Reviews
Odyssey Traveller Small group Tour Reviews
At Odyssey we enjoy creating and leading small group tours since 1983. Odyssey Traveller Tour Reviews are important source of feedback from our customers to allow us to balance out the good with the not so good on the tours offered. This is a small niche company who applies part of it's surpluses to creating Scholarships for University students of $10,000 each year.
Read on to get an insight into what our customers think when they travel with us. Sharing their views on our range of Senior small group educational tours for the over 50s. These tour reviews cover Britain, France, Italy and places elsewhere across Europe, the Middle East and Asia.
Heritage, Culture and History of Italy | Small Group Tours for Seniors
One of my most pleasurable holidays, and one I must repeat, as it was not long enough. We were most fortunate in having our marvellous tour leader. B F • It was a marvellous tour. I was privileged, as we all were, to see so many things of beauty, and so much history, in your very capable hands. Thank you for passing on some of your knowledge, and for your ready assistance. Thank you also for the photos and the list of guides; I'd been trying to remember the name of that rather good, but unusual fellow we met in Siena. No doubt because of his enthusiasm - and eccentricity - I remember Siena so well. (BH - Heritage Italy) Participant May -15 • Thank you so much for being a wonderful leader for the Heritage Italy tour. It was so interesting and has left me with lots of things to think about and follow up in my reading. I found I had an old book giving the history of Greek science, i.e. the thinking of the Greeks in the early BC time. An interesting addition to our visit to Paestum and Cumae. The whole experience was marvellous and I have to thank you again for your kindness and consideration and the generous amount of time you gave to us all. I really appreciated that. (MB - Heritage Italy) Participant May -15 Apart from just touching base and saying hi, I wanted to thank you for such a wonderful trip. Fourth time in Italy for me but the chance to get a little off the beaten track was really special... not to mention I got so much more insight into Italy than I had before. (KG Heritage Italy) Participant Sep -15
Prehistoric Britain small group history tour including standing stones
Excellent itinerary, transport and local guides! Participant 2016
Scottish Islands and Shetland small group tours for seniors
Our driver and guide was exceptional; full of information about places we visited. Resourceful when we had extra time, in organising 'wee adventures'. Diverted several times to accommodate the special interests of group members. Participant 2015 We were more than satisfied with the whole trip. Enjoyed every bit of it. If you could improve the weather it'd be nice, but even the cold, rain and wind couldn't spoil the trip. Participant 2015 I really enjoyed this tour. I found all of our drivers/guides were friendly, organised, professional and knowledgeable. I would recommend this tour to others. Participant 2015 “We had previously toured mainland Scotland so the attraction of this tour was the novelty of touring all the islands and the ferry connections. However it was the totally unexpected archaeology that will remain in our memories. Along with the driver and her stories!!! Truly a "Discovery Tour". Participant Sep -15
La Belle France Small Group Short Tour
Brilliant trip with an excellent guide and driver. Even converted my sports -orientated husband into appreciating cathedrals and architecture! Love the 'all-inclusive' aspect, not having to bother with meals, tipping, etc. Made it a real holiday for me. Participant Sep 2014 This tour was such a good mix of the different areas of France, good food, good wine, good company and amazing sights. Participant Sep 2014 Travelling in a small group was great. The tour gave you a good taste of France's history and its wine regions. Participant Sep 2014 La Belle France is a delightful tour through some of the most beautiful regions of France. Rouna ensured that everything ran smoothly and that we saw so much. Participant Sep 2015
Egypt tour: escorted small group history & cultural tour of Egypt
A tour beyond expectation. Egypt has so much to offer from the past and Odyssey did a fantastic job. Participant 2018 This was a fascinating program and the support was outstanding Participant 2018 Both cruise ships exceeded our expectations for cleanliness and quality of service. Participant 2018 Our Egyptologist, Mohammed, was excellent. Not only was he a very experienced tour guide and very knowledgeable, he was very organised and friendly and we always felt secure with him. He contributed greatly to our enjoyment of the trip. Participant 2018 Mal was a wonderful Program leader. She would be the best tour leader we have ever experienced. Her obvious experience and her calm demeanor contributed greatly to the cohesiveness of our group which, in turn, contributed to our enjoyment. Participant 2018 This tour was excellent, encompassing not only historical Egypt but also introducing us to modern Egypt. The varied travel by bus, small cruise ship and air, contributed to our interest and enjoyment. The extremely high quality of our tour leader, the Egyptologist and the local guide enhanced our knowledge, understanding and enjoyment of this tour. Participant 2018 I did this tour last year and can thoroughly recommend it. The security was very tight, both during the travel and in the hotels. The Egyptologist we had with us was an expert on the history and culture of the country. We travelled widely and saw so much of the treasures and wonders that are exclusive to Egypt. Carol Fraser
Journey through Mongolia and Russia small group tour
We did this tour in 2011. Wonderful, extraordinary experience. Loved every minute. Rex and Maree
Rural France | Small Group Tour for Seniors
I loved the rural France trip. It exceeded my expectations for sure. I saw so much and learnt many new things about French history and culture. Every guide we had was knowledgeable, friendly and each brought their own personality to the role. I am sure that I will reflect on this trip as a particular highlight in my travel agenda. Congratulations to Rouna for making a difficult job seem easy! Participant May 2014 Apart from meeting nice people, being well looked after and seeing wonderful places, one of the best aspects of Odyssey Tours is that we stay in one place for several days and do not have to pack and unpack very often. Participant May 2014 These tours give the client a real learning experience, instead of going from market to market as some travel organizations do. Also, staying at least 3 nights or more in the one location one gets a feel for the area, and the memory of it is not ever forgotten. Participant Sep 2014
Rural Britain | Walking Small Group Tour
Overall the trip was great and met my expectation. Errol H. June 2017 We found all the guides in each place excellent, some more than others, but always knowledgeable and obviously in love with their chosen careers. David our coach driver was excellent also, coping with some difficult situations with a cool head and providing us with a running commentary on a country he knows so well - especially Norfolk his home county! Sally and Angus H. June 2017
Edinburgh Festival Fringe Small Group Tour
Great hotel (perfect location), wonderful tour guide (Robert was excellent in every respect), the half-day walking tour was fun and informative, and the events selected exposed me to Fringe events I probably wouldn't have seen otherwise. Very well thought out and put together. Participant -17 Lovely hotel and the location could not have been better. I'd stay there again. Participant -17 Please evaluate your tour Program Leader, Robert Williams Communication - Exceeded expectations Organisation - Exceeded expectations Local knowledge - Exceeded expectations Engagement - Exceeded expectations Friendliness - Exceeded expectations Care and concern for your needs - Exceeded expectations Do you have any comments to make (good or bad!) about your tour Program Leader? - I cannot compliment him too highly Participant -17 Excellent selection and diversity from different types of events. We saw wonderful things that would not have occurred to me on my own. Participant -17
Discovering Myanmar | Small Group Tour for Seniors
Your chat-operator was informative and helpful. We have covered quite a few countries and seasons to travel. Full marks for that! Philip Lee The tour was fantastic and well organised and well managed. · I have travelled expensively but have not with a travel organisation that comes anywhere near Odyssey's attention to detail and the comfort of its travellers. · The tour was fantastic and well organised and well managed. The transport provided was always very good and where the seats were a little narrow, the bus was big enough for us to 'spread out' for more comfort. · Our accommodation was excellent as was our local guide.I would highly recommend a trip to this beautiful country with many treasures to explore and learn about. Discover Myanmar Nov ‘15 info@odysseytravel.com.au
Iran Culture and History Escorted Small Group Tour for seniors
The local guide was outstanding. She had excellent knowledge, helped us shop and went beyond reasonable to give us an authentic experience of Iran. Participant -17
Argentina Dinosaur dig including Titanosaur small group tours
We were privileged to go where many tourists could not go but some of that was due to the presence of John Pickrell still we saw more and met more senior paleontologists that I had expected. All museums and other sites were a marvelous experience Participant 2017 All guides were excellent. Each had done a lot of research on dinosaurs before we arrived and had a good sense of what we were after. Participant 2017 Accommodation exceeded expectations in most cases. Participant 2017 Well balanced with city vs country, visits to remote dinosaur sites, town museums, a winery. The hands-on dinosaur dig and fossil preparation live-in at Lake Barraleas was superb and I could have spent more time there as we went out a lot. It was excellent with a great Argentinian team looking after us.. Participant 2017 Well balanced, with a great group leader in John Pickrell. He was extremely informative and had great contacts so we saw behind the scenes at museums.We covered a lot of distance but with 2-3 nights in a number of places had plenty of free time to do your own thing. Participant 2017
Tasmanian Wilderness | Summer School in Hobart, Tasmania
I thoroughly enjoyed the whole program! Participant 2018 Nick had interesting comments and views on his field of expertise. Made me think about some of the things I took for granted. Participant 2018 Nick Mooney is an excellent leader. His knowledge in so many areas is extensive. It became obvious when meeting other local people that he is regarded very highly. As with Trevor, our driver, nothing was too much trouble for him when trying to make our trip memorable. 10 out of 10. Participant 2018
Romans settling Britain & Gaul | Summer School course
It all worked out very well - as usual! Participant 2018 Morning teas and lunches were superb. Participant 2018 I thoroughly enjoyed the whole program Participant 2018 Very knowledgeable with a good sense of humour. Well prepared. Participant 2018
Bhutan | Small Group Cultural Tour
The trip to the Tang valley and the Ogyencholing museum were a highlight. Beautiful scenery, wonderful people and one of the best museums I've seen. That night and all next day it snowed - what a buzz. Made everything look magical and improved the scenery for the next few days Participant March 2017 Loved: National Institute of traditional medicine hike to Wanyditse Goemba Punakha festival – definitely a highlight Hanging the prayer flags at the pass! The outdoor picnics! Archery competition! Dumtse Lhakhang – went to heaven!!! Dzong Drak Kha (mini tigers nest) amazing views and climb Sanga Choekor Shedra (Bhuddist College) Drakpa and his team (Nima and Karma) were just amazing. Drakpa was very knowledgeable, friendly, caring and cheerful. He went out of his way to provide us with information and experiences to help our understanding of the culture and religion, he was funny and entertaining and very professional under pressure.Nima was a very competent driver, and I have never felt in safer hands in the difficult driving conditions we were in. Participant March 2017 I wish to sincerely thank Len for his amazing care, good cheer and flexibility ! Len has that great combination of simultaneous organisation and flexibility, which is so very necessary on a small trip such as this. In his stride, he was able to re-design the program at short notice due to weather conditions (working closely with Drakpa) and the end result was better than the original plan in my opinion!!! It was clear from day one, that Len cared and payed attention to each and every one of us at every step of the way – going out of his way to assist those who needed it. The trust and camaraderie we developed with Len made the trip that much more special! I miss our laughs. Participant March 2017 The local guide, Drukpa, was exceptional value. When I was ill for a couple of days his care for me, assisted by Len, was way beyond my expectation. Participant March 2017
Small group tour of Ancient Turkey
We felt safe in Turkey and found the people friendly and helpful. Prices were excellent and the food almost universally magnificent. There is so much to see in the natural and built environment and the wonderful archaeological sites. It is sad to see the ordinary people and businesses suffering from the lack of tourists. Mary B. Sep '17 Participant 2017 The country was apparently calm and safe. People were friendly and helpful. Such a pity there has been such a down turn in tourism. Ros & Tony S. Sep '17 Participant 2017 Our guide Filiz was wonderful, very well informed, historical insights very helpful, her care for our well being exceptional. Could not have wished for a better tour leader. Participant 2017
Opera Tour Europe | Theatre-Opera-Ballet and Classical Music Small Group Tour for Seniors
This trip could have been planned for me as all my interests were included - ballet, theatre, concerts, opera and visits to magnificent museums and galleries. Participant -17 Robert was an excellent leader who made things run smoothly. He had great knowledge about all aspects of the content of this expedition. He interacted with all members of the group. I would be very happy to go on another tour with Robert as leader. Participant -17 The tour was compact, well planned and intense of course, having to include so much in a short space of time, compared with what we would do and see normally at home. A bit overwhelming, but wonderful for looking back, and a challenge to see how much one can remember. Participant -17 Robert's knowledge and expertise was greatly appreciated especially as I was the least culturally aware of the group. I enjoyed every minute of the tour, and his cheerfulness even in times of trial ( the weather) and the usual small things that go wrong were met with enthusiasm and help. Participant -17
Anglo French Tour | Normandy, Brittany, Channel Islands tour
I was impressed by the number of places we visited. It was a very full itinerary which I like. We saw things of interest every day. I see no fault with the tour. Participant 2017
Bach Classical European Music Festival small group tours
Dear Robert, Thanks for your guidance and leadership on our Bach Odyssey. You really were fabulous. See you in Berlin. Participant June -16 Dear Robert, Thank you so much for a very happy and informative journey. You made it all the more enjoyable by your sensitive consideration of all our separate needs and interests. Enjoy the rest of your trip. Participant June -16
Iceland cultural and wilderness small group tour
The geographical wonders offered by Iceland and Greenland left me in awe. The grandeur and spectacle of the countryside is breathtaking. Our leader (Rob) was excellent: well-researched, friendly, organized and good-humoured. Participant 2017 It is hard to believe that such a small country can contain so much dramatic scenery. Icecaps and glaciers, huge waterfalls, volcanos and hot bubbling mud, and those wonderful fjords and high mountain passes Participant 2016 Our guide was a great ambassador for his country, wide knowledge of literature, history, customs, industry, fishing - also a perceptive and sensitive person who inter-acted so willingly with all of us! Participant 2016 Every day was different with so much to see and do. Volcanoes, craters (including the pseudo ones), bubbling mud pools, and the active Strokkur Geyser, the bird life, black sand beaches, and those beautiful Icelandic horses. The time flew by... Participant 2016 I loved this trip as it was so very different from anywhere else I've been. The scenery was breath-taking and I never imagined I'd be taken on a cruise around a lagoon filled with icebergs, or see so many magnificent waterfalls that I lost count. Participant 2016
La Belle France small group escorted history tours for seniors
Brilliant trip with an excellent guide and driver. Even converted my sports -orientated husband into appreciating cathedrals and architecture! Love the 'all-inclusive' aspect, not having to bother with meals, tipping, etc. Made it a real holiday for me. Participant Sep 2014 Travelling in a small group was great. The tour gave you a good taste of France's history and its wine regions. Participant Sep 2014 This tour was such a good mix of the different areas of France, good food, good wine, good company and amazing sights. Participant Sep 2014 La Belle France is a delightful tour through some of the most beautiful regions of France. Rouna ensured that everything ran smoothly and that we saw so much. Participant Sep 2015
Canals and Railways in the Industrial Revolution Tour | Tours for Seniors in Britain
Wife Brenda and I just completed Odyssey tour in UK entitled “Canals and Railways” led by Mal Bock. Absolutely superb, and Mal’s leadership faultless. Extremely good value considering only seven guests, superb local guides and drivers, a most comfortable coach with seating for 24. . Hotels chosen were excellent, most with real character, not places one would have chosen without local knowledge and recommendation, . My wife and I have visited the UK many times- I was born there, but we saw so many places which were new to us. Thank you Odyssey!!!!!!!!!!!!! Ian Sanderson
Heritage, culture, history of Italy, seniors small group - Short Tour
It was a marvellous tour. I was privileged, as we all were, to see so many things of beauty, and so much history, in your very capable hands. Thank you for passing on some of your knowledge, and for your ready assistance. Thank you also for the photos and the list of guides; I'd been trying to remember the name of that rather good, but unusual fellow we met in Siena. No doubt because of his enthusiasm - and eccentricity - I remember Siena so well. (BH - Heritage Italy) Participant Sep -15 Thank you so much for being a wonderful leader for the Heritage Italy tour. It was so interesting and has left me with lots of things to think about and follow up in my reading. I found I had an old book giving the history of Greek science, i.e. the thinking of the Greeks in the early BC time. An interesting addition to our visit to Paestum and Cumae. The whole experience was marvellous and I have to thank you again for your kindness and consideration and the generous amount of time you gave to us all. I really appreciated that. (MB - Heritage Italy) Participant Sep -15 Apart from just touching base and saying hi, I wanted to thank you for such a wonderful trip. Fourth time in Italy for me but the chance to get a little off the beaten track was really special... not to mention I got so much more insight into Italy than I had before. (KG Heritage Italy) Participant Sep -15
