Witness nature's awakening with over 3,500 spring tours across Asia in January 2001. Perfect weather, blooming landscapes, and comfortable temperatures make this ideal for exploration, backed by 18,000 spring travelers.
Walking, wildlife, food and culture: this tour ticked a lot of boxes for me. It is true that the poor visibility at this time of year (March) meant that the Annupurna mountains weren't visible during much of the trek, but the landscape with its flora, fauna and small farms still made the walking interesting and enjoyable. A special highlight was seeing the one-horned rhinoceros at the Chitwan National Park, and the cultural events staged at the Green Chwadi Retreat at Chitwan were an unexpected bonus. There was a wealth of birds to see throughout the tour, and our tour leader, Su, was very knowledgeable in identifying them. As someone who is unable to eat gluten, I had been worried about how I would cope with the food; and I am extremely grateful to Su for helping me to navigate this, as well as ensuring that there were always things available for me to eat.
Active and outdoor
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
A fantastic trip from start to finish. The hotels were to a very good standard and the desert camp was an experience not to be missed. Our guide was top class, he went above and beyond to make sure that we made the most of our stay.
City sightseeing
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
Best trek yet! If you’re after creature comforts this isn’t for you; if you want to get away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life and explore the beautiful Annapurna range, meet locals, see some awesome-inspiring scenery, stay in rustic, basic accommodation but have some of the heartiest, tastiest meals and best hospitality ever, whilst taking on a challenging yet deeply rewarding trek, this is for you. Su, our tour leader, was exceptional, nothing was too much bother and he became the 11th member of our group. The crew and guides were fantastic, setting an achievable pace that meant we could chat as we walked or just enjoy the quiet as we took on a section of steeper steps, it all meant we were well-acclimatised for altitude and hardly had any effects whatsoever. Every day was different so there was never a dull moment and always something new to see - we even saw monkeys! The days spent in Kathmandu and Pokhara to top and tail the trip were the perfect intros and downtime to show two very different sides of Nepalese life. The food was fantastic - light, flavourful and satisfying. Have the momos and Dal Baht - you won’t regret it! Going during Nepalese Diwali (Tihar), made the experience even more magical to be honest. Fully recommend going then to get that added cultural experience as well! Just couldn’t have had a better two weeks away in the mountains (with a bit of culture thrown in) if I tried!
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, Guest House
Age Range
16-99 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Kathmandu, Bamboo, Jhinnudanda
Kathmandu, Bamboo, Jhinnudanda, Nayapul, Pokhara, Ghandruk, Chhomrong, Dovan, Deurali, Machhapuchhre Base Camp, Annapurna Base Camp
Great trip with an excellent tour leader and local guides. The highlight for me was the trek on the Kumano Kodo trail and visiting the Shrines and Temples. Food was great too.
Trekking and Hiking
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
Our experience was completely wonderful from start to finish. The tour company made booking in difficult times straight forward and rather easy.
The local operator who were looking after us in Kathmandu and on our trek were perfect. From the moment we cleared customs we were completely looked after and had absolutely no worries or concerns, everything was taken care of for us.
We we collected by Ram our trek guide and transferred to the hotel, we met Indira there and she was and is an amazing woman. Everything was explained to us and we were given everything we needed. Indira is the perfect hostess, she arranged a private tour for us and gave us her contact number in case there was anything we were unsure of or needed.
On the trek Ram was amazing, so helpful and knowledgeable, he sorted everything for us day to day and made sure our moral was kept high particularly when the going got tough! He gave us so much insight and information into life in Nepal and on the trek and never left our side. We felt so lucky he was our guide and cant thank him enough. Without you Ram we would never have got to EBC love ya mate!!
We renewed our wedding vows at EBC and back in Kathmandu Indira arranged a monk to give us a blessing ceremony at Monkey Temple. Her care and attention to detail was humbling and touching. We were worried about the PCR test before flying back, this again was sorted by Indira, what an amazing woman. Thank you Indira.
A special mention for Prabin our Sherpa/Porter who carried our gear for us an amazing young man with lungs the size of planets and Parashu our Kathmandu guide who gave us a wonderfully informative tour of the cities sights.
Some advice for people wanting to do the EBC trek please book it with this local operator, amazing service, great customer care, brilliant people and truly top value for your money.
Thanks guys.
We had a great time and thoroughly enjoyed the trip. We did see a lot of wildlife, though not as much as expected given the advertising for what we would see (we understand this is nature, but Borneo has definitely suffered from the palm oil plantations, the lack of birdlife was evident). The trip notes need updating - the Malaysian Rhino is extinct. Some improvement suggestions is that the tour group was too big (we had 15) for the types of activities and level of fitness needed. One less night in Kuching and instead have a night in Baku National Park would have been better. The park doesn't open til 8-9am so we missed seeing a lot of wildlife at dawn as by the time we got there it was already hot and sunny. It would have been good to know that we were changing guides half way through the tour. We found out it's because they can't work in the other state of Malaysia, (Sarawak and Sabah need different visas) but it would have been nice to know before the trip. If there was a way we could keep the same guide that would be ideal. At least if the first guide had even experienced the whole trip end to end so he could talk about what the second leg involved would have been beneficial. Other than that, we loved the holiday and the accommodation and meals were all of a high standard.
National parksWildlife
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
Accommodation
Hotel, Lodge, Resort, Home-stay
Age Range
16-99 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Kota Kinabalu, Kuching, Sukau, T
Kota Kinabalu, Kuching, Sukau, Tabin Wildlife Reserve, Sandakan, Bako National Park, Mulu National Park, Kinabalu Park, Sepilok
Set out on an unforgettable journey through Vietnam and Cambodia with the Family Discovery Vietnam and Angkor Wat Extension tour. Over 15 days, this art and architecture-focused trip is perfect for travelers eager to experience the best of both countries, blending vibrant cities, rich traditions, and breathtaking scenery.
Begin in Hanoi, Vietnam’s bustling capital, where the maze-like Old Quarter and French colonial facades offer endless intrigue. Cruise through the towering limestone formations of Halong Bay by kayak, and continue on to the historic charm of Hoi An, a riverside town known for its lantern-lit streets and centuries-old architecture. Experience daily life firsthand with a homestay in the Mekong Delta, where you’ll learn the secrets of Vietnamese cooking and master Kinh Van martial arts.
Travel south to Ho Chi Minh City, discovering hidden underground bunkers and the lively backstreets of old Saigon. An overnight train journey adds a dash of adventure, while a traditional junk boat stay offers a peaceful respite on the water.
The adventure doesn’t stop at the border—your trip culminates in Cambodia’s awe-inspiring Angkor Wat, where stunning temples rise from the jungle, and in Phnom Penh, whose vibrant riverfront pulses with energy and history.
With an easy activity level and a thoughtfully paced itinerary, this tour is accessible for a wide range of travelers. Accommodation, transport, and meals are all included for a worry-free journey.
The unique highlight of this tour package is the immersive blend of urban and rural experiences—letting you not only see, but truly participate in the daily rhythms and traditions of Vietnam and Cambodia. For those seeking a culturally rich adventure, this tour delivers memorable moments across two incredible lands.
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
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!
