Wilderness Travel, Berkeley CA

Went to the Galapagos with Wilderness Travel last year. 5+ stars from beginning to end. You truly get what you pay for. From the office support beforehand, hotels before and after, accommodations aboard the Mary Anne, incredible food (and I'm food spoiled in San Francisco), thoughtful itinerary, informative tour guide/local knowledge, authentic experiences, respectable clientele - everything. It would have taken me years to figure out all the details WT wove into this trip. Highly, highly recommend.

I took my first trip through Wilderness Travel this May of 2019.
It was absolutely incredible.

I went with a friend on the Raja Ampat snorkeling trip and I can honestly say it may be one of the most extraordinary vacations I will ever go on. It was even better than swimming in an aquarium with the amount of different species of coral and sea creatures I got to see first hand and discover more about in their natural habitat. The amount of information I learned on this trip, beauty seen, the complete isolation from the rest of the world.it exceeded all of my already high expectations and I don't believe an experience like this would have been possible to organize without the help of Wilderness Travel. They took care of all accommodations and scheduling so that you could really sit back stress free and be present throughout the entire trip.

My trip leader Andrea was a wealth of knowledge and hearing about about her life and experiences was inspiring. Befriending Andrea, the rest of the guests, and the entire ship crew was a wonderful experience. I walked away with a sense of culture, appreciation, and a new perspective on an area of the world I had never had exposure to before.

Each trip through Wilderness is so unique, I flip through the trip catalog and dream up all the new adventures I'd love to embark on. I highly recommend!

My husband and I just returned from a trip with Wilderness Travel - Croatia: Istria and the Dalmatian Coast. It was a great hiking trip. Food was delicious with lots of fresh fish and seafood. Croatian wine, cheeses and truffles were remarkable. We had wonderful guides - Stan, Tomo and Boris our driver. Couldn't have asked for a better trip!

Just got back from a Pilgrims Way trip in Spain, and can't say enough good things about the trip. The first day of hiking was so glorious that I thought if that were the best day of the trip, I would be satisfied. But every single day, up until the very last morning, was just as wonderful. Every hike was different - I would have a hard time picking my favorite. Patricia and Sofia, the leaders, and Jorge, the driver, were exceptional - very hard working, friendly, and professional. They took care of every little detail so all we had to do was enjoy the experience. So much wonderful food and wine, so much laughter with wonderful new friends! On the 3rd day, I was convinced that I would be back to hike more of the Camino. This was my 5th WT trip, and definitely one of my favorites!

This was a trip I had wanted to do for a long time. I have traveled with Wilderness many times and never been disappointed. This trip was truly an awesome experience - from an excellent Trip Leader to the wonderful churches, pageantry and experiences in the Tribal Areas of the Omo River Valley. I would highly recommend this trip to any who want to experience Ethiopia.

Booked this trip through Wilderness Travel, the “Great Elephant Migration” through Botswana and Zimbabwe. This was our first time in Africa and our first time “glamping”. Both Africa and the trip exceeded even our highest expectations. Everything about the trip was first class and amazing:

1. Wilderness Travel: great itinerary, perfect, responsive service, our contact at the company Lisa, Laferte answered all emails and questions promptly and courteously. The pre-trip information prepared us perfectly.
2. Accommodations (camps) : we stayed at 4 different camps, all were amazing, and each one different with their own highlights: Camp Kuzuma; Nehimba Lodge; Jozibanini Camp; Zambezi Sands:
3. Wildlife: saw a great variety of wildlife. All the guides went out of their way to find the animals we wanted to see, and give us the best views and times for photo ops.
4. Staff and Guides: The staff was amazing at each lodge. They did everything and anything for us, and always with a smile. We had a lead guide at each facility, and they were all great. Special kudos to Clever of Nehimba Lodge, who is a true star.
5. Trip Leader: our leader, who was with us throughout the trip, John Laing, was AMAZING. It seemed like he never slept, and always had a smile and a joke. He tailored the trip to our group seamlessly and knew everything about the wildlife, fauna and history of the areas. A true superstar, who kept us safe and happy. Johns “intern” 19 year old Jamie, who was with us throughout Zimbabwe, was a treasure.

Put this trip of a lifetime on your bucket list for sure.

Experience was ultimately entirely unsatisfactory. I worked with an advisor named Barbara Wright. She was informed and responsive. After numerous interactions including her asking for flight information she informed us that she was "too busy" to process our trip. She recommended a colleague in Morocco that she said worked on commission. Not sure why that was relevant. To be entirely fair when I went to book flights I found that we saved a lot of money by flying into Marakesh rather than into Casablanca which would require her to change dates at various hotels. The experience was very frustrating. Fortunately we found another travel advisor and it didn't cost us our trip or our non refundable airline reservations. I would not recommend Wilderness Travel

I went with Wilderness Travel in January of 2018 to Kilimanjaro. The trip was unbelievable. They take the less traveled (but much more beautiful) western breach route which make the trip feel less crowded and in touch with nature. The guides were incredible as well. They all had extensive experience and in one case had been guiding for over 20 years. They were safe, thoughtful, and hilariously entertaining. I could not recommend WT more. Fantastic company, amazing trip.

This is updated version of the original review. Everyone and every company makes mistakes. How a company respond is what matters. The initial rating was 1 *, it is upgraded to 3, because ultimately the company responded appropriately after 2 months. While very late, we believe the company was sorry, and will put procedures in place to better address customer concerns. We are now willing to give the company another try.

This Japan trip was purchased from Wilderness Travel Berkeley, operated by Oku Japan. The trip was unsatisfactory, and Wilderness Travel management does not care.

Trip leader was the least empathetic, least caring we have ever experienced. Lodging selections were often low end, lacking bathrooms. Meals were also often low end, as low as $3 bento boxes for lunch. Bottled water not supplied. Soft drinks not included with meals. No meet and greet at airport or initial hotel. Considering the $700 per person per night price, we were not pleased.

Inca Trail Trip: One of the top experiences of my life. WT has an incredible staff that is knowledgable, fun and accommodating. Everything is scheduled perfectly so you can miss the crowds and experience the trial how it’s supposed to be and it would be a shame not to mention the amazing food on the trail. Highly recommend to anyone that is wanting to hike the Inca Trail.

We’ve taken nearly a dozen trips with this outfit and they are first rate. Some of the most memorable experiences I’ve had. Their guides are exceptional (except one!) and really add to the trip. The clientele they attract is also exceptional and make the trips more enjoyable, as does the small group size. I recommend them to everyone I know who is traveling somewhere where logistics are an issue. We have several more trips planned with them already. Also important, the guides they contract with overseas like them. The company treats them well. That’s important because it allows them to attract the best talent out there.

Traveled to Botswana 2015 and Peru in 2018 with WT, and both trips were amazing! Great company culture.

Had an amazing experience trekking to Machu Picchu with this company. They took care of everything and beyond, often adding small touches which made the trip something special.

I have been on numerous trips with Wilderness Travel (Peru, Galapagos, Fiji & Whale watching in Baja). They really go above and beyond what is expected for an authentic travel experience. The leaders are top notch! This is a company that truly cares about the quality of their trips. Yay Wilderness. Will surely travel with you again!