Earth Trip - Chelmsford

Harry

We had a wonderful 2 week trip to Brazil which we enjoyed enormously. Everything went smoothly and we were very impressed with all the guides, drivers and guest relations staff who communicated with us frequently to check that everything was okay, which we really appreciated.
We thought that the standard of the guides was excellent. Manoela, who guided us in the Pantanal, was one of the best guides we have ever had the pleasure of spending time with and her skills and experience were a big contributing factor to our enjoyment of that part of the trip.
A big thank you to all the drivers who did a great job too. In particular Tarcisio who drove us from Sao Paulo to Paraty and back across the mountains. The hairpin bends, steep climbs and descents must have been hard work for him but it provided us with some wonderful views.
We loved all our accommodation and the location of each hotel/lodge was perfect. We thought that the staff at Aymara Lodge were particularly friendly and helpful and we loved the food there too. The Belmond was very special of course and the Sandi at Paraty was very atmospheric.
We had so many different and varied experiences that it will all take some time to sink in. Thank you again for organising such wonderful experiences for us, we really loved it.

Helen S.

We have just returned from the most amazing wildlife adventure in Madagascar followed by 3 nights in Mauritius to celebrate my 60th birthday . Our trip surpassed all my expectations from the stunning wildlife, much of which we able to see and hear (the many lemurs - Indri/Sifakas/various bamboo lemurs etc) at close quarters thanks to the excellent guides in the various parks, to the superb accommodation which I had not expected to be of such a high standard in such a poor country.

The hotels in the various locations were all different, but each had their own character with friendly staff, great service and a very good and varied choice of cuisine. Many of them made special arrangements to celebrate my birthday which was truly lovely.

The eco-lodges in the rainforest areas were especially beautiful (one offered a thermal pool after hours scrambling through the rain forest to get the ultimate lemur experience up close and personal) as was the relaxing massage at our lodge in Isalo. We didn’t get to see any whales in Madagascar, but I am so glad I switched the planned catamaran trip to whale watching in Mauritius as we were lucky to see 7-8 sperm whales including the calves 😊. It was worth the 5.30 am start!

Our driver and guide Lala in Madagascar looked after us every step of the way from Ifaty (the dry spiny forest area) back to Tana and, despite the enormous potholes on the "good" main N7 road which extended the journey times, we loved the travelling between the various parks as it painted a real picture of rural agricultural life which allows the majority of people to earn a small living.

The local team in Madagascar met us on arrival and welcomed us back to Tana with a farewell drink with a magnificent view of the capital from the highest point in the city.

The icing on the cake was then the 3 nights spent at Paradise Cove in Mauritius which was absolutely beautiful. Aleem had asked them to surprise me for my 60th birthday trip, so they treated us to a special candlelit meal at the a la carte Michelin star Cove restaurant and also gave us a Suite upgrade judging by the size of the room!

The cuisine, the service and the facilities were all superb and a great way to end the holiday with a late check out until 6pm which meant we could enjoy the many activities (kayaking/gym, swimming, yoga etc) on offer before departure.

I have so many amazing photographs and beautiful memories from our wonderful trip. Thank you Aleem and the Earth Trip team.

John R.

We had a wonderful holiday in Madagascar and Mauritius.
The itinerary was well constructed and offered a lot of variety in line with the criteria that we had set out from the outset as to our requirements.
A staff of the company was very helpful and informative.
The driver/guides were very competent and helpful, and we felt safe throughout.
The standard of accommodation and food exceeded our expectations.
We consider the holiday to represent good value for money.
We would have no hesitation in recommending this company to anyone who is considering using it.

Samuel L.

We had a tailor made tour of Madagascar. It was the trip of a lifetime; a good balance of luxury and adventure. The company was excellent, arranged everything seamlessly.

david N.

A lovely 2 week visit to southern Sri Lanka, organised by Aleem and with Sampath as an excellent driver and guide. From the mountains to the ocean we enjoyed marvellous experiences tailored to our requests. The accommodation was incredible in small boutique hotels. We were so well looked after. The Sri Lanka countryside and the animals were fascinating, elephants, huge monitor lizards, beautiful birds.
It was both a stimulating and relaxing experience. Lots to see and also time to chill at the beach in a beautiful boutique hotel with just 8 rooms. And a birthday dinner on the beach.
Thanks again for such a wonderful time.

sylvia W.

We had a wonderful tailor-made holiday, focusing on nature. Our experience with Earth Trip ( as opposed to the actual holiday) was OK, but communication was patchy at times, perhaps because Aleem was travelling. However, his communication with Resfaber (Sri Lanka partners) about our wishes for bespoke holiday ( hotels, itinerary and our driver) was clearly very good, as all of these were excellent. So, our holiday was 5 star, despite some hiccups in setting it up and confirming details due to slow communication at this end. One point to note is that you are unlikely to get any hotel refunds for changes made even 4 weeks ahead. It would have helped have had a deadline for when hotel bookings became un-refundable.

Victoria L.

We enjoyed the personal touch in the planning of our holiday. Being able to talk to Aleem and explain the sort of holiday we would like was great. We spent almost two weeks in the Seychelles. We got out and about and saw the most amazing wildlife as well as enjoying the beautiful sandy beaches. All three hotels were great. Good food, comfortable rooms and friendly staff. All aspects of the itinerary happened according to plan. We would recommend.

Heather K.

My friend and I are from the US. We wanted to go to Sri Lanka and decided to go through a reputable UK travel company so we could spend a couple of days in London to lessen the long flight. Sri Lanka is a direct 10 hour flight from London. We decided to go with The Earth Trip, owned by Aleem who is from Sri Lanka. We were not disappointed and went on a trip of a lifetime. What made the trip exceptional?
We met via Zoom with Aleem to discuss our desires for our trip. Aleem was flexible and insightful.
The cost for 18 days in Sri Lanka was affordable.
Each lodging was unique and beautiful to the geography: mountains, plains, jungle, seaside.
Our guide and driver Ushanka was warm, knowledgeable, and always our advocate going above and beyond to meet our needs. He gave us the opportunity to experience Sri Lanka in a very personal way.
The country is gorgeous. We saw a hundred elephants, birds of all kinds, and a leopard casually strolling. Waterfalls, temples, tea plantations, mountains, and small villages were a part of our everyday life.
The food was incredibly fresh and delicious. Ushanka would break up our drive with stops for fresh samosas or buffalo curd with treacle.
But the most incredible experience in Sri Lanka was the people. I have traveled worldwide and have never experienced the kindness and care of the Sri Lankans. They are a joyful people.
Don't forget to get Ayurvedic massages!
I know The Earth Trip provides travel to many destinations around the world but I think their trip to Sri Lanka is something very special.