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 was the trip of a lifetime—it opened up the world to me and gave me more confidence to solo travel. I LOVED having the itinerary planned out and all of the logistics handled by our excellent trip manager. It helped me turn my brain off and truly enjoy my vacation. Also was so relaxing to travel between cities by train. We had the perfect balance of planned activities and free time that helped us pack just the right amount of action into each city. I especially loved Free Time Add-Ons like the Moulin Rouge and a bonus cruise on the Seine to see the Eiffel Tower shine (arranged by our trip manager when our plans hit a snag!) Would 100% recommend to anyone looking to explore and connect with others!
Scotland's natural beauty and its historical legacy were the highlight of the trip. Many photos of the countryside were taken and will be used in creating original paintings. I appreciated as well the many occasions we had to hear history from the point of view of the Scots. An excellent balance between nature and human knowledge.
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
Accommodation
Hostel, Hotel
Age Range
18-39 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
London, Paris, Provence, French
London, Paris, Provence, French Riviera, Florence, Rome, Lefkadas, Tirana, Dubrovnik, Plitvice Lakes National Park, Venice, Innsbruck, Vienna, Budapest, Bratislava, Prague, Krakow, Warsaw, Berlin, Amsterdam, San Sebastian, Barcelona
This was my first trip with Explore but I hope it will not be my last. The trip was great, the food and accommodations were better than expected, and the guides were exceptional.
City sightseeingWalking
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
A quite varied walk with spectacular scenery every day. The path takes you through several interesting small towns and villages, and across a mix of farmland, woods, and moorlands on high ridges which made every day an adventure of discovery. The logistics of bookings and baggage transfers worked without a hitch and the guidebook & maps, route notes and GPX files were all very helpful.
Walking tours
Tour Type
Private Tour
Accommodation
Hotel, Guest House
Age Range
18-99 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Chepstow, Knighton, Redbrook, Lo
Chepstow, Knighton, Redbrook, Longtown, Hay On Wye, Kington
Fabulous trip, if too rushed at the beginning. If we could set off on day 1 from Inverness earlier in the day it would be preferable. Days were a bit rushed, too, leaving hardly any time to explore/do anything in Kirkwall, since they rool up tge sidewalk at 4:30 or 5pm. Marco did great job of altering itinerary to accommodate those who wanted time in town. An additional day, however unwieldy for the tour operator, could easily solve it. On last day, the later departure from Kirkwall helped too. The walks and Neolithic sites were great, made incredible by the fantastic sunny weather we were lucky enough to have. The guides providing dinner reservations for the group was helpful too, as the place seemed quite busy.
Walking tours
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
Great walk with changing country. Really clear signposting. The high point was fort Augustus to invermoriston on the high route even with the steep down.
Walking tours
Tour Type
Private Tour
Accommodation
Guest House, Hotel
Age Range
18-99 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Fort William, Inverness, Gairloc
Fort William, Inverness, Gairlochy, South Laggan, Fort Augustus, Invermoriston, Drumnadrochit