How was your Explore Tour Leader?

Goran was great - he was really knowledgeable about everywhere we visited and the history of the three countries. He was a lovley guy, so easy to get along with, really approachable and great at encouraging people to ask questions throughout the tour.

What tips would you give to someone else booking this tour?

Do it! There is so much to the tour, including a lto mroe time spent outside than I expected. Having some knowledge of the history of the area would also eb beneficial, though the Tour LEader is definitely able to fill in any gaps in knowledge you may have.

Do you have anything else to add?

Couldn't recommend this tour highly enough, there is so much more to it than I ever expected!

How was your Explore Tour Leader?

Adam Richardson - very well-prepared and gave us about the right amount of information, but always had more to hand if one inquired.  A nice light touch with the group, most of whom were very well-travelled.  Great suggestions for dinners!

What tips would you give to someone else booking this tour?

Expect to visit a lot of churches and ancient ruins.  Do a little homework on orthodox Christianity if possible.  Have an extra day or so in Sofia to visit the National and Archaeological museums.

Do you have anything else to add?

Overall, I was delighted with the trip.  I enjoyed it far more than the muchmore expensive one I did directly after (not with Explore), which took me to Serbia and Romania. The accommodation was Explore's usual standard.  Expect firm beds!

What I look for on a tour outside Australia are  living cultures, ancient civilizations and their historical sites, and green mountainous scenery. We had it all in Bulgaria, Macedonia and northern Greece, with the added bonus of an excellent Macedonian driver and very pleasant tour leader.

Some unexpected little highlights for me were the nightingale singing all night at the spectacular Monastery of St Joakim Osogovski; the delicious lunch in the ancient crumbling mining town of Kratovo;  the bubbling springs of Black Trim River that feed Lake Ohrid and the pearls made from fish scales; the World War I trenches below Hotel Molik in Pelister National Park; Vevcani with its own odd currency; the charm of the Thessaloniki Greeks; the paved Roman road at Philippi that went from Constantinople to Rome. My advice? See more of the Ballkans. (AM -22nd May 2011)

A tour of great variety covering three different countries. Highlights included: staying in a monastery in a beautiful location, medieval churches around Lake Ohrid (also a beautiful location), the classical sites of Pella and Vergina (amazingly preserved tombs and exquisite gold objects), the vibrant Byzantine city of Thessaloniki, and boat trips up the Matka Gorge in Macedonia, and round Athos and to Thassos in Greece. Apart from the gold, the range of mosaics and frescos was stunning, and there was plenty to see in Sofia at the start and end of the tour. The Balkans are not easy to understand and the tensions and cross-cultural conflicts of the past are still in evidence in claims and counter-claims between the countries and communities, but walking around wherever we were was very safe and easy, and we were welcomed and people were interested in us wherever we went. Food and drink were good and varied, and good value especially in Macedonia and Bulgaria. Although I'd found information about most of the sites before travelling, they nearly all exceeded my expectations. It does help to have some background knowledge of the region so that the accounts you hear from the diffent local guides (all good) on the city and site tours can be fitted into context. I'd definitely recommend this -- it's one of the things Explore do so well, combining different and unexpected elements into an engaging and stimulating tour.