Patagonia Group Tours

Egan was fantastic. Crew were excellent. Food was unbelievably delicious and plentiful Cabins comfortable Boat spotless. Loved the snorkelling - sharks, turtles, dolphins. Only small criticism is we didn't see much maldivian culture. I would have liked lunch in a local home or a local dance class or similar

The perfect way to experience Patagonia. Full on but you won't want to waste a moment . Don't worry about the long days travelling - the scenery is magnificent and all the transport very comfortable - the "public bus" more of a luxury coach with loo and wifi. The boat trip from Ushuaia to the penguin island was a long one but stunning scenery and the boats go onto the beach although you don't get off. How many can say they've sailed the Beagle Channel... The Perito Moreno glacier was a highlight - do the boat trip to the glacier face there. We spent 3 hours wandering the walkways and it was difficult to tear ourselves away - We saw several calvings and were mesmerised. The Serrano river glacier trip was expensive and somewhat disappointing as weather conditions did not allow our boat to actually reach the viewpoint -worth checking on the chances of getting there before embarking on that trip. No refund for a reduced experience either. The Hotel del Paine is in a stunning location but check bills as they add a tip to everything , including the pricey packed lunch and excursion. The 2 long hikes -Bas de Torres and Laguna De Los Tres- are as described. Challenging but so rewarding. A google will find them on several blogs if you want to research. Don't underestimate the weather - we had clear blue skies for one and rain sleet and sun for the other! Really loved being in EL Chalten - a hikers paradise and would've liked another day there. Everywhere took credit cards - we changed $100 each to Arg pesos and didn't need any Chilean. USD cash accepted in most places too. Marcelo our leader was a force of nature from day one. His enthusiasm and excitement for the trip were evident and infectious. We knew we were in for a fantastic time from day one and throughout the whole fortnight that energy level  never dropped. He has an incredible  breadth of knowledge , from the geology, flora and fauna of Patagonia to the geopolitical issues that have shaped the region. I don't think a tour leader has ever made us laugh so much - a crazy Argentinean Italian who's love for his job was evident. He absolutely made the trip - the comedy love/hate for Argentina/ Chile gave rise to many hilarious moments making for a most memorable experience. All in all probably the best Explore! holiday of the 15 we have done, and we've done some crackers!

From the very start, the trip felt immersive and beautifully balanced. The wildlife in Kruger National Park was unforgettable, spotting elephants, lions, and giraffes in their natural habitat was a real highlight. We were very lucky spotting the 'Top 5' and most exciting was seeing 2 leopards to complete the set! I was equally captivated by the more rural, untouched areas, which showcased a quieter, more authentic side of South Africa. The Drakensberg Mountains were simply stunning, with dramatic scenery that felt almost prehistoric, it was a joy to hike around, with next to no one else there. Visiting the historic site of Rorke’s Drift added real depth to the journey. It was a rich, rewarding, and truly memorable experience!

Our tour guide, Einar, was incredible and was very knowledgeable and passionate about Iceland. He did a great job with keeping us on track with the itinerary and packing in lots of amazing activities and sights. This was absolutely a trip of a lifetime and I can’t wait for another Iceland excursion!! Throughout the experience, there were some delays with hearing back about certain requests from Explore, but ultimately matters were resolved. The accommodations were lovely, particularly Hotel Gullfoss, which was very welcoming and accommodating.

Loved this trip. A fantastic trip for birders. I am not one but like wildlife generally and enjoyed the birds with pelicans of two species, flamingos and a grey heron plus all the others being memorable. Assan our guide could identify a speck in the distance before we could even see it! Other aspects of the tour were also interesting and photogenic with the "oyster factory" and all the colourful fishing boats. Assan imparted a lot of information about both countries - the people and their history, shared languages and customs. The boat trip from Georgetown on the Gambia river was a good experience - very calm and relaxing. All the hotels were in a good position although occasionally showers were a dribble or cold and generally breakfasts were not inspiring although there were always eggs. The hotel with the best dinner had the worst breakfast! The food on the boat was good and I enjoyed local bread and peanut porridge neither of which reappeared elsewhere. Weather was great with blue sky every day and not excessive heat. Our last boat journey was 5 hours on a bench seat and we all got wet from spray. We endured but were relieved when we made it. Our driver Ousman, probably name misspelt, was very careful and avoided potholes, donkeys, goats etc. He was very friendly and helpful too. A few long journeys and not a trip for beach lovers or foodies. I would have welcomed another two night stay about two thirds of the way through. To summarise it was a great experience.

Everything was perfect about the trip but the most important thing was the tour leader Einar. He could not be bettered - an amazing person, knowledgeable, got us immediately (and we were quite an unusual bunch!), was funny, took us to local places that meant something to him and his family. Brilliant.