Embark on a breathtaking trekking adventure through the stunning Peruvian Andes with this all-inclusive Huayhuash circuit. Traverse picturesque landscapes, encounter crystal-clear alpine lakes, and gain exclusive insights into local culture. Perfect for avid hikers seeking an unforgettable, high-altitude experience, this guided expedition offers challenging trails and awe-inspiring vistas. With experienced guides, delicious meals, and comfortable campsites, immerse yourself in nature's splendor while creating lifelong memories on this top-rated trek in Peru's renowned mountain sanctuary.
AdventureTrekking and Hiking
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
This unique adventure focuses on South America’s heaviest hitters – the Galapagos Islands, the Inca Trail and the Amazon Jungle. Take 25 days to explore these wildly different parts of the region. Snorkel the turtle-filled waters of Leon Dormido, then walk the cobblestone streets of Cusco. Sit on black-sand beaches watching sea lions lounge and later conquer the 4200-metre-high Dead Woman’s Pass. Witness breathtaking natural beauty among the surreal landscapes of the Ecuador Highlands and Galapagos, then wonder at the man-made elegance of Machu Picchu. This tour offers immersive and active adventure led by locals in two bucket-list favourite destinations.
Explorer
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
Accommodation
Camping, Eco Lodge, Home-stay, Hotel, Lodge
Age Range
15-99 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Quito, San Cristobal Island, Isl
Quito, San Cristobal Island, Isla Isabela, Isla Santa Cruz, Lima, Cusco, Tena, Ollantaytambo, Inca Trail, Banos, Yunguilla
This 1-week program will take you to the capital of Argentina and one of the new 7 wonders of the world: the Iguazu Falls.
It starts in the city that never sleeps, Buenos Aires, to continue in Puerto Iguazu, where you will visit both sides of the Iguazu falls before ending up back in Buenos Aires
City sightseeingNational parks
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
Explore the stunning city of Buenos Aires on a panoramic city tour, including Plaza de Mayo, the Obelisk, La Boca, Teatro Colon, and San Telmo Market;
Relax and enjoy the splendor of Argentina's Lake District;
Travel along the Nahuel Huapi Lake until Victoria Island;
Explore the famous road of the 7 lakes and visit the town of San Martin de los Andes;
Then, go back to Buenos Aires where you will navigate the Delta in Tigre before your departure
City sightseeing
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
Accommodation
Hotel, Villa
Age Range
7-99 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Buenos Aires, San Carlos de Bari
Buenos Aires, San Carlos de Bariloche, Isla Victoria, San Martin De Los Andes, El Tigre
Embark on the adventure of a lifetime with a week-long journey from Cusco – the heart of the Inca Empire. Hike the Salkantay Trek – one of the most breathtaking trails in the world through towering mountains and lush valleys. Walk in the footsteps of ancient civilisations and connect with the land as you make your way to the iconic Machu Picchu – one of the Seven Wonders of the World! See this ancient site from two perspectives and explore the mystical ruins with a local guide who will tell you stories of the Incas. On this unique journey, you can learn about a traditional Andean community, experience the warmth and ancient customs of the local people and take part in sacred rituals. Whether you're an adventure seeker, a history lover or just craving cultural immersion, this trip is a perfect escape.
Trekking and Hiking
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
This seven-day adventure from Bogota to Medellin is perfect for those seeking the natural beauty of Colombia, with planned activities and plenty of time to wander at your own pace. Walk along an ecological trail, swim in the rivers at El Marmol and climb the zigzag staircase of El Penol for 360-degree views over Guatape. Visit the capital of Colombia’s mountainous Antioquia Province, Medellin and play tejo with the locals over a pint of local beer or two. Then, in your free time, maybe race down rapids in Rio Claro or explore the street art around Comuna 13 (San Javier) with your group of new friends!
Adventure
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
Journey through Peru on a seven-day Premium hiking adventure through ancient Inca sites and mountain trails, with an experienced and knowledgeable local leader by your side. Hike the ‘best part’ of the legendary Inca Trail in a single day – once used by Inca messengers and travellers to reach Machu Picchu, the Lost City of the Incas – and visit the Poc Poc Waterfall. Pass through the Sacred Valley and visit the Kinsa Qocha Lagoon – a stunning and unexpected sight in the surrounding landscape of Peru. Take a stunningly scenic train along the Urubamba River and spend a night in your Feature Stay in Aguas Calientes. Explore Chachabamba and Winay Wayna – a sacred site with terraces, temples and water channels, discover Machu Picchu (one of the Seven Wonders of the World) on a guided tour of the archaeological site and learn about Peru’s ancient cities and ruins.
Trekking and Hiking
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
This compact yet comprehensive trip showcases Peru's most iconic sights, while also revealing a couple of the country's lesser-known treasures. Explore the ancient Inca citadel of Machu Picchu, take a boat out onto Lake Titicaca to discover floating islands and spend time with a small Andean community in the village of Misminay.
Machu Picchu - Take a train to Aguas Calientes and explore the ancient citadel, and one of the New Seven Wonders of the World.
Lima - Explore the bohemian district of Barranco and soak up street life whilst sipping a speciality coffee
Lake Titicaca - Discover the islands of Uros and Taquile that float on this high-altitude lake.
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
Accommodation
Hotel
Age Range
16-99 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Cusco, Sacred Valley, Machu Picc
Cusco, Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu, Puno, Lake Titicaca, Lima
ABOUT THIS TRIP
This small-group tour of Chile will show you the most exhilarating sites and breathtaking attractions this country has to offer! From cosmopolitan cities to magnificent deserts, you will fall in love with the beauty and magic of Chile. Begin your tour in Santiago, the capital which is famous for its magnificent mountain views. Learn about the history and culture of the city as you visit the Plaza de Armas and Santa Lucia Hill. Catch a flight to Punta Arenas, from where you will travel to Puerto Natales. Discover the extraordinary beauty of the region as you explore Patagonia with its magnificent mountains, fjords, glaciers, forests, and steppes. From there you will fly to the Atacama and discover the driest desert in the world as you explore the Moon Valley. This is a breathtaking geological wonder which will make you feel like you are walking on the moon! Bask in the beauty of the Andes Mountains and the teeming volcanoes in this otherworldly area, where you will end your tour of Chile.
This is a Solo Tour
You don't pay single supplement and get a room for yourself!
Explorer
Tour Type
Group Tour
Accommodation
Hotel, Villa
Age Range
8-99 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Santiago, Atacama Desert, San Pe
Santiago, Atacama Desert, San Pedro De Atacama, Puerto Natales
Arturo was the best leader ever and would highly recommend him for the leader of the year. The trip was varied and taught be so much. Definitely ( if you can!) go to Inti Raymi. The most spectacular event I have ever seen
The Amazon extension was well worth the money as stayed in superb lodges with excellent food
Active and outdoorRafting
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
Accommodation
Hotel, Lodge
Age Range
16-99 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Lima, Sacred Valley, Machu Picch
Lima, Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu, Cusco, Puerto Maldonado, Amazon Jungle, Barranco, Arequipa, Chivay, Puno, Uros Floating Islands
Experience the island chain that has enchanted explorers since Darwin first dropped anchor off its shores. Spend four nights exploring the incredible wildlife of the Galapagos archipelago aboard a stylish vessel - the Archipel I. Travelling between the central and west islands, you will have the chance to explore from land and from the sea; snorkel at Vicente Roca amongst tropical fish and seahorses, and head to Santa Cruz's verdant highlands to see giant tortoises in their natural environment.
Archipel I Catamaran - Spend four nights cruising onboard this modern, spacious catamaran with a naturalist guide and experienced crew
Wildlife spotting - Find blue-footed booby padding around on the islands, as well as sea lions, iguanas, Galapagos penguin, giant tortoises and much more
Snorkel and walk - Discover an underwater paradise as well as a volcanic landscape, with daily snorkelling and on-shore excursions
Adventure
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
Accommodation
Hotel
Age Range
16-99 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Quito, Galapagos Islands, Isla I
Quito, Galapagos Islands, Isla Isabela, Isla Fernandina, Rábida Island
If you love big landscapes, deserts, rock formations, volcanoes, geysers, remoteness and views that go on forever, then this is the trip for you. This was combined with very friendly people, local culture and good wine, making for one of the best trips I've ever had.
This was my first trip with Explore. (All the other members of the group had travelled multiple times with them). I would say the trip exceeded my expectations in every respect. Judging by the comments of the rest of the group, it was one of the best many of them had been on too. I have taken away memories that will last forever and met some wonderful people along the way.
There were six travellers in the group (all solo travellers) as well as Andres our guide, local guides and drivers. This was the first trip run on a new itinerary or at least one which Explore has not sold for a number of years. So in that respect our group were the guinea-pigs for the trip. I felt the group got on very well. I would say six was a good group size for the minibuses. It gave us room to spread out with our bags and snooze if needed on the longer journeys.
Itinerary:
The itinerary covers a lot of ground in a short space of time so is definitely full-on. However, overall, I thought it was well-paced with well-timed rest periods. Given that this was a new itinerary, there are a couple of "tweaks" I would make (mentioned below). However, they are minor changes only to what I found to be a well-rounded and balanced trip.
HIghlights for me included the Uyuni salt flats in Bolivia. I loved the desert, lagoons, volcanoes, flamingoes, the salt hotel and of course, our meal with our wonderful Bolivian guides - which I'll never forget. Another highlight was the sunset and moonrise over the Atacama Desert near San Pedro. I felt the trip was a gift that kept on giving. Just when you had one experience which you thought could not be topped, along came another one. The trip was cleverly planned in that sense.
In terms of amendments, I would suggest the following:
HIgh altitude is a feature of this trip and perhaps needs to be emphasised and explained a little more fully in the trip notes so that travellers can take a view. However, for me, any discomfort was more than compensated for by the remoteness and beauty of the landscapes we saw.
I particularly loved Bolivia and perhaps Explore could consider adding that another day to this leg of the trip. This would allow more time to get to know this fantastic country and its people but would also allow more time to acclimatise.
We had a wonderful day in the wine region of Cafayate. Both wine and food were delicious and plentiful. However, I think we all felt the number of tours and tastings should be reduced a little to allow us to relax into one wine tour and the meal without worrying about time.
Guiding:
Andres was our Explore guide and I cannot speak highly enough of him. Most of the group had travelled extensively over the years with Explore and said that he was one of the best guides they had ever had. Andres was excellent in every respect - professional, knowledgeable, organised but relaxed and very person-centred, attending well to the different needs of the group. The trip ran very smoothly and to time. Andres paid close attention to detail, making small changes to the itinerary as needed, He found good places to eat, and timed visits to avoid any crowds in particularly popular places. As far as I am aware, there was one small logistical glitch during the whole trip. This was beyond Andres' control but he took it in his stride, dealt with it and it did not affect the group. Definitely 5* for Andres.
The local guides and drivers in each country were very friendly and efficient. I would say the guides in Argentina and Bolivia were particularly knowledgeable. The warmth and kindness shown to us was lovely. I would single out Wilbur in Bolivia for particular praise.
Accommodation:
Before the trip, I did not have particularly high expectations of the hotels, thinking that location would take priority over hotel standard and that budget hotels would be used to keep costs down. To a certain extent this proved to be the case. I would say in most places the standard was 3*. I found all of them were perfectly acceptable although some had variable hot water and wifi which is only to be expected really given the region. All hotels were very friendly and in a very good location. Some hotels stood out as having more character and better service than others. The Salt Hotel (Laguna Salada) on the Uyuni flats was something truly special. The stunning location, the hotel design and the friendliness of the staff there were something I will never forget. The Hotel Los Flamencos at the Laguna Hedionda was graded as "simple" and we warned to take warm sleepwear as it can get cold at night. However, I found the hotel to be warm and characterful and again, the location was stunning. Standing outside the hotel (albeit at about -5 degrees Celsius), watching the flamingos on the lagoon and the sun come up over the volcanoes behind was something truly memorable.
San Pedro de Atacama was the most touristy place we visited and I would say the hotel there reflected that. It felt a bit more generic than the others, although the barman was excellent and served some knockout Pisco sours.
Overall, I would give this trip 5* without hesitation. Unforgettable - in the best possible way. Any quibbles are very minor ones to me. I would highly recommend.
Sightseeing Tours
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
Accommodation
Hotel
Age Range
16-99 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Buenos Aires, San Pedro, Santiag
Buenos Aires, San Pedro, Santiago, Salta, Cafayate, Purmamarca, Tilcara, Tupiza, Uyuni, Incahuasi, San Pedro De Atacama
The guide (Fisher) was fabulous as he dealt with every situation calmly and the coordinator (Diana) of the tour in Cusco was a dream and kept us up to date and answered all my questions promptly.
Trekking and Hiking
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
Accommodation
Camping, Hotel
Age Range
18-99 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Cusco, Sacred Valley, Inca Trail
Cusco, Sacred Valley, Inca Trail, Phuyupatamarca, Aguas Calientes
Hike, bike, raft and paddle your way through the ancient sites and natural landscapes of Peru – home of the Incas. Tick Machu Picchu off your bucket list – one of the famed Seven Wonders of the World – with trekking and train options suitable for all levels. Go on a mountain biking experience from Cusco to Pisac, passing by rivers, fertile valleys and archaeological sites. Stand-up paddleboard along the serene waters of Piuray Lake, surrounded by the mountains. Raft through Grade 2 and 3 rapids on the Urubamba River in Ollantaytambo and hike to lookout points high above sea level overlooking the multicultural cities of diverse Peru – this is an adventure for the active, the curious and the adventurous!
Trekking and Hiking
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
Accommodation
Camping, Hotel
Age Range
15-99 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Cusco, Lake Piuray, Pisac, Ollan
Cusco, Lake Piuray, Pisac, Ollantaytambo, Inca Trail
