Asia Volcanoes Trips

I found the leader welcoming and very helpful. However I found the trip too full often arriving at accommodations just before supper time giving little time to wind down or, for the more energetic, time to explore. I would prefer a more relaxed schedule and would recommend adding a facility to the website where I could actually sort trips according to level of physical activity.

The North Phillipines was an excellent adventure tour. A good mix of sight seeing, and meeting the people and their culture, The rice fields, weaving, pottery and UNESCO heritage sites were interesting and fun, all made so much better by Ian our tour guide. Ian was very informative, interesting, and very humorous. He did everything to make sure we had everything we needed, was able to answer all questions and bought some special local treats for us to try. Ian looked after us all so well. The drivers were amazing too having quite a lot of driving to do. Bohol beach extension was so relaxing, in a beautiful hotel with a lovely Sandy beach. A perfect end to a great holiday.

Nice contrast between Java (with a Muslim majority) and Bali (Hindu), which markedly shapes their character. Not sure i appreciated 4 or 5 muezzins calling me to prayer at 4am in Java, though..:0). Tour leader needs to alter his advice in Ubud: the monkey forest was entirely enjoyable, not the fearsome place he made it out to be... Also needs to advise on other highlights of Ubud, such as the Water Palace, which i discovered by myself.

This was our fourteenth trip with Explore, and once again our trip met all our expectations. Our Tour Leader Hadi was very friendly and very competent, and all arrangements went smoothly. Great variety of activities (batik-making, snorkeling, hiking, bike-riding, cooking opportunities) and wonderful sightseeing - ancient temples, beautiful scenery (terraced farmland, rice paddies, waterfalls) volcanoes (up close!) spice plantations, villages and people. Thoroughly recommend this tour.

Hadi was a fantastic tour leader! He was knowledgeable, informative and very very patient. He made the trip and was a great ambassador for Indonesia. The trip had a great variety of activities and 3 UNESCO World Heritage sites. I particularly loved the trip up Mt Bromo to see inside a volcano and again to see the sunrise - a very different experience than expected but a lot of fun. The only downside was the last hotel had a major reconstruction of its restaurant which could be heard round the pool (I had an email saying it was refurbished and reopened.) It meant people moved to another hotel and split up the group which was disappointing But it was a nice hotel.

Great trip from Bobobudur, through Java and Bali. Some really un-touristy places on both islands ending with uber touristy Ubud and Sanur so a good mix. Pieter our leader was amusing and knows everything there is to know. Always plenty stops for drinks and to stretch the legs on travel days .