Andes Tours in Winter

My husband and I joined a group of 14 for the Simply Japan tour in November and enjoyed a really fabulous memorable trip. We were very lucky with mostly sunny dry weather for the entire trip allowing us to enjoy the autumn colours. Our group got on well. We were guided by an outstanding multilingual guide, Raya, who was passionate and knowledgeable about Japan, particularly Japanese history and customs. The itinerary was a great introduction to the country, a full on whistlestop tour, so expect lots of daily walking through stations, markets and shrines and temples. Nice contrast between modern and traditional Japan. All accommodation was of a good standard. Recommend to top or tail the trip with a longer city stay to see more of Tokyo/Kyoto or Osaka (we had 3 extra nights in Tokyo at the beginning) as the real highlights of the tour are the bits in between - the magnificent Matsumoto Castle, stunning Zenkoji Temple in Nagano and the beautiful Miyaijma Island were my favourites, and the Shinkansen trains of course. The Hiroshima memorial museum was unpleasantly crammed full of people and school kids, too busy to appreciate the significance, although the peace park surrounding it was worth visiting and right next to our hotel. The Explore guide Raya helped to make the trip for us - so motivating and caring, and keen to navigate to help everyone enjoy this varied tour even on the free days.

We had an amazing time on our Cycle Saigon to Hanoi trip with Explore with an excellent local guide and support team . The itinerary provided the perfect opportunity to explore the towns, cities, villages and stunning countryside of Vietnam ranging from renowned tourist sites to local village markets. Vietnam is a fabulous country to explore by bike, and I strongly recommend the Cycle Saigon to Hanoi trip.

Tim the tour leader was excellent and really knowledgeable. His enthusiasm and level of engagement made the trip as fantastic as it was. The only downside for the trip was the multiple issues with the Milashan Hotel in Milas but the tour leader did a fantastic job of getting this resolved to the best of their abilities.

The trip guide with his knowledge and personality made this trip exceptional. The accommodation was wonderful and the cycling was brilliant. The only change I would make was to not have the cruise at the end…..it was not a traditional junk boat but a cruise full of tourists. I would rather have had 2 extra days cycling

I had India on my list for a while and kept finding reasons to delay it. I am now very happy I finally got myself there. I can home with very good memories - Indu (tour guide) took good care of us and worked hard to make sure we were safe, well fed and experienced the best, navigating around traffic and fog. I am definitely going back to see other parts of the country!

This trip was a follow-up visit to Vietnam after a 30-year break. The country still has the charm, interest, and friendly people that I remember. This is despite it now being an industrialised nation instead of the totally rural economy that it was. There has been a great deal of improvement in the infrastructure that makes travelling around much easier. The trip was very comprehensive with a packed itinerary giving a good insight into Vietnamese life. Our guide Tien worked tirelessly to make sure that the trip ran smoothly for everyone and ensured that the group was happy and well fed. Her knowledge of the country, its history, customs, along with her personal insights enhanced the basic facts of the place that we visited. The hotels were all an excellent standard, if a bit corporate and international on a few occasions. The junk for the cruise around Lan Ha Bay was of an exceptional standard. My favourite hotel was The Little Oasis in Hoi An. Hoi An was also my favourite town. We opted out of the cooking class to spend more time exploring the town. Perhaps this cooking activity should have been an option rather than inclusive. There are other things to do in and around the town that would have made a better option for me. The transport was clean and comfortable except for the Hue to Hoi An section. The vehicle had broken air vents, cup holders, seat belts were hanging on the floor, and the suspension was poor. The transport over this section needs upgrading. My only disappointment was the water puppet show. I have seen the show before. After a 45-minute drive to the rural location the exclusive show was very amateurish, lacked live music and had no atmosphere. The Hanoi city theatre version that I had seen previously was much more enjoyable. I thoroughly enjoyed my return visit to Vietnam and would have no worries about recommended this trip to either a first or return visitor to Vietnam.