Tour leader interviews
Africa trip stories
Small group Botswana safari
"The most special time I have with my guests is always when we are stargazing at night… It is a lovely time just talking about stars, or not talking a lot and just looking at them."
Read the full interview with Wayne Mwango here
Namibia and Botswana safari
"We’ve a saying that we often tell clients, to prepare them for how things work in Africa: When God created the earth he gave Europe the watch - and Africa the time."
Read the full interview with Cronje Rademan here
South Africa safari
"The three most important things to have in your daypack are a camera, binoculars and hat. But, safari isn’t all about sight and is a very sensory experience."
Read the full interview with Will Fox here
Gorilla Safari & the Masai Mara
"Where we camp there is no fence. One time, lions came into the campsite; we could hear them roaring…"
Read the full interview with Often Konzoro here
Morocco cycling vacation
"I feel that I'm introducing tourists to the Moroccan people that I know. That sort of thing makes you feel proud to be a tour leader."
Read the full interview with Andy McKee here
Kenya and Tanzania safari adventure
"You have a campfire, you’re telling stores, people have a beer... and out of nowhere a zebra passed by. The lions brought down the zebra around 100m away."
Read the full interview with Peter Kiptoo here
Antarctica & Arctic tour leader interviews
Antarctica, Falklands & South Georgia icebreaker cruises
"Penguins have an amazing language that they seem to talk to one another all day long and when you get a lot in a colony there’s a very loud chatter."
Read the full interview with Charlotte Caffrey here
Antarctica expedition cruise
"Some leaders at the start of the trip tear up their itineraries! Something unexpected happens every day."
Read the full interview with Bill Davies here
Asia tour leader interviews
Sri Lanka wildlife and whales tour
"I would like to introduce our greeting in Sri Lanka. We say ‘Ayubowan’, meaning ‘may you have a long and happy life’."
Read the full interview with Neelaka here
Family vacation to Thailand, jungles and islands
"In Chiang Mai it’s not unusual to be given strawberries dipped in salt and chili – I think it’s safe to say that’s an acquired taste!"
Read the full interview with Wi Ord here
Japan golden route vacation
"Asakusa isn’t the full on neon in your face side of Tokyo. It eases you into the city."
Read the full interview with James Mundy here
Small group vacation to Burma
"You hear the monks chanting to the temple bells and the young nuns, who are just little girls, are quite often singing the prayers."
Read the full interview with Wi Ord here
India small group food adventure
"People travel here for stories. If they want luxury, they can go to Bahamas. If you come to India, you’ll get stories."
Read the full interview with Saurabh Joshi here
Japan small group vacation
"One of my favourite places to take people for a drink in Kyoto is an old bar run by an old lady, who tallies up the bills on an abacus."
Read the full interview with Tyler Palma here
Vietnam small group cycling vacation
"In Vietnam any problem can be solved by being happy and smiling. It makes the local people laugh."
Read the full interview with Danh Nguyen here
The Essence of China vacation
"They find out it’s very different to what they expected. There are so many people here who are so happy with their lives."
Read the full interview with Dennis here
Japan tailor made tour on a shoestring
"Up in the Hakone National Park, they boil eggs in the naturally hot water. They say that eating one of those eggs lengthens your life by five years."
Read the full interview with Ruth Hubbard here
Family vacation in Vietnam
"Xin chao - you go down at the end, and it means hello. If you say Xin chao and go up - it means you are asking for rice porridge!"
Read the full interview with Khanh Dinh here
Rajasthan tours, India
"You have to divest yourself of the cultural trappings that you bring from your own homes. India is indeed a feast for the soul."
Read the full interview with Bhupesh here
Indochina tours
"I have so many souvenirs from Laos, but the things that my passengers and I always buy are cotton trousers, which we call 'happy pants'!"
Read the full interview with Nathan here
Reunification Express vacation, Vietnam
"'Cheers', in Vietnamese is mot hai ba dzo... I tell my groups they need to practise their Vietnamese every day!"
Read the full interview with Khanh Dinh here
Central America tour leader interviews
Costa Rica wildlife vacation
"On this trip you get rid of all your problems, of all the stress, and surround yourself in the middle of all the green."
Read the full interview with Johnny Villalobos Muñoz here
Europe tour leader interviews
Northern Lights tailor made
"How do I relax locally when I’m not working? Visiting the sauna and cross-country skiing – fully embracing what the locals do to relax."
Read the full interview with Ali McLean here
Amalfi Coast walking vacation, Italy
"People are very surprised by how simple many of the locals’ lives are. A lot of people still live a subsistence lifestyle."
Read the full interview with Emily Chrystie here
Northern lights short break in Finland
"Gazing in wonderment at the Northern Lights from a remote cabin high on a Lappish Fell. It doesn’t get any better than that."
Read the full interview with Ali McLean here
Activity vacation in Montenegro
"The scenery around Lake Skadar is on a par with what I have seen in Africa or in Asia."
Read the full interview with Emma Heywood here
Scotland by railway vacation
"You leave the rest of the world behind when you take the famous West Highland line, heading off onto Rannoch Moor and Glencoe."
Read the full interview with Robert Kidd here
Finland winter activities & Northern Lights
"You really feel connected with your huskies; they are taking care of you and you are taking care of them."
Read the full interview with Tessa Kokkonen here
Vienna to Budapest tour
"It’s a golden opportunity to get to know people. Try the food, listen to our recommendations. That’s what we’re there for."
Read the full interview with Matthew Starr here
South America tour leader interviews
Peru small group tour in Southern Peru
"The Inca architecture is so tactile; when you see the stones you just want to touch them because they’re so smooth and so beautifully placed together."
Read the full interview with Nicola Gude here
Galapagos vacations, Ecuador
"My wife and I like to go traveling. But after Galapagos, honestly, it would be hard to find a better place."
Read the full interview with Davis Paez here
Buenos Aires to Rio small group vacation
"Everybody has their special place in the world, and for me it’s Iguazu Falls. It changes all the time."
Read the full interview with Yamila Barba here
Galapagos land based adventure vacation
"Most people don't know about the local culture; they don't think anyone lives here - but there are 29,000 people!"
Read the full interview with Juan Zambonino here
Family vacation tour leader interviews
Family vacation to Thailand, jungles and islands
"In Chiang Mai it’s not unusual to be given strawberries dipped in salt and chili – I think it’s safe to say that’s an acquired taste!"
Read the full interview with Wi Ord here
Family vacation in Vietnam
"Xin chao - you go down at the end, and it means hello. If you say Xin chao and go up - it means you are asking for rice porridge!"
Read the full interview with Khanh Dinh here
