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A fantastic trip which far exceeded my expectations. I was hoping for some good snorkelling but the close (sometimes VERY) close encounters with sting rays, green and hawksbill turtles, and sharks will remain in the memory for a long, long time.
Fed like kings (how on earth the chef managed to dish up some sumptuous feasts from a small galley!) with an ever friendly and helpful crew, and one of the best (and enthusiastic) tour leaders.
Active and outdoorWildlife
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
Ready for a journey through Sri Lanka’s cultural heartland? The "Colombo, Caves & Kandy - 8 days" tour is crafted for those who crave a rich mix of heritage, history, and wildlife, all at a gentle pace. Starting and ending in Colombo, this guided group trip unveils the island’s legendary cultural triangle—Sigiriya’s dramatic rock fortress, the intricate Dambulla cave temples, and Kandy’s sacred Temple of the Tooth.
Beyond the ancient marvels, you’ll glide through verdant tea country on a scenic train ride and go wildlife spotting at Udawalawe National Park—perfect for seniors and experienced travelers seeking light adventure. Each stop is brought to life by knowledgeable guides, ensuring every story and tradition is made vivid.
What makes this tour unique is its seamless blend of Sri Lanka’s spiritual landmarks and lush landscapes, all within a relaxed, accessible itinerary. In just one week, you’ll experience the country’s deep-rooted culture and natural beauty, with the ease of all details thoughtfully arranged.
Cultural, religious and historic sites
Tour Type
Group Tour
Accommodation
Hotel, Resort
Age Range
18-80 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Colombo, Dambulla, Kandy, Nuwara
Colombo, Dambulla, Kandy, Nuwara Eliya, Udawalawe National Park
On the whole a great itinerary. I would drop the Sunderbans though, since the chance of seeing any wildlife while sailing for hours up and down the middle of the river is unlikely, especially since the animals are behind a fence. We had an excellent tour leader, Kiran who is warm, very informed and energetic and who certainly went that extra mile in solving problems and caring for everyone. The local guides who travelled with us were also great, as were the drivers. The hotels in India were the Summit hotels, an Indian chain. They are clean and quite well organised. However since those in Sikkim were out of town we were forced to eat dinner in the hotels which produced the identical menu. It would have been better to have spent the bits of free time we had in Sikkim in the towns themselves.
City sightseeingWildlifeCruise
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
Great trip covering highlights of Kerala.
Fabulous tour leader and support team.
The rides started easy and flat, and became progressively harder with increasingly longer hills as we headed into the mountains. The slow pace suited my ability. The spinning classes I did as preparation definitely paid off. The heat and humidity were challenging! Road conditions were better than expected.
The bikes could have been in better condition- the mechanic was great in sorting out issues on the way.
Most of the participants missed their various connecting flights arranged by Explore, including us! Arriving at 5am and having to be prepared to cycle at 8.30am wasn’t fun! Explore really need to consider this as I think it’s a regular occurrence!
WildlifeBicycle tours
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
We have just returned from a great family holiday in India. Our Explore tour leader, Virender (Veeru) Singh was excellent. His depth of knowledge was outstanding and his unwavering enthusiasm really made our holiday. He was good company at meal times and always keen to know what he could do to make our trip even better. There were some lengthy bus trips to get to our destinations and he pointed out interesting things along the way to keep us engaged and entertained. He was really good with our twins too who sometimes got a bit tired and was very accommodating and helpful with whatever they needed to enjoy the trip. He took us to places we wouldn't have found on our own and every step of the way the organisation of our transport, tickets and luggage was seamless. Our driver was also excellent on what was sometimes challenging driving driving conditions and long distances.
We loved this trip. Yes, some of the hotels were pretty average, yes a few didn't have hot water, and yes some had extremely inefficient staff, but that's not what you are going for.
We got to visit the Kamakhya temple in Guwahati which should be on the itinerary. Each place we visited throughout the trip was very much worth the time and effort to get there. Even on the long drive days the stops didn't feel like just fillers that you might get somewhere else.
Kaziranga National Park was a lovely day and we saw a lot of elephant and dozens of rhino. So much more than we thought we might, and at a lot closer quarter too.
The trek down to the root bridges at Cherrapunjee was another highlight. It is a big effort as described in the notes and in other reviews, but worth every step. They are remarkable. We walk a lot, but never previously used walking poles, however, we did on this day and I'd highly using them. The hotel there is lovely with great views over the Sylhet plains into Bangladesh.
Hornbill Festival was incredible and a massive highlight. Our guide, Pema, got us to the festival nice and early and we were able to experience all the tribal groups entering the arena to take their places, all singing, chanting, drumming. Absolutely wonderful and an experience we will remember for a long time. And a second day to fully absorb it. Amazing, loved it!
The Majuli Island stay was another totally different environment. The ferry to and from is a great experience. The temple visits were beautiful and a contrast to the full on craziness of Hornbill Festival. It was also really lovely to be able to walk through small villages and meet local people.
The day at Longwa village was another extraordinary time. Meeting the ex headhunters, a wander through the hilltop border village, a great lunch in a longhouse. So different from anywhere else we've been.
And the last night in a lovely old colonial tea bungalow and time meeting the ladies picking leaves on the plantation was a lovely treat.
Things don't work in this part of the world as you may be accustomed to, but just go with it and this trip will reward you with some extraordinary experiences.
City sightseeing
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
Accommodation
Hotel, Bungalow, Guest House, Resort, Villa
Age Range
16-99 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Kolkata, Assam, Guwahati, Majuli
Kolkata, Assam, Guwahati, Majuli Island, Nagaland, Longwa, Dibrugarh, Umananda, Cherrapunjee, Khasi, Kaziranga National Park, Mokochung
