Many of our staff are off on trips to our specialist countries. Fiona and Sam are going to visit Fiona’s first love - Costa Rica - at the end of April. See Fiona’s blog on their return in early May for full details of their trip.

Alison and Fiona will re-visit Peru in May, this will be Alison first trip to Peru, which she is really looking forward to - Alison will help Fiona on the Peru desk on her return as Peru is such a popular destination for us.

Our team continue to grow and we are pleased to have Naomi as our admin manager, Naomi has a background studying Tourism Management - and has an interest in Ecuador and Madagascar.

Madagascar is really attracting so much interest since we launch this destination in Nov 06, it is such a special place that seems to be on everyone’s list - many of the hotels are very small and therefore availability can be limited - we recommend that if clients are interested it’s never too soon to start looking and the perfect tour to include the very best of Madagascar for you.

Helen

No Artificial Ingredients

My next visit to Costa Rica is only weeks away and I can’t wait to return to this truly amazing country, it remains my first love and every time I leave I experience a genuine sense of sadness, not only for this country but for its warm and generous people. In my opinion there is no other country in the world that offers so much diversity from magnificent rainforests and stunning volcanoes to idyllic palm fringed beaches and hot springs, Costa Rica offers something for everyone.

When visiting Costa Rica you can’t fail to be impressed by the amazing hotels in stunning locations.

I regularly travel to our destinations, visiting hotels and attractions and most importantly talking with the local staff. This way we maintain a personal relationship with our local representatives, keeping up to date and ensuring we maintain the responsive, informed and personal touch that is so important to us.

Waiting to be Discovered

I recently returned from Madagascar in December 2006, which the newest edition in our portfolio of countries. I can only describe this island as incredible and during my visit was surprised to discover just how unspoilt it is. Visitors can explore beautiful beaches, rainforests and deserts, many of which are keen to go whale watching or catch a glimpse of the famous lemurs living on this amazing island.

During my visit I was able to travel across the country, which is testament to the impressive internal flight system operating in the country. The highlight of my visit to Madagascar was spending two days on the beach at the Anjajavy Hotel, a famously isolated boutique lodge only accessible by plane. I highly recommend this as a must for anyone who yearns for the perfect retreat surrounded by nature.

Paradise with a Smile

My last visit to Sri Lanka was in September 2006, I can only describe this country as a traveller’s paradise waiting to be explored. My visit incorporated a rich variety of experiences from ancient cities, religious temples, dense jungle and vegetation teeming with wildlife to exotic beaches and bustling towns.

My experience of Sri Lanka was enhanced by the local people, they welcome visitors with open arms and their hospitable nature means they are only too happy to go out of their way to ensure your visit is memorable. I was completely overwhelmed by Sri Lanka, the highlight of my visit was undoubtedly the elephant orphanage at Pinawela, being able to get so close to these amazing animals is an experience that is hard to beat and is not to be missed when visiting this beautiful country.

“I love Sri Lanka for its friendly, diverse culture. I was truly amazed by the amount of nature we experienced on safari in Dambula National Park. Along with our English speaking guide and a guide from the Park, it was fantastic, from the wildlife and plants to the salt lakes that had an eiry pink glow enhanced by the fantastic sunset. I was thrilled to see the elephants in their own habitat just going about their business kicking up the turf to get to the grass for a snack”.

Sri Lanka is a special holiday destination because of its mixture of culture, history and wildlife. The ideal destination for family holidays, weddings, honeymoons, and golfing trips and I would highly recommend it to anyone.

The Land of Contrasts

My last visit to this remarkable country, Ecuador was in May, I decided to concentrate on exploring more of the mainland and uncovering some of this country’s undiscovered secrets.

The highlight of my visit was undoubtedly the markets, which can only be described as an explosion of colour. I can honestly say Ecuador’s flower markets are home to the most amazing roses I have ever seen.

During my visit I was continually impressed with the standard of accommodation available, ranging from large hotel chains through to the smaller locally owned operations ensuring that every visitor is catered for. My personal favourite was the small but ever so charming Hacienda called San Augustin del Callo, boasting incredible views of Cotopaxi Volcano and consisting of just eight rooms; the attention to detail is outstanding as each room is hand-painted with it’s own unique wall mural.

When visiting Ecuador I highly recommend staying in Cuenca, the cobbled streets and colonial architecture enhance this city’s beauty, as the production centre for Panama hats no visit would be complete without getting your own made as a souvenir to take home! The city of Guayaquil was a revelation, as Ecuador’s largest city my initial impression was that it would be characterless however I couldn’t have been more wrong, a city tour opened my eyes and transformed my opinion.

My trip ended with a visit to the Galapagos Islands which I would highly recommend as there truly is nowhere else on earth that offers such a unique experience and opportunity to view unique flora, fauna and wildlife.

A Mystical Culture

I can only describe my first visit to Peru as amazing and I would not hesitate to classify it as one of the world’s ‘must see’ destinations. Initially I had no idea what to expect from Peru but I’m happy to say it surpassed all of my expectations; I absolutely loved it and found the rich cultural history fascinating.

My favourite Peruvian city is Cusco, in fact I loved it so much I wish I could have spent longer there. The history behind this city is fascinating, the city itself being laid out in the shape of a Puma with the zigzag configuration of the outer walls being the Puma’s teeth. My visit to Machu Picchu certainly lived up to it’s mystical reputation and is one of the most amazing places I have ever visited, any trip to Peru would not be complete without visiting this abandoned city. In addition to trips to Colca Canyon, the world’s deepest canyon and the floating Uros Islands in Lake Titicaca are a must.

Peru has charming coastal deserts, majestic Andean Mountains and the tropical Amazon Rainforest for visitors to explore. In my opinion the real Peru is best experienced on a tailor-made itinerary rather than compromising by being part of a large group and after visiting this wonderful country I would encourage anyone thinking of visiting Peru to take the opportunity.