South East Asia Explorer Trips

This tour was another excellent experience with Explore. Darwin, our leader, was superb and always went the extra mile to help with everything. He was amongst the best tour leaders we have experienced. The tour provided a very good introduction to the main attractions of the more visited parts of Peru. Highlights for us were Machu Pichu (of course) and the Uros and Taquile islands on Lake Titicaca, with the boat trip to get there. The whole tour was spent at high altitudes. This should be borne in mind by anyone who has any concerns about their ability to tolerate thin air and a dry atmosphere for long periods. The payoff for this though was superb views of the Andes every day! As we have come to expect with Explore tours, the accommodation quality was a bit variable. The Taquile Guesthouse was actually rather better than we expected, given the previous negative reviews that we had read. Yes, it was quite basic, but it was definitely worth it to experience the rustic way of life of the island, the hosts were very friendly and the welcome a warm one. The accommodation elsewhere on the tour was generally quite comfortable, although our hotel room at Arequipa was a little too noisy. A small point, but we would suggest that the visits from Ollantaytambo to the Maras salt mines and Moray Inca terraces should be included in the itinerary rather than being an optional extra. Everyone on our tour booked for this option rather than the alternatives of kayaking/paddle boarding (expensive and probably in rather cold water) and a craft brewery visit (something you can easily do in the UK, so not a particularly Peruvian experience). Overall, the tour comes highly recommended by us.

Oh my gosh! I had the absolute best time in Costa Rica. Our guide Juan Carlos had ALL the knowledge. We asked him everything, history, culture, plants, animals, birds, trees, weather and he had all the answers. My favorite thing was his sense of humor. He always made us laugh and feel welcome. The drivers were amazing too! Ronny was able to spot all the wildlife without any binoculars. Christian was super friendly and engaging as well. My favorite was watching the Green Sea turtles nesting. Such a magical experience. The whale watching was incredible. Whitewater rafting was a blast and lunch was really delicious on the shore. So many amazing memories and such warm and wonderful people. I highly recommend this trip to anyone and demand JC as your guide. Just absolutely the best.

Darwin it was an amazing leader! He was caring, funny, intelligent with a deep knowledge of all the places we have been. I highly recommend this tour and Darwin. The best guide ever!

Fantastic trip! As with most trips, a good guide makes all the difference and Charles was one of the best we've had. He's on top of everything, is very knowledgeable about the culture, history and wildlife of Madagascar. We traveled at the end of August and it is quite chilly and sometimes rainy in the highlands, so bring warm clothes! The second half of the trip was in the lowlands and was much warmer, we were wearing t-shirts and shorts and spending time in the pool.

Fantastic trip! Charles was among the best guides we have ever had - knowledgable about the culture and wildlife, organized, a great communicator, and incredibly patient. We saw 18 different lemur species! Our group of 10 was fun and easy-going. Madagascar is a beautiful country with fascinating history and culture. In the winter months (June, July, August), bring warm layers! We were happy to have rain pants and rain jackets. A headlamp or flashlight and hiking boots are musts.

My experience with Explore was the best I could ever have. From the beginning of the organisation till the last day of the trip it was excellent. It was my first trip with Explore, but it will definitely not my last one. The group was great, 10 people, 2 couples, 6 solo travellers. Our guide Juan Carlos was excellent, he gave us a feeling of being a family , he knows everything about animals, plants , Costa Rica. He was always there for all needs. I would like to thank your company and all people who made this trip so wonderful. I can highly recommend your company and Juan Carlos as a Guide Sincerely Manuela Sass ( a German living in Vienna)