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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, 18-to-Thirty Somethings adventures and National Georgraphic Signature luxury trips into their portfolio of trip styles.
Stats
No. of Trips
402
No. of Departures
3,628
Avg. Trip Length
12 Days
Avg. Price Per Day
$388
Accommodation
Mixed
Budget
Affordable & Premium
No. of Trips
1,116
No. of Departures
55,743
Avg. Trip Length
13 Days
Avg. Price Per Day
$378
Accommodation
Mixed
Budget
Affordable & Premium & Luxury
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
I did enjoy this tour as a solo traveller. It was a very small group of both British and Australian people. There wasn’t a lot of extensive bus travel which we all appreciated. However there was a lot of free time and apart from breakfast there are no meals annd few excursions included. You can expect to spend at least $50 on a meal and one drink. read more I did expect these countries to be a cheaper but they were not. The hotels are typical tourist hotels, but they were always in close proximity to the highlights. Breakfast was always excellent. The rooms were small and basic. Many of the participants on this tour, had done several trips with this company.
Better than the Rocky Mountaineer! 0
Canadian Rockies & Pacific Coast
Robert and Marlene, VIC, Australia, May 2026
We decided to do the road trip instead of the train, and it was terrific. Great tour guide, good hotels and going to great lakes with snow most of the way! The train would have not gotten to the places we saw - lakes, snow, great hotels & restaurants too.
Tracey was fantastic in handling the booking, the tour was fantastic, mainly due to Peter the tour leader in Greece. He is a gem, couldn't do enough for us two in particular because we had a few issues of our own. Those islands are incredible , we had never been to the mediterranean before , so it was all mind blowing and we kept on running out of phonebattery read more taking so many pictures. The only negative comment and it's only related to us personally, was that being over 80 and not used to walking 5 miles over goat tracks and up and down mountains, we may have chosen a less strenuous holiday. 10 out of 10.
The highlights of Japan trip was a great one led by our fantastic tour guide, Donni. We got to walk around Tokyo, Nagano, Osaka, Hiroshima, Kanazawa, and Kyoto. Got > 5000 steps in each day. Cherry blossoms were blooming and we were welcomed kindly by everyone we met. Thank you.
We had a great time. We loved having a small group. Everyone got along great. We had a young guide. He was great. The accommodations were so nice. We experienced the true Japanese culture, plus a lot of Western culture. Japan is a lot different from America.
We enjoyed the places we went. The history was so interesting. The sights were beautiful. read more The Cherry blossoms were in bloom!! They are beautiful! The food was amazing. We really enjoyed the tea ceremony. I will say we did not need to see all the temples and shrines. We went to too many. I am sure there was something else we could have gone to. Otherwise, we had a great experience..
We enjoyed the places we went. The history was so interesting. The sights were beautiful. read more The Cherry blossoms were in bloom!! They are beautiful! The food was amazing. We really enjoyed the tea ceremony. I will say we did not need to see all the temples and shrines. We went to too many. I am sure there was something else we could have gone to. Otherwise, we had a great experience..
4.6
Had a fantastic time. Our drivers for both the Kenya and Tanzania portion were very knowledgeable. They answered our many questions and were patient with our many pictures. Both our drivers were respectful of the animals and were careful not to get too close. Our setup crew had everything up and ready when we hit camp. If anything needed fixing they read more did it quickly. The chefs tried to work around everyone's different food sensitivities.
Great Game Drive Experience in Kenya & Tanzania 0
Wildlife of Kenya & Tanzania: Nakuru to Serengeti
Lily, NSW, Australia, Jul 2026
Great experience to see all wildlife in nature. All CEOs & drivers are excellent. We saw massive wildebeest, many herds of zebras, gazelles, antelopes, baboons & giraffes, and the iconic "Big Five", plus cheetahs, hyenas, white rhinos, hippos and crocodiles. The only issue was the game drive vehicle in Tanzania was more crowded than in Kenya. Thanks read more Grace for taking care of our booking, answering our questions promptly.
Best Galapagos experience 0
Galápagos – West & Central Islands aboard the Reina Silvia Voyager
Jo and David, NSW, Australia, Jul 2026
Amazing trip, G Adventures and South American team made everything easy. Boat was incredible, crew fantastic, guide Omar was a standout. Such a fun group of people from all over the world to travel with too. Included transfers took away any stress. Just do it, most incredible place on earth and a great way to do it.
My third trip with G Adventures (including National Geographic Expedition/Journeys), and they've done it again. The Discover the Balkans Tour itinerary struck the perfect balance of culture, history, food and stunning scenery, but Carly (our Tour Leader) made the trip. She was passionate, organised, knowledgeable, full of local insights, and somehow read more made every day feel effortless while creating a genuinely fun and inclusive group. I also met a fantastic group of fellow travellers, which made the experience even more memorable. Three tours in, and I have no doubt I'll be booking with G Adventures again.
This is an outstanding tour in all respects. Excellent itinerary, good accommodation, very knowledgable tour leadership and local guides. All in a small group. Highly recommended. Good support in getting it organised from the Global Journeys team.
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