Traveled with 15 friends interested in ecology

This was a great trip! Right from the onset with the information provided by Yugen Earthside and their local partner, over the pickups, transfers, guide on the boat around the Galapagos, guide and driver on the day tours in Quito / around Cotopaxi, airport transfers etc. Even mid-travel changes to my itinerary they accommodated w/o issues. Highly recommend!

(Custom Trip) Amazing Galapagos Adventure

Hilary assisted me in finding the perfect Kilimanjaro climb and safari! The trip was everything we dreamed of.

Guides and Porters were amazing and friendly and helped us make it to the top as well as see every African animal! Food was good and energizing but repetitive. We were eating for sustenance.

8 Days Kilimanjaro Climb (Lemosho Route) + 4 Days Safari

Such a fantastic trip! I got to see a 35 ft whale shark, schools of 100s of hammerheads, sea lions, etc. It was outstanding! 

Hilary was such a help finding an amazing travel experience. She helped me find an amazing scuba trip to the Galapagos and explained some of the impacts as well as ways to be a thoughtful steward. I will definitely work with her again. I recommend Yugen Earthside with all my heart!

Citizen Science Scuba Dive in the Galapagos Islands

We had a great hike in Douro valley, all the accommodations were perfect, and the people we met were so nice. In every place we stopped we had great hotel rooms and a pool to rest after a day hiking (mostly up). Especially Quinta do Portal was really excellent and had the best chef and meals we have ever had in Portugal. Thank you!

Yugen Earthside arranged a 3 week trip in Ecuador for 15 friends and myself.  This included a week in the Galapagos on a private yacht charter, various day trips in and around Quito (tour of the old town, a cooking class, trips to Quilotoa and Cotopaxi), and an 8-day river trip in the Ecuadorean Amazon region for 5 of us.  All went splendidly.  Our local guides and accommodations were all first class.  I can't say enough good about Yugen Earthside and Hilary Matson, who worked with me to design the trip and who made the necessary contacts in Ecuador.  I would definitely use them again for future adventure travel.

Highly recommend working with Hilary and Yugen Earthside. She is creating a genuine platform with experiences that truly take social and environmental sustainability into account. She cares about every detail and is open to every suggestion or change you want to make.

This was a life-changing adventure for me and my son. The days exploring Quito and the surrounding Andean volcanoes and cloud forest revealed surprises at every stop. The planned and unplanned activities gave us a glimpse at the richness of this region. Our guides were amazing, each knowledgeable and interesting and fun to be with. I learned so much from them. Once we arrived in the Galapagos and into the care of David and the crew of the Bonita, the magic of the islands enveloped us in its primeval web. Each day was a new adventure in geology, biology and climate. We saw animals and plants we did not know existed. We learned so much about the local ecology and uplifting news regarding the restoration of ecosystems. Our home on the sea was comfortable and relaxing. The crew was attentive and quickly learned the specific needs of each passenger for each activity. I cannot say enough about how hard they worked to provide us with such an amazing experience. Our naturalist guide, David, could not have been better. He is so knowledgeable about the regional ecology, but also about so many other social and human aspects of the region. And while his attention focused on ensuring that we had the best experience, he was also a valiant guardian of the plants and animals that we were visiting, reminding us to tread lightly and respectfully to ensure everyone's safety. If I could give 10 out of 5 stars, I would.

I organized a retreat for my community and worked with Yugen Earthside to book the 5-Day Sustainable Yoga & Wine trip in Alentejo, Portugal. This trip exceeded all my expectations and then some!

Starting with the accommodation/retreat center, it was perfect for our sustainable entrepreneur retreat. It had multiple indoor and outdoor common areas for coffee breaks, power hours, and happy hours. 

The outdoor activities were well spread out to allow us free time. There’s something for everyone, from yoga sessions, nature trails, coastal hikes, and walking to town. The best experience that kept giving was the sustainable winery tour, truly going above and beyond!

I would 100% recommend this trip for any active group or retreat organizer. Hilary from Yugen Earthside is the best and made this retreat extra special for us. I already had participants asking me if we are doing this retreat again next year!

Retreat for my community that exceeded expectations

Attentive, thoughtful, helpful, reactive… just AWESOME!

I booked a custom 3-day, 2-night tour of Delhi & Agra for my first trip to India. I only wish I had more time to spend exploring! Hilary (Yugen team) and Gaurav (local guide) were super accommodating and helped me make the most of my short time in India.

The transportation was super convenient. From airport pickup to drop-off, a driver or guide accompanied me at all times. Since it was a short trip, I could do/see more with the guided private trip than I would have been able to do on my own.

For accommodations, I stayed with a local family who provided authentic breakfast & filtered water so that I didn’t need to use plastic water bottles! They were very kind and welcoming.

Overall, it was a great experience that felt authentic. I strongly recommend booking a guided trip with Yugen Earthside to others, especially those who have not tried this type of travel before.

Thoughtful, detailed, cost-conscious, and a pleasure to work with - I would HIGHLY recommend Yugen Earthside's services. My partner and I worked with Yugen Earthside to plan an international trip to New Zealand in November 2022. Yugen Earthside helped us craft a highly-customized itinerary that provided us with unique tour opportunities, while allowing time and space for self-guided experiences. It was the perfect balance. Neither of us had been to New Zealand and greatly appreciated the thoughtful recommendations based on our preferences, desired pace, and budget. From start to finish, communication was smooth, detailed, and timely. Yugen Earthside also checked in multiple times during our travels which we greatly appreciated. We would highly recommend their services for group or self-guided travelers.

Custom Self-Guided Drive through Australia & New Zealand

I went on the Sustainable Yoga & Wine Retreat in Portugal and booked through Yugen Earthside. The retreat was incredible, the overall space was gorgeous and relaxing. The food was some of the best I've ever had! The hosts were personable and it was such a well curated few days. I would absolutely recommend that retreat! Booking through Yugen Earthside was super easy and Hilary was very knowledgeable of sustainable travel options.

The Sustainable Yoga & Wine Retreat seemed right up my alley as I'm a beginner at yoga but interested in learning more, and I was sold by the focus on sustainability that Yugen Earthside had on their site. The trip was amazing! Everything about the retreat embodied sustainability simultaneously.  I feel like I learned a lot through each meal and activity that we did.  I can't wait to book my next trip with them!

Read testimonials and reviews from mindful travelers who joined a trip solo, as a couple, with their family, or with groups of friends or colleagues.

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Yugen Earthside connects mindful travelers to sustainable trips around the world. Carbon removals included with each booking!

Connecting mindful travelers to responsible experiences around the world.

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Prices are for double room occupancy unless indicated otherwise.

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