We had the most incredible time on our 13 day Best of UK and Ireland Tour! We hadn't been on a bus tour before and were unsure about having to move most days and spend a lot of time travelling on a bus. As it turned out it was not an issue being packed up most mornings and we loved being on the bus...it was just one huge, amazing adventure! Our Tour Leader Luke, related so well to people from all around the world of different ages with a sense of fun. The information and stories he shared enhanced our trip enormously; we learnt so much, things we would have never known if we were travelling on our own. He was a wealth of knowledge and his engagement with everyone and organisational skills were next level! There was a very friendly vibe on the tour and it was fantastic chatting with people from other countries or other parts of Australia. Several weeks later, people are still contributing to our WhatsApp group. Breakfast each morning was the best way to start the day and there wer
City sightseeing
Tour Type
Group Tour
Accommodation
Hotel
Age Range
10-99 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Bath, Cambridge, Cardiff, Edinbu
Bath, Cambridge, Cardiff, Edinburgh, York, London, Liverpool, Dublin, County Kerry, Galway, Belfast, Scottish Highlands
We thoroughly enjoyed our Highlights of Sri Lanka Tour, booked through Wendy Wu Tours Australia, and delivered through Aitken Spence Travel Services of Columbo, Sri Lanka. The hotels selected for our accommodation were generally of a high standard with good facilities and diligent staff. The restaurants selected for food provision were excellent and generally provided a great selection of Sri Lankan and European style dishes, catering to the diverse needs of our group. The sites visited, provided a great cross section of the best tourist attractions in Sri Lanka, and satisfied our desire to see what this beautiful destination has to offer. The services provided by our tour guide, Harsha Karunaratne, were of the highest standards. Harsha was very professional, diligent and caring, going far beyond reasonable expectations to ensure that each member of our tour group received the best Sri Lankan experience possible. Harsha's team consisting of Kumara (Security and Valet) and Bundoo (Bus Driver and Porter) were just wonderful. Negotiating Sri Lanka's back roads and busy city roads requires skill and attention to safety at all times, and Bundoo pulled it off brilliantly. Kumara made sure all the guests on the tour stayed safe and provided a great sense of fun and community during our travels. Harsha and his team's attention to detail was fantastic and helped make our stay in Sri Lanka exceptional.
Ugur was amazing. I have no hesitation in saying he made a great trip unforgettable. He was friendly, knowledgeable and really made sure everyone was given the best experience he could provide. Thank you for everything you have done!
I had done one trip previously – Amalfi coast hiking, fall 2023 – with EXPLORE. I was so impressed I asked my excellent guide, Pete, what else he would recommend knowing my abilities and interests. He immediately recommended the Slovenia trip, and it actually was on my list of places to visit. He had apparently set the trip up about seven years ago and was very familiar with it.
I have been in 50 countries to date - some several times- and Slovenia is now in my top five and I am already planning my return for next May.
We had a lovely small group, being the first of these hikes of the season, hailing from Canada, Spain, Australia, and the UK.
The accommodation, staff, management, and food at Art Hotel Kristal were A+ – and I especially loved and took advantage of the options of the sauna and cold plunge, Ayurvedic massages with the wonderful Bhatri, chocolate tasting with the owner, Alenka, and a fantastic wine tasting with her son, Jan. I went home with a lovely assortment of chocolates and also a wonderful bottle of wine that I will try to hold onto for a few years until it is optimal to drink.
The hikes were not difficult at all, but I found that I did feel like I got a good amount of exercise by the end of the day. I spent my free day doing a mountain bike ride. The whole area around Lake Bohinj is stunning and there are so many activities that one can partake in, as well as really yummy local restaurants close by the hotel. I loved that the hotel offered a pre-fixe three course menu for hotel guests for only €25 on the nights that were not included with the hike. An incredible bargain given the quality of the food, as with almost all of the food we had in Slovenia, it was locally sourced and delicious. I am not typically a meat eater, but I had the venison twice – locally sourced, and wild – and it was by far the best I have ever had.
I would definitely stay at this hotel when I return to the area. I would strongly encourage others to spend some time in Ljubljana – either before or after the trip. A beautiful city a two hour bus ride awaythat is just the right size and full of so much to offer. Next time I am going to see a lot more of this country – it is half the size of Switzerland, but the variety of the terrain and ecosystems is quite impressive. Also, to be noted is that English is widely spoken and children start in grade 3, learning this second language. The Slovenians couldn’t have been nicer and more helpful everywhere I went. What can I say?? Get yourself to Slovenia before it is overrun: safe, clean, and green – a beautiful country of farmers, foragers, wine makers, and beekeepers. Also note that they have some fantastic fly fishing there as well as mountain and road biking – very cycling friendly. After all, it is the country of Pogacar.
Trekking and HikingWaterfalls
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
Accommodation
Hotel, Hut
Age Range
16-99 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Ljubljana, Bled, Lake Bohinj, La
Ljubljana, Bled, Lake Bohinj, Lake Bled, Brod, Julian Alps, Mostnica Gorge
Journey through the Top End on this four-day adventure in Northern Australia’s Litchfield and Kakadu National Parks. Dive into the natural pools at Wangi Falls, have a picnic lunch near Florence Falls and visit the Magnetic Termite Mounds in Litchfield. Cruise up the East Alligator River and learn about the landscape, plants and animals from an Aboriginal guide, look out for wetland birds at Mamukala Wetlands and see the UNESCO World Heritage-listed rock art created by the Bininj people at Burrungkuy (Nourlangie). With an Intrepid leader by your side, get closer to some of the Australia's favourite places, no matter how much time you have.
Explorer
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
Explore some of Perth’s natural highlights in just five days with a trip that takes you from Fremantle through the Margaret River region and across Western Australia's capital city. Try to grab a quick quokka selfie on your daytrip to Rottnest Island, see the longest timber-piled jetty in the southern hemisphere in Busselton and swim at Meelup Beach. Visit a winery and gin producer local to the Margaret River region, watch a didgeridoo performance inside Ngilgi Cave in Yallingup and learn about Western Australia’s rich First Nations culture. With an Intrepid leader by your side, you can get closer to some of Australia's favourite places, no matter how much time you have.
Nature and bush walksWildlife
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
