Stubborn Mule Travel Anmeldelser 

We’re just back from our first Stubborn Mule trip to Tanzania and Zanzibar.

A huge thank you to Charlotte and Molly for taking my vague ideas of what we were looking for and building them into the fantastic and memorable holiday we’ve just had. It delivered on every level.

Thank you to Joseph who coordinated in-country and the biggest of thank yous to our guide, Emmanuel, for his knowledge, patience, spotting skills, respect for wildlife, smooth driving skills, flexibility, making us always feel safe and being all-around great company. Thank you for also making one teenager’s birthday very special!

I waited 38 years to see Tanzania and the landscape, animals, people and sunsets did not disappoint. We will talk about it for years to come.

We all had an incredible time and are left wondering ‘where in the world next?’!

The folks at Stubborn Mule were brilliant in helping us have a wonderful family experience in Japan. Travelling with teens, 14&15, we needed the mix of experiences that kept everyone happy and they delivered this in spades.

Always helpful the team organised our itinerary and accommodation for us. The self guide travelling on excellent public transport was easy; the private transfers to/from the airport were so polite, the all day guides in Tokyo and Kyoto were so knowledgeable and adapted to suit...I'm not sure they get many requests for stationery stores in and amongst the temples and shrines!
We organised flights ourselves and the Stubborn Mule team seamlessly incorporated these.

Can't recommend highly enough!

We have just returned from a 3 week trip around Costa Rica and Panama arranged for us by Stubborn Mule. Alex and Rachel were terrific in organising everything down to the last detail. They were patient answering my questions as we built the itinerary together and I felt we were in good hands straight away from booking to returning including support while we were there. I have two teen boys (15 & 17) and we had lots of great activities to keep everyone occupied throughout along with the odd bit of pool time. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Stubborn Mule for family adventures.

We've booked two family holidays with Stubborn Mule and both have been fantastic. They think of everything we might need or want, and include activities we'd never have thought of. It takes the hassle out of organising everything and allows us to sit back and enjoy the adventure, knowing everything's taken care of. They are a pleasure to deal with. Would recommend anyone thinking of a family holiday somewhere adventurous!

We're just back from another fantastic holiday arranged by Stubborn Mule, this time to Canada. The holiday was really special with so many superb moments that we are all struggling to choose our favourite. We had an amazing array of wonderful experiences from bear watching, to canoeing on Pyramid lake and bobsleighing on the olympic course in Whistler plus of course the awe inspiring natural scenery of a stunning country.

The beauty of working with Stubborn Mule is you get an itinerary bespoke to your family. We went through a number of iterations adjusting routes, number of nights in each location and activities with Liddy and Jess providing great advice and information along the way. Then, when a back injury forced us to reexamine our plans, they were amazing in helping us determine which activities would still be suitable including multiple conversations with tour providers to understand how bumpy the water might be!

Following all their planning the holiday went pretty much without a hitch. Unfortunately the float plane trip was cancelled due to smoke and then the weather. Although this was disappointing it was obviously unavoidable and it was dealt with efficiently by their local operator who contacted us in the morning and then liaised with the company to try to rebook the flight on our behalf (sadly this was also cancelled but ce la vie).

This is the second holiday we have booked through Stubborn Mule (Slovenia was also amazing), their meticulous planning ensures a stress free holiday, gives you unique activities which we would have struggled to find on our own and identifies the best local providers. We will definitely be looking to use them again in the future, we just need to decide where next!

We have just had the most magical extended family holiday in Kenya with SM. Despite travelling in a group of 12 the logistics couldn’t have been smoother. Each of the places we stayed exceeded expectations- and were perfectly picked to match the needs of our group. Everyone we dealt with was friendly and helpful - the safari experiences were unbelievable, and four days on the beach was the perfect way to end the trip! Thank you SM - we will be back for more!

Personal and diligent service. Loved the responsive nature of their communication by email and WhatsApp. Dealt with any issues promptly. Can't fault them

We have just returned from a wonderful 15 days in Vietnam. A fabulous trip organised by Stubborn Mule. Liddy & Jess organised a great tour, including lots of different activities to keep our teenagers (17, 16 and 13) busy as well as incorporating some downtime as well. The whole process from initial thoughts to the final execution was brilliant. Our local guides were so knowledgeable and friendly and were able to adapt to our specific needs on the day when needed. We particularly loved Pu Luong Nature Reserve, Hoi An old town and our brief visit to Saigon so learn more about the Vietnam/American War. I highly recommend Stubborn Mule - it is our 3rd trip with them and hopefully not our last.

This was our fifth trip booked through The Stubborn Mule, and somehow they continue to exceed our expectations every single time. Before each adventure, we think, “There’s no way they can top the last one,” and yet they always do.
Our Iceland itinerary was absolutely perfect. We had just eight days, and they curated an incredible journey that packed in the country’s highlights without ever feeling rushed. Every day brought a new adventure, and our kids (ages 12 and 13) were completely captivated from start to finish.
We zipped through icebergs on Zodiac boats, raced ATVs across black sand beaches, rode Icelandic horses to a spectacular waterfall, and spent what was arguably the highlight of the trip hiking to a secluded hot spring valley where we cooked lunch using geothermal steam, soaked in natural hot springs, and relaxed surrounded by breathtaking scenery.
They even orchestrated the perfect finale—spending the morning off the coast of Reykjavík spotting thousands of puffins and an incredible number of humpback whales, followed by a blissful afternoon at the Sky Lagoon before heading home. It was the ideal way to end an unforgettable adventure.
Every hotel was excellent, the pacing was spot on, and every detail was thoughtfully planned. The Stubborn Mule has an extraordinary talent for creating family adventures that are exciting, seamless, and genuinely magical.
Five trips in, they continue to raise the bar. We can’t wait to see where they take us next. Highly, highly recommended.

Just back from a fantastic SM family trip to Thailand! Faultless and smooth organisation by the SM team throughout which meant no stress and we totally maxed out what we saw and did while there whilst also having time to relax. Cant imagine what it might have been like without SM! Wonderful staff everywhere and so many wonderful experiences and memories made for a life time. Wonderful country! Hugely thankful 😀

Having booked my travel independently for the past 30 years, I was a little hesitant to put my trust in a travel company, but the desire for more adventurous travel in further flung places, coupled with a busy life, prompted me to reach out to Stubborn Mule. I am so glad I did. What a fantastic, personal service. From help deciding which country to explore, to tailoring the itinerary, picking fantastic accomodation, sharing local knowledge and advising on changes due to global conflicts, Stubborn Mule made it easy and stress free. The right amount of contact and updates, but not too much culminated in an amazing holiday to Sri Lanka for our family of 5. The trip itself was seamless, so easy, so fun and made all the better by the driver, Jude, provided by their partner LSR. If we could have taken him home in our suitcase, we would have! Would not hesitate to book another adventure through Stubborn Mule.

We love stubborn mule, we have booked three holidays with them and are going to book another for next year.
They make us do things that we would never normally do, which are extraordinarily fun!
The people we have used are so helpful and willing to bend over backwards to help us.
I would recommend stubborn mule to anyone who is looking for a good holiday booked for them!

It was a step into the unknown taking our 3 teenage children to Sri Lanka but thanks to Stubborn Mule, the experience was amazing and we had the best holiday. From the minute we got off the plane we were welcomed by Ranga, the best driver ever and then got looked after for the next 10 days. The Hotels that Stubborn Mule booked us were amazing and everything ran so smoothly- completely stress free. Thanks so much to Stubborn Mule-would never use anyone else

Amazing holiday in Costa Rica
Great activities
Everything was so well organised
Can't recommend enough for a stress free holiday that gives you a real feel for the country with fantastic trips and activities organised.

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