Balkans Solo Trips and Holidays

Our guide Champ was brilliant. So attentive to the needs of the group, as well as providing so much information throughout the trip. A varied itinerary, with superb food all the way

We had a great time. New Zealand is beautiful the people were very friendly and our Tour guide was outstanding. was very organized and knowledgeable about her country. She did a great job of making our days fun and relaxing while still making sure we all got where we neeed to be.

Such a well organised tour, with our tour director Isabel, who was out of this world. She was on top of everything, nothing was a problem and all carried out in a light hearted happy way. Left everyone at ease. Her rapier with Pete the bus driver was very funny at times, with Pete being a very role and humorous guy. Never mind his excellent driving, but his dry wit at times was class. We got to see parts of New Zealand we wouldn’t have if we were driving ourselves and the amount of facts that Isobel told us was mind boggling. All vey professional and so personal as well.

This tour combines sightseeing and a variety of food experiences ranging from street food, meals with local families, cooking classes and farm visits. It also offers a glimpse into the lives of the locals. This tour is highly recommended! Our guide leader Thin was very knowledgeable, supportive and helpful. For our free time he provided many suggestions as well as offered a list of optional activities that you could sign up for if interested which he would coordinate for the group. This was my first tour with Explore. I had a great experience and will look to Explore when planning my next vacation.

The trip was as described in the brochure and was an excellent introduction to the food of Mexico and some of the archaeological sites. The guide Yves was extremely knowledgeable and a great story teller. His local knowledge was invaluable in spotting opportunities as they arose, and also in solving any difficulties. We were a group of 15 with a driver and a guide and were originally put in an 18 seater minibus. As some of the driving days were many hours long, we requested a larger and more comfortable bus and this was arranged. As some of the trips turned out to be even longer than planned, due to roadworks and unavoidable detours, this was an essential upgrade. One of the hotels, rated as premium, had, unbeknownst to either Explore or the local tour operator, had moved us to a much more basic accommodation. It was disappointing but Explore dealt with it in a very timely manner by refunding the cost of the two nights. Mistakes do happen but dealing with them is the mark of a good company. The group was mixed with some couples and some singles. I travelled on my own but there was always company for meals if I wanted it.

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.