Reply Submitted by Pinky33 on Mon, 12/05/2011 - 05:44
I’ve done two trips with Eldertreks -- Papua New Guinea (21 days) and their Adriatic Adventure (Croatia, Slovenia, Montenegro, Bosnia/ 21 days) and enjoyed them both for the unique and in-depth itineraries and excellent guiding. The hotels are always well located, all meals are included and your only obligation in tipping is to the main guide.
I took a look at the Stans of Central Asia trip and found it extremely interesting. It is a per-day cost of $240 and for this part of the world, with all meals, accommodation and internal air fares, that is a good price.
I am signed up for a third Eldertreks trip and considering a fourth- and I wouldn’t travel with a company this many times unless they offered a good product.
Reply Submitted by travelseg on Sun, 12/11/2011 - 12:41
I have praised ElderTreks several times in this forum. I like them because they generally do not run cookie cutter trips, you don't run into other groups following the same itinerary. I have taken approx. 9 trips with them over the past 5 years or so and only one of those trips was not a positive experience. And that was due to the make up of the group itself, not the tour.
That said, ET isn't for everyone. They are not luxury tours, so some hotels can be basic, even very basic, depending on the locale. The bathroom stops are often in nature, behind a bush.
But I enjoy traveling off the beaten path, visiting local restaurants where we are the only non-locals, being invited into people's homes, experiencing the culture, as much as possible in the short time we are there. I like how the tour leader and guides encourage interaction with people, rather than coddling and "protecting" us from foreign experiences.
On all of my tours, most of the other group members are repeat "ElderTrekkers." But I know that some 1st timers on my trips would never take another ET tour. So, you just have to decide whether this is your type of tour or not.
Eldertreks
I’ve done two trips with Eldertreks -- Papua New Guinea (21 days) and their Adriatic Adventure (Croatia, Slovenia, Montenegro, Bosnia/ 21 days) and enjoyed them both for the unique and in-depth itineraries and excellent guiding. The hotels are always well located, all meals are included and your only obligation in tipping is to the main guide.
I took a look at the Stans of Central Asia trip and found it extremely interesting. It is a per-day cost of $240 and for this part of the world, with all meals, accommodation and internal air fares, that is a good price.
I am signed up for a third Eldertreks trip and considering a fourth- and I wouldn’t travel with a company this many times unless they offered a good product.
5 Stans Travel
If you like Eldertreks stick with them. However I think you can do better. Check out the website for East-site Travel, or Bestway Tours and Safaris.
I have praised ElderTreks
I have praised ElderTreks several times in this forum. I like them because they generally do not run cookie cutter trips, you don't run into other groups following the same itinerary. I have taken approx. 9 trips with them over the past 5 years or so and only one of those trips was not a positive experience. And that was due to the make up of the group itself, not the tour.
That said, ET isn't for everyone. They are not luxury tours, so some hotels can be basic, even very basic, depending on the locale. The bathroom stops are often in nature, behind a bush.
But I enjoy traveling off the beaten path, visiting local restaurants where we are the only non-locals, being invited into people's homes, experiencing the culture, as much as possible in the short time we are there. I like how the tour leader and guides encourage interaction with people, rather than coddling and "protecting" us from foreign experiences.
On all of my tours, most of the other group members are repeat "ElderTrekkers." But I know that some 1st timers on my trips would never take another ET tour. So, you just have to decide whether this is your type of tour or not.