OAT

We saw and photographed lots of amazing animals thanks to our excellent guides. The lodges and tents provided good housing. We had a wonderful group of people to travel with.

Our guide,Dario, was fantastic. We had so many learning and discoveries I can't count them all. The best canolis are in the cathedral in Palermo. They are huge, filled while you wait and superb! This trip also had the most amazing local guides..easy to understand and so very kowledgeable. Would definitely recommend this trip for this time of year and to be in Catania for the St Agatha celebration. At first I was leary of the crowds and craziness, but am so glad we could experience the 3rd largest Catholic celebration in the world. I am not even Catholic.

Loved the trip. Carlos and Allan were wonderful guide and driver who took care of all our needs while providing lots of local color. And they were experts at finding birds and animals for us to see!

My Peru experience was enhanced by our Trip Experience Leader, Walter Salvador Torres. Salvador's background as a university history professor and his local knowledge added to our understanding of Inca life and the influence of Pachakutiq. Highlights in Lima: - tour of waterfront and fresh ceviche - National Museum of Archaelogy Highlights in Sacred Valley: - Pisac and Ollantaytambo ruins - Local family visit and lunch Highlights in Machu Picchu: - Visiting ruins in afternoon and following morning with Salvador who has been to MP over 3000 times! Highlights in Cusco: - Curandero ceremony with local Shaman giving offerings to Pacha Mama - Local markets, including outdoor livestock market - Tipon ruins Hotels were more than satisfactory (albeit no air conditioning in any). Meals were adequate. It was wonderful having access to oxygen as the altitude adjustment was difficult for me. Recommendations: - Demographics of local host family would have been nice to bring more personalized gifts - No need for reusable water bottles. Only one hotel had filter water spigots - More free time in Lima and Cusco for exploring and shopping. Thank you OAT and Salvador for a memorable trip!

As I read the reviews of this trip prior to departing, they all pretty much said the same thing. “Great trip” Trip of a lifetime” No words can express how wonderful….” etc. How can a trip really be that great? Well, now my own review is going to sound like all the others. This was my first trip with OAT and my 3rd trip to Africa. There is something about the continent that speaks to me and this trip exceeded all my expectations from prior visits. The pre-trip to the Masa Mara was led by George, who not only tracked, explored, lead, taught but also inspired us all. The unexpected late ending to the rainy season brought added rain, green lands and happy animals with the abundance of water and food. It was a gift to experience it all. The accommodations, food and drivers proved that extraordinary hospitality lives in all parts of the world. Our main trip leader, Joshua, brought the country of Tanzania alive for all of us by providing such intimate “learning and discovery” opportunities that ultimately rivaled the animal viewing. I feel so much more knowledgeable about the Maasai and Iraqw tribes, the Serengeti ecosystem and the Tanzanian culture. We saw the Big 5, delivered safe water filters to villages, experienced the “great migration,” connected with school children and all became very close by sharing so much. Our trusty drivers, Miya, Joseph and Cosmos, took good care of us and drove through many challenging circumstances, professionally and safely. They shared personal stories and were part of our “travelling family” that bonded together. As many reviews before me, this trip was a trip of a lifetime! The food delicious and plentiful, the accommodations perfect and the people delightful. OAT surpassed my expectations and I look forward to travelling with them again in the future.