Stubborn Mule Travel

Fantastic experience: We used Stubbon Mule for our trip to Egypt and they were absolutely amazing. We don’t normally use a travel agent, but didn’t feel confident organising this sort of trip on our own. The activities they suggested were just perfect for our 4 kids, ranging in ages from 8 to 17. It was a truly memorable trip that went without a single hitch, despite a busy and complicated itinerary. There was the perfect amount of down time alternating with lots of history, so the kids learned a lot but never got bored. We loved it and would recommend Stubborn Mule for any family looking for that ‘once in a lifetime’ experience! (Having said that, we are hoping to use them again!) Bravo!

Fantastic experience: The benefits of booking through stubborn mule for a 3.5week holiday for 5 of us to Costa Rica were unquantifiable! A keen adventurer and previously happy to research and book myself, it became too daunting and over whelming to get the right balance and find the right accommodation, activities etc to suit us all. Caroline answered all my many questions and suggested plenty of alternatives for consideration. Will definitely book again as such an enjoyable experience pre holiday and during as the itinerary so detailed and in country help exceptional.

Fantastic experience: We’ve just returned from a holiday in Thailand. We’ve had a brilliant time. All the transport / connections worked like clockwork so we could relax and enjoy all that Thailand had to offer. Our guides were excellent and knowledgeable and intent on giving us the best experience of their fascinating country. It’s almost impossible to pick a highlight as there were so many but we loved the train market, the River Kwai experience. The floating jungle rafts and drifting down the river Kwai itself was magical. In Chiang Mai we really enjoyed the trek and lunch with the hill tribes. It was fascinating to find out about how rice and ginger was cultivated and we were treated to an amazing lunch and they even entertained the children with bamboo pop guns! Finally we were treated to 3 days of relaxation on the beach which was absolute bliss!!

Fantastic experience: Stubborn Mule are the guys to go to if you want to travel safely, and experience the country you are visiting. We have just returned from South Africa, travelling with young teenagers. Stubborn Mule organised every day we wanted to do activities, allowing us to pack in so much more than we could have done alone. Their tour guides & drivers are superb, allowing us to change days at an hour notice due to weather conditions. When weather stopped travel to Robben Island, our guide rebooked it & changed the itinerary before 9am. We visited Johannesburg & saw Constitution Hill & Soweto, travelled to Madikwe & then spent five days in Cape Town packing in as much as we could - Cape Peninsula, the National Park, Chapman’s Peak drive, Robben Island, District Six, Parliament, Cavalry Gardens, the castle & museum & much more. Every trip was worth it. Our guides always had a great plan, fantastic food on the van & an impressive knowledge of their country’s history. Stubborn Mule have great contacts on the ground, making it simple to do what we wanted to do. Their choice of hotels was faultless, places we might not have considered ourselves but where we were warmly welcomed each stay.

Fantastic experience: Just returned from a brilliantly organised weeks' trip to Morocco organised by Stubborn Mule. The trip went so smoothly and to plan, we were super impressed and will definitely be using Stubborn Mule to book our next adventure. The attention to detail and activity suitability for our girls (aged 9yrs and 6yrs) was fantastic and the local representative for Stubborn Mule was super helpful. Our trip highlights were definitely the Atlas Mountains and the Desert Camp. Our Berber guide for the trek was fantastic and we loved the meal at his family home. He was brilliant at watching out for our youngest and making sure she was super safe throughout. Our girls LOVED the mule ride up and down the mountain and it was all so beautiful, peaceful and relaxing. We've come home with so many fabulous memories.

Fantastic experience: We had the trip of a lifetime! Having recently returned from Vietnam and Thailand, (and having never booked a trip with a full itinerary quite like this) we would 100% book another one with Stubborn Mule. Molly & Charlotte were amazing at listening to all our requests, desires for the trip and food preferences. Throughout our trip, their partners in the respective countries were aware of food preference and allergies and catered for us accordingly. We stayed at 5 different accommodations on the trip, all flights, travel, transfers, drivers, stops and day trips planned down to a tee, including the food and beverages. Nothing was too much trouble if we needed to stop during transfers. All the hotels were amazing, with the standout being The Myst in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam and The FloatHouse on the River Kwai in Thailand. Staff were always helpful and friendly and the hotels super clean with an amazing array of buffets for breakfast, lunch and dinner! Highly recommend!!!!

Fantastic experience: Just come back from 11 days in Morocco organised through Stubborn Mule. It was fantastic holiday - great itinerary, good accommodation, really helpful and kind local agent. Everything worked incredibly smoothly and all the drivers were excellent. Morocco itself is amazing and very varied in terms of scenery and things to do. My daughter (8) loved camel rides, surf lessons, drinking mint tea, shopping in the souks and watching the sunrise in the desert. Definitely will use Stubborn Mule again for similar holidays.

Fantastic experience: We booked a family holiday to Egypt with Stubborn Mule. What a great decision! Holly and Emma were a delight to work with throughout, helping to tailor the holiday to our requirements, particularly in the context of our young family (5, 8 and 10). Egypt was a fantastic destination with a great mixture of sun, adventure, culture and relaxation. Stubborn Mule’s organisation was seamless and the on the ground team, including our guide for the week, were informed and attentive. We will definitely book with Stubborn Mule again in future. Thank you!

Fantastic experience: We had a fantastic family trip to Tanzania and Zanzibar, communications with the team at Stubborn Mule was very easy and clear, the were very accommodating and flexible when we were planning our trip. The itinerary had a great balance of safari, cultural and beach activities, the local guides were amazing, accommodation was great. Certainly a family holiday to remember, thanks to the team at Stubborn Mule!

Fantastic experience: We arranged a 16 night trip to Borneo (Sabah) with Stubborn Mule & the holiday exceeded our expectations and more. Holly and Emma were both fantastic in putting together an itinerary and supporting us throughout the pre-trip process and with a couple of things during the trip, notably refunding the cost of moving to an earlier internal flight. Everything during the trip was contracted to local tour companies and guides, all of whom were great. The tour vehicles weren't the most comfortable & we'd have swapped the 7 hour drive from Mt Kinabalu to Kinabatangan for a flight in hindsight) but other than that it was perfect.

Fantastic experience: We took our 3 children (aged 13, 12 and 8) to Norway this summer using Stubborn Mule and their itinerary was perfect for us. From white water rafting, a glacier walk, biking, zip lines and waterfalls through to the beautiful Fjords and Flam railway the trip was just magical. 8 accommodations in 13 days and everything ran seamlessly. Thank you Stubborn Mule for these cherished experiences and memories.

Fantastic experience: Stubborn Mule arranged our two-week self-drive holiday around the Yucatan peninsula, Mexico. I travelled with my wife and two teenage daughters, and were looking for a "holiday of a lifetime". We certainly got that. Stubborn Mule were fantastic in listening to our interests (and concerns) and then putting together the perfect Itinerary of temples, nature and culture. They checked in with us to go over every detail, and were happy to tweak the Itinerary several times as we carried out our own research and inputted more ideas. The build up to the holiday was smoothly done. We felt involved at every stage, but not to excess or unnecessarily so. Stubborn Mule provided enough information to make us confident, and some extra information to cover off concerns we has not even thought of (i.e. country guides, what to pack, etc.). And the holiday itself was amazing. Every connection worked! I understand this is quite rare for touring. But it really worked seamlessly, with reputable suppliers (taxis/hire cars/hotels) so there was no aggro - just smiling and welcoming people at every stage. As a result we always felt safe and well cared for at every step of our adventure. And what an adventure... climbing Mayan temples at Ek Balam and Izamal, visiting Chichen Itza at dusk and Uxmal; seeing baby Howler moneys and Spider monkeys in the wild, snorkelling with turtles and whale sharks over crystal clear reefs; being lowered into spiritual cenotes in the darkness, or rope-swinging from ledges into open-air cenotes; fabulous tacos and restaurant recommendations.... Everything we wanted and more. We cannot recommend Stubborn Mule more highly, and will be returning to them next year to plan our next adventure!

Fantastic experience: Stubborn Mule organised a great Tanzania Safari for us, for 8 days, we have 2 young children (8 and 10). We needed interesting days, our own driver and flexible schedule, not too long in a vehicle, and lots of wildlife. Claire and Debbie listened to us and tailored something to fit, including a walk and canoe in Arusha national park (giraffes next to us, buffalo, warthogs, loads of bird life, we also split up the journey to ngorongoro crater by doing a short bike ride and walk into a market, and making a masaai style painting, and lunch at Mama Africa's traditional Tanzanian food (amazing and catered for our fussy veggie kids and a coeliac). Our guide Emmanuel from Jaribu was excellent, knowledgeable and very chilled, and great with the kids. The ngorongoro coffee lodge was fantastic, and en route to the crater (early start to make the most of it). We saw loads of Safari animals, the kids got some great photos on spare (no sim) mobile phones and old compact cameras. I got great ones too! The Hippo Lodge camp in Serengeti was amazing. Very opulent glamping. Each Tent has wooden floor, Proper beds, shower, proper toilet, UK type 3 pin plugs to charge stuff overrnight. We had a buffalo next to the tent, and could hear lions contact calling at night. There's a campfire where you can talk to other guests, served with a drink, Kilimanjaro beer or Conyagi gin are great.The food is excellent as are the team who look after you. Our guide found so many animals to view, including lion cubs and lions on a buffalo carcas. the Hippo pool is amazing, and we saw crocodiles too. We had 2 nights in Zanzibar at the end, and flew directly back from there. We basically chilled out at the beautiful hotel, and briefly went to the beach but you do get hassled the moment your foot touches the beach, so the pristine beach is deserted as a result. The whole itinerary was great, and worked well. They even searched and booked our flights, which was a great help. Thank you!

Fantastic experience: We (family of 5 with children aged 12, 15, 17) used Stubborn Mule Travel to organise our holiday to Indonesia in August 2024. Together with their local Indonesian partner, they did an amazing job. I would highly recommend them and we will definitely be booking through them again for future holidays. A huge thank you to Emma and Holly. From the outset, they listened to our requests, modified the itinerary accordingly and provided detailed information ahead of the trip. Whilst we were there, the local travel company were excellent and made sure we were happy every step of the way. Even when our plans changed slightly, they were quick to provide alternatives and ensure we were satisfied. The hotels we stayed in were lovely and the guides and drivers always friendly, knowledgeable and on time. Highlights in Bali included Ubud, Munduk, Jimbaran and Sanur. We also travelled to Flores and took a 3 day boat trip to Komodo and Rinca to see the dragons. We also stopped at lots of beautiful beaches to snorkel which the kids loved. Thank you Stuboorn Mule Travel for giving us an unforgettable holiday.

Fantastic experience: Stubborn Mule helped bring our Croatian dream to life! We had a fantastic 8 days and managed to fit in everything we wanted and more! The team’s advice, expertise and planning was second to none and I would recommend them wholeheartedly.

Fantastic experience: We spent two wonderful weeks in South Africa and eSwatini in late July and early August 2024 on a trip arranged by Stubborn Mule. Every aspect of the trip was expertly arranged by Sinead and Steph, all of the accommodation and activities arranged by them were superb and perfect for our family (2 adults, 2 kids aged 13 and 14). We spent the first couple of nights in Hazyview, taking in the Blyde River Canyon and Panorama Route, then we had 3 nights at the Mjejane River Lodge for an excellent safari experience. We didn't see any big cats on the private reserve, but paid the extra for a half day trip into Kruger itself where our fantastic guide William helped us spot several lions. We then spent two chilled out days in the beautiful eSwatini before moving on to Mkuze and the lovely Ghost Mountain Inn, where we did a couple of great walks. The next stop was St Lucia - totally different to all the other places we stayed at, and here was arguably the highlight of the trip - a night safari including spotting a leopard right next to the jeep. The trip was rounded off in superb style, with two nights at the beautiful Oyster Box in Durban. We had such an amazing time, creating memories that we will cherish forever! We cannot recommend Stubborn Mule highly enough, the whole experience was faultless from beginning to end! Thank you!

Fantastic experience: A well organised, knowledgeable and interested team made for a great holiday itinerary in Norway. Great service all round and a really fantastic and memorable trip.

Fantastic experience: We are repeat travellers with Stubborn Mule Travel and had such great experiences we will trust them with any future trip. They helped us organise family holidays in three very different settings - Cambodia in 2020 (sadly cancelled due to COVID but fully refunded), Japan last year and Tanzania this summer. We keep coming back to them because of the genuine knowledge and experience they have of the countries, their great customer service, and their amazing partners on the ground. Both trips were unforgettable. The carefully curated itineraries, accommodations and activities were perfect for our family of 5 (including 3 teenage girls). STM representatives clearly know their stuff! In both countries, their local partners were very welcoming and responsive and everything was superbly organised and completely worry-free. We couldn’t recommend them highly enough. Thank you SMT for the amazing memories!

Fantastic experience: Excellent service. Organized us an epic family holiday in Ecuador. Highly recommended!

Fantastic experience: We visited Madeira, two adults and a 14 year old daughter. The holiday was organised thoughtfully with our family dynamics. The communication was great and all the activities, which included mountain bike riding, sea kayaking, cannoning and hiking were fantastic. I will certainly recommend Stubborn Mule and hopefully be fortunate enough to use them again.

Fantastic experience: Charlotte and Molly were very helpful and flexible when exploring various itineraries for our family summer holiday. They provided lots of different options to suit. The final holiday in Slovenia was amazing - hotels suited us well and the timings of all the activities had been well thought-out. We only had reason to contact the local partner on the ground during the trip once for something quite trivial - she was very quick to respond and provided useful info. The information received before the trip was also very helpful. Would recommend.

Fantastic experience: Having never used an agent like Stubborn Mule to organise a holiday like this before, I was slightly hesitant to book this trip, but how wrong was I to doubt the value that the wonderful team could add. The holiday that we have just returned from in Croatia was wonderful. A beautiful country with amazing people and sights, made all the more special by the itinerary that Stubborn Mule put together. It was a fun packed two weeks that was so so well organised. Given the number of places we visited and acitvities we did, this planning, support and advice made the experience one the family will never forget (and took a bucket load of stress off my shoulders!). I would highly recommend this company if you are thinking of a multi stop holiday as their knowledge of the local areas, their contacts with excellent guides and the quality of the accommodations they selected were fantastic. Thank you Stubborn Mule.

Fantastic experience: What an amazing holiday in Kenya! From start to finish, everything went smoothly and was completely stress free. Claire from Stubborn Mule was fantastic at discussing our many options and helping us to choose the perfect itinerary. Derek our driver was absolutely brilliant with his knowledge and off road driving skills. The staff in all the hotels/lodges were superb - we really couldn’t have asked for a better experience. I would definitely use Stubborn Mule again and I’ve already recommended them to a number of my friends.

Fantastic experience: Absolutely amazing family holiday/road trip through Slovenia & Croatia all organised beautifully by Stubborn Mule meant we could enjoy every moment and each adventure without having to spend precious time on admin. A variety of accommodation, scenic road trips, stunning views, fun adventurous activities topped off with relaxation and holiday treats resulted in the perfect mix for our family of 5 (3 older teens). Thank you! We will definitely be using you again!

Fantastic experience: It was a pleasure to deal with Stubborn Mule and thier advisers from the very first moment. These type of holidays are a once in a lifetime experience and you need to work with a company that you have full confidence in. On our return I can say that Stubborn Mule arranged everything perfectly there was so much co ordination needed and so much that could have gone wrong. Everthing worked out perfectly 2 weeks of a very complicated itinerary went without faulter. You really need companies like Stubborn Mule to make sure you have the experience you dream of when you invest in a high cost holiday like a Costa Rican adventure. Thanks guys. back to reality

Fantastic experience: We have just come back from a 2 week trip to Sri Lanka, organised by Stubborn Mule. Having never used a tour operator before they came recommended by a friend - and I'm delighted they did. Our trip was expertly organised, our various asks and changes always accommodated and everything went super smooth while in the country. Our local driver was fantastic and had invaluable knowledge and insight and went above and beyond to make sure we got the best out of our trip. We can't wait to go on our next trip with Stubborn Mule - 100% recommend!

Fantastic experience: Stubborn Mule were fantastic. They helped us plan an amazing holiday to Brazil. They suggested age appropriate activities for the children and recommended wonderful hotels. We will definitely use them again.

Fantastic experience: Stubborn Mule are an exceptional travel company who manage to seek out places off the beaten track to create an exciting and adventurous trip that suits all the family. They are happy to tailor it to all the various personalities that are to be found within a family ensuring that all are happy! They have helped us several times and I would highly recommend :)

Fantastic experience: We’ve just had the holiday of a lifetime! A 10-day safari in Tanzania followed by 9 days in Zanzibar. Having been a little nervous about taking our kids (8 and 10 years) on such a big adventure, Sinead and Steph put together a brilliant itinerary for our little people and put our minds at ease - answering all our anxious questions - and once we met our guide Emmanuel, we felt completely safe. The safari was brilliant! We visited 4 national parks including Arusha, Tarangire, Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater. Emmanuel took us to see everything from a leopard, cheetahs, a serval cat and lions (lots of lions) to elephants, rhino, hippos, giraffes, zebra and so much more. Our safari also included exploring a village by bike, painting at an African art cooperative, visiting some Tanzanian tribes and having a go at grinding coffee beans. After 10 wonderful days with Emmanuel, we were sad to say goodbye for the next part of our holiday in Zanzibar. But Zanzibar didn’t disappoint! It was absolutely stunning. We had great fun snorkelling, seeing dolphins and exploring Stone Town. It was a great place to relax and chill after our safari. Highly recommend Stubborn Mule and their African partners - Jaribu Africa. The whole process was seamless, from the planning and booking process to transfers and connections. Thank you so much!

Fantastic experience: We used Stubborn Mule for the first time to arrange our two-week family holiday to Canada. From start to finish the service was first class. Following a meeting to discuss what we wanted to do Stubborn Mule then arranged an incredible trip that ticked all of our boxes. The level of detail and knowledge put into the itinerary made the holiday amazing and our daughters (Aged 10 & 8) loved every second. We are already planning our family holiday next year with the Stubborn Mule team!

Fantastic experience: Stubborn Mule helped organise our trip to Bali, and they were brilliant. No request too small, and the trip worked perfectly and everything went to plan and was well suited to our family's needs and desires! Excellent and knowledgable service, thank you so much! Highly recommend.

Fantastic experience: We have just returned from an amazing holiday in Croatia with our two teens organised by Stubborn Mule. We have never used a travel company before, and will now struggle to go on holiday without using them again! Emma worked with us to create a bespoke itinerary and really listened to our requests. All of the transfers and activities went without a hitch and the Croatia travel partners were fabulous at answering any queries we had. They offered a 24/7 WhatsApp service which was very reassuring (although we did not need it as everything had been so well organised). The accommodation was all fantastic and the activities amazing. The kids thought it was the best holiday. I 100% recommend Stubborn Mule.

Fantastic experience: Another fantastic holiday organised by Stubborn Mule .

Fantastic experience: Stubborn Mule did a fabulous job at organising our wonderful family holiday to Sri Lanka. They found us a great itinerary that took in a wonderful mix of culture, nature, food, sights and relaxation. We are a large family with kids across a wide age range, but they all really enjoyed the mix of experiences. Sri Lanka was a great place to visit and we would absolutely recommend using Stubborn Mule to any families that wanted to visit there

Fantastic experience: We had a brilliant time in Costa Rica. Everything went smoothly thanks to Stubborn Mule (and particularly Holly Gilbert) and their partner Tierra Verde whilst we were in Costa Rica. We asked Stubborn Mule for a high adrenaline activity holiday and we certainly got that! We did waterfall rappelling which was abseiling down 50 metre waterfalls and also being dunked in water from a great height. Great fun! Ziplining across the jungle was very high and very fast! And tubing, rafting and even horse riding included stopping off to jump off the rocks into water. All such good fun. Stubborn Mule arranged a driver between all the places we stayed and this worked out very well, and all the accommodation was great for me and my teenage son. Thanks very much. Highly recommended.

Fantastic experience: We are back from an amazing holiday filled with experiences we'll never forget. From start to finish everything run like clockwork. The tour partners that you work with in Costa Rica were great. All pick ups, and transfers were on time, the activities were exactly / even better than described. Every tour guide was professional, knowledge and interesting giving us a real insight into the wildlife of Costa Rica. We would 100% recommend Stubborn Mule and this particular tour / itinerary of Costa Rica.

Positive experience: Just came back from an amazing trip to Costa Rica with our 2 teenage girls (16 and 13). The organisation by Stubborn Mule was faultless which meant we could relax into doing all the activities. The chocolate tour and white water rafting were absolutely great. Also Torteguero and zip wire in La Fortuna. We loved the accomodation. We could text or call the local agent at anytime and got answered immediately. Costa Rica is an amazing place to visit with kids- it’s conservation, rainforest, wildlife, ease of self drive, lovely people. We loved relaxing for a few days on the Caribbean coast near the end. There was quite alot of heavy rain at times (rainy season) but this did not get in the way of anything as usually not prolonged.

Fantastic experience: Just back from a brilliant trip to Brazil with my youngest teen. We had an absolute blast and felt incredibly well looked after both before and during the trip. The holiday was brought in at a competitive price and included lots of activities which we might not have otherwise considered. The transfers were seamless, taking an enormous amount of stress out of travelling, and the team on the ground were superb, being super fast to respond on the couple of occassions we were in touch. For a fun, supportive and memorable holiday, I cannot recommend Stubborn Mule highly enough.

Fantastic experience: We've just come back from the most wonderful 12 night holiday in Belize, organised by Stubborn Mule. They sent us all the information we needed before we left, including the timings sheet which was really helpful, so we knew what we were doing on which days, and when. The local tour operator used by Stubborn Mule kept in touch throughout and they were really responsive when we had questions. Their drivers were excellent, always on time, really knowledgeable and we felt taken care of at all times. The itinerary they put together for us was excellent. The holiday felt like it just kept getting better and better. The excursions and activities were fantastic and a real treat, as were the hotels. The post-holiday service has been great as well. I can't recommend Belize highly enough and if you're going, make sure you go with Stubborn Mule!

Fantastic experience: We have just returned from 2 and a half weeks in Vietnam. We had an amazing time and the itinerary and activities were perfect. Having a guide and a driver worked really well and their local knowledge was fantastic. The hotels were all different and brilliant in their own way. Vietnam was a fantastic country to visit with teenagers- we feel we have had a real adventure! Stubborn Mule made this possible for us and we will definitely be using them in the future.

Fantastic experience: Have just returned from an amazing holiday in Belize with three teens- the whole holiday ran perfectly, with so many wonderful places to explore, and fantastic places to stay at. Charlotte and Molly were brilliant at listening to our requests and tweaking our itinerary so it met all our needs, and checking every step of the way that we were happy, with their partner company over in Belize making sure everything ran smoothly. Can’t thank them enough for all the priceless memories we now all have

Fantastic experience: We have taken two holidays with Stubborn Mule. First, a wonderfully memorable trip to the Galapagos, which included visits to several other incredible locations, including Cotopaxi National Park in Ecuador. Later, we travelled to Bali, where they once again arranged a fantastic itinerary, balancing activities with some relaxation time at our request. The organisation was seamless, with all necessary pick-ups coordinated. We will certainly be using them again. A fantastic company and very responsive to queries

Fantastic experience: Wow, wow, wow - thank you so much Stubborn Mule. Just back from a three week holiday in Vietnam organised by Charlotte and Molly . The entire trip was seamless from the planning stage. Charlotte and Molly were both knowledgeable and helpful, ensuring we had an itinerary to suit our family whilst taking in all the must see sights. Our tour guides in Vietnam were equally as knowledgeable and so accommodating - always happy to adjust the itinerary to suit our needs. We stayed in a variety of accommodation and it was all lovely. From start to finish the holiday was just fantastic. I can’t say enough good things about Stubborn Mule. We’re already planning our next trip with them !

Fantastic experience: We had a fantastic family holiday to Cambodia with our teenage children. Staff at Stubborn Mule were great at presenting options and refining our itinerary so that it was perfect for us. On arrival the Cambodian staff were lovely. All tour guides great. Loved the hotels. Transport links all worked. Cambodia itself was spectacular. Overall trip of a lifetime. Thank you. Matthew Size Sent from my Galaxy

Fantastic experience: An excellent family adventure in Bali. We would definitely use Stubborn Mule again to help us with future trips.You definitely listened to our requirements and needs and put together a holiday that reflected that. It was really good to know we had the security of all of your knowledge, local contacts and your contact details in case we needed you. Thank-you very much indeed for organising an unforgettable trip.

Fantastic experience: Absolutely fantastic experience with Stubborn Mule for our family trip to Slovenia. Great itinerary, everything went incredibly smoothly and the recommendations worked brilliantly for us. I'd definitely recommend.

Fantastic experience: We booked a holiday to Thailand with Stubborn Mule, first experience of dealing with them, and found them excellent! Brilliant in helping us to put together a bespoke itinerary and incredibly informative and supportive. We had a slight problem with one of the hotels whilst we were away, and Stubborn Mule were incredibly supportive. Will definitely be booking with them again!

Fantastic experience: I cannot recommend Stubborn Mule highly enough. Our itinerary for Sri Lanka was thoughtful and tailored to our family - it surpassed expectations and had something for all of us. Communication was flawless. The accommodation recommended was perfect. When I had a question while on the holiday itself it was picked up immediately. This is a company I trust. Wonderful - really wonderful people who understand travel with children.

Fantastic experience: We are just back from a family holiday to Thailand and Singapore organised by Stubborn Mule. Cannot speak highly enough of them. Everything planned perfectly and so good to have the stress taken out of planning such a huge trip with children. Molly and Charlotte were fantastic! Trip of a lifetime, kids aged 13 and 15 thoroughly enjoyed! Highly recommend.

Fantastic experience: We had an excellent holiday to Croatia organised by the team at Stubborn Mule. It was one of our best ever holidays, every detail was thought out and taken care of. The accommodation that was recommended to us was perfect and we enjoyed the recommended trips so much. We had adventures we would never have had without their guidance. Our two teens LOVED it, they even put their phones down on some of the days! I highly recommend trusting this team to create a holiday of a lifetime for you.

Fantastic experience: Emma and the team at Stubborn Mule were absolutely fantastic. So knowledgeable about what to do and worked hard to provide the best itinerary for us. They were also brilliant when we wanted to change our itinerary while we were away. Responsive and reliable- we will definitely be using their services again.

Fantastic experience: Stubborn Mule arranged a fantastic safari and beach holiday in Tanzania for our family of four (2 adults with 18 and 16 year old kids). The accommodation was spot on, their suggestions for activities were great and the local travel agents in Tanzania were friendly and knowledgeable - Julius in particular was just brilliant. Would highly recommend using Stubborn Mule to help you realise your holiday(s) of a lifetime.

Fantastic experience: We've used Stubborn Mule twice now - once in 2019 for a trip to Jordan and again in 2024 for a trip to Peru. Both trip were a great success. It is clear that the team have great first hand knowledge of the places they are arranging trip to - the itineraries for both trips were very well informed and pitched perfectly for our family. But at the same time, they are not fixed and both trips were tailored to our specific requests. The teams on the ground looked after us well. Jordan and Peru were not countries where I would feel confident travelling with a family independently without some local support to help with arrangements. All the guides we had during both trips were superb and when issues arose as they inevitably will during a multi-stop trip over two weeks, they were able to resolve them straight away. Highly recommended!

Fantastic experience: What an amazing holiday we just had all arranged by the team @ Stubborn Mule. A complicated itinerary around Namibia with 7 hotels in 12 nights seamlessly arranged in 2019/20 pre - Covid, cancelled and then rearranged with zero fuss for this summer 2024. The App they send you to use was genius, the local agent so helpful . Helene really got me and the lodges we were in were perfect. Whilst our kids are getting to the end of the school holidays restrictions (one is now at Uni!) I’d still be tempted to ring them for our next family adventure! Hurrah to all the team.

Fantastic experience: Summer 2024 Children 16 and 13 We all loved our trip to Thailand! Our guide was so friendly and helpful and knowledgeable and we looked forward to seeing her daily. The itinerary was varied and interesting one minute on the glass floor of a skyscraper the next in a boat spotting water monitors, Unanimously our favourite day was the hands on elephant sanctuary/ would do that again. Loved all the different hotels again brilliant contrasts from modern Bangkok to a Floathouse to the jungle treehouse and finally a beach luxury. Didn’t have a bad meal ever and enjoyed Fisherman’s village on Koh Samui, People all friendly and felt safe Thanks again this is our third holiday with you for good reason.

Fantastic experience: We have just returned from a holiday in Greece - Athens, Naxos, Amorous and Santorini. It is our second holiday planned by Stubborn Mule and both holidays have been wonderful and the service we have received has been amazing. The staff are helpful and friendly and knowledgable. The partners in both Greece and Namibia were also amazing. I would not hesitate to recommend their services.

Fantastic experience: We had a wonderful trip to Norway booked through Stubborn Mule. We would highly recommend for any family looking for an adventure

Fantastic experience: What an amazing trip we had. The team at Stubborn Mule were exceptional and come highly recommended. A road trip through Western Canada was everything we had hoped and dreamed of and more. Some amazing memories to cherish forever. The hotels, planning and excursions were all high quality and incredibly well organised. The team at SM were on hand for the last six months with my continued queries, not usually using a travel agent. They were brilliant and I would definitely use them again. Thank you team SM!

Fantastic experience: Stubborn Mule Travel organised our family trip to Cambodia and Laos for one month. It was, hands down, a fantastic way to do a trip of a lifetime with our kids (ages 15, 13 & 10.) All hotels, logistics, travel and guides were organised extremely well. Any problems or changes along the way were dealt with quickly and efficiently. We were able to enjoy our time together as a family on an adventure, without having to plan every step (which is time consuming.) There was a perfect balance of downtime days and adventure days. I would highly recommend this company for your family adventures. Thank you Stubborn Mule!

Fantastic experience: I can’t recommend Stubborn Mule Travel highly enough! We have just come back from a amazing trip to Vietnam. Travelled 800km from Hanoi and Ha Long Bay to Phong Nha, Hue, then beautiful Hoi An. We have been on bikes, zip wires, jeeps, kayaks, sleeper trains, and boats, visited tunnel complexes 30 meters underground, explored caves and even had a mud bath deep inside! It's been epic . Caroline - thank you for arranging this trip of a life time! We will be in touch soon to arrange our next family adventure!

Fantastic experience: We had the most amazing 15 days in Costa Rica. Everything was perfect. Would highly recommend.

Fantastic experience: Great experience, very helpful and always responsive.

Fantastic experience: Having used Stubborn Mule pre-Covid, we returned to them for our recent trip to Belize. The team we worked with did a great job at putting together our itinerary, with a mixture of beach and jungle. We took their recommendation to visit the ATM cave whilst we were staying near San Ignacio. Probably the highlight of the trip for our family - challenging, but certainly something not to be missed. Their team on the ground in Belize were excellent, and helped with one minor hitch which was due to bad weather. All in all a fantastic holiday, and we would highly recommend Stubborn Mule travel.

Fantastic experience: I cannot recommend Stubborn Mule enough! I typically plan our own trips, so I was hesitant to use a travel company to help with our Namibian adventure. From Step One of the process until the end, I knew I had chosen well. Communication was superb, our side excursions were top notch, accommodations amazing, and a focus on eco-friendly and sustainable travel is obvious and very much appreciated! Thanks, Stubborn Mule!

Fantastic experience: Claire at Stubborn Mule Travel is knowledgeable, responsive, helpful, friendly, professional and creates a holiday that is bespoke to what really makes a great holiday for you. Recommend.

Fantastic experience: We travelled to Costa Rica on our Honeymoon with Stubborn Mule and we could not have asked for a better experience. Every element of the trip was well thought out and planned by Molly and Charlotte. We could never have planned a trip like it without them! We wouldn't hesitate to recommend Stubborn Mule to anyone looking for their next adventure!

Fantastic experience: Booked a very last-minute to Greece (Athens, Naxos and Santorini) for the April 2024 Easter holidays - 2 adults, 1 ten-year-old. Liddy and Jess were fantastic at interpreting our rather vague wishlist for a holiday, and converting it into a brilliant itinerary that incorporated fun activities but also rest days so that we weren't completely exhausted! Their partner organisations in-country were also fantastic, and every single tour, excursion and experience that we had was top-class and great fun. All transport to and from the different hotels and islands was also all paid for and arranged at the time of booking, taking all the stress and hassle out of getting from place to place. Our holiday ended with a broken down plane and therefore some challenges getting home. Liddy was great to have on the phone giving some advice about what our rights with BA were, what to say to them in order to arrange alternative flights, and crucially how to go about making a claim for compensation. We have never been in that position before, so having Stubborn Mule able to help us with that was really appreciated. Stubborn Mule is a great travel agent, and we intend to travel with them again soon. Highly recommended.

Fantastic experience: I asked Stubborn Mule Travel to organise a trip for me and my two boys to Japan. As a single busy mum, I was particularly grateful for how well organised and thought-through this trip was. It was stress free for me, and I was able to enjoy this trip without worrying about anything. All hotels and trains were pre-booked, tour guides on some of the days also, all we had to do was show up. It was a good balance of pre-planned activities as well as free time. As a result we packed a lot in, and had a wonderful experience. The tour guides were fantastic, telling us about Japanese culture and history, and being very accommodating of two tween boys. My children loved it, they wanted to stay, they are definitely going back in future.

Fantastic experience: We just returned from our third Stubborn Mule trip. We are thoroughly spoiled. Each trip is bespoke to accommodate our family’s needs. We’ve traveled with the Stubborn Mule to Peru, Japan, and Belize. Each trip has been full of hidden gem accommodation - always just off the beaten path yet in the middle of everything. The tours and activities have been perfectly suited to our family. The logistics have been so seamless that it’s easy to forget how difficult it is to manage 5 cities in Japan with 2 kids in 2 weeks. The Stubborn Mule has sent us to cities and towns that we would have never discovered on our own - it’s like opening a gift when the “travel packet” arrives. The Stubborn Mule makes traveling to far flung places with young children seem… EASY. Clearly no small task - I highly recommend!

Fantastic experience: We booked a family trip to Vietnam with Stubborn Mule - we had a blast! The booking process was easy with an active and flexible discussion about itinerary and the final price was competitive. We were offered loads of guidance where we needed it pre-departure and were reassured that the team would support in the event of any issues. Vietnam was amazing with super guides - friendly and informative - fantastic hotels and experiences and we enjoyed every moment. The itinerary allowed us to see loads of this amazing country without ever feeling rushed or time pressured. Where we had one small issue at a hotel, Stubborn Mule’s local partner were on hand to support if we had needed them. All in all, a brilliant holiday and we will be using Stubborn Mule again. Thank you!

Fantastic experience: We had a fantastic time as a family of 4 in Thailand. Booking was smooth and everything went to plan all the way through. Our guide and was amazing. We received a really good flavour of the country and had some brilliant experiences, the elephant sanctuary being a big favourite! All of the accommodation was perfect. The views from the Chatrium were awesome, the floating villa was beautiful and the kids loved the river swimming. The jungle houses were basic but wow what a location! The hotel on the island was the perfect final destination. We all loved the cooking lesson, from the market, to the boat ride to the restaurant and our host was very entertaining. The sleeper train exceeded all of our expectations (the kids enjoyed eating what they’d cooked on the train and we chatted to some locals!) We booked a boat trip with a local guy on Koh Yao Yai and had a private boat, visiting several beautiful islands, one with swimming monkeys! Memories to last a lifetime!

Fantastic experience: Amazing trip organized for us to Madeira and Lisbon by Claire. Organization and support were fantastic and if we needed anything during the trip or had a question she or another of her contacts in Portugal were there to help. The family had a superb time! Thanks Claire!

Fantastic experience: We have been delighted with our first experience of using Stubborn Mule for a family holiday. The team were extremely responsive and made the process of organising a bespoke holiday very easy. They were also extremely patient as we went back and forth with ideas and changes. Once on holiday everything went extremely smoothly and the local team were fantastic. Highly recommended.

Fantastic experience: Stubborn Mule were utterly impeccable in helping to organise a 2 week trip of a lifetime taking my family, including our 4 and 7 year old kids, on Safari in Tanzania and Zanzibar. They developed a highly bespoke itinerary perfect for our specific family, tapping into their extensive personal experience and knowledge of this kind of trip. I cannot recommend them more highly enough and as a family we are already thinking ahead to our next adventure. A huge thanks to Sinead and the team!

Fantastic experience: We used Claire at Stubborn Mule for our recent trip to Costa Rica (after colleague used them)and found that this company does deliver on their promises. Great service throughout and would use/consider them again for any 'tour trip' that we may plan for the future. Good personal service. Thanks.

Fantastic experience: Stubborn mule have now arranged two fantastic trips for us and we’ve just returned from the most recent one to Vietnam and Cambodia. They organised everything for us and the attention to detail and the variety of experiences were amazing. We saw all the main attractions but also went to more unusual places and met some interesting people. All our guides were wonderful and felt like friends during our time with them. I would highly recommend using Stubborn Mule for a trip they have a wealth of experience and they really care about getting it right for you and your group!

Fantastic experience: Stubborn Mule organised our amazing family (13 and 11 year old) trip to Thailand over the Christmas period, and it couldn't have been more perfect! We only had two weeks to fit everything in and we saw and did so much: Chiang Mai looking after elephants, visiting waterfalls, jungle treks, horse riding through the jungle, visiting a massive water park and spending Christmas night on an overnight train! Then to Kanchanaburi to see the Burma bridge, stay in a floating hotel, visit a national park and temples, and play Sabaar with Mon villagers. Then back to Bangkok for a long tail boat ride around the back canals, visit the Wats and the floating glass deck at the top of the Mahanakorn Tower. We then spent the latter part of the holiday, including NYE, on Koh Mak AKA a slice of paradise! Thank you Liddy and Jess.

Fantastic experience: Stubborn Mule were brilliant in helping us book a fantastic holiday to Iceland. It was a fairly last minute booking but the advice we received in the run up to our departure was really helpful and I had total confidence in what was being planned. This wasn’t misplaced - we had excellent accommodation, activities and support from Jess throughout our trip. I really cannot fault the wonderful service or recommend using them to book an amazing break enough.

Fantastic experience: Helene and Sarah were brilliant at putting together a fabulous family holiday. Their local knowledge is vast which made planning our family holiday smooth - they know exactly what makes family holidays memorable in terms of activities, locations, what is realistic in the time we had and budget. Stubborn Mule's local partners were also excellent.

Fantastic experience: They put together a truly memorable trip across Guatemala and Belize - very well organised, family friendly itinerary and a totally amazing trip. We'll definitely be using them again.

Fantastic experience: This is a long overdue review to let the world know how much the Walker family enjoyed their Stubborn Mule trip to Egypt last October (2023)! Where to start?! Building the itinerary was a joy, everyone we spoke to at Stubborn Mule was knowledgeable, helpful and supportive. We were very happy (and excited) with the final version We chose to have a guide with us throughout, who put us instantly at ease and was extremely friendly and informative. We started in Cairo to visit the Pyramids (just... wow), a couple of interesting museums, the Muhammad Ali Mosque, and a market. All aboard an overnight sleeper train to Aswan, which we used as a base to see the |Philae Temple, Abu Simbel, and a cruise along the Nile on a Felucca (including sleeping on board the deck), We then made our way up to Luxor via a couple of temples, which we used as a base to see the Valley of the Kings (inc King Tut of course) and saw more buildings from the Ancient World, plus had an optional horse and carriage ride through the city. We were looked after throughout, the transport was fab, and the food delicious and plentiful. Felt safe the entire 9 days. All in all, it was one of the best holidays we’ve ever had. Yes, it was hot, lots of travelling, not the traditional ‘relaxing’ holiday we’re used to, but wow, what an amazing country, rich history, awe-inspiring sights, and genuinely a once-in-a-lifetime adventure. Thank you Stubborn Mule for organising, we will definitely use you again!

Fantastic experience: We travelled to Thailand over the Christmas Holidays through Stubborn Mule. They have a great local partner, and Stubborn Mule worked with us to understand our likes and needs across the family before laying out the perfect trip. We loved where the trip took us, great variety, and so many fantastic memories for us all. Looking forward to booking with them again in the future.

Fantastic experience: We have done three family trips with Stubborn Mule- Cambodia, India, and Egypt & Jordan- and they always do a super job and are super helpful to pulling something together. I really love their focus on mid-range bespoke family torus that given kids exposure beyond their day to day. Can't wait for the next one!

Fantastic experience: They organised an amazing and unforgettable trip for our family to Laos and Cambodia. Would highly recommend using Stuborn Mule. It was the first time we travelled with them, but we would be very happy to use them again.

Fantastic experience: We had a wonderful time in Oman and it was amazing to have our big family reunion in such an awesome place with so many wonderful sights - we loved it. Ajit, our guide, could not have been nicer or more helpful and knowledgable - he was a total star. As was Jeevaka, the ground agent, who was incredibly responsive, helpful and caring. They both worked tirelessly to meet our every need! Liddy and Jess at Stubborn Mule were also fantastic - organising everything before we left and being incredibly patient with all our many questions and tweaks we wanted to the itinerary. I can't recommend them enough.

Fantastic experience: If you haven't used a travel agency in years (I hadn't in 20 years), and think you're doing a great job planning your own trips - then you will love Stubborn Mule! They listened to both what we wanted and how we wanted to experience Japan. The various outings and events they planned were without question the highlights of the trip - including a food walking tour, cooking class, New Year's Day local outing and hard-to-get tickets to must-see attractions. They also have a partner company in Japan who was available for any questions or concerns daily (e.g. checked in with us after a large earthquake, helped us with a pocket wifi device they'd also provided). The guides were lovely and made the various outings meaningful with lots of history and local color. Will definitely use them again! Thanks Stubborn Mule!

Fantastic experience: Just back from an amazing break in Northern Norway with the family. We have two teenage children and wanted an active holiday that was family focused. I called the team at Stubborn Mule with this brief and they put together a brilliant itinerary that was adventurous, accessible and great fun. In addition to seeing the Northern Lights, we went husky sledding, cross country skiing and on a guided snow shoe excursion. We could not have had a better time - a very big thank you to the Stubborn Mule team.

Fantastic experience: We asked Stubborn Mule to fix up a holiday for us with only 3 weeks notice, but ended up with a fantastic tour seeing marvellous places , eating wonderful food and having new experiences. This included places not on the standard tourist trail eg dining with a maharajah and seeing his wonderful palace under restoration in Karauli. Would recommend Stubborn Mule for an unforgettable travel experience in the best possible sense!

Fantastic experience: We had a bespoke holiday to Egypt with Stubborn Mule. Tailor made for our duration and cultural/sight seeing/beach time mix. It was a fabulous holiday and I would happily recommend them. Communication was spot on and the local guides were excellent. Removes any stresses or worries when travelling as a family with kids and allows you to fully enjoy the sites and activities and not worry about logistics. A great balance of activities and relaxation time and excellent hotels. Will be saving up for our next adventure!

Fantastic experience: We honestly couldn’t recommend Stubborn Mule highly enough. We have taken two extraordinary vacations with them; one in Tanzania and one in Vietnam/ Cambodia. Stubborn Mule, take the time to fully understand their clients’ preferences and priorities. This, combined with their unbelievable local knowledge means that a Stubborn Mule trip is completely unique. The local guides are always of a high-quality – knowledgeable, charming, facilitative, and humorous. The magic of Stubborn mule, you are taken off the beaten track. Stubborn mule somehow manages to take clients to the landmark sites at times when other large parties are not present. Our trademark Stubborn Mule experience was to arrive at a top 10 site, and watch all of the bus loads of tourists being sent in one direction, whilst we jumped on our own fast and light Stubborn Mule transport to see the wonders from a different angle. Each hotel, selected by Stubborn mule has been perfectly located and completely enchanting. We would never have found these hotels on our own. We have always felt completely supported by Stubborn mule and its staff, both at head office and on location. This is quite simply invaluable. We have recommended Stubborn me several of our friends, all of whom have had a similarly stellar experience. Stubborn, Mule avoids resorts and attractions which are damaging to the local environment and favours a boutique, and tailor made experience that you simply won’t find elsewhere. It was obvious to us on both of our trips that the local guides and service providers were well rewarded and invested in the Stubborn Mule experience. We have no doubt that for all of these reasons Stubborn, you is one of a kind. Added to all of this, Stubborn Mule provides excellent value for money. There really is nothing like it.

Fantastic experience: Stubborn Mule organised a trip to Costa Rica for us in August 2023. They were extremely knowledgeable whilst helping us to hone the itinerary, taking into account our previous holiday experiences and the age of our children (10,13,16). They dealt with last minute questions very easily and we all felt fully briefed before we left. The Costa Rican tour company they partner with were fantastic, very helpful in person and by email when we had a few questions whilst on the holiday. Everything went smoothly (apart from the rain :) and the hotels and lodges were as expected. We were very glad to have picked the excursions and trips they recommended as they were definitely worth the extra money, you are paying for the local knowledge and attention to detail so you get the most out of each trip you are taking. We would have missed so many things if we had organised by ourselves.. If you’re going to go all that way you want to make it count!! Thank you Sinead and team at Stubborn Mule for an amazing trip!

Fantastic experience: Exceptional customer service. Great itinerary and choices of activities and hotels. When one hotel wasn't up to standard, they were very responsive to helping us change. Additionally, they refunded the hotel cost before they knew whether they themselves would be refunded. You find out how good a travel agent is when something isn't quite right and Liddy and her Stubborn Mule team were excellent. Many thanks. I would highly recommend & I rarely write reviews.

Fantastic experience: We have just returned from a two week trip to Egypt and it was simply amazing. From the start Stubborn Mule were extremely helpful, suggesting an amazing itinerary and helped us to tweak it to suit our family of four. They answered all our queries quickly throughout and were extremely efficient and helpful. The local support was also top class with knowledgeable and considerate guides resulting in a fantastic family holiday with no stresses and unforgettable memories. Will definitely use Stubborn Mule again and would not hesitate to recommend them to anyone looking for an exciting and adventurous family holiday.

Fantastic experience: We have used Stubborn Mule for trips to Oman, Costa Rica and Morocco and been delighted every time. We are usually DIY people when it comes to planning holidays but were looking for expert input (and on the ground support) on these occasions. The team at Stubborn Mule help you craft your itinerary (so you keep the fun of planning!) with the benefit of their experience, and provide practical/logistical support throughout the trip. Customer service is superb. Stubborn Mule will always be part of very happy family memories for us.

Fantastic experience: We have used Stubborn Mule for trips to Oman, Costa Rica and Morocco and been delighted every time. We are usually DIY people when it comes to planning holidays but were looking for expert input (and on the ground support) on these occasions. The team at Stubborn Mule help you craft your itinerary (so you keep the fun of planning!) with the benefit of their experience, and provide practical/logistical support throughout the trip. Customer service is superb. Stubborn Mule will always be part of very happy family memories for us.

Fantastic experience: Charlotte and team couldn’t have planned a more perfect trip to Jordan for us. One of the best adventures we have ever been on. Highly highly recommend.

Fantastic experience: Cannot recommend Stubborn Mule highly enough. We have travelled with them for a number of years now to many different destinations. Each time the itinerary has felt really well tailored to our needs and a perfect balance of doing stuff, seeing stuff and doing nothing. Liddy and her team are always accessible and helpful - and they really do go the extra mile to ensure everything goes swimmingly.

Fantastic experience: Thank you Stubborn Mule for the active and helpful support, proactive communication and flexibility while planning out the itinerary as well as a remarkably well organised journey which we thoroughly enjoyed!

Fantastic experience: We had such an amazing time on our holiday in Sri Lanka, booked with Stubborn Mule. It was the perfect introduction to travelling further afield with our children. It was a luxury to not have to worry about checking into hotels, finding a guide or worrying about transport. Our driver Ruki was absolutely brilliant and was great at briefing us about our next journey/day/activity. He was also very knowledgeable about the wildlife, history and culture of the country and was fantastic when showing us around the various stops and finding the right lunch stops for us. We really enjoyed meeting other families on our way round and comparing notes with them. The pace of the holiday felt just right too - the activities were well spaced with afternoons off and days to rest. Overall it was absolutely fantastic and we would definitely book through you again.

Fantastic experience: Just back from a fantastic family holiday in Canada. We can't thank Gemma, at Stubborn Mule, enough for putting together such an interesting, varied, well-paced itinerary. Really appreciated all her suggestions of things to do in each of the places we stayed and her foresight in booking some activities in advance. Highly recommend Stubborn Mule.