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A very charming vessel and we very much enjoyed being among her passengers. The meals were excellent and the dining room staff was most accommodating. Arielle did a wonderful job helping us to find our 'perfect trip', answered all of our questions promptly and corresponded with us in a friendly yet professional manner. From the moment we arrived at the Anchorage airport it was apparent we were in competent hands.
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Both my husband and I absolutely loved our trip and wouldn't have changed a thing about it. We highly recommend AdventureSmith, Taylor and our itinerary to anyone who is looking for an active, outdoor adventure trip in Alaska. Let AdventureSmith plan your trip and you won't regret it!
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We did the 8-day West Itinerary on M/Y Passion and it exceeded our expectations. Having everything booked and taken care of was amazing and totally worth it! Galapagos has been a place we wanted to experience for a long time and I wanted to do it right.
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Everything was planned perfectly and the places selected for us checked every box. They were beautiful and Lauren planned the best honeymoon trip. She really listened to what we wanted and it could not have been more perfect.
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The arrangements were perfect. Not a glitch in the entire nearly two weeks. I am just very happy to have found AdventureSmith.
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Relatives who've been to Alaska told us it's a 'must do' so we did! We met many interesting people on the Inside Passage trips. Altho' seniors were somewhat in the majority on our Denali trip, there were also middle-aged, younger persons and some children on the S.S. Legacy [now named Wilderness Legacy].
We were very pleased with our cabin on the S.S. Legacy although it was showing a bit 'wear and tear'. The S.S. Legacy is a very charming vessel and we very much enjoyed being among her passengers. And no wifi added to the nostalgic feeling!
The meals on the S.S. Legacy were excellent and the dining room staff was most accommodating in meeting special requests; ie smaller portions.
We were impressed by the friendliness and professionalism of all staff. The knowledge of the guides in regard to wildlife, marine life, faun, and flora was exceptional indeed.
From the moment we arrived at the Anchorage airport it was apparent we were in competent hands. The founder of Uncruise even welcomed our group personally when we arrived in Juneau and were waiting to embark on the S.S. Legacy.
Arielle did a wonderful job helping us to find our 'perfect trip', answered all of our questions promptly and corresponded with us in a friendly yet professional manner. Our experience was nothing but positive with regard to both AdventureSmith and Uncruise.
Travel light.
Overall our trip was perfect! The variety of activities and the length of stay in each location was ideal. We felt like for our first trip to Alaska we saw a great variety of landscapes and wildlife.
We started with a week aboard an UnCruise boat on the inside passage and as far north as Glacier Bay National Park. We saw lots of humpback whales, orcas, sea lions, and many types of birds, beautiful rainforest and stunning glaciers. Next we traveled to Denali National Park and had the opportunity to hike the mountains and tundra and see grizzly bears, caribou, moose, beavers and lots of birds and small animals. Lastly we spent a week on the Kenai Peninsula first on the Kenai River, then rafting to Skilak Lake and staying at the Backcountry Lodge and lastly traveling by boat through Resurrection Bay to the Glacier Lodge where we had gorgeous views of the Pederson Glacier from our cabin. On this leg of our trip we saw lots of shorebirds, black bear, otters, harbor seals, stunning scenery and several glaciers. We had the opportunity to hike, kayak, canoe and just sit on our porch and enjoy the amazing scenery.
Both my husband and I absolutely loved our trip and wouldn't have changed a thing about it. We highly recommend Adventuresmith, Taylor and our itinerary to anyone who is looking for an active, outdoor adventure trip in Alaska.
All of our accommodations from the Safari Explorer UnCruise boat, Camp Denali Lodge and the three Kenai Lodges [Kenai Riverside Lodge, Kenai Backcountry Lodge, and Kenai Fjords Glacier Lodge] were amazing and all unique in their own ways.
The meals on each leg of our trip were amazing first class dining experiences. Our favorites were the Safari Explorer and the Kenai Backcountry Lodge.
We had many different trip leaders and guides throughout our trip and all of them were excellent. They were all knowledgeable in their own areas and helped us to learn about the history or each area we visited, the wildlife in each area, as well as the animals that were native to each area. Even the chefs informed us about the meals we were enjoying. All of our guides, chefs and leaders were so enthusiastic about their areas of expertise.
We liked various parts of each leg of our trip. The inside passage for the marine life and the Tongass National Forest and Glacier Bay National Park. Denali National Park for the great hiking, glaciers, the tundra which I knew nothing about but learned to appreciate and enjoy the beauty of as well as the wildlife of the park. And the Kenai Peninsula portion of our trip for the activities like rafting the Kenai River, hiking through the stunning scenic countryside and enjoying the peace of the Backcountry Lodge and boating from Resurrection Bay to the Glacier Lodge and seeing the glaciers coming down from the Harding Icefield. Juneau and Anchorage were not very pretty towns but we were glad that we had the opportunity to see them.
AdventureSmith, and specifically Taylor, was so thorough and meticulous in planning our trip. She had first hand experience and knowledge of each location and planned our trip with the perfect amount of time in each location. I don't think we would change anything about our itinerary. We would absolutely recommend AdventureSmith and specifically Taylor to anyone contemplating traveling to Alaska.
Let AdventureSmith plan your trip and you won't regret it!
We did the 8-day West Itinerary on M/Y Passion and it exceeded our expectations. Everything from the ship, crew, our guide, and the places we visited were outstanding. The flexibility over everyone (including other passengers) allowed us to have the best experience. Having everything booked and taken care of was amazing and totally worth it! I feel we got lucky and all the other passengers were great. We all got along and had similar enjoyment of the activities. On such a small tour, this is important! Galapagos has been a place we wanted to experience for a long time and I wanted to do it right. To get the best experience, I knew we needed to do an 8-day live-aboard with the smallest amount of passengers. It was totally worth the money spent.
M/Y Passion is an older vessel but they take great pride and care in it. I'm glad we chose Stateroom 5 as it was above deck and we avoided engine noise and were able to regulate temperature in the room easily (the AC was COLD). Everything else was in tip-top shape!
I really can't say enough about the chef. No main dishes were repeated. The food was excellent and plentiful. Everything was tasty and presented beautifully. I loved the Ecuadorian dishes. I was very impressed with their creativity and being able to accommodate a passenger who could not have dairy or gluten, without making them feel like they missed out on something. There is nothing that could be improved from my experience with that chef.
If I could give something higher that excellent I would. We had Rafael, who grew up on islands and is an ornithologist (studies bird, specifically sea birds). His knowledge and experience about everything Galapagos is unmatched. His passion and enthusiasm is infectious. He was genuinely excited when spotting things for us and teaching about everything. His goal was to make us feel like we had the islands to ourselves for a trip of a lifetime and he delivered. Even though you can't avoid other tours, he worked the schedule to time visits to get the most personal experience possible. This sometimes meant our morning snorkel was before breakfast but totally worth it!
The only arrangement made were our Galapagos flights to and from mainland Ecuador and it was all easy.
[We most enjoyed] The variety of snorkeling because we were able to see everything on the list! I loved to see specific species both on land and under the water. For example: snorkeling with marine iguanas feeding on algae and swimming, then visiting a place where there are hundreds of them sunning themselves in an island. [We least enjoyed] If I had to pick one it would probably be the visit to Floreana Island to see the tortoises in the highlands. After seeing the giant on Santa Cruz the day before it was a little underwhelming. The hike and learning about the original settlers was fascinating though. I'm glad we did the stop but it is not one I would need to repeat if I went again.
Lauren was amazing. Everything was so well prepared, I didn't worry about anything and whenever I had a specific question, she would contact the tour company and get it answered to me better prepare for the trip. For example, I knew things not included (alcohol, tips) were cash only on the boat. She was able to get me exact pricing for those things so we knew how much to bring. Were were way more prepared than some of fellow passengers! I also especially appreciate all of the ongoing communication, travel tips, and updates.
I normally make all of my travel arrangements and bookings because I enjoy researching and figuring it all out. Visiting the Galapagos is expensive and I wanted to do it right. Having Lauren do the work for this part of our trip was amazing and she is top notch! When the time comes to go to Antarctica, I will call on AdventureSmith Explorations again!
Spend the extra money and book a small vessel (no more than 16 people). You will get more time to see the sights. I also suggest an 8-day itinerary because it gets you to the outermost islands. Must have items: good sunscreen, sun hat, sun shirt, sea sickness medication, sense of adventure, and flexibility.
Everything was planned perfectly and the places selected for us checked every box. They were beautiful and Lauren planned the best honeymoon trip. She really listened to what we wanted and it could not have been more perfect. We met the nicest people on our trip. Everyone was open and welcoming each place we went. We were looking for adventure, outdoor activities, variety of activities, and wanted to see as many places as possible and Lauren made it happen.
The lodges were amazing, great food all around, especially at the Bear Track Inn and Riverside Lodge. The Kenai river lodge and glacier lodge were our favorite because of their beauty and access to outdoor activities. The Bear Track Inn was great, but less to do there. If we hadn't been there for the fourth of July it would not have been as eventful.
The food was incredible. Snacks and appetizers at each lodge were great, even the packed lunches were tasty, and the food was always fresh!
All guides were very knowledgable, enthusiastic, and kind. They answered all of the questions and offered great insight into all things Alaska. Many had over 10 years experience and held various degrees. They made the experiences so wonderful!
There was always some one waiting for us and all were timely.
The packing list and detailed itinerary was so good to have. Lauren even continued to email us to remind us of things as we went along our trip which was very helpful. Everything was taken care of. We were singing your praises the whole time on the trip. Thank you, Lauren! We could not have done this without you. We will definitely be using your assistance when we go back to Alaska!
Definitely go fishing one day in Kenai, do the rafting trip, and end at the Glacier lodge as it is the perfect way to relax.
All the arrangements were effected without a hitch. Drivers and guides met us at the airports and hotels. They were never late - in fact, they often came early. The expedition on La Pinta was just right for us - the itinerary, boat size, and amenities were perfect. Lastly, the trip to Cuenca was interesting and we very much enjoyed the architecture, restaurants, scenery, and the nearby gem of a national park.
The trip was all about the Galapagos Islands, and they did not disappoint. Seeing how treating animals with respect results in a very peaceful coexistence was eye-opening. I came away with some amazing pictures and experiences, including swimming with playful sea lions and stepping around iguanas and tortoises. That said, Cuenca was wonderful. We may very likely go back there after I retire to spend the winter months at least one year. What a beautiful city!
Quito is a big city and not particularly attractive. Our tour guide was good, but that did not change the fact that it was not somewhere we would want to spend a lot of time. We were told not to go out at night (though one restaurant had a free car service and it was worth the trip), versus in Cuenca where we went to a great restaurant about fifteen minutes from our hotel and walked back along the city streets after dark with no concern. There are some areas to avoid, but generally it seems to be a very safe city that also boasts clean tap water (though a several day acclimation period is recommended).
The hotels in Quito and Cuenca were very nice - particularly the one in Cuenca, which like many hotels there is a converted home of some wealthy resident. The accommodations on La Pinta were roomier than I had expected, with a large bed, big window and a bathroom with excellent water pressure and plentiful hot water. The boat, with 41 tourists on board, was just the right size.
The meals we had on our own on the mainland were good, particularly the breakfasts in Quito. On the boat, we enjoyed the meals very much, though breakfast and lunch buffets were clearly the highlight and the sit-down dinners were less impressive. We also had salmon our first night on the boat that could have been fresher. However, the lunches more than made up for the minor glitches.
All of our guides/naturalists on La Pinta were good. They were very knowledgeable, friendly and enthusiastic. In Quito, we had a good guide, notwithstanding she had a limited palette of locations to work with. Our guide in Cuenca was excellent too. All guides and naturalists were very proficient in English, though when we were off the boat, we tried speaking Spanish as often as we could.
The arrangements were perfect. Not a glitch in the entire nearly two weeks. I was so pleased that drivers and guides were always there when they were supposed to be there and made us feel like we were in good hands.
Andrew was great. That's why I'm planning a trip to Peru through him. Information was provided in a very clear and relatively concise manner. We kept the trip instructions close at hand, particularly when on the mainland. The only thing I did on my own without instructions to prepare for the trip was to visit the Mayo Clinic's travel clinic, where they made sure certain vaccinations were up to date and prescribed Diamox for altitude sickness in case I had an issue, as well as something for stomach upset (which was really not an issue).
I am just very happy to have found AdventureSmith. The agency and agent, Andrew, were recommended by friends of ours who were on the same boat as we were some years ago. I am looking forward to working with Andrew and AdventureSmith again when my younger daughter and I travel to Machu Picchu. I have already mentioned AdventureSmith to several people.
Just that they should do their homework to get the most out of the trip, bring the proper clothes (we traveled very light but were just fine), and check in with a doctor to make sure you don't spend days dealing with altitude sickness or have some other issue (after visiting the doctor, we bought DEET mosquito repellent which was not necessary all that often, but we are glad we did). I took Diamox and my wife (who did not take any meds) had just one day on arrival in Quito when she had a splitting headache, but then we both hiked for a couple hours at nearly 13,000 feet and we were both fine. I will definitely make sure my daughter and I have Diamox before we land in Cusco.
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