Overseas Adventure Travel Reviews

Ultimate Africa was my second OAT Tour. I will likely never travel with them again. The tour was well organized, but fellow travelers were horrible: clique-ish, uncurious, and acted appalling towards local African people. I've traveled for over 50 years and never before had an experience like this. Some of my fellow travellers, obviously extremely wealthy, were cheap in terms of buying artisan products of extremely poor people. I felt embarrassed to be part of this group, and I would not recommend this company after this experience.

My second OAT trip was a safari in Tanzania with a post-tour extension to Zanzibar. The trip I experienced was consistent with the description provided by OAT and the tour guides were energetic, informed and accommodating. Our hotels and tent camps were clean, comfortable - and well-appointed. If I am to offer any complaint it is that my original tour selection was cancelled due to insufficient reservations and OAT helped me find another time; however, my original trip included a Business Class flight and the new schedule was via Premium Economy out and Economy return. With 20 hours of flying time each way, that proved very difficult. Next time OAT cancels a scheduled tour, I'll look for an alternate destination that include Business.

This was the best experience I've had with OAT and it was all because of our guide, Alberto **. He went above and beyond his responsibilities to ensure that we were all taken care of. He was very knowledgeable about the area and was very flexible to arrange the schedule to accommodate mother nature so we could get the best out of our trip. He would help any of us with issues we were having either at restaurants or setting up plans on our own during free time. He made the bus time very enjoyable and was so fun and helpful!!!

I just returned from my 10th trip with OAT and it was the best one yet. (Northern Italy and the Dolomites). Our guide, Massimo was hands down outstanding. I can say with confidence he was the best trip leader I've had so far in my OAT trips. Our itinerary was well planned and well executed, both the air travel and our ground excursions. The hotels were not Five Star but more than comfortable and very adequate for the cities we stayed in. The Dolomites excursion was breathtaking. Those mountains were magnificent and the hike to the best viewing points was manageable even for me, an 84 year old geezer. The restaurants were well chosen and the food was great almost everywhere we ate. The home hosted visits were excellent and gave us a good look at how the citizens lived and worked in their countryside situations. It was another excellend OAT trip, one that I will long remember.

I always feel safe when traveling with OAT. Our group is well cared for. Pickup at the airport is a nice option! Our travel leader meets us at the hotel. We receive updates about our next day every day.

I have taken 10 trips with OAT and Grand Circle -- both land and cruise. The experiences have uniformly been positive. I'm most impressed with the quality of the Trip Leaders and with the opportunity to interact with locals in every country that I've visited. I have learned so much about places in the world that I previously knew nothing about -- like Algeria and Albania, for example. The pricing is also extremely reasonable and I appreciate the opportunities to personalize my trips.

I just got back from Mongolia last week and it has now become one of my favorite trips! It was my 10th trip with OAT, but I have been to over 100 countries. Our guide, Eric, was one of the best guides ever - he made sure we saw every national sport event, dealt with an air flight being canceled, was totally knowledgeable, funny and absolutely fabulous. I just enjoyed the culture, the history and the people we met who were lovely and friendly. So nice to visit a country that still maintains so much of their culture. The hotel in Ulaanbaatar was lovely and the gers we stayed in were quite delightful.

OAT provides an excellent experience for overseas exploration. In my experience, their guides are professional, well trained, and knowledgeable. Their itineraries who are full and well thought out but you do not have to choose to do every single thing that they provide. There are unique experiences such as a "day in the life" and home hosted dinners, which give you a view into how the people in the communities live. This gives us more than just a superficial tourist experience. I highly recommend using this company and plan to use them again myself.

I recently completed OAT's Ultimate Africa trip, and it was an unforgettable experience. Our group leader, Tendai, was exceptional. He shared a wealth of knowledge about the cultures, history, environments, and wildlife of South Africa, Botswana, Zambia, and Zimbabwe, which greatly enriched the journey. The safari guides were equally outstanding. They quickly felt like family and worked tirelessly to help us experience the best of Africa's wildlife. One of the highlights was seeing a pack of endangered painted dogs, a rare and exciting sighting that few travelers get to witness.

The Crossroads of the Adriatic was a fantastic trip. The Trip Leader had the most outstanding knowledge of the history of area and the breakdown of Yugoslavia. The adventures were endless, complete with great local tour guides, home visits, and beautiful scenic locations. Never have I experienced such a terrific bus driver that was always willing to assist. Hats off to OAT for a memorable adventure that took me to Croatia, Montenegro, Bosnia and Slovenia!

My trip was to Tanzania and then Zanzibar post trip 5/22-6/9/26. From the initial sign up all the way to the end of the 20 day trip I have no complaints. Everything ran very smoothly from beginning to the end. OAT communicated very well with any changes and suggestions for the trip by email. My Trip Leader Godliving and drivers Thomas and Kelvin were fantastic the entire time they were with us. Charles was the Trip Leader for Zanzibar and was also very good and informative. We also had some older people on the trip that I thought were very well taken care of with extra attention from our trip leaders and drivers. All the different lodges we stayed at were top-notch and the food was abundant and good every meal.

I have traveled with OAT for several years now. I have enjoyed and loved all my trips. Egypt was definitely an amazing experience. It all begin at the airport with Jimmy who picked us (my friend Laura and I) up and guided us through costume, etc., the took us to our hotel. The next day we met with Hassan **, our trip leader. We arrived a day early, so he offered a day optional tour, which we took. Wow! What a wonderful way to experience Egypt on our first day. The rest of the our trip was more than I ever expected. Hassan was definitely one of the most knowledgeable trip leaders I have experienced. He was attentive and always helpful to all the group. The Dahabeya (Yacht) was awesome! The staff, accommodations and the meals were wonderful. I can't say enough about this trip. I am so happy I got to experience Egypt with Hassan and the people in our group. Thank you OAT!

The entire trip experience to Peru and the Galapagos was excellent including the Trip experience leaders other tour guides. Every aspect of the trip was well organized. The cultural immersion and local experiences were very meaningful. My only complaint with OAT was their customer service when we had a problem with the original trip that was cancelled a day and a half before we were to leave in 2025. The cancelling was due to a requirement by Ecuador not OAT. And we ultimately rescheduled to this year (one year later). However, speaking to someone beyond the 1st level phone operator was nearly impossible and took several call backs and long waits. For this reason, I don't know if I would travel with OAT again. Their trips are expensive and generally require reserving and paying far in advance. I expect better customer service when problems arise.

I had a great first trip with Overseas Adventure Travels to Romania and Bulgaria. The key to the trip, the guide, Is great: very knowledgeable about the culture, politics and history of the countries; organized and efficient; attentive and nearly always available to us, fun & upbeat throughout the two weeks plus; and full of special treats and surprises. There is a good balance of planned activities and free time and a variety of activities. I gained more insight into the countries than I would have on my own through the home visits, guided tours, the guide.

We took an Overseas Adventure Travel tour to Ecuador and the Galápagos Islands in May of 2026. The tour started in Quito, a big city that can't be fully understood in just a couple of days. We enjoyed what we were able to see. Then we travelled to the Amazon near Coca. That was fascinating. We spent considerable time walking or canoeing through the rainforest looking for birds, animals, and plants. We were lucky to have Marcelo as our guide. There did not seem to be a plant, bird, or animal he could not identify. He was also able to explain how the Amazon natives used the plants for medicinal purposes food. If you are a birder, you should go to the Amazon.

This was my 8th OAT trip, and each new one is just as good, if not better, than the last one. Southern Italy and Aeolian Islands was just beautiful, and our guide, Alfio, made everything so much fun. Even though he has only been a guide for 4 years, his knowledge and way of handling things was outstanding. We were always informed as to our schedule each day, and there were also surprises that he threw in! Besides the regular itinerary, Alfio made us booklets with suggestions of restaurants and sites to see in our free time. Wrangling 14 people can be a challenge, but Alfio handled all of that easily.

We have been home one week from our 27 days in Scotland. We did both the pre-trip and the post-trip. The pre-trip took us to the Outer Hebrides and the ancient history of that area. There were stops for short hikes, and tastings (Scotland loves it whisky), important to that area. The transition from one location to another was broken up by interesting Learning and Discoveries that made the change in locations seem short. Visiting the Stones of Callish was a highlight, especially for Outlander fans. Visiting the Isle of Lewis and Harris was a step back to a different time (lifestyle, attitudes, etc.) with modern conveniences. We meet a man who weaves tweed in his own house. This is a requirement to be Harris tweed.

Fantastic experiences with small groups and concierge service throughout. Every trip has featured passionate and knowledge experience leaders who share their deep and personal knowledge of the histories, unique features, and current events affecting the areas they love. Exceptional experiences and great value.

If you’re considering Overseas Adventure Travel’s Japan’s Cultural Treasures tour, book it. The itinerary is excellent, and our guide, Rei, made the experience truly exceptional. Japan is an incredible destination, with beautiful temples, historic districts, breathtaking scenery, amazing food, and a fascinating blend of tradition and modern life. Throughout the trip, Rei brought each destination to life with her deep knowledge of Japanese history, customs, and daily life. Whether we were exploring historic neighborhoods, visiting shrines, navigating busy cities, or experiencing local culture, she provided context and stories that helped us understand not just what we were seeing, but why it mattered.

Australia was my second OAT adventure and it was amazing! We saw and experienced so much of Australia with an enthusiastic, informed, and experienced guide! Grant ** was a wonderful guide! OAT and Grant took care of everything-another terrific trip!

We were very pleased with everything to do with OAT and the way the cruise was handled. Our only problems were beyond the control of Hassan!! (heat--missing luggage). He went out of his way to get our suitcase and get us into clothing for the weather--heat!! The joy of OAT are the places we go that a regular tour will never take you!! Real life experiences!!

This was the first trip my husband and I took with OAT and we were more than happy with it. We’ve previously used two other well known agencies, but found that OAT more than met our needs and expectations. We loved that the emphasis was on cultural awareness and education, bringing us to the people who live and work in the countries we visited (Spain and Portugal), rather than just visiting churches and other standard, over-visited places.

I recently went on the Crossroads of the Adriatic tour with Overseas Adventure Travel. The trip was fantastic. It was a perfect mix of city days, Seaside days, national parks, local experiences, and amazing food and adventure. Our tour guides were amazing, I learned so much, and everything worked so smoothly. Transportation was taken care of, all of the meals were great, and they did a good job of taking care of the vegan and vegetarian travelers. Overall, I would highly recommend this tour and Overseas Adventure Travel

My wife and I just completed our first trip with OAT (Crossroads of the Adriatic) and thoroughly enjoyed it. It was 17 days long which was long enough to learn about the countries, cities and their history in some depth. The itinerary was excellent and well-paced--never too much time on the road and we spent at least 3 nights in almost all stops. Our tour leader (Jelena) was great and made the adventure a lot more interesting, fun and tasty. In each city we visited we also had a site guide who augmented our tour leader with more in-depth information. I would highly rate our first experience and look forward to our next.

Indescribable New Zealand — what a fantastic experience. Fourteen days barely scratched the surface, but it was the highlight of our travels. From the top of the North Island to nearly the bottom of the South Island, every place we visited was breathtaking. Beyond the scenery, New Zealand has a rich and fascinating history. The people were incredibly friendly and often went out of their way to help us. If you haven’t been, go; if you have, go back.

We just got home from a 30-day trip to Australia & New Zealand. It's been on my bucket list for a long time, and it was fabulous!!! I was initially concerned about the length of the trip & the long flight time. Neither concern turned out to be a problem. We loved having 2 weeks in each country and would not have missed a single thing we saw or did. We also booked Premium Economy for the International legs of the journey, coming & going, and were very happy & impressed with the quality of seating & services that were provided. As for the trip itself, I am a long-time client of OAT, having traveled with them 9 times. They have never failed to go over & above in providing excellent trip leaders and outstanding experiences wherever I have traveled.

This was a well run trip to countries that did not yet seem familiar with American tourists. It was friendly and filled with pleasant surprises. Even the two long days on the bus did not seem long because of the interesting stops. Our trip leader Victor, was knowledgeable and helpful, sharing his experiences growing up in a country that suffered multiple invasions. I thoroughly enjoyed both countries and felt that I learned about the culture and about people's resilience in tough times.

We had a fantastic trip to Greece and Turkey. We like that we are travelers, not tourists. The trip leaders did their best to keep us out of large crowds at popular sites. The addition of visits like the home hosted meal and a day in the life at a honey farm. Help you to understand the people and culture. Since our trip leaders were experienced and known to others in the areas wer visited, we were able to see and do more than an average tourist. I especially like this aspect of their tours. The group sizes are limited which makes it easier for all to get the most.

A friend and I recently went to Peru:Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu with OAT and had an amazing experience. Booking was easy, free single room was a great deal, and the overall value for what we paid was excellent. The itinerary was busy and involved a lot of hiking and walking, but was also had downtime and free time on some afternoons and evenings. OAT prides themselves in providing a "local" experience and they did just that! Our guide (Wilber) was super knowledgeable, accommodating, flexible and a genuinely kind and caring person who loved sharing his country with us. I would highly recommend this trip with OAT to see Peru!

I just completed The Ultimate Australia trip with the Tasmania pre trip. The itinerary is great and my trip leader, Rod, was outstanding. Australia is a huge country and I think the itinerary did a good job of hitting the high points. We had a great bus driver, Don, in Tasmania a great local guide Jordyn at Uluru and other great local guides. Snorkeling at the Great Barrier Reef was one of many highlights.

The S. Korea and Japan: Temples, Shrines and Treasures was my 7th trip with OAT and, like the others, it exceeded my expectations. The trip leaders were outstanding and significantly contributed to the overall excellent experience. The learning and discovery experiences, both formal and informal, were rich and memorable. The story of the young man who escaped N. Korea was inspiring and unforgettable. The meeting with the retired champion sumo wrestler put a human face on an ancient and mysterious sport. All aspects of this trip contributed to its overall high quality.

We just completed our 2nd OAT tour: Java & Bali: Indonesia's Mystical Islands. We also took the pre-trip to Kalimantan (Indonesian Borneo) and the post-trip to Komodo National Park. Like our first OAT tour, it was FANTASTIC! Our trip experience leader (Manik) was tremendous. We spent 24 days with him and he was on top of everything every day. The local guides were also all excellent, giving us their local perspectives of the animals, sites, and culture of each area. There were a few minor issues (delayed flights, a restaurant that didn't perform that night, etc.). We've been traveling internationally for decades; stuff is going to happen.

My husband and I can't say enough good things about this trip. We chose a small group adventure (16 people) to Sicily. Our Trip Leader was phenomenal. He was a local, loved his country, very enthusiast, an excellent communicator. Our "experiences" had local guides that added depth and insight to the area we were visiting. We meet local families, prepared meals and saw some wonderful "off the beaten path" areas. The trip was flagged as level 3 activity level - and it was. Perfect for us. So make sure to recognize your interest and abilities. Hotel accommodations were great, no complaints. Provided meals were delicious and gave us exposure to local foods. They took into account my husbands food restrictions. Bus transportation between cities and excursions were comfortable. We can't wait to find another trip for 2027.

We recently returned from our trip to Morocco, and Aziz was an exceptional guide throughout the entire journey. His kindness, knowledge, patience, and sincere care made the experience truly unforgettable for all of us. Because of him, we didn’t just see Morocco’s beauty — we genuinely felt welcomed into its culture and traditions.

My recent trip to Southern Italy was my second with OAT and it was a wonderful experience. It began with the first introduction by our trip leader who made me feel welcome before the trip began. What I love about OAT is the small groups (we had 13), knowledgeable trip leaders which we had an exceptional one, and the immersive experiences. I chose that trip because I wanted to experience a part of Italy that the majority of visitors do not visit. I was not disappointed. Our home hosted dinner was wonderful. The food was great and they were so welcoming and made us feel so welcome in their home.

Wonderful experience! Special mention to our ETL Wayne ** who has been very helpful throughout the trip assisting travelers to their needs. In my ny case he went out of his way to help me. Upon arrival for our pre trip, I notified Wayne that I left my prescription medicine at home and requested if he can find a doctor who can provide a prescription. He replied and gave me an address of the facility. I was concerned that I may need to see 2 doctors for the 2 medications. After a few email exchanges he found one and he is going to accompany me. He has to come to the hotel 3 hours earlier than usual so we have enough time before meeting the other travelers on arrival day. I got my medications! I can’t thank Wayne enough for his excellent service.

OAT is an outstanding travel company. The guides are very professional, and will go above and beyond, to make a memorable trip for you. The home-hosted visit with a dinner, is always a highlight of our adventure. The itinerary provides you with time to explore on your own. I highly recommend traveling the world with OAT.

My OAT trip to Morocco exceeded my expectations. Khalid was exceptionally knowledgeable, affable and handled each bump in the road (there weren't many) with grace and patience. Morocco is an extraordinary destination. OAT's accommodations were steps above my previous trips on other tour companies. OAT is very fortunate to have such a talented guide as Khalid.

I’m happy to get my booking flight the agent as soon as I needed to my flight. Thank you.

Outstanding trip to Sicily. Exceptional trip leader - Ludo. Amazing Roman and Greek ruins. Must see military museum for veterans.