It was a great cycling trip in Portugal with Explore: beautiful routes along the ocean, on bike paths, through picturesque villages and interesting forests.
Our leader David and driver Paulo were supportive and helpful. Our hotels were very comfortable and included lots of choices for breakfast. Picnic lunches were first rate and dinner recommendations excellent. I highly recommend Explore.
Explore colourful ethnic groups and experience the sheer thrill of travelling along stunning roads that you'll never forget. This trekking trip will take you to the most impressive region of Vietnam, and over five days you will discover colourful local markets of the various ethnic minority communities, trek through the soaring mountains and experience the dizzying mountain passes of Dong Van and Ma Pi Leng.
From Hanoi - Ba Be Lake to Halong Bay is a motorbike tour on easy ride which will take you to the remote areas in northeast part of Vietnam. Where you will have the opportunity to experience the real life of many ethnic groups.
Enjoy the best of Peru during this round-trip tour beginning in beautiful Lima and ending with a drop-off at the Puno airport. Spend nine memorable days in this stunning country, visit charming colonial cities, learn about the legacy of ancient civilisations, and explore some of the most spectacular landscapes on the planet. Meet the descendants of the Incas and the camelids of the Andes. Discover the Sacred Valley of the Incas, observe the shadows of the past surrounding the islands of Lake Titicaca. Then, enjoy a pilgrimage to the peaks of the Andes to tour the magnificent citadel and mountain of Machu Picchu.
On this 10-day walking tour of northern Vietnam, you will visit the mountainous regions near the Chinese border. You will sweep along mountain passes and descend into beautiful valleys, visiting local markets and ethnic minority communities along the way. This tour is bound to fill you with a new found wonder of northern Vietnam and it's unique landscapes and cultures.
This small-group trekking trip four days in Ba Be will takes you into the remote villages on the western side of Ba Be National Park and gives you the opportunity to experience the real tropical forests. It is for people with at least moderate to good fitness levels and a good spirit of adventure.
Explore leader: for Sri Lanka only satisfactory. Not easy to understand, didn't seem to feel part of the group, didn't join us for meals, a poor communicator (relative to past explore trips)
For the dhoni Maldives cruise: Moosa was excellent in every way.
Looking back at our photos now we've returned to the UK we can't believe the amount we saw and the amazing experiences we had on this tour. Sri Lanka is an amazing beautiful country with some much going on - we only scratched the surface. Our tour leader Cham worked so hard to make sure that we had everything we needed, resolving our problems and sorting out food for our fussy son! His knowledge about Sri Lankan history and wildlife was immense. He even found the best place to buy genuine Sri Lanka cricket shirts for the sporty members of our group. The only thing we'd change was the pace of the second half of the Sri Lanka leg of the trip. The first half gave us time to chill and bond as a group, as well as hang out in the pool at Giritale and play cricket. The second half we moved every night and covered a massive distance, though interesting, this was quite tiring (especially for the kids), so we'd suggest that a two night stop in the middle of this element would resolve this issue easily. This was clear in the notes, however, as was the high chance of not getting the train. The pace did slow considerably for the Maldives element, with a lot of time on our boats travelling between reefs. The snorkelling was quite frankly mind-blowing, and even the more nervous swimmers loved it. The crew were fantastic, and the food was delicious. The guide knew his stuff, and made sure we had great snorkelling experiences. Our only criticism of this part of the trip was that splitting the group when we'd got to know each other and were getting on really well was disappointing. There were larger boats, and we'd have preferred to be on a single boat given how long we spent travelling separately. The crew did what they could to mitigate this by tying the boats together when we moored for snorkels, meals and overnight and that was great. All in all a thoroughly enjoyable trip, and with a few very small tweaks it'd be perfect!
The Hadrian's wall trip was a perfect mix of hiking and touring the highlights of Northern England and the Lake District. Our guide Paul Cannon was very knowledgeable of the area being a native of the region. The places we stayed were inviting and comfortable.Overall the trip was all we expected and more.
It was a wonderful adventure full of insights, learnings, fun, beauty and a sensory smorgasbord of experiences. I loved the diversity within the cities and villages, the cultures, the activities offered and the modes of transportation. It was well organised and brilliantly led by Giri.
Embark on a 12-day self-drive adventure through South Africa, one of the world’s most diverse and exhilarating destinations. Starting in the vibrant city of Johannesburg, journey to the wild heart of the African safari at Kapama Private Game Reserve. Experience thrilling game drives to spot the Big Five, enjoy a playful meerkat encounter, greet penguins on Boulders Beach, and tour an ostrich farm. Marvel at the country’s stunning coastline, breathtaking views, and explore the continent’s southwestern tip. Delight in South Africa’s flavors on a culinary walk in Stellenbosch. This unforgettable journey promises to awaken your senses and satisfy your curiosity about this incredible country.
Explore the lesser-known northern regions of Thailand along the River Mekong and discover their main cultural attractions during this magical four-day tour of the country. This beautiful part of Thailand is overflowing with elaborate monuments, verdant dreamlike landscapes, eclectic markets, and a spectacular natural river setting. Get closer to the mix of Thai and Laotian cultures and see how it makes this area different from other parts of Thailand. Visit the natural miracles at Khao Kho and Chiang Khan, get closer to religion while exploring Nong Khai, stroll the bustling streets of Udon Thani, and much more. Enjoy this memorable trip that gives you the opportunity to explore and understand the culture in northern Thailand.This tour is operated in a small group of up to 8 passengers.
The best. It suited me. Lovely walks, lovely food, historical locations, wonderful guide. I loved the local input - visits to the farms, bakery. A visit to a working Truli house would have been a plus ( very touristy visit to Alberobello) and the last walk could have been more varied scenically. Could have stayed much longer in Matera! Altogether it was the best trip I’ve done with Explore. It helped having a lovely group too.
Where next?