Why book with us? | About Explore

The adventure travel experts

Since launching in 1981 with only six tours in a four-page brochure, Explore has grown to offer over 350 trips; from classic ‘discovery’ group tours, solo traveller holidays and active family adventures, to walking holidays and cycling trips. Choose from around 100 countries and explore cultures, landscapes, wildlife and communities from Asia to Africa, the Arctic to the Americas.

Read on to find out why people travel with us again and again.

1. Unforgettable experiences

On our trips you'll see a mix of famous sights and hidden gems that others miss, or don't even know about. As travellers, we want to experience a country, not merely observe it. We'll take you closer to the country, its culture and people, often in unscripted, spontaneous, impossible-to-replicate ways. You'll come home having seen and experienced the country in a way that other travellers might never have.

2. Expert tour leaders

If you book a guided trip, like one of our small group tours, your tour leader will use their expert insider knowledge and local connections to make the most of unexpected opportunities. You might be invited to watch the sunrise from a lighthouse or to join family Diwali celebrations. They'll be on hand to make sure your trip goes smoothly, taking care of logistics. Our tour leaders are all trained by our experienced team to ensure consistently high standards.

3. Small group trips

Our average group size is just 11; big enough to meet like-minded people but small enough to get to the heart of a destination. All sorts of people travel on our trips; groups are usually a mix of solos, couples and friends united by an adventurous spirit and a sense of fun. You can call us to learn more about the group already booked on a particular trip (age range, solos vs couples etc).

4. Guaranteed departures

We’re now guaranteeing nearly every single departure, so you can relax in the knowledge that once you’ve chosen a trip and paid your deposit, you’re going!

We know group experience is important so, if it looks like there may be low numbers on a certain departure, we’ll let you know. If you’re still happy to travel as a small group, great! If you’d prefer to move to a different date or trip, that’s OK too.

There are still a handful of trips which require minimum numbers to run. We’ve outlined those in our full T&Cs here.

5. Responsible at heart

Our sustainable approach and flexible booking policies set us apart. We're committed to reducing our impact on the planet and working towards a sustainable future. Every single one of our trips now has a carbon label,and we work hard to ensure we have a positive impact on the communities we visit.

We've also always had flexible booking conditions, and were praised for doing the right thing throughout the pandemic, so you can continue to book with confidence.

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6. Join the club! Rewarding loyalty programme

Our travellers are everything to us, and to thank you for your ongoing support we’ve got a rewarding loyalty club. With our loyalty programme you'll get special offers and partner discounts after just one trip with us.

Explore Flex

Explore has always been known for its flexible booking conditions and, since the Coronavirus pandemic, we've gone even further to ensure you can continue to book your next adventure with confidence.

Find out more

Unforgettable adventures.