Caroline Joyner - Independent Travel Consultant

𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐚'𝐬 𝐍𝐢𝐥𝐠𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐬 𝐌𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐑𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐰𝐚𝐲 & 𝐆𝐨𝐝'𝐬 𝐎𝐰𝐧 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐲 𝐊𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐥𝐚

Kerala is the sleepy alternative to frenetic northern India, all of the charm and incredible experiences with less of the chaos. I spent a few weeks travelling and volunteering in Kerala and the experience was very special 😍

15 Nights Starting from £ 2359pp

Travel Date: 18 Nov 2024

𝐇𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬: 𝐂𝐡𝐞𝐧𝐧𝐚𝐢 • 𝐌𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐮𝐩𝐚𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐚𝐦 • 𝐎𝐨𝐭𝐲 • 𝐊𝐨𝐜𝐡𝐢 • 𝐌𝐮𝐧𝐧𝐚𝐫 • 𝐏𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐲𝐚𝐫 • 𝐀𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐲 • 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐤𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐦 𝐁𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡

Kick off your adventure with a grand welcome in Chennai, where history meets the horizon. Dive into Chennai's charm at Fort St. George and Marina Beach before the Nilgiris Superfast Express whisks you to Mettupalayam.

Enjoy a scenic toy train ride to Ooty’s lush landscapes, visiting gardens and peaks.

In Kochi, the "Queen of the Arabian Sea," explore the Dutch Palace, Jewish Synagogue, and more, capped by a mesmerizing Kathakali dance.

Ascend Munnar's tea-scented hills visit plantations and the Mattupetty Dam. Head to Periyar for a wildlife adventure and spice tour.

Cruise Alleppey's backwaters on a houseboat, then unwind at Marari Beach Resort.

Conclude your journey in Kochi, flying to Delhi and onwards to London, enriched by India's vibrant culture and stunning vistas.

𝐍𝐈𝐋𝐆𝐈𝐑𝐈 𝐌𝐎𝐔𝐍𝐓𝐀𝐈𝐍𝐒 : The Nilgiri Mountain Railway was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in July 2005 and is a 1,000-metre gauge railway, built by the British in 1908.

𝐎𝐎𝐓𝐘 : During the British colonial period, Ooty was developed as a hill station and became an important centre for trade, commerce, and administration.

Experience Kerla Culture nature, scenery, Wildlife, Backwaters & the best Mararikulam

𝐏𝐚𝐜𝐤𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐈𝐧𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐝𝐞𝐬:

Flights from London
15 nights accommodation
Overnight train
Services of a local English-speaking guide
Entry fees during the visits as per the itinerary
Park visit in Periyar by Boat Cruise
Spice Plantation visit in Periyar
Toy Train ride from Mettupalayam to Ooty
All transfers, sightseeing & Excursions using air-conditioned Car

Get in touch to find out more 📲

📍Its a hard job, but someone has to.....
..try out the trips for you 🎒

I have been invited by one of my favourite suppliers, , to try their Highlights of the Greek Islands tour 🇬🇷 . Eight days island hopping from Athens to some of the smaller islands - Tinos, Mykonos, Naxos and then the stunning Santorini.

We will travel by local ferry ⛴️and stay in small, locally owned guesthouses. We won't be doing much beach bumming though - we will be doing some hiking as well as filling up on local history and culture along the way 🏛️

Watch this space 🥾

Very pleased to have received the results of my Global Sustainable Tourism Council GSTC exam today and I am now the proud owner of a professional qualification in Sustainable Tourism!

The letter which comes with the results states:

"As a holder of the GSTC Professional Certificate in Sustainable Tourism, you have demonstrated not only your knowledge of the principles of sustainable tourism, but also your ability to apply those principles to turn words into tangible actions".

Huge thanks to Travel Counsellors for giving our select group of TC Sustainability Ambassadors the chance to do this insightful course.

Looking forward to making a positive contribution and being part of the solution 🌍

Inspired by this year’s ‘Race Across the World’? 🌏

💫 If you’re drawn to the allure of lesser-known gems, Koh Lipe awaits. Often hailed as the ‘Maldives of Thailand,’ this island paradise is a sanctuary of crystal-clear waters, vibrant coral reefs, and soft, sandy beaches.

🤿Perfect for snorkelling, sunbathing, and simply soaking in the serene beauty, Koh Lipe offers a tranquility that feels a world away from the everyday.

☎️Contact me today to start planning your next adventure!

As part of a year-long trip around South America, I experienced the Rio Carnival, not something I will forget in my lifetime 💃. See photos 📸

If you are thinking about South America, book with an expert ✅. I have travelled the length and breadth of this wonderful continent, and in my previous role I led a team of South America product managers.

This offer is the ultimate South America trip

𝐑𝐢𝐨 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐥 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐚 𝐃𝐢𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞

Rio De Janeiro, Iguazu Falls & Buenos Aires
Travel Date: 25 February 2025
11 Night Package from £3999pp

𝐘𝐄𝐒 𝐘𝐎𝐔 𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐃 𝐓𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐑𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓 - 𝐁𝐄 𝐏𝐀𝐑𝐓 𝐎𝐅 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐏𝐀𝐑𝐓𝐘!
YOU have a unique opportunity to participate in this competition by dressing-up in an authentic and tailor-made costume made by a Samba School. The Team helps you put on the costume to walk down the Sambodromo and experience the true energy of the carnival - LIVE IT

𝐀𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐥 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐆𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭 𝐒𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐬

INCLUDED: Sector 9 tickets are the most popular because they are the only numbered Grandstand places and they are right next to the DRUMS SECTION RETREAT(one of the highlights of the parade).

𝐏𝐚𝐜𝐤𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐈𝐧𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐝𝐞s
Direct* International & Domestic Flights
Private Return Airport Transfers in Rio De Janeiro
4 Nights at 5* JW Marriott Hotel Rio de Janeiro in a Standard Room with Breakfast
Rio Carnival Parade Tickets 2025 S9 or Rio de Janeiro Costume Experience at Carnival
Buzios Tour with Lunch, City Tour and Cruise
Christ the Redeemer, Sugarloaf Tour with Lunch (Small Group)
Private Airport Transfers in Iguazu Falls
3 Nights at 4* Hotel Viale Cataratas in a Deluxe Room with Breakfast
2-Day Private Tour to Argentina and Brazil Falls
Private Airport Transfers in Buenos Aires
4 Nights at 4* Savoy Hotel in a Classic Room with Breakfast
Private City Tour of Buenos Aires
Piazzolla Tango Show with Dinner

✈️Heathrow Direct* from £3999pp
✈️Manchester, Edinburgh or Glasgow from £4059pp

Get in touch for more info 📲

🖋Did you know its National Write a Review Day today ❓

Reviews can have a huge impact on small businesses. Travel Counsellors prides itself on our 5.0 Trust Pilot score.

I rarely ask 😘, but thank you so much to my lovely clients for these recent reviews 💚

If you have used my services and want to leave a review the Trust Pilot link is below ⬇

https://uk.trustpilot.com/review/www.travelcounsellors.com

Morocco: Women’s Expedition

8 Day Tour

I absolutely love this new tour from Intrepid💚. An incredible female-only adventure to the remote and less-travelled reaches of Morocco. Not only does it get off the beaten track and give travellers an insight into the traditional Moroccan culture, it also supports a beautiful charity.

👩‍🎓By travelling on this trip, you’ll directly support Foundation partner, Education for All. Donations help them support girls in the High Atlas Mountains through secondary school, bringing a generation of women out of the cycle of illiteracy, poverty and early marriage.

I have witnessed first hand in so many countries the cycle of poverty being perpetuated by girls not having access to education.

THE TRIP

Begin in Marrakech, then set off to experience the side of Morocco they don’t tell you about in the guidebooks. Break bread with Amazigh families in remote homes, see how an artist co-op is empowering female rug-weavers in small villages, take in the beauty of the far-flung M’goun Valley over four days of hiking with the region’s first local female guide, and enjoy the singing and dancing of Moroccan women in cultural ceremonies in rural communities.

💚Why you’ll love this trip💚

👩 Find out what it means to be female in Morocco as you travel with an all-women group, a local female leader, the M’Goun Valley’s first local female guide, and meet plenty of inspiring women along the way.

👩 Learn from the best as you take part in a traditional couscous cooking lesson and be welcomed into the home of a local woman in Marrakech for a meal you won’t forget.

👩Spend four days hiking between remote villages in the M’Goun Valley, accompanied by a local female guide who will bring the region to life

👩 Dine on delicious local cuisine as you enjoy a private performance by The Houariyates, a female music band that will fill the room and your heart with joyful songs praising and celebrating women.

👩Visit the historic town of Ait Benhaddou and its iconic mudbrick ksar. You’ll soon see why this eye-catching site has been used as a backdrop in many famous films.
·

☎Get in touch for more dates and information ☎

🇯🇵✨ CHERRY BLOSSOMS SPECIAL JAPAN 2025 ✨🇯🇵
🌸 𝗧𝗢𝗞𝗬𝗢 🌸 𝗡𝗔𝗚𝗢𝗬𝗔 🌸 𝗞𝗬𝗢𝗧𝗢 🌸 𝗢𝗦𝗔𝗞𝗔

📆 25th March 2025
🌙 14 nights
👀 From £1999 per person ‼️💥

✈️ Flying from...
💸 London Heathrow - £1999 per person ‼️
💸 Manchester - £2049 per person ‼️

Price Includes
✈️ Return flights from selected airport
🎟 Airport taxes and security charges
🛏 x 5 nights - Hotel Asia Center of Japan
🛏 x 2 nights - Daiwa Roynet Hotel Nagoya-Ekimae
🛏 x 3 nights - Citadines Karasuma-Gojo Kyoto
🛏 x 4 nights - Monterey La Soeur Osaka
🍴 Room only
🧳 1 piece checked luggage per person

✨ Deposit - £100 per person ✨

☎️get in touch!

Easter holiday #2. Japan with a stopover in Hong Kong 🇯🇵

This lovely family have had an absolutely amazing time in HK and Japan this Easter.

Going in early April meant they were lucky enough to experience the beautiful cherry blossom season.

They had guided tours of Osaka, Kyoto, the Mount Fuji area and Tokyo, and they also took part in some unforgettable experiences such as a Samurai sword dance class, manga drawing class, visit to the famous Ghibli museum, a food tour of Osaka’s crazy food market and a soba making class.

Sparrow kebab anyone 🐦?

What an Easter to remember 🌎

Easter holidays are here ☀️. This is a time of year when I wake up to incredible photos from around the world each day from my lovely clients.

Easter holiday #1. A 2 week Nile cruise. Pyramids, temples, sunsets and a beautiful cruise boat. It’s on my bucket list 🪣. Is it on yours ❓

Nile cruises vary in length from 3-14 days and can easily be combined with a relaxing luxury beach stay at the end.

Wishing you a wonderful Easter 🐣

If the “spring” weather has you dreaming of your next getaway, remember, I’m just a hop, skip, and a message away to help plan your perfect holiday. 🌷✈️

It’s quite hard to go back and remember those very difficult days for everyone in the travel industry.

Days which slowly and painfully turned into weeks and then years… but it taught us all what a huge privilege it is to be able to travel, one which we must cherish and nurture for future generations.

Very much needed cuppa on balcony after a fab 1st day skiing for about 15 years 🎿🚠⛷️

🚨🚨STOP PRESS🚨🚨

Huge well done to easyJet holidays for listening to the animal welfare experts and banning the sale or promotion of harmful animal based attractions 👏👏

This includes captivity attractions such as zoos and marine parks, animal performances, animal rides and sporting events involving animals 🐬

The policy incorporates Abta’s animal welfare guidelines and was created in consultation with several animal rights organisations including World Animal Protection

Hopefully more of the package holiday giants ( and Jet2.com & Jet2holidays are you listening?)👂

Loro Parque in Tenerife is one of the worst culprits. Custer very year by 1000s of wildlife loving tourists 😢

Loro Parque: Marine Parks Are Hellholes for Animals Watch this footage and see for yourself that Loro Parque is nothing but a prison.

🙋‍♀️On International Women's Day, I want to celebrate the role of women’s empowerment in tourism 🙋‍♀️

"There is no tool more effective for development than the empowerment of women". Kofi Annan.

Sustainability in tourism is inherently linked to gender equality.

🏝️As one of the sectors which employs the highest share of women world-wide, tourism, if done right, can be a powerful tool for women’s development and empowerment.

📚Tourism is a vehicle for women to gain equality in education, skills, income, and access to resources.

🍀Empowering women has so many positive knock on effects: women are often at the heart of, and understand best the challenges of, their own communities. It’s women who are more likely to invest in their education, community and protecting their local ecology.

🇰🇪An example of women’s empowerment which I love is in Kenya.

🦏The Segera Conservancy in Kenya’s Laikipia region have created the first all women’s anti poaching unit

🔫The 12 Maasai women in the unit received six months of intensive training and have been supplied with the necessary equipment and ongoing support required to be on the front line of Kenyan conservation

Men have always dominated Africa’s wildlife protection, but women have natural nurturing instincts and skills which make them brilliant at this job. These women can now set an example to the next generation as well as having the opportunity to increase their family's livelihoods. This initiative has become a platform for female empowerment in a male-dominated industry 👏

TikTok · One Earth Check out One Earth's video.

Totally true 🏝️

Posted • Elevate your romantic getaway with the magic of a Travel Counsellors touch. 💖✈️

From handpicked accommodations to exclusive activities, every element is chosen with precision to create unforgettable memories. Trust in the expertise that goes beyond planning – it’s about curating moments that resonate with your unique love story.

Your romantic adventure awaits, contact your personal Travel Counsellors via the link in our bio to start planning.

REWILDING OUR PLANET 🌎🌎

Sunday evening means…. Simon Reeve’s Wilderness, my TV highlight of the week!

Yet another fantastic series which doesn’t only show us the world, it goes beaneath the surface of every area he visits giving us a really unique insight.

🏝️Last Sunday Reeve visited Raja Ampat, a remote archipelago of 1500 coral islands off the Indonesian coast of Papua New Guinea🏝️

Home to 3/4 of the world’s coral species, It’s known as the “Amazon of the seas” and is the richest undersea environment on earth 🐟🪼🐟🐙

Only a decade ago all of this was being lost due to overfishing. Fish life was being wiped out and coral dying🐠

However, thanks to becoming a protected marine reserve, this area is now an amazing example of a restored wilderness🐠🦑🐬

A global “re-sharking’ project has also had dramatic results, some species were dying out and now have rebounded in use numbers. We only know sharks as human predators, but actually the vast majority are harmless to us and are a vital part of the ecosystem. 🦈

This is a brilliant example of how grass-roots tourism, involving the local community, can change the future of our planet 🌎. Local communities, who were steadily depleting the ecosystem by overfishing 🎣 are now involved in running eco-tourism dive centres 🤿 giving them an alternative income source and funding the re-sharking project 👌

Catch up on BBC iPlayer to see a beautiful example of sustainability in action ❤️

Raja Ampat - The Amazon of the Ocean With its insanely clear waters, lagoons, waterfalls and gigantic jungles Raja Ampat is beyond your imagination. There is an unparalleled richness in wildlife...

🇨🇴𝐂𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐋𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐂𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐓𝐫𝐞𝐤 𝐂𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐦𝐛𝐢𝐚 🇨🇴

Colombia is a country which surprised me more than any other. Incredibly friendly and welcoming people, flowers everywhere, beautiful scenery, beaches and jungle. It’s safe now but remains under touristed, now is the time to go !!

We all loved the scenery in the Movie "Encanto" set in Rural Columbia!

Let's go find Bruno!

La Ciudad Perdida of the Tayronas, known in English as The Lost City, is one of the best-restored and preserved archaeological sites in the country.

🗻It is located in the Buritaca Valley in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, the highest coastal range in the world.

There are only two ways to visit the citadel: trekking or a helicopter flight. The trek implies not only a challenge but also an additional experience that enriches the trip.

🥾The trek to the Lost City is an adventure in itself with its beautiful and varied landscapes, fauna and flora. Trekking in a tropical rainforest is hot and with high levels of humidity, which can be challenging for some. One of the main rewards of this program is getting an insight into the traditional way of living of the indigenous groups of

𝐏𝐚𝐜𝐤𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐈𝐧𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐝𝐞𝐬

✈️All International & Domestic Flights with Baggage

🏩2 Nights at Hotel Parque 97, Bogota in a Standard Room with Breakfast

🌆Panoramic City tour and Monserrate

🚕Return Private Transfer in Bogota

🥾Lost City of the Inca Trek - 6 Days/5 Nights

🏖️4 Nights Post Trek at Hilton Santa Marta in a Balcony Room with Breakfast

🚕Return Transfer in Santa Marta

✈️Gatwick from £3059pp
✈️Manchester from £3059pp

Get in touch for more info 📲

🐘 TRAVEL INDUSTRY COLLEAGUES - RETHINKING WILDLIFE TOURISM WEBINAR 🐘

A long time ago I was, quite unintentionally, an unhappy spectator in a horrifying display of cruelty to elephants at what was posed as an " elephant sanctuary" in northern Thailand. That day, my journey into ethical animal tourism began.


Nowadays ethical elephant tourism is on the radar of many travel professionals, however, there continues to be a large amount of confusion amongst both consumers and the trade about what constitutes an ethical elephant experience. Many mistakenly believe that if we are not riding elephants then that’s ok, but unfortunately, the truth is that any interaction with an elephant, such as bathing or feeding it, is only possible due to a cruel training regime known as the ‘crush’ method.


ABTA guidelines now state that holding a lion cub, riding or bathing elephants, are examples of unacceptable practices in the ABTA Animal Welfare Guidelines. They also list “Tourist contact or feeding with elephants without a barrier” in the ABTA unacceptable practices list.


However many trade partners continue to promote these types of activities purely through lack of knowledge.

Fortunately, Kiwano Travel has recognised that many tour operators, travel agents and DMCs are very keen to improve their knowledge and has teamed up with experts, World Animal Protection (WAP) to provide a FREE webinar on ethical elephant experiences as part of their “Rethinking Wildlife Tourism” series.

This promises to be an incredibly useful webinar for anyone in the travel industry: we will not only hear from wildlife in tourism experts WAP, but also from Kerri Mcrea co-founder of the award-winning Kindred Spirit Elephant Sanctuary in Thailand and a leading expert in ethical elephant experiences for tourists.

Travel industry professionals - If you want to learn more about how to spot ‘greenwashing’ and what makes an ethical elephant experience please sign up!



🐘 Thursday 29th February 2024 at 1pm 🐘

SIGN UP HERE:

https://my.demio.com/ref/WGIjWTMVVNwFrbn1

Rethinking Wildlife Tourism Part 2 The Kiwano community and World Animal Protection are back after much demand. Discover Rethinking Wildlife Tourism Part 2

🇰🇪𝐊𝐞𝐧𝐲𝐚 𝐒𝐚𝐟𝐚𝐫𝐢 & 𝐙𝐚𝐧𝐳𝐢𝐛𝐚𝐫 𝐁𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡 🇹🇿

10 Nights from £3595pp

Travel Date: 23 Sep 2024

Embark on an unforgettable safari adventure from Nairobi to the iconic Masai Mara, where you’ll witness Africa’s magnificent wildlife in its natural habitat. Enjoy game drives, stunning landscapes, and optional hot air balloon rides.

Then, relax on the pristine beaches of Zanzibar at Riu Jambo Zanzibar resort, where endless relaxation and vibrant culture await.

Visit: Masai Mara safari • Zanzibar Beach

𝐇𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬:

🦁Unforgettable safari adventure from Nairobi to Masai Mara.

🦁Spectacular game drives with chances to see the Big Five.

🎈Optional hot air balloon rides over the Mara at sunrise.

🏖️Relaxation and exploration on the shores of Zanzibar.

🥗An All-Inclusive stay at Riu Jambo Zanzibar resort.

Endless beach relaxation, vibrant culture, and activities await in Zanzibar

𝐏𝐚𝐜𝐤𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐈𝐧𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐝𝐞𝐬:

Return flights from London Heathrow

Private Return Transfers throughout

3 Nights Full Board accommodation on Safari

All park entry fees on Safari

Crescent Island Walk & boat ride Lake Naivasha

Transport in a 4x4 Safari land cruiser on safari with a professional driver guide

Mineral Water in the vehicle on safari only

7 nights Riu Jambo Zanzibar - All-Inclusive

London Heathrow from £3595pp

Call for more info 📲

📅ON THIS DAY...📅

The 'On this Day" photos which come into my inbox really took me back to a previous life today....

On This Day over the years I was...

🇮🇳Watching Kathakali, an ancient dance-drama in Southern India
🇮🇳Visiting a children's home in Cochin (India)
🇳🇦Driving around rural Namibia setting up volunteering projects at schools
🇪🇨Trekking through the cloud forest and staying in a small village in Ecuador
🇦🇷Experiencing the dramatic advances of the Perito Moreno Glacier in Patagonia

It's the people, not the incredible scenery, I remember most about all of these experiences 🥰

And today in 2024... I spent most of my day putting together incredible bucket list trips for my clients 🌎

Below Deck 📺 lovers eat your heart out ⛵️⛵️⛵️

🌴7 Night Maldives Private Discovery Cruise🏖

This is a holiday dreams are made of. Cruising the Indian ocean on a traditional wooden sailing boat with only your nearest and dearest on this idyllic private cruise. Fully crewed and catered, so all you have to do is relax and enjoy the stunning scenery, stop to snorkel or float on the turquoise water in Paradise.

ADVENTURE HIGHLIGHTS:

🌴7 Nights’ accommodation in a Standard Cabin including breakfast

👩‍🍳7 days lunch, snacks, high tea and Dinner

☕Unlimited house tea and coffee

🚰Unlimited water - please bring your own re-fillable bater bottle.

🤿Guided Snorkelling activities

🌴Hedika experience

🏖Sand bank BBQ dinner ( or deserted island beach BBQ dinner)

🎣Night fishing trip with lines and poles, hooks and bait

⭐Was £1516pp Now from only £1433pp in our January Sale!

*Based on a minimum of 6 Sharing departing 6/10/24, other dates available. Flights Excluded.