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Guyana15 daysMax 12 travellersSolo-friendly

Hidden Guianas without Tour Leader – Unescorted

Explore Guyana's thundering Kaieteur Falls, Suriname's Maroon villages and French Guiana's legendary Devil's Island on a small-group adventure for up to 12 travellers across three captivating Guianas.

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As Featured In

The TelegraphCulture TripThe TimesLonely PlanetThe GuardianIndependentNational GeographicThe TelegraphCulture TripThe TimesLonely PlanetThe GuardianIndependentNational Geographic
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 french guiana guided tours that offer an immersive and personalized adventure.

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The journey

Hidden Guianas without Tour Leader – Unescorted

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
map

The highlights

  • Guyana's Wildlife and Wilderness

    From a charter flight over the thundering drop of Kaieteur Falls to jaguar-tracking trails and the Iwokrama canopy walkway, Guyana delivers an unmatched concentration of Neotropical wildlife encounters. Giant River Otters, Black Caiman, Red Howler and Black Spider Monkeys, Giant Anteaters and over 800 bird species are realistic prospects across the forest and Rupununi savannah.

  • Iwokrama Rainforest Immersion

    Two nights at Atta Rainforest Lodge place you at the heart of a protected million-acre wilderness that is one of the last intact blocks of Amazonian forest on earth. The 154-metre canopy walkway, 30 metres above the forest floor, opens up a world of canopy species otherwise almost impossible to observe, whilst night walks along the transnational road may reveal any of six wild cat species.

  • Maroon Culture on the Upper Suriname River

    The journey by motorised boat through the Surinamese interior to Danpaati River Lodge passes remote Maroon villages whose communities are descended from Africans who escaped colonial slavery and preserved their West African customs in the deep rainforest. A village visit and a guided forest walk explaining traditional plant medicine bring this living culture to life in a way that very few itineraries in South America can match.

  • Colonial History Across Three Countries

    The tour traces a remarkable arc of colonial heritage: Georgetown's elegant 19th-century wooden architecture and Stabroek Market; Paramaribo's UNESCO-listed historic centre with its Dutch townhouses, mosques and synagogues; Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni's Transportation Camp; and the haunting prison ruins of the Îles du Salut, where Alfred Dreyfus and Papillon passed through history.

  • French Guiana's Twin Spectacles

    French Guiana contributes two utterly contrasting highlights — the eerie, jungle-reclaimed cell blocks and silent chapel of the Îles du Salut penal colony, and the high-security Guiana Space Centre in Kourou, one of the world's most strategically important and active rocket launch facilities. Together they make for one of the most unexpected single-day itineraries in all of South America.

Trip highlights for Hidden Guianas without Tour Leader – Unescorted

Full itinerary · 15 days

Prefer a PDF? Get the printable dossier
Dates & prices

Choose your departure

Reserve your place with a £1,760 per-person deposit; the balance is due 70 days before departure. Prefer your own space? A single room is available on every departure.

  • Departure
    19 Sept 20263 Oct 2026
    Guaranteed
    From
    £7,995 pp
    Single supp. +£795
    Contact for availability
  • Departure
    14 Nov 202628 Nov 2026
    Available
    From
    £7,995 pp
    Single supp. +£795
    Book now
  • Departure
    23 Jan 20276 Feb 2027
    Available
    From
    £8,795 pp
    Single supp. +£875
    Book now
  • Departure
    13 Feb 202727 Feb 2027
    Available
    From
    £8,795 pp
    Single supp. +£875
    Book now
  • Departure
    3 Apr 202717 Apr 2027
    Available
    From
    £8,795 pp
    Single supp. +£875
    Book now
  • Departure
    11 Sept 202725 Sept 2027
    Available
    From
    £8,795 pp
    Single supp. +£875
    Book now
  • Departure
    16 Oct 202730 Oct 2027
    Available
    From
    £8,795 pp
    Single supp. +£875
    Book now
  • Departure
    20 Nov 20274 Dec 2027
    Available
    From
    £8,795 pp
    Single supp. +£875
    Book now

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 English-speaking guide / tour leader
  • Meals as listed
  • Entrance fees for sites listed as part of the itinerary|

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 without Tour Leader – Unescorted. 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?

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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.

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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.

From

£8,995

Ready when you are

Start planning your Guyana adventure

Join a small-group departure, or let our Guyana specialists craft a private journey shaped around your dates and interests.

Common questions

Things travellers usually ask

  • 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.

  • Can I travel solo?

    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.

  • When are the next departures?

    The next available departures are 19 September 2026; 14 November 2026; 23 January 2027. See the "Choose your departure" table further up the page for the full schedule and per-departure pricing.

  • 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.

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