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
Wow!
This trip was just incredible.Temples,Buddhas,meeting elephants,travelling on the Death railway ,swimming in the river Kwai and so much more. If you want to learn about the history and culture of this beautiful country then this is the trip for you.
Our guide Wit was absolutely outstanding and he made the trip so special.
This was our first trip with Explore and we will definitely be booking another.
Active and outdoorWildlife
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
Accommodation
Hotel, Home-stay, Resort
Age Range
16-99 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Elephant Na
Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Elephant Nature Park, Si Satchanalai, Sukhothai, Ayutthaya, Kanchanaburi
Harsh was an excellent tour leader. He had a small group but some very demanding clients. He did a brilliant job and is very knowledgeable.
Did not like the Rockland Hotel. Quality of that hotel was below the standard expected.
Rickshaw, cycle or local transport tours
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
We really enjoyed this comprehensive tour of Vietnam. Including time in more rural areas as well as the well known cities and sites, it gave us a great insight into local culture and there was plenty of opportunity to meet the locals who were incredibly friendly. The trip ran seemlesly in the extremely capable hands of our tour leader Diem, one of the best we've had (this was our 6th family holiday with Explore). Highlights would include all of the bike rides, exploring Tam Coc caves by boat, Saigon by cyclo, the amazing food, so fresh and plentiful, and the kids loved haggling for bargains in the markets and shops (especially Hoi An). Accommodation and transport were both of a great standard. Well done Explore!
Active and outdoorExplorer
Tour Type
Group Tour
Accommodation
Hotel, Lodge, Eco Lodge, Home-stay, Sleeper Train
Age Range
7-99 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Hoi An
Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Hoi An, Mekong Delta, Mai Chau, Halong Bay, Ha Long Bay, Hue
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!
Active and outdoorExplorer
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
Accommodation
Hotel, Bungalow, Resort, Home-stay, Guest House
Age Range
7-99 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Phuket, Bangkok, Khao Lak, Pak K
Phuket, Bangkok, Khao Lak, Pak Khlong Talat, Khao Sam Roi Yot National Park, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Sam Roi Yot, Khao Sok National Park
Gather the family for an introduction to Vietnam as we travel from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City. Kayak around the island cliffs of Halong Bay, master Kinh Van martial arts and cook up a fragrant Vietnamese meal during a homestay on the Mekong Delta. As we traverse the country, sleep aboard an overnight train and a traditional junk boat.
Hanoi - Explore Vietnam's vibrant capital, including the curious narrow streets of the Old Quarter.
Hoi An - Soak up the atmosphere of this charming ancient merchant's town on the banks of the Thu Bon River.
Ho Chi Minh City - Discover a secret underground weapons bunker and explore old Saigon's bustling back alleys.
Art and architectureCruise
Tour Type
Group Tour
Accommodation
Hotel, Sleeper Train, Home-stay
Age Range
7-99 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Hanoi, Siem Reap, Ho Chi Minh Ci
Hanoi, Siem Reap, Ho Chi Minh City, Mekong Delta, Chau Doc, Phnom Penh, Halong Bay, Hue, Hoi An, Cu Chi Tunnels
Vietnam was an amazing and varied place and Explores itinerary managed to pack in a huge variety of scenery, activities and education including places and people I wouldn't have managed to find alone. Long's leadership was brilliant keeping the teenagers engaged and encouraged to try new experiences and food.
Active and outdoorExplorer
Tour Type
Group Tour
Accommodation
Hotel, Home-stay, Sleeper Train
Age Range
7-99 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Hua Hin
Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Hua Hin, Mekong Delta, Halong Bay, Hue, Hoi An, Cu Chi Tunnels
It is not often after a two week holiday, I am not ready to leave and get home. I went by myself and I could have repeated the holiday easily. George our guide was incredible, full of charm, humour & wit he was totally unflappable and his knowledge of his country was encyclopaedic encompassing politics, economics, flora, fauna, religion and animals. He worked tirelessly to ensure we all made the most of our time. Sri Lanka is an amazing country and the fun, laughter and camaraderie we all experienced will live with me for a long time.
Bicycle toursRafting
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
Colombo, Negombo, Sinharaja, Hik
Colombo, Negombo, Sinharaja, Hikkaduwa, Galle, Chilaw, Wilpattu National Park, Anaradhapura, Minneriya National Park, Polonnaruwa, Kandy
We had a fabulous couple of weeks in Thailand with Explore. The tour visited most of the places we had hoped to go to independently but cut out all the stress of trying to organise it. There was enough unstructured free time to do a few little tours of our own. Our tour guide Super Jeff was fantastic and the whole group were really sad to say goodbye to him at the end. Lots of fun opportunities to travel on or jump into water. Other members of group were interesting and fun. Lots of great food. The two night train trips were surprisingly comfortable and easy. My family loved the Thai boxing morning. Good mix of culture, adventure, beach. The only disappointment was the day boat trip to Ang Thong marine reserve - very busy and touristy, long time on big boat, food not great and the snorkelling was almost non-existent. We wished we'd taken the day off on our own to spend more time on the beach or take a proper snorkelling tour.
Active and outdoorWildlife
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
Accommodation
Hotel, Lodge, Resort, Home-stay, Bungalow
Age Range
7-99 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Bangkok, Koh Phangan, Koh Man, K
Bangkok, Koh Phangan, Koh Man, Koh Samui, Kanchanaburi, Erawan Falls, Surat Thani, Klong Noi, Khao Sok National Park, Cheow Lan Lake
Uzbekistan has recently opened up for tourism and it is still an uncommon travel destination. The country is remarkably clean, safe, and welcoming. It boasts incredible and unique architecture, as well as delicious cuisine. It is my favourite Muslim country.
Our trip was very enjoyable, filled with interesting points on the itinerary but also with enough free time to relax and explore at our leisure. The accommodations provided during the trip were absolutely amazing, particularly the one in Khiva. Our tour guide was delightful, exceptionally friendly, and always ready to assist us. Overall, we had a fantastic time and we highly recommend this trip to everyone.
Active and outdoorExplorer
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
Great trip from Bobobudur, through Java and Bali. Some really un-touristy places on both islands ending with uber touristy Ubud and Sanur so a good mix.
Pieter our leader was amusing and knows everything there is to know.
Always plenty stops for drinks and to stretch the legs on travel days .
Cultural, religious and historic sites
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
Accommodation
Hotel, Resort, Lodge, Villa
Age Range
16-99 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Sanur, Yogyakarta, Ubud, Borobud
Sanur, Yogyakarta, Ubud, Borobudur, Malang, Mount Bromo, Kalibaru, Bali, Pemuteran, Munduk
