Andes Cultural, religious historic sites Trips

A fabulous trip for those who are a little adventurous in their travels - the itinerary is a really good mix of insights into the history and culture of both countries as well as the beautiful nature reserves and abundant birdlife. Our tour leader was caring and organised and enhanced our experience by sharing personal experiences.

The tour leader was excellent. He made a change to the planned itinerary when we were on the River Kwai and, I believe, much improved our experience. We visited the site of the Bridge on the River Kwai one day and Hellfire Pass on the next day. They were enthralling and it was good to feel rested when we visited each site. I also loved the two half days I spent relaxing at the floating hotel on the Rive Kwai - that suited me much better than a full day with nothing planned. We were very lucky with our guide who was consistently friendly, informative and fun to be with. He went out of his way to help us all access places that we were interested in

We had 2 Explore Leaders both were very knowledgable and helpful. But I think our Cambodian Leader was more experienced and this came across in his over all engagement with us

On this Explore trip, a friend and I travelled around Belize and popped into Guatemala. My friend had never done an organized tour like this before but had been curious to try one. She loved the way that the group quickly melded into a large family-type gathering of like minded people. I found Belize to be a small but interesting country, with its British roots and Caribbean influences. Most people know it for the scuba or snorkeling, but we ventured inland to hike and swim in a cooling waterfall, and to visit a 'baboon sanctuary' where howler monkeys let their voices be heard. We were able to explore and climb Mayan ruins and learn about the different cultures ... and how the winner was killed at the culmination of pok ta pok games!. Some of our group were avid bird watchers and a dawn boat ride at Crooked Tree was filled with wildlife, including sightings of a manatee and male green iguanas (who are actually orange during mating season). We did have a few days of very heavy rain at San Ignacio, but usually the rain fell while we were in the van moving from one place to another. Guatamala is Spanish speaking, with a more Latin American feel. We enjoyed being in the jungle at Tikal and on the lake at Flores, where the houses have decorative doors just asking to be photographed. We saw a toucan enjoying a breakfast of dates at the hotel, just outside the open air restaurant. Our final day together was spent on Caye Caulker. It was magical to be out on a boat, snorkeling with nurse sharks and watching the captain's "pet" jack fish follow him closely as he pointed out eels, lobster and colorful fish. It was a day that will stay in my memory as a perfect day. Our guide Tarik was informative and well organized. But most of all - Tarik was a lot of fun and could make the dullest drives a pleasure, as he read from his junior school book in the local dialect. Our group had people of varying ages and physical abilities, but Tarik managed to keep everybody in mind as we toured the Mayan sites. He had great recommendations and spent time getting to know each person a bit more over meals and during walks, or evening drinks.

A most enjoyable trip. It was quite full on but thats OK for me. It was well organised. The ancient sites were amazing and brought to life by our very good leader Mohammed who told excellent stories which made it interesting. I was disappointed with the pollution we experienced on the Nile cruise, not just on the water but the diesel fumes from the many cruise ships which all seem to move at the same time. The train journey was an adventure as many people mention, but thankfully its only one night and it gave us plenty to talk about. Take dollars if you can, otherwise you need to take out thousands of (Egyptian) pounds from the cashpoints to cover all the extras.

Jordan did not disappoint. Having two full days in Petra allowed good exploration. This included a visit to little Petra. Make sure you go to the Monastery. It’s well worth all the steps. A night in Wadi Rum was enjoyable. Cold in December but plenty of blankets. No one had to use the communal tent. We were the only group at the camp. This may not always be the case. The optional camel ride is fun and I’d recommend it. The jeep rides are bumpy but again good fun and the only way to take in the vast scenery. Make sure you embrace the mud at the Dead Sea. The hotels were all very good. Buffet breakfasts. Food at Wadi Rum was particularly good. Restaurant meals for dinner were about 15 dinar (including drinks). Food good and plentiful. The bus was a little cramped for 15 of us but the driver was excellent and very safe. The guide was very good and passionate about his country. He knows everyone. Jordan felt very safe. An Explore representative meets you in the airport and takes you through immigration. We were lucky with good weather. Sunny and dry all week. Good group of people to share this experience with. I would definitely recommend this trip.