kenya
DATES
At a Glance | Itinerary | Inclusions | Pricing | FAQs | Book Now
At A Glance
Location: Kenya
Duration: 11 days
Price: $000000
Physical Rating: 4/5
Airport: Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO)
Group Size: 15 people
Highlights: Land + boat safaris, Hell’s Gate National Park cycling tour
This Isn’t Your Grandma’s Safari Tour
For 11 days, we're ditching the tourist buses to experience Kenya the way it's meant to be seen — up close and unfiltered. We're talking sunrise game drives across the Masai Mara while the big cats are still working, elephant families walking down to the Ewaso Ng'iro to drink before you've finished your first coffee, and flamingos turning the shoreline of Lake Nakuru into nature's version of a pink disco.
But here's where it gets really good: we're spending a full day at Ol Pejeta Conservancy, which is hands-down your best shot at the Big Five in one place, and where you'll come face to face with the world's last two northern white rhinos (yes, really — that is the entire species left on the planet, and they have a full-time armed security detail, which tells you everything).
Fair warning: this trip isn't about infinity pools and butler service. We're going full immersion — waking up to lions roaring somewhere out in the dark, biking through a national park with zebra grazing right beside you, and setting alarms on your holiday that you will absolutely forgive us for by about 6:05am.
Between wildlife encounters that'll blow your mind and genuine time with Samburu and Maasai communities, this is Kenya stripped of tourist clichés. It's raw, it's real, and it's exactly what you've been looking for if standard tours make you want to claw your eyes out.
Ready to make your African dreams less Discovery Channel and more real life? Let's do this.
We’ll come together as a group of strangers,
but leave with friends you’ll have for a lifetime.
Itinerary
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Airport pickup
Welcome dinnerYour East African adventure begins in vibrant Nairobi. After airport pickup, you'll settle into your hotel with the rest of the afternoon free to shower off the flight and let your body work out what time zone it thinks it's in. Take the nap — you've earned it, and you're going to need it. In the evening, we gather for a welcome dinner celebrating Kenya's fresh, farm-to-table flavors.
Dinner included
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Drive to Samburu
Reserve exploration
Evening game driveEmbark on a scenic drive north to the remarkable Samburu National Reserve, watching Nairobi thin out, the earth turn a deep red, and the landscape get wilder by the hour.
After settling in, we head out for an evening game drive to meet some of Africa's most unique wildlife. Samburu is home to species you won't see anywhere else on this trip: the endangered Grevy's zebra with its pinstripes, the elegant reticulated giraffe, the beisa oryx, the Somali ostrich, and the gerenuk. End this incredible day watching the African sun paint the sky in brilliant hues over the savannah.
Breakfast, lunch, and dinner included
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Morning game drive along the Ewaso Ng'iro River
Free afternoon
School visitThe alarm goes off in the dark and you will have feelings about it — right up until the sun comes up over the Ewaso Ng'iro River, elephants walk down to the water to drink, and you forget you ever had a complaint. Mornings are when everything moves, which is the whole reason we get you up. Leopards either appear in the doum palms like they've been expecting you, or make you earn it over three days; there's no in-between with leopards.
The afternoon is completely yours to nap, read or do absolutely nothing. In the evening, make a meaningful visit to a local school followed by an authentic cultural experience at a Samburu village, where ancient traditions come alive.
Breakfast, lunch, and dinner included
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Morning game drive
Chimpanzee sanctuary
Free afternoonA morning game drive as we journey south to the renowned Ol Pejeta Conservancy. If you're keeping a Big Five scorecard — and by day four, you are — this is the place to fill it in: lion, elephant, buffalo, rhino, and leopard if leopard is feeling generous, plus cheetah, hyena and over 500 species of birds. Visit the Chimpanzee Sanctuary. This day perfectly blends wildlife conservation with extraordinary animal encounters.
Breakfast, lunch, and dinner included -
Laku Nakuru exploration
Travel to Lake Nakuru, unwind with a refreshing swim or explore the area by bicycle, settling into the rhythm of the Kenyan wilderness in comfort and style.
Breakfast, lunch, and dinner included -
Morning game drive
Free afternoonDiscover the natural wonders of Lake Nakuru National Park, a paradise for wildlife photographers. Witness the famous flamingo flocks painting the lake pink.
You'll also meet Nakuru's tree-climbing lions, an activity they are in no way built for and pull off with total confidence, and the endangered Rothschild's giraffe browsing the acacia. Afternoon is free.
Breakfast, lunch, and dinner included
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Cycling in Hell's Gate
Gorge exploration
Boat safariStart your day cycling through the dramatic landscapes of Hell's Gate National Park — one of the very few parks in Kenya where you're allowed out of the vehicle and among the wildlife, with zebra and giraffe grazing a polite distance from your front wheel. You'll pass the towering rock formations that inspired The Lion King, then descend into the park's stunning gorge.
Later, journey to Lake Naivasha for a boat safari among hippos and countless bird species, surrounded by pristine nature.
Breakfast, lunch, and dinner included
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Scenic drive to the Mara
Maasai village visit
Travel to the legendary Maasai Mara — and you'll know the moment you arrive, because the horizon simply stops ending. It takes a minute to adjust to that much sky.In the evening, visit an authentic Maasai village to experience their rich cultural heritage and hear about life here directly from the people whose land this is.
Breakfast, lunch, and dinner included
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Optional hot air balloon ride
Game drive
Free afternoon
Take an optional sunrise hot air balloon ride over the Maasai Mara's endless plains, watching wildlife from above.Embark on a morning game drive across the Mara's open grasslands in 4x4 land cruisers.
Return to camp for a free afternoon and a starlit evening accompanied by the distant calls of lions and elephants.
Breakfast, lunch, and dinner included
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Drive back to Nairobi
Free eveningOne last slow look at the Mara, then the journey back to Nairobi, arriving in the afternoon with free time to relax and reflect on your safari.
Dinner tonight is on you, and that's deliberate — Nairobi's food scene is genuinely excellent and worth going out for, even if your body is lobbying hard to lie down at seven.
Breakfast and lunch included
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Giraffe Centre
Bead workshop visit
Conclude your journey with a unique city tour, visiting the Giraffe Centre, where an endangered Rothschild's giraffe will take food straight out of your hand and — if you're feeling brave — off your face.Then we visit a bead workshop whose products support single mothers, orphans and widows in Kenya, with everything made by hand on site. It's your last real chance to take home something made in Kenya rather than something made at the airport
We’ll start doing airport transfers at 3 pm for your evening flight home.
Breakfast included
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✓ 10 nights of accommodations
✓ 28 meals: 10 breakfasts, 9 lunches, 9 dinners
✓ Fully escorted tour with a trip leader, English-speaking guide, and professional chefs
✓ Local guides in every national park
✓ Professional safari photographer
✓ 4×4 Land Cruisers with pop-up roof for some safaris
✓ Airport pickups and drop-offs on official trip dates
✓ All activities, sightseeing, park entrances as per itinerary
✓WhatsApp chat support for the group three months prior to trip
✓Pre-trip orientation call
✓Trip guide with packing list and travel tips
✓Photos and videos of the entire trip in a shared, downloadable album -
X International flights to and from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO)
X Any activities not mentioned in itinerary
X Visa fee (Approximately $35)
X Any personal expenses and shopping (budget approximately $500)
X Meals not specified in itinerary
X Alcoholic beverages and beverages outside of specified tours/meals
X Tips and gratuities for guide and driver
X Travel insurance (a minimum of post-departure/travel medical is required. You can check out plans from my partner, Wanderwell.)
Trip Inclusions and Exclusions
Trip Accommodation
This trip is for adventurous souls who want to share a once in a lifetime experience with new friends.
We’ll be staying in La Condesa, one of those neighborhoods that makes you want to cancel your plans and just wander. Tree-lined streets, beautiful old buildings, tiny cafés, galleries, parks, and, of course, food everywhere you turn. In other words: exactly where we want to be.
Our hotel is tucked inside a beautifully restored piece of Mexico City’s architectural history, blending the character of the original building with a decidedly modern, colorful, and very chic design. It feels a little bit like stepping into another era—but with much better cocktails.
And the location? Couldn’t be better. When you have free time, you can walk out the door and explore La Condesa and nearby Roma at your own pace. We’ll have plenty planned—but we’re leaving room for the city to surprise us, too.
Why Travel to Mexico City With A T2T Leader:
We’ve been coming to Mexico City for more than five years, and there’s a reason we keep coming back: we’re a little obsessed with this place. And, okay, we’re also a little obsessed with eating. We believe food is one of the best ways to get to know a city, so for this trip we’ve brought our curiosity—and our appetites—to the table. We’ve done the wandering, the tasting, the asking around, and yes, plenty of eating, to put together an experience that lets you enjoy some of the places and people that make Mexico City so special, without spending your vacation scrolling through restaurant lists trying to decide where to eat. Come hungry. We’ve got you.
We Make It Easy
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Pack your bags (we'll tell you exactly what to bring) and book that flight (yep, got tips for that too). Everything else? That's our problem now. Your only job is to show up ready for adventure.
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Every departure is scouted in person, your trip leader is with you start to finish, every local guide and driver is vetted, and there's a WhatsApp group and pre-trip orientation before you ever pack.
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Get matched with a roommate — there's a questionnaire, so it's actual matching, not roulette — or take a private room all to yourself. Pricing for both is listed below. Either way, you'll never be the only one who came alone.
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Your trip leader doubles as your unofficial photographer, which means you can put your phone down and actually be there. You'll come home with shots of the real you having the time of your life — not forty awkward poses in front of landmarks.
You’ll Belong
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Over half of every group shows up not knowing a soul — by day two, nobody can tell.
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Forget the massive tour buses. We keep it to 10–14 people, because you can't have a heart-to-heart with 40 strangers, and nobody invites a small army in for tea.
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Most of our travelers are 35–55, with groups ranging from 30s to 60s.
Whatever decade you're in, you probably won't be the oldest (and even if you are, we love you), and somebody at dinner will have a wild story that tops yours.
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Free time is built in on purpose. Skip the activity, nap by the pool, wander off with your camera — no search party, no guilt.
Travel that means something
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This isn't drive-by tourism or performative do-gooding. We're talking real connections with local communities, real cultural exchange, and ways to give back that are led by locals — the kind that actually help rather than hurt.
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With a group chat that won't die, a phone full of proof, and the version of you who says yes to things.
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Locally-owned taquerías, neighborhood markets, chinampa farmers in Xochimilco, and chefs who are keeping Mexico City’s food traditions alive — all part of the experience, and all benefiting from your visit. We eat where locals eat, buy ingredients from the people who grow and sell them, and learn from the cooks and producers who carry these traditions forward. No big-box food tours or cookie-cutter experiences. Just good food, good people, and a trip that puts your travel dollars back into the local food culture that makes Mexico City so special.
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Yes, this trip is about eating. A lot. But the best part is discovering everything that comes with the food—the people, the traditions, the land, and the stories behind what ends up on your plate. We’ll meet the people who make Mexico City’s food culture what it is: market vendors, chefs, cooks, and farmers in the chinampas of Xochimilco. We’ll talk, ask questions, share meals, and get to know the people behind the ingredients and traditions. Because by the end of the trip, we don’t just want you to know where you ate—we want you to know a little more about who made it, where it came from, and why it matters.
MARIA SAENZ
Meet Your Trip Leader
Maria is a Bogotana who’s always looking for an excuse to travel — preferably somewhere new, and with something delicious on the table. Growing up in Colombia, one of the most biodiverse countries in the world, made her endlessly curious about the many ways people live and the connection between people, place, and food (mostly food). She’s a cook, market wanderer, ocean lover, and terrible at having a “quick chat” with a stranger. Three hours later, she’ll probably know their life story, their mother’s birthday, and have somehow been invited to the celebration. She likes to plan enough to find the good stuff, but leaves plenty of room for getting delightfully sidetracked.
“My recent trip to Georgia with a few besties and a group of people I’d never met left me altered in the best way. I came back to Chicago with a lighter heart, a fuller spirit, and new lifelong friends. Georgia, a country that’s known only 25 years of peace during its long history, embodies empathy, compassion, and selflessness. Its people carry a warmth and generosity that quietly changes you. And it reminded me that even in places marked by struggle, the human spirit always finds ways to be kind. Take the trip. Always take the trip. And do yourself a favor, experience a part of the world (or several) with Laura Ericson.”
-Melissa
Ready to reserve your spot?
Investment:
$3,660 for double occupancy
+$1,040 for single occupancy
Deposit Due at Booking:
$900
We offer a free payment plan, so you can spread the payment across several months, with a $900 deposit due at time of booking.
Additional payment due dates are November 15, 2026 ($900), January 15, 2027 ($900), March 1, 2027 (remaining balance). All payments are non-refundable.
Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions or need a different payment arrangement. We look forward to sharing this adventure with you!
Fun Facts
Mexico City (CDMX) is the most populous city in North America, and one of the largest in the world.
May in Mexico City is warm and pleasant, with sunny days around 75–81°F and cooler evenings.
The Mexican peso is the official currency of Mexico.
Maize is basically everywhere. There are thousands of traditional corn varieties many of which are still cultivated today.
FAQs
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Let’s be honest, food is going to be a pretty big part of our day.
We’ll get to know Mexico City through the full spectrum of its food scene—from a good old-fashioned street taco crawl to dining at one of the best restaurants in the world. And because no proper introduction to Mexico City is complete without a little mezcal, we’ll make time for that too.
There’ll also be free time to make the trip your own—catch a lucha libre match or simply follow wherever your curiosity (and appetite) takes you.Come hungry. The rest, we’ll figure out along the way.
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This is a 2/5—you’ll be on your feet, walking through markets and neighborhoods, climbing in and out of boats, and generally working off at least one taco a day. Nothing is particularly strenuous, but comfortable shoes are non-negotiable. Come ready to walk, eat, wander, and repeat.
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Absolutely not! Most people come on group trips alone, and it’s the best way to meet people!
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While most of our trips tend to be people in the 30-50 age range, all ages 18+ are welcome.
We usually have some people who are 50+ on our trips, so if that's you, don't worry! Age is truly just a number, and it’s more important that the trip sounds like a good fit for you than your actual age. -
Yes—but not a ton, and that's intentional.
This is a short, five-day trip, and we've designed the itinerary to help you experience as much of Mexico City's incredible food scene as possible. That said, we've built in a few pockets of free time for wandering through neighborhoods, shopping, visiting a museum, or simply relaxing at a café.
And honestly? Some of our favorite travel moments happen when a long lunch turns into an even longer sobremesa—or when one glass of mezcal somehow turns into two.
After all, there's no need to rush a good meal.
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Wait until you get the green light from us to purchase your flights—We typically recommend 3-6 months prior to the trip, or as soon as we’ve finalized our group and arrival details.
We will be in contact with you regularly with reminders and assistance on purchasing flights, visas, insurance, packing, and more.
In the meantime, feel free to set up a flight alert on Google Flights to start monitoring prices. You will be flying in and out of Benito Juárez International Airport (MEX).
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Yes, you will need a passport valid beyond November 16, 2027 as passports must be valid for 6 months beyond the last day of the trip.
If you do not have a passport, we recommend you start the process right away, as it can take several months to receive it. If you need assistance with this, feel free to reach out!
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Yes, travel insurance is required for all of our trips, with a minimum of post-departure/travel medical coverage (typically about $50). There are options to upgrade to trip cancellation coverage + cancel for any reason coverage as well.
We always recommend getting travel insurance for large investments such as a trip like this. It's well worth the peace of mind knowing you will have travel and health coverage should something go wrong before or during your trip (and we have had several people have to use it—they were SO glad they had it).We always tell people to ask themselves, “am I willing to lose thousands of dollars should I not be able to go on this trip?” If the answer is no, consider getting trip cancellation coverage.
If you want to learn more about travel insurance and are looking for a recommendation, you can learn more about our travel insurance partner, Wanderwell, here.
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We sure hope that’s not the case, but we also realize that life can be unpredictable, and things happen.
All trip payments are non-refundable.
Filling trip spots is incredibly time-consuming. We are a small boutique travel company, and we unfortunately do not have the ability to refund people if their plans change. Your deposits go directly to our local partners, and they are non-refundable to me as well.
Travel insurance is required (see previous FAQ for more details), and will potentially cover most of your trip costs should you need to cancel for a covered reason if you elect a trip cancellation benefit.
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Mexico City sometimes gets a bad rap. And while we’re not here to pretend that big cities don’t come with their own set of things to be aware of, we also don’t think a headline should be the reason you miss out on an incredible place.
One of the best things about traveling with Type 2 Travel is that you don’t have to figure it all out yourself. You’ll be traveling with trusted local guides, vetted partners, professional drivers, and a trip leader who knows the ins and outs of the destination. That means you get to see more of the city with the confidence that someone has already done the homework.
That said, nowhere is completely risk-free. Not Mexico City, not New York, not your hometown. We’ll give you practical, destination-specific information before you go so you know what to expect and how to navigate the city confidently.
Our goal isn’t to put you in a bubble. It’s to help you feel comfortable enough to get out of it.
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Yes! Most of the restaurants and culinary experiences included in the itinerary can accommodate dietary restrictions and food allergies with advance notice. Simply let us know when you book, and we'll work with our local partners to make the necessary arrangements.
The one exception is our street food experience, where we'll be visiting small local taquerías and food stalls. Because these are traditional street vendors, options may be more limited. That said, we'll always do our best to find suitable alternatives so everyone can enjoy the experience.
Do you have additional questions about traveling with us?
Read our FAQs or contact us!
Vibe Check
Is a group trip a good fit for you?
After leading 400+ people through 10 countries, we've learned that while group trips are absolutely life-changing for most people, they're not everyone's cup of tea (or shot of tequila). Before you dive in, let's make sure we're a match:
You'll thrive with us if:
You can roll with the punches when things go sideways (because they will - it's travel, not a scripted TV show)
You're cool with scheduled adventures (we've got amazing stuff planned, but if you're the "wake up at 2pm on vacation" type, you’ll be missing out)
You understand the whole "strength in numbers" thing means sometimes doing what works for the group vs. your sudden craving for street food at midnight
You can vibe with different personalities (spoiler: you won't click with everyone, and that's totally fine)
You get excited about culture shock instead of freaking out when things aren't exactly like home (that's kind of the whole point)
Think of it like joining the coolest adventure club you never knew you needed. If you're nodding along to these points, chances are you're gonna fit right in. If you're breaking out in hives just reading this... maybe stick to solo travel for now.
Remember: Travel isn't about being perfect - it's about being open to whatever awesome weirdness comes our way. Because trust us, it will.
Still have questions?
Want to scope out flight prices?
You will be flying in and out of Benito Juárez International Airport (MEX).
Type 2 Travel is not responsible for any costs related to flights. You can use this tool to gauge flight prices, but please wait until you get an email from us approximately 6 months prior to your trip to book your flights to ensure you have all of the information needed for booking. We recommend always booking with the airline directly and not from an online travel agency (OTA) like Kayak, etc.
“Travel is about the
gorgeous feeling of
teetering in the
unknown.”
— Anthony Bourdain