Zegrahm Expeditions

Zegrahm gets my highest recommendation.

I recently returned from a 13-day Seychelles exploration and snorkel/dive adventure beginning in Zanzibar, visiting something like 9 Seychelles Atolls and islands for tons of daily snorkeling and diving, and finishing in Mahe where we departed from.

This was absolutely the best cruise/group experience I have ever had on either land or sea. Zegrahm charters the boats and I was lucky enough to be on the Ponant ship, Le Bougainville, which is very posh, with a friendly and polite staff, an amazing french chef, good food, a nice spa, you name it. My bedroom was like a small luxury hotel and each room had a balcony so you could enjoy seaside and ocean views from your bed or balcony whenever you'd like. It was lovely. I especially appreciated coming back to such a haven after long days of sunshine, beach and snorkeling.

Not only was the cruise ship and it's staff fantastic, but the Zegrahm staff were all wonderful. I sat and had dinner with many of them every day and they somehow remembered all our names (99 or so of us). They snorkeled and dove with us, pointing out fish and naming species, they went birding, they provided lectures in the mornings and evenings in their areas of expertise, because Zegrahm hires Marine Biologists, Anthropologists, and countless other individuals (with PhDs) to provide insight and lessons into the history and ecology of the places being visited and seen.

At the conclusion of the trip - I didn't want it to end. I had made several like-minded friends for travel, was invited on future trips and exchanged information with almost everyone. We were a family by the end, both staff and customers. Hugs all around as we celebrated all we had seen together and promised to keep in touch. Zegrahm fosters that type of environment when you travel with them - and it was welcoming and especially enjoyable for a solo traveler like myself.

These trips aren't cheap - but are worthwhile for all you see and do - most things you'd never be able to see on your own and certainly not with trained ecologists and marine science experts. I believe you get what you pay for. I was one of the youngest on board but there was a small group of about ten 30-40 year olds with the vast majority being probably 50-80.

This isn't a sit on the boat all day-type thing. You are going to be waking up early, going out 2-3x a day and really seeing and doing things. You almost never have down time and you are always learning, seeing, talking and doing. It's expeditionary, not sedentary. It's fun and really enriching.

The best way to know someone is doing a good job at this price point (think around $8-12k per person) is repeat customers and I met countless people who have done 6-12 of these expeditions with Zegrahm and knew the staff already. That's the absolute best recommendation you can get. I'll be booking with them again without any hesitation.

Thank you to Brad, Murph, LJ, Merel, Steven, George, George K., Robin, Pepper, Lisa, Shirley, Gemma, Chris, Boli, Marcel, and anyone else who I forgot from this amazing trip. You all did a great job and made me feel like family!

Quality staff and good itineraries. Also have many voyages with no single supplement. They actually welcome solo travelers - much more welcoming than many other companies. Getting a little expensive for me, though.

Wonderfully planned trips with guides, naturalists and even zodiac drivers who are well steeped in the knowledge of the animals and area they take you. You can always depend on having an incredible time with no hitches. Zegrahm is top drawer and my favorite company with which to travel.

The trip I took to Antarctica was AMAZING. I ran out of words to describe the sites that I was seeing on the first day! The expedition leaders were not only knowledgeable but fun. That was a wonderful, unexpected addition.

Zegrahm takes care of their guests like no other expedition company I've every traveled with before. I have been on more than 5 trips with them and will continue to come back every year. The quality of their staff and accommodations are incomparable and you truly feel like you're being taken care of every step of the way. The expeditions are exciting and informative all in one. I couldn't recommend their company and their trips enough.

Superb planning and execution. By far the best trip and exedition company out there.

Awesome itineraries, great staff, best in the business.

Sunday, 22 July... SVALBARD, Norway. Halfway between the top of continental Norway & the North Pole!

We disembarked & are now back to civilization! WOW!
What a FANTASTIC adventure on the ship Ocean Adventurer!

Once again, Zegrahm delivered! Cruise Director & Expedition Leader executed an unforgettable adventure! SUPERB lectures on ship & field trips from the guest experts in their fields... history of polar explorations... geology... birds... polar bears & other animals!

We saw several polar bears, groups of walrus, one very photogenic seal, reindeer, Arctic fox, a BLUE WHALE (largest of ALL whales!)... & a gazillion birds!

Our small ship was indeed able to circumnavigate the Svalbard (Spitsbergen) archipelago... 3 cheers to our Russian captain! The staff on board were FANTASTIC! And the best food I've had on any ship!

Mostly great weather... quite fortunate! Out on the Zodiacs (rubber rafts), I wore almost everything in my suitcase, in layers all at once, hoping to stay warm & dry... followed by VERY LONG hot showers once back on the ship, while I thawed out!

If you have an interest in polar adventure, TAKE THIS TRIP!!! Unbelievable!

Amazing cruise expedition to Antarctica to see the King penguins on South Georgia!!
Top notch expedition team.

The guides/lecturers are so knowledgeable. And friendly! By the end of a trip you feel as if you have just spent time with your new best friends. Accommodations are extremely nice. But most importantly the places you visit are unusual--a monastery clinging to a cliff, a cave high up on a hill that has the graves of kings, a stretch of 3 ancient temples all on a hill. Albania! All wonderful.

Between us, my mother and I have been on quite a number of trips with Zegrahm, and we can't recommend the company enough, especially for the South Pacific. These have been once in a lifetime experiences for me, and I'm seriously considering doing a trip with them when we go to Africa for my 60th in two years. They have a very high number of repeat passengers, and it's completely understandable given the quality of the itineraries, the food, the experts, and the overall experience. The cost may be higher than with some other companies, but the trips are worth every bit of it

Excellent staff and expedition leader's.... Don't miss Seychelles and east Africa, unbelievable!

Best experiences of my life! Galapagos, French Polynesia, Antarctica... And soon, Indonesia. Every experience with @Zegrahm is amazing!!

Heard fantastic things about you and your expeditions!!