Last Minute Balkans Tours and Black Friday Deals

Our wonderful guide Raya Gancheva is the reason I would not only recommend Explore to someone else, but look at booking our next tour with them. We all became close as a group and are still corresponding. The only reason I didn't give the accomodation 5 stars was there was a mix of places including a monestary although it was perfectly fine. The places were alll clean, close to transport systems so can navigate easily back on our own and had laundry faci.ities in the places when needed. The breakfasts were varied but all good. Before we left we had arranged an extra week on our own at the end, so I rebooked the same hotel in Tokyo as I had faith it would be good, and I was not disappointed. The forwarding on of luggage also worked very well.

A full on 2week trip taking in Hanoi, Halong Bay, Hoi An, HCM City (Saigon), Pnomh Penh and Siem Riep. Travel is mostly by minibus which was fine mostly. An overnight 16 hr train trip from Hanoi to Da Nang was not great-very uncomfortable bed and noisy. Very little sleep. Second train journey from Da Nang to Saigon has been replaced in the itinerary with a flight which was much better. Accommodation was very good mostly and in a couple of places, excellent. Our tour guide, Quang, was outstanding combining knowledge with humour and great attention to detail. Overall, a brilliant trip which would certainly recommend to others.

The whole experience was amazing! Our tour guide Giada was so incredibly experienced, knowledgeable, kind, and helpful! Each of the guides were also wonderful and knowledgeable. I cannot pinpoint anyone favorite. They were all favorites! Each and everyone mesmerized us. Would totally recommend this tour to others! And we have 🙂

Our Guide, Quang, was amazing. He was knowledgeable, kind, with a great sense of humour. He took us to some great restaurants, often arranging for a set menu where we could taste a range of local foods, which were delicious. We were lucky with the weather, only being out in the rain once, but Hoi An was badly flooded 2 weeks before we got there, and inundated again a few days after we left. What resilient people! They just clean up and carry on. Hoi An was beautiful, and I enjoyed a lantern making class with my travel buddy. The overnight train ride was an experience. I didn't get much sleep, and the bunks are narrow and hard. Learning about the difficult history of both countries is sobering, but I felt it important to delve into this, to better appreciate how far both countries have developed. Go to visit the Hero Rats at Apopo in Siem Reap if you have time! The trip notes are pretty accurate, so read them carefully to ensure the trip is to your taste.

I’d recommend this trip to absolutely anyone thinking about visiting South Africa. It’s such an incredible way to see places and experiences you’d never stumble across on your own, and you really get to immerse yourself in the amazing cultures across SA. All the accommodations very great, the food was also good & the trip add ons were alot of fun! But the true highlight was our Trip Manager. He made the entire experience unforgettable — his knowledge of South Africa, his constant positivity, and his hilarious personality brought our whole group to life. He genuinely made the trip what it was. You do spend a lot of time driving on the bus which typically isn’t ideal but and the group made it so fun and I actually looked forward to a travel day.

It was enjoyable trip, covering different parts of the island. There was time on some days for a paddle or swim, and always a cafe at the end of the walk!! The transport was excellent and always prompt. There was a pool at the hotel, so odd times early return to hotel allowed for a dip. The kitchen arrangement in each bedroom with a fridge made it convenient for making hot drinks and lunches. The leader was excellent and very aware of each person when on rough terrain.