Explore Tour Leader Awards

Each year we honour our top tour leaders, nominated by our customers and chosen by an expert panel.

Recognising dedication and passion

Explore Tour Leaders are the best in the business. We like to show our amazing tour leaders that we know they're crucial to the success of each individual trip we run and we simply couldn't function without them. The Explore Tour Leader Awards recognise those tour leaders who have made your adventure extra special.

The Prize

The winning tour leader of the year will receive £1500, plus an expenses-paid visit to the UK. Three runners-up prizes of £750 each are also up for grabs.

For 2024, we have introduced a new award - Best Newcomer, for leaders who have been working with us for less than two years - and the prize for this is also £750.

In addition, for 2024, to celebrate our winners, £1,000 will be donated to the Explore Foundation.

Although there are no individual categories, there are four main criteria the judges use when making their decisions:

1. Local knowledge
2. People skills
3. Organisational skills
4. Respect for local people, culture and the environment

Have you had an outstanding Explore tour leader that you feel has displayed all of these qualities? Nominate them for the Explore Tour Leader Awards to help us reward their talent and dedication by completing your CSQ (Customer Satisfaction Questionnaire) upon return from your next trip.

2024 Explore Tour Leader Awards results

Overall Winner–
Zeynep (Turkey) - pictured

Customer comments:

‘Zeynep is a great leader in all senses. Her energy and enthusiasm were always present... Her sense of humour is great. Her professionalism is spot on. She truly is a number 1 leader.’

‘Zep made me feel comfortable and welcome straight away with her friendly smile and demeanour when she greeted me on the first morning after my arrival... Overall, a very genuine and caring individual.’

'I cannot praise our guide highly enough, she was superb. Good local knowledge, friendly & approachable. Very compassionate. Zep got me through the tough parts of the walk and gave me the courage to take on all of the challenge. This was my 1st Explore group walk and I was nervous about keeping up and managing the distance, Zep always looked after the slower members of the group keeping us going and she help make us a cohesive group that looked after and supported each other - she led by example with her gentle humour, integrity and compassion.'

Runners up –
Ester (Spain and Portugal)
Sudarshan (Nepal)
Gennaro (Italy)

NEW: Best newcomer -
Sajid (Pakistan)

Previous winners