Native Eye

This idyllic archipelago is a mystery to most tourists but a totally magical place to visit, with an extraordinary melange of Swahili culture, ancient Arabic heritage, voluptuous volcanic landscapes and perfect beaches. The holiday takes you on a tour of three of the four islands. Starting on the main island, Grande Comore, the capital city Moroni translates as "in the heart of the fire", because of its location at the foot of volcanic Mount Karthala, an active volcano. It is a city packed with history, where the medina and markets are the perfect place to stroll, the former sultans’ palaces evoke stories and images of glamorous times gone by and the volcanic terrain is made for hiking. ...Read more >

This is Africa travel as it’s meant to be: raw and untamed, surprising and endlessly exciting. Using superb local connections honed over years, you’ll be welcomed into local communities, exploring cultures that stretch back centuries, and reaching parts that very few other travellers can. You’ll begin in the Durbali region, spending four days in the company of the Wodaabe people as they come together from across Chad to take part in the colourful Gerewol Festival, one of the most exhilarating in all of Africa. Expect to see traditional singing and dancing, horse racing and elaborate costume in an authentic mass courtship ritual. Festivities often continue well into the night at an annual ...Read more >

Venture on an unforgettable journey through Ladakh, where breathtaking landscapes, ancient monasteries, and rich cultural traditions come together in a truly immersive experience. Starting in Delhi, you'll travel to the remote Himalayan region, exploring Leh’s monasteries, Nubra Valley’s sand dunes, and the serene beauty of Pangong Lake. Crossing high-altitude passes, witness the untouched beauty of Mirpal Tso and YaYa Tso, and visit Hanle, India’s first Dark Sky Reserve, for unparalleled stargazing. Connect with Changpa nomads at Tso Moriri, gaining insights into their way of life and Pashmina wool production. From the sacred monasteries of Alchi and Lamayuru to the remote wilderness of ...Read more >

Gabon has been described as a paradise for wildlife enthusiasts, with a huge proportion of its land designated as national parks and home to some of the continent’s most impressive wildlife. This short Gabon tour takes you to the heart of its rainforests, a land of primeval jungles, wetlands and savannah, made famous by the explorer Mike Fay in his epic trek through Central Africa. Starting in Libreville, we trek in the forests of the Raponda Walker Arboretum and spend some time exploring the city, before travelling to the old colonial town of Lambarene where we delve into the secrets of Bwiti, a bizarre and fascinating belief system found nowhere else, and are privileged to witness a ...Read more >

Algeria might be up to its waist in desert, but it’s far from empty – this holiday takes in some of the best sights in a country that not many tourists visit. Start your trip with one of the highlights: the UNESCO-listed casbah at Algiers. Its Ottoman palaces and mosques might be crumbling, but they are as atmospheric as anything. Together, they tell the story of a deeply religious community that has lived between the Sahara and the sea for centuries. This Algerian Odyssey uses cars, 4WD and planes to span the country. Take the plunge south into the Sahara, passing salt lakes and dunes, and surfacing at oasis towns where mud-built walls and ksars (fortresses) have stood the test of time. ...Read more >

Straddling both West and Central Africa Cameroon is alive with the traditions and customs of more than two hundred and fifty different ethnic groups, a cultural mix that is at once enchanting and more than a little magical. This tour takes you to the heart of a country much neglected by tourism, exploring lands that have seldom been visited by outsiders. Starting in the steamy city of Douala, chaotic and mesmerising, we head west to the tribal kingdoms of the highlands taking in dramatic waterfalls and lush forests on the way. We discover lands ruled by traditional chiefs that have changed little in centuries, centred around royal courts and nobles that govern in an almost feudal manner. ...Read more >

Home to South America’s most incredible landscapes, Venezuela is one of the most biologically diverse nations on the planet. Starting in the capital of Caracas, we travel from here to Canaima National Park. Nestled between the rainforest of the Amazon basin and the watershed of the Orinoco River, the park is home to famous table top mountains and the world’s highest waterfall, Angel Falls. We spend three full days in this area, exploring its impressive landscapes and canoeing along the Carrao River. We then head north to Merida where we drive through the cloud forest into Jaji to wander its colourful streets. From here we explore the Paramo region of the higher Andes visiting local ...Read more >

Senegal’s north is dominated by the sahel – where the landscape changes from desert to savannah. To the south is the Gambia, and then the lush south of Senegal and the forests of Casamance. This tour takes you from the dry grasslands down into the forest. First up on this ten day tour is Dakar, a lively West African capital. Goree Island just off the coast was once the centre of the slave trade, but is now a peaceful place after the bustle of the mainland. In St Louis to the north, you can tour the streets in a horse-drawn caleche (carriage), enjoying the colonial architecture and mix of Islamic and Christian influences. Lac Rose close to Dakar is a pink lake, but there’s even more pink ...Read more >

Indisputably the most culturally diverse country in the world, Papua New Guinea is a land of stunning mountains, spectacular wildlife, and locals that proudly retain a strong living connection to the customs and rituals of their indigenous ancestors. In many remote villages across the country, first contact with the outside world is well within living memory and visiting today is like stepping back in time to witness cultures that defined native peoples for millennia. This expedition takes us first to the Sepik River, the country’s longest, and often referred to as Papua New Guinea’s cultural heart due to the richness and variety of its tribal cultures. We travel by canoe to the ...Read more >

Kyrgyzstan has to be one of the most striking countries in Asia, with a landscape of towering snow capped peaks, azure blue lakes and alpine forests, populated by iconic wildlife such as bear and snow leopard. Elsewhere nomads move between summer and winter pastures with their vast herds, following a way of life that has remained largely unchanged for generations – Kyrgyzstan is one of the last bastions of nomadic culture in an increasingly modernised world. This two week Kyrgyzstan holiday encompasses the very best the country has to offer, from its scenery to its traditional cultures and its ancient Silk Road monuments. Staring in Bishkek we travel through the Suusamyr Valley to the ...Read more >

Few Western travellers will ever get to experience the Gerewol festival – one of the most spectacular in Africa, yet one that has barely been changed over centuries. This week-long festival occurs when the semi-nomadic Wodaabe people travel across the Sahel on foot, camel or donkey, and come together to feast, dance, race and – ultimately – to find a lover or a partner. The classic image from the Gerewol festival is one of young men with elaborately made up faces, ‘displaying’ to young women in order to attract them. Not only does this Gerewol festival holiday allow you to experience these rituals, but having worked in this area for several years, we have built up plenty of local contacts ...Read more >

There are actually three ‘Stans’ being covered on this extraordinary sixteen day holiday: Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan, Silk Road countries that boast so much history and culture they can be overwhelming. Which is why we carefully crafted this itinerary to capture these evocative countries in the best way possible. Starting in Tajikstan, in the capital city of Dushanbe, formerly ‘Stalinabad’, you can still see plenty of Soviet influences in architecture, with the Museum of Antiquities taking you back to times well before that too. As does the nearby fort town of Gissar, which dates back to the 16th century. Heading west, we start to witness some of the country’s great ...Read more >

Dzanga-Ndoki National Park in the Central African Republic preserve some of the most beautiful rainforests in Africa, and the last of their kind on the planet. Created in 1990, Dzanga-Ndoki covers an area of just over a thousand square kilometres and is home to important populations of forest elephants, western lowland gorillas, chimpanzees and many other endangered mammals. Starting in the Cameroonian capital of Yaounde we journey on rough roads to the east before crossing into the Central African Republic. From here we continue to Dzanga-Ndoki, to discover a world untainted by man, an intact jungle where nature rules. We venture into the heart of this primeval jungle to Dzanga Bai, a ...Read more >

This three week small group tour of the Caucasus takes you through three of the region’s most fascinating countries: Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan, where tales of the past provide an incredible cultural back story in addition to the developing cities that you’ll discover today. From the Ottomans to the Soviets, this region in the furthest reaches of Europe, has long been hidden from the glare of the modern world and still a sense of mystery prevails to tempt curious, culture hungry travellers into what is, for many, still deemed as the 'unknown'. Starting in Azerbaijan opens up a land of fire where spluttering, steaming volcanoes set the scene for dramatic natural encounters in direct ...Read more >

Mongolia is synonymous with the remote and mysterious, a giant landlocked nation that is home to foreboding deserts, jagged peaks and endless steppe – a visual feast of awe-inspiring landscapes combined with the strong traditions of nomadic life. A great introduction to the country, this comprehensive trip shows you the incredible diversity to be found within its borders. Starting in Ulaan Baatar we visit the impressive Gandan Monastery, testimony to the strong Buddhist traditions that Communism never managed to completely suppress. From here we head south which brings a striking change of scenery as we venture into the Gobi Desert, Asia’s largest. Some of its most striking sights are the ...Read more >

An innovative itinerary combining three of West Africa’s least visited countries. Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone have been blighted in recent years by the scourges of Africa, disease and war, but are now opening up again to curious travellers keen to look beyond the dated stereotypes. With unique histories, age old traditions and inspiring landscapes, both have a huge amount to offer the Africa enthusiast. We start in Conakry then make our way into the Fouta Djalon highlands - without a doubt one of West Africa’s most beautiful areas, with breathtaking mountain scenery, gushing waterfalls and lush forests, dotted with traditional villages, and we spend time discovering the region and ...Read more >

Taking a nine day cultural tour of South Sudan invites travellers to step into a traditional tribal world amongst the ethnic groups that have inhabited the region’s wilderness areas for as long as anyone can remember. This is an intensely personal tour of one of the world’s lesser-known, yet newest, countries where ancient cultural rituals collide with preconceived traveller expectations, to create an incredibly unique and often moving experience. Our South Sudan cultural tour starts in Juba, the capital, before heading into the heartland of the Mundari people whose tribal scars and competitive displays of inter-village wrestling have made them revered throughout the region. A chance to ...Read more >

After some troubled times, Ivory Coast is back as a beacon for intrepid travellers keen to experience some of Africa's most rich and varied native traditions on a trip that takes in contrasting highlights in the north and east of the country, starting and ending in the lively capital Abidjan. Much of the focus is on discovering the rich and varied cultures that thrive here. In Aniausse we visit a school for ‘feticheurs’, the high priests of traditional religion, while in the north we visit the Dan and Fulani, witnessing their vibrant traditional mask dances and rituals. In Bouake, you'll spend time with the Baoule people to discover how they maintain their handicraft traditions, while ...Read more >

East Timor, also known as Timor-Leste, is one of Southeast Asia’s hidden gems—a small yet captivating country with breathtaking natural beauty and a powerful story of resilience. Located between Indonesia and Australia, it’s a land of rugged mountains, vibrant coral reefs, and lush forests. After centuries under Portuguese colonial rule and a turbulent period of Indonesian occupation, East Timor finally gained full independence in 2002, making it the first new sovereign state of the 21st century. The country today reflects a rich blend of European and indigenous influences in its architecture, cuisine, language, and customs, with communities deeply rooted in tradition and faith. This ...Read more >

Embark on a captivating journey through two of Southern Africa’s most enchanting and lesser-explored destinations, Lesotho and Eswatini. This carefully designed itinerary combines stunning natural scenery, rich cultural traditions and remarkable wildlife encounters. From the craggy heights of the iconic Sani Pass to the misty cascades of Maletsunyane Falls, and from the historical strongholds of Thaba Bosiu to the serene wildlife haven of Mkhaya Game Reserve, each day reveals a new facet of the landscape and culture. Whether you’re hiking to see ancient dinosaur footprints, visiting jostling markets, or encountering rhinos in their natural habitat, this tour offers immersive encounters ...Read more >