Stubborn Mule Travel Reviews 38

We booked a 17 day trip to Japan though Stubborn Mule travelling as a family with two boys aged 11 and 8 years. We booked via Stubborn Mule as we wanted a tailored tour that would be fun for both adults and kids alike. We were so impressed with their local knowledge and they had loads of tried and tested ideas. The private tour of the big city’s were amazing and showed us how to navigate the transport system (which once you know how is pretty easy) they arranged for travel cards, train bookings between hotels and gave us helpful advice which save us hassle and wasted time.
We manage to pack loads into our time away, it felt so seamless, as Stubborn Mule did all the leg work for us.
I cannot recommend this company enough! If you are looking for a bespoke, tailored hassle free adventure, you can’t go wrong with Stubborn Mule! We would use them again in a heartbeat. Thank you for such a wonderful trip.

We booked a family holiday to Costa Rica with Stubbon Mule and they were absolutely fantastic to deal with every step of the way. They put together the perfect itinerary for us, were accommodating with our requests and the whole trip ran so smoothly from start to finish.

It was an absolutely incredible holiday and one that will live long in the memory!

Fantastic company - everyone I dealt with was delightful and really felt invested in helping us plan the best possible trip whilst respecting our budget. The trip itself ran so smoothly with all the details covered, excellent guides and timely transfers etc. Super impressed and we would definitely use again in future and have recommended to all our friends!

We are just back from a 16 day trip to Cambodia organised by Stubborn Mule which was the most amazing adventure for our family. Our itinerary allowed us to experience Cambodia’s culture, understand its history, visit the phenomenal temples of Siem Reap, meet the people and sample everyday life, be adventurous, visit Koh Rong and relax in its palm fringed beaches, and be in Phnom Penh for the Khmer New Year. We packed in so many different experiences while also having downtime to relax. It was meticulously organised from start to finish and our contacts in the country were on hand to help out with any questions or issues. Our guides and drivers were excellent, all very knowledgeable and were passionate about sharing their country with us. Thanks to Alex who helped design our itinerary and to Rachel for her recent support also. 10 out of 10 for the best family holiday.

We had such a fantastic adventure in Japan: everything felt seamless and really thoughtfully put together. Travelling as a mum with two teenage daughters (12 and 15), getting the balance right between seeing amazing places and doing things they’d genuinely enjoy was really important, and this was done brilliantly.

The majority of the transport was pre-booked, which meant I didn’t have to think or plan in the moment, a real luxury with so much travelling over three weeks.

The hotels were very well chosen, all within easy reach of stations, which made getting around simple. They were lovely: spacious, quiet, and welcoming and each with their own style, from traditional ryokans to modern options.

We really appreciated the balance of being able to explore independently, alongside having guides in certain places. All of the guides were fantastic: friendly, relaxed, and great at tailoring each day. They struck a brilliant balance between cultural highlights and things the girls would enjoy, from temples and shrines to quirky experiences like a mini pig café and shopping districts. They also took us to more local, less touristy places to eat, which we loved.

Japan itself was incredible: such a unique mix. You can spend time absorbed in ancient temples and shrines, then step straight back out into high-tech, buzzing cities. The girls loved that contrast!

We have just returned from two weeks in Sri Lanka and it could not have been more wonderful. It surpassed all of our hopes and expectations on every level. The service, support, knowledge and insight we have received from Emma and Holly at Stubborn Mule throughout the (very long, due to circumstances on our side!) and then on the ground in Sri Lanka and with our wonderful driver and guide, Dinesh, could not have been better.

As a family of two adults, a fourteen and eleven year old, you helped craft an itinerary which suited us perfectly. With adventure, cultural experiences, serenity, relaxation, indulgence and exhilaration all built in. The accommodation throughout was really well chosen and worked so well for our family.

What really made the trip so special – and has really left such a mark on each of us – was our driver, Dinesh. From the second he met us at the airport to the tearful goodbyes we said before our flight home, he shows us such kindness, fun, insight, dependability and generosity. We will never forget Sri Lanka or Dinesh as a result.



Sri Lanka really wowed us as a destination. Not only was it possible to experience so many different areas and activities during a two week trip, but the kindness and positivity of the people really shone through throughout. We found everywhere to be incredibly clean and well managed. The food was outstanding - we miss it now we're home. Everything felt easy, even on long journey days. The scenery and the different locations were breathtaking. There was so much to interest and intrigue - and we really only scratched the surface. To be able to combine all of that with simple time on the beach relaxing felt wonderful.

Some of the highlights of our trip – though there were so many – were:

· Our very first stop at the Horathapola, drinking from coconuts, cycling to the village, lazing by the pool and taking a bullock cart around the beautiful estate. It was a great start to our experience of Sri Lanka - and its delicious food!

· Sunrise hike up Lion’s Rock in Sigiriya – totally worth the 5.30am start! (even the teen agreed)

· Driving through tea plantations, hill country, coastal roads, all so calm and easy and very much part of the holiday rather than a necessary A-B

· The train journey from Ambewela to Ella – breathtakingly scenic and also great fun (selfies from open train doors as the scenery whizzed past!)

· Zip-lining in Ella – even I faced my fear and did it and I’m so glad I did!

· Our stay – and perhaps one of the splurges of the trip – at 98 Acres in Ella. From a pop-up bar overlooking the hills one evening, to my early morning yoga, the incredible view from our rooms, to the delectable breakfast, this was a standout hotel for us. We also really loved Ella in general and the cooler temperature was a great break from the heat for a couple of days

· Whale-watching in Mirrissa on the south coast – many dolphins put on quite a show for us but seeing blue whales was just incredible. Plus, the whole experience on the boat with wonderful, friendly guides and hosts, and amazing breakfast and lunch and swimming out at sea was fantastic

· Surfing in Weligama – lessons for the kids and watching the pro’s all day long but especially at sunset; so impressive

· Galle – what a beautiful town. We loved walking around the walls but were also so impressed with the shops(!), restaurants and cafes and the stunning Portuguese buildings – we’d happily stay here for a few days on our next trip (when, not if, we return!)

· The food – throughout the trip we ate the best we have on any family holiday anywhere in the world so far. The freshness, tastiness and variety and the array of options for adults and kids alike was very special

· Tea factory visit – sometimes it’s the smaller things that seem to really make their mark and our kids were fascinated by the visit and we’ve come home armed with a vast selection of teas as a result!

We can’t thank you enough for putting together such a wonderful holiday for us and introducing us to the magic of Sri Lanka. It will stay with us forever. Please pass on our thanks again to Dinesh – we could not have asked for anyone better to spend the two weeks with. He could not do enough for us and went above and beyond in taking us to lesser known restaurants and beaches, buying us red bananas to make sure we tried them, bringing us mangoes from his garden, telling us all about how life works in Sri Lanka and making sure we were well cared for at all times (toilet stops for our youngest, distracting him with dog-counting games, picking lemongrass for us to smell on long walks…the list goes on!). We will be back! (both to Stubborn Mule for our next big trip, and to Sri Lanka – one day).

The Kingdon Family

April 2026

A heartfelt thank you for organising such a fantastic family trip to Japan. Everything was so thoughtfully planned and seamlessly executed, which made the entire experience truly special for all of us.

We especially appreciated how well organised every detail was, from the smooth arrangements on the bullet trains to the clear and easy self-navigation when we were exploring on our own. It all felt very straightforward and stress-free, allowing us to fully enjoy the journey.

Thank you again for creating such an unforgettable experience. We’ll be recommending you to others and would love to travel with you again in the future.

We booked a family trip to Belize with stubborn mule and from start to finish it was absolutely fantastic! Emma and Holly were super helpful, working with us to plan out a trip that would work for the whole family and we all had such a fantastic time when were there. The places we stayed were lovely, all the activities were great fun and guides were really knowledgeable and friendly. The whole trip was really well organised and suited us perfectly. Would definitely use stubborn mule again!

We booked a two week trip to Japan during the cherry blossom season. Trip was family friendly, super well organised and were very receptive on the ground if any issues when we were there. Fab app with all information you could need for each day of trip. Train tickets all provided at first hotel of trip, meticulously organised. From seeing sumo, kayaking , cycling, hiking trip, samurai experience, amazing food and temples we all loved it.

Just back from our second impeccable Stubborn Mule holiday after an amazing trip to Vietnam last year.

Thank you Charlotte and Molly for organising an amazing trip to Morocco, to Karima for coordinating everything on the ground and to Jamal our driver and guide who was absolutely fantastic. He took great care of us and kept everything stress free.

Morocco exceeded all our expectations and was great value for money. Incredibly varied climates and environments as we travelled from dusty Marrakech with its busy souks to verdant Fes stopping along the way in snow-capped mountains, sunny oasis, and spectacular sand dunes.

Everyone had a wonderful time, and we’re already debating the next destinations to put on the wish list!

What a knowledge, friendly, imaginative, helpful team! Thanks for organising our incredible trip to Iceland. Keep doing what you’re doing!

We have booked 4 holidays through Stubborn Mule and I just cannot rate them highly enough. The itineraries are well throught through and managed and they have excellent operators on the ground. I like the fact they give you some options on the accommodation rather than just going for the most expensive so you always have choices. They were also amazing at getting our flights rebooked on our most recent trip as a result of the Iran/Middle East flight issues.

Stubborn Mule arranged an amazing trip to Machu Picchu and the Galápagos Islands. They thought of everything, pensive din good contact, and ensured it was a vacation my family will never forget!

Stubborn Mule organised a trip to Mexico for us in Easter 2026. 10 days for a family of 5 (children aged 13, 10 and 8). It was brilliant - three different hotels and an itinerary with lots of great activities - ziplining, kayaking, cenotes, archaeological sites, wildlife and more. We would absolutely book with them again. The organisation was excellent.

We have just retruned from Cape Town after another great trip arranged by Stubborn Mule follow trips to Sydney/New Zealand and Borneo also arranged by them and they know how to arrange fabulous trips!! Every hotel was superb.
Four Rosemead was lovely with Jade and her colleagues, Franschhoek hotel was great as well and the Lofts in Kynsna was out of this world with the water view.

CT was simple amazing, blue skies the entire holiday apart so great weather. The tours in CT were superb, so knowledgeable and we learnt so much along with seeing stunning views and loved the beaches/ Cape Peninsula trip, guides were delightful.
One of the highlights was our tour of Bo Kapp when we were taken to a house to meet a former Springboks Captain player and we talked rugby stories.

We loved Franschoek, we visited 6 wine estates on the brilliant tram in the same day, we learnt to share the wine tasting after the first couple as we wanted to ensure we made it through the day!! Every wine estate was magnificent. The garden route drive was great, all went well and the kayaking and ziplining superb fun.

A brilliant trip yet again put together by the wonderful people at Stubborn Mule and our thanks to Sarah J for her help on this trip, we will be booking another trip shortly.

Piers & Ali Comonte

Holiday cancelled due to war in Middle East. Lydia and Jess were brilliant about supporting decision making process, being flexible and ultimately refunding us in full. Would book again with no hesitations

The team at Stubborn Mule have helped us to organise amazing trips to Egypt, Thailand and most recently India.

The trips are tailored specifically for your budget, length of holiday and preferred destinations.

Their approach takes the stress away from organising the perfect holiday!

Massive thanks to the girls at Stubborn Mule for all their help organising our amazing recent trip to Thailand. We were a party of 4 adults and 4 teenagers.
Stubborn Mule’s knowledge, planning and organising of the trip , thankfully meant that I had very little to do , both beforehand and during the trip !
It was just so brilliant to have everything planned so perfectly for us.
From being met at Bangkok airport by our guide , to our 4 amazing hotels in Bangkok, River Kwai, Khao Sok and Krabi , to our various modes of transport on our day trips , tours , restaurant recommendations, tips and advice, detailed itinerary - everything was amazing.
Couldn’t recommend these guys highly enough and will definitely use them again for any big adventure holiday.

We have booked two holidays through Stubborn Mule and I couldn't rate them highly enough. They give you a preliminary itinerary which you can tweak (with their help) to make it absolutely perfect for your family. We loved our trip to Croatia and Mexico - we saw things that only the insiders know, stayed at hotels we would probably never have found and enjoyed experiences that kept our fussy teens amused and busy.
Honestly, I've never dealt with such a fabulous company and such helpful ladies. Thank you

Just returned from 4 weeks in Indo China all organised by Stubborn Mule. Three weeks before departing 6 days of our holiday had to be reorganised due to the border dispute between Thailand and Cambodia. SM quickly offered us other interesting itineraries to choose and rescheduled flights and accommodation. As well as visiting the usual tourist sights we visited more unusual places and activities. Highlights included harvesting, cooking and eating red ants in Cambodia, Kulen Elephant Forest, boat trip through the mangrove forest near Siem Reap, visiting the Burma Death Railway museum where I was shown my Uncle's records when he was a prisoner of war and the locations he was imprisoned. A particular highlight was staying with a Hill Tribe north of Chiang Mai in a stilted house which we accessed by a river walk and bamboo raft ride. A wonderful memorable holiday. Many thanks Stubborn Mule.