Top 6 Transformative Travel Experiences

1. Icy Isolation

“Gazing at the shimmering blue deep within the towering icebergs at Svaalbard in the Arctic, in a habitat piercingly beautiful yet utterly inhospitable, I felt the most serene solitude. The fragility of a icy world, vulnerable to the slightest interference in our planet’s natural harmony, emphasised to me the enormity of the impact of human existence.”

– Laura Trace, Project Manager at LiNGER

2. Roaming with Giants

“Standing next to a waist-high giant tortoise, I contemplated the century this gentle creature had already lived through. The protection of distance has emboldened the wildlife on the isolated islands of The Galapagos brazenly to ignore any human interlopers. Around you, sea lions loll on beaches and giant iguanas sunbathe on volcanic rocks. This habitat is a stark reminder of the longevity of nature’s timeline in contrast to the myopic existence of humans, and of how important conservation efforts are.”

– Laura Trace, Project Manager at LiNGER

3. Love in the Wild

“The enduring lesson from my safari in Kenya was that the circle of life is founded on love. The love of the mother for its offspring: her constant watch on the horizon, the protective shield of her flank, the guiding admonishment of her paw. Without this selfless protection – and, anthropomorphizing aside, what else is love? – survival would be impossible and the circle would be broken.”

– Julia Bysshe, Marketing at LiNGER

4. Mindboggling Lifeforms

“Just below the surface of the water, everything we think we know about how life operates is put to the test. Life forms beyond my wildest imaginings gleam, skitter and drift. An entirely new world reveals itself in its full vibrancy and fanciful ingenuity.  

Diving off the largely unknown Lakshadweep islands in Kerala, India, was the experience that most immersed me in this alternative eco-system. Teeming with marine life and undisturbed by humans, here it was WE who were very clearly the ‘curio’ for the inquisitive underwater marine life.”

– Julia Bysshe, Marketing at LiNGER

5. Rehabilitating an Ocelot in Bolivia

“When I first met the large, powerful wild cat I was meant to be caring for, it bared its fangs, hissed and swiped at me through the bars of its enclosure. This elegant creature had been captured as a kitten and ill-treated as a pet, then discarded. It was no wonder it was distrustful of humans.  

Over three weeks of terrified perseverance on my part, the ocelot started to trust me. To the extent that one day it came and lent against me as I sat in the hammock.  

The experience opened my eyes to the cruelty of the trade in wild pets, and the respect that these animals should command – from a distance.”

– Steve Wilson, Founder of LiNGER

6. Advising a Microbusiness in Guatemala

“When I first met the large, powerful wild cat I was meant to be caring for, it bared its fangs, hissed and swiped at me through the bars of its enclosure. This elegant creature had been captured as a kitten and ill-treated as a pet, then discarded. It was no wonder it was distrustful of humans.  

Over three weeks of terrified perseverance on my part, the ocelot started to trust me. To the extent that one day it came and lent against me as I sat in the hammock.  

The experience opened my eyes to the cruelty of the trade in wild pets, and the respect that these animals should command – from a distance.”

– Steve Wilson, Founder of LiNGER