Explore Worldwide Reviews 242

TrustScore 3.5 out of 5

3.7

While we don't verify specific claims because reviewers' opinions are their own, we may label reviews as "Verified" when we can confirm a business interaction took place. Read more

To protect platform integrity, every review on our platform—verified or not—is screened by our 24/7 automated software. This technology is designed to identify and remove content that breaches our guidelines, including reviews that are not based on a genuine experience. We recognise we may not catch everything, and you can flag anything you think we may have missed. Read more

Review summary

Created with AI, based on recent reviews

Considering 47 reviews, most reviewers were somewhat happy with their experience overall. Customers frequently praise the holidays offered, highlighting the well-chosen locations and the exceptional staff who are often described as knowledgeable, passionate, and dedicated. Many appreciate the seamless organization and the effort made to provide engaging and authentic experiences, often noting the high quality of accommodation and the comprehensive itineraries. However, some people were dissatisfied with aspects of the service and quality. Specific concerns include issues with hotel quality, such as rooms in poor condition or locations that were not as advertised, and some found the food provided to be disappointing. Reviewers also occasionally mentioned discrepancies between pre-trip information and actual travel times, leading to rushed experiences or missed activities. There were also isolated reports of inadequate guiding, with some leaders lacking in local knowledge or failing to engage with the group.

What people talk about most

Holidays

Customers had positive experiences with holidays, with many describing their trips as amazing, fantastic, and... See more

Staff

Reviewers highlight positive aspects of staff. Customers frequently praise guides and leaders for being... See more

Location

Customers consistently note positive experiences with location, highlighting beautiful countries like South... See more

Service

People report ambiguous experiences with service. Some customers praise the excellent guides who went above... See more

Quality

Users describe ambiguous interactions with quality. While some customers praised the good quality of hotels,... See more

Reviews shaping this summary

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

UK staff could learn a lot from their guides. The former take a week to reply to an email or half an hour to answer the phone and respond with answers which you can see on the website. The latter a... See more

Company replied

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

Highlights of Portugal Tour Overall, I'm glad I went on the Highlights of Portugal tour. Explore did a good job of getting us to cool neighborhoods and viewpoints in Lisbon, and showing us some... See more

Company replied

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

Botswana Wildlife Safari If you want to see wildlife and camp in the bush, then this is the trip for you. The animals & birds we saw were incredible, often down to the skills of our guide, Titu... See more

Company replied


Company details

  1. Tour Operator
  2. Cultural Tours Provider

Written by the company

Find out about adventure travel holidays from Explore, including experience holidays and activity holidays. Choose from over 500 tours today.


Contact info

3.7

Average

TrustScore 3.5 out of 5

242 reviews

5-star
4-star
3-star
2-star
1-star

Replied to 100% of negative reviews

Typically replies within 1 week

How this company uses Trustpilot

See how their reviews and ratings are sourced, scored, and moderated.

Companies on Trustpilot aren't allowed to offer incentives or pay to hide reviews. Reviews are the opinions of individual users and not of Trustpilot. Read more

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

I decided to write a review as the…

I decided to write a review as the rating (3.6) does not reflect my experience and I am thinking that the people who had a great experience do not often write reviews. I was a new Explore customer and recently went on two tours - Turkey In Depth and Maldive Dhoni. Both were great trips. Lots of fun. The guides were great - big shout out to Ozgur in Turkey who was so knowledgeable and he was so responsive on everything. I learnt so much about Turkey - things I would never have known from guide books. He felt like a good friend - looking out for everyone - someone we could count on. The trip to the Maldives with our guide Moussa was great too. The food was great, the snorkelling was superb and the Dhoni was super clean and cozy. We had so many laughs and comraderie. Practically everyone I met had been on multiple trips with Explore and were loyal customers - some nearly 30 trips!. After my experience with Explore, I can only say the trips were wonderful. They were well priced, we saw a lot - I came back healthier and fitter than when I went. I will definately use them again.

October 15, 2024
Unprompted review
Explore Worldwide logo

Reply from Explore Worldwide

Thank you so much for your lovely review! It means a lot to us that you took the time to share your experiences, especially since this was your first time travelling with Explore.

We’re so happy to hear how much you enjoyed both tours. Ozgur sounds like he really brought Turkey to life with his knowledge and care, and it’s fantastic that you felt so supported by him. Moussa also seems to have made the Maldives unforgettable, with amazing snorkelling, great food, and lots of laughs on the Dhoni.

It’s wonderful to know that the trips left you with so many good memories and that you came back feeling healthier and fitter too! Feedback like yours reminds us why we love what we do, and it inspires us to keep creating trips that our travellers love.

Thank you again for your kind words. We can’t wait to welcome you on another adventure soon!

Advertisement
Rated 5 out of 5 stars

2 weeks in South Africa

I have just returned from 2 weeks in South Africa and we had an amazing time. Our tour guide Rowan Moon was brilliant, he was extremely knowledgeable and went above and beyond to make our trip memorable. I would recommend this trip to anyone!

November 2, 2024
Unprompted review
Explore Worldwide logo

Reply from Explore Worldwide

Thank you for sharing your lovely review! We’re so pleased to hear that you had such an amazing time in South Africa.

Rowan is indeed a fantastic Explore leader, and we’ll be sure to pass on your kind words to him!

It means so much to us that you would recommend this trip to others. We hope it’s left you with wonderful memories and a desire to explore even more incredible destinations with us.

Thank you again, and we look forward to welcoming you on another adventure soon!

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Used to be good but cannot now recommend

Recent holiday touring Morocco. Disappointed at holiday structure- really 2 days shorter than advertised; but Explore unhelpful with flights - didn't seem to care; booked transport from arrival airport not there - another company rep helped us out. Trip notes gobbledygook and wrong. Just seemed as if Explore really didn't care, which is really different from how they used to be.

October 26, 2024
Unprompted review
Explore Worldwide logo

Reply from Explore Worldwide

Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback about your recent trip to Morocco. I’m sorry to hear that certain aspects of your holiday did not meet your expectations, and I appreciate the opportunity to address your concerns.

Regarding the private airport transfers, I can confirm that these were correctly booked and included in your itinerary. However, I understand from your comments that there was an issue upon your arrival, and I deeply regret the inconvenience this caused. Upon checking, I can not see that you contacted our 24-hour Duty Team to assist you with this, therefore, to help us investigate further, could you please provide additional details about what happened and how the situation was resolved?

In terms of the trip length, I’d like to clarify that the first and final days of Explore trips often include limited scheduled activities due to flight times and transfers. This structure is clearly noted in the trip notes, however I’m sorry if it was in any way unclear or felt different from what you expected.

Regarding your comment about the flights team, I’ve reviewed our records and can confirm that your flights were booked and managed in line with our standard procedures. However, I’d like to understand more about your experience to see how we might improve.

We genuinely value your feedback and want to ensure we address these concerns fully. Please feel free to email us directly at cr@explore.co.uk with any additional details, and I’ll ensure your comments are reviewed thoroughly.

Thank you again for sharing your thoughts, and I hope we can restore your confidence in Explore.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Highly recommend Japan with Explore!

This was one of the best tours I have been on. I loved everything about it from the tour leader we had to the experiences we got to participate in and my fellow travellers being a smaller group and oh my gosh the food...outstanding! You will not be disappointed travelling with Explore, I am even looking at the foodie tour next.

October 27, 2024
Unprompted review
Explore Worldwide logo

Reply from Explore Worldwide

Thank you so much for your wonderful review!

It’s fantastic to know you loved the mix of experiences, the smaller group dynamic, and, of course, the amazing food (Japan truly is a foodie paradise!). We’re so glad your Explore leader and fellow travellers helped make the trip even more special.

Your kind words mean so much to us, and it’s exciting to hear you’re already considering another adventure! Our foodie tours are a real treat, and we’re sure you’ll love them just as much.

Thank you again for sharing your experience. We can’t wait to help you plan your next Explore trip!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

14 day trip from JBG to Cape Town including Kruger Safari

I have just returned from a trip to South Africa. It was well organised, every day we did something different and interesting. The trips success was down to the Tour Leader in many ways. HIs name was Rowan Moon. I have been on several group tours like this, and have to say he was exceptional. He went out of his way to keep the group informed, getting us to each location on time , making sure we were aware of any dangers (for example where not to go in Cape Town), He was fun and informative, clearly passionate about his job and his country and did Explore proud!

November 2, 2024
Unprompted review
Explore Worldwide logo

Reply from Explore Worldwide

Thank you so much for sharing your wonderful review of your South Africa adventure with Explore! We're happy to hear how much you enjoyed the trip and the variety of unique and interesting experiences it offered each day.

It's great to hear how Rowan’s dedication and enthusiasm left such a positive impression on your journey. Your kind words will mean the world to Rowan, and we’ll be sure to pass them along. It’s feedback like yours that inspires all of us to continue delivering memorable travel experiences.

We hope this trip has left you with a newfound love for South Africa. We’d be delighted to welcome you on another Explore adventure in the future!

Advertisement
Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Highlights of Vietnam & Cambodia - a "must do!"

Would highly recommend the Highlights of Vietnam & Cambodia tour. A fairly packed itinerary, as you'd expect when you're hitting some of the highlights of these beautiful countries, but still enough 'down time' to step away & do things at your own pace for a bit. Fantastically flexible tour guide, Diem, ensured everyone got what they wanted from their trip, with local guides in Cambodia giving you a real insight into the temples, their history & stories. The best bit of it all, coming home and genuinely answering the "how was your holiday?" question with "I honestly don't know where to start...it was incredible from start to finish!" - thank you Explore!

October 5, 2024
Unprompted review
Explore Worldwide logo

Reply from Explore Worldwide

Thank you so much for sharing such an inspiring review of your Highlights of Vietnam & Cambodia tour!

It’s wonderful to hear how the itinerary balanced immersive experiences with just the right amount of downtime for you to savour each moment. We’re thrilled that your Explore leader Diem, along with the local guides in Cambodia, helped bring the history and stories of these beautiful countries to life for you.

We can’t wait to create more unforgettable memories with you in the future!

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

Amazing small group tours

Have done 14 tours with Explore over the past 20 years. I love that the guide is always born locally and has a passion for his or her own country. Also that as a single woman I have felt included in evening meals out. So pleased I was able to travel at a younger age - too unfit now..

January 8, 2024
Unprompted review
Explore Worldwide logo

Reply from Explore Worldwide

Thank you for sharing a review on your past experiences with Explore.

I can see that you don't have any future trips booked with us and we do hope you decide to enjoy another adventure with us in the future.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Highlights of Sri Lanka - loved it!

Recently returned from the Highlights of Sri Lanka trip and loved it! I couldn't fault this itinerary, it hits all of the highlights all in one week - from leopard spotting and climbing Sigiriya at sunset to exploring the beautiful temples. Plus, we even had time for a free day at the beach. Our tour leader, Ish, was amazing, knowledgeable and kind.

October 13, 2024
Unprompted review
Explore Worldwide logo

Reply from Explore Worldwide

Thank you for sharing such lovely feedback on your most recent trip to Sri Lanka.

I am delighted you found the balance between exploring and relaxing; it sounds like you made some wonderful memories. I will be sure to pass on your kind words about your Explore leader.

We look forward to welcoming you on your next adventure with us.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

There are much better Adventure Companies out there! 👌

Awful company. Explore have gone downhill over the last few years to the point where the CEO seems be in his Ivory Tower running an organisation with misleading advertising, expensive flight bookings, inferior accommodation and a customer service team that just doesn’t provide a good enough service.
Profit now seems to be the main point of Explore, not Customer Satisfaction.

October 27, 2024
Unprompted review
Explore Worldwide logo

Reply from Explore Worldwide

Following our direct correspondence between yourself, our Head of Sales, and our Product Director; we are of course disappointed that you remain dissatisfied with Explore. You have left similar reviews on different platforms to which we have also replied.

We are sorry that you feel Explore does not provide a good service to its customers, we are constantly looking at ways to improve our business and we value our customers' feedback.

Again, as before; we respect your decision that you will not be looking to travel with Explore again – your record has been updated to reflect this, we wish you well with your future travel arrangements with an alternative operator.

Advertisement
Rated 4 out of 5 stars

Amalfi Coast walking

I just returned from a most memorable walking tour of the Amalfi coast which was made possible by their excellent guide - Peter Meyers who I found highly professional, knowledgeable and above all the most compassionate guide I have had.

Ram 25/10

October 12, 2024
Unprompted review
Explore Worldwide logo

Reply from Explore Worldwide

Thank you so much for sharing your experience on your recent trip to Amalfi Coast with us.

I am delighted to hear your trip was memorable and that our guide made such a positive impact on your journey. I will be sure to pass on your kind words to the Explore Leader.

We hope to welcome you on another adventure soon.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Two holidays in one!

My family and I travelled to Sri Lanka and the Maldives on their Family Sri Lanka and Maldives Adventure and it really was the 'holiday of a lifetime' for all of us. Every day presented us with new experiences and adventures, from climbing Pidurangala Rock to watch the sunset over iconic Sigiriya, birdwatching on a lake, firelit barbecues, elephant watching safaris, train and tractor rides, visiting a tea factory and wild swimming in secret spots off the tourist trail. And the best bit was that after all of that, the holiday wasn't over ! We then flew to the Maldives for a sublime 5 days cruising around the atolls on a traditional dhoni boat with the most superb snorkeling I'd never imagined.

Tour leaders Sam in Sri Lanka and Musa in the Maldives did a great job at keeping the itinerary running smoothly and the 5 families travelling in the right place at the right time.

Accommodation was an interesting mix including treehouses and a tented camp alongside more traditional hotels.

July 20, 2024
Unprompted review
Explore Worldwide logo

Reply from Explore Worldwide

Thank you for sharing feedback on your recent wonderful family trip. What an amazing experience combining a journey across Sri Lanka and Maldives as a family. It sounds like you have made some lasting memories and there were many special highlights from your trip.

It is always great to hear from our customers regarding their trip, and I am pleased to hear you were well looked after by our excellent Explore leaders in both destinations.

We hope to welcome you and your family on a trip with us again soon.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Walking tour Amalfi Coast

I recently had the pleasure of experiencing a fantastic walking tour along the Amalfi Coast, expertly organized by Explore Worldwide. As a last-minute birthday treat for my 50s, I reached out to Explore and was delighted with their ability to accommodate my request.

From the moment I contacted them, I was impressed by their friendly and efficient service. The team at Explore quickly put together a personalized itinerary that perfectly suited my interests and fitness level. They were also incredibly helpful in providing recommendations for tourist attractions and dining options in the region.

My tour guide, Gennaro, was exceptional. His knowledge of the Amalfi Coast was vast, and he shared fascinating insights into the history, culture, and local traditions of the region. Gennaro's passion for the area was contagious, and he made the walking tour both informative and enjoyable.

I stayed at Luna Agerola Agriturismo, a charming and picturesque accommodation nestled in the hills above Amalfi. The staff at the agriturismo were incredibly kind and hospitable, and the property itself was a peaceful oasis.

Overall, my experience with Explore was exceptional. They exceeded my expectations in every way, from the quality of the tour to the professionalism and friendliness of their staff. I would highly recommend Explore Walking tours to anyone looking to explore the Amalfi Coast.

June 15, 2024
Unprompted review
Explore Worldwide logo

Reply from Explore Worldwide

Thank you for taking the time to share feedback on your recent walking trip to Amalfi Coast. I am delighted to hear that you had an exceptional time on your last-minute birthday trip.

Explore Leaders are experts in their field, and it is great that Gennaro shared his passion and knowledge with you and the rest of the group - I will be sure to pass on your kind words to him.

Our trips include a variety of accommodation and on this occasion, you stayed at the small family run Agriturismo and it sounds like you were welcomed with warm hospitality for your stay.

We look forward to welcoming you on to your next adventure with us in the future.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Fantastic family trip to India

Fantastic family trip to India!
We travelled on the family Golden Triangle trip and had an amazing experience. It was our first group tour as a family and while we were a little apprehensive we needn't have been - the families on our trip were all lovely, the itinerary interesting to all ages and while this trip is fast paced and busy, we felt like we got to see so much in a short amount of time. Highly recommend this trip, and for anyone worrying about doing a group tour with children - don't!

July 25, 2024
Unprompted review
Explore Worldwide logo

Reply from Explore Worldwide

Thank you so much for sharing your experience from your family trip to India! We are thrilled to hear that you had such an amazing time on the Golden Triangle tour.

It’s wonderful to know that, despite initial apprehensions, you found the trip to be enjoyable and that your family connected with the other families in the group. We always strive to create a welcoming environment for all our Customers, and it’s heartening to hear that the itinerary appealed to all ages, allowing you to explore so much in a short period.

Your recommendation means the world to us, and we appreciate you encouraging other families to embrace the group tour experience. We hope to welcome you and your family on another adventure soon!

Advertisement
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Poor Service


I have taken numerous trips with Explore, many with friends that I have referred, but due their lack of effective communication and courtesy via phone and email, along with various booking & travel problems, we will no longer be using this company in the future.

All to say, in this day and age of technology, one should be able to easily book a “canned” trip efficiently with accurate and up to date information, and not have an unpleasant experience akin to buying a used car.

September 13, 2024
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Horrible experience!

“Customer service” rep mislead me into thinking only a portion (extra fee for a private room) was being refunded as they couldn’t accommodate that request, when the reality is that they cancelled my whole participation in the tour. I now have a week to plan my own entire, suddenly solo, trip myself, as my flights are already booked. Their “On Request” policy is a money grab that is unclear and unfair to customers looking for an enjoyable trip planning experience: they’ll take your money BEFORE checking if there is space available in hotels, and if there isn’t, oops too bad, you get refunded, but it obviously doesn’t cover expenses you’ve paid outside of the tour (flights, travel insurance, extra experiences, etc). You also can’t get in contact with anyone on weekends, which is when most people have the time to actually plan their travel. Overall, horrible experience and neither I or anyone I know will be using Explore again.

September 23, 2024
Unprompted review
Explore Worldwide logo

Reply from Explore Worldwide

Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback, and we sincerely apologise for the misunderstanding regarding your booking arrangements.

We understand your frustration and regret that our communication led to confusion about the status of your participation in the tour. To clarify, when a tour is "On Request," we advise all our customers not to make any additional travel arrangements, such as booking flights, until the tour is fully confirmed. This is to prevent situations like the one you experienced, where external expenses are impacted. It’s never our intention for customers to feel misled or left in a difficult situation.

Our policy is designed to ensure availability before confirming a booking, and while we do take a payment at the time of request, this is fully refunded if we are unable to secure a place. We apologise if this process was unclear in your case, and we appreciate your feedback, which helps us identify areas for improvement in our communication.

We do hope you do come and travel with us however in the meantime If there is anything further we can do to assist, please don’t hesitate to reach out.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

I'm trying to cancel a holiday with…

I'm trying to cancel a holiday with Explore Worldwide, but there is no facility to cancel my holiday, which I 24 hours ago.

It's shocking that you can't cancel, I've sent numerous messages to them, but no reply

September 11, 2024
Unprompted review
Explore Worldwide logo

Reply from Explore Worldwide

Thank you for your feedback, and I am sorry that we were unable to process your cancellation as quickly as you would have liked. However, we did cancel your booking within 12 hours of receiving your notification, and a full refund of all payments made to Explore is currently being processed. While we understand that you made your booking online, there are several manual steps involved in confirming and subsequently cancelling a booking. I sincerely hope that you will be able to travel with us in the future.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

I had an amazing guided small group holiday in Croatia

I had an amazing holiday in Croatia - Explore's Dalmatian Island Hopping holiday, such a beautiful country. I travelled as a solo customer, as did most of the group, and we quickly bonded. We were guided by Damier, an excellent guide, who was so passionate and knowledgeable about his country and its diverse history. He also shared his own personal stories of previous conflicts he'd experienced which really helped understand the more recent history of Croatia.
The holiday is packed with loads of activities and sights, but there's also down-time to relax. There are so many islands just off the coast, all full of nature and history. There are only so many we could visit, but I'd go back again.
The quality of the accommodation was excellent. I'd certainly recommend this holiday for a small group guided tour where pretty much everything is included.

October 21, 2023
Unprompted review
Explore Worldwide logo

Reply from Explore Worldwide

Thank you so much for your feedback! We are delighted to hear that you had such a wonderful time whilst on holiday and that Damier left such a positive impression. I will ensure that he receives your kind words. We hope to welcome you on another Explore adventure soon!

Advertisement
Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Recently went to Nicaragua with Explore…

Recently went to Nicaragua with Explore on their Land of Lakes and Volcanoes tour. Was an amazing trip, our guide was fantastic and Explore dealt with slight itinerary changes really well (due to volcanic activity), which meant that we didn't miss out on anything, and we actually ended up having more than one unexpected and amazing life changing experiences on this trip. Already booked my next trip with them!

March 30, 2024
Unprompted review
Explore Worldwide logo

Reply from Explore Worldwide

Thank you so much for your feedback! It brings immense joy to hear that you enjoyed your holiday, and that the slight itinerary change was handled well and led to some unexpected experiences. We cannot wait to welcome you back on your next adventure!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

The best of Malaysia in one trip!

A great itinerary showcasing the very best of Malaysia with the added benefit of city stays for contrast against the rural areas, tea plantations and beach. A cultural trip full of variety. I fell in love with Malacca, it had such a great vibe and it was great to take the evening river boat cruise with all the lights and bridges. The homestay was fantastic, total tranquility completely off the tourist trail, the family were so hospitable and the lakeside setting ensured total relaxation in beautiful lodges within the grounds. The combination of bustling cities and ending with a relaxed beachfront stay in Langkawi gave me exactly the balance I needed. A well thought out trip!

February 16, 2024
Unprompted review
Explore Worldwide logo

Reply from Explore Worldwide

Thank you so much for your feedback! We are delighted to hear that you had such a wonderful experience discovering Malaysia. We hope to welcome you on your next Explore adventure soon!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Botswana Safari

What a great experience!

Everything from booking the holiday to the actual trip was absolutely outstanding!

June 19, 2024
Unprompted review
Explore Worldwide logo

Reply from Explore Worldwide

Thank you so much for your feedback! It brings immense joy to hear about your experience and how much you enjoyed your itinerary with us. We hope to welcome you back soon.

The Trustpilot Experience

Anyone can write a Trustpilot review. People who write reviews have ownership to edit or delete them at any time, and they’ll be displayed as long as an account is active.

Companies can ask for reviews via automatic invitations. Labeled Verified, they’re about genuine experiences.

Learn more about other kinds of reviews.

We use dedicated people and clever technology to safeguard our platform. Find out how we combat fake reviews.

Learn about Trustpilot’s review process.

Here are 8 tips for writing great reviews.

Verification can help ensure real people are writing the reviews you read on Trustpilot.

Offering incentives for reviews or asking for them selectively can bias the TrustScore, which goes against our guidelines.

Take a closer look