Balkans Volcanoes Trips

This was a great tour with the right mixture of planned activities, optional activities and free time. The walks on each of the islands were a highlight - the scenery inland was just as spectacular as the coast. Our tour leader Peter was knowledgeable, supportive and fun. We had a great group too!

Great, varied itinerary that packed in so much: walking on Etna and in two different gorges, sightseeing in Taormina, Ortigia, and some of the smaller hill towns, a wonderful brunch in Castiglione, and a fabulous day trip to the Aeolian Islands of Lipari and Vulcano, where we had time to take a dip on the volcanic spa beach. Some of us took a boat trip to Isola Bella and the Blue Grotto on the free day, and I returned to Taormina to visit the Greek theatre and follow up our guide Lara's gelateria recommendation! Lara is hugely knowledgeable about the history, culture, and geology of the area, and was very organised to get us to and from all the sights on schedule. The Hotel Villa Linda was a comfortable and friendly base in the quieter Recanati area of Naxos, with Recanati Beach and a good selection of restaurants, bars, and small shops nearby. The walks are fairly graded on average, with most being very leisurely, and the gorges slightly more challenging in terms of terrain underfoot (poles are helpful). Overall, a fantastic week. I have already booked my next Explore trip...

From the get-go, Explore were great with information and deadlines. I felt in very safe hands as I'd never been to Sicily before and would not know where to start. We were based in Recanati, just at the close of the holiday season - plenty of places to eat and drink but not crowded. From there, our fantastic, highly knowledgeable and very friendly guide Lara took us to some amazing sites, including the slopes of Etna, Taormina and the islands of Lipari and Volcano with great (not strenuous) walks and superb scenery. It was like lots of tasters of the East side of the island. Wonderful.

The range of activities; embracing walking, stunning scenery and fascinating history coupled with our amazing guide Lara providing comprehensive information on the geology, history and culture contributed to a truly memorable experience.

We've traveled with Explore many times and this trip was excellent. We had the chance to experience four islands with a mixture of hiking/walking and seeing various parts of the islands as well. The tour leader, Tania, was outstanding -- very enthusiastic and engaged. We had a smaller group which were well matched for walking, so that was helpful. While my wife and I walk/hike a lot, I will say that some of these walks could be challenging if you are a "casual" walker and not used to mountain paths or inclines. The pace of the overall trip was brisk without being overwhelming and we had no weather issues at all. Lodging was excellent and all travel arrangements were spot-on. There were a few group dinners, but most evenings were free to make your own choices for food. We would highly recommend this trip.

A great way to see some Greek islands and Athens. There is a fair amount of free time on this tour especially if not doing the optional walks and boat trips so I would recommend doing some research beforehand on things to do or places to visit to make the most of your trip.