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Our Team Steppes Travel is made by the people who work here. Incredible holidays are made possible because of their vast travel experience and the great enthusiasm they bring to their work.
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![William Dalrymple]()
Our Tour Experts We carefully select our experts based on their knowledge, companionship and influence, ensuring that you can travel with the most knowledgeable leaders in the field.
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Heroes and Heroines The people who lead the way when it comes to those things which matter to us: exploration, the environment, women’s empowerment and education.
Our Team 
Our Tour Experts 
Heroes and Heroines 
Home Cruise Types Wildlife Cruises
Wildlife Cruises
Our collection of wildlife cruises provides the perfect platform from which to encounter wildlife in a memorable but responsible fashion. The emphasis will be on getting off the ship, using tenders and Zodiacs to explore secret waterways or landing on remote islands to see wildlife on foot.
Using only small ships you will be able to access coves and inlets that bigger ships cannot access. So, while the wildlife will be prolific, the tourist footfall will be less so. Where permissible, you will be given the chance to get under the surface to snorkel or dive. And of course, our cruises have been chosen to ensure your naturalist guides are of the highest calibre.
Our team are passionate about wildlife and about getting you close, sometimes extremely close for the most incredible experiences. Unlike traditional safaris or trekking for wildlife on land, a wildlife cruise is a perfect opportunity for those explorers motivated by a love of the sea and that have a desire to see some of the world’s most spectacular marine environments.
About our boat selection.
Sylvia Earle
Named after legendary marine biologist, oceanographer, explorer and author, the Sylvia Earle pays tribute to its namesake’s long standing commitment to conservation and the protection of ocean wildlife. At the cutting edge of nautical technology, the Sylvia Earle is a robust and powerful vessel with an Ulstein X-BOW that adds extra stability and makes for a quicker transit through the waves. A glass atrium lounge inside the bow boasts views to the front of the ship and a state-of-the-art lecture theatre allows you to hear experts talk about culture, biology and wildlife. There is a peaceful library with floor-to-ceiling windows that offers travel journals, novels, a selection of children’s books and board games. Watch the world go by from one of the two al fresco jacuzzis or the heated outdoor saltwater pool, or experience the gym, sauna or wellness centre. Featuring industry-leading safety technology that exceeds the requirements for a ship of this size, the Sylvia Earle boasts a fully-stocked medical clinic designed for use in remote areas and could even maintain operating systems and comfort in the event of engine failure. One of the world’s lowest polluting marine engines with impressively high fuel-efficiency, the ship uses a combination of GPS, steering technology, propellers and thrusters to protect the sea floor and minimise the damage caused by conventional anchors. The Sylvia Earle offers a range of add-on adventure activities from kayaking and ski touring to climbing and diving, and there are four dedicated sea-level zodiac launching platforms that make boarding the zodiacs quick and efficient.
Ultramarine
Purpose-built for the extremes of polar exploration, Ultramarine is an impressive vessel that boasts two twin-engine helicopters, a walk-around deck, a panoramic lounge and multiple zodiac embarkation points. A well-stocked library, a lecture theatre, two dining rooms and four bars round up the list of onboard facilities. Its stylish cabins all feature slick spa-inspired bathrooms with heated floors, and some offer spacious balconies with lounge chairs. With one of the most diverse portfolios of adventure activities and some of the most spacious suites of any polar vessel, Ultramarine has breathtaking public spaces and lots of outdoor wildlife viewing spaces. The gym, yoga room and sauna all feature remarkable ocean views through floor-to-ceiling windows, and the vessel exceeds all industry standards when it comes to sustainability – making it a great option for wellness lovers and eco-warriors alike. Included in the voyage are helicopter flight-seeing, zodiac cruising and hiking, but camping, sea kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding, cross country skiing and mountaineering can all be arranged for a supplement.
World Explorer
A fast ship that counts a heated outdoor pool and polar library among its facilities, World Explorer is a refined and roomy expedition vessel that offers six tiers of deluxe accommodations. Each of the cabins and suites boast a private walk-out or French balcony, and are outfitted with all the essentials that you will need to feel comfortable. Its plethora of exceptional indoor and outdoor spaces includes an impressive auditorium, a gym, a sauna, an outdoor running track and a heated outdoor pool that offers a shallow children’s area and a saltwater plunge pool. The glass-domed observation lounge is the ideal place to chat with a drink in hand while gazing out at skyline views, and the library offers a more relaxing and tranquil area for learning about the polar regions. Add-on adventurers include kayaking, camping and stand-up paddle-boarding, all of which we can arrange during the tailor-made booking process.
Stockholm
A classic ship built in 1953 for the Swedish National Maritime Administration, Stockholm underwent a refit to make her a comfortable cruising vessel in 1998 and has since spent more than 20 years navigating Svalbard. Carrying a maximum of 12 passengers in twin bunk bed cabins with private facilities and portholes, the vessel is a piece of maritime history that is known for being able to access the most difficult to reach regions that are inaccessible to larger ships. With wooden decks and tasteful brass details throughout, Stockholm is an authentic vessel that appeals to adventurous travellers keen to get up close to Arctic wildlife. With so few people on board, travelling on Stockholm feels like travelling on a private yacht. Its dedicated crew are a team of nature experts and enthusiasts, and their genuine passion for these northern waters is utterly contagious. What’s more, getting up close to the wildlife and wilderness is made easier because of their two zodiac boats.
Sjoveien
Built in Bergen in 1964 for the Norwegian Government, Sjoveien (meaning the Seaway) has been refurbished into an exclusive and classic passenger ship and has operated under private ownership since 2017. Beautifully constructed with wooden decks and classic furnishings, the vessel has ample deck space with an outdoor wood-fired hot tub and an excellent observation area on top of the bridge that offers all-encompassing views of Svalbard. Able to accommodate 12 passengers in eight outside cabins, all with private facilities, the vessel serves up simple and comforting dishes, offers a lounge area where you can listen to talks, and a welcoming international crew.
Hondius
The world’s first registered Polar Class 6 cruise ship, Hondius is among the most advanced and innovative vessels operating in the polar regions. Purpose-built for expeditionary navigations throughout the Arctic and Antarctica, it exceeds all the green requirements of the Polar Code and meets and highest Lloyd’s Register standards for ice-strengthening.
Aqua Blu
Sailing between the islands of Komodo in the summer months before moving to Raja Ampat during the winter, Aqua Blu is a long-range explorer yacht with a strong naval heritage. Formally the British Naval Explorer HMS Beagle, Aqua Blu has been stylishly refurbished to offer sublime cruising throughout this compelling destination.
Ganges Voyager
Gain an in-depth perspective of one of the most culturally significant parts of India onboard the Ganges Voyager. This all-suite boat has just 28 cabins offering spacious, high-ceilinged suites, with beautiful hand-painted murals, inspired by the grace and elegance of the British Colonial period.
Nauka Vilas
For the curious traveller, rivers have a strong and somewhat, romantic allure. Follow their course and you are sure to discover people with a fascinating history, culture and solid sense of place. The Ganges is no exception, and with the launch of Nauka Villas, an elegant one-bedroom wooden ship, you can discover the Ganges in exclusive style. This boat is sure to take romantic river cruising to a new level.
Belmond Road to Mandalay
Belmond Road to Mandalay started life on the Rhine River in Germany and is now a graceful river cruiser in Myanmar. Expect high standards of comfort and luxury, with unparalleled personal service and gourmet regional cuisine. The 43 cabins are furnished using local materials and are arranged across four decks, all have views onto the passing river scenery. Facilities onboard include a small on-deck swimming pool, large sun deck and a spa.
Experiences
Visit Lamandau River Wildlife Reserve
Travel along the Arut River to the Lamandau River Wildlife Reserve – a release site for reintroduced orangutans. This site is not open to the public although Steppes Travel has exclusive access on our Orangutan Conservation group tour enabling our guests to view the orangutans and their environment in privacy – a unique opportunity.
Yayorin Charity Visit
Visit this grass roots conservation NGO who work with local communities in order to protect orangutans by promoting conservation as beneficial to them. Partners with the Orangutan Foundation they are located in an environmental education centre called Kampung Konservasi (meaning conservation village).
Beignets at Cafe du Mond
Grab a plateful of New Orleans’ legendary beignets, deep fried nuggets of dough coated in layers of fluffy powdered sugar, and a hot cup of dark-roasted chicory coffee – we recommend that you visit this 24-hour establishment outside of busy hours so as to savour every mouthful in peace and quiet.
Hike the Smoky Mountains
Head in to the Great Smoky Mountains, a subrange of the Appalachian Mountains, for a day of hiking under its transcendent natural fog.
Sail on a Paddle Steamer
Put your feet up and watch the world go by while sailing in an iconic paddle steamer atop the winding Mississippi River.
Visit Graceland
Visit Graceland, Elvis’s private estate in Memphis, to peruse an exhibition of kitsch artefacts, see his collection of cars and private jets and taste his beloved fried peanut butter and banana sandwich.
Walk the French Quarter
Explore the celebrated French Quarter in New Orleans to absorb Louisiana’s strong Creole culture, stopping to listen to a busking brass band while sipping on an iced tea.
Peaches, Peanuts and Pecans
Voyage around Georgia in search of the three P’s – peaches, pecans and peanuts – perhaps stopping in at one of the many acclaimed family restaurants to sample a scrumptious peach cobbler.
Kayak the Tributaries
While staying at Awasi Iguazu, head out on the water in a kayak the company of a completely private expedition guide.
Let’s chat
Speak to our experts
Our team is waiting to help you tailor a trip that will leave you with stories for a lifetime. Call us on
01285 601 784Amy and team were great. They put a lot of thought into our amazing itinerary and made the process so easy. We will definitely use Steppes again for our next big trip, and would highly recommend Steppes to anyone.
Thailand Honeymoon
From our very first call to Steppes and speaking to Clare, everything went like clockwork. Clare arranged a fantastic itinerary for our trip to Japan and we were extremely impressed with every aspect of our holiday.
Japan
Amy listened to our requirements and planned a tour encompassing the points we had discussed. She added a great deal to our final holiday from her own experience.
New Zealand
The service we received can't be faulted, Steppes were excellent all round and lovely to deal with - we regard them as friends.
Australia
Our week in Laos was probably the highlight, we couldn't fault Laos and the people there. Don't get me started on the elephant day at Mandalao, it was one of the best days of my life.
Laos
Amy and team were great! They put a lot of thought into our amazing itinerary and made the process so easy - every aspect of the logistics were completely planned out. We'll definitely use Steppes again for our next big trip, and would highly recommend Steppes to anyone.
Thailand Honeymoon
A faultless trip so brilliantly expedited and organised by Steppes Travel but with a major backup from those on the ground, in India.
India
Everything was simply wonderful. We had two great tiger sightings at Nagarhole and caught a glimpse of three fully grown cubs. The driver we had was really excellent and has looked after us so well. It is all simply wonderful.
Nagerhole, India
At no point did we feel anything but full confidence in Kate. We actually returned from India having enjoyed the week she arranged for us immensely. We stayed in beautiful places and had wonderful experiences. Thank you, Steppes has delighted us.
India
Wa Ale really was one of the most amazing places we have ever been too. Incredibly beautiful and just excellent all round. A real gem.
Destination: Myanmar
Hotel: Wa Ale
You did a fantastic job from start to finish. Helping us identify where to go in December for the best weather, locate the perfect villa, source a chef and yoga instructor and organise transport from multiple destinations. Everything worked beautifully.
Thailand
Thank you so much for assisting us with all of the planning. We wouldn't hesitate to go back to Egypt again. There is so much to see there.
Egypt
Sylvia, our guide in Lebanon, was outstanding.
Lebanon
Tom was great and really helpful. An asset to your company.
Tom Frost - Steppes Travel
A very informed and patient dialogue led us to the itinerary that best suited us - tremendous value add that we will heartily recommend to friends and colleagues! Our guides were brilliant! - friendly, flexible and well-informed. We came back with 3000 photos between us, and a rucksack full of local crafts!
Uzbekistan
I can only say it was the most incredible adventure from beginning to end and every single day offered something totally new , exciting and different. All the accommodation was fabulous and again all very different and unique. Loved loved every moment of every day. You did a fantastic job putting it all together.
Destination: Chile
Travel Expert: Paul
The Oberoi Philae is just out of this world. We had a gorgeous cabin and watched the Nile slip timelessly by whilst enjoying superb food and top class service.
Oberoi Philae - Egypt
We loved Egypt, mesmerised by the amazing pyramids at Giza and seeing them from our beautiful room at the Marriott Mena House. Despite the unbelievable traffic in Cairo mixed up with intrepid donkeys, horses and carts, we managed to get to all the sites with our first-rate driver and great guide. It was a fantastic experience due to Steppes first-rate planning and knowing what we wanted.
Egypt
In a very short period of time, Charlotte was able to come up with an excellent itinerary, to keep us informed of reservations on a timely basis and to make changes to meet our requirements. She was always available either on the phone or through email exchanges which was most reassuring and hugely appreciated. A valuable asset!
India
Overall another amazing trip from Steppes Travel. We saw so many different sights and had so many new experiences. Would always highly recommend Steppes.
Steppes Travel
Dev Shree's rural location allowed us a glimpse of India off of the beaten track. We had a memorable afternoon wandering the small town.
Dev Shree - Rajasthan, India
A great itinerary for an introduction to India. It has given us lots of ideas and enthusiasm for a return trip.
India
We had an absolutely amazing time. Everything ran smoothly, all accommodation and other arrangements were fabulous and the contacts were such wonderful and professional people we feel we have made friends for life.
India
Four seasons Tented camp certainly had the wow factor. The pool is in the top 100 in the world and so it should be - in the jungle, on stilts with views of the river and elephants wandering around below - totally stunning. The food was fantastic and they were so attentive with my husband’s diet of no gluten - nothing was too much trouble. The elephant experience - I just didn't expect to have so much freedom with them, and we were with them so long. I would recommend this hotel to the entire world but there are only 16 rooms and I would like to return!
Destination: Thailand
Hotel: Four Seasons Tented Camp
It really helped that Clare and Amy had personal experience of where they were sending me and could describe the experiences and answer a ton of questions. You guys are fantastic.
Malaysia
Ours was rather a last minute holiday for 5 adults wanting slightly different experiences and needing to fit in two Rugby World Cup matches. Steppes absolutely nailed it in terms of helping us put the itinerary together and dealing with last minute changes of plan.
Japan
The Temple House is probably one of the best hotels we have ever stayed in. Quite gorgeous, central, quiet and beautifully run.
Destination: China
Hotel: The Temple House
Clare's guidance enabled me to achieve my objectives, to photograph giant panda. The three guides were absolutely excellent in every respect - knowledgeable, responsive and always smiling.
China
Clare was brilliant when I was organising my holiday and understood my brief from the word go. Some of my trip was as a lone traveller and she made sure I was well looked after the whole time - every part of my itinerary worked perfectly and was very well organised. All of the guides were excellent with wonderful local knowledge and lots of ideas to keep the itinerary interesting and flexible.
Malaysia and China
Amy really understood the type of holiday we were looking for with a real mixture of accommodation and activities ranging from relaxing to exciting. When I asked for a private pool on the beach that's exactly what she delivered. Amy embraced every request, making sure they blended, giving us something new and exciting at every turn. The ethos of Steppes travel is what will always set you aside. Thank you and keep up the good work.
Thailand
Our guide in Cairo was obviously one of the best and did wonders for our knowledge of the ancient history of Egypt.
Egypt
We are back now and I just wanted to thank you for your excellent planning and arrangements for what turned out to be a wonderful - albeit short - holiday! Without exception the service we received from your agents was terrific: we felt we got the total 5-star treatment! All the airport arrivals, departures and transfers were handled superbly and the service left us feeling very well cared for.
Egypt
Our Travel Expert, Tom, at Steppes had visited the region only six months prior, so he was able to give current, first-hand information to customise our trip.
Russia
I had immediate responses to any questions applying for Russian visas and paper work.
Russia
We have never really been into organised holidays, but since going on the St Petersburg we have not stopped smiling at how wonderful it is to be told to be somewhere at a certain time, and then you made the "magic" happen! We are converts.
Russia
Altogether an excellent experience to use Steppes Travel.
Russia
Amira was a walking encyclopaedia,answering all our questions. She was wonderful.
Russia
I thought Ameena, our guide, was amazing! She was so knowledgeable about everything and very approachable. She is a wonderful asset to have.
Russia
Our guide in Moscow, Natalia, made the trip. She told personal stories along with her vast knowledge of her country that enriched our trip.
Russia
We thought Amina Tilyashova was the most knowledgeable guide we have ever had anywhere on our travels and a very nice person too.
Russia
Guides were superb! An excellent insight into the city and the country
Russia
Yulya our local guide was massively knowledgeable and informative and for her, nothing was too much trouble. Ten out of ten
Russia
Sara in Seville was a great, very good idea to have the bicycle tour!
Spain
I've never felt better-taken care of by a tour agency.
Spain
We usually book our own holidays but found your service super-efficient and will definitely book through you in future.
Spain
A well-chosen itinerary; good hotels and a good car made for a thoroughly enjoyable ten days' holiday.
Spain
I just wanted to say a HUGE thank you to you and your team for looking after us so well! Who could have foreseen electric storms (according to the locals in Buenos Aires – the worst in 10 years!) and the civil unrest in Chile. You couldn’t have looked after us better if you had been on the spot! We had an AWESOME adventure – your advice and suggestions were bang on the nail every time. Each hotel was better than the next and the cruise was FANTASTIC, the scenery throughout the trip was amazing!
Destination: Argentina & Chile
Travel Expert: Paul
The early morning balloon trip was undoubtedly the highlight of the trip, but a trip of so many lovely and varied highlights. The wine tasting was such a lovely surprise and what a great region for wines. Thank you for arranging this. We look forward to our next adventure with Steppes!
Turkey
It is always a pleasure to 'plan' adventures with Steppes and to travel in the knowledge that everything has been carefully thought through in advance by experts who know exactly what they are talking about and go out of their way to tailor-make each trip. Having all the 'bits in-between' planned for in advance means that we can travel worry-free which adds to the overall pleasure of the trip. I'd give you 10/10!
Steppes Travel
What really separated Steppes from the rest of the pack was their willingness to work so patiently and with such an open mind with my rather specific desires.
Steppes Travel
Roxy advised that we sail around the Hawaiian Islands, so that we could see as many of the islands as possible (including very remote ones) while getting to snorkel, kayak and meet local communities. What a perfect recommendation - our journey was a once in a lifetime experience.
Destination: Hawaii
Travel Expert: Roxy
Very positive experience - guide in Athens incredible. Top marks to the lady who took us around the Acropolis.
Greece
Outlining a trip and having Joe fill in the details and make suggestions or changes meant we had a wonderful experience.
India
The guide in Athens was excellent, she was an expert archaeologist, with a great sense of humour and the ability to make what could be a dry subject very entertaining. She also gave us tips on our other visits.
Athens - Greece
What really separated Steppes from the rest of the pack was their willingness to work so patiently and with such an open mind with my rather specific desires.
Steppes Travel
I really felt like Tom Frost listened and did his very best to meet my demands. Very soon I was trusting him implicitly and placing a high value on his advice. I am so glad I did!
Egypt
Guides knowledge excellent and he left no stone unturned! The driver was excellent. Between them, they made our holiday.
Eastern Turkey
Our drivers and guides always went the extra mile and threw in extra stops.
Georgia
Our guide, Kristina in Armenia was lovely and friendly and chatty.
Armenia
It is always a pleasure to 'plan' adventures with Steppes and to travel in the knowledge that everything has been carefully thought through in advance by experts who know exactly what they are talking about and go out of their way to tailor-make each trip. Having all the 'bits in-between' planned for in advance means that we can travel worry-free which adds to the overall pleasure of the trip. I'd give you 10/10!
Steppes Travel - Mrs Comin
I was thoroughly and consistently impressed with the Steppes home office--amazing attention to detail, follow-up, patience with my endless demands and tweaking of the schedule. The team were superb with everything they did for me. I am so very pleased with their efforts and results; they have won me over to Steppes for life!
Steppes Travel
First Class Service
Israel
All guides, drivers and vehicles were superb and it was such a great way to see everything and know everything. The service was excellent.
India
Joe was wonderful and very knowledgeable about India. He was patient with us as we made numerous changes to the itinerary and very quick to respond.
India
Charlotte knows India extremely well. Very happy to answer even the most trivial of questions. Nothing is too much trouble.
India
Outlining a trip and having Joe fill in the details and make suggestions or changes meant we had a wonderful experience.
India
Youssef, our driver, looked after us very well. He was always calm and friendly and made us feel comfortable and relaxed. All our other guides were very professional, friendly and gave us a good sense of the country.
Morocco
We liked Villa des Orangers very much and would stay there again. We loved Dar Ahlam - one of our top hotels anywhere. The rooms and garden are wonderful, and the quiet, friendly atmosphere created by Mungo and Romilly was very special. The food was outstanding and the hammam was great.
Morocco - Villa Orangers and Dar Ahlam Review
The guides and itinerary were good. Our local driver, in particular, was excellent.
Morocco
We left Uruguay feeling like we had really had an insider's experience. James sent us to some of the highlights destinations, but also to some lesser-visited spots where we came across no other tourists.
Destination: Uruguay
Travel Expert: James
John's communication skills are second to none, and his knowledge of Mexico equally as impressive. We will not think twice before asking for his help with our next adventure in the Americas.
Destination: Mexico
Travel Expert: John
John unveiled a side of Jamaica that we had not expected - while we knew the beaches would be spectacular, we were blown away by the opportunities to spend time in the mountains. Aside from the holiday itself, we were so impressed with the communication with John throughout.
Destination: Jamaica
Travel Expert: John
We visited both Trinidad and Tobago on a trip planned seamlessly by John. Thank you for pouring so much effort into our trip, going above and beyond to tailor excursions and properties to our requirements.
Destination: Trinidad & Tobago
Travel Expert: John
We knew we wanted to visit Suriname, but we didn’t know where to start and couldn’t find many resources. John put us at ease immediately, and we knew that we were in safe hands with his expertise.
Destination: Suriname
Travel Expert: John
Thank you, Sue, for arranging our family snowmobiling trip, which was simply out of this world. We left with memories to last a lifetime.
Destination: Spitsbergen
Travel Expert: Sue
Sue knew how important it was to me to spot polar bears and did everything she could to ensure we had the best chances possible. We were even lucky enough to see Arctic foxes and walruses.
Destination: Spitsbergen
Travel Expert: Sue
What can I say – Sue knew everything there was to know about Spitsbergen. The number of options can be overwhelming, but from my first conversation with Sue I knew we would be pointed in the right direction.
Destination: Spitsbergen
Travel Expert: Sue
We knew we wanted to visit Saint Lucia, but we were unprepared for the itinerary that John prepared. He went far beyond just a typical beach stay, arranging snorkelling, guided hiking, and even a visit to a historic plantation house.
Destination: Saint Lucia
Travel Expert: John
We had a blissful stay in Saint Kitts, and John has considered everything from properties with pools to amazing wildlife sightings.
Destination: Saint Kitts and Nevis
Travel Expert: John
Sue let me know that Steppes had been arranging voyages to the Russian Arctic since the 1980’s, and their experience was evident. What a trip!
Destination: Russian Arctic
Travel Expert: Sue
Paul put together a spectacular trip through the highlights of Peru, and no detail was missed. His recommendations for acclimatising were particularly helpful, and something no one else I spoke to had mentioned.
Destination: Peru
Travel Expert: Paul
I have always wanted to see the Panama Canal, but John’s suggestion of sailing in the Guna Yala was a fantastic addition that we had not considered prior to speaking with him.
Destination: Panama
Travel Expert: John
Our adventure to the North Pole was everything we could have wished for and more. Sue made sure the logistics of our itinerary were seamless from start to finish.
Destination: North Pole
Travel Expert: Sue
John’s first-hand knowledge of Nicaragua was indispensable – because of him, we visited places like Ometepe Island and San Juan del Sur that we had never considered.
Destination: Nicaragua
Travel Expert: John
Wow! We were blown away by the variety in Honduras, especially the crystal-clear waters and coral reefs. Thank you to John for planning all the details of this trip.
Destination: Honduras
Travel Expert: John
John created a highly customised itinerary for us in Grenada that included the most amazing snorkelling we have ever done! Thanks also for picking such idyllic properties.
Destination: Grenada
Travel Expert: John
From the Northern Lights to meeting Innuits, Sue put together a trip that exceeded all our expectations. She was the most knowledgeable of anyone we spoke to about Greenland, and we could tell she knew things that only come from personal travels.
Destination: Greenland
Travel Expert: Sue
Sue listened to what we wanted from our trip and recommended that the windswept Falkland Islands were the place for us, and how right she was.
Destination: Falkland Islands
Travel Expert: Sue
We are so happy that we decided to take John’s advice and add on an El Salvador extension to our Honduras trip. We felt like we were the only ‘tourists’ in the whole country.
Destination: El Salvador
Travel Expert: John
Snorkelling with colossal humpback whales is something we will never forget. Thank you, John, for recommending the Dominican Republic for our underwater adventure.
Destination: Dominican Republic
Travel Expert: John
John knew the ins and outs of Cuba and was able to answer every question (big and small) that we had. We really feel that we had an off the beaten track experience in this already mysterious country.
Destination: Cuba
Travel Expert: John
Great work from John. The additions of zip-lining and surfing lessons were exciting experiences that we would not have considered without his expert guidance.
Destination: Costa Rica
Travel Expert: John
Sailing around the Rosario Islands was not something we had even considered, but we are so grateful to John for putting this enchanting archipelago on our radar.
Destination: Colombia
Travel Expert: John
John put together a phenomenal itinerary to Colombia that included the Colombian Amazon, a place that we understand to be little visited. What a trip it was – you have made Steppes clients out of us, John.
Destination: Colombia
Travel Expert: John
Paul created an itinerary that perfectly suited our interests, and we were particularly impressed with the properties that he selected for us. Thank you for recommending we visit the Atacama Desert, which we hadn’t even thought of visiting, but which turned out to be the highlight.
Destination: Chile
Travel Expert: Paul
We couldn’t believe that it was possible to see so many beluga whales and polar bears in one trip. This was a remarkable trip and one that was fantastically well put together by Sue.
Destination: Canadian Arctic
Travel Expert: Sue
After years of dreaming about a trip like this, I entrusted the planning and logistics to Sue. What a seamless journey and the most memorable trip – I will never forget seeing a narwhal for the first time.
Destination: Canadian Arctic
Travel Expert: Sue
We could tell from the offset that James had a knowledge of Bolivia that was unmatched – far superior to anyone we had spoken to prior. James understood what we wanted and ensured the itinerary was interspersed with incredible experiences.
Destination: Bolivia
Travel Expert: James
James, you have made Steppes travellers out of us. From ensuring acclimatisation time was built into our schedule to suggesting we stay in a hotel made from salt, you created an itinerary that was far more detailed than anything we could have imagined.
Destination: Bolivia
Travel Expert: James
Thank you, Sue, for knowing which vessel suited our requirements for our trip to Baja California – in choosing a sailing accompanied by a National Geographic photographer, we have come home with both great photographs and great stories to tell.
Destination: Baja California
Travel Expert: Sue
John is a true conversationalist and was a delight to deal with. In fact, we enjoyed hearing his stories about whale-watching in Baja California so much that we were quick to plan our trip with him and benefit from his first-hand knowledge.
Destination: Baja California
Travel Expert: John
Paul did everything from making dinner reservations in Buenos Aires to booking specific rooms in the Lake District that he knew would give us the best view.
Destination: Argentina
Travel Expert: Paul
Paul listened carefully to what we wanted from our travels in Argentina and put together a really special itinerary that was perfectly tailored to us.
Destination: Argentina
Travel Expert: Paul
Thanks to James for planning this trip of a lifetime through Argentina, a place we have always wanted to see. We were able to visit everywhere from Patagonia in the south to the Iguazu Falls in the north, and all with very little effort on our part.
Destination: Argentina
Travel Expert: James
We were blown away by Sue’s in-depth knowledge of everything from endemic species to the history of Shackleton and his men. No question we had went unanswered, and no little detail was missed.
Destination: Antarctica
Travel Expert: Sue
Sue forewarned us that there would be no words to describe South Georgia and that our photos wouldn’t do it justice, and how right she was. All we can say is “see for yourself”. Thank you, Sue, for your indispensable advice.
Destination: Antarctica
Travel Expert: Sue
Sue’s extensive first-hand knowledge of Antarctica was so apparent from our first phone call. She was able to help us select the ideal route and vessel for our needs, and with her guidance we were able to see the emperor penguins!
Destination: Antarctica
Travel Expert: Sue
Dimitris was first class, as a safe, smooth driver, a very likeable man and a wonderful foodie who always found us great restaurants.
Greece
The choice of accommodation was absolutely excellent throughout! Mohamed Saad, our guide from Luxor onwards, was outstanding and should be recommended strongly. We also hired an ornithological expert ( Shaban ) for a morning - excellent.
Egypt
The Oberoi Philae was fantastic in every respect.
Egypt - Oberoi Philae
What really made the trip so special were your amazing guides and drivers.
Nepal
In Kathmandu, our guide Archie was fabulous. She was knowledgeable, thoughtful, fun, warm, open and a total pleasure to have with us. She really made sure we got the most out of our two days in Kathmandu - a real class act.
Nepal
We were very happy with our two guides -- BorgThor and Magnus. We would absolutely look forward to working with them again and will recommend them to others heading to Iceland.
Iceland
All brilliant, thank you. I loved not wearing any shoes! It was an amazing place and service and accommodation outstanding.
Maldives
The staff were lovely and made us feel very welcome. Attentive to any request we had, though we didn't have many as most things had already been attended to!
Maldives
Roxy was excellent at knowing what we needed from our family trip to the Galapagos Islands. Despite booking it with little time to spare, everything was seamlessly arranged with very little effort from us.
Destination: Galapagos Islands
Travel Expert: Roxy
John at Steppes has been excellent, brilliantly helpful, so knowledgeable and always happy to answer questions. He was brilliant at really listening to us in our first conversations, and tailored a trip that suited us perfectly.
Destination: Galapagos Islands
Travel Expert: John
What a wonderful trip. I especially enjoyed snorkelling with playful sea lions, swimming with penguins, seeing a huge manta ray and spotting the occasional shark.
Destination: Galapagos Islands
Travel Expert: Roxy
As usual all aspects of this trip went like clockwork, even thought we were in South America where timings can be different to other parts of the world! This we put down to the work done by Paul and his knowledge of the country.
Destination: Ecuador
Travel Expert: Paul
All I can say is “everything was perfect”.
Destination: Canadian Arctic
Travel Expert: Roxy
Roxy was FANTASTIC at recommending the best place and season to go to see bears in Canada. We saw 47 in total, and 3 of these were up close and personal. Roxy was very professional and helpful, especially when my friends circumstances changed.
Destination: Canada
Travel Expert: Roxy
We had a truly amazing trip and everything was so very well planned by Paul - this trip will be hard to beat.
Destination: Canada
Travel Expert: Paul
Roxy did a truly wonderful job at arranging our itinerary, which was very unique.
Destination: Brazil
Travel Expert: Roxy
Paul excelled himself in putting together our unusual itinerary to the Amazon Rainforest. He was conscientious, listened to what we liked and made excellent suggestions.
Destination: Amazon
Travel Expert: Paul
Roxy recommended that we should add on a trip to the Amazon ahead of our Galapagos Islands journey, and what a brilliant addition it was. We loved every moment of our time in both places, and were impressed with Roxy's advice.
Destination: Amazon & Galapagos Islands
Travel Expert: Roxy
Knowledgeable, approachable, enthusiastic, and keen to make sure we thoroughly enjoyed our experience. I was so impressed with Roxy's hard work.
Destination: Alaska
Travel Expert: Roxy
Everything went smoothly with minimum effort on our part. We really felt Roxy take all of the arrangements off our hands, making our trip so easy, allowing us to completely concentrate on enjoying the experience.
Destination: Alaska
Travel Expert: Roxy
Jackie listened very carefully to our requirements and followed them to the letter. Couldn’t have asked for more.
Zambia
Katie was clearly knowledgeable, and provided good additional advice on restaurants etc. She kept me in the loop at all times as to how the booking was proceeding, and travel docs were issued as planned.
Destination: Italy
Travel Expert: Katie
Katie was very helpful and extremely responsive in arranging our hotel. Help and advice was always forthcoming and invaluable.
Destination: Italy
Travel Expert: Katie
Joan Riera was superb, very knowledgeable and excellent company. Continue doing what you are doing and offering super interesting trips.
Cameroon
The train was out of this world - the staff were friendly and helpful and the food excellent.
Trans Siberian - Golden Eagle Train
From my first conversation with Roxy, it was clear that her knowledge was very good indeed. She listened to our ideas and created a fantastic bespoke holiday for us, and the pre-trip information was first class.
Destination: USA
Travel Expert: Roxy
All the way through the process - from us explaining what we wanted through to the programme that Roxy created - everything was excellent. Roxy understood our requirements perfectly and created a trip that exactly fitted the bill.
Destination: USA
Travel Expert: Roxy
Don’t think I’ve ever had a guide with two undergraduate degrees, one Masters, studying for a PhD in Greek inscriptions in Georgia! She is excellent.
Georgia
I have thoroughly enjoyed working with you as we planned this trip together. Every detail was planned and executed to perfection.
Croatia
Excellent, well-rounded tour of both Armenia and Georgia, which enabled you to compare the two nations and gave a comprehensive overview of the common heritage.
Armenia
From the very initial point of contact to the receipt of the travel documentation, Joe and Amy were excellent. They responded promptly to all our questions (which were numerous) and were able to provide us with all the information needed for the trip. Superb service for a magnificent trip and experience.
Albania
So many thanks indeed for the care and time that you put into organising this trip for us. I cannot underestimate the value of the latter in terms of reading what we wanted and then advising on the best way to achieve that. As I am sure you will know only too well, other operators are over keen to sell “this is what we do”, and make the sale. So thank you for putting together what will be a really memorable experience for us.
Destination: Guatemala
Travel Expert: James
Wow!! I don’t really know what to say except that our trip brilliant in every respect – a real once in a lifetime experience that I think we will struggle to beat!! What a place you sent us to, James!!!
Destination: Guyana
Travel Expert: James
I would especially mention the positive and really helpful advice of James, who even met with me to chat face to face before putting together a bespoke trip that really met all of our expectations. As a result, our time in Chile was a lifetime experience that will never be forgotten.
Destination: Chile
Travel Expert: James
Paul is very knowledgeable about all the destinations we book with him. Always organised to a high standard and a great help, he gives us confidence in our trip.
Central Asia
What a brilliant boat and crew. The accommodation was excellent and the ship's crew handled all trips superbly. An excellent holiday only made better by the knowledge of the experts and the overall organisation of the trip.
Papua New Guinea - True North
Deborah was simply fantastic in terms of helping out, putting together a first rate itinerary, finding solutions and giving advice. Thank you.
Papua New Guinea
Excellent organisation and itinerary, very professionally put together in an attractive package. Plus a great travel app. Amy was efficient, helpful and clearly knowledgeable.
New Zealand
Amy's experience of New Zealand was invaluable. Everything went like clockwork and the travel documentation and book you sent us were brilliant.
New Zealand
Your expertise helped us with our choices of activity, and we were often pleasantly surprised by some of the things arranged - the boat building at Inle was fascinating, we loved eating in the Burmese houses and thought that a real highlight and adored the ballooning in Bagan.
Myanmar
Paul is very knowledgeable about all the destinations we book with him. Always organised to a high standard and a great help, he gives us confidence in our trip.
Kyrgyzstan
Exceptional organisation. Absolutely nothing was left to chance and help was always a quick email away. I have no areas of complaint at all. I thought it was superb throughout.
Japan
Clare was terrific! At the last minute, I did a complete change of my plans, and she was incredibly graceful and positive about changing everything. The livaboard she recommended was great. I thoroughly enjoyed--and appreciated--working with her.
Indonesia
Paul Craven designed a really good itinerary in Mongolia, taking in the Eagle Festival, for a sole traveller at relatively short notice. My guide was a bird watching expert so I saw lots of birds and animals as I had hoped - he was an excellent guide and travelling companion making the trip really special.
Mongolia
Amy Waters is warm and friendly and went out of her way to try and resolve issues and meet any requests. Always helpful, noticing small details, lending a hand and quick to learn what appealed to us, drawing our attention to things that may be of interest.
Thailand
Paul's knowledge and expertise was invaluable when planning this trip. I told him where we wanted to go and the sort of hotels and things we wanted to do and everything was spot on - more than we ever expected! We will definitely be using Steppes Travel for future trips.
Thailand and Vietnam
Everything worked really well, including Steppes rapidly sorting out a visa refusal. We had a wonderful trip assisted by pretty well perfect weather and one of the best guides I have ever had.
Iran
The app was great and really useful whilst we were away. The information on tipping was perfect, we are never sure what to do in different countries so we just followed its advice. We have loved both the holidays we have booked through Steppes.
Vietnam
We could not have arranged this holiday to such a high standard without Steppes. The drivers must be some of the best I have ever encountered and both guides we had were superb, the service was impeccable and I doubt I could add any improvements.
Vietnam
Deborah was the best, getting back to us in a timely manner, always answering questions and being patient as we changed our plans. Our drivers were skilled and we always felt safe and our guide was the best ever. He was knowledgeable, willing to answer all questions, positive about his country but realistic, fun to talk with, courteous, full of energy and flexible. We could not have had a better person to introduce us to Uzbekistan.
Uzbekistan
Deborah, our main contact was quick to respond and thoughtful. We requested a guide who was excellent in the history and lore of the region and