9 trips with award-winning tour operators
Want a trip that’s guaranteed to be brilliant? Try one of these operators – they came out trumps in our annual reader survey
21 March 2015
Choosing the right tour operator can be as difficult as picking the right destination. But you, our ever-discerning readers, have spoken, and have deemed these nine companies to be the best at taking you around the globe. Yes, these are the top tour operators, as voted for by you in our 2015 Reader Travel Awards.
1. See the highlights at a relaxed pace, Tibet
Potala Palace in Tibet (Shutterstock)
Bamboo Travel’s quintessential Train to Tibettour is like the most satisfying stew. Throw in a handful of the most beautiful monasteries; mix in abundant avifauna (think the tangerine-feathered ruddy shelduck at Lake Namtso); sprinkle in the heady spices of the Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple and Barkhor market; and finally add a pinch of adventure – including a stay at Everest Base Camp and a trek through Kathmandu Valley.
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Tibet travel guide | All you need to know before you go
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2. Traverse the country in style, Laos
Luang Prabang (Shutterstock)
This trip blends two award-winners – not only was Selective Asia your second-favourite tour operator, but you voted the laid-back Laotian hub of Luang Prabang your favourite city too! Selective Asia’s Laos in Style itinerary covers the country from south to north. You’ll zip among the treetops in Pakse, cook up a storm in Vientiane, take a tuk-tuk night safari, meet minority hilltribes and – of course – temple-hop in Luang Prabang.
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Luang Prabang and beyond | Discovering lovely Laos
Luang Prabang, Laos: The Top 5 Guide | What’s all the fuss about?
The Wanderlust guide to the best of Laos | The inside scoop on this South-East Asia gem
3. Explore the hill country, Sri Lanka
Tea estates in Sri Lanka (Shutterstock)
From must-see highlights such as Kandy, to little-known destinations like Gal Oya National Park – home to the Sri Lankan leopard, wild elephants and mugger crocodiles – Holiday Architects’ Sri Lanka’s Hidden Gemstour is an in-depth exploration of the island’s nature and culture. There’s time for tea-tasting too.
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Sri Lanka’s best national parks | Where to spot elephants, leopards & more…
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4. Go off the grid, Borneo
Proboscis monkey (Shutterstock)
TransIndus’s signature Mystical Borneo trip takes you deep into the untouristy interior. Discover proboscis monkeys in Bako NP, orang utan at Semenggoh Sanctuary, prehistoric caves at Niah NP, impressive peaks at Kinabalu and Iban rituals on a traditional longhouse stay.
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The hidden corners of Borneo | An insider’s guide
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Borneo travel guide | Essential tips for your trip
5. Romp in the rainforest, Costa Rica
Arenal volcano in Costa Rica (Shutterstock)
Best of Costa Rica from Llama Travel combines the lively capital of San José with the cloud forest of Monteverde, a road trip around active Arenal volcano, and the jungle-fringed waterways of Tortuguero, famed for its nesting turtles.
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6. Gawp at sea giants, Alaska
Pod of humpback whales, Alaska (Shutterstock)
Wildlife Worldwide’s Bubble-net Bonanza heads to chilliest North America to observe humpback whales as they breach, leap, tail-lob, pectoral-slap and show-off their intriguing ‘bubble-net’ feeding technique. It’s not all about the humpbacks though: look out for orcas, sea lions, porpoises, grizzly bears, glaciers and icebergs too.
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4 ways to explore Alaska’s great outdoors | Which adventure do you fancy?
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7. Plunge into the wild, Patagonia
Perito Moreno Glacier, Patagonia (Shutterstock)
Tick off the lot on Journey Latin America’s Signature Patagonia: The Lake District and the South. Take in the atmospheric isle of Chiloé; explore Perito Moreno Glacier and Torres del Paine NP; and visit peak-hugged Bariloche and shimmering Lake Nahuel Huapi.
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Road trip Patagonia | One of the world’s greatest roadtrip destinations
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8. Learn from the tribe, Namibia
Tribes and Wilderness of Northern Namibia, Audley Travel
When? Year-round (Jun-Oct best)
How long? 14 days
When? Year-round (Jun-Oct best)
How long? 14 days
Etosha National Park, Namibia (Shutterstock)
Audley’s Tribes and Wilderness of Northern Namibia trip will teach you the ways of indigenous peoples. Walk and forage with the San Bushmen, learn about the cultures and traditions of the clay-cloaked Himba, and keep an eye out for wildlife too – especially in Etosha National Park and dramatic Damaraland.
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5 things I wish I’d known before driving in Namibia | 4 wheels are better than 2!
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9. Hike the high Alps, Austria
Tirolean Eagle’s Path, Ramblers Worldwide Holidays
When? 29 Jun, 13 & 27 Jul, 24 Aug 2015
How long? 14 nights
When? 29 Jun, 13 & 27 Jul, 24 Aug 2015
How long? 14 nights
Karwendel mountains in Austria (Shutterstock)
Ramblers Worldwide Holidays’ Tirolean Eagle’s Path crams the best of the Austrian Alps into two weeks, exploring the Karwendel and Rofan mountains. Navigate snowfields, rocky terrain and exposed ridges to be rewarded with some of the region’s best walking and hutting, starting at Kufstein on the German border and ending in Innsbruck.
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Main image: Sri Lanka, local fisherman is fishing in unique style (Shutterstock)
