How many travellers will be in my group?

Maximum 12 travellers — that's the cap on every Undiscovered Destinations small-group tour. Small enough to eat in a local family home; large enough to share the wonder with other like-minded travellers.

Yes — there's no compulsory single supplement on our small-group tours. You get your own room at no extra cost. About 60% of UD travellers come solo, so you'll be in good company.

How fit do I need to be?

Fitness requirements vary by itinerary, from gentle to demanding. The day-by-day tour dossier sets out walking distances, terrain and any altitude so you know what to expect. If you have specific concerns, speak to our team before booking — they can talk you through a typical day.

What's included in the tour price?

Included items vary by tour — see the full list above. On this trip, expect: Arrival and departure transfers; Overland transport throughout with professional driver; Regional and domestic flights (luggage restrictions apply – please see Tour Dossier for details); and more. International flights and travel insurance are not included.

Where exactly does this trip go?

This tour visits Guyana, Suriname and French Guiana. Each destination has its own page with practical information, climate, and the attractions our specialists recommend — linked from the itinerary above.

Guyana15 daysMax 12 travellersSolo-friendly

Hidden Guianas with Tour Leader – Escorted

Explore Guyana, Suriname and French Guiana — from the world's most powerful waterfall and Jaguar-stalked rainforest canopy to the haunting ruins of Devil's Island — with a maximum of 12 travellers and Tour Leader Mark Huggins.

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About this journey

What to expect on this trip

The small South American country of Guyana rarely features on most people’s travel plans, but discerning travellers are coming to recognise it as one of the premier wildlife destinations on our planet. Brought into the spotlight by the BBC’s ‘Lost Land of the Jaguar’ series, Guyana offers unique opportunities to spot incredible wildlife such as Tapir, Red-rumped Agouti, Sloth, Caiman and of course the Jaguar itself. Visit the spectacular Kaieteur Falls and gain a unique perspective of the forest from its amazing canopy walkway. In neighbouring Suriname, we explore the unique capital of Paramaribo with its superb colonial architecture and look for Caiman on the banks of the river. We also visit old plantations for an insight into the country’s history, and Maroon villages more reminiscent of Africa than South America. French Guiana, an overseas region of France adjoining Suriname and Brazil, makes up the third of the Guianas, known for the Isles du Salut and the Ariane Space Centre. The three combined makes for a unique tour experience within a little visited corner of Latin America, especially through our small group tours French Guiana that offer an immersive and personalized adventure.

The journey

Hidden Guianas with Tour Leader – Escorted

What makes this trip special

Drawn from the full tour dossier — the standout days, encounters and views our specialists keep coming back to.

Your route

The highlights

Guyana's Wild Rainforest
From the Iwokrama Canopy Walkway 30 metres above the forest floor to guided night walks in search of Jaguars and wild cats, Guyana's interior is one of the most biodiverse environments on the planet. Specialist birdwatching for Guianan Cock-of-theRock, Black Curassow and White-winged Potoo is woven throughout the rainforest days, with Rock View Lodge in the Pakaraima foothills adding savannah and forest-edge species to the list.
Waterfall, River and Sky
Kaieteur Falls — the world's most powerful singledrop waterfall, five times the height of Niagara — is reached by light aircraft over an ocean of jungle canopy, delivering one of South America's great arrivals. The journey continues by river: small motorised boats up the Upper Suriname River to Danpaati Lodge, a pirogue across the Maroni River into French Guiana, and a catamaran out to the offshore Iles du Salut.
Colonial Layers and Living Cultures
Three countries, three colonial powers — British, Dutch and French — have left extraordinary legacies across the Guianas, from Georgetown's UNESCO-listed wooden architecture and Paramaribo's elaborate plantation-era facades to the haunting Transportation Camp at Saint-Laurent and the painted church at Iracoubou. This living history is balanced by the deeply rooted cultures of the Makushi Amerindians of Iwokrama and the Maroon descendants of escaped slaves along the Upper Suriname River.
Suriname's Unique Cultural Mosaic
Paramaribo is unlike any other South American capital: Dutch colonial mansions stand beside mosques, Hindu temples and Chinese signage in a UNESCO World Heritage historic centre shaped by centuries of Dutch rule and mass migration from the Dutch East Indies. Javanese culinary heritage comes alive over dinner at Mirosso, whilst a sunset dolphin cruise on the Commewijne River and visits to former plantation estates reveal the bittersweet history underpinning this multicultural nation.
French Guiana — Space Age Meets Dark History
The final act of the journey presents French Guiana's extraordinary contradictions: the silent, moss-covered cell blocks of the Iles du Salut penal colony where Alfred Dreyfus and Papillon were once imprisoned, and the gleaming launchpads of the Centre Spatial Guyanais from which modern rockets still thunder into orbit. Cayenne provides a final immersion in Creole architecture and culture before the flight home via Paris.

Full itinerary · 15 days

Free — no sign-up

Dates & prices

Choose your departure

Reserve your place with a £1,800 per-person deposit; the balance is due 70 days before departure. Prefer your own space? A single room is available on every departure.

Departs	Returns	Status	Price pp	Single supp.
6 Mar 2027	20 Mar 2027	Sold out	£8,995	+£815	Closed

Departure
6 Mar 2027 → 20 Mar 2027
Sold out
From
£8,995 pp
Single supp. +£815
Closed

Can’t find the right fit?

Every one of our Guyana journeys can be rebuilt around your dates, pace and interests — or we’ll design something entirely new.

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What's included

What your tour price covers

Included in the price

Arrival and departure transfers
Overland transport throughout with professional driver
Regional and domestic flights (luggage restrictions apply – please see Tour Dossier for details)
All accommodation
Services of a UD Tour Leader – Mark Huggins
Services of English-speaking guide
Meals as listed
Entrance fees for sites listed as part of the itiner

Budget separately for

International flights (, contact , us, for expert advice and a quote)
Any airport taxes (except when included with regional and domestic flights)
Travel Insurance
Visa – when required
Drinks
Items of personal nature
Tips (Discretionary)

Before you go

Essential information

Shared across all tours that visit this destination. Read alongside your individual tour dossier for trip-specific details.

Foreign Office travel advice

We constantly monitor official travel advice, including the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) Guyana Travel Advice, and will always advise clients of any warnings before departure. At the time of writing, there are no specific warnings against travel to the parts of Guyana that we visit on our tours.

Please contact us if you have any specific concerns or would like to understand what measures are in place to ensure your trip remains safe and trouble-free.

Voices from the road

What travellers say about us

Independently verified reviews from travellers who joined Hidden Guianas with Tour Leader – Escorted. Rated 4.9 Excellent on AITO by 250+ reviewers.

“I really liked the lodges generally in Guyana as they were simple, authentic and comfortable. They fitted naturally into the landscape. In Karanambu for example, I enjoyed the bats which roosted in my bathroom during the day, then would go out hunting at night, and return the next morning. I hope these lodges resist over modernisation and becoming part of a big hotel chain.”

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Traveller from the UK

“The local guides were generally very good. In some places, there was a ""lead"" guide. On boat trips we generally had a boatman on our particualr boat. They were invariably well-informed. |As a general comment, my interests on this trip were in mammals, reptiles and plants. I was the only person who was interested in plants. At Atta Lodge, I discovered that Carlon, out guide there, was very knowledgeable about plants and I took full advantage of that. I am not a birder and the trip did get rather hijacked by the birders - this is not an uncommon occurrence. I had to grit my teeth. It even happened on the city tour of Georgetown....”

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Traveller from the UK

“Tishana was brilliant - very caring and attentive to our well being and safety. She organised an ATV for me to visit Kaiteur Falls as I had sprained my ankle - I didn't ask for this but she made the arrangement anyway. The guides throughout were fantastic - very knowledgeable and friendly. The itinerary was very full on - I was glad I took the opportunity to spend some time in Saint Lucia before returning home to recuperate!. It might be worth considering an extra night somewhere for a break, although I appreciate this would add to the cost. I was not particularly impressed with Cara Lodge - there were issues with a lack of hot water and the service in the dining room was often very slow. ”

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Traveller from the UK

“A truly magical place, environment, people and wildlife. The rest really doesn't matter.”

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Traveller from the UK

“Things do not always go to plan in Guyana and the iconic wildlife can remain elusive, but the local representatives are superb and the guides are excellent. So we may not have seen jaguar or tapir, but we did watch giant river otters hunting red bellied piranha among Amazon lilies, a lek of brilliant orange Cock of the Rock, and a giant anteater at close quarters. Plus the spectacular Kaiteur waterfall.”

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Bob Christie, UK

“Jason was very helpful and the booking process was quick and easy. UD offers itineraries that many competitors do not. I thoroughly enjoyed both trips I've taken with them. While they may not suit everyone, I have happily recommended the Senegal tour to fellow travellers.”

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Bernice Hird, UK

Helped by Jason van der Wath

“Excellent customer service, reliable itineraries and ability to solve local issues when they arise”

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Gustavo Musto, Uruguay

“I like the small size of groups, the range of destinations and excellent itineraries. This is my third holiday with your company and I have found your itineraries really good.”

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Traveller from the UK

“Excellent company to book with. Complex tour mostly delivered as per itinerary with professional and pleasant local representatives. ”

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Adam Choonara, UK

“I really appreciated Jason's help in answering all of my many questions re: Senegal trip in December 2025. I have a physical disability and I had a lot of accessibility questions for Jason! He was a true professional and was very supportive, warm and friendly and helped me a lot in making my decision to go ahead with the Senegal trip. I would like to thank Jason particularly for this service. I truly appreciate it and I am very thankful.”

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Ramnit Bassi, UK

Helped by Jason van der Wath

Want to customise this tour?

Make Hidden Guianas with Tour Leader – Escorted your own — adjust the route, dates, pace or who travels, or start from a blank page with a specialist. We'll bring the details of this trip straight into your enquiry.

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More to explore

More tours in Guyana

Nature of Guyana

Guyana is an irresistible combination of fascinating and breathtaking natural beauty, pristine rainforests, immense waterfalls and amazing wildlife all blended with a vibrant indigenous culture, rich heritage and some of the most hospitable and friendly people in the world. On this trip we travel deep into the rainforest to Iwokrama and gain a unique perspective of the forest from its amazing canopy walkway, as well as visiting the Amerindian village of Surama to learn more about the lives of Guyana’s indigenous people. After experiencing nature walks and canoe trips to spot the flora and fauna of the region we travel to Rock View Lodge, where you can hike in the nearby mountains. Finally, we head to Karanambu Lodge and the Guyana tour with its landscape ranging from savannah to wetlands and forest where we take trips on the river, look for birds, monkeys and Giant Anteaters, and experience the overwhelming hospitality that characterises this part of the country. This is a truly unforgettable trip through a stunning land that no serious lover of the wild should miss.

From

£5,850

Hidden Guianas without Tour Leader – Unescorted

Hidden Guianas without Tour Leader – Unescorted

The small South American country of Guyana rarely features on most people’s travel plans, but discerning travellers are coming to recognise it as one of the premier wildlife destinations on our planet. Brought into the spotlight by the BBC’s ‘Lost Land of the Jaguar’ series, Guyana offers unique opportunities to spot incredible wildlife such as Tapir, Red-rumped Agouti, Sloth, Caiman and of course the Jaguar itself. Visit the spectacular Kaieteur Falls and gain a unique perspective of the forest from its amazing canopy walkway. In neighbouring Suriname, we explore the unique capital of Paramaribo with its superb colonial architecture and look for Caiman on the banks of the river. We also visit old plantations for an insight into the country’s history, and Maroon villages more reminiscent of Africa than South America. French Guiana, an overseas region of France adjoining Suriname and Brazil, makes up the third of the Guianas, known for the Isles du Salut and the Ariane Space Centre. The three combined makes for a unique tour experience within a little visited corner of Latin America, especially through our french guiana guided tours that offer an immersive and personalized adventure.

From

£7,995

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