Experts in socially responsible luxury travel. We design travel experiences that support conservation and local communities without skimping on comfort.
Lana went the extra mile to make sure we were able to do everything we wanted in the week we were in Mexico.
The week in Mexico snorkeling with sea lions and whale sharks was a wonderful experience. The highlight of the trip had to be our close up encounter with a gray whale in Magdalena Bay. The whale stayed with our boat for twenty minutes or more engaging with us.
— Susan Stein, Mexico
The trip to Sri Lanka was fantastic. We were pleasantly surprised with the country, the people and the different locales we visited. From the Tea Estates to the wildlife safari to the “surfer town” – everything was A+. Great planning and organizing by you – thank you for everything.
Krishan was a great guide, informative and engaging. Would highly recommend him. Look forward to the next adventure with you guys!
— Jaytee Kanwal, Sri Lanka
It was a great experience for our daughter. You clearly alerted the staff that we were traveling with a kid that was special needs and it showed. They were outstanding, really sensitive, caring, open, accepting, and engaging with her. She had a great time. I’ll write more [soon], as special needs parents would be interested. But it was outstanding and the way they interacted with her was skillful and loving.
The staff was particularly helpful and sensitive with our daughter. They willingly engaged with her and went the extra mile to make her feel happy. They openly took the lead from us in terms of what worked in interacting with her and were wonderful. This made the experience particularly positive for her. It was her first trip overseas and, obviously, first to the continent. It won't be her last.
Thank you for all you did to make that happen. I know I'll be asking again to do a trip with her. I loved it.
— Kahrl Family, Tanzania
We absolutely LOVED New Zealand and all of the adventures, hotels, food, culture, etc!! Really a BEAUTIFUL part of the world.
The itinerary was perfect!!!
— Melissa Allen, New Zealand
It was a delightful trip, the best of the ones that I have taken. George was a marvelous, well-informed, thoughtful guide who took care of our needs extremely well. We learned a lot from him not only about the animals, but also about the culture in which he had grown up and lives in now. Each day had more than one highlight to remember.
The accommodations were very good, especially the two Sanctuary camps. The staffs at both were very attentive and friendly. And the food was, well, amazing. Of course, with little exercise other than wobbling over the bumpy roads, our waistlines expanded a bit, but it was worth it!
So thank you for such a fine itinerary. I have complete confidence in recommending you to others.
— Julia Kahrl, Tanzania
Our trip program had wonderful highlights which we all loved. The Kimi Ora resort was simply gorgeous and the activities of sailing in Abel Tasman and paddling the waka were beautiful. We loved meeting the Maori man who took us in the waka and shared Maori culture with us. The group (not I, as the Heathy track was too much for me) absolutely loved the hike in the Heaphy Track, going into the caves, and learning from the guide. The Pancake Rocks were phenomenal and we loved that day of seeing them. Driving down the coast and seeing so much undeveloped and unspoiled seacoast was gorgeous and inspiring. In the US we would never see anything like that--our coasts have so many homes, hotels, restaurants along them. The rest of the group also loved the bike ride, which was when Pamela and I went to Wanaka, a lovely town with fantastic yarns made of merino and possum. Learning about the travesty that the possums inflict upon the trees was important to know. For me the bird life was a huge highlight. It was lovely to listen to them and see their charming faces. The fantails were among my favorites. The wine tasting in Wanaka was wonderful. Such delicious wines! It was surprising to learn how different sauvignon blanc tastes when it is not from Picton Bay or Marlborough.
— Kathleen Vieweg, New Zealand
Lana with Elevate Destinations did a great job planning our honeymoon! We advised that we were interested in hiking, bike riding, kayaking, and seeing Southern Chile - and Elevate Destinations put together an itinerary that was a perfect blend of outdoor activities that we were looking for and high end, socially responsible accommodations with amazing service. Vira Vira in Pucon was incredible - the fly fishing, hiking, and hot springs. Their hospitality was top notch. Torres del Paine was spectacular. Beautiful hikes. March was a wonderful time to visit - the weather was good (still warm but not too hot) and the crowds are reasonable in their shoulder season. We absolutely would recommend Elevate Destinations and a trip to Chile.
— Holly and Blaine Murphy, Chile
I loved the perfect mix of learning about Peru and its rich history and spending time in the students homes. We very much enjoyed painting at one home, gardening at the Andean Alliance, having dinner with the Peruvian Hearts girls, and working in the school with the young girls. We really fell in love with all of them and plan to be in contact with them for a very long time.
We came home and immediately made donations to each!
— Melissa Allen, Peru
Everyday was a highlight. From Machu Picchu to painting at a Peruvian Hearts scholar home - we just did not want to leave a country with so much passion for its people and heritage. The accommodations, restaurants, guide, driver - everything was perfect. The girls we met at Chicuchas Wasi and Peruvian Hearts gave us so much more than we gave them. Our scaling the cliff and zip lining down was just the thing to push our comfort zone. Our hearts will forever be left in Peru. So what can we do next year to match this year? Can't wait!
— Julie Marchese, Peru
We had an incredible 25th anniversary trip, planned by Elevate. Though we knew our itinerary, there were surprise experiences along the way as well, like interactions with the native people that were truly special and turned out to be the favorite parts of our trip. In Peru, our guide was among of the best you can have, and we enjoyed every moment with him. The hotels were all first-class, and we enjoyed some upgrades that were unexpected and just lovely. Our time in the Galapagos was perfect as well. Lana and Dominique are incredibly intuitive about what we would like. Can’t say enough really. We will definitely book a trip through them again!
— Dru Lindgren, Ecuador and The Galapagos, Peru
I’m in a new chapter of my personal life. I wanted and needed my travel experiences to reflect a profound transformation that was taking place, but I didn’t know exactly how to achieve a trip that could do this. I’m in my 40s. I’m not on a college gap year, I’m not part of a group, and I was planning to travel alone for the first time.
Enter Lana and Elevate Destinations. She had the wisdom, insight, knowledge, experience and compassion to guide me down the path to the perfect trip to match where I was in my life. She knew this wasn’t a vacation, but in a lot of ways a healing journey.
No detail was left to chance, she took care of every logistical detail eliminating all the worry, she paired me with the perfect hotels and excursions and the volunteer work that filled my soul in a ways I didn’t know possible.
— Stefanie Lerner, Costa Rica
"For the second time in my life, I found inspiration whilst visiting Africa. The last time, it was Kenya, this time it was Uganda and Rwanda. Both times it was extraordinary and led to unimaginable personal growth; where I can connect with how strength works with gentleness in urban, rural, and wild places. The people are open and kind; stunning in their beauty and resilience as are the wildlife. I return with treasures of transcendent moments that nurture my soul and revive my purpose. Thank-you—the words -- don’t make the mark, but I will endeavor to continually express the gratitude I feel going forward, like the 400 elephants I inexplicably stumbled upon striding across the savannah at sundown, they will forever be on repeat in my mind and in my heart."
