Italy Small Group Trips

Very interesting cycling and sightseeing tour of Puglia The cycling was fabulous and as described in tour information. bikes were good quality and some had electric bikes The hotels and and places we stayed were great and varied. Our tour guide was brilliant. On a day of heavy rain when cycling was cancelled he managed to sort out a minibus for our transfer by 11am and then a place for lunch all on the day. Thanks Massimo a great trip!

This tour was a perfect. It was the perfect itinerary to explore so many different parts of Italy. I got to see history and ancient architecture but then the very next day you are walking in trails and through vineyards with views you can only see on foot .. And then ending with amazing food, and regional wines and chocolate.. It was a perfect blend of culture, history and food.. with views that take your breath away.. every single day. There was enough down time to relax after day walks, use the pool, get some sun etc. whatever you fancy. I never felt over done or bored.. perfect blend.

A very pleasant and enjoyable holiday with great accommodation, views ,walks and guides. Enrico our rep was fantastic. Friendly, funny and engaging. A brilliant ambassador for EXPLORE. Would have no hesitation in going with them again. Thank you.

A really enjoyable and well organised tour. This tour was all about the food with many opportunities to sample local Puglian food and wine. The days were spent exploring stunning towns, a couple of gentle walks in the countryside with stops at numerous coffee shops and restaurants. All in all a really great trip facilitated by a friendly and enthusiastic tour guide.

Great, varied itinerary that packed in so much: walking on Etna and in two different gorges, sightseeing in Taormina, Ortigia, and some of the smaller hill towns, a wonderful brunch in Castiglione, and a fabulous day trip to the Aeolian Islands of Lipari and Vulcano, where we had time to take a dip on the volcanic spa beach. Some of us took a boat trip to Isola Bella and the Blue Grotto on the free day, and I returned to Taormina to visit the Greek theatre and follow up our guide Lara's gelateria recommendation! Lara is hugely knowledgeable about the history, culture, and geology of the area, and was very organised to get us to and from all the sights on schedule. The Hotel Villa Linda was a comfortable and friendly base in the quieter Recanati area of Naxos, with Recanati Beach and a good selection of restaurants, bars, and small shops nearby. The walks are fairly graded on average, with most being very leisurely, and the gorges slightly more challenging in terms of terrain underfoot (poles are helpful). Overall, a fantastic week. I have already booked my next Explore trip...

From the get-go, Explore were great with information and deadlines. I felt in very safe hands as I'd never been to Sicily before and would not know where to start. We were based in Recanati, just at the close of the holiday season - plenty of places to eat and drink but not crowded. From there, our fantastic, highly knowledgeable and very friendly guide Lara took us to some amazing sites, including the slopes of Etna, Taormina and the islands of Lipari and Volcano with great (not strenuous) walks and superb scenery. It was like lots of tasters of the East side of the island. Wonderful.