Asia Adventure Trips

It’s New Years Eve. I haven’t finished my holiday yet having remained in Krabi for a further six nights after the Explore holiday. I have done this holiday twice in the past three years and will probably do it again. It isn’t full on touring with long travel days…….even transferring between island by speedboat is nice. Sometimes you need a more relaxing holiday at this time of year. Thailand and the Andaman Sea is the perfect place for this. The only thing I didn’t enjoy was being allocated a top bunk on the overnight train journey from Bangkok to Trang as this was enforced lying down for eleven hours on a narrower bed because of the curvature of the train roof. The wider, more headroom, able to sit up bottom bunks cost 150 Baht ( about £2.50) more which I would have willingly paid for.

We started our Dhoni cruise after spending 5 nights on a resort, as we wanted to experience the “real Maldives” in contrast. We wanted to extend our trip as felt it was a long way to travel for just 6 nights. One of the main highlights of the cruise was our outstanding guide Egan and the crew of Koimala, who all worked so hard together to ensure we were incredibly well looked after and safe. The food was out of this world, three beautiful meals a day, healthy and fresh with plenty of variety. Catering for any allergies well. The crew made us an unforgettable dinner on an uninhabited island one evening which was very special. We enjoyed the visits to two inhabited islands as it was good to stretch our legs and see how Maldivians live on land. Although I would say the time spent on Male was quite underwhelming. Our cabin was basic but clean and comfortable. One small double bed with a single bunk on top and en-suite bathroom You definitely need to enjoy snorkelling to consider this trip, as the dramatic scenery is all under water. Huge reefs with so many colourful fish. We were taken out snorkelling at least twice a day. Highlights included swimming with turtles, dolphins and nurse sharks which were so gentle and serene. Also seeing sting rays. I would also suggest that you need to be reasonably fit to do this trip, as although it’s very relaxing you need to be able to climb into a bunk bed, climb in and out of the dingy and negotiate walking around the boat when it is rocking!

We were lucky to have amazing weather for our entire trip and everything was arranged to perfection. We were advised to upgrade to the chopper from Kathmandu which saved us 2 days due to weather at Lukla. Every day went smoothly with each lodge offering warm and friendly welcome. Our guide Darwa was knowledgeable and looked after us at all times. The Nepalese people were amazing to us at every turn. We will be going back.

We had two leaders - one in Sri Lanka and another in the Maldives. Both were excellent, but particularly Su in Sri Lanka because we encountered very difficult circumstances due to exceptionally heavy rainfall during our trip.

This trip is fab for those that like being at sea, chilling out with like minded people, eating great food and most importantly getting in the water to explore the underwater world. Explore know how to put together a great itinerary which looks after the environment and benefits the local community

I recently completed an incredible 15-day trek to the Annapurna Circuit, and I can honestly say it was one of the best experiences of my life! From start to finish, everything was organized perfectly, and the team made sure that every aspect of the journey was seamless. A huge shoutout to my guide, Raja Ram Bhai, whose expertise, kindness, and personal touch elevated the entire trek. Raja’s knowledge of the route, the culture, and the local history made the experience feel so much richer. His constant care for my well-being and his patience with any questions or concerns I had made me feel safe and at ease, even during the most challenging parts of the trek. Whether it was pointing out the best viewpoints, explaining the significance of local traditions, or sharing stories about the mountain people, Raja was a wealth of knowledge and always made the trek enjoyable. One of the highlights of the journey was the detour to Tilicho Lake—a stunning high-altitude lake surrounded by snow-capped peaks. The hike to Tilicho was demanding, but absolutely worth it. Standing at the edge of the lake, with its surreal turquoise waters reflecting the towering mountains around, felt like stepping into a dream. Raja made sure we took our time to acclimatize properly and appreciate the stunning landscapes that led up to the lake. The views were beyond anything I could have imagined, and it’s an experience I’ll never forget. The trek itself was absolutely stunning, with the Annapurna Circuit offering a variety of landscapes—from lush forests to high-altitude deserts, and breathtaking mountain views at every turn. We crossed Thorong La Pass, which was both physically demanding and incredibly rewarding, and the sense of achievement upon reaching the top was unforgettable.