The Llama Travel Blog

Back in October this year, I was lucky enough to visit the truly stunning country of Slovenia. My last flight out of the UK was way back in January 2020 so needless to say, I was eager to have the opportunity to explore a country that has always been on my bucket list.

I visited Bucharest on a short city break back in February 2020 and it left me wanting to explore more of Romania. Fast forward to September 2021 and I was lucky enough to revisit Romania on a week-long tour.

In September 2021, after over a year of being unable to leave the UK, I was lucky enough to visit the enigmatic Balkan country of Albania, a country whose recent past and closed border until 1991 has meant the nation is shrouded in mystery.

The next European destination to be pinned to the growing Llama Travel map is Slovenia. From the soaring peaks of the Julian Alps to the short but sweet Adriatic coast; the cobbled old town streets of Ljubljana to the sparkling turquoise lakes of Bled and Bohinj, the bite-sized country of Slovenia packs a huge punch. It is the green heart of Europe, with more than half of its total area covered in forest.

Here’s what Otto, a member of the Llama Travel sales team, saw during his time in Slovenia - all the photos in this blog are his own. 

Lesser travelled than other corners of Europe are the three Baltic countries of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia. All three countries are compact and share a similar history, but within them are three completely distinct cultures, different traditions and languages. For all their differences, they all offer the perfect mix of UNESCO-listed Old Towns, medieval castles and picturesque natural landscapes.

Here’s what Gary, Llama Travel Sales Manager, saw during his time in the Baltics - all the photos in this blog are his own. 

We’ve spent the past year preparing a range of holidays in Europe and nearby to some fabulous destinations that perhaps many people are less familiar with. We've worked hard to put the Llama Travel touch on these, and we know that we can add greatly to your experience, with excellent guides and carefully prepared itineraries.

Lesser known than its Balkan neighbours, Albania is gifted with beautiful mountain scenery, pristine coastline and UNESCO World Heritage Sites. We will be launching our Albania holidays in the next few weeks, but we want to give you a sneak peak now.

Here’s what Graham, from the Llama Travel sales team, saw during his time in Albania - all the photos in this blog are his own. 

Over the past year, we've been busy preparing fascinating new destinations to pin on the ever-growing Llama Travel map. We are excited to announce a whole new continent: Europe. We've worked hard to put the Llama Travel touch on these, with the same combination of high quality, excellent value and small group tours that we offer in Latin America and Africa. Our Europe holidays will offer the same mix of fascinating history, rich culture, beautiful scenery and great food.

Look towards the East for one of our first European destinations: Romania. We will be launching our Romania holidays in the next few weeks, but we want to give you a sneak peek now.

Here’s what Paige, a member of the Llama Travel sales team, saw during her time in Romania - all the photos in this blog are her own. 

Perched at 2,800 metres above sea level with a beautiful backdrop of the Andes Mountains, the city of Quito is a great place to spend a few days before discovering the rest of Ecuador’s mainland or the enchanting Galapagos Islands. Whilst three days is generally a good amount of time to see the city’s best bits, it is good to have some insider knowledge.

During my six months living in Quito, I explored the ins and outs of the city, and got to know the places that aren’t on the tourist trail. The thing I love about Quito is the variety of neighbourhoods – in La Floresta you can meet owners of local art galleries and have a coffee in a beautiful old cinema, whilst in Parque Metropolitano you can hike on nature trails with views of Quito. Ecuador is small so day trips from Quito are also a great option, whether it’s perusing South America’s largest indigenous market or spotting rare bird species in the cloud forest. 

 Rio de Janeiro is one of the world’s most iconic cities, and arguably the most vibrant city in South America. From the world-famous Copacabana and Ipanema beaches and the colourful carnival processions to the striking Christ the Redeemer statue, the Brazilian city has it all. Rio’s natural beauty is something to behold – the tropical rainforest of Tijuca, the golden sand and turquoise water of the famous beaches and the panoramic viewpoint atop Sugarloaf Mountain. Rio also boasts many manmade landmarks, most famously Rio’s Christ the Redeemer statue with its outstretched arms waiting to embrace all visitors.

Here are the top ten things to do during your holiday in Rio de Janeiro.

The Classic Inca Trail is a popular bucket list item for millions of people worldwide. But for those who want to visit Machu Picchu without the commitment of having to hike for four days to get there, there are many excellent alternatives to the Inca Trail. One of these is the Short Inca Trail, which follows the same network of trails as the Classic, and the final part of the two walks is the same. The difference is that you only have one full day of walking, you get to stay in a comfortable hotel rather than camping, and you still have a full day to explore the Machu Picchu ruins.