Are Speyside Wildlife holidays ideal for beginners?
Yes, quite a lot of them are and we pride ourselves on all the help (and sense of
fun) that our guides will give you if the world of wildlife watching is new to you.
Why not check out the 'Search Species' button (below left) for a list of
holidays we recommend for first dipping your toes in the water of wildlife hols.
Will I end up rushing around 'twitching'?
Not with Speyside Wildlife! Our guides are some of the keenest wildlife enthusiasts around
but above all else want you to have a real holiday. There are always lots
of special birds, mammals and more to see (and we know just where to find the very
best of them), but chasing big lists or dashing around is generally not our style.
Do Speyside Wildlife look at all sorts of wildlife?
We're curious about all that we see though birds and mammals are our main focus
and area of expertise. Many of our guides are highly knowledgeable on a whole
range of subjects and we'll show you birds, land mammals and whales with reptiles,
amphibians, plants, invertebrates and more when we can. If you want to identify
slugs we can often do that too!
So just how fit will I need to be?
Super fit! No, only joking - this will be a holiday, not an outdoor survival
school and there'll be no route marches and dawn-to-dusk endurance. Having said
that, we do offer optional pre-breakfast excursions and night-time wildlife watching
on many of our holidays - it's an exciting time to be out and about - and at other
times may walk a few miles on tracks and paths. The nature of all walking
is detailed under each holiday and naturally some tours are more sedentary than
others. Just call the Speyside Wildlife if you're at all uncertain or want to ask questions.
How young will my fellow guests be?
Speyside Wildlife guests really do span a very wide age range so it's hard to generalise - no
two groups are quite alike in that respect, but all tend to mix well and are there
to enjoy themselves. We occasionally find that our more mammal orientated
holidays attract a younger audience with a few families joining us, and a few more
senior guests joining us on some others.
Will I be part of a large noisy group?
Well we hope not! We're here to watch wildlife - that will involve some luck,
patience, and importantly a quiet approach - but we also always plan to have a lot
of fun and make the holiday a great social occasion amongst a group of like-minded
people. Speyside Wildlife groups are usually of no more than 12 (13 when the last place
on a tour is requested by a couple), with 2 leaders once the group size is over
8, so we pride ourselves on our high level of personal attention.
I'm single - are you sure this is suitable for me?
We get a lot of single people of all ages (and both sexes) who like to holiday with
us because of the extra security, ease, companionship and - above all - fun, of
travelling as part of one of our groups. You'll have space to gaze in silent
wonder if that's what you seek, or be urged not to miss something special by our
guides at other times. Whatever the case, the most enduring wildlife encounters
and holiday memories are always easier to celebrate together.
What if I want to take a day off during the holiday?
T
hat's usually not a problem. We're often at one base for the duration of
the holiday allowing a lot of flexibility if you want to take time out or explore on your own. Plus we may
be able to help you with transport or drop you somewhere else you might want to
visit whilst you're with us - just ask.
What is there to do in the evenings?
Well, relax and unwind for a start. We can't promise nightclubs and cabaret
on a Speyside Wildlife holiday (you may not be disappointed to learn that you might in fact have
the chance to be looking at owls or crepuscular animals instead!), but there'll
often be a quiet bar, wide-open skies and an escape from the hurly burly of modern
life. Speyside Wildlife has developed something of a reputation for finding terrific small
hotels of character, away from the run-of-the-mill tourist fayre, and want to share
them with you.
How about drinks with meals?
We usually provide a glass or two of wine with evening meals and it's always possible,
wherever we go, for you to buy beer, wines and spirits before and after dinner.
Am I going to need a lot of spending money?
Probably not, but it all depends on whether your family and friends are hoping for
lots of holiday presents! Otherwise you'll probably only need cash for drinks,
personal items and souvenirs. Nearly all other costs, entrance fees, transfers
etc are covered by us.
How about smoking?
Speyside Wildlife operates a NO SMOKING policy in the company of other members of the group, accommodation
and vehicles.
Does Speyside Wildlife cater for special diets?
Wherever we can, we do. At our base in Speyside's Glen Feshie just tell us
on your booking form about what you can't eat and we'll pull out all the stops to
make your meals not only delicious but also tailored to your particular needs. We
can often arrange the same elsewhere, though some countries and remote rural areas
can sometimes struggle to meet everyone's dietary requirements. If you feel
that your eating needs might be special then just give us a call and fair warning,
so that we can do our best to discuss your needs with the hotels and organise things
where we can.
Do I need to pack a towel?
No. Well apart from on a couple of our boat-based holidays. Your Speyside Wildlife pre-tour info
pack will tell you all you need to know.
Are there Tea & Coffee making facilities?
Some places have them and some places don't. In some countries it's not always
common to find facilities in the rooms, but your Speyside Wildlife pre-tour info pack will tell you
exactly what to expect.
Does Speyside Wildlife accept credit cards?
Yes we do! For no extra charge you can use PayPal to pay by credit or debit card online.
Alternatively we can take your credit or debit card payment over the phone for a 2% charge.
Can I fly from an airport other than the one listed for the holiday?
Sometimes. We can often arrange add-on flights from your nearest regional
airport to connect to London, or on some holidays fly you direct from that airport.
We're often asked why we fly from the London area so much. The explanation is that
the airline will sell us a less expensive group fare if we all fly together. We
can then pass on to you the most competitive price for the holiday that we can but
be assured that we do our very best to arrange the most convenient airports, flights
and times.
How about an ex-flight cost or can I use my air miles?
We can usually give you an ex-flight price for your holiday to enable you to use
your air miles - just ask about the possibility for any particular tour.
Where do we meet the guides?
It's all designed to be hassle-free for you. Your guides will be waiting at
a designated point at the airport/railway station etc - in their Speyside Wildlife t-shirts - and at airports you'll have a map of where to meet them along with their
photo. If we're flying they will have your tickets and they will guide you
through all the airport procedures and make sure we all get to our plane. If we're
meeting you at the station then our vehicles will be waiting to whisk you away.