Nature Travel Specialists
nature, wildife, adventure and general travel to Australia, Southeast Asia and South America

Traveling with us is comfortable

Once we’re at our destination we prefer to see the best places, and have the best experience. Sometimes this means well out of the way, using whatever accommodation we can find. But it may also mean downtown, and a very nice hotel. Usually it means a mix, with more rustic accommodation away from the cities, and good, convenient hotels in them. We prefer to be comfortable whenever possible, but will sacrifice a little comfort to be close to the action. The bottom line is usually pretty simple — “do we like it here?”

If you’re enjoying a day at the beach, or doing the rounds of Chilean wineries, we don’t see much sense in pre-arranging lunch at a hotel, making you return when you may just want to stay for another hour or two. If we’re looking for wildlife we don’t like to be still traveling when the animals are already retiring for the day. So there may be early mornings, and late nights, with rests during the day. Some days will be very full and structured, others less so and more flexible. But we don’t like to include “day at leisure” in our set itineraries. We feel that you came to us because we know the destination, not you. Why make you find out what’s there when you arrive? (Of course, our custom tailored itineraries, designed just for you, are just that — tailored to your needs, and so will be just how you want them.)

We also prefer to see parts of the destination well, rather than most of it poorly. So we tend to concentrate on a few areas with each itinerary, exploring in depth, rather than just sight-seeing. We construct our — and your — itineraries with a view to getting a good feel for the place, with a variety of experiences and locations that reflect its character and uniqueness.

Our group size is small, usually 8–12. Destinations, and tours, vary. Sometimes we may join in with others, for example when we go out to the Great Barrier Reef in Australia by boat, as there is no practical alternative. Our custom travelers will frequently join in with others, again depending on the destination.

We try to fly the airline of the country we’re visiting whenever possible. Safety, schedules, and service are always paramount, however. In the destination country we fly between different areas, and use minibuses or four wheel drives as appropriate to get around. You’ll always be transferred and accompanied at least through check-in to the airport departure gate (or as far as individual airport regulations allow), and met at the other end, but unless we have a guide traveling throughout with the group (see guiding), you won’t be accompanied on the plane. This also applies to international flights, so mostly you’ll be going through customs and immigration unaccompanied. We’re usually able to have someone close by and able to help in most foreign airports, but this means at times there may be no-one to help with your bags for a short while. A lack of porters may also be the case at smaller lodges and hotels, especially away from the cities. However, being experienced travelers, and having read our material, we’re sure you’ve packed light.

Nature Travel Specialists is a member of IATAN, the International Association of Travel Agents Network, which is comprised of travel agents endorsed by the International Air Transport Association, and members of ASTA, the American Society of Travel Agents. We are Tourism Australia accredited Premier level Aussie Specialists, and Tourism Australia Tasmanian Specialists. We carry one million dollars of E&O insurance, including terrorism coverage.