India Small Group Trips

This trip exceeded all my expectations. The stillness and solitude of the terrain. The beauty. The glacial ascent. My first time at altitude-and I loved it. Valerie, is a very wise, steady and trusted lead-a humble holder of stories and knowledge. And great food and guides too. And a wonderful group spirit. I could not have asked for more.

My first high-altitude hike - the Nubra Valley trek - and all I can say is WOW! With Valerie Parkinson as our tour leader, we were set up for an unforgettable adventure from day one. The incredible cook, knowledgeable guides, and fantastic camp crew made every moment a joy. If you’re thinking of exploring the Nubra Valley, you simply can’t go wrong with this trip. The only challenge now? Deciding on my next adventure!

The thought of a week in India was a little daunting but Explore had a great itinerary that was superbly organised. Great hotels, knowledgeable local guides, a very safe bus driver and most of all a fantastic leader, Neha, gave me and my daughter an experience that will stay with us forever. The tour was an absolute bargain taking in the main sights of Delhi, Agra and Jaipur together with some less known attractions along the way. Highly recommended, will definitely be going back, hopefully for a bit longer.

I did the India and Sri Lanka combo experience and honestly had the best time in both. As my first time going away anywhere on my own it was so reassuring having intro do all the hard work, organising, planning, getting from place to place for me. In India my group leaders were Yoni and Mikes, both two absolutely beautiful human beings. It was so beautiful to see how they interacted with the locals which encouraged us and showed how we could also interact with them positively and respectfully. In Sri Lanka my group leader was Matt, who also was amazing. He was so knowledgeable on the incredible country Sri Lanka is and really helped us appreciate its beauty on a deeper level. All three of the group leaders gave a great sense of security to me allowing me to feel safe in both countries and able to relax and really appreciate and enjoy them for what they are.

An amazing trip that kept on delivering. As previously said in other reviews, full on with some long days but rewarded with great locations and experiences. We were in a group of six with our excellent guide Anil who can fix/sort anything. So many highlights, impossible to list them all but the wildlife and sailing down the Ganges were superb. Camp food on the Ganges was some of the best we had. If you are thinking of this trip just do it. You won't moan about potholes after driving in Nepal.

The rail trip across north India with Explore was undoubtedly a magical and once in a lifetime experience. The itinerary was jam packed and whilst exhausting with early starts and long rail journeys, it ensured we made the most of the 14 days . The accommodation was varied, sometimes underwhelming but on the whole acceptable. For the price we paid, Explore could make improvements, as It’s so cheap in India . Amritsar was my highlight, the golden temple and the border crossing was a glorious end to an incredible adventure. Extend your stay here if possible , we had an extra day and loved wandering around, exploring the winding streets close by the temple.