Camps International Anmeldelser 

I chose Camps International initially because they are professional and adopt a safety first approach - it means that we can focus on the students, their life-journey and their expedition-experience, confident that the rest is taken care of by the Camps team.
I choose to stay with Camps because the staff & leadership culture is so welcoming and so focussed on the students and teachers. Nothing is too difficult, everything is possible, and it’s the same Camps culture the world over.
The impact on the students is remarkable - simply life-changing.
On this recent expedition, we estimated that our student team had delivered around 1500 voluntary project days. That’s toilets for families that have never had one, fresh water pots so that families don’t have to collect water each day, meaning in turn that children can go to school, or simply enjoy playing. And it’s schools - we laid the foundations for one, and completed the walls and uprights for another whilst in the different regions of the host country. We also estimated that, of the funds we’d raised in order to go on the expedition, around US$240k went into the local economy - shared across communities through jobs and local supplies of food etc,
Having fun whilst changing lives, not bad for a summer holiday!
Thank you, Camps, for what you have done and most importantly for what you are going to do.

I think it’s about time I reveal how my school trip to Kenya went in 2017, which we were told to keep quiet about for various reasons. But why I’m sharing this now, is because I’d like a response from Camps International, especially regarding the ethical outcomes our trip supposedly had for the locals.

So to start off we arrived at Nairobi airport on the 17th November, which happened to be at the same time Raila Odinga, the leader of Kenya’s National Super Alliance (Nasa) also returned home from an overseas trip. My group of twenty 14, 15 and 16 year olds left the airport and was ushered quickly into mini buses. The urgency of the situation started to be realised and the panic set in. Supporters and protesters gathered around us awaiting Odinga’s arrival. As our buses pulled away down the Main Street leaving the airport, protesters started throwing rocks from the roadside at every vehicle leaving the airport. Water cannons attached to army tanks ahead and behind us were spraying them down, but rocks still smashed through car windows injuring the drivers and passengers around us. It was utterly surreal. I distinctly remember putting my face to the window looking out and a rock bounced right on the plexiglass window infront of my eyes. Thank god for the choice of bus window material that day, I wonder if this choice was intentional…

“Five people have been killed in Kenya's capital Nairobi as police broke up crowds of opposition supporters. At least two of the victims were shot dead, reports said, while others may have been stoned to death by a mob.” - this is the BBC report from that day.

So… health and safety wasn’t off to a great start, I’ll talk more about this later actually 😅 but I want to get into the real reason for my review: The “mission” for our trip was to help build a classroom for a school in Taita. We were told previous groups had built the building already and the group right before us had laid down the floor, however the floor “wasn’t level” so unfortunately our group had to break it down with pickaxes and make cement to then lay the new cement floor. I am deeply concerned this may have been an ongoing cycle of floor destroying and rebuilding with every new group of kids. My suspicions have arisen following a recent Vice interview with a girl who saw firsthand the events of her international school trip with an undisclosed company which had similar features. We also donated money, toys and school supplies just like her trip (did the money go to the kids and the community? tbf one of kid knicked my mates wallet so I doubt it. I’m happy that kid at least got something). And, just like her experience, we were also told to keep quiet about the events of the trip. The video is titled: “ the dark side of rich kids volunteering abroad” on YouTube.

Camps international please respond at least to this accusation and give me some closure so I know whether I should feel like I helped make a difference, or just paid for an experience.

Whilst i’m here wasting my time, instead of writing my dissertation, I might as well add the story of the teacher and the machete who later got fired.. potentially for this, although I never found out. So on the last day our group went on a safari, which was amazing and definitely a once in a life time opportunity. On the way back however, around about the time the sun was setting, our bus got stuck in the thick orange mud. After multiple attempts of every kid, teacher and guide trying to push the bus free, it remained stuck. As the light began to fade, the team called for support of 4x4 trucks. Naturally as kids would do, we started playing games to pass the time, playing tag and covering ourselves in mud as we were already covered from the waste down in mud from the upkicking tyre spins. Our teacher was provided with a machete … for our safety… to which he held it up to my friend whilst shouting to quit acting up. “I’m the one with the f****** machete” he shouted. Despite the obvious lack of professionalism, it was quite an effective strategy to make us stop doing dumb s***. Of course we were told never to repeat what he said and to never receal his roadman acting upon returning. Naturally this has no blame on camp international here, but worth a mention.

Sooo yeah, what a wild trip. There are many more stories that I have from this trip that are equally as absurd but brilliant memories. Back in 2017 my 15 year old self would have given this trip an easy 5 stars, but now looking back on it… wtf 😂 If anyone else had a similar experience let me know.

I am writing to formally raise a complaint regarding the upcoming four-week volunteering trip to Kenya, organised through my school in collaboration with Camps International.

I am one of only five students from my school who signed up and made a significant financial commitment to this trip, including the major payment instalment of £2,500. It is extremely disappointing that we were only informed after this payment was due that there would no longer be a teacher from our school accompanying us. This directly contradicts the guarantee made in your initial presentation, where you assured parents and students that under no circumstances would students travel without a teacher from their own school.

As the eldest participant in our group, with the others being only 16 years old, I am extremely concerned about our safety and well-being during this trip—especially considering the destination is a high-risk country and I suffer from anxiety. Had I been informed of this significant change before the payment deadline, I may have reconsidered my participation.

Furthermore, I am confused and frustrated as to why this same trip was able to accommodate a teacher from our school a few years ago with the same number of students (five), yet now we are told it is not possible. The offer of a 25% discount for a teacher’s ticket feels wholly inadequate given the circumstances, and raises serious concerns about how the funds we are paying are being allocated—especially if part of the student payments were initially intended to cover staff costs. There has been a complete lack of clarity or breakdown on where this significant sum of money is actually going.

In addition to this, there has been no support from Camps International regarding fundraising activities, no communication from your team (despite promises in your presentation of being approachable and responsive), and no effort to link us with the other school attending. This lack of professionalism and disregard for duty of care is both alarming and unacceptable.

My school has indicated that a refund may be possible, yet Camps International insists it is not, which leaves me in an extremely difficult position both emotionally and financially. This contradictory communication further undermines confidence in your organisation and leaves students and families feeling misled and unsupported

Before you are drawn in by their impressive claims, presentations, and glossy façade, beware. What they say before you pay your money may not actually be the whole story, or fully accurate.

Read their terms and conditions very carefully (all sections) which are tailored to safeguard them against as many foreseeable challenges as possible (financial and safety), and take heed of the very true reviews on here, whereby, once you have paid money to this company, it is almost impossible to receive any kind of refund.

The company is totally unregulated, even by the FCA, meaning if anything goes wrong, or a dispute arises, your only means of recovery is via civil proceedings. The company will claim they are regulated but this goes as far as simply the standard CAA and ABTA regulations associated with air travel, not the travel organisation or expedition.

Whilst the company suggests they take safety very seriously, from my experience of the company, this is questionable, with them having relevant T&Cs in place to legally safeguard themselves as opposed to the individual. Having reviewed pertinent (and somewhat retrospective) risk assessments, and having a background in risk management, my opinion would be that the risk assessments are poor, a paperwork exercise, with the company favouring 'dynamic (non recorded) risk assessments' instead. The company will reflect on historical situations where things 'didn't go wrong' as reassurance that it won't go wrong this time.

Unfortunately, from experience, this company does appear to put money before morals.

Absolutely disgusted. My child paid deposit and one installment, at the school meeting we were told we could be refunded 100% up untill a certain point (next year when around 30% of the cost had been paid and when the organisation would be booking flights and insurance) there is still over a year untill this trip and not even 10% of funds paid and yet my child has been told not entitled to a refund due to being 5 days past the full refund deadline. A total contradiction of what we were told I person. The dead line aparently was 12th December (trip not untill Aug 26) my child was in hospital that date (week) and I didn't not feel I needed to email them at that time and I could wait untill my child returned home. The money that's been paid so far has been kept for their own benefit as we were told in the meeting the flights insurance and costs don't get booked untill later next year. Not only does this leave us out of pocket of those 2 payments but also double that due to having to pay donors and sponsors back due to my child's health requiring him to step away from expedition with over a year till he was due to go.

From start to finish everything was well thought out and planned. We were made to feel welcome by all staff and that we had become part of the family. Loved my time in Borneo and can't wait to return.

Thank you Camps International for an adventure I will never forget. The attention to detail and organisation for this trip was second to none, from the fabulous food to the care taken to ensure all participants were comfortable at all times. The relationships Camps have with the communities they work with is inspirational and humbling, and their passion for the projects is contagious. A highlight for me was the jungle, a little nervous to start the expert guides soon alleviated any worries and I left feeling accomplished having set up my own hammock that kept me warm and dry, and in complete awe of the wildlife I saw. Thank you Camps I can’t wait to visit beautiful Borneo and it’s wonderful people again.

The Camps were generally good but the services offered by Camps International on days off were quite poor. We ended up being driven around the same town (on both our rest days) and taken to dodgy shops. One of the rest days was planned for a Sunday so everything was closed! The staff just seemed to be going through the motions and not really caring about the experience of the students.

There was also too much money being made on the side by Camps International Staff. At one camp on the coast they were charging students at the Camp more for coke and chocolate than the luxury beach resort on the other side of the bay. So I often took groups of students there to buy refreshments as they were cheaper.

At one camp the staff were drinking and partying with other random adults inside the camp. Some of our female students were heckled and made to feel very uncomfortable by some of the drunken men in the camp. Several of these men did not have ID badges and were clearly not supposed to be on site.

The driving safari, walking safari and the waterfall expedition were very good.

The work projects were not varied and my group spent over a week just mixing cement. This upset several of the students and this was made worse when we were not always provided with basic safety equipment - masks / eye protection etc.

The evening activities we were promised were very underwhelming and on several nights the staff were not around to even do them.

Overall it was OK but many things need to be improved.

My son took part in the Costa Rica trip in August 2024. Whilst it was a great experience for him on many fronts, I feel it important to share some of the not so good points about the trip:
- there was a lot of emphasis/ selling around the scuba diving, and we were led to believe the kids would scuba dive for a week. They actually dived two days!!!! Not quite the 7 days we were sold!!!
- this is definitely the wrong destination for a summer trip: it is the rain season, making the whole trip a little less pleasant
- there seemed to be a difference between the accommodation provided for the boys vs the girls. One of the camps they stayed at was so basic, I was horrified: no privacy for the toilets!!!
- the itinerary we were given suggested the kids would sample local dishes. I understand that the choices would be limited, but they seemed to eat for the whole four weeks was beans and rice. Surely given how much we paid for the trip, a little variety and genuine local dishes should have been provided!
- there was zero interactions with local kids from local schools. Again, great emphasis on this during the sales pitch…
- we feel a three week trip would have been sufficient

Cheap price, helpful staff, amazing experience. Definitely reccomend

The trip was great. A new and eye-opening experience for me and my friends. Camps did really well to make us feel comfortable and helped us settle in really well despite the sometimes harsh conditions of Cambodia. Shoutout to Ben Lorna and Bryce those guys are cool.

When reading much of these reviews, what actually stands out to me is that many of the negative comments are from those who have not actually been on the trip (nor of whom can read a contract)! But that is besides the point. My brother went on the same as I did to Cambodia 7 years before me and claims to have had just as or if not a better experience than I had. He says it changed his life. As it also did for mine!

All of the amazing things we experienced for example food, places and culture were all expertly and smoothly ran by Camps International. Our team was incredibly well organised by our three camp leaders: Bryce Ben and Lorna who tirelessly worked to make sure that all 23 of us had the best time possible. Safety was their absolute number one priority and it was clear to see how serious it was taken on our trip. (even to the point where I thought it went slightly over the top - in a good way!). Each camp leader was well prepared for any scenario and dealt with every situation that we came across with competence and swift action.

Overall Camps International gives you an incredible balance of a worthwhile trip, experiencing every part of what Cambodia has to offer and peace of mind that safety is taken very seriously with them. I would absolutely recommend Camps International to young people of any ability, as it can absolutely change your life.

Had an amazing time with Camps International in Cambodia. Volunteering and experiencing the cultural experiences was great. I made great friends, learned a lot, and left feeling I'd made a real difference along with a better perspective of their less fortunate lifestyle. Highly recommend.
(ps: shoutout to Ben Howell, a truly awesome leader)

Was a really great experience with friends and the amazing camp leaders that made us feel safe and at home.

I spent 4 unforgettable weeks in Cambodia with Camps International, and it was truly life-changing. We explored beautiful landscapes, immersed ourselves in the rich culture, and worked on meaningful community projects. The impact we made, from building infrastructure to teaching local children, was incredibly rewarding.

The Camps International team was outstanding—supportive, knowledgeable, and committed to making a difference. This trip was more than just an adventure; it was a chance to grow, learn, and contribute to something bigger. Highly recommend!

We had a great experience with Camps and it was a wonderful opportunity for our children to explore somewhere they may never have thought to go, as well as give something back.

Our Son was due to go to Peru this summer with Camps International. At 15 years old he was incredibly excited for what he thought was going to be an adventure of a lifetime, and paid the balance out of his own savings. Our Son’s school made the decision that he would not be allowed to participate on the Peru expedition due. This decision was out of both ours and our son’s hand and understandably we are devastated.

We contacted Camps International to explain the situation and see about a refund given that it was not our decision to cancel the trip . Camps are refusing to refund over £2000 for a decision that we had no control over.

Not only are we left with a deflated, distraught teenager we are also over £2000 out of pocket for something that was unforeseen and out of our control.

I would avoid signing your children up for expeditions with this company.

My son had to pull out of his trip with camps international due to terminal cancer in the family. At 14 yrs old he did not want to be away from home should anything happen whilst he was away. Once we informed Camps International of the unfortunate situation and agreed with the school that my son should not travel we were asked to put the situation in writing to Camps International management. My son had raised significant funds for the trip which need to be refunded to all those that sponsored him given he will no longer be travelling. Camps International management have today confirmed that following a review they will not be refunding my son’s contribution to date, despite the notice period ahead of the trip. This review is not about money, the complete lack of empathy for my sons situation is astounding and I would encourage anyone considering a camps international trip with school to seriously think about whether this company is ethically aligned to their proclaimed values.

I have been on two trips with Camps International and both of these were experiences that I will always treasure and never forget. This year I went to Nepal my leader Sam was really well experienced and he was a really good leader always making sure everyone is having fun and being safe. Both trips were filled with adventure and fun and seeing what other cultures are like and appreciating what you have in comparison to others.

I went with my school with camps international it was to Nepal i was great Sam was our tour guide he was so nice i loved it