The Ultimate Adventure Through Rwanda

This is a once-in-a-lifetime wildlife experience, so if you want to see these incredible animals in the wild this can be arranged for you on Day 8 (in replacement of visiting the golden monkeys). Gorilla viewing permits are limited and the price is set by the Rwandan Government, so if you wish to book this excursion we recommend planning it as early in advance as possible.

The total price payable for the permit is $1442 per person, inclusive of some booking fees (this is calculated as the full standard permit fee, minus the cost of the golden monkey activity, which is included in the full trip cost but you'll need to skip this if you choose to visit the mountain gorillas instead). In order to book a gorilla permit, please request this from your host after booking the adventure and provide your passport details. Your host will process the permit request for you and collect a deposit of $600, if the request is made before your final trip balance is due. Alternatively, the full amount will be collected.

If you change your mind and need to cancel or postpone your trip, the $600 permit deposit is not usually refundable. Within 30 days from arrival, no changes are possible and no refunds are available. Standard cancellation terms and fees apply for the remaining cost of the trip, which you can try to claim back via your insurance.

Gorilla health is taken very seriously in Rwanda. This means that if you are ill (even the slightest of colds), you will be unable to visit them. The government does not offer refunds, so if this was to occur you would need to try and claim this on your travel insurance (please check that you are covered for such an eventuality).

Following amended travel advice in January 2025 from the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) regarding a small area of Rwanda at the north of Lake Kivu, we have made some adjustments to the itinerary for the foreseeable future in conjunction with our local host.

On Day 7, you will still paddle on Lake Kivu and camp on Gishayu Island as originally planned, and you’ll also paddle to Kinunu to visit the coffee station. However, instead of continuing by boat to Rubavu, your group will now travel by road to Volcanoes National Park. This avoids the Rubavu area completely. The drive on Day 7 will now take around 2.5 hours instead of 2 hours; however, your guide will ensure regular stops along the way.

The rest of the trip remains unchanged. Your safety is our top priority, and we will continue to monitor the situation closely with our local host and the FCDO.

While tap water is unsafe for drinking, please bring a refillable water bottle with you as a plentiful supply of filtered/treated water will be available during the trip.

Weather conditions should be pretty favourable in the season when this trip is scheduled to run, but as always Mother Nature is unpredictable so the best you can do is to be prepared for anything and come equipped with sunscreen, a hat and waterproofs. Your host will be monitoring the weather conditions during the course of the trip and may suggest alternative, safer activities should the weather get particularly bad, or change the order and timings of them.

During the activities you'll only need to carry your day pack containing lunch, waterproofs, camera, water etc. During the two-day kayaking expedition on Lake Kivu you will need to bring with you an overnight kit with only the essential items you need for those two days. Your main luggage will be transferred by vehicle throughout the trip.

Marta Marinelli, raised in Italy’s serene Prosecco Hills, dreamt of global adventures, inspired by her father's travel stories. Her passion evolved into a career, backed by a decade of studies including degrees in international tourism and destination management. She’s worked in the adventure travel sector since 2012, living in Italy, the UK, and now sunny Portugal.

Over twenty years, Marta has explored over 55 countries, visiting remote areas like Ghana, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Haiti and Nepal’s Upper Mustang region. As a Senior Adventure Expansion Manager at Much Better Adventures, she focuses on creating life-changing experiences, ranging from multi-activity adventures, challenging treks, to ultimate adventures in iconic places. She loves the challenge of finding the best local adventure hosts around the world, collaborating on adventures that offer genuine immersion, pushing beyond the beaten path and working on exclusive itineraries that challenge your comfort zone.

What makes her tick? Enabling people to live adventure-rich lives while positively impacting and empowering local communities around the world, generating sustainable opportunities for both the host, guides, community, and the environment.

At Much Better Adventures, we work hard to accommodate dietary requirements and allergies so your trip is safe, inclusive and enjoyable. That said, options can vary by country, location and accommodation, and in some places options may be limited or unavailable. The information below has been provided by your host so you’re fully informed about what will be possible on your trip depending on your individual requirements. This information should be read carefully prior to your trip to ensure that you are adequately prepared for the situation ‘on the ground’.

Once you have booked on your trip, please fill out your passenger information form asap with any dietary requirements. Once you complete your passenger information, your dietary needs and any allergies are automatically shared with your host and, in turn, your guide. Please submit this as early as possible so they can plan accordingly and deliver the best experience. Please also remind your guide about your dietary requirements upon arrival, as mentioning these in person allows your guide to comprehend individual preferences and limitations as soon as you arrive.

BACKGROUND

-Rwandan cuisine is shaped by its fertile highland geography and farming traditions, with meals centred on locally grown staples such as plantain, beans, sweet potato, cassava and maize, often prepared simply and seasonally. This makes managing special diets generally manageable, but awareness allergies may be limited and cross-contamination risks can rarely be fully eliminated, particularly in rural areas.

SPECIAL DIETS

Vegetarian -Vegetarian diets can be catered for on this trip, provided that your host is made aware in advance. Traditional Rwandan cuisine is largely plant-based, with meals commonly centred on beans, plantain, sweet potatoes, cassava, maize, vegetables, peas and seasonal produce. However, you may find options can be a little repetitive.

Vegan -Vegan diets can be catered for on this trip, provided that your host is made aware in advance. Traditional Rwandan cuisine is largely plant-based, with meals commonly centred on beans, plantain, sweet potatoes, cassava, maize, vegetables, peas and seasonal produce. However, you may find options can be a little repetitive.

Kosher -Fully certified Kosher kitchens and supervision are rare and cannot be guaranteed. Vegetarian or vegan options can often be the most reliable alternative if this is acceptable to you. Please read the related sections above.

Halal -Halal diets can be catered for on this trip, provided that your host is made aware in advance.

INTOLERANCES

Gluten Free (for Coeliac, please see Allergies section below) -Gluten-Free diets can be catered for on this trip, provided that your host is made aware in advance. Gluten-free travellers can find options based on tubers and legumes, but direct substitutes for common items are uncommon. Please do consider bringing your favourite snacks or food supplements from home to ensure that you always have enough fuel for your adventure.

Lactose Free -Lactose-Free diets can be catered for on this trip, provided that your host is made aware in advance. Though milk and yoghurt do feature prominently in some regions, dairy free substitutes are available. Please do, however, consider bringing your favourite snacks or food supplements from home to ensure that you always have enough fuel for your adventure.

ALLERGIES Our host has confirmed that provision for certain mild and severe or life threatening food allergies on this trip may be unreliable. In Rwanda, awareness and effective management of food allergies remains limited, particularly in local restaurants and hotels, and cross-contamination risks cannot be fully eliminated. Please get in touch with our CX team prior to booking to discuss whether your requirements can be accommodated safely on this trip. This will allow us to carefully consider the sensitivity and severity of your allergy, the available provision on the trip and the accessibility of medical care should a reaction occur. Your safety is always our top priority. Please note that when travelling overseas, local ingredients, food preparation methods and labelling standards may vary, particularly in remote areas. It is also worth noting that any allergies may result in more limited options and repetitive provision in some areas. Whilst your guide will help communicate dietary requirements where possible, customers remain responsible for managing their own allergies during the trip. Guests with intolerances (including peanut intolerance) must carry all necessary medication, including an EpiPen where prescribed.

Your local host will provide a suitable helmet that conforms to recognised safety standards. If you have sizing concerns, contact your local host in advance so they can advise on fit and availability.

If you wish to bring your own helmet it must be suitable for the activity and conform to recognised safety standards. Please see our Cycling safety guidance for further information.

Sure can! Over 70% of our travellers travel solo, it’s a great way to meet like-minded people.

Our team of Adventure Hunters co-create exclusive adventures which are run by highly vetted, specialist hosts. The trip is run by our trusted host partner in the destination. We only work with independent, local, in-destination experts who know the very best places to explore and how to stay safe. Read more information about the local teams we partner with. You’ll be introduced to the host straight after making a booking via the Much Better Adventures platform.

Much Better Adventures refer to the UK Government’s official travel advice when designing trips and monitoring trip operations. We recommend that all customers are familiar with the practical information provided on the Government’s FCDO website, where current travel advice can be found by searching for the applicable destination(s).

For customers joining this trip from other international destinations – please also read the official travel advice applicable to your country of residence/origin, as this may differ.

We recommend checking out the country-specific information and also talking to a travel nurse.

We automatically convert prices from the local currency that a host receives to your chosen currency. We update our exchange rates on a daily basis so this does mean that prices displayed on the site are subject to currency fluctuations, which is why you may see them change over time.

If you wish to change the currency you pay in, head to the bottom of the page.

All of our group adventures are specially designed for adults to enjoy as we want these adventures to bring together outdoorsy people who are truly like-minded. You must be over 18 to join one of our trips.

You're always in good company on one of our adventures.

Our trips are typically made up of a mixture of solo travellers and small groups of 2 or 3 friends, with most in their 30s-50s.

Our sociable adventures are solo-friendly by design and naturally attract outdoorsy people with a shared mindset; a love for adventure, a desire to push themselves and meet awesome, like-minded people along the way. Check out our Community Values – a shared code to make sure that everyone's experience is safe, inclusive and brilliantly unforgettable.

It’s this camaraderie that has so often turned a great adventure into a life-changing one.

Don't just take our word for it:

• 95% of people rate the group dynamics on our trips 5/5
• 90% of people recommend joining a trip to make new friends
• 75% of people have met people on our trips that they would now consider friends

See here for more info about the Much Better Adventures tribe.

Rwanda is warm and spring-like all year round. Temperatures average 24-34°C in the daytime and 17-20°C at night. Short thunderstorms that usually pass within an hour or so can occur at any time of year, but the main wet seasons are March to mid-May and September to mid-November.

Rain is unlikely in the main dry season (from the start of July to mid-August) but it can be a little more hazy due to the dust in the air. Rwanda is a great place to visit at any time of year; however, December to February are the most popular as there's lots of sunshine and the landscape is lush and green.