OAT

An adventure of a lifetime. Both guides, Henry and Daniel had amazing surprises for us everyday. From the major cities to the smallest towns and islands there was always something to learn about and experience. I was very excited to climb in Machu Picchu and snorkel in the Galapagos, which did not disappoint, but all our other adventures were just as exciting and gratifying. One of my favorite experiences in Peru was a ceremony led by a Shaman where we all participated to ask for a safe and excellent trip to Machu Picchu. It was an amazing experience speaking to “Mother Earth.” It worked! In Equador, several of us went with our guide to watch the sunrise and to swim in crystal clear lava water surrounded by lava cliffs. Breathtaking. So glad I got up at 5:30 am to go. It is a very active trip. Believe the hype about altitude and walking on uneven rocks. We did not stop!

Patagonia great.... Buenos Aires part of the trip average!

This trip was well worth the month we spent including the pre- and post-trips. Our trip leaders, Anle (in Vietnam) and Ting (in Cambodia), were outstanding. They wanted to make sure that we all had a great time and we did. Given the coronavirus outbreak, their attention to our health was appreciated. What was surprising about this trip was the amount of time we got to spend with local folks and that they seemed fine with Americans notwithstanding the wars. We saw outstanding sights, but it was really the interaction with the local people that stood out.

Did not know what to expect but our two guides showed us more than just the sites. Small 12 member group was a great size and we had options to see some extra things like an agave production business, dinner at the ethnographic museum, stop at a wood working workshop, and meet people of the street. Lots of planned cultural experiences helped us to get a feel of the culture of Equador. Sure did get in plenty of steps walking streets and trails and the snorkel experiences were all so varied. Then there were the special efforts made by both Marcelo and Jairo... and the crew. Feel like we will remember this experience as so much more than a trip.

We had an amazing time seeing temples, learning about the cultures, seeing up-front how families lived in the Day-in-the-Life portion with visits to Hmong communities off the Mekong River, and an elementary school, a visit to a floating village via river boat. Most excellent guide - Oleang who went above and beyond in seeing to my needs and I can not thank her enough. As well, our local guides were excellent too. We saw a lot, and packed a lot of adventure/history in - with an eye towards both unveiling darker aspects of their past - Killing Fields,(Cambodia) land mine issues (COPE - Laos ) as well as seeing food markets, and daily life in a small villages and big cities. Accommodations and planned details were superb, with levels of participation available. For a single traveler, it was probably the only way to go and SEE a lot. Thank you.