Rivers & Seas Nature Trips & Packages Tours & Trips

What travelers are saying

"I paid for the Nepal trip then saw news of monsoon rain, flooding, landslides, 200+ dead. I was told by Elder Treks that they would not cancel the trip. However I did not feel comfortable going especially when weather reports were for more rain. They would not credit me or even allow me to switch to another tour. Because they wouldn't even allow me to switch tours when my concerns were valid, I would not recommend, nor use Elder Treks again."

What travelers are saying

"Quality Service"

What travelers are saying

"Quality Service"

What travelers are saying

"Quality Service"

What travelers are saying

"We particularly wanted to do this trip because of the abundance of wildlife we expected to encounter and selected this ship because they offered the kayaking experience. Overall, the weather was very good. Most people seemed like minded and were there for the adventurous experience. Accommodations Review They upgraded our cabin and we were very pleased with the amount of space and the amenities in the room. We appreciated the twin windows and being able to see humpbacks diving from our cabin. It was kept very clean and it was a treat to have our bed turned down with chocolates on the pillow each night. Meals Review We liked the variety and the quality of the food. There was always something new to try. The dining room staff was very professional and personable. Crew & Guides Review Solon was our Principal Trip Leader. He was incredibly professional and it seemed like he was constantly working to maximize the encounters with wildlife and scenery, taking advantage of all the weather opportunities and going to places that they don't often go. He worked very closely with the captain who was very accommodating and caring about us having a memorable voyage. Aymie and Andrew were our kayak guides. We went out to kayak 10 different times and were able to get to know both of them well. They worked hard to keep us safe and well informed. They made sure that we didn't miss out on any land excursions. We've had quite a few kayak guides over the years that we've paddled and we loved these two. Marla was the marine biologist aboard the ship. She was very enthusiastic and had a passion for marine mammals that was infectious. We loved listening to her presentations and looked forward to hearing her voice on the PA saying that there was another whale sighting. Colin, the geologist aboard the ship, was very knowledgeable and able to make difficult subjects understandable to the passengers. Itinerary Review The trip far, far, far, far, far, far exceeded our expectations. I had one "far" in the sentence when we left South Georgia Island after seeing 250,000 King Penguins at St. Andrews Point and added the second when we saw blue whales on two different days. The third "far" was added when we saw hundreds of whales for 6 hours along the iceberg, A68a. I added another "far" when we kayaked for over an hour with humpbacks all around and another "far" when minke whales were all around the kayaks the next day. The last "far" was added the day we didn't paddle since a leopard seal was all around the kayaks and then an orca came close. We had so many incredible experiences that we could never experience all of them in the same trip again. The guides told us that the close encounters that we had didn't happen very often and that we were very lucky that they all happened on our trip. The only thing that we didn't like was portions of the Drake Passage when it was a tad rough, but that experience gives us something to talk about. Transportation Review We made our transportation arrangements through another travel agency. Traveler Advice Make sure that you take sea sickness meds. Take advantage of every opportunity to see wildlife."

What travelers are saying

"Hot & Unforgettable It's really hard to quantify the experience in a few short sentences. As one who has lived most of my life in urban environments, I was utterly shocked by the adjustment to 100% outdoor life, there were a lot of moments where I was convinced my domestic instincts weren't equipped for such an intense experience. Despite feeling unprepared and a little shocked by a myriad of intensities, (110 Degree Weather, 40 Degree Water, Hours of Uninterrupted Sun Exposure, Chugging Gallons of water to just stay hydrated enough to not get horribly ill) I have literally nothing but glowing remarks for both the trip as a whole and for the unbelievably accomodating and talented guides who transformed the experience from a journey of basic survival to an exciting and enjoyable adventure! Our Capitan (Ludkey, or Lucky) was amazing, charismatic and sincere, he found humor in awkward and scary moments, broke tension without removing the seriousness of our safety and health, and genuinely seemed to enjoy the unique experience with us, taking time to share his own secret spots and stories to make the experience richer! Hank, our second in command on our boat, was new to the trip but took incredible efforts to point out countless points of interest, you would see him each morning and day on the raft diligently studying guide books and following directions from Lucky, he used this knowledge and skill he was gaining each day to teach us many fun facts and on several occasions, keep us safe and healthy. The Tag team between Hank and Lucky made me feel like we were really being taken care of the entire time and that they were going above and beyond to make the trip not just bearable for us city folks, but special and unique! Scotty and Paco piloted the second boat (which we never traveled on) but even from limited interactions at Camp or during Frolicks I found them warm and helpful. Scotty took time to share his passion for music and songwriting with us, a few tunes are still stuck in my head ("Just a Caged Chicken!") and Paco, on multiple occasions, provided caring attention to even the most minor ailment (my partner got really sick the second day and her and Hanks efforts are what brought him back to 100% so he could enjoy the rest of the trip!) not to mention she literally dragged my big butt out of a hole I fell in and took time to give me Advil for the minor bangs I got in the process. I will genuinely never forget the experience, it absolutely had its ups and downs and if your not the outdoorsy wilderness type prepare for a transition period as your body acclimates, BUT, do not write this off because it's a little bit difficult or might push you a little. You will never experience the grand canyon with the same intimacy, you will never see stars so bright, you will never grow so close to a group of complete strangers this fast. It's absolutely not your "Reading a book on a beach" type of vacation, you will likely return home and feel you need another vacation, but if you're on the edge, if you're wondering if you should do it, my answer is, without hesitation, DO IT!"

What travelers are saying

"I am a 12 time traveler with Grand Circle and OAT. But maybe no more. They are impossible to reach by phone without waiting for hours. I even tired their emergency phone number and was on hold for hours. What if I had been stranded in a foreign country? They cancelled my Eastern Europe to Black Sea Cruise in Sept 2021 and cited "covid" or "civil unrest" issues. Baloney. They cancelled because they did not sell out the cruise and lied about it to me. I know because I went with Viking during the same month with no excuses like Grand Circle gave me. Add to that they promised me a $1,000 credit on my next trip- which was to Antarctica in December. The invoice they sent me showed the credit- and 1 month later a new invoice arrived with the credit removed. Why? Another lie? Something is really wrong here with the company now and I would suggest be very careful with bookings as they are not the same company I traveled with for the past 12 years."

What travelers are saying

"Most of the people on this 17-day river cruise was quite elderly and infirm. Therefore the complimentary excursions were painfully slow walking. Local guides mostly told stories of their own upbringing and the conflicts they lived through. There was not much history on any of the excursions; and none of the buildings we saw gave us an opportunity to go inside, even the paid excursions. The accommodations were excellent, except that we paid for the best veranda but could not sit on our veranda because for the first 5 days our ship was packed tight next to another Viking ship. Food was good, except for dinners which were quite mediocre and never captured the flavor of the local foods."