Top 10: Most Loved Adventures by Returning Travelers

Posted on 2/11/2025 05:00:00 AM in Trending Topics

What makes an excellent O.A.T. adventure? We ask every returning traveler for their honest feedback in a comprehensive post-trip survey, and the results are in. See which 10 adventures currently boast the highest excellence ratings—and read excerpts from travelers' reviews.

1. Egypt & the Eternal Nile by Private, Classic River-Yacht

NEW: Our most popular slideshow by an O.A.T. traveler—created by Rosalind Leiser, 18-time traveler from Royal Oak, MI:

  • 16-day O.A.T. Small Group Adventure with 5 nights aboard the privately chartered, 16-passenger Asiya, Aida, Amunet, or Aton river-yacht
  • Excellence rating: 98%
  • Why one traveler loved this adventure: “I have taken 13 O.A.T. trips and have been to 53 countries in my lifetime and this was the best trip I've ever taken. Why? I love history and ancient civilizations and have been to most ‘destinations’ in the world. I'm so glad I saved this for last, because there was nowhere that came even close to the quality and quantity of sites. These temples were so old, yet well preserved and amazing. The colored paintings on the walls were vibrant and there were so many. Even the variety of the ruins was impressive. The cruise down the river was relaxing and our yacht was beautiful, small, and elegant.” — Joael Kelly, 14-time traveler from Hurst, TX

2. Inside Vietnam

NEW: Our most popular video by an O.A.T. traveler—created by Brian Eberle, 9-time traveler from Denver, CO:

  • 16-day O.A.T. Small Group Adventure
  • Excellence rating: 98%
  • Why one traveler loved this adventure: “Loved, loved, loved this trip. As a teen in the '60's, it was a thrill to now be in North Vietnam and see Hanoi. Halong Bay was beyond beautiful, the Citadel in Hue was incredible, Hoi An was like something out of a movie, Nha Trang had a beautiful beach for swimming, I loved the Crazy House in Da Lat, and Saigon is just a magical city. In my opinion, the food in Vietnam is the best in all of Asia—everything is so light and fresh and flavorful—every meal was a treat. Tour guide, Vinh, was terrific.” — Jacqueline Wiedeman, 14-time traveler from Colorado Springs, CO
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3. The Wilderness Beyond: Patagonia, Tierra del Fuego & the Chilean Fjords

NEW: Our most popular slideshow by an O.A.T. traveler—created by Tracy Hoffman, 11-time traveler from East Setauket, NY:

  • 15-day O.A.T. Small Group Adventure with 4 nights aboard the chartered, 210-passenger M/V Stella Australis or M/V Ventus Australis
  • Excellence rating: 97%
  • Why one traveler loved this adventure: “The wonders of nature can solve the world’s problems if we let them. For fifteen days, twenty people came together under the guidance of a beautiful, smart, kind human being and left behind the things which divide us and instead shared the beauty that unites us. Laura Gallardo was always so happy to share the wonderful people, food, and nature of her homeland. Every location welcomed us and left us with unbelievable memories. It was a magical experience.” — Arleen Best, 7-time traveler from Ardsley, NY

4. Ultimate Galápagos Exploration & Ecuador's Amazon Wilds

NEW: Our most popular video by an O.A.T. traveler—created by by James Yuen, 23-time traveler from East Garrison, CA:

  • 16-day O.A.T. Small Group Adventure with 7 nights aboard the privately chartered, 16-passenger Galápagos Small Ship
  • Excellence rating: 97%
  • Why one traveler loved this adventure: “As with all my O.A.T. trips, the staff, lodgings and cuisine were phenomenal. Top accolades to Guides Celso and Peter. Both were extremely knowledgeable, educated, fun, warm, and eager to accommodate everyone's wishes. Celso and Peter are experienced photographers and shared great clips via WhatsApp. The able staff in the Amazon basin went out of their way every day. The crew and staff on the small ship were skilled and impressive. It felt like a luxury cruise. As a solo traveler, I felt safe around Quito as well as snorkeling with the great sea turtles and penguins!!” — Jane Lindgren, 6-time traveler from San Jose, CA

5. Ultimate Africa: Botswana, Zambia & Zimbabwe Safari

NEW: Our most popular video by an O.A.T. traveler—created by Jerrilynne Purdy, 14-time traveler from Alexandria, VA:

  • 17-day O.A.T. Small Group Adventure
  • Excellence rating: 96%
  • Why one traveler loved this adventure: “As first time O.A.T. travelers, we were not sure exactly what to expect but this adventure far exceeded anything we could have imagined. Starting with our excellent Trip Experience Leader, Lucky, every staff member at every camp and hotel, and the accommodations, food, etc. at every location, everything was top notch. This may have been our first trip with O.A.T. but it definitely won't be our last!” — John Hulsizer, first-time traveler from Etters, PA
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6. Safari Serengeti: Tanzania Lodge & Tented Safari

NEW: Our most popular slideshow by an O.A.T. traveler—created by Graeme Greenhill, 8-time traveler from Manchester, NH:

  • 13-day O.A.T. Small Group Adventure
  • Excellence rating: 96%
  • Why one traveler loved this adventure: “My husband and I had the most perfect experience on the Safari Serengeti: Tanzania Lodge & Tented Safari adventure. Zakia was an incredible Experience Leader—so fun, so knowledgeable about the wildlife, their habitats, the terrain and the history of Tanzania. We saw every species we hoped to see and were introduced to the beautiful local people. Our accommodations were all gorgeous and comfortable and the local cuisine was delicious. Zakia helped us become a family with our fellow travelers.” — Joanie McMullan, first-time traveler from Boerne, TX
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7. Ancient Egypt & the Nile River

Our most popular slideshow by an O.A.T. traveler—created by Barbara & Steve Bergstrom, 10-time travelers from Spokane, WA:

  • 16-day O.A.T. Small Group Adventure with 7 nights aboard the privately chartered, 75-passenger Nefertiti Small Ship
  • Excellence rating: 96%
  • Why one traveler loved this adventure: “The trip was amazing. Seeing things that were 3,200 years old was breathtaking. But one of the things that I had not expected was how amazing the experience of the people of Egypt would be, from the home visits to asking passer bys questions. The Egyptian people were so lovely, wonderful and welcoming. If you are like me you might be a little nervous about the heat; I went in October and it was 80-90 and the guides were careful to find shade for us to rest in and to go earlier to areas that would be hot or crowded which helped so much. And I never once felt unsafe on this trip. It was an amazing and life changing trip!”— Mary Treece, first-time traveler from Overland Park, KS

8. Sicily's Ancient Landscapes & Timeless Traditions

NEW: Our most popular video by an O.A.T. traveler—created by Randall Kahn, 2-time traveler from San Francisco, CA:

  • 16-day O.A.T. Small Group Adventure
  • Excellence rating: 95%
  • Why one traveler loved this adventure: “My trip to Sicily was a dream come true. Our delightful and learned tour guide, Viviana, brought the soul of the island to life. We were introduced to the rich history, architecture, religions, politics, botany, music, etc. It was apparent that Viviana was well respected and loved by the Sicilians she introduced us to in order to enrich our experience. Everyone in our group was interesting and helped make the tour fun and satisfying.” — Anne Johnson, first-time traveler from Saint Petersburg, FL
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9. Morocco Sahara Odyssey

NEW: Our most popular slideshow by an O.A.T. traveler—created by Jean Wilfer, 9-time traveler from Germantown, WI:

  • 16-day O.A.T. Small Group Adventure
  • Excellence rating: 95%
  • Why one traveler loved this adventure:Morocco Sahara Odyssey immersed us in experiences we will never forget! We saw a country that is stunning in its beauty. We explored exotic and colorful markets, souks, and medinas, and had numerous opportunities to interact with artisans and craftsmen as we traveled. There were opportunities for home visits where we met with families and discussed their lives and culture—these experiences with the people were fun, interesting, and, at times, profoundly thought-provoking. The experience of camping in the Sahara was unique and absolutely unforgettable.” — Jesse Carlock, first-time traveler from Oberlin, OH
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10. Chile & Argentina: The Andes to Patagonia

NEW: Our most popular slideshow by an O.A.T. traveler—created by Jamie Stamey, 27-time traveler from Sherrills Ford, NC:

  • 18-day O.A.T. Small Group Adventure
  • Excellence rating: 95%
  • Why one traveler loved this adventure: “The setting of Hotel Lago Gray and all of the sights in Torres del Paine National Park are magical. I feel so lucky to have been able to hike there and could have stayed longer! The home hosted meal, BBQ with the family, horseback ride, mate demonstration, all of the special activities, controversial subjects, and learning and discovery opportunities were so interesting, informative, and made the trip much better than had I even attempted to do this trip on my own. Every single moment was remarkable and memorable in its own right and for various reasons. Our trip leader and local guides enhanced the experiences.” — Janet Parker, 8-time traveler from Chicago, IL
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