well. The food was incredible at every meal. We had the opportunity to hike, kayak, snorkel, and ride in a hot air balloon. We learned about Turkish culture and history. It was all around an incredible trip that I will never forget! read more

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Wilderness Travel exceeded our expectations. Our private journey to Morocco was our first time traveling with Wilderness Travel and they exceeded our expectations on every front. I highly recommend them and plan to do another trip with them in the future. Barbara Wright worked with us to tailor our trip to our interests and our available time window and Rebecca Streicker-Cale handled the details and logistics of the trip admirably. A good trip manager exceeds ones expectations and Wilderness Travel did just that. Given that it was a private journey, much of the work was done before we departed ... designing the route, selecting private riads, extending our time in the Sahara Desert, and perhaps most importantly, assigning us the perfect guide. What more could one ask for? Our guide, Ali Ait Ichou, was amazing! We have traveled the world and he was one of our best guides ever! It is hard to imagine how anyone could have done a better job leading our trip. He was patient, kind, caring, sensitive, personable, engaging, and most of all knowledgeable. His demeanor put us at ease throughout the trip. Ali has a clear sense of pride in his people and Morocco and he answered our many questions with facts and insights. He shared his love for Morocco and his experience as a Moroccan Berber. He taught us about his country's cultures, religions, food, people, history, and geology. His attention to detail was simply outstanding. His handling of the trip was seamless. In many aspects he made the trip what it was ... excellent. He exceeded our expectations and made it a memorable trip ... an unforgettable experience. I can't think of a single thing Ali could have done better! We especially enjoyed the special things that would have been impossible for us to find or do on our own, such as our lunch with a Berber family in the mountains, our walks through community gardens, and our visit to a nomad family in the desert near the border with Algeria. We wanted to experience the local culture and Ali made sure that all our meals were special ... local non touristy places for the most part. Ali listened to our interests and then worked to fulfill them. If I mentioned a topic or a sight or showed him a photo of something we were interested in, he worked to include it in our itinerary. He made our visit a once in a lifetime experience. He was an outstanding leader and guide in every aspect ... and now he is our friend! read more

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Wow! I have always wanted to go to Africa, but didn't have the first idea as to which country to vIsit, how long to stay, where to stay and what to do. This is where I relied on the expertise of Wilderness Travel. I dealt with two women, Barbara and Jennifer. They were both extremely knowledgeable and professional. The entire trIp was planned and booked. I didn't have to worry about thing, except inoculations and staying in my tent at night to avoid the leopards in camp. We first stayed at two camps in Botswana, then to Victoria Falls and a camp in Zimbabwe, and finally a stay in Cape Town. It was a trip of a lifetime. Everything was coordinated and communication with the agency was prompt and reliable. Thank you to Wilderness Travel for allowing me to experience what I did in Africa without any added stress. read more

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I just returned from my tenth trip with Wilderness Travel.My son and I did the Highlands and Isles of Scotland.We had a good group and two excellent guides both of whom were locals.The hiking was great as was the lodging.The scenery was spectacular! Another well organized and super trip with this company. Jake I. October 22,2019 read more

I went to Madagascar with WT in Oct. My first trip with WT. it was a wonderful experience that exceeded my expectations ... and I'm picky! I was a single traveler however there were others so I didn't feel like odd lady out! The hotels were upscale with comfy beds. The French influenced cuisine was very good, too. Vy is an excellent guide and leads all the WT tours in Madagascar. He has an enthusiasm for showing others his country and was great about answering questions whenever approached. He's very knowledgeable as were the local guides. There was ample opportunity to hike and also to spend time mingling with locals at markets or in villages. Of course, the lemurs were amazing! I've travelled with Nat Geographic and looked at their trip before deciding who to travel with. WT won the day ... a much smaller group (12 v 25) more locations on the itinerary and over $1000 less for the single supplement. A no brainer!! I'm so glad I went with WT and I look forward to traveling with them again. read more

Took my first wilderness travel trip in July to the Greek islands. It was fantastic in all details - tour guide was exceptional, the hiking superb and itiniary perfect. Small group - beyond fantastic eating and drinking, fabulous tiny places to stay. Also front office support before during and after trip sets a world class standard. Highly recommended. read more

Wilderness Travel - The hotel in Santorini - day last of trip. - Travel Services Near Me - Berkeley, California

Just returned from a week in the Galapagos with WT - Enchanted Isles trip on the MaryAnne. Loved it. They took care of everything and I was able to enjoy being present on a trip more than ever before. I am particular and have avoided trips like cruises and any kind of group tour, mostly to not have to deal with annoying/fussy tourists and because I seek authentic experiences. I took a chance with WT and was blown away. They provided the most real, professional and authentic experience I could have had in the Galapagos. From the start, Matt in the Berkeley office was kind and replied promptly. The hotels before and after the trip were luxurious and convenient. The people on our trip were a mix of married couples, singles, and friends traveling together. WT seems to attract good clients - all very warm/kind, classy but not fussy, educated, well traveled people. A few in their 30s, about half in their 40s and 50s, and a few over 60. Our guide Silvia was incredible. Toward the end of the trip, we came across other travel groups and I noticed the people seemed a little odd. As I overheard other guides talking I could immediately tell Silivia was providing us with a far more authentic experience. She knew the ropes and organized our days so we had the most privacy and exposure to the best the islands have to offer. I saw far more that I ever thought I could in one trip. I was relieved to actually enjoy the boat - definitely the best way to see the islands. I get seasick but adjusted after a day. You can be social and relax with the group during breaks or relax in your cabin if you want private time. Each room has it's own private bathroom. The crew was impressive. Such professional, talented, gracious, hard working people who aim to please. The operated in a way that was nearly invisible to the guests, but when I did happen to cross paths with one they were hustling. We would leave our room for a short hike on land and return to beds made with blankets folded in the shape of a cute Galapagos animal (that was the only kind of touristy thing, but it really was cute). Food was excellent. I was always well fed and couldn't wait for the next meal! Fish was especially fresh and dishes were beautifully presented. They accommodated vegetarians, dairy-free, people who don't like xyz, you name it. There were a variety of things served with each meal too, and if you didn't like something they would get something else. I could have baked better desserts though, but I bake a lot :) And they were operating out of a tiny boat kitchen - no clue how they even pulled off what they did. There were always snacks everywhere, a different fresh squeezed juice during every break, the works. I have never had better juices in my life and I juice at home. Overall, I can't believe I actually enjoyed an organized group trip more than my self-planned vacations. You sign up and the hardest part of the whole trip is packing for yourself. The price is worth it because of the quality, being able to see far more than you could on your own in a similar time frame, and being able to focus solely on enjoying and not logistics. Everything is professional, comfortable, accommodating and most of all, not tacky touristy. Thanks so much WT. TIPS: - Motion sickness: wearing one Scopolamine "scop" patch for 3 days was effective and easier that taking Dramamine/Bonine every 4-6 hours - Dark colors attract mosquitoes, yellow/orange attracts wasps. The best color to wear is tan/khacki! - The sun is strong. Consider wearing quick-drying long sleeves/pants for sun protection or use SPF 50+ - Bring a lightweight hat with a wide rim that covers the back of your neck. You'll want more coverage than a baseball hat. read more

This September I experienced Ireland for the first time on WT's Treasures of Ireland's West Coast tour. Everything from the guides, food, landscapes, and fellow travelers exceeded my expectations. We were treated to private musical and theatrical performances that enhanced the experience of place and history I felt. It was a truly special way to experience Ireland, and one that I could have never matched on my own. read more

Wilderness Travel prepared an itinerary for us a South Africa Private Journey- a visit to Cape Town and then a safari experience at several private reserves in Greater Kruger. This trip was definitely a trip of a lifetime, and certainly one of our best trips ever. While we normally do all our own planning and booking, we felt that a trip to South Africa would be better if arranged by professionals, and Wilderness certainly validated that. From the start of the trip design to completion of the trip, it was an excellent experience. The choice of lodging and lodges, the day trips offered, and the reserves offered were all top notch. Our biggest, pleasant surprise was that 11 days in the bush was not too many, and that each reserve/lodge offered a different and happy spin on the safari experience. All of the logistical connections were incredibly smooth and nearly seamless-- our airport pick-ups/drop offs; guidance through the terminals and security for AirLink; porters; lodge pick-ups and drop-offs; and an air shuttle transfer between safari lodges and from Mala Mala to JNB airport at the end of our travels. We will highly recommend Wilderness to anyone contemplating a safari trip, and if the experience we had with them for this trip is indicative, they are an excellent choice for planning any of the trips they offer in their extended catalog. read more

Just got back from trekking to see the gorillas and chimpanzees with Wilderness Travel in Uganda. I've traveled extensively and this was the best experience by far. Small group , extremely well organized, experience of a lifetime. Can't wait to book my next trip with them. Just an outstanding experience ! read more

Wilderness Travel - Travel Services Near Me - Berkeley, California

As someone who prefers solo travel, and as a city-dwelling indoor girl who had never previously climbed a mountain or camped, my decision to climb Mount Kilimanjaro was accompanied by a long list of misgivings. Because a guided tour was required, I eventually bit the bullet, utilizing who appeared to be the most reputable provider. This was one of the best decisions I ever made; my experience with Wilderness Travel was flawless, exceeding all expectations, regardless of how far from my comfort zone I was. This epic trip was the optimal way to experience camping (whether or not one enjoys the activity). Comfort, expert care and impressive resources were supplied in abundance throughout the entire journey. It was unbelievable how much painstaking effort (before, during and after the trip) was dedicated to ensuring that I had the time of my life. They even did a delectable job accommodating rigid dietary restrictions that are difficult to satisfy in the first world and nearly impossible in the third world. Furthermore, when I was shopping around, it was important to me that Wilderness Travel was endorsed by the Kilimanjaro Porters Assistance Project, an organization that vets Kilimanjaro tour providers to ensure that they do not exploit the incredibly competent and hardworking staff who took us up the mountain with unparalleled dedication and hospitality. I still do not care for camping. With Wilderness Travel, however, you can trust that you will have an incredible experience no matter what you do or where you go. I still have yet to meet a service provider of any nature who is as dedicated to the customer experience. Whether or not I go camping again, Wilderness Travel will always have a special place in my heart.I read more

Booked this trip through Wilderness Travel, the "Great Elephant Migration" through Botswana and Zimbabwe. This was our first time in Africa and our first time "glamping". Both Africa and the trip exceeded even our highest expectations. Everything about the trip was first class and amazing: 1. Wilderness Travel: great itinerary, perfect, responsive service, our contact at the company Lisa, Laferte answered all emails and questions promptly and courteously. The pre-trip information prepared us perfectly. 2. Accommodations (camps): we stayed at 4 different camps, all were amazing, and each one different with their own highlights: Camp Kuzuma; Nehimba Lodge; Jozibanini Camp; Zambezi Sands: 3. Wildlife: saw a great variety of wildlife. All the guides went out of their way to find the animals we wanted to see, and give us the best views and times for photo ops. 4. Staff and Guides: The staff was amazing at each lodge. They did everything and anything for us, and always with a smile. We had a lead guide at each facility, and they were all great. Special kudos to Clever of Nehimba Lodge, who is a true star. 5. Trip Leader: our leader, who was with us throughout the trip, John Laing, was AMAZING. It seemed like he never slept, and always had a smile and a joke. He tailored the trip to our group seamlessly and knew everything about the wildlife, fauna and history of the areas. A true superstar, who kept us safe and happy. Johns "intern" 19 year old Jamie, who was with us throughout Zimbabwe, was a treasure. Put this trip of a lifetime on your bucket list for sure. read more

Wilderness Travel - Lion on safari during the "Great Elephant Migration" - Travel Services Near Me - Berkeley, California

Some of the best travel experiences I've ever had in my life have been with Wilderness Travel. They include: The Alps of Japan Canadian Rockies Quebec and the St. Lawrence Seaway Peru I've also been with them to Costa Rica Sea of Cortez Alaska Every single one of these trips has been an incredible learning experience and something that I never could have done as well on my own. read more

I want to express my sincere disappointment and displeasure with our Wilderness Travel, trip "Magical Madagascar". Let me start by saying that my wife and I have travel extensively. We have been to Africa, South America, Indonesia, French Polynesia, and many other locations. Never have we encountered anything like Madagascar. Madagascar is a country completely devoid of infrastructure. The roads we travelled in the north and south were horrifying. We were subjected to gut wrenching, bone jarring, reverberating rides, on roads that had potholes that could swallow entire vehicles.These rides ruined this vacation for not only for me and my wife , but also for everyone in our travel group. (Yes, we discussed it among ourselves repeatedly) These are not conditions that develop quickly, but occur because of decades of neglect. The omission of such conditions prior to our purchase of your trip is unforgivable. In the north, the ride to Ankarana took 4.5 hours (2.5 hours in itinerary). The ride to Berenty took 4 hours, and the ride to Andasibe took 5 hours (3 hours in itinerary). Because of the durations of these drives, every activity held on these days had to be modified and shortened. This deprived us of significant wildlife viewing time and opportunity. It also created a group of physically and mentally exhausted travelers who never had a minute to rest or relax upon arrival at any location. Additionally, the trip was further complicated by the presence of and elderly couple who were not physically capable of participating in this type of travel. The older gentleman was 84, he was never asked by Wilderness Travel to present medical proof of his fitness to participate. He was unable to walk more than a kilometer without being physically exhausted. He fell three times during the trip and had to be evacuated from one of the hikes by vehicle. This created a problem for the trip leader who had to accompany the couple on every activity and occupy one of the groups guides for every hike. This action caused our entire group to be short changed on every wildlife hike. There were no options for longer hikes or photo oriented hikes, and nearly every hike was shorter than advertised. Another unforeseen problem with the trip had to do with the Madagascar Airary. We arranged for you to exchange $200 each in advance of our arrival. We attempted to spend it at the airport gift shops in Antananarivo, but found that no shop would accept this Malagasy money. We then tried to exchange it back to US currency in both Madagascar and South Africa, and were informed that no one wants or will exchange their currency. We were stuck with $200 dollars worth of Airary. Again, Wilderness Travel gave us no insight or advice that the monetary system in Madagascar would be so unstable. As you can see from my letter, our trip was anything but "Magical". I hope that moving forward you will stop promoting this adventure to unsuspecting victims. A travel company of your stature should be ashamed of misrepresenting a country that is slipping back into the stone ages as Magical. Shame on you! Shame one me, for being fooled by your lovely brochure. read more

I've just returned from my 5th WT trip. Every one has been fun, educational, (occasionally physically challenging, but that's good) and beautifully organized. This time we went on the Great Hikes and Great Chefs of Italy. We had lovely accommodations, amazing meals with wines and special treats like having a chef guide us through making our own dinner! A perfect group of nine, and Giuseppe and Gianluca were the best of trip leaders. We are already thinking about what our next WT adventure will be. The weather cooperated - I highly recommend going in the fall. read more

We have completed 4 trips with Wilderness Travel: Morocco, Turkey, Egypt, and Tanzania wildlife. We could not recommend them more highly. The guides are uniformly superb, and accommodations are always interesting and not bland, the trip is designed to show of the most important and fascinating features of the destination. Their trips are for the involved participant, and their ratings of trip difficulty are useful in picking the right trip. We usually plan our own trips, but in the places we visited with Wilderness Travel we could not have done the trip without them. Going with Wilderness Travel will be a great travel decision. read more

I have taken 13 trips with WT, most recently a marvelous adventure in Viet Nam. Always difficult to name a favorite since their trips offer such a great mix of culture, history and scenic wonders. Each trip is unique but all trips share their great attention to detail, incredible trip leaders and a single, professional point of contact. Our Viet Nam trip no exception, the opportunities for exposure to the history, and culture (and cuisine) was outstanding! Looking forward to my 14th! read more

We've taken nearly a dozen trips with this outfit and they are first rate. Some of the most memorable experiences I've had. Their guides are exceptional (except one!) and really add to the trip. The clientele they attract is also exceptional and make the trips more enjoyable, as does the small group size. I recommend them to everyone I know who is traveling somewhere where logistics are an issue. We have several more trips planned with them already. Also important, the guides they contract with overseas like them. The company treats them well. That's important because it allows them to attract the best talent out there. read more

I took my first Wilderness Travel (WT) trip almost 25 years ago. It was a trekking trip to Nepal. It was an amazing experience--I had never had a trip like that before. At that time the emphasis was ADVENTURE travel--they really wanted you to be of robust mind and spirit, and there was a guiding principle of flexibility in pursuit of a pure experience. I have to admit that I feel a debt of gratitude to WT from those early days due to the fact that I think my experiences with them taught me a lot--a lot about travel and a lot about things like climbing mountains, kayaking, canoeing, camping, etc. It was really a glorious set of experiences. Since then, though, I had a series of less than stellar interactions. First, the Berkeley office staff seemed irritable to me. I sensed something akin to them despising their clientele. (Most WT clients are wealthy people, and many are not true adventure-seeking types.) As I was making one set of arrangements with one of their managers for a trip to Morocco I made reference to the fact that they probably contracted with a local outfitter for camping gear and supplies, etc. (They had obviously done so on my earlier trips to different regions.) Somehow this just set her off and she became toxically condescending and rude. I guess she wanted me to think that WT had their own exclusive and permanent infrastructure in the Atlas Mountains?? Whatever...it left a very bad taste in my mouth. I took a few other trips after that, although I noted that the clients on those trips had had similar experiences with the Berkeley staff. Then, as I was making initial arrangements for an Alps trekking trip a few years ago, the manager gratuitously offered to give me a $200 break on the "single supplement" (this is the extra fee you have to pay if you are traveling alone). I was delighted, and the break really meant a lot to me. Well, as I was making my final payment, this $200 break was suddenly reduced to $100. I told her that she had said $200. She very defiantly told me, "No--I made notes, it was only $100." I really don't like being called a liar. I'd already spent tens of thousands of dollars with this company--why would I want to cheat them out of $100?? I t was obvious to me (and others who I discussed this with) that since there was not the sign-up of clients that they had hoped for, they had less profit margin. If she had just said, "You know, I offered you a $200 break, but I thought we'd have more people signing on. Could you live with $100 instead?"- I would have probably said that I was okay with her reneging on the entire amount and they could make it up on a future trip. But, no, she played it that I had been mistaken (at best) or was lying. WT wants a comprehensive review after the trip. I obviously mentioned this incident along with lavish praise for the guides. What bothered me was that I never heard a word from any of the excellent guides from that trip, even though we had gotten on famously and agreed to stay in touch, and I had sent them photos galore and warm notes. Had they been told that I gave negative feedback across the board about my experience? No--it was only the Berkeley manager who received a negative. I deduce that she trash- talked me to the guides (and a guide from an earlier trip told me that whatever feedback you give is directly shared). Anyway, I'm not going to spend thousands of dollars for grief like this. I think I'd be hard pressed to use WT again. There are many companies who do this kind of business and I've now had excellent luck with several. I have noted that WT now seems more focused on luxury trips, where the emphasis is more on the cruise ship or the buffet line than it is the trail or the boots you'll need to make it to the top. Many of their trips now are extravagantly expensive, and you will likely only find wealthy people able to afford these types of ventures. There is nothing wrong with that--but it is a different type of culture from what I had initially experienced. WT seems to have gotten away from their roots, but perhaps this has been out of economic necessity. I also noted that in recent years most WT trips are composed of married couples or groups. I typically travel alone on adventure trips as my wife really is not into roughing it and my kids are too young. I was feeling out of place being with all these wealthy older couples. I did meet some great people, but on occasion I felt uncomfortable with the group dynamic. I now often try to arrange my own itineraries, and I do so with pretty good success. It is cheaper, but it is also a lot more work. Usually you can find travel agents in your destination region who can help you out with logistical particulars. You maintain much more control and autonomy when you structure your own adventure. But I will admit I developed my appetite for adventure travel from my early WT trips and I wish they had maintained their original focus. read more

I started traveling with Wilderness Travel (WT) in 2005. My first trip was a hiking trip to New Zealand. I was able to experience life in a way that I could only imagine in my dreams. Swimming with the Dolphins will always be unforgettable. I was crying most of the time. Hiking to the top of Fox Glacier with the help of our amazing tour guide and the entire group on the tour, gave me such a sense of accomplishment. I had no idea I was capable of that much stamina. I knew right then and there the rest of my adventures were going to be booked through WT. Since New Zealand, I've been to Africa, Morocco, and Turkey and I have a trip planned to Italy this fall. Their trips are a combination of enjoying the outdoors, learning about the culture of the people and their country, and knowing that at the end of the day, you will be served the finest food with interesting folks from all over. Then off to your beautiful accommodations to get read for day 2 read more

My husband and I took our first Wilderness Travel trip about 2 1/2 years ago. There were two back-to-back trips, one to Slovenia and another to Montenegro. I was totally dreading the trip....having to be on an organized trip with people I didn't know. It was going to be a long month. What happened was that I ended up having a wonderful time and experiencing things that I would never had seen on my own. From the minute we met our guide (Ingrid from Slovenia), until the trip ended in Croatia, it was non stop hiking, touring, eating, and drinking. All we had to do was show up at the airport and everything was taken care of. Sure, it might be pricey, but I believe sometimes you get what you pay for, and Wilderness Travel delivers. Since then we have been to Ireland (twice...and we are signed up for a new trip in 2019....the guides Ann and Con are great to travel with). Also we have gone to New Zealand twice (guide Tony is a lot of fun). We have gone to Lapland and the Faroe Islands. Have hiked around Italy and Austria. June we will be in Norway and the Lofoten Islands. Patagonia is our destination in Jan. 2019. All these trips have been with Wilderness Travel. The office has never dropped the ball on us and we get all the information we need in plenty of time. They are prompt to answer our questions. If you have any doubts about Wilderness Travel......don't. We will continue to check places off our bucket list with Wilderness Travel as long as we are able to. read more

This was the first guided tour I had ever traveled on. I wasn't sure what to expect on the trip to Peru in Oct. 2014. I've never had anyone else ever carry part of my pack before, so I felt a bit odd at first. It didn't take long to realize that WT wanted to keep this trip about the experience and not about who can carry the most or hike the fastest. The pace was great for all levels. The trip to Peru and the Inca trail was amazing. Not only the standard trip along the trail, but the local guides took us on side journeys that added greatly to the trip. At every stop we were well taken care of. Never a missed connection. The food was outstanding. Our guides were very knowledgeable about all the archeological sites and the flora and fauna. I would use WT again without question. read more

I traveled with Wilderness 23 year ago in Peru with Andrea Heckman, as the guide, and it was just a fantastic trip. Great group of people, adventurous and quality. After taking a couple of trips with Wilderness them in Europe, I am going to have to stop using their services. Some of their guides are great, some, like James Fuss, just make the trip very unpleasant. What I have noticed is that the people in with Wilderness seem more interested in wine than adventure, at least in Europe. In other places in the world I have found great outfitters who run safe adventurous trips. If drinking is your gig, to have the "bottomless" wine service, super, Wilderness is your company! However on the last trip a gentlemen blew his knee out, needed a helicopter rescue and the night before there was a lot of drinking. I don't think steep talus slopes with pretty good exposures, is the place to have hung over people. In fact I think that policy endangers hikers who aren't hung over and the people drinking should have been at least warned the night before. A more serious and safety oriented company is going to be my next pic. read more

My wife said she would take me any where in the world I wanted to go for a "milestone" birthday. I chose the Galapagos. Unfortunately, my dream trip was ruined solely because of Wilderness Travel. Issues were too numerous to mention and despite numerous complaints from my fellow travelers Wilderness' reposnse was to give us a $200 refund and a $200 credit. Not much considering a $5,000+ trip was awful. My fellow travelers who have used other agents recommended other agencies. I would too. I just read a blog from a private photo trip via Wilderness and it makes me realize how badly we were screwed. Use any now else!!! read more