Holiday Reviews
We invite every traveller who books a holiday via us to send in a review. Because we don't run the holidays they're completely independent and unedited... remember to read between the lines though, as two people on the same trip can have different views!
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Orangutans & Komodo Dragon holidays, independent reviews
 Reviewed 10 Aug 2007 by Eleanor Dawson |  |
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
We love the Udayana folks! Egrets and other birds fill the nearby most beautiful sewage treatment plant in the world. We spent two weeks at Udayana ecolodge, and they also set us up for their Bajo Komodo lodge and trip to see the Komodo Dragons. Three days to west Bali where we visited the breeding centre for the endangered white Bali Mynahs. Drivers available to go to religious and cultural sites all over eastern Bali. Relaxing place surrounded by flowering trees. We saw 15 of the 54 birds on their list. They are close to beaches, even though on a breezy hill next to the university's conservation area, with a view up to the great volcano.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Whatever you want to do in Bali, they can set it up, or their other ecolodges. Give Nyoman Martini, scheduling manager, a list of what you want to do, and she'll make suggestions and set things up before you leave home. If there are other Bali places you'd like to visit on the responsible travel list, they can make arrangements.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
Local employees and staff, solar heated water, Green Globe certified.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
A wonderful place and very helpful. Wish it were as close to Missouri as it is to the Aussies who keep coming back. We are so glad we found it through you.
| Reviewed 18 Sep 2007 by Marjorie Barker | |
My first surprise, despite being informed from the beginning that there were tailor-made departures for this trip, was that I was always alone and never in a group. This was not a problem for me but might be for a timid traveller.
I visited 3 eco lodges and everywhere met very friendly people , all concerned with protecting the planet in all its bio diversity. The lodges were comfortable and are dedicated to environmental protection.
My biggest disappointment was not being able to go to Borneo to see the orang utans which was for me the highlight of my trip. The reason being that the only plane flying to this isolated spot in Borneo was grounded for 4 days with no alternative means of getting there available. Everything was done to try and find another time for me to go there but as this was impossible they sent me to their eco lodge in Sumatra where I was able to go elephant trekking , travelling through the jungle by river boat and visiting a centre where they are fighting to save the endangered Indonesian rhino.. This was very enjoyable but did not compensate for missing the orang-utans. I am still trying to be philosophical about this and telling myself that these things happen especially y when travelling in places like Indonesia.
I recommend this holiday for people interested in the efforts that are being made to conserve the environment and its endangered species. It is not a place to go to if you want to be sure of seeing animals in the wild. The thick jungle cover makes this very unlikely but I did see some wildlife including birds; and just being in these isolated places, travelling through dense rainforests and across the sea in small boats where they cook you freshly caught fish for lunch , made this holiday very worthwhile for me, not forgetting the wonderful people!
Alan and Meryl Wilson are dedicated people who run their eco lodges with great concern and respect for the environment. I recommend this type of holiday which gives an insight into what is being done in Indonesia by courageous people fighting against great odds. I came back feeling uplifted and inspired that there are such people in the world. Alan and his wife and all their staff were delightful friendly people with whom I felt I had a lot in common and who did all they could to make my stay enjoyable. And I do intend to go back there in 2 years time.
I visited 3 eco lodges and everywhere met very friendly people , all concerned with protecting the planet in all its bio diversity. The lodges were comfortable and are dedicated to environmental protection.
My biggest disappointment was not being able to go to Borneo to see the orang utans which was for me the highlight of my trip. The reason being that the only plane flying to this isolated spot in Borneo was grounded for 4 days with no alternative means of getting there available. Everything was done to try and find another time for me to go there but as this was impossible they sent me to their eco lodge in Sumatra where I was able to go elephant trekking , travelling through the jungle by river boat and visiting a centre where they are fighting to save the endangered Indonesian rhino.. This was very enjoyable but did not compensate for missing the orang-utans. I am still trying to be philosophical about this and telling myself that these things happen especially y when travelling in places like Indonesia.
I recommend this holiday for people interested in the efforts that are being made to conserve the environment and its endangered species. It is not a place to go to if you want to be sure of seeing animals in the wild. The thick jungle cover makes this very unlikely but I did see some wildlife including birds; and just being in these isolated places, travelling through dense rainforests and across the sea in small boats where they cook you freshly caught fish for lunch , made this holiday very worthwhile for me, not forgetting the wonderful people!
Alan and Meryl Wilson are dedicated people who run their eco lodges with great concern and respect for the environment. I recommend this type of holiday which gives an insight into what is being done in Indonesia by courageous people fighting against great odds. I came back feeling uplifted and inspired that there are such people in the world. Alan and his wife and all their staff were delightful friendly people with whom I felt I had a lot in common and who did all they could to make my stay enjoyable. And I do intend to go back there in 2 years time.