TEP deserves more than 5 stars for the amazing start to finish service we experienced on our 7 day…read moreadventure to Peru to hike the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu. From the time we signed up, to the time we boarded the plane to return home, TEP took care of every detail. We commented amongst ourselves that we felt like kids on vacation with our parents, as we didn't have to worry about any of the details - just show up and follow Neptali (our guide). From airport pickup in Cusco in luxury Mercedes vans where we were promptly served Coca tea to help with the altitude acclimation, to group dinners at amazing Peruvian restaurants, to historical tours and education on the history of the Inca - everything was covered and taken care of for us. And that was all before the amazing trek along the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu! Of course the trek itself was the highlight of the trip, and although it was extremely challenging for us, TEP's unbelievable attention to detail did not fail us on the trail. With nearly a 2:1 porter to trekker ration, our every need was met on the trail. We dined like kings every meal, and were consistently amazed with the quality (and nutritional appropriateness) of the food our chef and sous chef were able to put out with minimal kitchen conveniences. The thing I felt was most special about TEP's approach to this trip was the focus on gaining a cultural and historical appreciation for what we were experiencing. Every step along the way, we learned about the native people of Peru, the Inca civilization, the many ruins we came across, the vegetation we saw and how it was and is used, and the history of modern Peru. It was the trip of a lifetime, and have the help of The Explorer's Passage made it so much more enjoyable, and so much more memorable. The value of what they provide is amazing for the cost....rather, for the investment. I highly recommend them!

What a fabulous tour! I did the "Washington in NYC" tour in June 2017 and it was such a wonderful…read moreexperience! So much fascinating historical information that I can't wait to share with all my friends now; such a great group of fellow explorers; and all so perfectly run - well planned, perfectly on time, with a great variety of sights and insights for all types of travelers. I recommend this tour highly - and will be on the lookout for future adventures from The Explorer's Passage! :)

Explore two sides of New York City on a walking tour that visits Wall Street and the 9/11 Memorial…read more While the dynamic history of Wall Street can be confusing to many visitors, visiting on a guided tour makes it easy to learn more about the capital of world finance--making the outing ideal for history and finance buffs. Incorporating a stop at the 9/11 Memorial adds a must-see NYC site to your day. My highlight was the Raging Bull

Money and power - you can smell it in the air. This is the heart of the largest economy on the…read moreplanet (for the moment). Trillions of dollars flow through here every business day. It's awesome! While there is a lot of security to keep stupid people from driving in and doing something stupid and lots of wandering cops and security, it's still surprisingly open and accessible. And that's what makes America great. You can still protest (yes, the #Occupy folks were sitting on the steps of Federal Hall), but you can also be a plain old boring sightseer. When I was here last, there was a massive American flag draped over the front of the New York Stock Exchange. This time, it's just a very imposing and very boring building. Don't forget to walk down Broadway to the Charging Bull, which is still at least a little accessible for taking pictures like a tourist! It used to be possible to rub his "boy parts" which is supposed to give you good financial luck, but they've blocked that off. *sad face*

We visited the UN on Jun 24, 2025 as part of the Road Scholar's "American Mosaic - An NYC…read moreExploration" program. Two days prior to the visit, our tour guides registered us with our IDs. On the day itself, we lined up at the Visitor Check-In Office across the street from the UN to pick up our visitor passes. There was already a long line stretching out of the office at 9am. Even though our photos appeared blurry, there were no issues with the issuing of the passes. Then we crossed the street to the front gate of the UN where a security guard let us in. Next, we entered at the north lobby entrance via the security checkpoint. In compliance with UN policy, we left our water bottles and backpacks in the tour bus. Our tour group of 36 was divided into two smaller groups, and then led to the other end of the General Assembly building where we waited for our assigned UN tour guide. Ben D. from Germany appeared, introduced himself and the tour began. Starting at the third floor of the General Assembly building, Ben spoke as he showed us various gifts bestowed by other countries, artwork, as well as official documents and exhibits. He talked fast but was gracious in answering questions. One notable subject he brought up was language translators - the most difficult job in the UN. It requires extensive training, exceptional fortitude and nothing less than near-perfection. According to Ben, the dropout rate is a staggering 85%! The only other training program that is as difficult if not more so is Navy SEALs. The first chamber we saw was the Security Council Chamber in the Conference Building. A TV outside the room was showing clips of its past meetings - there was one at every chamber. As Ben explained the role of the Security Council, he pulled up a Council meeting that was in progress on his phone and placed the phone next to the TV, allowing the groups to see both past and present meetings side-by-side. When he received confirmation, we went inside the chamber. It was empty saved for two individuals congregating at the far end of the room. As we proceeded to the next chamber, there were additional TV screens mounted on adjacent walls of the chambers. Each screen displayed the daily schedule of each chamber. Then we came to Trusteeship Council Chamber. Unlike the last chamber, we were allowed to enter while a meeting was in progress so long as we didn't take pictures or videos. We briefly saw the Australian delegate spoke before we were quickly ushered out. The Economic and Social Council Chamber was next. Like the Security Council Chamber, there was no meeting in progress so we spent more time in there. All three chambers - and probably the other conference rooms as well - have circular and/or half-moon tables. Ben emphasized the maintaining of eye contact and equality status of every participant as the driving reasons for the use of these furniture. Behind the windows circled in red are the translators' booths, where language translators are situated to translate every dialogue of a meeting in six languages - Arabic, English, French, Mandarin, Russian and Spanish. That being said, allow me to draw your attention to the photos of the seats. Notice the devices circled in red, one by each seat. They are radios that allow attendees to listen to the meetings translated in six languages, one channel for each language. Ben also showed us a touchscreen monitor, and its two-fold purpose: 1) educate visitors on the work UN is doing, and 2) help UN track their progress on current projects. By pressing a soft button on the monitor, a different screen appeared followed by an explanation (by Ben) on what it meant. Ben saved the best for last: the General Assembly hall. With the exception of the last two rows of seats at the back, the rest were furnished with desks for member nations, row after row all the way to the rostrum. Towards the front on each side of the hall are two floors of translators booths. The tour concluded with a group photo and a trip to the gift shop. Wife bought a keychain and a mug, while I got me this cool hoodie made out of fleece (or so it claimed). The tour lasted about 1.5 hours. I wished I had taken more photos, and seen more of the first floor. Overall, the tour was enjoyable. Ben was a good guide. Being part of a group helped to enrich the experience. I'd love to return to the UN but that next time be led by a different tour guide.

GOVERNANCE: Established in 1945, to promote international peace, the U.N. Headquarters maintains a…read morehigh security presence and the only time I was ever in that Building was during an Elementary School trip. CAUTION.

Tried out the San Francisco Mission food tour with two of my colleagues on a Saturday morning…read more There were also five other people on the tour along with our guide. We ended up eating at five locations with a break in between. The meeting point - Mission Playground: felt kind of in the middle of nowhere since we weren't actually informed of the places we were eating at beforehand. Still fairly convenient as it was about four blocks from the nearest BART station. Our guide briefed us about a little history of the Mission and encouraged us to take photos of the tour; the best photographer would get a sixth bonus tasting. Stop 1 - Craftsman and Wolves: a very busy place so there was no seating for our group, but we ended up at one of those nearby hipster parklets. We were each given a Rebel Within: a savory muffin with a soft boiled egg inside and Tabasco salt on the side. Very tasty and hearty enough to almost fill up some people. Stop 2 - Ali Baba's Cave: it was a fairly hot and sunny day, but before going inside the restaurant we got a lecture about the history of falafel while standing in the heat; very informative, but it could have waited until the group was seated. I've been to Ali Baba's before and knew the food was good, but had never tried the falafel sandwich. We ended up getting three of them, which we split into thirds. The sandwich as a whole was very fresh and savory, but the sauces and eggplant ended up masking much of the falafel's flavor. What really made this stop nice was lots of seating, allowing the group to introduce each other and get to know each other. Stop 3 - Taqueria Cancun: also a fairly packed place, but we were able to bus two tables as a few other groups left. We had a selection of three tacos: beef tongue, al pastor, or super veggie. It was also the only stop where you could buy beer separately from the tour's initial price. I picked a beef taco and declined drinking. Relatively mild and satisfactory taco, which actually worked well as a palette cleanser after the very robust falafel. Like the previous stop, this place stood out as it allowed the group to relax and chat while enjoying some good food. Break - The Women's Building: we got a bit of history of the building itself and what it was previously used for. The mural on the side of the building was quite exquisite, though trying to view it from top to bottom meant staring directly into the hot sun. There was also an implication that we'd actually see the interior of the building, but we headed off to more stops. Stop 4 - Pizzeria Delfina: another busy place too crowded for our group, so we waited on the sidewalk. We shared a fresh Margherita pizza. The cheese was amazing and we learned that it was made that day over in Berkeley. The staff at Delfina was giving us some strange looks as we hung out on the curb and discussed their cuisine. Stop 5 - Tartine: one of the most infamous bakeries in San Francisco, which meant there was a long line out the door. We once again waited out on the curb. We ended up trying the salted chocolate rye cookie, which was more or less a high quality brownie. A good way to wrap up the meal. We compared photos we had taken and the guide picked a winner who got free Bi-Rite ice cream around the corner. Overall a good tour with great people. I'd prefer in the future they choose more welcoming places like Ali Baba and Cancun over cramped shops with high quality food. Still, I'd highly recommend trying the tour with a few people you already know well.

They say, time flies when you're having fun!…read more I am a born and raised San Francisco Chinese American. I joined the tour on a Saturday afternoon with non native SF friends. This tour exceeded my expectations. It was so fun to see the staples from my childhood - my memories exploded! Elaine was our fun tour guide. She knew her history and brought us to many different alleyways and eateries. SF Chinatown is known for alleys, she'll explain. =D All eateries were different and distinguished from their own regions. My favorite stops - fortune cookie shop and Tin How Temple. What a fun experience and can't wait to recommend this tour to other visitors. Don't forget to bring cash for some fun shopping!

We could not have been happier with Off season Adventures…read more We're pretty seasoned travelers, having planned our own trips to Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, southern Mexico, and other remote places, but I was pretty overwhelmed on where to begin with Tanzania. In stepped Off season Adventures, who worked with us on a custom itinerary that included exactly what we wanted to do, plus activities we had hadn't considered or even knew were possible. On top of that, they matched us up with a great driver who was with us the entire way. What was supposed to be trip to the Serengeti turned into so much more. We went to elephant and giraffe sanctuaries, stayed in a Masai lodge/hut, went on a morning hunt, and saw 4 different national parks. Our driver was very experienced and managed to get us up close to leopards, cheetahs, and the big 5, while also knowing the names of every plant, tree, and bird we saw. We were happy with every lodge we stayed in (impressive, as we stayed in 7 different ones!). We had a few unusual activity requests and Off season went above and beyond to incorporate all of them. Off season worked through every detail with us, responded to every question we had (usually within minutes), compiled every bit of information we needed, and were with us every step of the way. They did all of this all within a pretty aggressive budget and schedule. On top of all of that, Off season prioritizes responsible tourism, with important social projects, carbon offsets, and an emphasis on not just visiting Tanzania but learning about and understanding the people who make it such an amazing place. Thank you for the amazing trip, Off season Adventures!

A safari was on our bucket list -- some day. In January we attended the Boston Globe travel show…read morefor the first time and our name was randomly picked out of a jar for $500 towards a safari from a company exhibiting at the show: Off Season Adventures. I turned to my partner and said "I guess this is the year for that safari." We met Tanner and his Tanzanian partner Hosea. We talked and expressed one concern: we're gay and would that be a problem. We were assured it would not be. Over the next several months we worked with Tanner to develop a trip that met our interests. We wanted to add a couple of extra days, to get to know the people not just go on game drives, to have a private tour, and to end the trip with one week on the beach. Tanner listened. The trip Tanner and Hosea put together was perfect and it resulted in one of our best ever vacations. The trip started with three days of game drives through Tarangire and Lake Manyara parks, followed by two days of meeting with local tribes and residents in their environments. The last three days were wonderful game drives through Ngorongoro Crater and the Serengeti. We then flew from the Serengeti to Zanzibar and the beach. Each game drive was filled with watching animals roam and live in their environment and each held surprises and rare sightings of cheetahs, lions, leopards and even a rare rhino. Over the course of the game drives we saw more that 40 different animals and numerous bird species. Hosea had an amazing ability to spot animals hundreds of yards away when we needed our binoculars to discover what he had seen without them. We learned much about how animals live, interact, and use their environment for their benefit, how giraffe's tongues were designed to avoid the sharp spines of the acacia tree, how elephant dung was a vital component of the ecosystem, watched as ostriches enacted their mating ritual, learned why zebras migrate together with wildebeest, and watched the antics of blue monkeys and baboon families. Lions, elephants, zebras, and giraffes wandered within feet of our safari vehicle. We visited with three tribes - the nomadic bush-living Hadzabis, who led us on a two-hour bush hunt, including eating a bird that they had killed with their bow and arrow and cooked in the bush. Back at their camp we watched as they joyously sang and danced. The Datoga Tribe is noted for their metalwork, using rudimentary tools we watched as they turned a 4-in. nail into an intricate barbed arrow. Finally, we went on a walk with a leader of the Iraqw tribe, herders and farmers. He invited us into this home where we watched as his wife cooked a meal. We also visited a water well partially funded by Off Season Adventures and Dry to Green, which supplies several villages. A visit to a school, including a math class with complicated equations on the blackboard, opened our eyes to how education was a serious endeavor despite rudimentary facilities. Thirst for learning was palatable. All this was organized because of our interest in learning more about the people and the country. All the camps and hotels that we stayed at were top notch. Every person we met throughout the tour was unreservedly happy, I can't point to another country where the people were as friendly as here. Off Season Travel also organized our final week on Zanzibar, including finding a local architect to give a half-day tour of historic Stonetown -- because of our stated interest in architecture. The hotel they found for us was on the best part of the beach in Kendwa, with great facilities and a wonderful, friendly staff. A great sunny ending to our Tanzanian visit. We would recommend to any of our friends and family or anyone else who is curious about going on a safari to work with Tanner at Off Season Adventures. They will get an experience that will not only live in photos but also in their memories.

While driving through Oyster Bay, I kept seeing signs to Sagamore Hill. Quite honestly, I didn't…read moreknow what it was, but given our curious minds, my daughter continued driving to follow the signs up to Sagamore Hill. Turns out, it was the home of 26th President, Theodore Roosevelt, from 1885 until his death in 1919. The house and its surrounding farmland became the primary residence of Theodore and Edith Roosevelt for the rest of their lives. Sagamore Hill became known as the "Summer White House" during the seven summers (1902-1908) Roosevelt spent there as President. Turns out, Sagamore Hill is also an animal preserve, too. "Teddy," being quite the lover of animals, stated that forever and ever, animals are ALWAYS welcome on his 83 acres of property. Yours, mine, anybody's. FOREVER. That is a really cool thing. Sadly, we arrived after 5 p.m., so the buildings were closed, but there were plenty of things to see outdoors. Beautiful, well kept grounds. Next time I'm in town, especially if my husband is around, we'll return, and maybe within the hours to see the interior of his house. Too bad our little doggies won't be. They'd love it here !!

We chose not to take the house tour since my friends and I are not impressed by flagrant rabid…read moreanimal blood lust, big sticks and what not... and we had just missed it and didn't feel like waiting around for the next one. So instead we spend the days as gentiles, perusing the free museum, strolling the nature trail and splashing around in the private Roosevelt beach at Cold Spring Harbor... nobody got naked... you can't prove it... and it was only for like five seconds... There are also domestic turkeys poking around... and those suckers sure can run if you try to chase them, which we did... all in all a pretty fun day!

This is such a great tour, and a fun way to learn about NYC. i am a local and always wondered what…read moretales and mayham lies beneath these buildings. The 2 hour walking tour of the hells kitchen area is a must book! I booked online directly with the website and paid about $35 per person. On a friday night at 8 pm, this was a great way to kick off halloween season with my friends. I had a few questions along the way, but owner Elise always answered my emails quickly. Meghan our tour guide was incredibly informed, animated and a sweetheart to spend the night with. she was engaging and really was into the stories and facts about this area of town. My suggestion? Meghan should have a microphone or something better to project her voice. she was great, but it was hard to hear at times due to the loudness of the city and her voice being on the lower side. I also think her candle lit lantern should be brighter or bigger. we had issues finding her, but to our surprise we were within a few feet from her. my favorite part of the tour and what made this unique were the candy that Meghan gave us in the beginning, and the sheet at the end with all of the facts and story names that we heard. i have been on so many tours and always have to rush taking notes or googling things as the tour happens that i end up loosing info or missing out on hearing items, but this printed out list of facts was a HUGE help.

Wow!! I was hoping for a fun night of spooky stories & was instead gobsmacked when treated to…read moresomething truly unique! The inimitable Meghan is the Beyoncé of tour guides! Actually, "tour guide" brings to mind those boring school trips we all inevitably experienced at some point during childhood. She instead gifted us with a lively, fascinating journey, which was equal parts TED Talk, one-woman-show, & incredible (as well as incredibly macabre!) NYC history lesson! The whole experience was as wildly entertaining & informative as it was inspiring, even to this jaded, native New Yorker. Highly recommended!!!

Three generations of family took this delightful tour--from 11 years to 75 years. The kids love…read moreBroadway (looking at you, Hamilton) and the grandparents love history--the parents love for both of the other pairs to be happy. The walking wasn't too difficult for either end of the age spectrum--in fact we did lots of sitting in the shade, too. Bruce is a priceless New Yorker and completely fascinated us with a thorough and profound knowledge of revolutionary Manhattan. I think he absolutely under-charges for his tours. Very highly recommended! Yes, I did post this review on other platforms. Who is going to write different reviews every time?

I love true-blue, real New Yorkers. They are some of the most wonderful people I have ever met in…read moreall of my years living there. Real New Yorkers are those who call the city their home, make her their home, and love her with all of their heart. Bruce is as New York in kindness of heart, deep thinking of mind, and generosity of spirit as they come. This is important to say because this tour is not only about Hamilton (and the monstrous success that is Lin-Manuel Miranda's musical) or Washington. This is a tour about New York and the influence these men had on molding her into who she has become. Almost analogous to Nora Ephron having NYC as a character in her films but just not corny (this coming from me who has watched You've Got Mail at least 25 times!). We took this tour in Sept 2017 and met in front of the US Customs House (today it's the home of the National Museum of the American Indian). This building is right opposite Bowling Green station. Bruce's website gives a nice overview of what you will see/discuss so I recommend reading the description so you have a general idea in your mind and then let the tour immerse you in history through his wonderful storytelling. I especially liked that Bruce walked us through a high-level chronological order of events. My personal favorite moments: -seeing a "3D" map of the city I would never have seen on my own -learning more about Eliza Schuyler Hamilton and her role in history and in Hamilton's life (the Smithsonian even published an article on her saying she is deserving of a musical of her own!) http://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/why-elizabeth-hamilton-deserving-musical-her-own-180958214/ -Washington as a leader and his learnings from the Battle of Brooklyn/Battle of Long Island -Mother Nature's influence on helping the Patriots -the relationship between Hamilton and Burr. This tour is one of my favorites of all the ones I have taken in countless cities. Thank you Bruce for such a wonderful and knowledge-filled September 2017 day!