The perfect mix of group activities and all important YOU time.Four all-star countries. 17 awesome AF destinations. One amazing travel fam. Ready to do Southeast Asia the right way? There's more to it than snapping selfies next to big golden Buddhas. We’re talking incred temples, mist-filled jungles, heaps of droolworthy food. And don’t forget all those beaut islands perfect for chill time. Ready to play hard AND pause hard? This trip’s gonna be *chef’s kiss* EPIC.
Get a taste of Central Asia's charm on this 16-day trip through ancient silk road towns and bustling bazaars. Visit four out of the five Stans as you travel the Kazak steppe and Uzbek Silk Road towns by train. Starting in Bishkek, visit the clear waters of Issyk-kul Lake, cross the border to the charming Almaty, catch an overnight train to Uzbekistan and seek out the delicious plov, then explore the white marbled capital of Ashgabat. Spend a night in a traditional yurt camp near Issyk-kul Lake, hike the flaming red rocks at Jety Ogus, toast with locally produced wine to a Kazak home-cooked feast and learn about the full Silk Road history in the blue-hued mosques, madrasas and ruins in Samarkand, Bukhara and Merv.
Climb aboard one of South East Asia’s most iconic rail journeys on this 10-day adventure from Kuala Lumpur to Singapore. Rolling past tropical forests, rural villages and limestone cliffs, you’ll experience the beauty and cultural heritage of the less travelled reaches of Malaysia. Kick off in vibrant Kuala Lumpur, then head to Ipoh to stand beneath a giant Buddha statue in Perak Cave Temple and uncover the stories of Old Town. Swap the trees for coral reefs on a snorkelling trip to the Perhentian Islands, then get back on track to Taman Negara to learn jungle survival skills with Orang Asli tribes. After uncovering Melaka’s rich history by trishaw, wrap it all up with satay and char kway teow in Singapore’s hawker halls.
Get ready for 11 days of authentic culture, delicious food and standout scenery as you travel from China to Laos on a bullet train. Kick off in the Eternal Spring City of Kunming, then hop on China's high-speed rail to Jinghong, where you’ll dive into ancient customs at a Hani village and pluck and brew Yunnan’s famous pu'er tea. Cross the border into Laos to watch the sunset wash orange hues over Luang Prabang’s sacred Wat Phu Si hill and kayak the picturesque Nam Song River. Then, wander the mansion-lined boulevards of Vientiane before bunking up on an overnight train to the buzzing streets of Bangkok.
The Japan highlights tour gave me a little bit from every part of Japan and definitely gave me the knowledge I needed to plan my next trip and figure out where my fav parts of Japan were. Can’t wait to go back to Akhibara!
The trip was absolutely incredible! Every city we visited was excellent, and the entire experience was so much fun and perfectly planned. Our trip leader, Hai, was the best thing that could have happened to us—truly amazing and incredibly professional. Highly recommend!
Journey back to the days of the Great Silk Road on a 18-day Premium adventure through Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. Explore the cosmopolitan capital of Tashkent, marvel at the glorious architecture in Samarkand, discover the holy sites of Bukhara and visit the ancient monuments of Khiva. Join a local family for a traditional cooking class and get to know the ins and outs of an Uzbek village. Visit Sharyn Canyon, Skazka Canyon and Jety Oguz Valley and take hikes to soak up the scenery. Spend a night in a traditional yurt camp alongside the massive alpine lake of Issyk Kul. See the monuments, learn the histories and dive into the local cultures of main cities like Bishkek and Almaty. Visit a family-owned winery for a tasting, head to a small local village for a traditional lunch and enjoy a masterclass of local cuisine from a Dungan family. With all this and more, what’s holding you back from your next adventure?
Discover the Philippines on this 17-day adventure, blending cultural encounters with refreshing natural moments. Starting in Manila and finishing in El Nido, you’ll cycle through the lively streets of Manila, see the crater lake of Mt. Pinatubo and hike the UNESCO World Heritage-listed rice terraces of the Cordilleras with local guides. Visit the Batak and Tagbanua Tribal Village in Sitio Kawasan, discover the limestone caves of Sabang and island hop around El Nido. With a mix of guided experiences and free time, this trip offers an unforgettable journey through the heart of the Philippines.
Get to the heart of the Philippines on this 10-day adventure exploring the north. Move around multicultural Manila on a bamboo bike and then trek to Mt Pinatubo’s crater lake. Hike the UNESCO-listed rice terraces of the Cordilleras while listening to stories from a Kalinga local guide along the way. Visit local villages to meet the Ifuago rice terrace builders, learn about Faery village’s unique burial traditions and connect with locals over a community feast. Go beyond the guidebook and fully immerse yourself in the rich culture and traditions of this beautiful archipelago.
Explore the old Silk Route in Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan with this nine-day adventure full of stunning natural landscapes, chances to connect to local people and traditional cuisine. With a knowledgeable local leader by your side, you’ll visit Sharyn Canyon, Skazka Canyon and Jety Oguz Valley and go on hikes to soak up the scenery. Spend a night in a traditional yurt camp, after learning about how these are still manufactured without electric tools, alongside the massive alpine lake of Issyk Kul. See the monuments, learn the histories and dive into the local cultures of main cities like Bishkek and Almaty. Visit a family-owned winery for a tasting, head to a small local village for a traditional lunch and enjoy a masterclass of local cuisine from a Dungan family. With all this and more, what’s holding you back from your next adventure?
This trip was made extraordinary by two absolutely outstanding guides, one in Cambodia (Sokchea) one in Vietnam (Truong). Their knowledge, communication skills, good humour, organisational skills and sheer passion for what they do was incredible. We arranged additional tours with our guides, and being able to depend on them for taking care of every detail, from supporting with transport arrangements, recommending and taking us to great local restaurants and evening shows, sometimes joining us for fun, ensuring that our access to sites of interest was smooth and hassle-free, whilst providing a fascinating and insightful perspective on history, culture and lifestyle. In Vietnam, Truong is an incredible asset to Explore: he went above and beyond his remit every day to ensure that everyone in our group had the best, most enjoyable experience. This was priceless, his energy and enthusiasm, and superb social skills ensured that this was an unforgettable trip of a lifetime. We learned so much, and genuinely shared laughter, food and good company. This Explore trip, due to the local guides, and wonderful company of our small group, totally exceeded our expectations.
Having a small group of 5, meant that we were able to get to know each other along the way too, and shared a lot of fun. We hugely enjoyed our “Happy Team” and hope we’ve made some new friends too.
Hotels were mostly great, some more basic but overall good, clean standards. Some excelled, like Cat Ba Paradise Hotel; only one was quite disappointing and a bit frustrating in their really inefficient check-in processes, Trang Hotel in Bangkok, which wasn’t helpful after long-haul journey. Otherwise, good accommodation and friendly helpful staff along the way.
Explore have exceptional guides and exceptional itineraries. You really get to see and explore a country in a safe and sustainable way. With lots of smiles and memories to last a lifetime. We will definitely be travelling with Explore again!