Rough Guides Tailor-made trips reviews

“Hema has done a great job in helping us to put together our trip to India. She has taken our 'outline plan' and crafted into what we expect to be a really good itinerary. She has patiently taken on board our desire and requirements for a high level of independence during the trip. We are now looking forward to a great couple of months in India in 2027”

“15 Day Peru & Galapagos Discovery – Culture and Wildlife This was the first trip I booked through Insight Guides and it couldn’t have turned out any better! The process began with an inquiry to IG about the type of trip and dates I was looking for to book a “dream trip” to Machu Picchu and the Galapagos Islands. I reached out about 7 months prior to the actual date of the trip and was connected with Jeferson, who put together an amazing itinerary, based on our needs and wants. Everything was taken into consideration in planning this trip for us – our price point, destinations, dates, type of hotel, special dietary needs, the preferred ship we wanted in the Galapagos, just to name a few. What I found out later is that IG sources local travel experts (Jeferson is with Responsible Travel) and this is really a nice feature. We were also introduced to Benjamin, who became our main contact for the duration of the trip. Once the original itinerary was sent, we reviewed it and made a few “tweaks” to it – sending our requests/changes to Jeferson and Benjamin. They included everything we asked for, as well as adding some very good suggestions for other things for us to do. Our trip was for a group of four and we traveled from May 21 – June 5, 2026. We began in Peru and ended in Ecuador. Everything went without a hitch – and there were many moving parts (planes, trains, automobiles/ferry and yacht). Every assigned guide and driver was excellent – courteous, punctual and all passionate about their job, making for the absolute best experiences in all the places we toured/visited. As the start of the trip became closer, we were in contact with Benjamin via WhatsApp and Zoom calls – it was so very nice to put a face to our incredible planner. Imagine our surprise when Benjamin came to the Quito airport to meet our group of four before we began the flight to the Galapagos Islands! He genuinely loves his job and his customers. Upon our return to Quito after the GP portion, we had the pleasure of meeting again with Benjamin and also Jeferson. We were so happy to meet them and talk about the wonderful trip they planned for us. They were both so incredibly caring and passionate about making sure the trip they planned for us met our expectations. I can’t say enough about the daily check-ins and following up to make sure every part of our trip went smoothly. When working with IG in your trip planning, if there are certain things you absolutely want to see or do, let them know and they will make sure to include these items. They are great in suggesting things for you to do if you want to give them free rein (they are the experts after all!) I highly recommend IG and would definitely use them again when planning my next trip.”

“We had a really good trip throughout almost all of Albania - plus Kotor and Budva in Montenegro. However, we probably should have added a few more days as moving hotels most mornings was a bit of a pain. Also, quite a lot of time in the car, which I guess was inevitable if we wanted to see everything in 12 days. Time in the car was made fun by our amazing driver, Randi (Marindo). He was so knowledgeable, relaxed and funny. Think it's fair to say that by the end of the trip he had become a lifetime friend. Albania itself is a beautiful country with an amazing coastline and friendly people. Prices are great. Good meal with very nice wine about £40 in most places. Montenegro more expensive (UK prices in the resorts) but also beautiful. A highly memorable trip.”

“We recently completed a wonderful trip through Ecuador, including Quito, Cotopaxi, the Amazon, and the Galápagos Islands, and I cannot say enough good things about Jose and his team. From the very beginning, Jose was a pleasure to work with. Planning a trip like this can be challenging when you have never been to the destination before. There are countless emails, phone calls, questions, and decisions that need to be made before you finally commit to an itinerary. Throughout the entire process, Jose was knowledgeable, responsive, and incredibly patient. His communication was outstanding. Once we arrived in Ecuador, the service exceeded our expectations. Jose checked in with us regularly, often sending text messages to make sure everything was going smoothly and to see if we needed anything. He was always available to answer questions and provide assistance. It was reassuring to know that someone was looking out for us every step of the way. Everything was exactly as promised. The accommodations were excellent and in great locations. Every transfer was seamless and professionally handled. The guides we worked with throughout the trip were knowledgeable, friendly, accommodating, and clearly passionate about their country. The overall flow of the itinerary was very well thought out, allowing us to experience a tremendous amount without ever feeling rushed. A special mention goes to Napo Wildlife Center, which was absolutely terrific and one of the highlights of the trip. We also loved our time in Cotopaxi, Quito, and throughout the rest of Ecuador. Every destination offered something unique and memorable. If I were to suggest one thing to future travelers, it would be this: if your schedule allows, try to spend two or three days on Isabela Island in the Galápagos. While all of the excursions we took were excellent, well-organized, and offered incredible wildlife encounters, Isabela provides a more relaxed atmosphere and some truly outstanding wildlife experiences. The rest of the Galápagos is amazing, but if you can fit Isabela into your itinerary, I believe it is well worth the extra time. Overall, Jose is a true professional, and I highly recommend both him and his company. We had an amazing experience from start to finish. Great trip, great company, great guides, and an outstanding experience working with Jose.”

“From my first conversation with Effie, to my last (of many whats app texts with Maria, Christos and Mairi). I can not say enough about Rough Guides, the tours, drivers, plans etc. We can not recommend this company enough, and will use again any time we travel internationally! It was the best decision of our trip!”

“We used RoughGuides to plan the land-portion of our trip in Romania. We discussed our goals and interests and then agreed on the trip plan, the types of hotels we like, etc. After that, Corina took care of everything. Once we arrived in Bucharest, we were contacted via WhatsApp by Alin, who was our guide and driver for the entire trip. He did a great job driving and explaining things, suggesting restaurants, etc. It was our first time using RoughGuides, and we'd be happy to use them again. Also, we had just finished a cruise where we were often on excursions with 38 of our new best friends - so it was a real joy to be just the three of us (me, my husband, and our guide) in a small car!”