Begin in Beijing, where you'll explore Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City, and hike the Great Wall. In Luoyang, discover celestial art in the Longmen Caves, then journey to Xi'an to meet the Terracotta Army. Get close to China's adorable pandas at the Panda Research Center in Chengdu. Then, board a Yangtze River cruise and enjoy breathtaking landscapes and historic sites, before ending your adventure in the vibrant metropolis of Shanghai.
Cultural, religious and historic sites
Tour Type
Group Tour
Accommodation
Hotel
Age Range
18-80 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Beijing, Shanghai, Yangtze River
Beijing, Shanghai, Yangtze River, Yangtze River, HB, Great Wall of China, Luoyang, Xian, Xi'an, Chengdu
25% OFF TODAY
This deal is valid for limited time. Book now to reserve your seats.
Discover the delights of two fascinating Himalayan Kingdoms on this 15 day tour of Bhutan and Nepal. From Paro to Kathmandu, explore ancient temples and monasteries, see fluttering prayer flags and spectacular mountain scenery, hike to the incredible Tiger's Nest Monastery, safari in Chitwan and more.
Active and outdoor
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
Accommodation
Hotel, Camping, Lodge
Age Range
18-80 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Kathmandu, Paro, Tiger's Nest Mo
Kathmandu, Paro, Tiger's Nest Monastery, Pokhara, Thimphu, Mo Chu River, Chitwan National Park
Overall, amazing trip!
From the moment I rang up and spoke to lovely Mandy, I was impressed by Explore.
I was part of a group of 8 ranging from 30s-70s, by the end of the trip, we were like old friends. I hadn’t done a group trip before and you are spending a lot of time together so be prepared for that if you are also sharing a room.
Luckily we all got on really well and had a laugh together but you do have to carve out some solo time.
Itinerary - this trip is described as moderate but it’s quite full on. So many activities are squeezed in to the available time and a fair bit of travel in between, but this is broken up by stops on an off the bus for points of interest.
It meant we saw so much of Sri Lanka, we covered 2000km. Think, temples, wildlife, food, hiking, boat / train trip, beach, cities, and history and beautiful scenery.
Accommodation - some were lovely, some not so much, but all were clean / acceptable, some just a bit more basic than others.
Most had pretty good food as we eat at the hotel most nights due to often being off the beaten track.
You are accompanied for the whole trip by your tour guide and we were very lucky to have Sam.
Sam made the trip.
He has such and in depth knowledge of Sri Lanka and was so willing to tell us everything we wanted to know about the history and customs of the country that we really felt like we had gotten to know the country in depth. He had so many little extras ‘up his sleeve’ from stopping the bus to show us how to blow bubbles with a soap plant to arranging for us to go into the signal room at the train station.
I am sure all of the guides are brilliant, but know if you are lucky to be assigned Sam, he is something special.
The trip was fantastic, so many experiences packed into two weeks and friends I hope to stay in touch with. If you’re considering this trip, 10/10 recommend.
Cultural, religious and historic sites
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
My time in Nepal was amazing. as i arived in Kathmandu i was little bit scared. the company ACE has received me on the airport of kathmandu and brougt me to my hotel. everything was perfectly organizes. specially my guide Pasang Sherpa and Bombo Sherpa. both of this extremly helpfull and friendly persons helps me to get my dream coms true. thanks a lot my friends. i hope you are well
Trekking and Hiking
Tour Type
Private Tour
Accommodation
Hotel, Resort, Guest House
Age Range
5-80 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Pokhara, Kathmandu, Chitwan Nati
Pokhara, Kathmandu, Chitwan National Park, Lumbini, Ghorepani, Tadapani, Ghandruk, Chitwan, Palpa, Tikhedhunga
The itinerary is good, but full-on. Explore and all the other similar companies seem to compete by how many places they can fit into a trip, which is good if you want a taster, but not-so-good if you want to spend a bit of time in your preferred locations. However, the only disappointing part was the houseboat; the backwaters are full of them....not very idyllic. Our guide and driver were amazing; they took care of everything so it was relaxing despite the schedule.
Cruise
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
Accommodation
Hotel, Lodge, Resort
Age Range
16-99 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Chennai, Bangalore, Mamallapuram
Chennai, Bangalore, Mamallapuram, Bandipur National Park, Mysore, Pondicherry, Meenakshi Temple, Thekkady, Kerala Backwaters, Kochi, Coimbatore
12% OFF TODAY
This deal is valid for limited time. Book now to reserve your seats.
The itinerary is very well thought out with lots to see and do. Everyday had a highlight and the Nepalese are so friendly and inviting. The views of the Himalayas in Nagarkot and Pokhara were stunning. The hotels were in excellent locations throughout. There are walks for those who want to and options for those who don't. I would highly recommend this tour to anyone, regardless of physical ability. Our tour leader, Su, was excellent and worked tirelessly to ensure our safety, enjoyment and general happiness. He is the best leader I have had out of some 27 tours. This is Explore's strong point - they know how to pick and train tour leaders and Su was the best of the best.
Active and outdoorRafting
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
This comprehensive tour of Nepal takes you on a journey across one of the most spectacularly beautiful countries in the world. Amazing mountain scenery mixed with lush, wildlife rich jungles, ancient hilltop villages stand in contrast to the hustle and bustle of Kathmandu.
Our 15-day tour begins with a walking tour of Kathmandu before we drive to Chitwan National Park in the lowland Terai region of Nepal, close to the Indian border. There's an option available today to do an afternoon of exciting white water rafting on the Trisuli river, en-route to the park. We have two nights at a wildlife lodge at Chitwan, and enjoy a range of activities in the park, including a jungle walk, traditional river canoe trip and jeep safari. Outside the park we'll take a rural village walk to see how the local Tharu people live, and an early morning bird watching walk is also available for those keen. Chitwan is famous for its population of Asian rhinos, and there are also numerous other animals and birds to see including several species of deer and monkeys, wild boar, sloth bear, elephants, gharial and mugger crocodiles, and if you're very lucky you may catch a glimpse of a tiger too.
Next we head to the hilltop Newari town of Bandipur, the centre of which has been carefully restored and is well worth exploring. After some great mountain views from here we head to the lakeside town of Pokhara at the foot of the Annapurna range before starting a 5-day trek through the Himalayan foothills to the spectacular viewpoint of Poon Hill. We stay in locally owned trekking lodges and experienced guides and porters will accompany you on the trek. This is a moderate trek with a couple of long days and plenty of up and down, but you certainly don't need to be super-fit. You'll walk through a wide variety of landscapes and countryside including riverside trails, rhododendron forests, terraced farmland and grassy ridges, always enjoying different views of the mighty Annapurna range above you.
After a little free time to relax in Pokhara after the trek we return to Kathmandu and spend a night at the village of Nagarkot, perched on the rim of the Kathmandu Valley. After a morning sunrise and hopefully stunning views of the Himalayas, including Mount Everest in the far distance, we return to Kathmandu via Bhaktapur, where we take time to enjoy the wonderful, intricately carved, wooden architecture of the traditional Hindu temples and surrounding buildings. The tour then ends back in Kathmandu.
For those looking for a less active tour of Nepal, you may consider our Nepal Exposed tour, which follows a similar itinerary, but without the 5-day trek.
Private tour option
If our scheduled departure dates don't work for you, or you would prefer not to travel with a group, then we can also run this tour privately for you. Please contact us for more information and prices.
Rafting
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
Accommodation
Hotel, Lodge, Home-stay
Age Range
8-75 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Kathmandu, Tikhedhunga, Pokhara
Kathmandu, Tikhedhunga, Pokhara, Chitwan, Chitwan National Park, Bandipur, Ghandruk, Tadapani, Ghorepani
PRIVATE TOUR: Uncover this vast, spectacular region of contrasts in comfort on a private journey that visits all the major attractions and some little-known gems. From Ho Chi Minh City, explore the waterways of the Mekong Delta before traveling north to Hanoi and Halong Bay. Then discover the towering golden temples of Luang Prabang before flying on to Siem Reap and visiting iconic Angkor Wat.
City sightseeing
Tour Type
Private Tour
Accommodation
Hotel
Age Range
18-80 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Siem Reap, Ho Chi Minh City, Lua
Siem Reap, Ho Chi Minh City, Luang Prabang, Tonle Sap Lake, Hue, Hoi An, Hanoi, Halong Bay
