Guyana holidays, highlights tour
| country: | Guyana |
| departures: | 2008: 6 Dec 2009: 24 Jan, 21 Mar, 4 Apr, 2 May, 11 Jul, 1 Aug, 12 Sep, 10 Oct, 28 Nov, 5 Dec |
| price: | From £1900 (14 days) excluding flights. 2009 departures from £2330 per person. Price includes accommodation, all meals, transport throughout and to and from Georgetown airport, local guides and internal flights. |
the amazing things you'll be doing
This trip is your chance to discover the still hidden beauty of Guyana!
You will certainly get close to nature on this tour of Guyana, a hidden gem of South America which is still largely undiscovered by tourists. Your adventure starts as we fly deep into the jungle to see the stunning Kaieteur and Orinduik Falls. The largest single-drop waterfall in the world is a highlight on any journey through Guyana. On various jungle walks you get the chance to experience the fascinating flora and fauna of the area, searching for anteaters, tapirs and monkeys. Macaws can be often be seen flying above your head and if you are lucky you might catch a glimpse of the giant river otter.
You will stay in local communities and beautiful lodges and will even get the chance to lodge in the home of Guyana's successful giant otter rehabilitation centre. Our experienced guides are keen to show you the unspoilt nature of Guyana, share their knowledge of flora and fauna and tell you the ancient tales of their ancestors.
Highlights include: Wildlife viewing, leisurely walking and optional horse-back riding.
You will certainly get close to nature on this tour of Guyana, a hidden gem of South America which is still largely undiscovered by tourists. Your adventure starts as we fly deep into the jungle to see the stunning Kaieteur and Orinduik Falls. The largest single-drop waterfall in the world is a highlight on any journey through Guyana. On various jungle walks you get the chance to experience the fascinating flora and fauna of the area, searching for anteaters, tapirs and monkeys. Macaws can be often be seen flying above your head and if you are lucky you might catch a glimpse of the giant river otter.
You will stay in local communities and beautiful lodges and will even get the chance to lodge in the home of Guyana's successful giant otter rehabilitation centre. Our experienced guides are keen to show you the unspoilt nature of Guyana, share their knowledge of flora and fauna and tell you the ancient tales of their ancestors.
Highlights include: Wildlife viewing, leisurely walking and optional horse-back riding.
day-by-day itinerary
| Day 1: | Guyana. Arrive in Georgetown, Guyana. Transfer to hotel |
| Day 2: | Orinduik Falls. We start our holiday with a day visit of the stunning Kaieteur and Orinduik Falls which are among the most spectacular waterfalls on this planet. Admire the largest single drop waterfall in the world (742ft) at Kaieteur, before continuing to the Orinduik Falls where the Ireng river thunders over various steps and terraces as it disappears into Brazil. Here we can bathe in the natural Jacuzzi. Return to Georgetown. |
| Day 3: | Guyana. We set off again on a short flight into the heart of Guyana, to the Iwokrama Field Station. There we spend the afternoon exploring the trails around the field station with a local ranger. At night we head out to spot caimans and other nocturnal wildlife. |
| Day 4: | Turtle Mountain (935ft) awaits today and offers breathtaking views over the canopy. If you don’t fancy the walk, a boat trip on Stanley Lake will give you a chance to spot caimans and maybe even giant otter. On the return trip, we visit the Kurupukari Falls to see the Amerindian petroglyph. |
| Day 5: | Iwokrama forest. Your chance to take an early morning wildlife walk with an Iwokrama Ranger. After breakfast we will travel by 4 x 4 along the trail that is one of the best places to see the elusive Jaguar - the Iwokrama forest is known for its healthy jaguar populations – so you may be lucky! Later on we explore the jungle from the 35m high canopy walkway and experience the hustle and bustle high up in the tree tops before we see darkness settle over the forest. |
| Day 6-7: | Surama. The next two days are spent in and around the little Amerindian village of Surama. Not only will get a chance to experience life in this traditional village, we will also explore the wildlife in the surrounding forest – a walk by dawn will take you across the savannah and a boat paddle down the Burro Burro River will take you closer to the likes of Giant Otters, Tapirs and Spider Monkeys. |
| Day 8-9: | Rock View Lodge. We head to Rock View Lodge for a little luxury – with its tropical gardens and flowering trees, the lodge resembles an oasis in the savannah. Here we can watch the many birds this lodge attracts, hike in the foothills of the Pakaraima Mountains, horse-back ride, visit nearby villages or simply relax. |
| Day 10-12: | Karanambu Ranch. By boat we reach the Karanambu Ranch, home of Diana McTurk, known for her work in rehabilitating giant river otters to the wild. Find out more about this project, visit nearby ponds for birdwatching and to view the Victoria Amazonica, the world’s largest water lily. We explore the Rupununi River in search of wild giant river otters, black caiman and Arapaima, then spend an evening at the Crane Pond to see hundreds of Ibis, Anhinga, Heron and Egret roosting. |
| Day 13: | Georgetown. We return to Georgetown by light aircraft. A city tour gives us the chance to explore Guayana's capital. |
| Day 14: | Return flight to UK. |
small group adventure holiday
Typically you will be sharing your experiences with between 4-20 like minded travellers (depending on the trip, operator and how many others are booked on the trip) and you'll have a group leader with you. Whether you are travelling alone or with friends its good value, and a great way to meet new people! While itineraries are pre-planned there is some flexibility and you'll have plenty of privacy. This trip will appeal to travellers of all ages who enjoy meeting new people as well as seeing new places.how this holiday makes a difference
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We operate ecologically sensitive tourism through responsible behaviour towards the environment. We provide the maximum benefit to the local communities by involving them in all activities. On our treks we use locally produced fresh produce, buying from villages where possible. In preference we choose local over imported goods.
We pack out all non-organic waste and minimize this by using products with minimum packaging, leaving no litter and keeping all water sources clean, leaving camp-sites cleaner than we find them. We bury organic waste at a suitable depth. When out on tour we encourage learning about Guyana, the local culture of the teams we work with and the areas we pass through. Our guides hold informal talks with groups to inform about and discuss with them all aspects of local life. This helps understanding of the area and appreciation of the people who live there. |
Tourism can be good and bad for destinations & local people. We carefully screen every holiday against our criteria for responsible travel. 'Look behind the brochure' to find how each holiday makes a difference (see left). We don't claim to be perfect - there is no global accreditation - but we've led the way since 2001 and screened 1000's of holidays. We invite every traveller to write a review about their experiences and responsible tourism. This valuable feedback is sent to the people who run the holidays. We keep a very close eye on it and take off holidays that don't live up to our standards. |