Home > Compare Tour & Adventure Operators > Explore vs G Adventures
Explore vs G Adventures
Compare the travel styles, pricing, destinations and popularity of Explore and G Adventures.The Low Down
Explore Worldwide is a UK adventure travel company that has been around since 1981. They run over 500 small group tours in more than 100 countries around the world with an average of 12 guests. Accommodation is often family run lodgings and guides are passionate locals. Itineraries are a mix of must-sees and who-knews, and guests can choose from different trip styles to suit their interests.Explore recognises that adventure is different for everyone, and their trips range from classic discovery group tours to active adventures such as hiking and cycling. They also have dedicated family trips, themed journeys such as those that focus on wildlife or their limited edition Explore Beyond collection which showcases rare one-off events. Explore have an impressive track record with 96% of past travellers saying they would travel with them again.
G Adventures have impressed us with their ethos, their range of unique itineraries and proven track record with over 100,000 past travellers. Their main competitor in the adventure touring space is Intrepid, with both Operators focused on authentic, affordable small group tours. With over 600 trips around the world and 50,000 departures, G have a stunning range of interesting unique itineraries to choose from, with a focus on South and Central America, Asia and Polar expedition cruising. G Adventures operate dynamic pricing so prices can change daily - upwards if the trip is filling up, and down if they need to fill some spaces. G have also recently incorporated Wellness trips and 18-to-Thirty Somethings adventuresinto their portfolio of trip styles.
Stats
No. of Trips
521
No. of Departures
4,656
Avg. Trip Length
11 Days
Avg. Price Per Day
$377
Accommodation
Mixed
Budget
Affordable & Premium
No. of Trips
797
No. of Departures
67,554
Avg. Trip Length
13 Days
Avg. Price Per Day
$338
Accommodation
Mixed
Budget
Affordable
In Their Own Words We asked the travel companies themselves why you should travel with them
Explore has been taking small groups on adventure holidays all over the world for almost 40 years. The expert team, at home and overseas, works together to create itineraries that leave you feeling that you’ve really explored a destination rather than just visited. You’ll see the highlights, the must-sees, of course. But you’ll also get away from the beaten track, and get a different perspective on your destination. You’ll get closer to a place, its people and cultures.
Our small groups are typically 12 people – small enough to get right into the heart of your destination, but big enough to find like-minded people to share your experiences with. And the glue that holds these groups together is our local tour leaders, who are uniquely placed to add individual and spontaneous moments to each trips – moments that stay with you long after you return home. All sorts of people travel with Explore – our groups are usually a mix of solos, couples and friends. What unites them is their adventurous spirit and thirst for real travel experiences.
We provide authentic small-group travel, designed by experts and led by experts, with sustainability at its heart and a common desire for unforgettable experiences. Whether you’re on a cultural tour of Lebanon, cycling in Vietnam, walking in Italy or exploring Costa Rica with your family, when you’re travelling with Explore you know that you’re in good hands.
G Adventures came from a desire to deliver authentic and responsible small group travel adventures that were equally life-changing for travellers and the communities they visit. And we’re been doing just that for almost 30 years.
Our award-winning trips span seven continents and over 100 countries, giving you meaningful experiences with people, cultures, landscapes and wildlife, as well as offering you the freedom and flexibility to explore on your own.
On all of our tours, you get to know locals every step of the way, from the places you visit and stay to where you eat and drink. You’ll also get to experience our ‘G for Good’ social impact initiatives on-trip, including our industry-leading ‘Ripple Score’. This score measures, as a percentage, the amount of money that stays in the local community through on-trip services like accommodation, restaurants and transport.
Recent Reviews
4.7
For me this trip was about getting out in nature. Loved the time spent in Triglav National Park, going for beautiful walks, staying in Bohinj. Fab location. Also Lake Bled. I could easily have spent more time in the mountains and forgone the towns and cities on this itinerary. Clare was a fantastic guide, giving up her two client-free days to take us ...read more on stunning walks etc. I do think the company should retain private driver/bus for the entire day when needed, especially when some public transport e.g. buses are known to be unreliable. Clare was even told by a public bus driver she shouldn’t be putting her people on public buses. Overall, I lived the trip 💚
As an introduction to the lakes area, Walk the Lake District was amazing! We had the best sunny weather ever which was unheard of for the entire week. The views were spectacular and the group of people we were with were friendly and fun to be with. The accommodation was first class and the food fantastic. Our walks guide was excellent in both gauging ...read more the fitness level of the group and history of the area. Would I recommend this to anyone? Yes, but be fit because to get the views you have to go up! Hannah was great with keeping me on track with paperwork, made it all very easy.
All in all, this was an excellent trip. The guide provided by Explore was exceptional- could not recommend him more highly. The trip was all it said it would be, and more. We saw places and met people that most tourists never would experience. The cycling was challenging. We hadn’t properly understood that half the tour group would be on e-bikes. This ...read more took a bit of negotiation to keep the group together and not break the morale of the non motorised bike riders.
It became apparent that the group members had received differing information in the lead up to the trip mainly regarding bike specific info about clip in pedals, helmets etc. This was concerning as it did potentially negatively impact the trip. My one little criticism would be that others on the tour had received a ‘last minute’ email, gee-ing them up for the trip. I didn’t receive this and so flew from Australia not feeling 100% sure that the tour would happen. This was further exacerbated when we were met at the airport by a driver who didn’t speak English and holding a mis-spelt hand written sign with no mention of cycling. He also drove very fast and dangerously and was abrupt with some of the group members.
It became apparent that the group members had received differing information in the lead up to the trip mainly regarding bike specific info about clip in pedals, helmets etc. This was concerning as it did potentially negatively impact the trip. My one little criticism would be that others on the tour had received a ‘last minute’ email, gee-ing them up for the trip. I didn’t receive this and so flew from Australia not feeling 100% sure that the tour would happen. This was further exacerbated when we were met at the airport by a driver who didn’t speak English and holding a mis-spelt hand written sign with no mention of cycling. He also drove very fast and dangerously and was abrupt with some of the group members.
Great hotels in the centre of town making it so easy in our free time to see any attractions that weren't actually included - but there weren't that many as the tour was very comprehensive.
The itinerary for hiking Madeira island made this trip very enjoyable. From north to south, east to west I left feeling I had a wonderful sense of what makes Madeira so unique. Phillipe our guide was very committed to creating an enjoyable, informative and interesting trip - wonderful knowledge which he generously shares. I respect his organization ...read more of a diverse group of strangers - a great skill - done so nicely. I now have my sights set on the Azores with Explore!
Exceptional experience of Western Turkey...now for Eastern Turkey 1 Timothy and Susan, NSW, Australia, Jun 2024
It was with apprehension that I booked my sweetheart & I on a small group tour as we our preference is solo/freelance or private tours. However, the Turkey Explored tour exceeded our expectations for several reasons. The local tour operator is Sobek Travel, based in Istanbul. The 1st reason was the exceptional tour guide, Alkan Sisli, due to his passion, ...read more organisational skills and attentiveness. A big call here, but we rate Alkan as one of the very best guides over 20 plus years of travelling. Furthermore, Atilla, who was our driver for most of the trip, was professional at all times and never driving in a way that felt that we were at risk while at the same time getting us to each destination within excitations.
The 2nd reason was the itinerary which ensured the best places were covered including places that most tourist don't visit. The 3rd reason was the group; 2 wonderful couples (1 from Britain and 1 from Canada) made the trip extra special. Accommodation exceeded our expectations. Too many highlights to list! The only area to note would be the last night farewell dinner, which was very expensive relative to the small portions served; suggest let the group know the day before and ask the group for their yea/nay beforehand. To close off, now that we have experienced Western Turkey, please investigate a tour which covers Eastern TurkeyY - if this does become available, we are highly like to book.
The 2nd reason was the itinerary which ensured the best places were covered including places that most tourist don't visit. The 3rd reason was the group; 2 wonderful couples (1 from Britain and 1 from Canada) made the trip extra special. Accommodation exceeded our expectations. Too many highlights to list! The only area to note would be the last night farewell dinner, which was very expensive relative to the small portions served; suggest let the group know the day before and ask the group for their yea/nay beforehand. To close off, now that we have experienced Western Turkey, please investigate a tour which covers Eastern TurkeyY - if this does become available, we are highly like to book.
4.6
Awesome time spent in Vietnam on Classic Vietnam: Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City tour 28 Aug to 6 Sep 2024 0 Martha and Katrina, Christchurch, New Zealand, Aug 2024
This G Adventure trip booked through Global Journeys was great. Well put together, great hotels, fabulous food, awesome guided tours, with plenty of great optional activities with ample spare time to do whatever we wanted to do. The cost of the tour was very good too as were the optional activities. Communication was key throughout from start of booking ...read more to end of tour, we were always kept in the loop.
Highlights of the tour were Halong Bay, kayaking, Train Street, Hoi An sights and shopping, motorbike tour to interesting places, noodle making, Cu Chi Tunnels and so many more and all the guides along the way were fantastic, knowledgeable and funny too which made the trip memorable. We had an awesome CEO, Nak, who made us feel very welcome and treated us like family which was very special. He was so much fun, lots of jokes and laughter and fun photos/videos to capture our memories. We loved his enthusiasm and passion for Vietnam which was evident in every story and explanation he gave, and he showed his love of the company, G Adventures. I would definitely book a G Adventures trip again when travelling in the future. Thank you Nak, G Adventures and the Global Journeys team!
Highlights of the tour were Halong Bay, kayaking, Train Street, Hoi An sights and shopping, motorbike tour to interesting places, noodle making, Cu Chi Tunnels and so many more and all the guides along the way were fantastic, knowledgeable and funny too which made the trip memorable. We had an awesome CEO, Nak, who made us feel very welcome and treated us like family which was very special. He was so much fun, lots of jokes and laughter and fun photos/videos to capture our memories. We loved his enthusiasm and passion for Vietnam which was evident in every story and explanation he gave, and he showed his love of the company, G Adventures. I would definitely book a G Adventures trip again when travelling in the future. Thank you Nak, G Adventures and the Global Journeys team!
We used the G Adventures package tour to visit Iguazu Falls and very happy we did so. Trying to visit independently and working through logistical issues would have been challenging, particularly for those, like us, who have no Spanish nor Portuguese language skills. This package handled all the logistical arrangements of airport transfers, border crossings, ...read more visiting both sides of the falls, including the various walks, and arranging the optional activities. We chose to visit the Bird Park, which was excellent and highly recommended, and also did the boat trip from the Argentine side which is a thrilling ride under the falls. This trip is not operated by G Adventures directly so there are some slight differences to normal G tours, but we were very happy with the tour and recommend it highly.
The Ultimate Italy tour was a fabulous 14 days spent with a great group and led by a charismatic and knowledgeable CEO, Silvia. The itinerary - from Rome to Venice - was spaced well with at least 2 nights spent in each accommodation. As is noted, you need to carry your own luggage so backpacks proved preferable over having to carry suitcases. My dealings ...read more with Global Journeys were very professional with prompt and accurate information provided, and very friendly and efficient staff. Would definitely consider another G Adventure trip, and will use Global Journeys again.
India is an amazing country with an amazing history, varied cultural and spiritual beliefs and architecture to die for; a photographer’s dream. Beware though, it’s is not a place for the faint hearted as it’s physically and mentally challenging on a daily basis. It can be quite hot and steamy and the general cleanliness and noise pollution could become ...read more quite overwhelming … rural settings are somewhat less confronting.
Accommodation standards do vary and does food quality. A roll of TP is a mandatory piece of arsenal a tourist must haves! Be sure you are well researched before signing on the dotted line … well informed an India trip or tour will be most rewarding.
Accommodation standards do vary and does food quality. A roll of TP is a mandatory piece of arsenal a tourist must haves! Be sure you are well researched before signing on the dotted line … well informed an India trip or tour will be most rewarding.
Great group of travellers and a great guide with Mangun! Good local knowledge and always very organised 😁 Optional Tours were all exceptional and our bus drivers were all friendly and experienced.
Excellent trip organised by Global Journeys. Georgie our travel consultant was very prompt and friendly in all correspondence! Excellent value for money. G adventures tour operator are very organised and efficient. Accommodation was 4 star, travel group was small and felt like family. Overall tour was a good mix of travel by boat, train, flight and ...read more luxury bus. Enjoyed every moment of the trip. Our CEO Dominic Cao was very friendly and knowledgeable during the entire trip! Highly recommend Global Journeys and G adventures to all out there.
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