Northern Europe National parks Trips

The trip was excellent. I’ve not travelled with such a large group before so found that tricky at times but our leader Margareta managed the different elements in our Group expertly. Always ensuring everyone was included and informed of what we were doing.

Our gorgeous canyon country was the beautiful backdrop for our smooth coach ride, which our wonderfuldriver, Archie, provided! Our tour team was courteous and kind every step of the way. JP, our guide, gave us back stories, and details that were interesting and entertaining. My two sister's and I felt safe, and comfortable no matter where we were. Each hotel stay had a charm of its own, and the scheduled side trips made for a unique experience that we never would have known about, had we traveled on our own. Altogether, it was a wonderful experience, I hope to travel with Trafalgar again some day. We had to leave this tour early, due to an unexpected illness for one of my sisters, and I can't speak highly enough for JP, who knew exactly what to do for us. He procured everything we needed, from the Park Ranger, amulance, taxi and a hotel in the town we went to for a hospital, making sure we were well cared for, and had the info we needed once we arrived. It would have been a more harrowing experience without JP's gentle guidance, and help.

The itinerary allowed for a comprehensive look at a variety of sites across the three countries, not just the capital cities. In the cities, the balance between time spent with the group (city walking tour with local guide) and free time to pursue your own interests was just right. The forward arranging of group meals for the evenings in the bigger places by the tour leader was appreciated as a way of sampling local cuisine - you could opt out if you wanted. The hotels were all of a good or excellent quality, often totally refurbished within an older building, and centrally located. The coaches used were very comfortable for a group of 15, though the tinted glass on the Riga-Vilnius coach made for so-so photography of the outside and made the interior a bit dark. For early morning flights from Vilnius on the last day (taxi to airport at 3:20am) it was 'no breakfast!', even though stated on itinerary, not even a mini box thing (as provided on a previous Explore trip. with similar early departure.. on "Silk Road" in Tashkent). The tour leader Margarita was excellent - knowledgeable, enthusiastic, personable - 10/10!

An excellent short trip visiting some of the highlights of amazing Slovenia. A busy week starting with cosmopolitan Ljubljana with its castle, dragons, graffiti and green spaces, then off to 3 nights in Bohunj via beautiful Lake Bled. Alpine lakes, mountain mist, countless steps to a waterfall through beech forest, walking in the rain up a gorge, and cable car to the top of Mt Vogel...lots of steps and kms. Then something totally different, with a visit to coastal Izola and a day trip to the Adriatic gem called Piran...finished off with a visit to a castle in a cave and the huge Skocjan cave system, both unique places. Throughout the tour we were incredibly well looked after by the tireless Claire who made sure that we took away great memories of the European treasure which is sLOVEnia! I'll be back...

Covers a lot of miles. Many hours are spent in the bus. Dining options are not always excellent. Accomodations are sometimes less than 5 star (no television or air conditioning). Vegas hotel very dirty ( should replace that hotel with another).

This tour gave my wife and I a fantastic look at 12 wonderful National Parks. We loved the hotels and tour director Kelly. We loved Kelly’s insight into each park and stops on the tour.