A really very well organized and planned trip. From arrival at the Delhi airport to the last minute - we felt very comfortable! Everyone was very friendly, courteous and helpful to us. We would travel through this tour company at any time. Our special thanks to the Delhi airport representative, our guides in Delhi, Agra and Jaipur, our very good driver and all the people who made this holiday unforgettable for us.
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.
Looking back at our photos now we've returned to the UK we can't believe the amount we saw and the amazing experiences we had on this tour. Sri Lanka is an amazing beautiful country with some much going on - we only scratched the surface. Our tour leader Cham worked so hard to make sure that we had everything we needed, resolving our problems and sorting out food for our fussy son! His knowledge about Sri Lankan history and wildlife was immense. He even found the best place to buy genuine Sri Lanka cricket shirts for the sporty members of our group. The only thing we'd change was the pace of the second half of the Sri Lanka leg of the trip. The first half gave us time to chill and bond as a group, as well as hang out in the pool at Giritale and play cricket. The second half we moved every night and covered a massive distance, though interesting, this was quite tiring (especially for the kids), so we'd suggest that a two night stop in the middle of this element would resolve this issue easily. This was clear in the notes, however, as was the high chance of not getting the train. The pace did slow considerably for the Maldives element, with a lot of time on our boats travelling between reefs. The snorkelling was quite frankly mind-blowing, and even the more nervous swimmers loved it. The crew were fantastic, and the food was delicious. The guide knew his stuff, and made sure we had great snorkelling experiences. Our only criticism of this part of the trip was that splitting the group when we'd got to know each other and were getting on really well was disappointing. There were larger boats, and we'd have preferred to be on a single boat given how long we spent travelling separately. The crew did what they could to mitigate this by tying the boats together when we moored for snorkels, meals and overnight and that was great. All in all a thoroughly enjoyable trip, and with a few very small tweaks it'd be perfect!
Active and outdoor
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
Itinerary was exactly as stated.
We had problems with flights as the air space had been closed down. Explore were outstanding in getting us alternative flights and we caught up with the group only a day late. Top marks explore.
Cultural, religious and historic sites
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
Accommodation
Hotel, Guest House
Age Range
16-99 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
New Delhi, Amritsar, Leh Ladakh
New Delhi, Amritsar, Leh Ladakh, Hemis, Alchi, Lamayuru, Nubra Valley, Hunder
Really excellent trip - we saw and experienced so many things. Only downside is it meant a lot of travelling on the bus and only one night in every hotel.
Highlights were the Safari - seeing the elephants especially. Climbing Lions Rock at 6am and the delightful food we had along the way.
Our guide, Chamodi was very enthusiastic and friendly. She was especially good with the children.
Cultural, religious and historic sites
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
Accommodation
Hotel, Resort, Tent
Age Range
7-99 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Negombo
Negombo
Best Seller
This product is a best seller: High ratings, knowledgeable staff, and great time guaranteed.
"This tour company organized my 10-day trip in India, which included visits through Delhi, Agra with the Taj Mahal, Ranthambore for a safari, Jaipur, and Varanasi. Overall, this felt like a perfect introduction to India, with each city offering completely different experiences in a concise manner. In addition, the tour operator offered additional options in each city that further tailored the experience based on individual preferences. Just a great, organized set-up where it felt that you were able to enjoy the cultural experience - while at the same time having the appropriate amount of time to refresh/reset for a holiday. The value/cost of the tour - from service, experience, hotels, etc - was great.
The entire tour was very well set-up from start to finish, and could not have been more happy with the entire experience. In every instance, there are experienced individuals to assist you in every aspect of the visit to avoid any confusion or lost time - from pick-up at the airport to private drivers to reputable tour guides. The private driver throughout the tour was a great, kind individual and felt very safe throughout the trip. Further, the tour guides selected by the tour operator were great. You could tell that this company had developed a very good niche in the market over time with hiring/selecting these individuals, given their vast experience and knowledge; in addition to their desire to answer all questions and hold good dialogue and conversation throughout the tour (everyone spoke very good English for Westerners).
Finally, the main contact points organizing and managing the trip were exceptional. They always available for any further assistance (even calling my upon arrival) - which all added to the personal touch of the experience. Also, in my case, I actually forgot some personal items on my trip back to India and they assisted with shipping back to me. You can very much tell that these individuals made huge efforts throughout to make the most out of this unbelievable experience. To both Mr. Azhar and Ms. Anu - thanks again for all the assistance throughout the entirety of the trip! Very much appreciated!"
City sightseeingNational parks
Tour Type
Private Tour
Accommodation
Hotel
Age Range
1-80 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
New Delhi, The Golden Triangle
New Delhi, The Golden Triangle, Varanasi, Ranthambore National Park, Agra, Jaipur
Local tour specialists organised a fantastic private tour for our group in August/September 2019. We chose the Golden Triangle with Mumbai itinerary and were able to get the best value.
Having liaised with them via email in the months and weeks ahead of the tour to ensure all our queries were answered, we were greeted at Delhi airport by a representative and our driver without issue. From there we were transferred to our first hotel. We opted for 4 star hotels and overall were happy with the accommodation, although once there we would have liked to be a little more central to restaurants/shops etc outside of the hotel for evenings and free time. Our itinerary overall was pretty busy so not too much bother.
We had different guides in each city who were all welcoming and knowledgeable. The particular highlight was our driver for the golden triangle portion, Mangeram, who went out of his way to keep us happy and share his knowledge and expertise with us. His English was great which also enhanced our experienced since we spent a large amount of time in his company traveling. We felt safe with him and that he was trustworthy - especially important as an all female group.
It would have been good to spend a few more days in Mumbai and to stay somewhere central there.
Overall, I would recommend local guides and drivers, who made us feel welcome at each stage.
