Hi Dear Marieke, how often we have thought of you and our wonderful Rajasthan trip! Thank you so much for sharing all your wonderful knowledge of India, shared with such a heartfelt passion that it was impossible not to come away sharing a little of that passion!  That to me is an indication of a very well thought out and loved tour, so thank you for taking us on the journey with you!
How wonderful to meet Durga also, a beautiful character and a great addition to the experience. Thank you again Marieke,

Hi Marieke,
Oh yes, I am definitely back with a bang and trying desperately to keep some sort of ‘Karma’ about me… 
Where to begin….from our magical tented camp in Jodhpur that still sends shivers up my spine….to our picnic in the Aravlli hills with VB and his very elegant mum.
Our wonderful Indian food and desert fires at night. One of my most treasured feelings of India will always be the memory of Durga each morning wearing his beautiful turban and genuine warm smile….. such a lovely, lovely man is our Durga and what a privilege to spend time with him in his homeland.
You really do complement each other beautifully.  It certainly was a special time and only hope it won’t be our last.
Please keep me in the loop for new tours as we would all love to do another group holiday together.
A big hug and kiss from Jono and I xxxxoooo

Dear Marieke ,
Thank you for the email and welcome home !
We really loved the Indian adventure Marieke and Durga style and felt we did experience so much more with the tented camps that were a favourite and all  the superbly chosen hotels  sharing some of the essence of India.. Every detail was thought about and the cuisine delicious. I have now stocked the pantry with The Very Best Basmati and have already attempted to make Indian dishes for the family, although not quite the Thali yet . I did love my yoga class with you on the rooftop at Deogarth and particularly loved the small town and our lovely Kashmiri boys at the turban shop. We loved our proud aristocratic Rajput Durga with a wonderful art of storytelling and a great sense of humour. You will be pleased to know that Brad and I are back to yoga once a week and Yin is our new experience .Brad is glued to Indian Summer and I am loving Nine Lives and am able to understand so much more regarding Hindu Jain and Muslim religion with a lot to learn. Thank you for such a wonderful experience in India and we will be back .We already miss the busy street life and the smiling beautiful faces .
Lots Love Lisa and Brad xxx

As my Ikat parrots fluttered in the breeze today I again felt lucky to have spent time in gorgeous Gujarat.
Thank you for more wonderful memories of India and for making the past two weeks so memorable.
Your thoughtful professionalism is deeply appreciated.
Gandhi is so right. The world has much to learn from India and I’m very grateful to have been fortunate enough to be able to be delighted by the spirit and people of it in your capable hands.  
With my love, Victoria. X

Dear Marieke….. home now where the snake charmer’s rug has found a perfect home. Everything here looks so pale, but it’s lovely to hear rain and eat avocado!
It was a truly remarkable trip, and I cannot say enough how much I admire your attention to detail, logistical prowess, standards, energy and ability to make a group cohere (inspired cocktails!) . You paced it all perfectly, calibrating the experience like a theatre director. I have made a list of eleven people I am going to write to about the trip and about the experience of traveling with you, we’ll see who nibbles and says they want to know more…
I know that many things will stay with me for life about this trip, and have inspired me on so many levels about day to day living.
Namaste! C xx

Hi Marieke, What an amazing trip you and Durga created for us in Gujarat and now we have wonderful memories to ponder on and talk about, and the mystery of India will stay with me for ever. It’s vibrancy and zest for living is something I hope I will be able to show to Brian too before long as its an experience everyone should have once in a lifetime.  We were so lucky to go to such special places that wouldn’t have been possible if it hadn’t been for you and Durga and to go into people’s homes and experience their lifestyles was amazing, and Durga’s knowledge and his pride in showing his country to us, and his respectful friendliness to everyone he meets is a great lesson.  Thank you so much Marieke for making it all so memorable.  
Have fun, Wendy

Pico Iyer said of his visit: “I’ve been to so many literary festivals, from Shanghai to Bogota, and this one is definitely the least dry, the most carnival-like. Where else would you go from Shakespeare to contemporary politics to V.S. Naipaul and then Sufi music—each in such a full-bodied way? The music definitely had a cleansing, clarifying quality after that clash of ideas, like a sorbet in the middle of a rich meal”.

It was a trip like no other. The opportunity to stay close to the local Gujjar people and experience their environment as they have lived for perhaps hundreds of years. Little or no technology with magnificent, pristine, wilderness landscapes makes for that rare connection with a way of life we have long left behind. To me this is what made this trek around Aru in Kashmir so amazing and enlightening. On returning home my memories of the mountains and all I experienced have flooded my dreams. Quiet reflection on the daily life we were privileged to be immersed in has heightened my appreciation of this very special tour. Johnny our guide was so passionate and dedicated to the beauty and cultural heritage of Kashmir, he could not help but leave us with a new found love for his people and his land.
Of course the food was delicious, the company excellent and your co-ordination and support exemplary.
Thank you for it all Marieke – a challenging holiday with meaning, warmth, companionship and immense educational value. It will live on in my memory for all the years to come.
With lots of love,
Jo xx

I am writing quickly to tell you that we had the most amazing trek with Johnny and Gulam.  We absolutely adore them, and all of the guys on the team, it honestly could not have been better.  We walked a different route – which Craig asked for, so that we avoided having to return to Aru and Srinagar – we walked 60kms up over the mountains towards Sonmarg, where we are staying tonight. It was indescribably beautiful, the kids loved it, and so did we.  We were crying at dinner tonight, missing the guys.
I will write later in detail to describe the walk, but we have truly lost our hearts to these Kashmiri mountains and men, they are heaven.
Thanks so much for sending us to them.
Love Sal xxx

Dearest Marieke, 
Now back after another wonderful trip filled with endless colour and beauty, things I love, as simple as smiles on faces so ready to share, a temple glowingly yellow, an elephant engaged in blessing all and sundry, a plate of deliciously fresh organic food, lovingly prepared and served on a banana leaf from the grounds of the hosts plantation. Thank you for making all of this and much much more possible. Not the least of which was cruising the Venice of India in Kerala.  India is at its least exciting, it is full of promise, tolerance, spirituality and offers much that the rest of the world could sit up and take notice of.  I am thankful for the way in which you, with the erudite Durga by your side, present it and let it gently unfold, with a surprise here and there. The memories and photographs are what are now left. Thankfully neither will fade away. What you do is an art and involves detailed planning. I am appreciative of being able to take part in both.
With my love,
V.

Hi Marieke,
 
Thank you so much.  What I would have loved to say to you before you and Usha jetted off after lunch was this:
 
I know that I have been blessed to be the recipient of your many years of experience in the subcontinent.  It showed in everything we did, from the delicious food and gorgeous hotels, the highly polished itinerary, the hospitality and friendship of everyone we met and of course, the ace up your sleeve in India, Durga.  As I am usually the one organising everything on our trips, it was great not to have to think about anything else except enjoying the sights in front of me and knowing what time the next meal was!  It is truly a holiday when you have no idea what day it is, and you don’t care to know either…
India is certainly a land of contrasts, and you were right in saying that as soon as the initial shock wears off, you are then free to experience the rest of what the country has to offer.  I am glad that we chose the soft landing in the south.  Thank you for converting a non-believer.
With love, Karen Van A Sydney

Hi Marieke,
We are home now and I would like to thank you for organising such a wonderful trip for us.
India is such an amazing place.  I was reading Kipling’s book Kim as we travelled and enjoyed seeing little scenes straight from the book, from the oxen carts, the men in dhotis planting rice, the women herding goats, a girl gathering her buffalo out of the river, chickens scurrying around a thatched hut, the man sewing on a treadle machine and another ironing using a coal iron.
 
The highlights of the trip were the amazing bas reliefs at Mahabalipuram near the shore temple and the huge elephant and Nandi there, staying at Visalam, Mrs Meyappan’s wonderful lunch, an oxen cart tour of the town that Visalam is in, talking to children on a school excursion at Tanjore palace, eating cashews freshly roasted at the road side, and seeing the amazing town and village life along the roads.
We really enjoyed the driver and the car he used was so cool and comfortable.
Thank you for all your help and organization.
 Regards,
 Melissa and Peter

“Dear Marieke,
I’d just like to say a very big thankyou for another wonderfully memorable adventure …… it’s only now that the wonderful images of the trip are coming back in more detail. What a truly magical little kingdom Bhutan is – the natural charm and openness of the people, the scenery, the whole spirit of the place. 
Of course your magnificent attention to every detail, Durga’s inimitable style and the heart with which you put into each journey is one of the reasons I just keep coming back!” 
Judy Olsson, Melbourne

And so to Paradise – Land of the Thunder Dragon…
I haven’t stopped raving since I returned…and have been wondering why I came back…
I so appreciated the silence, beauty and tranquillity of the land and its people.
Have had a very brief look at some pics on disc bringing back the wonder of it all … I found myself smiling at the screen…it will be a long time before the images start to fade…..
Thanks to you, the fabulous Bhutan team and the Indian import, another magical journey has been safely completed ever -so -specially and filed away in the memory box, as one of life’s unforgettable and wondrous adventures that I am confident cannot be matched. 
And now to dreams of happy smiling faces, flags fluttering in the valleys of rhododendrons and magnolias. a place at peace and prayer.
 Love, Suzanne Halliday

Visiting Kashmir is a dream come true. Travelling with Art of Living supported by the KC team, my arrival in Srinagar staying on the stunning Sukoon houseboat unravelled a magic I never expected to be so majestic and well equipped, with every modern convenience necessary. Every aspect of my trip in Kashmir was stunning, the security in particular surprised me, hence at all times I felt safe and I will return as soon as possible. Thank you for your extraordinary hospitality, competence and friendliness. Maggie Robertson Byron Bay

A visit to Kashmir arranged by Art of Living is to be transported to a land of great beauty and friendly people who convey a strong sense of community. At every turn we were shown engaging sights, world-renowned gardens, a network of canals linking residential neighbourhoods, farms and old city with our lake shore houseboat “home”. Within a few days we had been gracefully and expertly afforded a cultural and geographic immersion in a journey for anyone who is curious about the world.
Nancy Fisher, Boston USA

Dear Marieke these are my most cherished memories of my first trip to Sri Lanka with you as tour designer and guide:
– The three diverse and stimulating climate zones we travelled through: the dry plains of the north, the cool mountains of the centre and the monsoonal south.
– The Buddhist art that echoed Bagan’s Plain of Temples in Myanmar, their powerful geometries given highest expression in the caves at Dambulla and joyful celebration in the Temple of the Tooth at Kandy.
– The contemporary design aesthetic and colour palette found in many of the marvellous boutique hotels you found for us, which seem to reference the amazing ouevre of Sri Lanka’s one and only Geoffrey Bawa.
– The generosity and skill of our driver Indika, who made the journey so comfortable and safe.
– The stand out curry banquet served for dinner at the elegant Amangalla – a most memorable culinary sensation.
I do so hope to visit again. Love Jen Anderson

” Having traveled and lived in India for over 25 years, nothing can beat the magic of the World Spirit Music Festival in Nagaur. It is a truly exhilarating experience  and an unbeatable assault on all the senses. The fort looks stunning and is lit up with thousands of magic lights and flowers, the most gifted musicians in Sufi music come from all over the world, including Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Africa and of course India. Days are spent lounging around on huge cushions absorbing the beauty of the venue, the music and eating the most delicious food. New friends are made and the last night erupted in everyone dancing and partying under the stars. I can’t recommend it highly enough. It is a little piece of heaven and you take the experience of being there and treasure it for weeks afterwards. If there is one thing you should do, if you visit India, is go to this festival.” Emma Chapmana

Dear Marieke
Thank you for providing us with an opportunity to experience the rich history and natural beauty of Morocco. We were lucky to have a variety of wonderful experiences and leave having a better understanding of Morocco’s history, cuisine, culture, art, geography and geology.
Your local guides were generous with their time and knowledge. I felt safe to travel through busy souks knowing that the guides were there to make my shopping pleasurable, interesting and hassle free.
The experience of travelling through the countryside gave us a more sobering perspective of Moroccan life. We drove through mud brick villages where donkeys and mules are the main form of transport and where there is often no electricity.
Travelling through Morocco allows you to experience many different changes of landmarks, landforms and colours. Some towns and villages were whitewashed with brilliant blue trim, Fez was ochre yellow and it is essential that Marrakech’s buildings are coloured the orange pink that correspond to the nearby Atlas Mountains.
The mosque is the focal point of villages, towns and cities and the call to prayer five times a day is a gentle reminder that we were in a muslim country.
We were not just observers, we rode mules up into the mountains to meet up with a Berber family who provided a traditional lunch of vegetables and meat cooked in tangines over charcoal fires. We rode camels in the desert, took a horse drawn carriage in Marrakech, were entertained by expats and locals in their riads, their restaurants, their homes. We saw artisans use their age-old skills and were able to buy items directly from the craftsperson. We stayed in lovely riads and enjoyed the hospitality, the mint tea and the delicious meals provided by local owners. We also stayed a night in the desert and in a stylish hotel high up in the mountains.
If I had my time over I would have wanted to see more of Morocco! No time is time enough to experience all that Morocco is!  September is a good time weather wise. Not too hot or cold, just right! Thank you Marieke for organising a tour that was diverse, fascinating, informative and stylish. Thank you also for Soufian your right hand man who solved any problem that came along effectively and affectionately. Sally Cousens, Sydney 2018

Dear Marieke,
We leave Udaipur this morning starting the long trek home.
It’s been a wonderful trip and I can’t thank you enough for all your thoughtful suggestions and excellent organising; we’ve felt in good hands all the way.
JLF was one of the most marvellous events I’ve ever attended; the mix of intellectual and cultural stimuli was a heady brew and not something I will ever forget; it’s what memories are made of.
Our reading group was extremely happy and satisfied – and believe me that’s a huge compliment as it’s not all that easy pleasing 8 strong willed women. But I think you knew that already.
I hope we can get together again some time in Sydney or Melbourne.
Warmest Regards,
Sophie Sydney 2017

The breathtaking beauty of the spectacular Ahhichatragarh Fort, Nagaur provided a perfect setting for the World Sacred Music Festival in February 2018.  The desert location with warm days and clear star filled skies at night was enchanting; so too, the call to prayer we heard at dawn and dusk each day.
The various concerts featured extraordinarily talented musicians and singers from all over the world – music expressing both sacred & ancient traditions.  We were entertained, charmed, seduced and enchanted by these performances.  A truly blissful experience.
The daily program of sublime concerts was interspersed with superb meals celebrating the gastronomic heritage of Indian cuisine, served in a grand out door pavilion.
Accommodation in the fabulous Royal Tents was such a unique and wonderful experience with wonderful service including ‘bed tea’ in the mornings.
Thankyou Marieke for your timely invitation to join you at Nagaur. This festival was indeed remarkable and the experience of a lifetime.
Christine & Marilyn Shady

Dear Marieke,
We leave Udaipur this morning starting the long trek home.
It’s been a wonderful trip and I can’t thank you enough for all your thoughtful suggestions and excellent organising; we’ve felt in good hands all the way.
JLF was one of the most marvellous events I’ve ever attended; the mix of intellectual and cultural stimuli was a heady brew and not something I will ever forget; it’s what memories are made of.
Our reading group was extremely happy and satisfied – and believe me that’s a huge compliment as it’s not all that easy pleasing 8 strong willed women. But I think you knew that already.
I hope we can get together again some time in Sydney or Melbourne.
Warmest Regards,
Sophie Sydney 2017

In Sri Lanka, Marieke does so much more than seek out the most exquisite accomodation and sites. She maneoeuvres her travellers to front row seats to witness age old temple rituals, finds the stalls in the market with the ripest mangoes and brings them back to your hotel for sunset cocktails. If she could, she would spot you the leopard on safari. Nothing is too much trouble. Her knowledge is deep, broad and always up to the minute. Her quest for the best is relentless. She has a sixth sense for when her guests want more and when they need less. She shares their enthusiasm for watching a herd of elephants grazing almost within reach, or their pleasure relaxing by an exclusive pool or watching them inhale the aroma of freshly rolled cinnamon bark on an island or visiting a private garden lush with memories of past revelries. She can find you the perfect gemstone and the place to set it, the length of hand dyed cloth you have to have, the recipe for the eggplant dish you had at dinner, the best place to see a kingfisher at dawn or a peacock in the rice paddies. Once you have travelled with Marieke, there is no going back. Without her, a country is a paler version of itself.
Cxx
Caroline Baum | Author • Journalist • Curator • Moderator

Dearest Marieke,
I have been trying to get to my emails and send you a very big thank you. Tonight I will not let anything get in the way!
Travelling with you is always such a joy … so much fun!
Your research and careful planning were in evidence yet again – a marvellous mix as always: traditional and contemporary, culture, food, architecture, landscape, art and the simpler pleasures of wandering off the track in some truly magical places…not to mention a cooking class with someone from Master Chef!!!
I can never quite explain to others what its like travelling with you – Is it like travelling with your family? – but without all the terrible family dramas! Or is it like travelling with friends? – no.. because that can be the beginning of the end of friendships if someone gets upset about the wrong hotel or restaurant or …
And yet its not like travelling with strangers either because Marieke you always draw together people of like mind who, after a week or so travelling together, find so many shared pleasures and interests.
I always know it will be fun and I love the fact that I don’t know exactly what we are going to do. Putting yourself in someone else’s hands requires trust – and you always repay that trust in spades!
You brought us the traditional and the surprising, the cutting edge and the quaint, the sophisticated and simple, the amazing layers of history and some 21st century wonders, the picturesque and the rugged … all in this extraordinary part of France!
That afternoon at Chateau La Coste just blew me away – I can’t stop telling people about it!!
So …. a thousand thank yous to you Marieke … yet again. Jo Dunin, Melbourne

Dear Marieke,
I’ve just returned…… Had a beautiful time in Paris and then went on to London and Italy. Glad to be home as well so happy all round. The highlight was of course Provence and I can’t stop talking about it!!!
Thanks too for the recipes, wine notes etc…
“Marieke finely crafts experiences and treats on her Provence trip. It all appears effortless but a lot of research has been done to create a masterful journey. I didn’t feel as if I was on a tour, I felt like I was traveling with a group of friends with Marieke and Baxter the locals!! Each day a gem …..”
Thank you for a wonderful trip….love to you Di Howison, Adelaide

Thanks again for the wonderful tour of Morocco. Your choice of five cities and two additional overnight destinations (in the Agafay Desert and the Ourika Valley) provided us with as broad and varied an exposure to Morocco as could possibly be fitted into two weeks. Carolyn and I have, at last,  “twigged” to your focus on authenticity and on getting close to the sense of a place.
 
On this tour, again, your choice of accommodation, your selection of tour guides and the numerous locations you identified for meals, all reflect your own style as well as your intuition for the tastes of more occasional travellers such as us. For meals, the food and the ambience and the view provided, repeatedly combined to create unique experiences; your ability to identify local artisans gave those of us so inclined with the focused opportunity to shop and to learn still more about this incredible country; the unexpected interactions with hotel and Riyadh owners, ex-pats and academics left us feeling enlightened and very special.
 
Perhaps the best “measure” of your talent is the fact that we both had such an extraordinarily good time, one of our very best holidays. There were just so many high spots and we proceeded at such an agreeable pace, rarely pushed but never bored. And always exceptionally well fed and watered.
 
Many thanks once again for your expertise and guidance and wonderful company.
 
Kind wishes, Michael + Carolyn L Perth | September 2018

Our recent trip with the marvellous Marieke certainly delivered “Morocco the Magnificent”! In true Marieke style the itinerary was wonderful, thoughtfully researched & cleverly curated to ensure an experience that delighted all of the senses. We returned home feeling enlightened by what we had learned, inspired by the welcoming, knowledgeable local people we met, and enriched by the exposure to so many fascinating aspects of Moroccan culture. The diverse accommodation was part of the appeal and the culinary delights nothing short of amazing! Marieke made sure all our needs were met and that each day held something special and memorable – always with a smile, an entertaining tale or two, boundless energy and infectious enthusiasm for the joys of travel!
Chris + Andrea B Melbourne | September 2018

We have just returned from a wonderful trip to South India and the third trip that Marieke has organised for us.
We travelled by car with a driver from Chennai and Pondicherry in the East to Kochi (Cochin) in the West over 16 days. The accommodation was excellent and always interesting – from heritage homes/guest houses with only a few rooms to a gorgeous houseboat (beautifully converted old rice-barge) and a 235 year old traditional wooden home (not a single nail or screw) set in a coffee plantation in the hills. 
The trip was made easy having a car and an excellent driver from the time that we landed until we were driven to the airport 16 days later. Marieke’s sightseeing suggestions and arrangements covered all that we needed and wanted to see; and the “extras” like suggesting lunches in particular homestays always resulted in great outcomes. 
Planning the trip with Marieke was easy and consultative. We would not hesitate to recommend Marieke’s services and hope that we will make use of them again before too long.

Graeme and I wanted to say thank you for all your assistance regarding the South India trip we have just completed. It was wonderful, without reservation. The trip was an excellent balance of different experiences and accommodation. The food was amazing and Jenny and Roger were such great traveling companions. We feel very lucky.
 
Favourite accommodation: Rajakkad Estate was brilliant – the food and staff were all lovely. And so enjoyed the walks..The local village and its life was fascinating too. I could easily have stayed another night as it was so relaxing.
Maison Perumal was also so welcoming and the rooms were lovely. Being able to swim and eat at Palais de Mahe enhanced the experience. Visalam offered a beautiful room and the staff and food were so good, as well as the excursions offered. Philipkutty’s Farm surpassed all. The houseboat was also brilliant and I will never forget the birds at sunset. Our houseboat crew were delightful. Buntons Boatyard was also a beautiful room and vibrant location on the harbour.
 
Every experience was worthwhile.The temples at Tanjore and Madurai were amazing with ceremonies happening that transported us back in time. But we also found the smaller temple at Darasuram incredibly beautiful, especially the bas reliefs…..We just loved stopping in villages and looking at the markets and shops and seeing something of village life and interacting with the local community. As mentioned previously the backwater cruise was excellent and more beautiful than I had expected.
Our interactions with the local residents were always joyful. India is such a great destination.
So thank you again.  Hope you are happy for us to recommend your services to our friends. It was such a wonderful experience 
 
Liz and Graeme (NSW November 2023)