Lara MacDonald

We have been booking safari holidays with Lara for over 20 years, during which time we have visited many wonderful locations across the African continent. In every case, our itinerary has been faultless. This is only possible because of Lara’s impressive knowledge of the many concessions and camps, which she is able to tailor to our needs and wants, making for a truly bespoke experience which always delivers! 

We have celebrated birthdays, honeymoons, and anniversaries, always putting full trust in Lara to organise a truly memorable holiday, and we have never been let down. 

Having just returned from a magical trip to Botswana and Zambia, we are already thinking about our next adventure and where Lara is going to send us – we wouldn’t even consider going to anyone else!

What an exciting and inspiring time we have had in Sri Lanka.Everything far surpassed our expectations, and Lara helped us hugely within our budget to make it all possible. A trip we have been wanting to do for a very long time and now wanting to do many more! Thank you Lara for giving us the confidence to commit to such a big trip like this for all 5 of us, we will have these memories for a lifetime. Invaluable, we can’t thank you enough, it was AWESOME, we loved every minute. THANK YOU XX

Japan is a great place to visit with lots and lots to see. Lovely people, very friendly and helpful. Country is super clean and very reasonably priced.

Really happy we came.

We had a fantastic trip! Really enhanced by the amazing guides and tours organized by Lara and her team! Istanbul was amazing followed by Cappadocia – here Lara’s attention to detail was just outstanding – we were away from the crowds with space to enjoy the beauty. Thanks Lara!

As a single mother taking two teens on our first big adventure holiday I wanted to be sure that we would be seeing/doing as much as possible, and I also wanted a break from being in charge of everything myself – our Sri Lankan trip was everything I could have wished for. Our lovely guide Indika whisked us from one amazing place to another – temples, palaces, botanical gardens, Buddhist culture, the unforgettable Perahera festival in Kandy, tea plantations, elephant safaris, crocodiles, turtles, roti by the roadside, weird and wonderful fruits, warm turquoise sea, beautiful hotels, lovely people – Lara couldn’t have done a better job of creating an unforgettable experience for us – thank you!

We had the most wonderful week on board Ms Fortuna.  We were blown away by how spacious the boat is and the incredible service from the crew.  Blue sky, heavenly sea and beautiful landscapes.  We loved mooring in idyllic coves every night.  Fresh and delicious meals were an absolute highlight.

Thank you Lara for ensuring every detail was perfect.   The best family holiday we have had, we will do it again.

We had an absolutely fabulous holiday aboard MS Nikola! It was heaven: Sunny blue skies, azure blue water and delicious Mediterranean fare. Captain Ramazan, Ilmaz the chef and Ayaz the crewman were the best! They were enthusiastic, proud of their gulet and eager to show us hidden bays and special places along the way. There was lots of time for swimming, snorkelling, water-skiing and simply relaxing, reading and soaking in the stunning scenery. All just brilliant… A fabulous family trip!

Lara organised a truly memorable holiday of a lifetime for the two of us in South Africa, Botswana and Zambia. We will never forget the sights, the animals, the people and the incredible experiences that we had there. When we first spoke to Lara with our ideas she listened and tailored our trip to include everything we hoped for plus a few surprises which we loved! She obviously knows Botswana well, so each of the safari camps we stayed at were delightful and had something different to offer. All the flights and transfers went smoothly but it was a comfort to know that Lara was there if we ever needed help. We would certainly recommend speaking to @LaraMacdonaldtravel to help plan a big trip. I know we certainly will. Thank you for a fantastic trip Lara – we still can’t stop talking about it!

We have just experienced an amazing trip to Cambodia and Vietnam.

Siem Reap – staying at Phum Baitang, a lovely hotel which we would highly recommend. Visiting Angkor Wat and other temples, incredible. Landmine rats were so interesting, street markets by vespa was great fun.

Phnom Penh – super stay an  service at Raffles Hotel Le Royal Phnom Penh. The Genocide Museum is an eye opener to the horrors of the past.

Aqua Mekong cruise – fabulous boat, food and service.

Two super activities per day. Met some lovely people on board which made it very social. Attention to detail was excellent.

Vietnam – at Park Hyatt Saigon, very nice hotel with great restaurants and bars. Visited Cu Chi Tunnels, another eye opener from the past. Well worth a visit.

Thank you Lara for organising such a fantastic trip.

Our Moroccan holiday, curated by @laramacdonaldtravel exceeded our expectations. She managed every detail from drivers to check in to beautiful boutique hotels, walking and foodie tours, hikes, hammams and cooking classes. She got us a great deal, kept us informed along the way and everything worked perfectly!
Thanks so much Lara!

Home from a fabulous week at Ikos Dassia. Park any concerns you may have of an all inclusive – this was simply the perfect way to spend a week with three families. We return rested (great beds!), over-fed and over-watered (parents), whilst the younger generation loved the liberty of ordering what they wanted, when they wanted, and how often they wanted! Tennis before breakfast, the well stocked gyms (apparently!) after. Stand-up paddle or kayak in the crystal clear waters before an amazing beachside lunch, or a visit to what has to be one of the best destination restaurants in the world, atop the cliffs overlooking the mainland. A simply stunning vista. Splendid evening meals with lovely wines, and a staff body that are quite brilliant.
Would we return? Absolutely.

Choosing a country and planning an itinerary for your next family holiday can seem daunting. For the last ten years, we’ve relied on Lara’s travel knowledge and visited countries that have suited us perfectly. From beach resorts in Oman, Egypt and Mauritius to trekking in the Atlas Mountains and sailing in Turkey, our holidays have been spot on. Our recent trip to Viêt Nam did not disappoint, with its rich history, diverse culture, charming people and delicious food wowing us from the start.
Where next Lara?

We have arrived at Lewa this morning and it has surpassed our expectations- it’s beautiful. Our room is gorgeous and everyone is so friendly, thank you for recommending.

Recently returned from a thoroughly relaxing last-minute break in Marrakesh. Lara booked everything for us – flights, transfers, beautiful hotels and amazing restaurants – perfect attention to detail. The Capaldi Hotel was a perfect escape hidden in the Atlas Mountains. Beautifully tranquil and a wonderful place to get engaged! Dar Zamora was a ‘little oasis’ 10 minutes from the Medina. Very spoiling, heavenly gardens, beautiful rooms with attentive staff and fantastic cuisine. Totally relaxing! We will definitely be booking with Lara again – thank vou!

What a beautiful and tranquil hotel set in its own quiet bay. Super friendly hotel staff, lovely restaurants and great cuisine. Lots of local delights to visit by taxi, or see the island by boat on a trip off Carlisle Bay’s own beach. Perfect place to switch off and chill. Thank you Lara

Thank you Lara for organising a most fabulous 10 day trip to Egypt. The Nile cruise lived up to all expectations and Abu Simbel is an essential add on and Cairo was a pure joy

Thank you to Lara MacDonald for organising a wonderful family trip to Sri Lanka. I have always wanted to visit as my mother was brought up there. so wonderful to see the tea estates, the amazing countryside and the coastal areas. lovely hotels and very stress free organisation from Lara.

I have travelled to India on business many times but never stopped to really understand it. 8 hours with Morgan visiting the markets of Mumbai and witnessing it by travelling on buses and trains you really start to get an understanding for the city and it’s people. A must do (life is too short), excellent add on if you’re passing through Mumbai like me. Thank you Lara for organising such a memorable day.

We are having a simply wonderful time. Lewa is so special and we have seen so much game including a leopard this evening. The food is delicious and we saw it all growing in the farm. We are having an amazing time – thank you so much Lara

we have just returned from a sneaky, restorative break, a deux to the land of rice fields, noodles, beaches, rivers, bustling cities, glorious people and spectacular scenery. Two wonderful countries, Vietnam & Cambodia. Thank you to Lara for your total brilliance in tailoring and sorting out our trip for us, and in such a short turnaround too.

Hildana was just amazing – we had the most beautiful cottage and the view when you walk in is just incredible!
We were met by 15 elephants wallowing in the water hole! we have had the most wonderful experience wherever we have stayed. We are planning on bringing family back to share these experiences – thank you Lara

Only one word can describe our holiday, “paradise”. Golden sands, crystal clear sea, blue skies and the most stars I have ever seen. Once again, Lara has succeeded. whenever we ask Lara to arrange our trips she always manages to get it right every time. Somewhere to relax and plenty for the children to do. beautiful water villa and really lovely food. Already looking at the many islands the Maldives has to offer, want to visit them all!

Lara planned a very special trip to Africa for my family. I was incredibly impressed with Lara’s bottomless knowledge on all things safari. She will guide you to a dream holiday meeting all your requirements whilst tailor making the holiday to suit you. Lara will continue to monitor and assist, if necessary, throughout your trip. we loved Cape Town, our fabulous safari in Sabi Sands and the stunning beaches of Benguerra Island in Mozambique. Lara is your ticket to the most beautiful and memorable trip.
Thank you Lara

Amazing week! Our first experience of a sailing holiday and I will be honest I was slightly nervous. We boarded in the afternoon, were given information regarding the gulet and then we set sail, wow! The most amazing little coves, amazing food and such a welcoming crew. We all (group of 10) had a brilliant time. Even before the trip ended we were talking about our next trip. Once again Lara has ticked all the boxes.

Baraza Hotel and Spa is a fantastic hotel with smiley, professional and highly attentive staff, beautifully appointed and fitted out villas, the most delicious food and drinks, a fantastic beach (look out for the sea urchins though), a great water sports centre, an amazing spa and wonderfully maintained gardens. We spent a week there over Christmas and couldn’t have been more impressed – their Christmas celebrations were perfect with Swahilli carol singers and Santa arriving by beach buggy. A great winter get away loved by all the family.