Feedback and comments from some of our
Happy Travelers …
Jen & Cody (Florida)
Custom Journey @ Italy
Picture cooking fresh pasta with a local in a charming Tuscan villa, enjoying a farm-to-table tasting experience of the finest wines & cheeses of the region, your first via ferrata in the Italian Dolomites, and waking up to fresh pastries & cappuccinos every morning. Three years of anticipation ended with a trip of a lifetime to Northern Italy: No detail was overlooked and our trip was everything we hoped for and more. We felt completely immersed in the culture, embraced the language, and loved every minute spent with the local guides. Each experience was unique and carefully crafted to our desires. Explorer X delivers a truly holistic experience and we look forward to booking future trips, knowing we are in the best hands.
Tyler & Christina (New York)
Custom Journey @ Italy
Our honeymoon in Italy was a dream come true! The hotels, transportation, and experiences were all perfect, but what stands out most are the small details that we never would have been able to manage on our own. Michael and the local team made sure all of our days flowed seamlessly while we were traveling and were amazingly responsive when we had questions or needed anything. Explorer X helped us experience Italy authentically and pushed the boundary of what we thought we could learn on a vacation, both about a place and about ourselves. If you're considering working with Explorer X on your next trip, just do it. You won't regret it.
Zach & Greta (Seattle)
Destination: Unknown @ Chile
When meeting Michael for the first time we laid it out; all we are looking for is the adventure of a lifetime — to unplug, reconnect to each other, and celebrate our 10th anniversary with an emphasis on active adventures, food, and love. Oh, and we don’t want to be involved with where we are going or what we are doing. Easy task, right? D:U Chile provided all of that and more. With exquisite attention to detail, Explorer X delivered: from hiking alongside 1300-year-old cacti to kayaking through fjords to puma tracking on a working estancia with superb culinary experiences and mind-numbing, melt your face off views the entire way. The only thing we wished we had more of was time!
Maggy & Gagan (Seattle)
Destination: Unknown @ Vietnam & Cambodia
We started working with Robyn and the Explorer X team before COVID and they did an incredible job handling all of the changes amidst the pandemic. Even after having to reschedule three times, they planned an absolute dream honeymoon ... and still managed to keep it a secret until the last minute! From eating our way through Hanoi and hiking through rice terraces in Sapa to attending the Cambodian circus and seeing Angkor Wat for the first time, the experiences, guides, and places we stayed all far exceeded our expectations. We highly recommend them to anyone who's considering a Custom Journey or Destination: Unknown experience!
Ben & Lindsey (Boston)
Custom Journey @ Portugal
We loved our time in Portugal! The private tours with passionate locals really allowed us to dive into the culture and get a sense of day-to-day life, which was our goal. The boutique hotels at each location were all so uniquely designed with high-class service and amenities. Michael and his team did a great job of balancing packed mornings with open afternoons that afforded us the chance to do some exploring on our own. He also helped us hone in on what we wanted from the experience, encouraging thought exercises before the trip and daily journaling throughout the trip, which allowed for a more fulfilling experience, one we highly recommend!
Mary & Barnes (Chicago)
Custom Journey @ Greece
It was the trip of a lifetime and we can't say one bad thing about it! Our time in Santorini overall was a highlight, and the dinner and massages that Robyn helped coordinate were a favorite! The private tours were so nice as we were able to ask questions and we learned so much about each destination, but the tour of Dellos was our favorite. I honestly think the hotels were a memorable part of each location; at each one, we'd say "This is the nicest hotel I've ever stayed in!" and they only got better. The only thing we disliked was leaving!
Paul & Christine (New York)
Destination: Unknown @ Slovenia
Imagine going on an adventure but you have no idea where you are going! Imagine that each and every day is going to be a surprise full of new activities. Imagine meeting a local artisan and learning his craft, finding your way to a fairytale island, hunting for a castle, hiking to 5000 ft and staying overnight in a hut, soaring high over a lake and mountains, sleeping in a chalet on top of the world, biking down a mountain to your next location, learning to forage for food in the forest, sleeping in a castle, picnicking in a vineyard, and seeing views beyond what you would ever expect. This was our Destination: Unknown in Slovenia.
Denice & Karen (Seattle)
Custom Journey @ Tanzania | Macho na moyo wazi – ‘Eyes & Hearts Wide Open’
After 70 years of dreaming about going to Africa to see elephants and Karen’s desire for an adventure, we called Explorer X and teamed up with Robyn to plan our dream trip. She guided us through a year of planning and preparation. Seeing elephants on the African Steppe took our breath away. Close enough to make eye contact with elephants, lions, giraffes, baboons, and more left us with a feeling of awe and humbleness. A tour of the Uru Coffee Farm in the foothills of Kilimanjaro, an immersive experience into Masai life, a hot air balloon ride over the Serengeti, and the hospitality of the people who love their country etched memories in our hearts that will bubble to the surface with very little encouragement. Look back on all that we experienced, Moyo wangu umejaa – ‘Our hearts are full.’ Thank you to Robyn, Michael, Rama (our guide). You truly delivered on your mission to provide life-changing travel.
Josh & Dana (Seattle)
Custom Journey @ Slovenia & The Dolomites (Italy)
Traveling with Explorer X was amazing. Our travel designer, Robyn, was a pleasure to work with. Inspiration and planning was fun; execution was flawless. Explorer X’s support throughout the process allowed us to fully be present and deeply engaged. Our planned experiences were awesome and many would have been impossible without Explorer X’s local connections. Explorer X is truly transformational travel. We are already planning our next travel experience!
Natalie (Chicago)
Destination: Unknown @ Ecuador
For me, Destination: Unknown in Ecuador represented a lot of things: A celebration of recent big changes I'd made in my life (big move to a new city, new job), and an opportunity to let my mind rest and get out of planning mode. From the minute I landed in Ecuador, I felt taken care of. I was greeted at the gate, met my guide, and was thrown into a wonderful mix of Ecuadorian cuisine, culture, and history. By the time I found myself in a sweat lodge with a shaman a few days later, I was confident I was on a journey I'd not soon forget. This was not a trip that was meant to be comfortable or restful the entire time; rather it was a chance to truly step into the unknown, face new experiences every day, and plug back into myself. Thank you, Michael and Melissa, and all the guides in Ecuador for making sure I had a one-of-a-kind experience!