Experience Europe intimately with over 1,200 small group tours (max 16 travelers) spanning the continent. Enjoy personal attention from guides, flexibility in itineraries, and deeper cultural connections, rated by more than 9,500 small group travelers.
The best. It suited me. Lovely walks, lovely food, historical locations, wonderful guide. I loved the local input - visits to the farms, bakery. A visit to a working Truli house would have been a plus ( very touristy visit to Alberobello) and the last walk could have been more varied scenically. Could have stayed much longer in Matera! Altogether it was the best trip I’ve done with Explore. It helped having a lovely group too.
Where next?
Active and outdoor
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
Accommodation
Hotel, Hut
Age Range
16-99 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Bari, Altamura, Gravina, Alta Mu
Bari, Altamura, Gravina, Alta Murgia National Park, Matera, Cisternino, Monopoli
My first cycling trip was a great experience ! All the accommodations were top notch. The sites visited and routes taken were fantastic. Riding level was challenging but never excessive... enough coffee and strudel breaks to keep you energized ! The tour leader made this trip so good, as did the diverse group of cyclists all sharing this common interest!
Bicycle tours
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
Accommodation
Hotel, Hut
Age Range
16-99 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Venice, Mestre, Merano, Bolzano
Venice, Mestre, Merano, Bolzano, Trento, Torbole, Lake Garda, Verona
Excellent tour. Guide Elena was outstanding and driver Zoki was excellent. Learned so much about the region and history of Ancient Macedonia.
The hotel in Skopje, Hotel Centar, was ok but its location was in the middle of several construction sites which was not great.
There were several long drives during the tour but due to the distances covered understandable. Was disappointed with Kratovo although the pipes, herb making and lunch were good.
All in all a great trip
Active and outdoor
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
I had done one trip previously – Amalfi coast hiking, fall 2023 – with EXPLORE. I was so impressed I asked my excellent guide, Pete, what else he would recommend knowing my abilities and interests. He immediately recommended the Slovenia trip, and it actually was on my list of places to visit. He had apparently set the trip up about seven years ago and was very familiar with it.
I have been in 50 countries to date - some several times- and Slovenia is now in my top five and I am already planning my return for next May.
We had a lovely small group, being the first of these hikes of the season, hailing from Canada, Spain, Australia, and the UK.
The accommodation, staff, management, and food at Art Hotel Kristal were A+ – and I especially loved and took advantage of the options of the sauna and cold plunge, Ayurvedic massages with the wonderful Bhatri, chocolate tasting with the owner, Alenka, and a fantastic wine tasting with her son, Jan. I went home with a lovely assortment of chocolates and also a wonderful bottle of wine that I will try to hold onto for a few years until it is optimal to drink.
The hikes were not difficult at all, but I found that I did feel like I got a good amount of exercise by the end of the day. I spent my free day doing a mountain bike ride. The whole area around Lake Bohinj is stunning and there are so many activities that one can partake in, as well as really yummy local restaurants close by the hotel. I loved that the hotel offered a pre-fixe three course menu for hotel guests for only €25 on the nights that were not included with the hike. An incredible bargain given the quality of the food, as with almost all of the food we had in Slovenia, it was locally sourced and delicious. I am not typically a meat eater, but I had the venison twice – locally sourced, and wild – and it was by far the best I have ever had.
I would definitely stay at this hotel when I return to the area. I would strongly encourage others to spend some time in Ljubljana – either before or after the trip. A beautiful city a two hour bus ride awaythat is just the right size and full of so much to offer. Next time I am going to see a lot more of this country – it is half the size of Switzerland, but the variety of the terrain and ecosystems is quite impressive. Also, to be noted is that English is widely spoken and children start in grade 3, learning this second language. The Slovenians couldn’t have been nicer and more helpful everywhere I went. What can I say?? Get yourself to Slovenia before it is overrun: safe, clean, and green – a beautiful country of farmers, foragers, wine makers, and beekeepers. Also note that they have some fantastic fly fishing there as well as mountain and road biking – very cycling friendly. After all, it is the country of Pogacar.
Trekking and HikingWaterfalls
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
Accommodation
Hotel, Hut
Age Range
16-99 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Ljubljana, Bled, Lake Bohinj, La
Ljubljana, Bled, Lake Bohinj, Lake Bled, Brod, Julian Alps, Mostnica Gorge
Our leader was Pablo Garcia. He was very knowledgeable, skilled and had lots of patience, excellent and timely information and always made sure our needs were met.
Some of the accommodation was basic, but that was okay. Breakfasts were very varied and tasty with plenty of choices. We had a great group of cyclists and Pablo kept the team spirit going. The recommendations for meals were great and we had a lot of local food/ specialty options, which was great.
The itinerary was good, riding through beautiful and vast landscapes with wild life such as flamingos and white horses, small medieval villages and beautiful canals, we would have expected and liked some more roads along the beautiful coast. There was a lot of riding through flat landscape with orchards and agriculture.
The equipment was good, but some of the bikes had some gear and shifting issues.
The support van driver Louis, made awesome picnic lunches with fresh local foods.
All in all a great trip!
Bicycle tours
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
We had the best time on the Greek Caique Cruise. The itinerary was fantastic and Thanos knew everything and everyone. We swam off the boat every day and when we docked in various ports Thanos was able to point us to the best places to go, organise taxis for us if necessary and in the evening recommend the best restaurants.
Active and outdoorCruise
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
We had a great time on this trip. The itinerary has a lot of variety -- city/cultural tours plus hiking and rafting in beautiful scenery. Our guide, Csilla, was outstanding -- very patient, upbeat, and calm. She also gave us so much information on the history of the three countries. The wine tasting experience was terrific because we got to interact with old-time, traditional wine makers from the countryside. We've experienced posh wine-tastings at art galleries and hotels in the past, and although they weren't horrible experiences, they felt much more pretentious and much less authentic. Having read some of the previous reviews that were less positive, our comments are: 1) if you want luxury travel, don't book this trip -- when you order a glass of house wine, it will be just that, and no more. It's fine to be a wine snob or a coffee snob or a hotel snob, but don't book a relatively low-priced tour and then be disappointed when you aren't given luxury treatment. Some of the hotel rooms are small and won't accommodate a queen size bed, so there will be two twins. If going for a week without a queen bed is the end of the world for you, find a luxury tour company and pay the additional cost to travel that way. Also, with respect to the hike, the description in the itinerary was totally fine and a reasonable assessment of the difficulty. It would be advisable to have appropriate shoes -- we wore hiking boots and were fine. But any time there is a hike on the itinerary, you should plan ahead and have a fitness routine at home (before departure) to prepare adequately. It is unreasonable to book this trip when you cannot even do the city walks.
RaftingActive and outdoor
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
Hands down the best known trek in Iceland. This trail takes adventurers from the geothermal valley of Landmannalaugar and the southern highlands, over the southern highlands to the Þórsmörk valley, at the foot of world famous Eyjafjallajökull volcano. The trail crosses many spectacles including the third biggest geothermal zone in the world, through yellow rhyolite mountains, over black deserts, past great canyons and finally into the verdurous valley of Þórsmörk. It is no coincidence that the “Laugavegur” hike each year attracts travellers from around the world in addition to being a great favourite amongst locals. Come see what all the fuss is about!Trekking: 5 daysWalking per day: 4-7 hoursTotal walking distance: 56 km. (35 miles)Altitude: 200-1100 m. (650-3600 feet)Maximum Ascent: 600 m. (1900 feet) Day 1: Reykjavík - Landmannalaugar - Hrafntinnusker.We take the scheduled bus from the BSI bus terminal at 07:00, that during the summer months drives the mountain tracks that lead to Landmannalaugar, passing by the Hekla volcano and other volcanoes in the Dómadalur area. Arriving in Landmannalaugar at noon, we have a lunch and then head south into the mountains. The trail takes us past small gorges, steaming hot springs and yellow mountain ridges. Arrival at Hrafntinnusker mountain hut, were we will stay the night, in the late afternoon.Day 2: Hrafntinnusker - Álftavatn.From Hrafntinnusker we descend down in the gullies of Jökultungur with hundreds of steaming hot springs and mud pools. Up there we enjoy fascinating views to the south to the Álftavatn area (Swan Lake), and the Mýrdalsjökull and Eyjafjallajökull glaciers. In the afternoon we arrive at Álftavatn hut where we stay the night.Day 3: Álftavatn - Emstrur.We pass at the foot of the green conic volcano of Stórasúla before entering the black deserts of Mælifellssandur. Heading towards another ancient and verdurous volcano, the Hattfell, we enter the Emstrur region where farmers used to graze their sheep in summer. Before arriving at the Botnar hut where we stay the night, we visit the magnificent Markarfljót canyon cut almost 200 m down into the rocks south of Hattfell.Day 4: Emstrur - Þórsmörk.We continue up and down through the small valleys and gullies of Emstrur, where the great Mýrdalsjökull glacier rises only a couple of kilometers away. At the end of the day the vegetation starts to grow thicker and higher as we descend in to Þórsmörk's (the woods of Thor) green valleys filled with arctic birch forests and colourful flowers. Night in one of the huts in Þórsmörk.Day 5: Bus from Þórsmörk to Reykjavík.We spend the morning in Þórsmörk where we walk along one of numerous paths. For example, we can visit to the Sönghellir cave (“Song cave”), climb up the small mountain of Valahnúkur from where magnificent view can be enjoyed, before taking the afternoon bus to Reykjavík. Arrival at Reykjavik BSI bus terminal where the trip ends at 19:20
Trekking and Hiking
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
Looking for an extended European adventure? The "Berlin to Rome" city sightseeing tour is a 22-day journey weaving through Berlin, Prague, Vienna, Budapest, Salzburg, Venice, Cinque Terre, and Rome. With an easy activity level and abundant free time, this tour suits both new and seasoned travelers. Highlights include strolling Berlin’s vibrant streets, exploring Prague’s charm, and relaxing in Rome’s piazzas. Led by local experts, you’ll enjoy iconic sights and hidden treasures alike. The tour’s unique feature is its flexible structure—giving you the freedom to tailor your experience while benefiting from the insights of knowledgeable guides.
City sightseeing
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
Accommodation
Hotel, Hostel, Guest House, Resort
Age Range
15-99 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Rome, Berlin, Budapest, Bled, Ve
Rome, Berlin, Budapest, Bled, Venice, Liguria, Cinque Terre and Liguria, Florence, Krakow, Prague, Cesky Krumlov, Vienna
