4.7 Stars (1139 reviews)
Our guide was fabulous. Gem was always there, anticipating our needs and keeping the flow moving along in a very proficient way. Made sure everything was addressed and covered our backs.
Patagonia Hiking Adventure, January 1970
4.8 Stars (387 reviews)
Once upon a time there were 2 kind guides, Shannon and David, who picked up 9 weary travelers. They took us on a wonderful adventure to the north, south, east, and west of New Zealand. We hiked, marveled, laughed, learned, ached, and delighted in everything the South Island offers. The towering mountains, the deep green and blue lakes, sheep and “hamburgers†grazing, snow capped peaks. We listened in rapt attention to MÄori legend. We marveled at the wonders of Milford Sound and the majesty of Mt Cook. We were Awed by The wonderous flora…towering beeches, ferns of every type, and the magical lush moss. Oh and the birds that serenaded us everywhere- Bel, Kea, Ka-ka and zillions of other birds.
And, then there were the 2 Guides who made it all possible. Two very thoughtful and caring people who patiently answered our thousands of questions, nurtured and fed us, offered a kind word and a sturdy arm, kept us caffeinated, listened to hours of 60s music, and always made us feel like we are the only people In the world. They anticipated our every need…really? blankets at the outdoor restaurant?! Muffins and grapes at 6 am? Picnic table set by the lake? We are so grateful to you! We thank you from the bottom of our hearts. As my friend Julie said…the trip is a 10 to the 10th degree!
New Zealand Walking Adventure, January 1970
4.6 Stars (825 reviews)
What a fantastic trip!! Right from the start this was a great trip. The itinerary on the website was spot on and provided detailed accurate information on the trip. The booking process was easy.
Right from the moment we met Mel and Sarah we knew we were in for an adventure. They were so welcoming and enthusiastic.
We were pleasantly surprised to find out that most of our meals were going to be prepared by Sarah. She did not disappoint - we were served the best meals! Sarah made a point of including foods that folks indicated were their favourites.
Mel was our head guide for the first week and she was amazing! Very knowledgeable about all things New Zealand and took great pleasure in passing on her knowledge. Unfortunately Mel was only able to be with us for the first week but there was a silver lining because we then had the incomparable Jacob as our guide.
To say that Jacob is enthusiastic is an understatement of epic proportion. Also very knowledgeable about all things Kiwi.
Sarah, Mel and Jacob worked so hard to make sure we had the best experience. Job well done!!
The trip itself was well paced and definitely exposed us to some of the highlights of the South Island.
The overnight cruise on Doubtful Sound was outstanding!! The scenery was incredible, the staff on board were amazing, the food was plentiful and delicious and the cabins were comfortable and clean.
The hiking was top notch! A good mix of hilly terrain and beautiful scenery. By far the best day of hiking was at Mount Aoraki. A challenging hike up the Mueller Hut track that was well worth the climb!!
The only thing I would suggest as a change to the itinerary would be to spend two days at Mount Aoraki. There are other hikes that we could have done in the area as well as attractions such as the Sir Edmund Hilary Center and the museum that we would have liked to visit but there was no time.
All in all this trip was one of the best I have done. It was my first trip with Active Adventures and I would not hesitate in booking with them again .
Milford Track Adventure, January 1970
4.7 Stars (1139 reviews)
Excellent, the trip of a lifetime!
Patagonia Hiking Adventure, January 1970
4.7 Stars (4482 reviews)
Natalie and Nicola were amazing. They were patient, understanding, very accomodating, and I felt like I was their friend. My birthday was in the middle of our experience at beautiful Lake Wanaka, Natalie baked me a birthday cake and our group sang me Happy Birthday and then some us went in the lake to celebrate. That was amazing. They were well organized, I am a picky eater but the food was delicious. They both were very informative about the hikes and areas we visited. They provided native Maori stories and words of the day which was fun. The places we stayed at varied just like the areas we visited. The driving was long, long like 3 hour van rides long, but the scenery was gorgeous. I really enjoyed the kayaking and biking and wished we had more of it to break up the 7- 10 mile hikes per day. I would recommend that the hikes were in the morning instead of after a 3 hour van ride. The backpacking trip was hard, I would have liked the backpacking trip near the end of the experience instead of at the beginning. It was too much for me so soon of getting off the 13 hour flight from USA. Mom (70 yrs old) and I (52 yrs.old) really enjoyed our once in a lifetime experience and may possibly do another experience with Active Adventures in the states.
Ultimate South Island Adventure, January 1970
4.7 Stars (270 reviews)
I’ve been on a number of treks with Active Adventures, including Patagonia and Everest Basecamp. As with the earlier trips, the trek to Annapurna Basecamp was outstanding. Kim (our active guide) and Amrit (local guide) were outstanding and made the trip enormously enjoyable. Can’t recommend this trip highly enough. The path to Annapurna starts off in rain forest filled with monkeys and ends up in alpine terrain, just below the snow line. Food and accommodation were all very good for the area.
Annapurna Base Camp Trek, January 1970
4.7 Stars (1139 reviews)
Get your heart pumping as you actively explore one of the most stunning landscapes on the planet. Active Adventures seamlessly takes care of all the logistics so all you have to do is have fun. You’ll see the best of Chilean and Argentinian Patagonia, will sleep in comfortable lodging and feast daily. Great Active plus local guides. DO IT!
Patagonia Hiking Adventure, January 1970
4.8 Stars (6 reviews)
The W Trek is a great hike in many many ways. Foremost, it is stunningly beautiful... majestic mountains, snow-melt streams, wildflowers (November), amazing lakes and, my biggest surprise, an amazing glacier. The trek is real work, you'd be wise to following the training advice, but is was never scary or too grueling. Active's itinerary is a winner, and the guides could not have been better.
Torres del Paine Adventure, January 1970