Esref and Kurt were astounding! Their expertise and attention were priceless. We had a true... read more
Esref and Kurt were astounding! Their expertise and attention were priceless. We had a true... read more
The trip was one of the best trips, the tour guide was wonderful and the 15 days of touring was... read more
This was an incredible trip through northern Spain and Portugal. It combined elements of a pilgrimage, walking parts of the Camino de Santiago, discovery of medieval cathedrals and cities, visiting farms and wineries, learning about local cultures, lessons in ancient history, and interactions with fellow travelers, local guides, and the tour group leaders. What I enjoyed most were the long walks through the meadows, villages, and the cities and being able to watch the locals going about their lives or crowding the bars, cafes, and streets in huge numbers at night. Many times, it was hard to find your way through the throngs of young and old, especially in the old towns, having a good time. I got the feeling that these people really know how to live.
The pace of the trip was perfect. It kept me constantly engaged and curious but also provided enough times for discovery on my own and rest. The cuisine was excellent, and so were the wine tastings. Accommodations were always in the perfect locations for easy access to the most interesting cathedrals, old towns, and other points of interest.
Our tour leader, Juan, was extremely personable, engaging, caring, attentive to detail, and a great sport. He made it very fun and easy to travel from destination to destination and spent a lot of energy and effort explaining the local cultures and history and provided recommendations for what to see and where to go in each location. He came up with spontaneous activities when possible on our way from one location to another, which kept long drives interesting and full of discovery of places we wouldn’t have visited otherwise.
An optional tour to walk on the 1700-ft long suspension bridge in Arouca became one of the major highlights of the trip.
Being a scientist, I like to think that I am naturally curious about the world and interested in solving riddles. But until I was on this trip, I didn’t realize that I was also very curious and fascinated by ancient history.
Our tour leader, Juan, and later Andreia during the post-trip extension in Lisbon, provided detailed information about local histories, pointed out important landmarks, and were always eager and available to answer further questions from us about the Spanish and Portuguese histories. Until this time, my knowledge of the history of these regions was somewhat sketchy. Discussions with the tour leaders and the local guides made my interest come alive and completely wetted my appetite to know more. OAT leaders also didn’t shy away from controversial topics, such as the Basque independence struggle or the emigration of youth from Portugal for lack of opportunities in their country. Now, after the trip, I still find myself wondering about the Basque peoples, their language, the Spanish civil war, bombing of Gernika, the Roman’s and the Moores, the inquisition, the Templars, the crusades, St. James Ways, Santiago de Compostela, and the symbols of all the previous cultures and peoples that invaded and lived there during the previous centuries or even millennia. This was truly a multi-faceted trip as is the multi-layered history of these (off the beaten track) regions where I was fortunate to travel with OAT. I recommend this trip to anyone interested in discovering the ancient cultures, history, and beauty of Northern Spain and Portugal! At the end of this trip, I am left with the feeling of a wide open sky and a wide open world awaiting discovery!
We appreciate your kind words. We are always happy to hear about your experience with us! We hope you join us again in the future.
I was surprised to read the negative reviews on Tripadvisor. I'm wondering how much had to do with Covid. I'm planning my fourth trip with OAT this fall to Peru, Amazon and Galapagos Islands. My first three trips with OAT were amazing and life changing. I like that I can be active as well as see and do so many things. A huge benefit is that we never seem to wait in lines to see attractions as our tickets were already purchased and often we enter through back doors. By avoiding the lines and wait times, we get to do and see more.
I've always felt like they took such good care of me that the trips were relaxing and stress-free. I've always had so much fun, laughter and learned so much about the places I have visited. Each day is a new and exciting adventure.
I highly recommend traveling with OAT.
Thank you for your loyalty over the years! We're very glad to hear that you have enjoyed your adventures with us.
I’ve always wanted to see Transylvania. When I booked the trip I didn’t realize how extensively I would experience Transylvania…WOW!
Thank you for sharing your experience! We are very glad to hear you enjoyed your adventure with us. We hope you join us again in the future.
This was a fantastic trip! I was solo traveler and felt part of the group immediately. The hotels were First Class. Our guides were excellent. We saw so many ancient ruins and tombs in Jordan and Egypt but also met families and had meals in their homes. This was the best trip ever! OAT did an incredible job of planning and organizing this trip.
Thank you for the kind words! We're very glad to hear that you enjoyed your adventure with us.
This was our third trip with Grand Circle/Overseas Adventure. The first two trips (Egypt and Turkey) were outstanding, the last one Australia and New Zealand was not.
First of all, the Trip Directors were fine, and answered all our questions. The hotels and food were not the standard we have become use to, and the travel busses we below standard Actually, one bus we ended up taking public transportation and making all the local stops!
We’re sorry to hear of your disappointing experience with us. We take great pride in providing exceptional service to our customers, and it is clear we did not meet your expectations. We have shared your comments with the regional team. We hope that you will give us another opportunity to better serve you in the future.
The OAT guide - Euan McCulloch was fabulous - very knowledgeable, patient, understanding, easygoing, humorous, listened to us, able to answer questions, and generally, one of the best guides in the industry,
Scotland is beautiful- our 5 day pre-trip was absolutely marvelous as OAT took us to places many companies do not generally go.
Thank you for your kind words! We are happy to hear about your experience with our Trip Experience Leaders and will share your praise with our regional team.