A little wave helps to make the trip pleasant (6)
I believe the answer is:
ripple
'a little wave' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
'helps to make the trip pleasant' is the wordplay.
'helps to make' indicates a hidden word (I've seen 'helping to make' mean this).
'RIPPLE' can be found hidden inside 'trip pleasant'.
(Other definitions for ripple that I've seen before include "A small wave, or a gentle sound as of laughter" , "Small wave on a liquid's surface" , "Slight disturbance on water's surface" , "Edgar Allan ---, US author" , "Slight disturbance on surface of lake" .)