West Africa Small Group 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.

We loved this trip. It has a full and varied itinerary. Our tour leaders took such good care of us with snacks and drinks and even made dinner reservations for us if we needed. We didn't have to worry about a thing. The walks were challenging for us but they were well worth it and allowed us to see so much more of Ireland than we would have seen on our own. Experienced guides took us on the hikes and city walking tours and gave us interesting information about what we were seeing.

A well balanced trip taking in nature, history, architecture, cuisine etc... in this fascinating part of the world; a mixture of several long days on the bus with a few free afternoons allowing us to follow our own interests. Simona was the perfect tour leader! She kept us entertained throughout with her amazing knowledge of everything to do with the region. Passionate about the history and nature of each of the countries we visited, she always pointed out the differences between the 3 (i.e. linguistic and religious), but also stressed the unity born from the common experience of fighting for independence. She gave cohesion to our group of 15 with the dedicated WhatApp group she created and kept us well organised, but also took a personal interest in each of us. It was a joy to witness these 3 countries progressing so quickly and flourishing since independence.

Fabulous trip, great experience to be on such a lovely unique boat. The crew were amazing and adapted the route when the weather turned windy and choppy but this added to a great trip. Without the amazing tour leader Thanos the trip would not be the same. Would thoroughly recommend. However the cabins are cosy so pack light.

The Baltics Tour was really enjoyable and educational. Our guide, Simona, was excellent and her in depth knowledge of all three countries really made the tour. She was very approachable, extremely well organised and was great fun. The itinerary was very interesting and Tallinn, Riga and Vilnius all had beautiful architecture. The people were very welcoming. In Kaunus we even had a chance to join in with Lithuanian dancing. The accommodation was mostly excellent. I would thoroughly recommend this tour.

This was an amazing week with a well-balanced mix of beautiful hikes and cultural exploration. The landscape is absolutely breathtaking, with rugged mountains, remote valleys and crystal-clear rivers. The hiking trails take you through some of the most pristine nature I've ever seen, with stunning views around every corner. The itinerary included visits to traditional Albanian villages where we had the chance to interact with the locals, learn about their culture, and enjoy delicious local food. Our guide, Dorien, knew the region inside out and was always eager to share stories about the history and culture of Albania. From start to finish, the experience was nothing short of spectacular :)