By:
Jarred Manasse
2023-03-08
Encounters Travel was proud to host a stand at this year's Destinations Travel Show at the Kensington Olympia between 2-5 February. Shows such as this are a wonderful opportunity for us to meet travellers face to face and learn more about what people are most keen on doing and experiencing at the moment, and seeing how our trips match up.
We were delighted to be visited by so many potential, new and repeat clients who all had their stories to tell. We are also proud to know that our tours have had such a positive impact on people, as was made obvious through the chats and laughs we had throughout the time of the Show. We aim to ensure that our trips are undertaken responsibly, whilst being mindful of the communities and places that we visit.

What stood out for us was the delight of clients when they heard about how much we were happy to tailor-make their experiences to suit particular needs; be it extending a group tour, being flexible with payments, or creating a completely new trip for them.
Families with limited time available due to school commitments felt that they were able to control the trip they planned rather than have a generic tour laid before them. As one repeat client told us "I know that by coming back to you, the kids are going to discover something new and amazing, and we'll feel like we've had a holiday too!".
Our trips encompass a diverse range of destinations and continents. As with all things, our trips have evolved over the years, and we try to cater for a plethora of tastes and ages. Having so much contact with travellers at shows like this really helps us to refine what we are doing and offering. It was reassuringly apparent to us that no matter what age a client may be, there is still the urge to explore and experience new places and cultural diversity.
For more details on our trips, we urge you to explore our website and plan your next trip. Our team are waiting to hear from you and will help you to choose the best possible option for you.
We also encourage you to have a look at our 'other half' Oasis Overland. It was great to have a shared stand together, and to feel how closely we match up, with some Encounters travellers delighted with the longer, more adventurous Oasis trips, and some Oasis travellers keen to talk about family holidays and shorter trips they could do having done several big adventures already.
Need some travel inspiration or looking for some handy travel tips? Our blog provides excellent insight into our travel destinations - from tour updates to country guides, packing lists to little known things to do, you'll find it all in our travel blog.
By:
Martin Hosie
2026-06-11
Sierra Leone travel is unlike anything else in West Africa. From the warm hospitality of Freetown's streets to the white-sand beaches of Banana Island and the primate encounters on Tiwai Island, this is a destination that rewards the curious and the adventurous. Whether you're drawn by the wildlife, the history, or the sheer beauty of the coastline, these essential tips for travelling to Sierra Leone will help you plan with confidence, avoid common pitfalls, and arrive knowing exactly what to expect.
By:
Martin Hosie
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Sesriem Namibia, sits at the threshold of one of Africa's most surreal landscapes, where a natural canyon carved by an ancient river leads you straight into the world's oldest desert. This article is worth reading because it tells you exactly what to expect when you roll through the Sesriem gate on a small-group safari, climb into a 4x4 shuttle bound for the dunes of Sossusvlei, and shuffle across Deadvlei's blinding white clay pan in the early morning heat. No glossy brochure language, just what it actually felt like.
By:
Martin Hosie
2026-06-09
Morocco isn't just a destination to observe; it is a country that demands to be actively experienced. Discover the best places to visit in Morocco in our honest travel guide. From scrambling through Ait Benhaddou and trekking through Todra Gorge to camping among the Erg Chebbi dunes, find out what makes this Encounters Travel journey truly extraordinary.
By:
Martin Hosie
2026-06-05
We booked a Uganda safari holiday, half hoping it would be good. What we did not expect was to stand in a rainforest in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, barely three metres from a mountain gorilla, completely speechless. This post is about that moment, and everything that led to it, from tracking chimps in Budongo Forest to watching the Nile thunder through Murchison Falls. If you have been wondering whether gorilla trekking in Uganda is worth the journey, the permits, and the mud on your boots, read on. We are going to be honest with you, the way a friend would be, not the way a brochure would.
By:
Martin Hosie
2026-06-04
Lebanon is one of those destinations that quietly rewrites everything a traveller thinks they know about the Middle East. This Lebanon travel guide is not a list of monuments. It is the story of how a single trip wove together Phoenician harbours, Roman ruins, cedar-scented mountain air, and a table that never seemed to empty, from creamy goat cheese fresh out of a Bcharre factory to wood-fired SAJ flatbread at dawn and bold reds poured straight from a Bekaa Valley winery. If you have been searching for a travel guide to Lebanon that treats food as seriously as archaeology, read on.