"We wanted to share our appreciation to this tour company for a wonderful trip. Not only was the original plan just great, Nicu was also able to help us save our trip when we experienced a hiccup with travel. I can honestly say that there was not one negative that we experienced on the tour. All the accommodations were indeed 4-star and we enjoyed our stay at each. The planned visits were all exceptional and really did a great job of giving us a true picture of all that Romania has to offer. Between the history and the art and architecture and natural beauty we felt it was a very complete itinerary. Lastly, our guide Gelu did everything he could to ensure we enjoyed our trip and left us with an even greater appreciation for Romania. He was extremely knowledgeable and provided great insight at all the planned stops. In addition, he has worked to cultivate some additional contacts around the country and shared with us some additional sights and tidbits not on the original itinerary.
Thank you for a once in a lifetime experience."
Experience the stunning sights and tantalising tastes of Turkey on this two-week adventure that takes in all the highlights and then some. Become acquainted with illustrious Istanbul, behold landscapes like no other around Cappadocia and sail the all-too-pretty islands off Kekova. Marvel at the ancient ruins of Ephesus, settle in for a spectacular soaking in Pamukkale’s thermal hot springs and reflect on the tragedies and gallantries that took place along Gallipoli’s windswept peninsula. Brimming with history, bustling with progress and bursting with flavour, Turkey intrigues and delights at every turn of this perfectly paced small group adventure.
The trip was well paced, with a variety of activities to suit all tastes. Lots of local knowledge was provided on extra activities and places to visit,shop and eat outside the tour plan.
Don't miss this opportunity to travel back in time. Discover some of the best-preserved historical regions of Romania, where centuries-old traditions still thrive and a lot of people live the same way their ancestors lived. Travel to Bucovina and Maramures in this 6-day tour that begins from Cluj-Napoca.
Explore Maramures for the first couple of days. Discover some of the most famous landmarks in the area, such as the Merry Cemetery and the Memorial to the Victims of Communism. Visit two important UNESCO World Heritage sites that have a huge impact on Romania's history and culture: the Wooden Churches of Maramures and the Painted Monasteries of Bucovina.
This is an eight-day tour of Albania, a country steeped in history and beauty. Albania is known for its historical castles and archaeological sites from many civilizations of the past including the Greeks, Romans, Illyrians and Ottomans.
In this fully-guided excursion, you will explore the cities of Berat, Gjirokaster, and Butrint, all of which have been listed as Unesco World Heritage Sites. You will visit several historical and archaeological landmarks and monuments in these cities, and along the way learn about Albanian history and culture.
The city of Shkodra, which was the capital of Albania during the Illyrian time, is another attraction you will explore in this tour, whileTirana, the capital city, will be a great city to discover the country's ancient and modern history and culture.
The trip was wonderful! We were impressed by the way the trip was planned. Great hotels and service by the representatives we dealt with. Our transportation vehicles and drivers were all very nice and had prompt pickups. Very thorough explanations of how things will work when we arrived in Athens.
Discover Western Turkey and cruise through the Mediterranean in our 12 day tour. Similar to the Best of Turkey by Land, this amazing gulet option offers you the choice to mix it up and relax in the crystal clear waters of the Mediterranean Sea. Discover the wonders of Istanbul, Gallipoli and the history of Troy and Ephesus and then immerse yourself in the natural healing powers of Pamukkale. The tour is not complete until you have journeyed into the magical world of Cappadocia.
Journey through Turkey on an eight-day adventure from Istanbul to Cappadocia. Begin in Istanbul, where you’ll explore the Blue Mosque, Suleymaniye Cami and the Grand Bazaar. Then, discover Gallipoli’s historic WWI battlefields before travelling to the Aegean Coast to soak up the sun, salt and history of ancient Ephesus. Catch an overnight train to Konya, then continue to the otherworldly landscapes of Cappadocia, where cave dwellings are carved into the cliffs and hot air balloons dot the skyline. Finish your adventure back in Istanbul, where East meets West.
I compared multiple small group tours and, for the equivalent price, Explore is much better value. The hotels are better, the entry fees (which can really add up!) are all included, private comfortable minibus (no public transport) the entire trip, free airport shuttle if arriving or departing on the day the tour starts/ends. As advertised, the itinerary was jam packed and rated "full on" : that suited me, as I wanted to see as much as possible in a short amount of time. It is recommended that you book a few days on your own in Istanbul, as there's a lot to see. The hotels were comfortable and centrally located with a couple of fancy ones included. Breakfast was substantial in all hotels.. enough to keep you fueled for most of the day. My only minor complaint is the guide often suggested expensive tourist restaurants. I found cheaper, tastier and more authentic eateries on my own by doing prior research. One thing I really did like about this tour is that there were no forced shopping stops which are so prevalent with other tour companies. I would definitely consider Explore! Worldwide in the future!
Balkan Tour is the best introduction of the Balkan countries including Albania, Montenegro, Kosovo, and North of Macedonia.
During the tour, you will visit and discover the best hotspots of the countries. In Montenegro, you will visit the city of Kotor classified as Unesco World Heritage Site, the city of Budva, and the National Park of Biogradska. In North of Macedonia, you will have the opportunity to visit the most beautiful city, Ohrid, and the Cave of Gadime. In Albania, take a tour of an ancient site and two cities, which are listed as Unesco World Heritage Sites.
The seaside of Albania is another attraction for this tour as well. The tour of Albania also includes a wine degustation in the city of Berat.
Enhance your ANZAC experience & see the best of Turkey in our 10 day tour. Start your tour in Istanbul and experience an unforgettable cruise along the magnificent Bosphorus. View the astonishing natural formations of caves and fairy chimneys in Cappadocia and bathe in the natural healing pools of Pamukkale. Visit Troy, Pergamum and the ancient wonder of Ephesus. Then head to Gallipoli to pay respect to fallen Soldiers at Anzac Cove and be a part of the National Services for Australians or New Zealanders.
It’s hard to find a patch of Europe as secluded as this one – among the rugged mountains and green fields of Albania, Kosovo and North Macedonia, you’ll find shepherds, monasteries, lakes, valleys and Byzantine churches. Lacking in tourist crowds, it’s taken decades for the Balkans to wipe away memories of conflict and Communism, but (amazingly) they’ve emerged strong and smiling. From cool cafes in Skopje and the soft shores of Lake Ohrid to the mosques of picture-perfect Prizren, this 15-day adventure showcases Balkan beauty at its very best.
Our tour was well planned with variety and interesting points of interest. Everything was done top notch. Travel Director was amazing. Had incredible knowledge, and was so personable and the driver provided us with safe transportation. Thank you for making our vacation so special.