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.
This is definitely a full on holiday of a lifetime. The holiday is packed full of interesting places to see and experience. Our tour guide Vinh was superb, he took us to the best places to eat, planned the days so we could make the best of the places and kept us entertained.
The group were happy to include the optional extras and we saw way more than I thought we’d have been able to fit in on our own.
The highlights for me are the overnight train, Ho Chi Minh City and Angkor Wat.
City sightseeingCruise
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
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
It was amazing no better way to spend my birthday, everything was good. Saw and did a lot, wouldn’t have minded a bit more free time to let people decide what they wanted to do.
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
Our Vietnam tour was thoroughly enjoyable—the food was incredible, and the scenery absolutely stunning. What made the experience even more seamless was our tour manager, who responded promptly to every request and went above and beyond to ensure we reached each destination smoothly. Much appreciated.
Natural landmarks sightseeing
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
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
The north of Thailand was my FAVOURITE. I loved the diverse range of 'stays' which kept it exciting and much like an adventure and showed what Thailand had to offer. The Jungle Raft on the second night was an essential bonding experience for the group and allowed us to build friendships and enjoy the trip way more than if we hadn't had that crucial opportunity to connect. The included experiences, free time add ons, and even trip manager suggestions were all top tier! I didn't regret a single experience. 2 night stays were also a relief as travelling can get quite tiring and found that their timing was essential.
AdventureChill out
Tour Type
Group Tour
Accommodation
Hotel, Resort, Hut, Villa
Age Range
18-35 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Chiang Mai, Khao Sok, Bangkok, S
Chiang Mai, Khao Sok, Bangkok, Singapore, Krabi, Langkawi, Penang, Kuala Lumpur, Kanchanaburi, Pai, Surat Thani
I enjoyed every moment of the trip.
The daily itinerary was very varied and well lead by our guide Tra and his assistant guides in Laos.
The hotel's were well chosen and conveniently situated for independent sightseeing.
I thoroughly enjoyed the included farewell meal, the best vegetarian food all trip!
Cultural, religious and historic sites
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers