Simple stays with essential amenities. Typically guesthouses, hostels or hotels rated below 3 stars — clean, no-frills, and great for value-conscious travelers.
Comfortable and reliable 3-star stays. Expect private rooms, en-suite bathrooms, and solid amenities — a great balance between comfort and cost.
Upscale 4-5 star hotels and lodges. Enjoy high-end service, refined comfort, and premium locations — ideal for travelers seeking extra indulgence.
Accommodation excellent, but could be a little less hotel chain like.
Itinerary is busy and days should start earlier to avoid late meal time.
Guide very knowledgeable and caring about customers but could better pace the hikes, not easy as the group had very different walking speed.
Walking tours
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
This was an excellent tour made all the more enjoyable because of our tour guide, Oscar and driver, Jesus. Oscar was so knowledgeable about every aspect of Costa Rican nature. He was fun and considerate, making sure everyone was having a good time. They were both amazing at spotting animals and birds. Oscar knew the best places to go to see more animals and birds and they both always gave us great recommendations for restaurants.
Active and outdoorWildlife
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
A safari that lived up to and exceeded expectations. Our guide KK was very experienced and knowledgeable. Quote from another traveller on their 3rd safari... "don't bother with another safari Joyce; you will be disappointed". Lying in our tent at night listening to hyenas, elephants and other non-identified animals is something we will never forget, nor will we forget watching lions moving into the shade of our vehicle as we watched them walking in the sand. The lovely lodges that were also part of the package and two nights on the Okovango River made for a fabulous diversified experience. Thank you Explore!
Active and outdoorWildlife
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
Fabulous trip, tweaked perfectly by Donal, who knows the area like the back of his hand. The accommodation was great, and having the trip be center based in the one convenient hotel was excellent. In early June, the wildflowers were in profusion, an added bonus to incredible mountain scenery. Uphill parts of walk manageable given a lot of tge mileawas contouring. Highly recommended!
Walking tours
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
Accommodation
Hotel, Lodge, Resort
Age Range
16-99 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Barcelona, Soldeu, Ransol, Andor
Barcelona, Soldeu, Ransol, Andorra La Vella, Estanyó Lake, Siscaro
Excellent trip variety of places visited and gained a wonderful insight into Sri Lanka. Group was good company and the guide made sure we all enjoyed our holiday being very knowledgeable and helpful.
Cultural, religious and historic sites
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
Accommodation
Hotel, Hostel, Guest House
Age Range
16-79 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Colombo, Negombo, Demodara, Udaw
Colombo, Negombo, Demodara, Udawalawe, Koggala, Wilpattu National Park, Mihintale, Giritale, Sigiriya, Kandy, Adam's Peak, Nuwara Eliya
This was a great trip with a full on itinerary that ensured you saw the stunning scenery the amazing wildlife and learned about the history and culture of this interesting country. Our guide paced the tour well so we saw all the sights but had some down time as well. This is an exciting tour, covering a lot of miles, but you see and learn so much - I would really recommend it for a mix of safari, walking and sight seeing.
Active and outdoor
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
Accommodation
Hotel, Lodge
Age Range
16-99 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Windhoek, Etosha National Park
Windhoek, Etosha National Park, Sossusvlei, Swakopmund, Cape Cross Seal Reserve
A truly unforgettable experience - would highly recommend!!!
Our week was a glorious mix of snorkelling, eating, relaxing, swimming at sunrise….so many happy memories.
The snorkelling was incredible, like nothing I’ve ever done before. Saw a new tropical fish every minute I think! And at the shipwreck the fish ate out of your hands. Swimming with turtles and nurse sharks was (another) highlight for me.
One massive plus was being able to sleep on deck - no mosquitoes, and instead you could see the whole Milky Way as you drifted off….truly epic.
And the food! The chef was a magician making all that on the boat for us! With a little help from us with the fish we caught - another first for me.
Our tour guide Hai was the cherry on top of the excellent itinerary - so knowledgable and fun, nothing was too much trouble. So a massive thank you to him and the whole crew.
Overall it was a MUCH better way of seeing the Maldives than a resort, and I would happily do this tour again and again.
Active and outdoorWildlife
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
This was my 22nd Explore trip and one of the best in recent years. This was largely due to the excellent leader (Wilfred) and the group itself. The itinerary sadly had to be altered (and options removed) due to a combination of heavy rain and other factors but what remained was still a full and interesting and varied trip. Shame not to be able to reach Crooked Tree, nor see more animals and birds, but these are not Explore's fault. Kayaking was not on offer, nor tubing which had been highly recommended to me but that may never have been an official option. The accommodation was great except that at Placencia (Sea Spray hotel?) the bathroom was really too tight for me. Wilf in particular deserves a very special mention - not only was he reliable, knowledgable, funny and charming he went out of his way to help on more that one occasion all during a very difficult week for him personally dealing with a family bereavement and his own illness near the end of the holiday.
I led the tribute to him on the last night, sung to the tune of 'Mamma Mia':
We’ve been travelling with you since I don’t know when
Sadly now it is time it must come to an end
Where will we go? We dont have a clue
What to do now ? - that you’re suddenly not right here
Sending menus and choosing beer
On day one
- you explain everything
From then on
- we forget everything
Whoa
Brother Wilfred. Now we’re off again
Who knows - where we’ll be without you
Brother Wilfred - we’ll be lost again
Back home - we’ll be thinking ‘bout you
Yes we’ll be broken hearted
blue - Now that we have parted
Why why did we ever let you go?
Brother Wilfred - have a great next trip
Bye bye - we will really miss you so
Active and outdoorWildlife
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
Accommodation
Hotel, Lodge, Resort
Age Range
16-99 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Belize City, Flores, Caye Caulke
Belize City, Flores, Caye Caulker, Altun Ha, Lamanai, Placencia, Cockscomb Basin Forest Reserve, XUNANTUNICH MAYA TEMPLE, Guatemala City
I found the hotels to be of a very high standard all across the 12 day holiday.
Plus, which was helpful to me all but one was on the ground floor.
The penultimate hotel was very nice but my shared room was on the first floor, but Vern the tour leader carried my luggage up the stairs.
Wildlife safaris and game drives
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers