Highlights
► Both Night & Day Jungle Safaris
► A Sunset Cruise on a Historic Boat Called John Benn
► Guided Sightseeing Tours in Cape Town & Durban
► Watching Hippos, Crocodiles & Seals on Boat Excursions
► An Adventurous ‘Crawling’ Tour Inside Cango Caves
► Wine Tasting at the World Famous Cape Winelands
► Zip Lining at a Place Called Storms River
► Visiting the Infamous Prison on Robben Island
► Greeting Penguins at Boulder’s Penguins Colony
► A Suspension Bridge Walk Amid Breathtaking Nature
► Bungee Jumping Off One of the Tallest Bridges on Earth (optional activity)
► Enjoying the Country’s Most Scenic Town, Knysna
► Exploring a Postcard Perfect River Canyon
► Making a Daytrip to the Country of Lesotho
► Rich Culture
► And Much, Much More...
What's Included
International Airfare *For VIP members only (ask us for details)
Lodging *Some restrictions apply
Male or Female Tour Guides
Tours in English
All Ground & Water Transportation
All Activities in Itinerary Below
All Entry Fees
Your Own On-Call Concierge
Breakfasts
What to Expect on This Tour
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Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival & Night Safari
Our tour starts at the Kruger National Park, officially at 8:00pm. Please be in the lobby at this time, as your tour guide and driver should be waiting for you there. We are to be taken into the park for a night safari. Animals often seen at this hour include lions, cheetahs, wild dogs, zebras, elephants and buffaloes.
Day 2: Exploring One of the Largest Game Reserves in Africa
We spent the day exploring Kruger National Park by Jeep. Kruger has more species of large mammals than any other game reserve in Africa. All the so-called ‘big five’ game animals roam within this park. They are the lion, leopard, rhino, elephant and Cape buffalo. Following the full-day safari, we relocate to the village of Hazyview.
Day 3: A Postcard-Perfect River Canyon Site & God’s Window
We make a daytrip today to Blyde River Canyon. If to compare canyons worldwide, Blyde is one of the largest on earth. It has some of the deepest precipitous cliffs of any canyon on the planet. It is also the second largest canyon in Africa. Attractions we visit include Graskop Gorge, God’s Window cliffs, Lisbon Falls, Bourke’s Luck Potholes and a viewpoint called Three Rondavels.
Day 4: The Subtropical Climate & Extensive Beaches of Durban
We relocate by flight from Kruger National Park to Durban. We have a private tour guide and driver who shows us the highlights of South Africa’s third largest city. One of the many attractions we visit is the Golden Mile beachfront.
Day 5: Rhinos in a Park & Seeing Hippos & Crocodiles by Boat
We go on a daytrip today. First is Hluhluwe–iMfolozi Park. It is the oldest proclaimed nature reserve in Africa and has the largest population of white rhinos in the world. What’s more, each of the big five game animals can be found there. Next is iSimangaliso Wetland Park, where the Saint Lucia Game Reserve serves as our focal point. The park is home to around 1,200 crocodiles and 800 hippos. Other animals roaming around include elephants, leopards, rhinos and buffalos. Sea animals include whales, dolphins and marine turtles. We explore the reserve by boat.
Day 6: Traditional Beer, Prehistoric Cave Paintings, Hanging Out with Natives & an Incredibly Scenic Drive
We go on another daytrip today. The first stop is uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park. It is known for exceptional beauty, ancient caves and rock shelters. In fact, this park has the largest and most concentrated group of prehistoric paintings in Africa south of the Sahara. Some of the cave paintings may date back to 100,000 years ago. Next is South Africa’s most scenic drive, known as the Sani Pass. The last destination for today is the country of Lesotho. There we meet natives as well as are offered traditional beer and homemade bread.
Day 7: Zip Lining, Bungee Jumping, a Suspension Bridge Walk & a Charming Coastal Town
We relocate from Durban to Knysna, making several stops en route. From the airport in Port Elizabeth, we are taken to Tsitsikamma National Park. The first stop within this park is Storms River. There we go on a guided zip lining tour. Next, we go on a suspension bridge walk. Afterwards, we head to Bloukrans River Bridge. It is home to one of the world’s highest commercial bridge bungees. You do not have to jump! It is an optional activity (with an additional charge). Last but definitely not least is the coastal town of Knysna. Before checking into the hotel, we are taken to a fantastic viewpoint at Knysna Heads and then walk around the waterfront.
Day 8: Crawling Through Caves & a Sunset Boat Cruise
We go on a daytrip today. We start at the Cango Caves. We are provided with two different options for exploring. There is a Standard Tour and an Adventure Tour. The Adventure Tour consists of crawling through narrow passages and climbing up steep rock formations guided by small lights. Both tours feature halls and limestone formations. Following our tour, we are taken to the Cango Wildlife Ranch. There we are provided with a guided tour. The ranch is home to around 90 different species of animals. Lastly for today, we head to the Knysna Waterfront Pier. There we take the sunset boat cruise. The boat is called John Benn. It is best described as a double-decker floating restaurant offering lagoon cruises to the Knysna Heads.
Day 9: One of the Most Notorious Prisons on Earth & the Country’s Showcase City
We relocate by flight from Knysna/George to Cape Town. An attractive city resting upon natural beauty, surrounded with fine scenery and dominated by Table Mountain, this relatively prosperous metropolis is the undisputed architectural gem of South Africa. Cape Town is not only the most popular international city destination in the country but in Africa as a whole! This is due to its good climate, its intimate setting and the plenty of historic landmarks dating from colonial times. No trip to South Africa is complete without a visit to Cape Town.
From the city, we are taken on a boat ride to Robben Island. There we are provided with a guided tour. Nobel Laureate and former President of South Africa Nelson Mandela was imprisoned on this island. Once used for the isolation of mainly political prisoners, Robben Island is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Following our tour, we return to Cape Town’s Victoria & Alfred Waterfront. It attracts more than 23 million visitors a year. The complex houses over 450 retail outlets. It is also still a working harbor.
Day 10: The Heartland of South Africa's Wine Production
We make a daytrip today to Cape Winelands. This area, famous for its vineyards, is only a 1-hour drive away from Cape Town. Thanks to Cape Winelands, South Africa ranks among the top wine producing countries in the world. Wine tasting is included on our tour, specifically in the estates.
Day 11: Classic Sites, an Island Overtaken by Seals, Greeting Penguins, Nice Beaches & Stunning Viewpoints
Today we explore in and around Cape Town. Highlights include a beach stretch called Sea Point, Camps Bay Beach, Maiden’s Cove, Hout Bay, Duiker Island (seals are everywhere), Chapman’s Peak, Noordhoek Beach, Cape Point Nature Reserve, Cape of Good Hope, False Bay, Simon’s Town, Boulder’s Penguins Colony (home to approximately 2,500 breeding penguins), Muizenberg Beachfront (home to colorful beach huts) and Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden.
Day 12: Our Tour Ends Today
Transportation will be arranged for you to reach the airport in Cape Town.
Note that if you can extend your trip, consider doing so. Give yourself another day or two to explore inside the city. Upon request, we can provide you with a private tour guide and driver.
Customer Reviews
We are extremely happy with Paul and the places we have seen.
He is very flexible with our needs and handles them deftly.
We could not be more happy with him.
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When I booked my trip to South Africa, I was mostly excited about the wildlife I would see. Within hours of arriving, we were brought on tour of Kruger National Park. It was a great first tour on this trip. I would have never had enough patience to sit down and plan everything CharlieTheTraveler planned for this trip.
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It was evident CharlieTheTraveler goes the extra mile in planning and organizing their trips, especially for the trip to South Africa that I booked. It was authentic and real, unlike many other tours I have gone on with other companies. I was immersed into the culture almost immediately and enjoyed the beauty of the country the entire trip.
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I never imagined there to be so much to see in terms of natural landscapes in South Africa. However, CharlieTheTraveler knew the perfect spots to bring us. I was amazed by Blyde River Canyon. There were so many picturesque natural sites that made me appreciate the country so much more. Bourke’s Luck Potholes were unlike any potholes from back home and was a remarkable natural site.
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I found a good balance of scheduled activities/travel and personal time on this trip to South Africa. CharlieTheTraveler did not overwhelm me with too much to do and they allowed me time to explore on my own. I appreciated this, as I grew close to some of the group members and when we arrived in Durban, we had a fantastic time exploring the beach area. I felt safe in knowing that we were there as a group.
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I am very disorganized when it comes to planning, so I was thankful to find CharlieTheTraveler tours. I booked the trip to South Africa because of the balance of natural and cultural activities included. I appreciated that they had everything planned out for me, including travel to and from sites and even where to go eat for each meal. The company thought of everything and sent me a detailed itinerary beforehand so I was fully prepared for my trip. This was a great experience!
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I am a conservationist, so I appreciated the trip to South Africa through CharlieTheTraveler. The tours of the natural parks and the tour around Saint Lucia Game Reserve was truly impressive. It was obvious the company cared about the environment and the wildlife of the country, as they brought us to places that are trying to maintain the beauty of nature. Every place we went treated the animals and the environment with respect and with care. The company evidently did their research to pick these places carefully!
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I personally struggle when I travel abroad, as there is so much research that goes into finding activities, planning the transportation to and from places, and picking where to eat for every meal. I felt blessed to find CharlieTheTraveler did all of this for their customers. I booked the trip to South Africa and immediately I knew I made a good decision. They prepared me for the trip, provided excellent recommendations while on the trip, and ensured my satisfaction by the end of the trip. I will have to figure out where I want to go next with them!
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CharlieTheTraveler made me a believer in touring companies! I never had a great experience with other companies, as I always felt I was either too bored or too active or too unsafe. When I read the positive reviews and figured I would give it a chance by booking a trip to South Africa, this company made sure I was never bored, as they had recommendations for the nightlife when we had the evenings to ourselves. I was not too active either, as I was able to rest and relax when we had a long day of exploring. I also felt safe from the moment I booked, as they thoroughly prepared me for everything and made sure we had a tour guide with us each day that was an expert in the area. It was a wonderful experience that makes me want to book more trips!
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I always thought South Africa to be a hub of cultural experiences. When CharlieTheTraveler promised a trip of natural site tours, I was intrigued. I was amazed at how many sites we visited. My favorite was uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park, as it was amazing how vast the mountains were. I enjoyed visiting the falls in the park as well. This was a great addition to a wonderful trip!
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I have traveled a lot for work, but I needed a trip away for fun. In my travels, I heard about CharlieTheTraveler and their tours around the world. They delivered in this South African tour. I was impressed by how much the company knew about the area and the best places to go in the area, including all of the restaurant recommendations. I was also impressed by the planning of the boat cruise and wine tasting, as I know for a traveling group, it is not easy to book these excursions. I will definitely keep this company in mind for my next non-business trip!
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I knew there was a lot to do in South Africa, but CharlieTheTraveler seemed to know the best of the activities. I was provided first-class treatment from the minute I booked the trip and from the moment I returned home. I found the wine tasting in the Cape Winelands unique and a great addition to the tour of Cape Town.
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I wanted to take a unique trip with my spouse, but many touring companies were cheesy, unorganized, and seemed boring. I came across CharlieTheTraveler and discovered their South Africa trip wasn’t any of those things. Every day of the 11-day trip was organized and planned seamlessly so everything was smooth. This made for a relaxing trip with no stress.
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I love animals, so the numerous wildlife tours I was brought on in South Africa was right down my alley. I could not have planned a more perfect trip, as it was very organized and thorough. I would recommend CharlieTheTraveler to anyone who is looking for an adventurous yet relaxing trip.
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My trip to South Africa was perfect! I loved every minute of the trip planned by CharlieTheTraveler. Every tour brought a new experience. I appreciated that there was a variety of activities. The recommendations for lunches on the trips were great as well, as I enjoyed authentic street food called bunny chow. I am so impressed with this company and everything they organized!
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I was surprised by how much this 11-day tour of South Africa included. The accommodations and tour guides provided by CharlieTheTraveler were perfect for the trip. I also like the size of the group was small and intimate. I do not do well in big groups so this was perfect for me. Although we did a lot, I enjoyed the activities in Cape Town the best. There was plenty to see and do, all of which was included in the price of the tour.
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I felt confident booking through CharlieTheTraveler as they were organized and had great reviews on all of their tours. I wanted to go to South Africa and found their itinerary full of activities and interesting to me. I especially enjoyed the Robben Island tour in Cape Town. I love the water, so taking a tour around the island and hanging out at the waterfront after the tour was my ideal tour activity!
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I found CharlieTheTraveler very organized in all of the activities they planned. They seemed to think of everything while preparing me for my trip to South Africa. It was also thoroughly planned, so we were never stuck and not knowing what to do. The highlight of my trip was the sunset cruise. After the long day of touring the caves and the wildlife ranch, it was a relaxing end to the day!
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Each of the tours by CharlieTheTraveler included so many exciting activities, so it was an easy decision to book my trip to South Africa through them. I was pleased to experience everything they planned, especially exploring the Cango Caves. I enjoyed the tour of these natural wonders, as it was nothing like I have seen before. I would have never thought this was something to do in the area had it not been for this company.
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All of the tour guides provided by CharlieTheTraveler on the South Africa trip offered authentic experiences of the sites we were brought to. They were knowledgeable and personable which made the whole experience worthwhile. I would not have gotten the same had I planned the trip myself or taken it with another touring company. It was a genuine experience of the country for a relatively low price!
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I felt CharlieTheTraveler knew exactly what I was looking for in a tour of South Africa. I wanted structure, which they provided in daily tours, but I also wanted some autonomy while exploring, which they also provided. I enjoyed going to Storms River in Tsitsikamma National Park because we were given time to get something to eat and then explore on our own through the suspension bridges. I enjoyed the pacifying walk and having this time to myself.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is Financing Offered for This Tour?
A 4-installment payment plan is available, often with 0 percent interest to those with at least decent credit. Ask us for details. Our luxury-oriented and itinerary-packed “South Africa in 12 Days” tour is available for $2,828 USD per person. This price includes all transportation, except flights. It also includes English-speaking tour guides, food, all activities and all entry fees. Also included is 1 night of lodging at Kruger National Park. If you would like lodging included for the remaining 10 nights on this tour, then the combined (transportation, tour guides, food, activities, entry fees and lodging) total would be $3,708 USD per person. This price is based on 2 per room and is offered to those booking at least 6 weeks in advance. Note that whereas there is no fee associated with paying by check, there is a 3.5 percent surcharge for payments made by credit card. We accept both forms of payment. Moving forward, to better understand your specific circumstances and wishes, and for us to accurately quote you, please tell us:
1. How many persons in your party-including yourself-would be joining this tour? Solo travelers are welcomed, in case you were wondering.
2. Would you be sharing the room with others in your group (e.g. a spouse, relative or friend) or do you want the room exclusive to you?
3. Where would you be flying from (and back to)?
4. On what date would you like to leave home?
5. Would you like to extend the duration of this tour so you have some free days just to relax? If you have 1 extra day, then we recommend Knysna. If you have 2, then we recommend 1 in Knysna and 1 in Cape Town.
6. Do you have a preference between male and female tour guides?
7. On a side note, would you-and the others in your party if applicable-like to bungee jump at the Bloukrans River Bridge? It would be done on Day 7. Note that this specific activity is optional and is not included in the standard price.
8. On a final note, would you like to extend this 12-day tour by 1 day specifically so one of our tour guides could take you to more of Cape Town’s famous attractions? This would make your tour of South Africa 13 days in total. Note that this would be a private tour for you and your company.
What’s Excluded in the Price?
There is a hotel sales tax which guests are required to pay directly. Unfortunately, the South African government does not permit anyone except for the guests themselves to pay this. Also excluded...
Any airfare, alcohol, travel insurance, any government-imposed visa fees and anything not mentioned in the itinerary.
Although airfare is not included in the price, we will find you the exact flights you need. Just ask.
Below are the domestic flights needed for this tour:
Day 1: Johannesburg or Cape Town to Kruger National Park (Mpumalanga Airport)
Day 4: Kruger National Park (Mpumalanga Airport) to Durban
Day 7: Durban to Port Elizabeth
Day 9: Port Elizabeth to Cape Town
Are Domestic Flights Needed for This Tour?
Although airfare is not included in the price, we will find you the exact flights you need. Just ask.
Below are the domestic flights needed for this tour:
Day 9: George to Cape Town
At What Specific Hotels Would We Be Staying?
Below are the names of the hotels where we commonly have our customers stay. Note this is subject to availability.
Night 1: Kruger National Park, Preferred Accommodation: Pretoriouskop Rest Camp or Skukuza Rest Camp
Nights 2-3: Hazyview, Preferred Accommodation: Perry’s Bridge Hollow Boutique Hotel
Nights 4-6: Durban, Preferred Accommodation: Southern Sun Elangeni & Maharani
Nights 7-8: Knysna, Preferred Accommodation: Rex Hotel
Nights 9-11: Cape Town, Preferred Accommodation: Pepperclub Hotel
Is This a Private or Group Tour?
Although virtually all activities on this multi-day tour are shared with other travelers, we can make the trip almost completely private, per your request, at an additional cost. Typically, the only private activities are the sightseeing tour in the city of Durban, the suspension bridge at Tsitsikamma National Park’s Storms River, and visiting the viewpoint and the waterfront in the coastal town of Knysna.
Am I Sharing the Room with Someone?
Your room is exclusive to you and whomever is in your party. Strangers (meaning customers who book on the same start date but do not know each other) do not share rooms on this tour. On a side note, please let us know if you and the other person(s) in your booking want separate rooms.
What is the Age Range & Nationality of the People Who Book This Tour?
Although we get customers of all ages and from several countries, our statistics show most people who book are 30 to 65 years old and from USA, UK, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.
Are Kids Allowed on This Tour & Are They Charged the Same as Adults?
We welcome your kids specifically and only when the tour is exclusive to you and your group-meaning other customers are not joining you. We define kids as anyone under 18 years old. In order to make the tour exclusive to you and your group, your booking would need to be for 4 persons or more for any of our tours except Iceland. For our Iceland tour, your booking would need to be for 8 persons or more. Regarding the cost of bringing a non-adult, we do deduct from the total based on the amount of activities you request we remove from the tour. Note that reducing the total price of the tour by removing activities is something offered for non-adults only. Adults can opt out of activities but the total price does not change.
How Strong Do I Need to Be For This Trip?
We do not expect you to be an Olympic champion. We know some of the tour members are more fit than others…and we are well prepared for this. However, we do hope you take into consideration this is a very active tour, just like every other tour we offer.
Are Disabled People Allowed on This Tour?
Please let us know about any disability you have. Some disabilities would not affect you taking this tour. Others would prevent you from joining altogether. Although we want all of our customers to have fun, your safety is our first priority.
Do I Get Any Free Time to Myself?
Of course. Once each day’s tour is over, you have the rest of the evening to yourself. Because our tours tend to be very active, our customers typically want to simply relax once the sun sets.
What Happens If I Arrive Late?
Notify us as soon as possible and we will do our very best to arrange a meeting point. Please note that we do not refund for any days or activities that you miss.
Can I Opt-Out of Certain Activities?
Generally speaking, you can opt out as long as we are given adequate notice. Please note that opting out of certain activities does not reduce the price of this tour.
What Happens If I Get Injured on This Trip & Cannot Continue?
We would do our best to keep you safe and make you as comfortable as possible, as well as make special arrangements to address your situation. Partial refunds are not offered if you cannot continue with the tour. However, most travel insurances reimburse you for such situations. This is one of many reasons why we require our customers to purchase travel insurance before taking this tour.
What Happens If I Cancel This Trip?
To confirm your tour, full payment is needed at the time of your purchase. However, refunds are offered. You will receive a full refund if canceling at least 91 days in advance from the departure date. Cancelling between 90-60 days prior to departure entitles you to a 50 percent refund. Cancelling between 59-31 days prior to departure entitles you to a 25 percent refund. Canceling 30 days or less prior to departure is not eligible for a refund. Cancellation requests need to be made by email and become effective on the date received by CharlieTheTraveler.
What Happens If You, CharlieTheTraveler, Cancel This Trip?
In the unlikely event CharlieTheTraveler needs to cancel this trip, such as because of very poor weather conditions, we will give you a full refund for the tour within 14 business days of the cancellation. Note: We are not a participant in the California Travel Consumer Restitution Fund, nor is this transaction covered by the Restitution Fund.
How Do You Help Prepare Us For This Trip?
You should receive an email from us within 24 hours of purchasing this tour as well as a week before departure. The first email gives details about what to bring, how to prepare yourself, etc. The second email is more like a timetable combined with important contact information.
Is There Anything Out of the Ordinary I Should Bring on This Trip?
Bring a strap for your sunglasses, to wrap around your head while zip-lining. On a different note, you may need to bring adapters for your electronic devices.
Is CharlieTheTraveler Licensed & Which State in America Issued it?
The owner of the travel license is the same owner of CharlieTheTraveler. Charlie is a California born and bred resident. The company is headquartered in Greater Los Angeles. The registration number is CST 2136740-70. Please note that travel agents registered as a seller of travel in California does not constitute approval by the State. Also please note that California law requires sellers of travel to have a trust account or bond. CharlieTheTraveler has a trust account.
Are the Tour Guides Licensed & Will They Be With Me the Entire Time?
Our tour guides/drivers are licensed, speak English and know how to bring excitement to your day. What we deliver is the complete opposite of the cookie-cutting tours the big corporations offer, leaving you in complete boredom. Although our tour guides/drivers are attentive, accommodating and engaged, they also know when to give you your private space and free time. It's a perfect balance.
Are We Required to Have Travel Insurance?
Travel insurance is required for all of our customers, for their protection and safety. CharlieTheTraveler does not sell travel insurance. We cannot endorse any specific company. Please check out different companies online and go with the one which offers the most comprehensive coverage.
In Which Language(s) is This Tour Offered?
All of our tours are offered in English. If you prefer another language, please let us know and we will do our best to accommodate you.
Can We Customize This Tour?
Although we are open to customizing this tour to fit your liking, as a general rule, we discourage the practice. We do our best to keep the cost of the tour low. The more we customize it, the quicker the price goes up. As our tour is currently advertised, you absolutely will not find another one out there as packed with activities and attractions. What’s more, you will not find another tour out there that offers it all "FIRST CLASS," yet for a relatively low price. We have thousands of travelers taking this specific tour every year, and that's because no competitor can beat us on quality, price & substance.
Do We Need to Get Our Own Transportation to and From the Airport?
Absolutely not. We make the arrangements for you.
Is Someone Available for Us 24-7 While on This Tour?
Yes! You have your own concierge for this tour who is at your disposal. You could reach this person when you need anything.
Where Can I Read About All of Your Terms & Conditions?
Why Our Tours Beat Competition
- We routinely pick up the phone and otherwise respond to messages quickly and thoroughly.
- We do not cancel because of group size turnout, unlike with most competitors.
- Virtually no company offers multiday tours as comprehensive as ours. This is a verifiable fact.
- We do not charge solo travelers single supplements for the tours.
- For most of our tours, you can start on any date.
- We have hundreds of 5-star reviews online.
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