Discover Corps

We were truly able to experience Egypt and all the history & wonders! The pyramid of Giza, Great Sphinx, Valley of the Kings and temples were amazing, as was our add-on of Sakara and a hot air balloon ride in Luxor over the Valley of the Queen/Nobles and Queen Hatshepsuts temple (Muhammad arranged for us). Oh, and the sunset boat ride on the Nile to the Nubian Village was great. Muhammad helped ensure every activity was enjoyable and every detail was taken into consideration. In addition, we loved dining with the Hassan family! What a truly enjoyable and memorable way to spend Christmas. Mrs. Hassan cooked a lovely feast for us, complete with a cake decorated for the holiday. We enjoyed our conversations with the family, especially their two older daughters. It was a fascinating and enriching experience.

I loved learning different cultures and history by visiting temples and schools. Meeting journalist, monks, and school administrators were very eye opening experiences. Karma and Cindy really put efforts for us to learn Butan and its cultures. We loved our tour guide, Kuenzang . He worked extremely hard to explain everything we asked. Not to mention providing best care possible. Our driver Senchu was excellent driver. Both of them made our trip so pleasant.

I’ve had great experiences with guides at Discover. I’ve learned a lot in each country I’ve visited. The accommodations are great and trips are very organized. Our guide Karla was amazing. She is very knowledgeable, honest, intelligent, caring and patient. My daughter and I learned so much from the trip thanks to Karla’s guidance. She anticipated the needs of the group and her communication with as great.

The accommodations were beyond fantastic! We slept so soundly, felt safe and were welcomed with open arms. I cannot say enough about the amazing hospitality! The local Discover Corps staff is amazing! They go the extra mile EVERY SINGLE DAY. They are truly the loveliest people and absolutely made the trip. I cannot sing their praises enough. Please please pass along our gratitude once again. I feel like I have family in Tanzania. I LOVE the service aspect of this trip. This was the only company I found that seemed to be family friendly, service oriented with the addition of the safari. I would absolutely book another trip with DC!

Our trip started off with a lunch at Maya Gardens. We went to see the poultry in their pens while waiting for lunch, thinking it was a petting zoo. The poor birds did not have water or any indication that they ever had water. One of the turkeys was lying on it's side looking very sick. No one would give them water when I asked them to. The lunch was so awful I did not eat meat for the rest of the trip. I sent a video to Angela Bailey telling her this is not what we want to see when on a conservation trip and she acted like I was lying. Our guides were lazy and not caring about us. They took us to overpriced markets to get fleeced by the sellers there. At the anti-poaching farm tour, we had to walk over a bridge with wires on it, to keep wildlife in. One of our travelers, who was 65 years old, tripped over it and had to go to the hospital. No one warned her about the wires. Then, trying to get off the safari trucks, she was so very very sore and no guides helped her to get out of the truck. Completely appalling. The guides had very poor communication skills that worked for Discover Corps. I was forced to get vaccinated while in Kenya, because the laws changed while we were there. I asked if I could try to get out of the airport first and if I could not then get the vaccine. Discover Corps said "If you choose to do that, you are on your own". The conditions of medical in Kenya is not like the US and it was awful. The airport didn't even ask me for my vaccine card on the way out. DC could have worked with me on trying this first before forcing me to get this vaccine in a poor 3rd world country. Also, my vaccine card had the wrong date of birth and my name did not match what is on my passport. The doctor tried to get me to tip the nurse giving me the vaccine. The guides dropped us off curbside at the airport and left us there to navigate. I will NEVER use this company again. They did not have my back on anything that happened and Angela Bailey never contacted me to follow up about my experience after this trip was over.

We had an amazing first visit to Alaska with Discover Corps. I went with my two kids who are 6yo and 8 yo, and we all had such a great time and saw and learned a lot! Everything is pretty much taken care of - they pick you from the airport, all the transportation between towns and attractions, all the tickets to the sites, local guides on gorgeous hikes through estuaries and forests, guides at Sea life center, all meals except for 2 dinners, and the guide is with you the whole trip. The highlights - scenic gold star train ride, dog sledding in the summer with the Seavey family, fjord cruise, Sea life center, hike through the woods showing us which plants are edible, estuary walks, conservation center where we saw lots of animals, and the small group size. We have been on large group tours before - > 35 people, and this group only had 12 so it was nice to actually get to know everyone. The kids all played well together even though mine were the youngest and the rest were tweens and teens. This is the first of many Discover Corps tours.

We traveled to Costa Rica for the Discover Corps Wildlife Safari trip in March, 2021. We had to postpone and change our trip a couple times due to Covid, and I truly believe that it was meant to be. We had an amazing time! The country is so beautiful, the people are very hospitable, and we felt very safe throughout the entire trip. Our guide, Priscilla, was incredibly knowledgeable and thought of every last detail. She really catered to us and made sure we had the best possible experience. Our driver, Erick, was also fantastic. He was an excellent driver, helped us with our luggage, and was very fun and friendly. Every hotel we stayed at was immaculate and beautiful. The staff treated us like family everywhere we went. All the meals were delicious, and the restaurants all had great atmosphere. We really enjoyed learning all about Costa Rica and its rich history and the many unique animals that live there. All of the activities were wonderful as well. We visited a number of animal rescue centers and the biological center, and we went white water rafting, canoeing, kayaking, and we participated in a cooking lesson with delicious food. It was so hard to leave and go back to having to take care of ourselves after being treated like royalty during this fantastic experience. We definitely plan to take another Discover Corps trip again in the near future!

Photos

My trip to Kenya was one of the most incredible experiences of my life. I knew I wanted an adventure and to give back, but I also wanted to be able to relax and didn't want to lose out on comfort. This trip couldn't have been better for having the best of both worlds. We stayed in luxury tents that had everything a person could want or need. Many days, I would wake up early before our delicious breakfast together, just to sit out on the private porch and enjoy the early morning view and the sound of the birds. In between all the amazing things we got to see (so many animals-- big cats, chimpanzees, elephants!!) in the nature conservancy, having the comfort to pause was so paramount for me. I couldn't believe how comfortable I felt in this spectacular new experience. It was so comforting knowing that we were learning from organizations that are doing so much good, working to protect animals. The guide, the other travelers, the conservationists, and the people of the Masai tribe, were all lovely and kind. The care that was put into curating this experience was evident throughout. I will surely be traveling with this company again.

My partner Donna and I both recently retired and decided to finally take our dream trip to Thailand. Before deciding on DC, we shopped around, however, what we appreciated most about DC is their emphasis on ethical elephant care-taking. We wanted to make sure our volunteering wasn't doing harm to the elephants. Volunteering at the Thai Elephant Nursery was such a unique experience and we could tell our efforts were going toward a great cause. Although we are a bit on the older side, we didn't feel like this trip was too physically demanding at all. However, remember to bring breathable clothes as it's hot in Thailand year round! Overall, we both liked how this trip was a good mixture of experiencing the Thai culture (exploring Chang Mai, temples, and markets), adventure (zip lining/white water rafting), and time spent helping bathe/feed baby elephants. Not to mention the Early Booking Discount we received made the trip quite economical. Also, we LOVED our tour guide, he even remembered Donna's birthday was during the trip and surprised her with a cake!

My family and I recently returned from this Discover Corps trip to Cuba and our experience was truly incredible. The country is vibrant - from the people to the culture and of course, the artwork. Traveling here just feels different. We rode around in a classic car, ate generous portions of paladares food and explored unique Havana. One beauty of the trip was limited access to wifi, which ended up as a blessing for my family. We actually sat around the table at night and talked! Crazy concept. From a logistics standpoint the Discover Corps team was on point. Our itinerary and transportation were always well planned out. Also, I must mention our guide Tury. He was so knowledgeable on all things Cuba and did a great job of leading our adventure. For families considering this trip, do it, it's a 5 star experience. My family came home better than when we left. Thank you Discover Corps team!

We really enjoyed our Discover Corps tour and can't wait to return to Japan. My wife and I took the Discover Corps cultural trip to Japan (Started in Tokyo-then a bullet train to Kyoto & more local trains to Osaka). The transportation system works well and no cars were ever needed. We were completely taken care of from booking and thru the entire process. Adrienne did a great job of informing us of all the details-no planning required on our part. Our guides in Japan, Aki and Miwa, were very knowledgeable local people & made sure we were having a unforgettable time! The cultural experience in Japan was terrific. Great mix of excitement; watching Sumo and participating in Kendo. The food was wonderful plus we were able to participate in sushi making!

The building bridges tour was an amazing experience. The local people at the Community center Muraleando were so warm and inviting, I felt like I made friends of a lifetime. Our guide was also very informative of the Cuban culture, art and music, and also made the trip fun. I am also very happy I chose Discover Corps, they make planning trips easy, the trip went smoothly without flaws, I also felt very safe. I look forward to my next trip to Cuba to visit my friends!

Such an awesome trip for a family or even a solo traveler. Our guide Tara was amazing, and Jungle Mike was easily a highlight! We went during the nesting time of year, and even though my kids didn't see hatchlings, it was so cool to see. I felt like this trip gave us all so much knowledge about conservation and environmental issues, and I feel Costa Rica is so far ahead of us. I believe my kids were inspired after leaving. Definitely one of the best family vacations out there. Highly recommend.

This was a once-in-a-lifetime trip for my family and I that we NEVER could have done on our own. We were hanging out at the ranger station in the middle of the water, venturing to remote islands where we met the 12 students who go to school there, met howler monkeys, and made tortillas with a women's group. Of course, the main focus of the trip was the manatee scouting, which was really beautiful each day (for three days and 1 night ride). We had a marine biologist on board with us (Tanya) who explained to us the importance of the nonprofit she is apart of, and how our being there made this research for the manatees possible. Truly a beautiful experience for anyone who really wants to feel immersed in a new culture. So much fun!

I had an awesome time on this trip. I knew Costa Rica was supposed to be beautiful but I was blown away by how pristine the places we visited were. Our guide was very fun and, as someone who normally does trips on their own, I have to admit it was nice to have everything taken care of. Also, seeing the mama turtles laying their eggs was truly incredible and something I wouldn’t know how to organize on my own. I would recommend Discover Corps to anyone and plan to travel with them again.

Last year we had a terrific time in Cuba with Discovercorps and we just knew, their trip to Galapagos, this year, would be equally satisfying. And it was! The preparation and execution of the trip was very easy and helpful. Even though, we arrived early for the trip in Quito, they were there to make sure everything flowed well with transportation and our hotel. We had excellent guides and ate very well. The land based trip was perfect for our 11 year old daughter. We took small speed boats between islands but ate on land in local small restaurants. The hotels we stayed in were medium sized, very clean, had aircon if we wanted it, hot water 24hrs a day, and one was right on the beach where if we walked 50 feet we were in the ocean. Land based lodging allowed for way more interaction with the local people and for spending time in our service locations. The Galapagos islands are so interesting and diverse. The animals are everywhere, and it is hard to keep your distance from them as they come up to you. We literally played with the turtles and sea lions, one even jumped over my daughter's head when we were snorkeling. We will never be able to recreate our fun experiences in Galapagos any where else in our travels.

Having dreamed of going to Africa for years, I could not have been more satisfied with this trip. Discover Corp organized an educational and truly memorable experience. The Rhukiya Lodge hosts and guides were so welcoming and knowledgeable. The family style meals, excellent food, and comfortable accommodations added to the overall quality of the excursions. I felt especially privileged to be able to visit the Care For Wild Rhinos Sanctuary and learn about the amazing rescue and rehabilitation work they are doing. I returned home feeling fulfilled having truly experienced the beauty and reality of South Africa wildlife and culture.

This will go down as one of the best experiences of my life. There is nothing I could think of that could have been improved on!.The country itself was beautiful, the people friendly, and the food delicious. Learning the history of the country and people allowed me to see the struggles that still exist. It brings to the forefront of one's thinking the need to be involved in meeting the needs of those that are impoverished.

This was hands down one of the best trips I've ever taken! Discover Corps carefully crafted a well-coordinated itinerary of experiences I could have never planned in 3.5 days on my own and I left me filling so much more fulfilled than I expected. Our guides were so knowledgeable and able to infuse history and context into all that we saw and learned. This trip exposed me to a perspective of Cuba we don't often hear about in the US and left me with so many beautiful nuggets of wisdom to share with my friends and family back home. It is a country of multi-talented, charismatic people with amazing hearts who are straddling a challenging past and promising future. Their way of life is full of both opportunity as well as a simplicity that holds a lesson for us all. Our host family, the food, the tours, & music were all AMAZING! I'm looking forward to returning! *Check out my trip video on YouTube (link below)

Photos

Our S Africa trip was an amazing experience overall. The staff at Rukiya were delightful and very helpful. The animals were wonderful but there were not as many hands-on experiences as advertised. The lodge and safaris were spectacular!