Middle East Tours in Fall

The trip to Turmenistan and Uzbeckistan was well organised, exciting and informative. The guides were knowledgeable and very approachable. The accommodation was good and the wonders seen were amazing. Would highly recommend this trip.

We've traveled with Explore many times, including another tour in Japan, and we really enjoyed this trip. Our guide, Doni, was excellent and kept things on track nicely. The accommodations were great, varying from more simple to nice hotels. This tour covered not only large city options, but some very rural areas, which we really enjoyed. Everything ran quite smoothly and there were no delays with transport or any of the daily events. I think we gained a deeper understanding of Japan, which was part of our purpose in taking this trip. We would highly recommend this Explore tour to other guests.

Great trip. Our Tour Leader, Yousra, was very knowledgeable when we visited the various locations, especially in the museums and archaeological sites. Also our driver, Ayoub, was a safe and competent driver. Hotels and food were both good with no complaints.

Our guide, Sapfo, was truly excellent. Without doubt the best group leader you could wish for. She was interested and engaged with everyone in the group. She was knowledgeable. She was super organized and nothing was a chore. Our group dinners every night were a big success. Her restaurant choices were excellent. Our driver, Georgiou, was also really great. He kept the Mercedes mini bus immaculate. He was a careful and considerate driver and you always felt safe even on the tight back roads of the Mani Peninsula. Itinerary is good except that Monemvasia should be included as part of the tour proper and Sparta dropped from the itinerary. Make sure you take the optional extra of visiting Monemvasia if offered. It is well worth it. Overall I would say the tour is best described as “very full on”. A lot of the ancient and medieval sites have many many steps and some of the stones are very polished from so many people stepping on them over thousands of years. So I would recommend wearing hiking shoes if you have them also also bringing walking poles if you have them. Both will help with climbs, of which there are quite a few as I say. Overall the accommodation was ok (but not brilliant) except for Hotel Galaxy (they need to axe Het Galaxy). The Pantheon City Hotel was the best. Our group got on well, and I think that was in large part due to our guide Sapfo.

A couple of long travel days in the bus but scenery lovely. Hotels were spectacular! Special stops in homes of locals in Morocco and Spain were truly unique and well received by all.

We especially enjoyed the visit to the winery/farm & also the family who makes the fresh mozzarella/pizza. Both those events were very special. Christian Cueva made our experience exceptionally good as a tour manager. He was caring, knowledgeable & professional, along with truly caring about our experience.