Last Minute South East Asia Tours and Trip Deals

Diego was a fantastic tour leader. He managed the adversity of the itinerary when it had to be changed due to civil unrest, he kept us up to date with the situation and produced a great variety of alternative destinations. He was very interested in the wildlife and flora, he was able to take wonderful pictures of the things we saw - which he shared with us. He was passionate and very knowledgeable about his country and passed that enthusiasm to us. The itinerary was varied and the days were full. My only comment would be that it would be nicer to sometimes have meals at the end of the day instead of big meals at lunchtime.

In a short period the trip packed in so much visiting several UNESCO sites , a traditional village, the former Capital Kandy . We went to a stunning beach and went on safari . We crossed the island seeing the countryside and the mountains and an interesting stop to see toddy tapping . I felt I saw the diversity of this beautiful island and what it offers . I would highly recommend this trip . It’s full on but worth every minute .

Had a wonderful experience visiting Japan with Explore. Travelling with the group enabled me to visit many more places in this beautiful country, than I would have managed independently. Our group leader, Raya, was very knowledgeable and she conveyed all the practical information and relevant history of Japan in a very clear manner. We were also fortunate to have two trainee guides with the group. Marika was also very knowledgeable and as well as sharing lots of interesting details with us, she went out of her way to give us lots of local tips on good places to shop and what to buy. Parisa was very easy to get along with and when my friend and I mentioned that we’d be interested in visiting the theatre , she researched and found a Japanese cultural evening and helped us to book tickets. Raya, Marika and Parisa all got to know what individuals within the group were interested in seeing/ doing during the trip and did their very best to research and offer valuable advice to us all.

My first ever escorted trip by myself but definitely won’t be my last! Sydney our tour leader was amazing and looked after us so well. Our driver John got us to everywhere safely, in what were some very challenging journeys! Lots of pot holes and speed bumps in SA!! They made a great team together. The full packed itinerary suited me and although fast paced we covered a lot of the country and gave a great flavour of what SA has to offer. Finally the group on the tour were so friendly and great company - I couldn’t be happier!

It was an excellent trip with a delightful group many of whom are committed ‘explorers’ who had visited many countries. We all enjoyed the company of our young Uzbek leader whose English was exceptional as well as his pride in his country and his ambition for sustainable tourism. My first trip with ‘Explore’, I was impressed by their determination to fund local family-run small hotels in or just outside the gates of the old cities. Mohammed gave us good tips where we could eat at night and it was splendid to have free time to wander the streets and workshops in our own ways . Everywhere we found great friendliness and welcome even without a common language, though the Uzbeks language skills, particularly among the young are impressive and shaming. Their charm, business sense, command of technology, long tradition of beauty, colour and design in their architecture and crafts, their energy and ambition bodes well for their future prosperity.

As an introduction to India this trip ticked all the boxes for me. The pace is full on and there are some early starts but seeing the Taj Mahal at sunrise is something I Wii never forget. Our guide was brilliant, extremely knowledgeable and organised. He definitely made sure our experience of India was unforgettable. I am looking forward to going back one day.