Overseas Adventure Travel

Fantastic experience: We travelled with OAT to India Jan 2025. We did the Heart of India tour. I had heard good things about OAT but had never travelled on a group tour even though I have travelled extensively. I can’t say enough about how impressed I(we) were. The thoughtful itinerary was over the top. We would never have known to go to some of sites we visited such as the temples, we would not have had the experiences of spending a morning with people from a rural village then contrasting that with visiting a residential expensive school, we would never have understood the complexities of Indians cultures, politics, religions and customs. Our group leader (Dev) was amazing answering all our questions and personalizing our experiences in our free time. Our group added to our enjoyment offering interesting experiences and friendship. I can’t say enough about how impressed I am with OAT. We will definitely travel with them again in 2025!

Fantastic experience: Our chosen tour guide - Shelley Munro - was an exceptional leader. She was a knowledgeable, personable, and warm individual who was attentive to every single member of our group. Shelley made the tour of New Zealand outstanding, memorable and unforgettable in every aspect of the way because of her deep knowledge of the country which she shared with us. It was both refreshing and rewarding to find a country so beautiful, breathtaking, clean and still unspoiled by modern civilization.

Fantastic experience: We did the Allure of the Adriatic to start the New Year and WOW was this trip Awesome! We had an incredible TEL in Louise Lewis and the crew of the Artemis was Outstanding! We had a fantastic group and made many friends who we hope to travel with again! Amazing value and it was a great time to go with less crowds! We loved the trip so much we booked another trip while on this one!

Positive experience: We recently purchased a great trip to the Adriatic area and so excited to be heading there this year. This is not a complaint but an FYI. While booking our trip we were asked about arriving a day early to rest and spend some time getting familiar with our location. We were quoted $180.00 per person, and while that was a bit steep, we agreed. I was able to create and account and while looking thru many different forms, information, I did see their travel booklet and noted, additional days in your hotel can be provided for as low as $$..per Room per Day. I checked my invoice and confirmed we were charged for 2 persons at $180.00 per night. I called and spoke with an agent and explained my question, noting the booklet info, she put me on hold for awhile came back later and advised me the information in the booklet is incorrect. I asked to speak to someone else, but she advised me no. As I said we are excited to go and will pay the amount agreed. I do think it should be corrected somewhere. The booklet itself is very informative and helpful I printed out the trip itinerary and on page 2/28 it notes arrive early before the main adventure from $170.00 per room per night.

Negative experience: Is Marcy back from vacation? If so, I'm not "screening my calls." I need my 2800 credits back from my Australia & New Zealand to apply towards a different tour. A South Pacific Odyssey -- The worst tour ever! Out of 30 days, 15 days were flying, driving and freetime. I can stay home and do nothing. All the highlights of the tour were an additional $1,000. The meals were average minus if they were included. Consumer beware! OAT has a problem with ethics. I have traveled 19 tours with OAT. Unless OAT settles this matter in an equitable manner, I take my business elsewhere.

Negative experience: Worst OAT trip ever taken. Poor quality hotels outside of City in Catania and far from major sites in Palermo.The NH Palermo hotel has poor heating, unhelpful staff on a desk that was poorly staffed. Good Bar and Restaurant. Dreadful quality of included meals except for home visits and in the paid for excursion to Ragusa and Noto. Service on the boat by the crew excellent. Preparation and quality of food uneven and in general the meat and lobster tails were overcooked. Live entertainment good except for movie night which featured the older Gladiator movie.A newer film on video would have been more appropriate. Guides seemed pressured by the pace and requirements of them o the trip, but did their best. This company has definitely changed for the worse.They are providing very cheap lodging and meals outside of the ship Clio. The staterooms there were spacious and well equipped. All staff excellent as I said. I have a land trip booked with OAT in May and I am thinking of cancelling it as I do't trust the level of hotels and deals that will be provided.

Fantastic experience: We’ve traveled with them seven times now and plan to do more! We have always found them to be very accommodating, even to the point of having my hiking boots repaired - overnight, twice - while visiting Machu Picchu! Love OAT!

Fantastic experience: My trip to Jordan and Egypt was epic. I cannot say enough about the way they structured and planned our experiences. The guides were walking encyclopedias on their country, history, ancient history, culture; we were able to get to speak with and share food with local families; we saw every major site, the food was amazing, the hotels were historic and gorgeous, and the cruise down the Nile River was like a re-connection with our ancient ancestors. I felt completely safe. The people of Jordan and Egypt are gracious and curious. I went as a single adult.

Fantastic experience: Inside Vietnam was my first OAT trip, audit was a trip of a lifetime. The three weeks was meticulously planned. The highlight, for me, was having the opportunity to meet Vietnamese people in their homes and get an idea what their lives were like. I had always wanted to visit Asia, and this was all I had hoped for, and more.

Fantastic experience: I just returned from my first OAT adventure where I went to Tunisia. The trip was expertly organized and conducted by our professional tour guide, Mamdouh HALOUI. He was attentive to everyone’s needs and concerns. I highly recommend him to anyone traveling to Tunisia. The country has a fascinating history and many interesting sites to explore. I have used 2 other tour companies. I can say that OAT far exceeds any other tour company I have used!

Fantastic experience: We had a wonderful trip to Tasmania and Australia. guide, Blake Marshall, did a great job. There were a couple of cancelled flights that caused us to change our itineraries, and he did it with skill and enthusiasm. The other people on the trip were interesting and fun to be with. I would highly recommend this trip.

Negative experience: We were unable to get a refund for a planned trip to Africa even though there was an international epidemic (Covid 19) which began in March 2020. In our effort to get a refund we were bumped back and forth with OAT and their insurance company (a company they separated themselves with OAT sometime during the epidemic). When we were finally forced to travel (because our extension would run out in December 2024). We selected a trip to Greece and three Baltic States. When our flight was delayed and set us back a full day, OAT was no help at all and we have not been refunded any money. Having said that: When we finally arrived (a day late) our guides were excellent. Marsid Tukaj, in North Macedonia, Kosovo and Albania and Sophia Roussi, in Albania and Greece. Marsid gave us an entertaining look at his three countries but included a very accurate (if sometimes disturbing) history of each, while he was with us. Sophia was also wonderful, making sure that everyone's needs were met (including a cake for Keith's birthday}. The highest marks for both guides. We would like to acknowledge Adriana who was an exceptional and very helpful "student guide". With all respect, Marlene & Keith Baker

Fantastic experience: Most tours are like sitting on the bank of a stream and watching humanity flow by. Not so with OAT! On our first tour with this org. we were immersed in the stream. We broke bread with the natives. We learned from them first hand what life was like, especially during wartime. Chuck Kennedy/ Anne Dodge

Fantastic experience: First time with OAT, actually first time on any group tour. The trip to Morocco and the pre-extension trip to Chefchaouen was amazing! The tour director, Hassan was A++ expressing his love for his country, the beauty of the people, the magnificent culture and all the sites he brought to life. I most enjoyed the home visits, the amazing camel ride in the Sahara. I have beautiful memories. It is a fast paced itinerary but it was organized and went without a problem.

Positive experience: Be aware that their online Terms and Conditions states the "majority of applicable refunds are processed within 30 days of receipt of your cancellation. The actual time is 45 BUSINESS days or about two months. 30 days is reasonable but two months is completely taking advantage of their customers. However, two days after writing the above, OAT refunded my money which was about 45 total days.

Fantastic experience: I knew that Egypt was going to be a fantastic place to visit and that OAT would be MY way to see it. It was my 9th trip with OAT and did not disappoint. First off, I got an actual phone call from Egypt, prior to my leaving the U.S., from Aiyman, (my experience guide). I was amazed that right from the start this trip was going to be one of personal concern and inclusion from my "leader". That assumption never proved wrong. From start to finish, Aiyman was there welcoming everyone, giving us detailed instructions day be day on all facets of our activities, taking care of individual concerns and always with good humor. With a wealth of knowledge on Egyptology (he graduated from university on the subject), on Egypt's history, economics, politics, rulers and invaders over the centuries, statistics of all the areas that we visited, I could go on and on. All of this was done in a way that we didn't feel we were being lectured but rather treated as interested observers, part of the excitement of Egypt and all it's facets. As a group, we had many, many questions each day. All were answered fully. As for the practical side of the adventure, we stayed at a truly luxurious hotel in Cairo with super accommodations and restaurants, going out each day to surrounding areas. As well as scheduled visits, Aiyman offered extra opportunities for visiting places during the scheduled "rest" times for those of us who cared to join. I didn't need rest times and went on all of these and had great experiences. After 5 days in Cairo and surrounding areas , we boarded the Nefertiti, OAT's own boat, to cruise on the Nile. I felt like Nefertiti myself! Each cabin had its own balcony to watch activities ashore as we floated along, as well as a sun lounge on the top deck. The services provided from every aspect were first class. And the restaurant ... elegantly furnished, serviced by wonderful waiters who even remembered many of our names, and the cuisine was SPECTACULAR. The staff even provided entertainment several nights, putting on skits, getting us up to dance, it made me feel young again (I'm 87). Each day we would pull into a new port and Aiyman would take us to yet another exciting place that offered a new experience, way of life and people. After 6 days on Nefertiti, we flew back to Cairo to the same luxury hotel and used that until the end of the tour for our base. Each day was a new sight and experience. During the whole visit to Egypt, we saw the remains of huge temples with columns that seemed to reach to the sky and so large that six of us could barely put our outstretched arms around the base; tombs with walls covered in relief paintings, hieroglyphics, cartouches, some of which still retained original colors: pyramids, the Sphinx, museums (including one that had actual mummies) and amazing actual evidence from past times, and so many other wonders too long to list and describe - I simply don't have an adequate vocabulary! For modern times, we saw the Aswan High Dam which had in the past prevented devastating flooding; vast areas of the Sahara desert being reclaimed with crops growing and being saved by law from commercial building. We also had two "home" experiences. One in Cairo with a typical family for supper and one with a farming family in a tiny village with dirt streets, little fields, communal family homes and a young man at University studying to be a surgeon (the whole village was SO PROUD of him). At each visit we were able to fully interact with the people involved, asking them questions and finding out about their way of life. I took thousands of pictures and now have the delight of editing them and making actual prints of many for a scrapbook. This review is just a very small retelling of my time in Egypt. I have left out so much that will provide memories for years to come. Anyone reading this simply HAS to go there themselves and experience the wonders that I did. Thank you Aiyman and thank you OAT. Lorain Brinton

Fantastic experience: OAT Trip Leaders do such a great job of getting us to love their country as much as they do. We learn about the culture, the history, the cuisine, the language and we have lots of opportunities to interact with locals and know about their daily life. And OAT costs, tho they are going up, are somewhat reasonable. It is good value for what you get. It is always a mix of town and countryside, of time in nature and sometimes with animals on farms. The trips tend to be quite active, which I like! I have traveled with them 7 times now and can highly recommend them. We nearly circled the island of Sicily and got a real taste of life there and how it differs from mainland Italy. It has some very ancient history sites because throughout the centuries, Sicily has been a crossroads in the Mediterannean and has been envaded by a variety of people who have all left their mark. We learned some interesting WWII history about the island which is little known. The people are friendly. We learned about the Mafia/Cosa Nostra then and now. We got to hike on Mt Etna. We visited some agrotourism sites for some very good food and wine. It is a very fun and interesting trip to Sicily.

Fantastic experience: I just returned from my first OAT trip - and for sure, it won't be my last! Everything about The Eternal Nile and a 5 day sail down the Nile on a beautiful dehabeeya was near perfect. Our guide, Hassan, was extremely knowledgable about both ancient and modern Egypt and took excellent care of each one of us, the accommodations were amazing, the food was delicious, my fellow travelers were a delight, and Egypt itself was everything I hoped it would be! For me, the highlights were dinners and lunches with Egyptian families, the hot air balloon ride, the dehabeeya sail, and the wonders of ancient Egypt! OAT is an extremely competent, organized, and thoughtful tour group. I'm looking forward to my next trip with them!!! PS. I travelled alone. I'm 80, and this trip with OAT convinced me I can travel at least another 10 years!!

Fantastic experience: My experience with OAT was wonderful. This was my first trip on an actual tour so I didn’t know what to expect except for my prejudices against group tours! For example, here’s an unexpected delight: (see photo) we stayed at La Quinta Sarapiqui early on and had a rain forest walk the first or second day. After dinner Vinnie, our fantastic guide, took some of us on a short walk to look for tiny frogs and whatever we could find in the dark. Well! We saw, with his flashlight, a Jesus lizard, a few colorful but tiny frogs, and one huge brown frog. And this was on the walkway to my room! During the daylight I saw nothing but dripping jungle plants and colorful birds. Little did I know what else lay there watching me!

Positive experience: Overall the Java/Bali/Borneo was a postive experiece with a few exceptions. In Borneo we spent long days on a river boat which offered no comfortable seating or anywhere to relax. This is ok for a few hours but not for the 6+ hours we spent on the boat. The boat was staffed by an excellent crew including a cook who produced wonderful meals. Jakarta was a total waste of time and should be used only for transitioning and not for touring. Jakarta is a big, ugly city with little to offer and the hotel where we stayed was located in an area where walking was a challenge. The tour guides filled in the three days in Jakarta but the only worthwhile thing was the Puppet Museum. The cooking class was interesting but not worth the time and the walk through Chinatown was a total waste. The rest of the time in Java was spent in Yogyakarta which was a lovely city, very walkable, and with many interesting sites. Yoga, our guide did a wonderful job of arranging interesting excursions and visits to some wonderful temples. Next up was Bali which unfortunately is a country suffering from excessive tourism. Fortunately our guides did an excellent job of getting us out of the tourist areas and sharing with us the cultural and natural wonders of Bali. Overall the accommodations on this trip were excellent and except for the hotel in Jakarta, the locations were ideal. For some reason on this trip many of our meals were preordered and prepared to be served when we arrived. Often the meals were lukewarm and sometimes simply not edible. I am not sure if this is how things are normally done on this trip, but if OAT continues to do the preordered meals then they need to work with the restaurants to make sure the meals are hot & worth eating.

Fantastic experience: This was my first trip with Overseas Adventure Travel. It exceeded my wildest expectations! The trip leaders were respectful, kind and oh, so patient! Their knowledge of the places, people, wildlife, etc… made the trip. I have done a fair amount of travel on my own and this experience was very different. The accommodations were top notch. The food was excellent and way too much! I will definitely be referring others to OAT and will certainly consider other trips with them. The Galapagos experience is almost beyond words. I guess you just have to see for yourself!

Fantastic experience: The Cultural Treasures of Japan trip was everything for which I’d hoped . The itinerary was comprehensive, the small group size and patient, knowledgeable guide were excellent . The hotels in which we stayed understood our Western comfort needs and food tastes. Well done, OAT

Fantastic experience: I have traveled with OAT twice now and both experiences have been excellent. Our recent trip to Sicily (with pre-trip extension to Puglia) was wonderful. Our Sicily Trip Leader, Gaetano was amazing and went above and beyond to show us the real Sicily. Amazing sites and adventures, great food and we met wonderful local families. I loved our small group of travelers...the small group experience is so much more personal. I would recommend OAT to everyone. The people and beauty of Sicily will long be remembered!

Fantastic experience: Wonderful trip, real learning and discovery adventure. Great trip leader and excellent attentive staff on the ship.

Fantastic experience: I didn't know what to expect of New Zealand or O.A.T., but of the 100+ solo trips I've taken for business + pleasure or just plan pleasure, this was the best. We went from north to south and spent lots of times with Maoris and learning about their history and culture and the excursions were fun and informative.

Fantastic experience: Our Scotland trip was terrific. We were disappointed though that we had only one hour free time in St. Andrews. We could have left Aberdeen a day earlier and been able to spend most of a day in St. Andrews which is what we were really looking forward to.

Fantastic experience: My husband and I went on the Untamed Iceland trip with some friends from 10/4/224 to 10/17/24. The trip was very well organized and our guide Loftur did an amazing job keeping us entertained with information related to what we we were about to see. He also shared with us stories about his past and his family. The days were packed with seeing amazing landscapes like glaciers, waterfalls, and volcanos, as well as culturally significant places like museums, churches, horse farms, and local businesses like grocery stores, swimming pools, and even a wool dyeing studio. We we were also treated to a number of live music performances. Loftur taught us about the Icelandic language and was very knowledgable about Icelandic history. He alerted us when the northern lights were visible outside at night, and boy, did we ever see some spectacular northern lights!! They were absolutely amazing! Truly the experience of a lifetime. The tour had only 16 people in it, including us, and we quickly felt like we were with family. It was a pleasure to make friends with the other tourist, as well as Loftur and our driver Eggert, who was also a fun member of our group. I highly recommend this tour!

Fantastic experience: Just returned from a wonderful trip with OAT. I traveled to Switzerland (pretrip) and northern Italy on their “Northern Italy: The Alps, Dolomites & Lombardy”. Excellent guides (Simona in Switzerland and Cristiano in Italy), great accommodations, wonderful experiences, and awesome scenery. Highly recommended!

Fantastic experience: I can not tell you the beauty of Iceland...The waterfalls, glaciers, and even the lava fields. were breathtaking. Also we had an incredible guide, Erna who really made our trip and the social interactions work for all of us. I love there were only 16 people which means we really got to know each other and become friends. Highly recommend this trip.

Positive experience: The animal viewing was extraordinary. Really and truly extraordinary. The lodging was good. The food was good. Unfortunately, the trip leader was a bit below average. The trip leader did nothing to make the trip memorable and, at times, took away from the trip value.

Fantastic experience: This was a wonderful trip, providing both a taste of, and some in-depth experiences, of Norway and Finland. Our trip experience leader, Carlos, was very well informed, as well as being personable and easy to talk to. I especially enjoyed the cruise through the fjords of western Norway on the working ship. Highlights included the Vigeland park in Oslo, the Flåm railway trip, historic Bergen, northern lights and reindeer in Finland, and the spectacular central library in Helsinki. So many adventures, gorgeous scenery, engaging people sharing their lives and cultures. Truly a memorable experience.

Fantastic experience: My OAT trip to Patagonia -Wilderness and Beyond was pure magic! Trip Leader Jorge Elage turned a beautiful landscape and local culture into an enchanting trip! You could feel the love and passion Jorge and his local guides had for their job and the places they took us. The sense of humor, knowledge and TLC that came from our trip leader crept into our souls and turned our group into one big happy family. So I say, get out of your comfort zone, go a little rogue and discover Patagonias beauty and beyond!

Fantastic experience: Just got back from a really good trip to Sicily. It covered everything I was intrested in, the layered cultures, Historical sites interactions with locals. We started in Palermo and 15 days later ended in Catania. The food was great and with a small group 15 we were able to go to smaller venues. All in All I would highly recoment this trip.

Fantastic experience: It was a beautiful, thrilling trip with unforgettable expereiences from snarling in the Great Barrier Reef in Australia to cruising Doubtful Sound in New Zealand.

Fantastic experience: The trip to Morocco was truly amazing. OAT put together a great itinerary that took us through a large part of the country. Our guide, Aziz, was engaging, helpful and provided personal knowledge about his country and its culture. Truly one of the most unique vacations I have taken. Travel to Morocco, you will be surprised but not disappointed.

Fantastic experience: My wife and I had a great time on the Backroads of Iberia tour with Javier Bermejo as our main guide. The places we visited and the activities we engaged in truly exceeded our expectations. Javier demonstrated on a continual basis that he cared about all of the participants on the tour and about our all having a great time. It was much appreciated! - John and Kathy Spurr

Fantastic experience: This is an amazing adventure! From exploring souks in the medinas to riding ATVs and Camels in the Sahara. We saw so much and did so many things. Getting immersed in Morocco's culture was a true highlight. OAT excels at putting together a trip where you actually get to see the real country and not just the tourist traps.

Fantastic experience: I think that this Photo expresses what a glorious trip we all enjoyed to northern Spain and Portugal. A great deal of credit goes to OAT for choosing the hotels, the dinners and most of all the tour.leader who engaged every member of our marvelous group as well as people he met along the way, within the culture. This was an unforgettable experience due to his expertise as a guide.

Negative experience: Was shocked to be sent home because a tour participant complained to the tour leader about my inability to keep pace with the rest of the group. This was my 8th trip with OAT, and I knew how to not let my slower pace (due to bum knees and two foot operations) interfere with the rest of the group. This stressful experience (not being allowed to remain with the tour and 2 days of return travel) leads me to question whether I will take another tour with OAT.

Fantastic experience: Australia and New Zealand one of the best trip I have taken with OAT. Highly recommend!

Fantastic experience: Outstanding trip to Albania, Croatia, Montenegro, Bosnia/Herzegovina, Slovenia and Serbia. Learned a lot about the complicated history of the Balkan countries.Visited beautiful national park(Plitvice Lakes) , massive and beautiful cave(Postojna), hill towns of Istria(Motovun,Hum), Sarajevo,Ljubljana, small village of Karanac, Belgrade,Dubrovnik, and Zagreb.

Fantastic experience: Great trip - gives you a chance to learn about their amazing culture, the people and the variety of food. OAT offers a variety of adventures for every age level.

Fantastic experience: We had an amazing time in Australia and New Zealand. Our guide, Mike M. was very knowledgeable and had a great attitude. I would definitely have him be our guide again. He showed us about the culture and the land and the people. And brought us to so many interesting places, we were going constantly. The land is breathtaking, and any locals we talked to were so friendly. I can't say enough about OAT Travel, the rooms were amazing, the reservations were taken care of, everything was handled, all we had to do was show up. Loved that about them. Thank you OAT Travel for an unforgettable trip of a lifetime, and hopefully many more. Darlene Ditsch

Fantastic experience: I had a medical emergency in Algeria, and the service and care my wife and I received from the OAT staff exceeded all expectations. I cannot imagine how we would have managed without their caring presence and assistance.

Fantastic experience: DO go with OAT ! Tour was well organized, with rich cultural experience, educational. Great local guide in Uzbeskitan - Jalol thre superguide- thought of everything ! Timing and pacing weuitable even for seniors, but flexible enough to accomodate travellers with jet lag,

Fantastic experience: We recently returned from an OAT trip to Ireland and Scotland. This is our 18th trip with this company and they continue to be the go to for small group travel with a guide. There is such a huge difference in having 13 travelers versus at least twice that many in most groups. The guides are well-trained and experienced for anything that can come up. The value for traveling with this company is unsurpassed. We have three more trips planned with them already.

Fantastic experience: This trip was one of the best experiences I've ever had! O.A.T takes the worry out of traveling. The guides are extremely knowledgeable, and in a medical emergency (one person in our group), travelers receive excellent attention and care. O.A.T. included several experiences in meeting with the Greeks and Turks to learn more about their way of life and educating us on how they make a living, which was all very fascinating. And ballooning over Cappadocia was the icing on the cake!!! Simply breath-taking!

Fantastic experience: Our guide Sujay was absolutely wonderful. He added many new venues due to the Ganges flooding. We need to continue these trips and help India. They are in a dangerous place next to China, Afganistan, and Pakistan. They are the only democratic country there, and they need our support as much as we need them. A very valuable asset for us.

Fantastic experience: The main trip is excellent. You will be thrilled if you have Massimo as your TEL. He is outstanding. The pre-trip in Bologna and Parma is a must.

Fantastic experience: Our first visit to Africa was one we will never forget. All of the OAT guides and hosts at our different camps went out of the way to help us in every imaginable way. Ultimate Africa is a small group adventure that we woud highly recommend and we saw all the numerous African animals except Rinos.

Fantastic experience: OAT is my favorite company to utilize for travel. The groups are small and the guides are spectacular. Great guides, to learn about where and what I am seeing is most important to me. I have never been disappointed.

Negative experience: I was not treated well. I will never travel with them again. Gwen was rude, pushy and had inappropriate behavior. I Have traveled with OAT many times and liked it until now. I am canceling all future trip with them. Beware!

Fantastic experience: Review of Japan Tour. September 2024 Excellent tour of Japan. It looked to me as if they were following an experiential teaching approach used in graduate schools. i.e. in Kyoto we visited a golden Buddhist temple covered in gold leaf. In the PM we followed steps to make a post card using goldleaf. They told us about green tea and saw a plantation. Later on, we grinded green tea and really learned what Matcha tea is. They do not have control of the weather 92 degree relentless but with breaks and water the group had no problems. The most important ingredient was this experienced tour guide, Chika. She is a passionate Japanese woman who is fan of Sumo wrestlers and very patriotic. She made every effort to respond to all group members’ requests and questions. She went out of her way to make us comfortable and was well prepared for every day with printed itineraries and maps and clear plans for the day. I enjoyed her presentations during long bus rides. I learned more about the TPP Transpacific Partnership and that in Japan rice is protected by the government. I learned about Shinto and Buddhism and walked up a hill to do meditation with a monk. Most memorable was a visit to Hiroshima memorial for Peace. I learned about a heroin girl who started a world movement with cranes for peace. After such emotional visit with pictures and accounts of that terrible day we had a talk from a survivor. It was an honor to hear him. He gave me his autograph readily. I brought their message “Never Forget”. We ended the trip touring the islands around, where they worship rabbits and deer and have an unforgettable scenery.

Positive experience: The pretrip to Mongolia was the most interesting part of our whole trip! It was so different from what we all expected, including the three nights in a her in the Gobi Desert.

Fantastic experience: OAT has put together an amazingly thorough adventure of an entire country - Ecuador - that is something you really can't imagine. You have to experience it to understand and enjoy it. Thank you OAT! Here are some thoughts I'd like to pass on: 1. The country of Ecuador is very diverse. From Quito, the capital since the Spanish colonial days, a city at 9200 feet smack in the middle of the Andes with a population of 2 million, to the rain forests of the upper Amazon, to the Galapagos we all know and wonder about - all this is Ecuador. Where, I must say, the locals are very friendly, welcoming and curious to know if we like their country. This is a country that is NOT tourist weary. Just the opposite, Quite refreshing. 2. The itinerary OAT has put together is fun, challenging both intellectually and physically, visually rich, culturally informative, filled with history and contemporary issues and just enough time on your own to see and do or relax. Here's an example. In Quito one day we went to the historic colonial part of the city. Great architectural treasures from the colonial era including the 'gold church'. So filled with gold it truly takes your breath away. From this over the top opulence, we went not far to a safe house for the city's sex workers for a candid discussion of their struggles and hopes and plans for something better. Then another short walk to a restaurant row with nearly all restaurants shuttered, the outcome of covid. One restaurant remains and opened just for us and treated us like guests in their own home. Which it was. 3. A great itinerary would be no more than that without superlative guides to make it come to life. Wow, did we have two super superlative guides. Fatima in Quito and the rain forest and Beto in the Galapagos. Fatima. What a treasure. She is a great person who you know immediately is going to be a joy to be with. I called her our bringer of positive energy. We knew we were safe and would be willing to follow her lead when flexibility was needed. Her English is superb. Her knowledge of her country is amazing. She knew the sounds of the rain forest that are so much a part of being there. And our transportation was always waiting for us - comfortable and large buses. She also met us at the airport on our return from the Galapagos, hosted our farewell dinner and escorted us back to the airport for our flights home. Non stop loving and attentive care. That's Fatima. Beto, a native of the Galapagos, as were his parents and grandparents, was our guide for this most remarkable journey. We spent the week on the Arichpell II, a catamaran that took us on an itinerary arranged by the National Park Service as they do for all visitors. Beto knew every square inch of land and sea that he took us to. He could anticipate what we would or might see and then relate what was on one island to the same animal or plant on a different island. It brought the Darwin experience full circle. Thank you Beto! If you get the impression I was much satisfied with this OAT trip you are right. It was amazing and has me scanning the other trips that are out there. FYI, this was my first trip with OAT. I've done trips with other groups and they were well done. But I will say this was a top notch, first rate trip that has encouraged me to do more with OAT.

Fantastic experience: Our experiences in Croatia, Montenegro, Bosnia, and Slovenia were amazing and quite varied, from dining with a modern Muslim family in their Soviet-era apartment, exploring Medieval villages, touring one of the most breathtaking national parks anywhere, to walking through one of the largest caves in the world -- and much, much more. Our tour leader, Damir Horvat -- a native Croatian, entertaining guide, and fascinating historian -- was the best ever, taking care of everyone's needs 24/7. I highly recommend this OAT tour and tour leader. Truly enjoyable and memorable.

Fantastic experience: This was our 9th trip with OAT and we keep saying, "This was the best ever and they can't top this!" Yet, each trip they manage to do that. A passionate, funny, knowledgable, informative, trip leader to start with, with Ricardo. Then add to that 16 people from all over the US who are united in their passion for travel and remarkably get along as if they had known each other for decades and you have the 2 most important components of a great trip. Add to that great food, wonderful places to visit and tons of fun and you just can't beat that. We all got along so well that we are trying to plan a future trip together, but we are an incredibly well traveled group and we are having a problem finding a new spot for all of us. We have already booked our next 2 trips. Great company, customer support and good prices.

Fantastic experience: For our 17th trip with OAT, we went on the Grand Baltic trip on the ship Clio. The ship was a dream: comfortable cabins (with a walk-in closets!); the most amazing food ever (accommodating anyone’s diet); the attentive, friendly and interesting crew who seemed to memorize our names by the second day. The area is so interesting - most of the places had been occupied by the German empire, then the Russian one… and now they have all regained their independence… the stories were riveting, and we did “deep dives” into the backgrounds of each place we visited, all of which have retained - or carefully restored - their beautiful, old centers.

Fantastic experience: I went on the Tanzania, Serengeti tour, with the added hot air balloon ride. This trip exceeded my expectations, in every way. The people at all the lodges were so welcoming, the rooms were beautiful, and the food was delicious, and my biggest surprise, was all the fresh vegetables and fruits, at every meal. . Eddy, our tour guide opened his heart to our group, and shared so much, of his beautiful country and its people, with us. The learning and discovery part of this tour, gave us an opportunity to connect with people from all walks of life. So many highlights, especially going to a Maasai village and beading and dancing with them, visiting the children in their schools, , home visits, controversial topics.talks, such as genital mutilation and albinism. We had the opportunity to buy water filters and deliver them, to a group of women , on our way to the Serengeti, as they were out collecting water, with their donkeys. The joy on their faces was priceless. . Eddy knew so many people, everywhere we went, that were so knowledgable , and welcoming. A couple favorites were the park ranger, educating us, about the black Rhino, and a walk through the organic gardens at one of the lodges, and a talk , by a brilliant young man , one of Eddy’s students, on all the different animals and their place, in the ecosystem. Some of the best stops, were spontaneous. Once we stopped at a man’s house, who had drawings on the outside of his place. The reason he made the drawings, was to help him manifest, what he wanted his future to be. So simple , yet so profound. Our drivers Tom and JJ, were fantastic drivers, making sure we were always safe and as comfortable as you can be, on those bumpy roads, in the Serengeti. They were both Maasai, and we were able to learn so much about their culture, as well as how good they were ar spotting the animals from great distances, and answering all our many many questions! My favorite part of the trip were the tents , in the Serengeti! That view of the plains, and sitting around the fire every night, watching the sunset, was magical. And the Baobab trees!! It was so cool to get to hug ones of these 1500+ year old trees. I thought the trip was all about seeing the animals( I’ve wanted to go to Africa, since I was 10 years old), and we did see the big 5, Eddy and our drivers worked hard to give us the opportunity , to make it happen, but it was everything else that made this trip so memorable!! I will definitely be taking more OAT trips in the future. Back to Tanzania for sure and ultimate Africa, will be next! Thank you Eddy, Tom snd JJ, for making this the dream trip of my life!!

Negative experience: I called OAT and booked a trip. After paying a $500 deposit, I received an invoice thst the trip cost nearly $500 more than I had written down. I asked them to listen to the last ten minutes of our recorded call which went over price in detail but so far they are not willing to honor the price I was given. I called and asked to speak with my representative and they said it was against their policy but they put me on hold and said he agreed with what I was saying but he cannot intervene . Some kind of pricing scam seems to be afoot.

Negative experience: This is a review of just the refund policy. The trips are usually run well but the 30 plus days it takes to get a refund on a cancellation is just too long. They explained it is because they do not have enough employees that can do refunds. I did not have to go through trip insurance do that is not the issue.

Fantastic experience: I just returned from a tour of Iceland with OAT. It was a wonderful trip to an amazing country. The scenery is everything you've read about Iceland and more; the planned daily activities were consistently interesting and/or entertaining; the pace was comfortable; the food was always fresh and quite yummy; and the hotels, though not fancy, were clean and quiet. But most importantly, our tour guide was superlative! I learned so much about Iceland that I would never have been exposed to without his excellent guiding. I highly recommend OAT for Iceland!

Negative experience: After making a reservation and submitting a deposit for a tour, I thought I had locked in the quoted price. They offer deep discounts for advanced payment, but I opted to wait until the payment due date, understanding that there would be no pre-payment discounts. The final payment due date is in late October 2024 for a trip commencing in January 2025. I received a letter in early August advising that the price of our trip had increased by $200 per person. The letter went on to say that I we paid in full by August 30, 2024, they would waive the price increase. This seems to me to be a breach of trust. The reason a deposit is required in advance is to protect the company, but I would think also to protect the consumer by locking in the quoted price. At no time did the agent who took my reservation mention that the price was subject to change. This sort of thing has never happened to us on Rick Steves Tours, or on Wilderness Adventure Travel tours. It did not happen on any of the three previous OAT tours we took. But OAT is doing this now. They have a new CEO who seems to be more financially oriented than customer oriented. Bottom line: don't trust the price they quote you when you make your reservation and pay the deposit. They feel entitled to change the price and terms at will.

Fantastic experience: Great Colombia and the Coffee Triangle Trip with OAT. Fabulous guides in each city the a trip leader, Ernesto, who curated many special opportunities for our small group adventure.

Fantastic experience: This was my seventh trip with overseas adventure travel and my fourth trip to Africa with overseas adventure travel. This was by far the most educational and multicultural experience that I have had. I cannot say enough for David Kahing the guide that we had for the whole trip from Kenya down through the Serengeti into Arusha. I am 85 years old and David Kahinga made sure that I was always taken care of. The drivers made sure they help me into and out of the trucks. I have a macular problem and David Kahinga took 1500 photos for me he always checked to see that I was was comfortable, He was just the best and there isn’t enough kind words to say about David. And she called me two days after we got back to make sure that I made it back to my home OK. This man is an angel in my eyes. He is so knowledgeable so kind so willing to do so many things for his people on the trip. Please, if you use overseas adventure, travel, and you’re going from Kenya into Tanzania ask for David Kahinga He will educate you in every manner on the Fana, the Flora and the people of Africa.

Fantastic experience: Wonderful experience again provided by OAT. Loved our very dedicated n knowledgeable leader Ellie. Japan is clean, clean CLEAN!! Lots of educational and fun activities and experiences. A+ trip, as per usual for OAT.

Fantastic experience: We are so delighted we experienced our first OAT trip with Cristiano Marsaglia! Our mighty group of 14 travelers was a happy group AND I sincerely believe it was the result of the tone he set and the great care and attention to detail consistently given to us throughout our time together. Each town we visited had its unique interest and the hotels we stayed in were very nice, especially Hotel Griso in Lecco. The pace and flexibility were greatly appreciated…and Cristiano's balance of quiet time and information “time" was spot on. Clearly he had established a wonderful rapport with the various locals we met as I attribute their positive attitude towards us a direct result of their comfort and respect for Cristiano. I learned so much …from the Austrian/Italian fiasco of Mussolini to growing apples and grapes, my head if bulging from new information! Thank you, thank you, thank you!!

Fantastic experience: My trip to Northern Italy was absolutely fantastic. The dolomites were one of the most beautiful things I’ve ever seen. Everyone should have a chance to enjoy that trip.

Positive experience: OAT / GCT is a great trip provider with outstanding trip leaders and excellent guides. Accommodations are usually centrally located, but try to book single supplement as rooms are small. Bigger rooms are prioritized for their multiple time repeat customers. Don’t expect too much with provided meals and wine, especially in Europe. Most are ok, but far from great. Meals are highly important in my trip experience, but the better meals including coffee were gotten outside. This would be an area of improvement for OAT / GCT.

Negative experience: I can't believe that Overseas Adventure Travel would cancel a CANCAL A PRE TRIP PACKAGE AFTER DEADLINES FINAL PAYMENT HAD BEEN MADE! I booked a trip to NZ, with a pretrial to Australia, and made a deposit on Aug 2, 2024. I paid for the tip on aug 6th. I booked my own airfare on Aug 3rd and 4th, paid for upgrades to business class since I would be traveling from halfway across the globe: New Hampshire to Sydney. I would never have booked a trip to New Zeland, If I had not had the option of travel to Australia as well. I spent hours arranging flights before I made final payment for this trip. As a 77 year old solo woman traveler, I would not had done so if I were not able to find flight options that made two days of travel and multiple connections possible from rural New Hampshire> SHAME ON OVERSEAS ADVENTURE TRAVEL. I WILL NEVER BOOK WITH YOU AGAIN!

Fantastic experience: This, our 4th trip with OAT, was the best of them, in large part because Filip was such a good guy/guide. He adapted to group needs (only minor adaptations were needed for some of us older folks), posted notes of schedules, told us what we would see and learn on the way to various locations, and provided good reviews afterward. Overall, the tour was excellent -- a good mix of city and country adventures, home visits, local guides, etc. I'm sure that prior to our arrival and during our tour, lots of people were working hard behind the scene to make it seem so easy.

Fantastic experience: The most unforgettable vacation we have ever been on. This trip so far exceeded our expectation's. Great tour guides. Great adventures, great people and most of al great up close exposure to amazing creatures.

Fantastic experience: I had an amazing experience on my first adventure ("Untamed Iceland) with Overseas Adventure Travel! The trip was 14 days. We drove about half way around the island, stopping often for waterfalls, volcanos, lava fields, steam vents, horses, sheep, whale watching, and more. I thought the trip was well paced and I really enjoyed some of the "special experiences" that were planned, such as learning about traditional wool dyeing, bread baking in the ground, Icelandic horses, and more. The small group was a perfect size and we were lucky enough to all really enjoy each other. Best of all, was our guide, Sigrún Stefánsdóttir, who really made this trip unforgettable with her breadth of knowledge, her unstoppable energy, and her warm demeanor. I look forward to going on another OAT trip in the future!

Fantastic experience: It was a wonderful trip. The only problem was I got sick and had to end the trip. OAT arranged my return home flight flawlessy. You even arranged the refund of the remaining on the trip before I could even request. That is outstanding service. I will be traveling with you again. Thank you for a outstanding service.

Negative experience: O.A.T. reneged on their commitment to provide us transit from the airport in Florence, Italy to our hotel, although the cost was included in our trip and a selling point in their literature. They refused to help with contact info so we could make our own arrangements. We later learned they offered free transfer to other travelers ON OUR SAME FLIGHT and there were empty seats on the van. Our calls, emails and letter to the CEO were met with refusal to reimburse us the 150 euro charge. As first time travelers were received vastly inferior rooms compared to repeat travelers, even though my husband and I paid full price (and repeat travelers had travel credits). We were disappointed that meals were mostly basic pasta with tomato sauce, even though vegetables and variety were requested. We really enjoyed Italy and the guide was great, but we'll never travel with them again.

Fantastic experience: This was my first trip with OAT. I am a single female traveler. From the minute I booked I was happy with the care and attention given me. The visit to Peru was amazing, I could not believe the quality of the hotels, the scheduled trips were exciting and informative, timing of the transportation was impeccable but most outstanding of all was our guide Manuel a Peruvian with vast knowledge of his country's history, he took care of all fourteen of us in his group with patience and humility, texting us each evening confirming the details of the following days adventure. OAT wins my vote for all my future travel.

Negative experience: Oat is not honest. It may seem like a moot point over 200 dollars but it is not to me. I signed up for a tour in Vietnam etc for February. I was given a discount as a first time traveler of 200 dollars. I received a voicemail that it was incorrect because they gave a discount to my referring friens. Actually i called them and they signed to go with us. I complained and even thiugh it was their mistake and i have the discount in writing. They refused to honor it. Heidi was lovely but higher ups said no. Additionally i received the call past the 10 days to rescind about 1k in insurance. I teued to see if the insurance company would cover a trip with another tour company and i was tild exclusive for OAT. Very unprofessional. Very disappointed. Very disingenuous

Fantastic experience: This is a great travel group. We got to experience a lot of the culture of Italy and met a lot of local people. The tour leader was outstanding. There was a nice mix of organized activities and free time with lots of suggestions for what to do in free time. Accommodations were very good. Many meals were included and they were excellent. I will use OAT to go on another trip.

Fantastic experience: Just returned from an outstanding trip to Portugal. Tour leaders were amazing- always available and helpful. The itinerary was perfect . Had the best time with fun people. I highly recommend OAT.

Fantastic experience: Recently took our first trip with OAT to Tanzania - it was truly the trip of a lifetime. All of the details were very well thought out and planned. The staff at OAT were very helpful leading up to the trip and the guides in Tanzania will be hard to beat. Highly recommend you take the safari trip to Tanzania and ask for Elie to be your guide, Fred & Richie to be your drivers. Beautiful country, wonderful people, delicious food and stunning animals. Also want to add that I follow a gluten free diet and all of the staff were very attentive to this, I always had something delicious to eat and never felt that I was forgotten/ignored due to my dietary restrictions, they were incredibly accommodating.

Fantastic experience: Loved the Amazon pre-tour. Loved visiting Machu Picchu for two days instead of one. We would like to suggest staying an extra night in Aguas Calientes and one less night in Lima. Loved the food and restaurants chosen for us and enjoyed the special local people who spoke to us like the Shaman, the medicine man, the coca leaf farmer. Loved the in home lunch and meeting the family and visiting the school for the disabled. I thought it would have been more interesting to visit the Huaca Pucllana Temple in Lima instead of the optional trip to Pachacamac Sanctuary. We visited both and I thought Huaca Pucllana was more impressive, even though smaller than Pachacamac Sanctuary. Plus, we enjoyed dinner on our own at Huaca Pucllana. Our biggest complaint is that we had to depart for the airport before sunrise to fly to Santa Cruz and the flight had a stop-over, turning the trip into a half day when it could have been a couple of hours. We discovered there are non-stop flights, slightly later in the day and that would have set much better with the majority of us in our group of 16. Also, we would like to have had the opportunity to upgrade our airline tickets. Our group agreed that we would like to have stayed in Puerto Ayora for two nights with one less night in Quito. I was disappointed that we ended up on the yellow route in the Galapagos. It seemed we only visited a couple of islands and neither had as many animals as I had expected. I would highly recommend traveling with OAT and will do so again.

Fantastic experience: Just finished the Tanzania tent safari - our guide, Emmanuel, I cannot praise enough. From his patience, enthusiasm, caring soul, and love for his country l, it was infectious. I am nearly crying I hated to say goodbye. He even waited outside the window of the airport to see if we got through customs, etc. This was my first OAT trip and I cannot recommend them enough. Thank you so much Emmanuel, George, and Festo, you made my experience phenomenal!!!!

Fantastic experience: Great experience of the whole trip from Malta cruising to Seragusa, climbing mount Etna volcano , passing the Messina strait between Sicily and Calabria of southern Italy then the Aeolian islands including the Stromboli, the most active volcano in the area. Visiting-PAESTUM where the Exquisite Greek ruins including the 3 temples, Hera, Athena and Neptunes all were built before the Parthenon on the Acropolis in Athens which was built around 450BC. Also visiting the Naples National Archeological museum was the highlight of artifacts found in Pompeii, the Roman town buried under the Vesuvius Volcanic eruption in 79 AD, also visiting the Pompeii itself was a highlight.Then we cruise the Amalfi coast, SORRENTO including around the Isle of Caprie. Also visiting the American cemetery for soldiers who fought in the WW II in Sicily and Italy and on road to Rome. Our hotel is unique, only a couple minutes walk to the famous Trevi fountains made famous by the SONG THREE COINS IN THE FOUNTAIN in the movie the Roman Holidays in 1953 so you can visit there early morning ar at night. There are always a crowd there. Also visiting the Roman Forum with very knowledgeable guide was also a highlight. The cruise ship Artemis is medium size and you got to know nearly all passengers who even not in your group. The food and service are top knot , nothing to complain about. Our guise, Salvatore is excellent and knowledgeable and always available to help you with any request. I asked four a friend in the city to visit the MAXXI museum, the building built by ZAHA HADID, and I got one guide to help my navigation there by accompanying me there. His help {SALVATORE}is beyond any words to describe. A very interesting and educational trip indeed. And this was my 31st trip with Overseas Adventures Travel. Somkietr :SAM< , I AM}

Fantastic experience: THE BALTIC CAPITALS – SURVEY The trip to the Baltic Capitals and the post trip to Lapland far exceeded my expectations. We not only saw the sights, we met the people, learned the history, the economics, and the political system. We had splendid speakers and local guides. I especially enjoyed Mindaugas Ausra in Lithuania and Karlis Bukovskis in Latvia. We had amazing experiences: the goat farm, the husky farm, the Siida museum, the Rumsiskes Open Air Museum, the 96 year old Siberian survivor, the UNESCO sites. I could go on and on. I especially want to thank our two wonderful tour guides, Vladus Liepipmois amd PIIa Sodergard. In addition to the scheduled items in our booklet, they always had extra activities during the down times if we chose to participate; a trip to the beach, a walk in an especially nice area, a visit to a church and assistance in getting tickets to an organ/cello recital. Again, I could go on and on. Finally, I want to make a comment on the hotel in Helsinki. I think at least one couple was very upset about the change from the Hobo Hotel in the City Center, to the converted prison that was about a 20 minute walk from the city center. I quite enjoy where we stayed. The staff was accommodating, the food was good and it was a unique building. The rooms were not air conditioned and we were there during a warm spell, but they provided fans and it worked out well. Actually, I was quite happy not to stay in the Hobo Hotel City Center. I checked the website and it appeared to be geared to 20 somethings with a décor that would have made me dizzy. Otherwise, all the hotels were great. My favorite was the Wilderness Hotel Inari. I loved the cabin décor of the rooms and yet we had all the amenities. And breakfast was great at all the hotels. I am pass the word on to my friends. Sincerely, Bonnita (Bonnie) Ruesch

Fantastic experience: The Scotland adventure was wonderful!I can highly recommend the trip. Our guide was terrific! His knowledge of history is incredible. He was there for us with any questions or concerns we may have had. Accommodations were great. This tour exceeded my expectations. Only excursion I did not find enjoyable was the Highland Deer Stalking which eventually evolved into sporting estates. Otherwise, a delightful trip. Loved the small number of guests on the tour. This is OATS policy and it makes traveling more enjoyable.

Fantastic experience: Mikel Ugarte made my OAT trip to Northern Spain and Portugal so enjoyable and interesting. He is kind and considerate and very knowledgeable about the areas and people we visited. He always made sure we were comfortable and had all our needs met. His sense of humor added a fun note to our trip and he seems wise beyond his years. He was a wonderful guide.

Negative experience: Our OAT experience was ancient kingdoms of Southeast Asia Our experience would be four star if OAT did not require us to take the pre-trip excursion adding an additional $1500 per person. (Yes, the pre-trip was not an option for a partial amount of the group!) Undisclosed, Reservations department required the first eight or 10 people to take the pre-trip until they filled up and then the additional group who looked after that were not required. They had our money when we found this out about 30 days prior, so we went on the trip reluctantly, regardless. ( cover-up not disclosure and open discussion went on in my several inquiries.) There was no or little response to this inappropriate business practice from the Customer Service dept., and no one in Management would discuss this or make any appropriate corrections. It appeared the company attempted to hush-hush and hope that this fraudulent business practices would continue to fly under the radar? So there’s other choices to travel out there for for you without unfortunate misrepresentation Bad business practice like this.

Fantastic experience: Fantastic trip. Couldn't have been better. Our tour leader, Rick, was so wonderful adding "discoveries" at every turn. I have many memories from this journey. Thank you OAT.

Fantastic experience: Wonderful travel experience for anyone who travels solo, but likes the company of others. I learned so much about the history and culture of Scotland and Ireland on my recent tour.

Fantastic experience: I have taken 9 trips with OAT. I just returned from Peru and it was fantastic .... busy, stimulating, and exhausting. We packed so much into every day. Our trip leader, Fredy, was beyond amazing.

Fantastic experience: Our trip to Tunisia was excellent in all aspects. The mixture of spectacular scenery, friendly people, comfortable accommodations and fascinating history put this trip near the top of my list of OAT adventures. Our trip leader, Makrem, was key to our enjoyment of the trip. He was knowledgeable, personable, and adaptable and made sure that things ran smoothly at every turn. His cheerful personality and good humor kept the group on an even keel during every situation we encountered. Many thanks.

Fantastic experience: The whole trip was wonderful. OATS is able to adjust as the trip progressed due to unforeseen circumstances ( a strike at the dock yards in France or a late plane flight). The food was outstanding on the ship. You might want to compare your self planned air travel to OATS air travel. Sometimes they add an extra leg on your trip which can be rough. I just returned and am planning my next trip.

Fantastic experience: I've been on 3 OAT trips, and since each is a trip of a lifetime, this company is a slam-dunk! Just returned from India and it was spectacular. If you want to learn about other cultures, and experience all of the senses that are another culture, OAT is the one.

Fantastic experience: This year I will have taken 11 trips with Overseas Adventure Travel (OAT) and each and every trip has far exceeded my every expectation. Fellow OAT travelers often ask me what OAT trip has been my favorite and my honest answer is "every trip has been a favorite" There are several other travel companies to choose from but none can compare to OAT. OAT's guarantee of small groups, excellent itineraries, experienced local trip leaders, great customer service, great trip locations to choose from and great pricing is why I will only travel with OAT. If you enjoy adventure traveling, then you must experience an OAT adventure. You won't be disappointed.

Fantastic experience: This was a super trip. Ashley Ahn directed us and took us places of interest and fun. The group melted together and enjoyed being with each other.

Fantastic experience: From the start of our journey-first to Jordan, followed by a more lengthy trip to Egypt-we could not have been treated with more care and consideration. Our trip guides were so knowledgeable and considerate, sharing their depth of knowledge along with personal stories or anecdotes. As we were in these countries during Ramadan, no meals were taken with us, however, they stayed close to ascertain that we had no questions or special requests with our dining experiences. My first OAT trip was Israel and the Greek Isles, also magnificent! This was my second OAT trip; my 3rd is scheduled for the Ancient Kingdoms: Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam the last quarter of this year. Already getting ready to go!!

Positive experience: Moving my rating down another star to three because O.A.T. never reached back to me with my concerns in any way. If O.A.T. cared half as much as our local guide in delivering impeccable service and a seamless adventure they would be a 5 star company. But because they don't take the time and ignore problems they are unfortunately one to tread carefully with. Wish I could separate the trip's high quality from the company's low standards. But they can not operate alone. ------------- For my mom's 75th Birthday, my sister, mom and I went to Portugal for two weeks. We went on Overseas Adventure Travel group tour called Azores & Madeira: Portugal's Unspoiled Archipelagos. Jess was our trip leader and absolute gem! Passionate, kind and fun she shared so much about her country and helped us with any small needs we might have had. This trip was incredible! From a night of Fado in Lisbon, to walking into a Volcano in Terceira (Azores), to exploring the edges of calderas by jeep--looking down on a blue & green lake in São Miguel (Azores) and visiting a gorgeous city market and seeing a humpback whale on a boat tour in Madeira. We also had a home dinner, visited a entrepreneur dairy farm couple, went on three city tours (two by foot, one by bus), and so much more! And there wasn't a friendly cat I did not pet. It was also a foodie fest too and there was many fun unique food stops -- and of course wine with lunch or dinner every day. Eating in Portugal is a wonderful multicourse affair and as a vegetarian I felt well catered for on this trip I can't believe how many things I saw being grown -- bananas, pineapple, tropic fruits, coffee and tea (!!) and the dairy in the Azores is something I will never forget. Even when the weather was being "spring" we still had a good time, so when the sun came out we appreciated it more than ever. The weather on the islands can be unpredictable, but the charm and beauty was a treat. Always needed an umbrella or jacket, just in case! I am giving O.A.T. one less star, not for the tour but for the tour customer service. My flight was cancelled between Lisbon and my return to the states one hour before boarding. Because O.A.T booked the flight, I did not seem to have any direct contact (emails, or texts) from United. I ended up at 9/10 am in the morning not being able to get a flight home that day, had to get a hotel overnight that I couldn't book into until the afternoon and it ended up taking me 48 hours to return (resulting in missing the Eclipse with my family). It was stressful and hard because my Mom and sister were on another flight because they live in another state. On the way over, we all were on a flight from Toronto to Lisbon. We only live a couple states from each other. It would have been great if O.A.T. would have been able to do the same on our return since the flights were made months in advance. I also reached out to O.A.T. in the middle of the delay and it's now been 7 days and they never responded. I really felt dropped at the end of this trip and in the future would want to have contacts/texting set up with any airlines in the case of a cancellation or great delay, my fun catered not think bubble was rudely broken at the end and O.A.T. so far has not shown they are above and beyond in their customer service.

Fantastic experience: I have traveled all over the world and this was one of my best trips. It was organized and the tour guides were fantastic. We got to see things besides temples, such as villages, natural sites and historical sites. We had great experiences with local people and speakers who experienced major historical events. I wore loose-fitting, short sleeved dresses; don’t overpack, laundry is cheap with a day turn around. You don’t need to purchase the recommended water bottle; there’s water on the bus all the time, it was extremely hot but the timing of the activities was very good. The food and the hotels were wonderful. Take the pre-trip, fantastic! Take extra cash to tip the local guides, they were worth it!

Fantastic experience: This trip was above and beyond my wildest expectations. I was dazzled at the variety of cultural opportunities, the hundreds of elephants and baboons. The expertise and joyfulness of our guides who made every effort for this to be the best experience ever. What a wonderful way to travel.

Fantastic experience: This was a trip-of-a-lifetime experience. Our guide, Ethan, was the very best at managing all aspects of our trip flawlessly. Our itinerary was all-inclusive and we saw Vietnam from Hanoi to Saigon. Ethan was very knowledgeable about the history and culture of Vietnam, and spoke perfect English in educating us. We met with several local people who added insight into controversial subjects, like land reform, re-education camps and life for the Vietcong in Southern Vietnam after the Vietnam War. We saw beautiful temples, lakes, mountains, rice-fields, flower and coffee plantations, along with the Mekong Delta, Halong Bay, and Cu-chi tunnels. We saw so many UNESCO World Heritage Sites and learned the in-depth history of each from Ethan. One of the best aspects of the trip was the interaction with the local people. We met families in several villages, and children all along the way, who would reach out to us to shake our hands, give us high-fives and "hand hearts," and practice their English with us. We met with University Students who one-on-one discussed their lives with us. We went to a family home in Dalat for a Home-Hosted dinner, which was a delightful mix of great food, wonderful people, and a deeper understanding about living and growing up in Vietnam. We visited several museums, such as the Hanoi Hilton, and the War Remembrance Museum in Saigon. Overall, the trip couldn't have been better. We experienced so much of the culture and beauty of Vietnam. I highly recommend using OAT for your Vietnam visit.