Immerse yourself into the ancient heartland of China! Thirteen days of history and culture. Visit the Forbidden City, home to emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasty for over 500 years. Explore the Water Great Wall: the only section of the wall that is submerged into water, it’s one of the most scenic yet less touristy parts of the great wall for a hike or a brilliant view. Visit the Yungang Grotto: the earliest remaining examples of the first major flowering of Buddhist art in China and Pingyao ancient city: former financial centre during the Ming and Qing dynasties and is home to China’s earliest banks. Marvel at the Terracotta Warriors Museum, the eighth wonder of the world, and The Bund, the symbol of Shanghai. Visit Shanghai Propaganda poster museum: historical-artistic documents from the Maoist era, both a timeline of history as well as magnificent works of art.
Embark on an unforgettable journey to the island of the gods to celebrate this once-in-a-lifetime moment of love. Whether it be to celebrate your honeymoon or just a romantic getaway, this trip offers the perfect balance of included and optional activities along with leisure time to enjoy Bali with your special someone. Experience a Balinese purification ceremony, a relaxing massage treatment and access to exclusive clubs and restaurants. Relax on white sandy beaches, and swim in the azure ocean waters or the picturesque pools at your top-notch accommodation.
Art and architectureBeach
Tour Type
Private Tour
Accommodation
Hotel, Resort
Age Range
6-99 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Denpasar, Ubud, Seminyak
Denpasar, Ubud, Seminyak
15% OFF TODAY
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Discover the combat spirit of Terracotta Warriors and admire this pompous and precise work, consider to be the eighth wonder of an ancient world. Step into the past while walking around the largest and best-preserved city wall in China and get a glimpse of the local gastronomy at one of the bustling street markets in the Muslim Quarter. Our four-day city break goes in the track of the old Xi’an remarkable history and together with the local gastronomy will fulfill your senses and expectations.
ExplorerArt and architecture
Tour Type
Private Tour
Accommodation
Hotel
Age Range
6-99 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Xian, Xi'an
Xian, Xi'an
15% OFF TODAY
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Begin this Thai experience discovering the best of Chiang Mai at your own pace. The beautiful old town is surrounded by historic city walls and a moat. Mingle with the locals in the night market and, be amazed by the beauty of the ancient Buddhist temples.
Art and architecture
Tour Type
Group Tour
Accommodation
Hotel
Age Range
6-99 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Chiang Mai
Chiang Mai
15% OFF TODAY
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Magical Southern Thailand boasts all types of impressive scenery, from awe-inspiring beaches to tropical forests packed with flora and fauna. Giving a rich mix of cultures, wildly different from the northern regions, from their traditional cuisine to landscapes, and even language. Prepare yourself for a complete adventure at your own pace!
BeachGetaways and short breaks
Tour Type
Group Tour
Accommodation
Hotel
Age Range
6-99 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Bangkok, Pattaya
Bangkok, Pattaya
15% OFF TODAY
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Magical Southern Thailand boasts all types of impressive scenery, from awe-inspiring beaches to tropical forests packed with flora and fauna. Giving a rich mix of cultures, wildly different from the northern regions, from their traditional cuisine to landscapes, and even language. Prepare yourself for a complete adventure! This tour is operated in a small group of up to 8 passengers.
Active and outdoor
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
Accommodation
Hotel, Resort, Lodge
Age Range
6-99 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Phuket, Khao Sok
Phuket, Khao Sok
15% OFF TODAY
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Sri Lanka Time Tour via Aitken Spence. We met our driver and guided Sanka in Negombo for a 10 day tour of Sri Lanka. As soon as we met Sanka we knew we had made a very good decision, he was very friendly and welcoming us to continue our tour with the first events, he was prompt and very knowledgeable, and very proud of his country. Driving in Sri Lanka is crazy but Sanka was very experienced and we never felt unsafe. Safety throughout Sri Lanka is a high priority, but we never feel unsafe anywhere and encourage visitors to carry on while the tourism industry suffers. The hotels we stayed in were excellent and the staff were always friendly and very helpful. The tour is very busy with some long days, but we end with a six day break in the Maldives to recover. A truly memorable holiday with lots of laughs and banter with Sanka who made the tour so enjoyable.
Art and architecture
Tour Type
Private Tour
Accommodation
Hotel, Resort, Villa
Age Range
6-99 yrs
Operated in
english, spanish
Destinations
Colombo, Negombo, Sigiriya, Kand
Colombo, Negombo, Sigiriya, Kandy, Nuwara Eliya, Yala National Park
15% OFF TODAY
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We have just spent a week in Sri Lanka for our honeymoon and use Aitken Spence as our chauffeur guide for our trips. We had Rodney as our chauffeur guide and I have never met someone so lovely, calm, patient, helpful and passionate. He is a credit to the company and made our visit to Sri Lanka very relaxing and took care of our every need. He was punctual every day for our meeting times, enlightened us with all sorts of information about Sri Lanka during our trip which was very interesting and made sure we were comfortable all the time. The car was comfortable and very clean every day and had enough leg room and space for all our luggage. We fit a lot into our 1 week stay in Sri Lanka and it would not have been the same without using Aitken Spence. I would 100% recommend this company, all you need to do is sit back and relax while everything is taken care of for you!
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
From the autumn 2016 season the Mera Peak trek/climb by this tour operator changed from a camping based itinerary of previous years to lodge or tea house based accommodation. I/we departed in October 2016. Before commencing the trek Id convinced myself that the trek in to Mera would be broadly similar to the Everest Base Camp trek, I was very wrong. There is no gentle start and long days requiring sustained effort are the theme pretty much throughout. The route taken for the first few days is very quiet and had a feel of "going around the houses" for me. That quieter route also makes for much more basic lodges than those found on EBC for example but they were all adequate. The longer approach route does however allow for excellent acclimatisation, a major key to success. All the approach routes converge in Kote and it is then a straight shot up the now rocky Hinku valley. I didnt find the approach trek in to be very scenic and that wasnt helped by day after day of cloud cover. I wonder if a November departure would be worthwhile for clearer skies. Khare, which I thought of as base camp village, was a surprsingly busy place with climbers from all over the world either preparing for or returning from Mera. Stories of six groups having been beaten back by high winds the previous day brought about a realisation that nature could quite easily scupper our plans. Having left Khare and reached the snow line, those of us that brought our own mountain boots and crampons were reunited with them by virtue of some porters that had gone ahead of us. I was now using mountain boots and crampons on snow for the first time, I found I tired far quicker than I cared to admit at the time. After a short but steep climb things level out and then it was a relatively short walk to Mera La camp for the night. The sunset and night time stars were very nice. We were now in tents for the first time. I wish I hadn't binned off my Thermarest mattress as a weight saving effort for the Lukla flight. Foam mattresses were provided but I could still feel the cold coming up from the ground. The next day was a short one from Mera La to High Camp. It however is one of those sections where the destination never seems to get any closer despite feeling you're working like a steam train at full speed. The amusement of high camp's precarious position soon passes as you try to concentrate on getting some sleep for the upcoming 0030 wake up call. I got no real sleep. We then started our torch lit climb through the night in deeply sub zero temperatures. It was hard going, really hard going, there was little talking amongst us. It was just heads down and endure it. The group were imposing more rest stops on the guides than they wanted but I don't think there were any negative consequences when all said and done. My fingers were numb with cold. The sun slowly rose and Mera central summit could now be seen ahead. We left our rucksacks at the foot of the summit and using our Jumars went up the surprisingly short roped section fixed by our guides, it was easy and I was on the summit in a minute. It had taken around 7 hours from leaving High Camp with no sleep (for me) since Mera La the previous day. It was bitterly cold on the summit and very windy, there wasn't any open celebration. There now followed an extremely long walk all the way back down to Khare village with only a short pitstop at High Camp along the way. It was exhausting. Availability of water was a problem too since much if not all of our water was still frozen despite the now blazing morning sun. I was gasping for a drink. Ngima our leader had some warm water in a flask and I will definitely take a small flask when I find myself back on a high mountain again. What now remained was the trek "home" to Lukla. The third day of decent involved far more steep climbing than we were in the mood for but we gt where we were going. Conditions on the Zatrwa pass werent as bad as they could be. During our trek trail crampons or shoe grips weren't necessary. There were only a couple sections of ice a few paces long. The decent from the pass is long and steep, thankfully the national park authority have been building a stone staircase which makes things a little easier but you still have to watch your step. There is the potential for an overnight stay a few hours short of Lukla but depending on progress it can be skipped and we pressed on for Lukla and some comfort... relatively speaking
ClimbingTrekking and Hiking
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
Accommodation
Hotel, Camping, Lodge, Tent
Age Range
18-99 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Kathmandu, Tangnag, Mera Peak Ba
Kathmandu, Tangnag, Mera Peak Base Camp, Mera La, Mera Peak High Camp, Mera Peak, Zatrwa La Pass, Lukla, Piuyan, Pangkongma, Nashing Dingma, Chholem, Sukye La, Kothe
11% OFF TODAY
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Join this four-day tour to discover the essence of Beijing, a city that seamlessly blends culture and history with modernism and innovation. Visit the Forbidden City, the world’s largest palace complex, and hike along the best-preserved section of Great Wall: the Mutianyu section, which boasts breath-taking scenery. This tour offers you the flexibility you need to spend some free time wandering the streets of vibrant Beijing by yourself or choosing from a range of optional tours.
City sightseeing
Tour Type
Private Tour
Accommodation
Guest House, Hotel
Age Range
6-99 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Beijing
Beijing
15% OFF TODAY
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A one-day mountain biking trip with this travel operator was a memorable experience. The trip was filled with breathtaking trails, stunning mountain views, and engaging with the local community. The guides were knowledgeable and ensured safety. The writer also tried traditional delicacies and reflected on the safety measures. The trip left a lasting impression on the writer, emphasizing the importance of exploring nature and its people.
Mountain bikingAdventure
Tour Type
Private Tour
Age Range
12-79 yrs
Operated in
english, german, hindi, nepalese
Destinations
Kathmandu
Kathmandu
20% OFF TODAY
This deal is valid for limited time. Book now to reserve your seats.