Very good trip. In Siam Riep, it would have been good to have some free time and maybe some trips other than to temples (e.g. land mine rats). Otherwise, a very good trip overall.
Active and outdoor
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
Accommodation
Hotel, Guest House, Home-stay
Age Range
16-99 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Siem Reap, Vientiane, Halong Bay
Siem Reap, Vientiane, Halong Bay, Thien Mu Pagoda, Hue, Hoi An, Mekong Delta, Ho Chi Minh City, Cu Chi Tunnels, Phnom Penh, Vang Vieng, Luang Prabang, Hanoi
Had an amazing time cycling & exploring Jordan. Lots of interesting activities on during the non cycling times. Petra & Wadi Rum were just amazing places.
Met some great people. I can’t fault Explore holidays. This was our 3rd trip & 1st cycling holiday.
We would 100% recommend & will book with Explore again.
Bicycle tours
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
Accommodation
Hotel, Tent, Luxury Hotel
Age Range
16-99 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Amman, Madaba, Dead Sea, Petra
Amman, Madaba, Dead Sea, Petra, Little Petra, Wadi Rum, Aqaba
Japan’s kaleidoscopic culture and landscapes are best experienced on two wheels, and this 13-day cycling tour is designed for the adventurous traveler. Pedal from Kyoto’s ancient temples to the vibrant energy of Tokyo, passing through Kanazawa, Toyama, and the hidden gem of Sado Island along the way.
Highlights include cycling quiet rural roads, exploring famed Japanese gardens, and sampling local seafood in coastal towns. Rest in traditional ryokans and cap off your journey with a thrilling bullet train ride into Tokyo’s neon-lit heart.
The USP here is the off-the-beaten-path exploration—this tour takes you beyond the usual highlights, immersing you in the rhythm of Japanese life and the country’s stunning scenery, all at a perfect cycling pace.
Bicycle tours
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
We enjoyed our trip to Kyrgyzstan, it was very relaxing and the scenery was amazing. The highlight was the night in the yurt camp which was lovely, very remote and we even had snow overnight. The homestays and meals in local houses were very good too.
DIY picnics by the river were a nice touch.
On the down side, this trip involves a lot of travelling, sometimes on poor roads, which could be broken up better. We arrived early afternoon in some places and because most of the accommodation was on the outskirts of a town, there wasn't really anything to see or do once we arrived. One of our group thought the hotel at Toktogul Reservoir was like the one in 'The Shining'! The swimming pools had been closed for years and everything was just a little dated.
Some of the walks were not that interesting and seemed to be there to fill the time and there was also a lot of litter in many areas which wasn't pleasant.
There were descriptions in the itinerary about various places we didn't actually visit, for example Osh sounded lovely but we didn't even stop there.
Having said all that, we did enjoy the holiday, but there just were not enough highlights to maximise each day.
Active and outdoor
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
We had the most incredible time on the Highlights of Assam and Nagaland trip. We have travelled a number of times with Explore, and our expectations were blown away at every stage of this incredible trip.
Wildlife highlights included the river dolphins on the Brahmaputra and incredible safaris - including the 'Big 5' in Kaziranga National Park - Royal Bengal Tiger, Water Buffalo, Indian One-Horn Rhino, Elephant and the Swamp Deer! The Khasi hills were stunning, with the walk to the living root bridges a real highlight. We were lucky to have a swim in the crystal-clear river to cool off at the bottom of the valley before trekking back up the steps! Longwa Headhunter Village afforded us some fantastic interactions with local people and opportunities to see their local cottage industries. Majuli Island was a beautiful, relaxing and spiritual place, as were the tea plantations in Dibrugarh.
Of course, the incredible Hornbill Festival was a sight to behold. We spent two full days wandering around the various tribes longhouses, interacting with the friendly tribes, trying local delicacies and watching their performances. This is truly an experience not to be missed...
There were some long drives, as expected, but these seemed to be well-planned and the views were often spectacular - especially in the Naga Hills and plains of Cherrapunjee.
Our driver, Moon was fantastic - safe, calm and worked hard to find us the best stops for photos etc.
Our guide, Pema Bhutia, is an absolute credit to Explore and his homeland. Passionate, caring, kind and knowledgeable, he went over and above at every opportunity to ensure our experience was first class - we would definitely travel with Pema again in future.
Overall, don't hesitate to book this trip - the accommodation was much better than described, the infrastructure in the region is improving slowly, and the food is fantastic. It's still a relatively unexplored part of the world, rich in culture and tradition that surely won't disappoint even the most seasoned traveller!
City sightseeing
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
Accommodation
Hotel, Bungalow, Guest House, Resort, Villa
Age Range
16-99 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Kolkata, Assam, Guwahati, Majuli
Kolkata, Assam, Guwahati, Majuli Island, Nagaland, Longwa, Dibrugarh, Umananda, Cherrapunjee, Khasi, Kaziranga National Park, Mokochung
