Overall, this was an amazing trip to be introduced to Europe and experience a little bit of everything there. If you are thinking about opting out of a tour service like this and figuring it all out on your own, I would advise against it. There are a lot of cultural and social differences between these countries that a cursory internet search will not make you aware of. The tour guide's guidance is really what allowed us to be safe and not clueless while exploring, and the tour also highlighted a lot of the activities and locations that were actually worth doing. I feel like I truly maximized my time in Europe and did not waste a moment. At this price point, I doubt you would be able to find anything as good. It was truly life-changing, and on the flight back I dreaded coming back home. Also, if you see Kevin Screene as an option for your tour guides, take him. Amazing person and an even better guide.
A wonderful introduction to Turkey, this 8 day tour takes in many of the ancient sites. From the thriving city of Istanbul with a full day tour included, you will move on to explore the WWi battlefields of Gallipoli and the ancient historical sites of Troy, Pergamum, Ephesus and Pamukkale.
NOTE: On 2025 departures the following visits will be replaced:
Ancient Pergamum - Replaced with a visit to Assos.
The blend of guided tours and personal time was perfect. I particularly loved the day in Seville; the city's vibrancy was contagious! The hotels were mostly great, with Porto being my favorite stop. I appreciated the professionalism of the staff and how smoothly everything ran. A must-do for anyone interested in the Iberian Peninsula.
This 11-day trip through Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories along with Jordan is the perfect tour for people who want to combine visits to important historical and religious sites with some cultural and scenic experiences as well. The tour has time to explore the buzz of the city and beaches of Tel Aviv while also visiting Tiberias and touring Jerusalem, Bethlehem and Nazareth and many important religious and historical sites and monuments. The tour also includes a visit to Masada Fortress and the Dead Sea where you can bob on top of this remarkably salty Sea, the lowest place on Earth. The tour also visits the famous Sea of Galilee and enjoys a wine tasting experience in the hills of the Golan Heights.
Leaving Israel behind we cross the border into Jordan where we visit some of Jordan's tourist highlights including the Roman Ruins in Jerash, the 'lost city' of Petra, Biblical Mount Nebo and the famous mosaic map of the Holyland in Madaba.
Accommodation is on a 3-4 star basis with upgrades available to deluxe 4-star and 5-star hotels.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Due to continued unrest we have temporarily suspended this tour in Israel. Reservations are still being accepted for later travel dates. Should the situation continue, we will contact you approximately 8 weeks prior to departure to discuss new dates/cancellation options (though you can be assured of a full refund if we are unable to operate the tour).
This trip was a dream! From the Colosseum in Rome to the stunning Swiss Alps and the magic of Paris, every stop felt like a fairytale. Well-organized, great guides, and plenty of time to explore on our own!
This eight-day, private tour is a great combination of guided trips to Slovenian towns and cities, such as Ljubljana, the greenest capital in Europe; the alpine town of Bled; and medieval Piran, a city with a strong Venetian influence. Additionally, you will also get the chance to see beautiful alpine glacier lakes, gorgeous mountains, emerald rivers, some of the biggest caves in the world and the blue Adriatic.
Join us as we explore the best that Slovenia has to offer while enjoying opportunities to hike or bike through its beautiful landscape. Start your trip from Ljubljana. Visit the famous Postojna Caves and soak up the beauty of Lake Bled. Drive to the heart of Triglav National Park, where Bohinj Lake is located, and ascend to the top of Mt Vogel to enjoy the scenery. You also have the option to go rafting in the Soca River or experience one of most remarkable ziplines in Europe.
With our knowledgeable guides by your side, you will get the chance to meet the locals and learn more about their customs, traditions and way of living. For more details, please scroll down.
Very fast paced. Unfortunately, we arrived at some destinations at night, so sight seeing/picture taking was limited. All hotels, with the exception of the one in Greece, were very good. The one in Greece smelled very bad, had no shower head, I had to go down to the reception to request light bulbs.
Bus was very comfortable, sights were wonderful. Rumi, the tour guide is amazing. She made the trip.
Overall, wonderful experience
Petra was definitely our highlight! It really wowed us. The Wadi Rum desert was also a truly unique and amazing experience. We also enjoyed Jerusalem for its beauty and historically rich culture. The rest of the Israel tour was kind of a whirlwind sampler, but gave us additional overview of what the country has to offer. Having the Dead Sea day in-between the Jordan tour and the Israel tour was welcome chill time to recharge and experience the rejuvenating effects of the Dead Sea water and mud!
This was our first time to Europe and it did not disappoint! Right from day 1 the fun started! Jared was our tour leader, if you ever get the chance to tour with him, you are lucky. He was fantastic!!! His knowledge of the places we stopped was expansive and he made it interesting to learn the history! Florentin our driver was a rock for us! He got us safely to our destinations and always had a smile on his face! We forged friendships on this tour that made this the most memorable trip! We laughed a lot !!! I am so glad my daughter and I were lucky enough to have such an amazing tour leader, driver and fellow travellers that only made all the amazing places we saw, better! Thank you
This 8-day Turkey tour takes you from bustling Istanbul to the Mediterranean at Kusadasi and then inland to the beautiful scenery of Cappadocia. The itinerary is designed to combine some of Turkey's classic highlights in a week's visit, balancing bustling cities, beautiful scenery, ancient ruins and modern Turkey. You'll stay in a mix of 4-star and boutique style properties along the way.
Starting in Istanbul, the beating heart of Turkey and historically a vitally important connecting point between the continents of Europe and Asia, we visit the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sofia, Spice Bazaar, Hippodrome and take a cruise on the Bosphorus before flying south to the Mediterranean coast at Kusadasi. We have two nights here, and a tour to the nearby ruins at Ephesus. One of the best preserved ancient Greek & Roman sites in the whole of the Mediterranean region, this is a spectacular site with a fascinating history. We'll also visit a village famous for producing local fruit wines, and learn about the importance of carpet making in Turkey. Our next stop is at the stepped calcium travertines and hot pools at Pamukkale, before we continue into the centre of Turkey along the ancient Spice Route, passing old caravanserais and visiting the Mervlana museum at Konya on the way. This brings us to picturesque landscape of Cappadocia where we visit the strange rock formations, cave chuches and 'fairy chimneys' in the Goreme valley and venture down into one of the labarynthine underground cities built by Christians centuries ago to hide from persecution. The tour then finishes with a drive (or optional flight) via Ankara back to Istanbul where extra nights are available to spend more time exploring the city.
The tour was excellent. Sonny was an incredible driver, prompt, friendly and kind. Our tour guide, Callum 'Blinky' Pyper, was full of historical and local knowledge, friendly, patient and kind. Both took very good care of us. We enjoyed all the excursions as they allowed for a bit more interaction with the local cultures.