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.
I booked this trip last minute and wasn't disappointed. Highlights of Laos is an unhurried, relaxed trip. Pavements, like in Vietnam and Cambodia, are uneven and could be tricky for those unsteady on their feet; however, unlike those countries, the traffic is very light and easy to negotiate. Taxis to/ from airports are cheap. The Buddha park was great and COPE museum thought provoking. The rail journeys are smooth and comfortable with lots to look at. Limestone cliffs are dramatic and the hot air ballooning worth it. The walks and steps are relatively easy. Early March was hot.
Take easy slip on/off shoes for the many varied and interesting temples along with shoulder coverings and below the knee shorts.
Our guide, Quang, was lovely but what really made this trip for me was the fabulous bunch of fellow travellers.
Cultural, religious and historic sites
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
Our first visit to Thailand and this tour was a wonderful introduction! We had an outstanding, very experienced tour leader in Worasak Paiboon (Pok) - he was one of the best (we have taken many trips with Explore). A great group which worked well. The start of the tour was rather full-on with the overnight rail journey - but well worth it. Hard to pick a highlight, but the Elephant Sanctuary stands out, as well as the homestay and raft hotel. Thoroughly recommend!
Active and outdoorWildlife
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
Review
This was our first, small group holiday ever and so pleased we chose Explore - we enjoyed it enormously. The organisation around the whole trip was very professional from the team in England to the very end.
The itinerary was well thought out and provided very interesting insights into the daily lives of the Vietnamese and Cambodian people alongside the extensive history of the two countries we visited.
Our tours guides were very knowledgeable and amusing - always happy to answer questions and providing many light hearted moments. Our team leader guide Binh, was wonderful and so professional. Always doing everything he could to make our holiday run smoothly.
We chose a cycling holiday and this enabled us to visit small villages off the beaten track. There was always a mechanical support team with us who were also lovely.
Would definitely recommend Explore to anyone - and we are already looking at other trips.
Bicycle tours
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
Vietnam was an amazing and varied place and Explores itinerary managed to pack in a huge variety of scenery, activities and education including places and people I wouldn't have managed to find alone. Long's leadership was brilliant keeping the teenagers engaged and encouraged to try new experiences and food.
First of all, shout out to Doan the tour leader. Passion for his country was contagious, he had us all transfixed with his stories and guides through history, food and culture.
The whole team was fantastic, making us feel welcome. They gave us space so we felt like we were exploring and adventuring, but if we needed them (puncture etc) suddenly they would appear.
Very happy with the tour. Cycling through amazing landscapes, remote villages and vibrant cities. Variation of light cycling, more challenging and chill out days (Beach and City).
Pace of cycling was adapted to our fitness. This tour will work whether you are a leisure cyclist or someone looking for some challenge.
Now we have done a cycle tour with Explore, its difficult to consider doing anything else. Cycling adds to the sense of adventure and gives a connection to the country you don't get otherwise. Explore put together an itinerary and ran the tour faultlessly.
To add, I was surprised by the quality of Hotel. Better than I expected.
Bicycle tours
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
Discovering a trustworthy, knowledgeable, and caring tour company can be challenging, especially when time is limited. Luckily, my husband and I were incredibly fortunate to find this amazing tour company. With her assistance, we planned our itinerary, expedited our visa, made last-minute changes, and still experienced the wonders of northern Vietnam in a safe, memorable, and truly wonderful way.
The team was exceptional in handling all the details with flexibility, patience, positivity, and proactive care. Their professionalism and kind-hearted nature made a significant difference in our journey.
A big thank you to out tour expert and her associate for their outstanding care and ensuring an awesome and amazing Vietnam adventure!
I highly recommend this tour company for all your Vietnam tours.
Local culture
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
Accommodation
Guest House, Hotel
Age Range
1-99 yrs
Operated in
chinese, english, french, german, spanish
Destinations
Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Halong
Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Halong Bay, Mekong Delta, Hoi An, Chau Doc, Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, Chiang Mai, Bangkok
We have just come back from 2 incredible weeks in Vietnam and Cambodia, all arranged by the travel company. We had an incredibly
memorable holiday and can’t thank Chloe enough for arranging such an interesting trip and also organising everything so perfectly. Our guides
were all fantastic. We learnt so much more about how incredible Vietnam is
thanks to all the information and personal experiences they shared. Our travel expert booked us into some lovely hotels and all of our transport
arrangements worked perfectly. Highly recommended
Local cultureCruise
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Sapa, Halong Bay, Mekong Delta, Hoi An, My Son Sanctuary, Cu Chi Tunnels, Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, Angkor Thom, Ha Long Bay, Lao Chai, Fansipan, Da Nang
Excellent tour, excellent tour leader. My only criticisms are that the tour was 1 or 2 temples too many and that the leader gave too many statistics and tended to repeat himself in his obvious enthusiasm
Cultural, religious and historic sites
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers