Time your adventure perfectly with 3,600 tours departing in July 2026 in Europe. Seasonal highlights and optimal conditions await, backed by 32,300 verified experiences.
Simple stays with essential amenities. Typically guesthouses, hostels or hotels rated below 3 stars — clean, no-frills, and great for value-conscious travelers.
Comfortable and reliable 3-star stays. Expect private rooms, en-suite bathrooms, and solid amenities — a great balance between comfort and cost.
Upscale 4-5 star hotels and lodges. Enjoy high-end service, refined comfort, and premium locations — ideal for travelers seeking extra indulgence.
Just returned from the Loire Valley cycling trip with Explore and had a fantastic time. Our group leader, Erwin, was absolutely top notch—knowledgeable, fun, and great at fixing bikes on the fly (a very handy skill on a trip like this!). He was incredibly responsive to any issues, whether it was saddle woes or a hotel hiccup—he always did his best to sort it out quickly and with a smile.
The tour itself was stunning. The route took us through beautiful countryside, charming towns, and past jaw-dropping châteaux. There was also plenty of time in the afternoons and evenings to explore off-bike, enjoy a glass (or two) of local wine, and soak in the atmosphere.
We did hit a bit of a heat wave, but that’s just luck of the draw. Erwin made sure we took lots of water and shade breaks to keep the group comfortable, which was much appreciated.
The hotels were as expected—nothing fancy, nothing awful. Some rooms were quite warm due to the unusual heat, but fans were provided and that helped.
We were called the "guinea pig group," as this was Explore’s first time running this particular tour in quite a while. That said, it was an excellent experience, and with Erwin fine-tuning the itinerary along the way, I imagine it’ll be even better for the groups that follow.
Bicycle toursSightseeing Tours
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
The people were friendly, the country landscape is varied and beautiful. Our tour guide and bus drivers were awesome! Hotels were friendly and so inviting! Loved the towns and history!
This is the 10th Explore holiday, we have covered places like Peru, Chile, Bolivia, Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, Vietnam, Cambodia, Cuba, India and this just covers 5 holidays.
These are not for everyone, as some are very full on, but the two Balkan trips were easy, although some of this group had not read the itinerary properly and this was a bit too much for them!
The Cuba and South America were what I call, sanitised back packing, as sleeping out in the open and you can have very early starts, around 4 am and late finishes.
However, you really see the place and interact with the local people. This is why we love Explore tours.
If you want total comfort and not really interact, then Saga or like is for you, as you do have to rough it on some trips.
One trip in particular was India, two days going up the Ganges on a wooded raft, inches from the water and sleeping on the bank at night with the snakes and wild dogs, just an amazing experience, and you know you are alive!
Another was in the jungle of Cuba, no tent, just under the stars, but I did get attacked by the smallest ants in the night, but still a fantastic experience, one I won’t forget!
Our tour guides have all been very good, but on this trip, Constantin went beyond the norm.
The only criticism on this trip was no local experts and Constantin had to do it all, which makes it very difficult for him to become an expert in every area, town etc.
Sightseeing Tours
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
Accommodation
Guest House, Hotel, Villa
Age Range
16-99 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Bucharest, Sofia, Black Sea Regi
Bucharest, Sofia, Black Sea Region, Kaliakra, Transylvania, Sibiu, Belgrade
Wonderful guide and driver. We had a wonderful guide Selin. She is fluent in English and has very good knowledge of history. We like this tour very much. Very good lodging. 5-star tour.
It was great. We learnt so much about the country. Really happy the way the tour was run. Our guide Mustafa was one of the best guides we have ever had. What an amazing man with such a great heart and so patient. He has so much knowledge, there wasn't any question he couldn't answer. Hotels were excellent. We would definitely recommend this trip to anyone wanting to travel. Very very happy. Thank you so much.
My wife and I were blessed to have a wonderful tour guide who shared his expansive knowledge of Ireland. He shared personal stories, read poems and sang to our group all along our journey. We also had a terrific driver who was super experienced and professional. We felt extremely safe with him behind the wheel. All things considered, it was a near perfect trip.
The hotels were great and well located. The hiking was challenging. The navigation worked well most of the time. Andros was a beautiful place and well worth visiting.
Recommend staying in Rafina the first night and taking the ferry the following morning. Otherwise it is a very long travel day.
