Overseas adventure tours for small groups is hit or miss. On our first trip in May 2024 to Turkey and Greece the guide was great, very knowledgeable with history and culture. The booking dept at OAT did not book a room a day in advance and we arrived with no reservations for us and had to book the only available room in the hotel they had listed at $900 additional expense. Upon return the quality assurance manager was slow in responding to a request for a refund. OAT would only refund $450 and a voucher for 450 to use on another trip… the experience was very stressful and the no reservations happened to 4 other people in our group. Again the booking dept at OAT screwed up. OAT made all the flight arrangements for Japan….booking neglected to give my travel/passport information. I was detained at check in and the airline would not issue boarding passes until they called the main office of United and got my information from my passport… it was the booking depts responsiblity to do this, not mine.. and this almost cause me to miss my flight at the start of the trip.. causing stress.. August 2024 Japan cultural tour was not very good mainly because the tour guide did not speak good English, was difficult to understand and had only basic knowledge of history. The hotels were okay, the meals were basic and drinks were only included a couple of times. The cultural activities were not very exciting and were held in rooms, and some videos of processes. The home visit was the highlight of the tour… if there hadn't been signage in English at sites visited the group would have learned little. On the optional extra trip $ to the World Heritage site our tour guide just left and told us to wander around and meet at a specific time. These were my only two tours… in the past I have traveled all over the world with local educated guides. i chose OAT because it was recommended by travelers. It was a disappointing trip and I would think of looking elsewhere next time.

This was my second trip with OAT and just like the first, it did not disappoint. OAT manages to put together an itinerary that goes above and beyond, and it does so at a very reasonable price. Excursions are awe inspiring, unique and often lead by local guides whose wealth of historical information make each experience unforgettable. If you are a true traveler, seeking immersion into foreign culture and scenery, I highly recommend OAT Travel.

The Scotland trip in May 2024 was perfect, once on the ground. As a US expat living in Spain I was able to book with a friend while I was in Maryland visiting family over Christmas 2023. We both did it by phone which took about an hour and was complicated because the person I had on the phone booked me on the wrong date. Luckily my friend's OAT person, friend was on another local phone, realized this and corrected my incompetent OAT person's error, so we were able to book to individual rooms on the same trip and pay the down payment successfully. After that I was able to complete the final payment online but never got some messages nor the booklet. This year my friend booked a trip to Sicily but when i was in Spain, my residence, and I was unable to book online with OAT. Calling on an international line to the 1 800 number was not feasible as it often takes about an hour to complete the booking. So even US citizens abroad are unable to book with their US friends because of this absurd ineffectual telephone obsession. Why not online in this day and age. Also the people online are not that good, mine knew nothing about Scotland nor the trips there.

Absolutely fantastic trip of a lifetime! Our tour guide Abraham(Abbie) was enthusiastic and friendly. All the staff were friendly. The tour guides were extremely knowledgeable regarding the animals, which we saw about every kind out there. Was not disappointed! Most people followed the dress code colors for the rides- can wear any color at camp. We had a great group of people traveling with us. October is their hottest time, and yes it was hot it the middle of the day. Most wore shorts, even on the animal drives. The accommodations/tents were hot in the middle of the day and sometimes in the evening- cool towel on you at night helped, but each had their own bathroom, shampoo, conditioner and soap were provided. The last place to stay was an eco tent facility, which I was a little skeptical about, but it grew on me. The fans could of been a little stronger here. Food was fantastic, you eat something 5 times a day, plenty to choose from. Beer,wine ,sodas etc were offered. Laundry was done for you, seemed you could put as many pieces of clothing in (except smalls- underwear/bras) at each place for free, last one charged. Soap was available to wash these at all places. Internet was also at each place, sometimes even at your tent. Charging was a little challenging during the middle of the day due to being so hot, but otherwise they charged. Bring a book or something to do on off times, bring used t-shirts/hats/shoes etc, shopping is at the end of the trip, all the shop owners want to bargain for these items, including your OATs water bottle!! Mosquitoes were not a problem-they had spray if you wanted to use it along with nets over your bed. I would recommend this trip to anyone!

We went on their Jewels of Bohemia trip to Central Europe. It was one of the best group trips we've ever taken. The size (16 people and 1/2 of them were single travelers) was very manageable, our trip-long guide focused on every detail, and the variety of things offered to see and do was amazing. And the tour made sure we had a real feel for the people and culture of the 3 countries (Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary) we visited, including having locals share their experiences with communism and the Velvet Revolution, visiting and lunching with a local goat farmer and sharing dinner with a local Czech family. We cruised the Danube, took chairlift and hiked local mountain, visited remains of a Roman city, toured a major brewery, and visited an internment camp from WWII among other things. Most of our meals were covered by the trip and they always included beer/wine. Local beer is great! Would highly recommend this trip for anyone willing to do some walking (average of 15,000 steps, mostly in cities). (I believe) only one day with bus travel over one hour.

We've been home a week and still can't believe what a great trip this was. We were worried that it would be too cold in January but it was ideal weather, 60-70's during the day and 40's at night. And no bugs to worry about. Our Trip Leaders, Tenzin in Bhutan and Ram in Nepal, were fabulous. Both were friendly, informative, kind, knowledgable and great facilitators. We learned so much about the people and the history of each country. We were able to experience local life by being invited into people's homes, temples and schools. We ate and talked with local people and learned about their lives. We had so many random and spontanious interactions that the guides helped facilitate. We saw so much more than we could have on our own and because we were a small group it was manageable everywhere we went. Our drivers were kind and professional about getting through the crazy traffic. We hiked to Tiger's Nest, which was difficult, but doable. I'm glad I brought my hiking poles. We flew by Mt. Everest, took a helicoptor to Annapurna Base Camp, which was a highlight for us. We went hang gliding, which was amazing and much less scary than I expected! The pilots are true professionals. We also loved the river rafting! It's truely an adventure more than a vacation!! The hotels were all very comfortable. We especially loved the Mala Mountain Lodge and the Seti River camp. Such special and beautiful settings. I'm gluten free and in each restaurant the guides made arrangements with the Chef the have gluten free offerings for me. Ram even had gluten free Mo Mo's made for me!! They were delicious and such a treat. You do need to be mobile. There are steps and uneven pavement everywhere you go. The hiking, (there is a fair amount of hiking in Nepal especially) is on rugged unpaved roads, and remember, you're at or above 7000 feet in Bhutan. I was glad I had medication for the altitude. We also did a 3 day stopover in Dubai which was great. We arrived 1 day early in Dehli, which I would recommend. We were able to go to Agra to see the Taj Mahal on our extra day, although it was a very long day. Definitely, make plans if you go to Dehli early, there's not much to do near the Lemon Tree Dehli hotel, although it is very convenient to the airport. I would highly recommend this trip for those who are accustomed to activity and hiking. It really is a trip of a lifetime!!

We just returned from our trip with OAT to Tanzania. It was not what we expected. I think I was picturing driving around and taking pictures of animals, but it was so much more than that. First of all, our Tour Leader, Emanuel Munissi (and his excellent crew of driver/guides) was the most organized leader I have ever encountered. Knowledgeable is an understatement. He presents you with information at every opportunity and responded to the hundreds of questions thrown at him in the most pleasant manner and as if he was just hearing that question for the first time. It is patently obvious that he loves his country and his job presenting his country to those who visit. He takes much pleasure in your enjoyment. He lets you know, at every phase of the trip, what you are seeing, what you will be seeing and what the itinerary will be for the next day. It is a testament to his joi de vivre that on a trip where there was quite a bit of rain, none of the guests ever complained or seemed out of sorts. What sets the itinerary apart form most other tour groups is their commitment to exposing their guest to the people. We were told at the beginning of the tour that some of the material might make us uncomfortable (discussions of prejudice against albinos, female genital mutilation) but those talks were one of the reasons that made the trip as good as it was. I would not change a single thing on this tour. I would hire more Emanuel Munissi's . He is the best of the best. Thanks you OAT, for the trip of a lifetime. Thank you Emmanuel, for being you.

We have traveled with OAT 7 times, 3 times with its sister company, Grand Circle, and 2 times with its small ship department and they have all been wonderful experiences. One of the things we like about OAT is it caters to small groups, never more than 16 travelers, and usually averaging 14. Each of the guides have been excellent and we did not find that to be true with Viking. On our Italian trip to Tuscany and Umbria there were 12 of us. There were so many things to see and so much history to learn that it made the time go by way too fast. Every overseas travel company that I am aware of leaves plenty of time "for freedom to explore on your own," and that is true with OAT. What is different about OAT is that its guides have specific recommendations as to what to do during this optional time and a willingness to do it with you. Specifically, in our case neither Pisa or Assisi was part of the original itinerary but the guide made sure we saw them. To the extent possible, OAT likes to arrange for hotels in the central part of the historical cities. These are usually 3 star hotels and adequate for your needs since you do not spend a lot of time in them. One thing about traveling to this part of Italy in October or November is that those months are historically the most wet. But it is a trade-off: fewer tourists to contend with in return for less desirable weather. I hardly recommend OAT generally and this particular trip specifically.

As a first-time OAT traveler, I feel compelled to share my pre-trip experience to help others make informed decisions: Booking Process: Be aware that advertised sales (in my case, a Labor Day special offer email sent for their sister agency, Grand Circle Travel) may have limited availability. I called about an Amalfi Coast special but ended up booking a different tour to Southern Italy, because the Amalfi Coast option was sold out. Tour Details: Request a detailed pre-invoice and written itinerary before committing. I was unclear about some aspects of my tour, including a pre-trip addition to Malta and the full extent of the itinerary's physical demands. Additional Costs: Pay close attention to all charges. My booking included a $795 travel insurance fee that I don't recall being explicitly discussed. Itinerary Intensity: Carefully review the activity level and daily schedules. Upon receiving the detailed itinerary, I found it more challenging than initially expected. Communication: If unsure about any aspect of the tour, ask for clarification in writing before booking. While I haven't taken the tour yet, I've learned that thorough research and clear communication are crucial when booking with OAT. I'll update this review post-trip to provide a complete picture of the experience. Remember, your travel preferences and needs may differ from mine, so always ensure the tour aligns with your expectations before booking.

I did the tour Heart of India through Overseas Adventure Travel (OAT) in November 2024. The company does an exceptional job and I like that they do small group tours. There were fifteen people on my tour. I felt like I was taken care of even before I left home. Dev, the tour guide sent an email before the tour to introduce himself and then followed up with a phone call. From before the tour started to the end of it he encouraged us to ask questions. The guide can make or break a tour. I was fortunate to have a great guide, Dev Guleria. He gets a lot of credit for me having such a wonderful trip. He is very knowledgeable about the history and culture of India and he is truly proud of his country and enjoys being a tour guide. He has a nice presentation style. He is an excellent communicator who shares an appropriate amount of personal information and humor to make the stories he tells come alive. He is very organized and we knew in advance what to expect each day. He's flexible too so we could take advantage of things that came up along the way that were of interest to the group. He understood the dynamics of the group as well. Dev said India is an experience, not a vacation. He made sure we were immersed in the culture by going to villages, schools, meals in people's homes, eating the local cuisine, listening to local music, and going to dance performances. And there was time built in for us to be able to go explore other things that interested us on our own. It indeed was an experience and a very positive one! He made this happen for me. If you want to experience India I have no reservations about recommending OAT. Be sure to ask if Dev can be your tour guide. Or better yet, contact Dev by email at dguleria74@gmail. com or mobile/WhatsApp: +91351360903.