Tell Tale Travel

05/07/2024

"What are you looking at?"
Taken this week on a Tell Tale trip in Brazil's Pantanal

17/05/2024

We always love returning Tell Tale Travellers (quite a few at 5+ trips), but a new record this week with a family booking their two next trips at the same time! 'Reefs, Rays and Lagoons' in Thailand this year and 'Family Adventure in Japan' next year.

27/11/2023

Thank you Debbie Dyer! "Last evening of our holiday! 😢 up early tomorrow for our flights. These 16 nights have been absolutely incredible ♥️ thank you so much Tell Tale Travel and all your wonderful guides and hosts! We've had an epic time. Can't wait to book our next adventure ♥️
Debbie's stunning photo from 3-night Maldives add on to 'Elephants, Egrets and the Deep Blue Sea' in Sri Lanka

Discover the wildlife and big animals of Sri Lanka

27/10/2023

Breath taking! Still one of our favourite boutique beach resorts in Thailand. Add a stay to any Tell Tale adventure! We’ve even arranged a wedding here.

Captivated by the pristine allure of Tubkaak Beach, with a breathtaking view of the 13-island panorama. Every wave and horizon tells nature's perfect story. 🌴✨

📸 .officialth
Your private paradise awaits. Book your stay at https://www.tubkaakresort.com/

26/10/2023

Thanks to the The Times and responsible travel for featuring Tell Tale's 'Lemongrass Trail' in last Friday's edition. The photo they used was taken by Neil Spence a professional photographer who took a Tell Tale trip with his friend Barry (pictured about to chop up a crab!).
Chop and cook your way around Thailand for yourself on the Lemongrass Trail
http://www.telltaletravel.co.uk/thailand/cooking-holidays/cooking-holiday.php

http://www.telltaletravel.co.uk

26/10/2023

Broaden your horizons on a Tell Tale family adventure in Japan. This is a completely private trip just for you.
http://www.telltaletravel.co.uk/japan/family-adventure-holiday.php
"The trip was a memorable adventure that we will never forget. It exceeded our expectations. ..Even some of the activities that we were unsure about, enriched our holiday. We were amazed that within 2 hours, we drew a manga cartoon that looked like a person. Second favourite might be Miyajima island with the beautiful Shinto shrine & sacred mountain, but so hard to choose!"
Dr Alison Pearce

Photo credit: Alison Pearce and Robbie Rowe

http://www.telltaletravel.co.uk

18/10/2023

A good watch. Alexandra Armstrong travelling around Sri Lanka.
Thanks for the hat tip to Debbie Dyer
https://www.channel5.com/show/alexander-armstrong-in-sri-lanka/season-1/episode-1?

16/10/2023

*Special offer* Take a walk on the wild side in Sri Lanka and top off your trip with an extra night (with dinner included) on us and our friends at Rosyth Estate House Your *free extra night* will be added to the end of http://www.telltaletravel.co.uk/sri-lanka/wildlife-holiday-leopards-elephants.php
Offer conditions:
- Travel before 15 April 2024
- Must be booked by 22 October 2023
- Can be combined with loyalty discount (if you have taken a Tell Tale trip before)
- Subject to availability

Photo credits: leopard in Yala National Park by Tell Tale Traveller Fred Barrington; view by Estate House

15/10/2023

Great to see Rick Stein's Far Eastern Odyssey back on BBC iPlayer, originally broadcast in 2009.
Recommended watch, Sri Lanka. May not actually be in the Far East, but the cuisine is delicious and diverse!

Rick visits Sri Lanka and discovers a wealth of hot and spicy vegetable curries.

13/10/2023

We're enjoying watching Rick Stein's Far Eastern Odyssey back on BBC iPlayer (originally broadcast in 2009). Today's recommended watch is Cambodia. You can taste many of these on a Tell Tale trip in Cambodia!

Rick Stein is on an epic culinary journey beginning in Cambodia.

11/10/2023

Oh to be at the top of a desert island, looking down at this view. Warm water swimming and snorkelling. 'Reefs, Rays and Lagoons' is a fantastic-value family adventure you will remember forever. Your child may even be inspired into a career in marine conservation (true story).
http://www.telltaletravel.co.uk/thailand/family-adventure-holidays/family-holiday-thailand.php

17/07/2023

Stunning view of Mount Fuji taken by Tell Tale Travellers on a family adventure in Japan.
Thank you Alison Pearce!

17/07/2023

Lovely tale to start the week
"Once again, we had an absolutely brilliant holiday..Highlights were the ranch and being part of the family..Variety of activities was also much appreciated and allowed us to experience various parts of Brazil..We really feel that Tell Tale Travel provide an excellent personal service, and we feel that your company really care."

12/07/2023

Recommended watch: Amazing footage of wildlife in Brazil's Amazon!
Though to be honest, wildlife is hard to spot in the Amazon due to the density of foliage. You will have a better chance of seeing these same animals for yourself in the Pantanal (and some in the Atlantic rainforest e.g. Rio de Janeiro or the north eastern coast).

World of the Wild - Episode 1: The Amazon Rainforest | Wildlife DocumentaryWatch 'World of the Wild - Episode 2' here: https://youtu.be/2KkGev-JVIoIn this ep...

08/07/2023

Fantastic photo sent in from a family on ‘Rainforests & Savannah’ in Brazil
http://www.telltaletravel.co.uk/brazil/wildlife-holiday-pantanal.php

Authentic holidays in Brazil wildlife culture local people and more

27/06/2023

Up close and a tad too personal!

Discover authentic Sri Lanka. Private tours where you will travel comfortably on a soft adventure.

05/05/2023

Today in Japan is a public holiday: Children's Day!
If you are in London in May, check out Japan House on Kensington High Street for a display.

Here you will find everything you want to know about Japan, from basic facs to descriptions of Japanese lifestyle, culture, and traditions.

02/05/2023

Now this is what we call a good job opportunity!

Want to help us learn more and educate our guests about elephants? We're looking for a new Elephant Camp Coordinator, come join the best team in the world! https://bit.ly/JoinTheEleTeam

27/04/2023

News from Japan. COVID-19 is being downgraded under their infectious disease laws (will now be similar category to seasonal flu). From this Saturday, travellers do not need to show proof of vaccination nor a negative test.

http://www.telltaletravel.co.uk

27/03/2023

Day 6 of Elephants, Egrets and the Deep Blue Sea
http://www.telltaletravel.co.uk/sri-lanka/elephants-whales.php

28/02/2023

Great to see Sri Lanka in Forbes Magazine's best safaris article. Check out the comments for links to a recommended Tell Tale trip.

"Sri Lanka: Many in the travel industry have told me they think this will be one of the next big “it” destinations, driven by a unique hybrid of the best land animals and largest sea creatures. The nation has one of the planet’s densest populations of leopards, and is arguably the best place to reliably see these magnificent cats, even more so than most of Africa. There are also Asian elephants, peacocks, water buffalo, monkeys, and sloth bears. Whale watching is hugely popular around the globe, from Cape Cod to the Dominican Republic, but Sri Lanka is one of the only places to easily see the world’s largest living creatures, blue whales. "

African safaris are awesome, but there are other great wildlife vacations around the world.

23/02/2023

Angkor Wat without the crowds! We'll always do our best to give you the best experience, but now is a great time to visit this Wonder of the World. Have a look at this Tell Tale journey around Cambodia.

A journey around Cambodia including Angkor temples, nature, boat rides and beaches

14/02/2023

Happy Valentine's Day! We love the day's sightings from one of the best boats in Mirissa. Sri Lanka remains arguably the best-value destination for seeing a wide range of wildlife.
See comments for a link to see whales for yourself.

11/01/2023

It may be winter in the UK, but it's summer in the Amazon.
Interesting article by our friends at Uakari. We've never seen a jaguar in the flesh in the Amazon, so tempted to visit in May to see for ourselves!

Summer has arrived in the southern hemisphere! In fact, a summer with a winter face! Crucial period for the Mamirauá Reserve. During this period, the experiences at Uakari Lodge are special!

12/10/2022

NO papers please! Well, not quite. However, entry to Thailand is now fully back to where it was in pre 2020. You don't need to show Covid vaccination records or test results. You do need to show your passport. Now all you need to do is make sure it's up to date and decide which Tell Tale trip to take! We are updating so if there's a trip you're interested in, email into [email protected] and we'll check the itinerary and let you know any changes.

Discover authentic Thailand. We have lovingly put together some sample itineraries to suit many interests and needs. If you can't find your perfect holiday, just call us on 0800 011 2571!

12/10/2022

Plane watching is a tad different in Rio de Janeiro. ✈️ 🌊

23/09/2022

Some mouthwatering photos at the link!

Ayutthaya - a UNESCO World Heritage Site - is our top destination both for historical significance and deliciousness. Ayutthaya's top dishes include everything from the staples like boat noodles to something a bit fancier, such as grilled river prawns and royal Thai cuisine. This ancient capital is definitely a place to fulfill your quest for delectable dining.

Here are Ayutthaya's Bib Gourmand awardees in the Michelin Guide Thailand 2022, known for their affordable, good-value meals. For the full list, visit: bit.ly/3Rmrb6x

31/08/2022

A good article in the Times. Hopefully the share token works!

We were glad to see the FCDO advice lifted. We felt it was overdue. Even at the height of the protests, there was very little impact on tourists travelling with companies who have knowledge and good operations on the ground (like us, and the company mentioned in this article who are good friends of ours). Tell Tale Travellers don't tend to go into Colombo in normal times, but it was even possible to stay in central Colombo and not see a protest or a fuel queue.

There have been plenty of things available in the shops this summer. Negligible differences in price to visitors due to the currency changes (unfortunately expensive for people on local wages). Don't worry about the recent import ban on shampoo or chocolate. If you want to travel light, try one of the many local brands! If that's chocolate rather than shampoo, we particularly like trying the different types with cashew nuts - delicious!

If you have any questions, please feel free to email us.

With the Foreign Office ban lifted, now might be the best time to visit — the island is uncrowded, and visitors and their tourist dollars can do a lot of good, says Chris Haslam

30/08/2022

Today is International Whale Shark Day!

Whale sharks are NOT whales and are the biggest species of fish in the world! They can grow to about 12m, 3 times as long as an African elephant and can weigh up to 15 tonnes. These gentle giants, whose diet consists of plankton and tiny fish, are very easy to identify because of the shape of their head and body, presence of stripes and spots, among other physical characteristics. Photo identification (for a quick refresher, check out our guide titled ‘Photo Identification’), a method used to identify individual animals based on skin patterns or distinctive markings, is also used to identify individual whale sharks.

Whale sharks are listed as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and their populations are in decline around the world. The threats to this species include habitat destruction, accidental entanglement in fishing nets (bycatch), vessel collisions, unsustainable tourism practices and hunting for their meat, fins and oil. They are currently listed as a protected species in Sri Lanka, under the Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Act and they cannot be caught or landed.

04/08/2022

"Oh hello, do you come here often?"