You might or might not know that we’ve released USA and Canada as brand new destinations on our 2018 tours! This means we officially offer tours on 4 different continents – North America, Europe, the Middle East & Africa. On tour we visit incredible destinations such as New York, Boston , Washington D.C and Quebec City on the east coast and San Francisco, Las Vegas, Route 66 and Los Angeles on the west (to mention but a few).  We asked Carl and Jakes  how the USA & Canada products came to be and what is to be expected of these new itineraries.  Below you can also read more about some of the well-known destinations we’ll visit on tour from 2018 onwards!

Jakes: Why USA & Canada?

There are so many countries out there to explore and we want to include them all on our tours. We feel that our current range of tours do a good job at covering Europe as a continent, and the time is ripe for us to offer tours on other continents such as Africa, the United States and the East. We also have a number of return travellers and we want to give them totally new products, outside of Europe. Recently we launched tours of South Africa and as of this month it’s USA & Canada. The world is truly our oyster and we’re excited to roll out tours to more destinations, more countries and yes, more continents. What’s more,  Carl and I have been to all the destinations on these USA tours and feel that it changed us as travellers. The USA had a massive impact on us both. If a destination makes us feel this way, we have to show it to other people – and that’s what we hope to do with these new tours.

Carl: How did it all start and can you tell us a bit more about the design process?

The Expat Explorers started asking for it. People from other parts of the world wanted to know when they will be able to explore the States with Expat Explore.  What’s more,  we host a big group of Americans and Canadians passengers on tour every year.  Many of them have invited us to visit their home country. We couldn’t resist! About 3 years ago I started exploring USA and Canada. As I set foot in the States, I realised that we’re missing out on a whole new world! I’ve been waiting to offer it to our customers since that day. It took about 4 different trips for me to find exactly what I was looking for. We even had a local expert help design the itineraries.

Jakes: Why specifically the east and west coast?

Basically, it’s the 2 most popular regions in North America.  And yes, we know that it’s just the tip of the great American iceberg! More tours will follow in future. The current tour programs were created for you to see as much as possible without driving for hours and days on end. The States is so much bigger than you can imagine and these itineraries include only the best experiences. The tours are unique and special in every way – which is what we wanted from the start.

Carl: What can explorers expect?

The same amazing value and price. It’s really important to Jakes and I that all the new products offer the same value and affordable prices our explorers are used to. Like always, all destinations, suppliers, and hotels have been handpicked and customized for our Expat Explore passengers. The choice of accommodation in North America and Canada is unparalleled in terms of quality and the service. We really can’t wait to see how the explorers will experience these brand new Expat Explore tours!

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There are no less than 4 Expat Explore USA tours to choose from!  We explore 15 states across USA and Canada and visit over 35 unique destinations.

Here’s a taste of the most iconic destinations we’ll visit in the USA & Canada! We just can’t get enough…

San Francisco, CA

Situated on the tip of a peninsula surrounded by San Francisco Bay and the greater Pacific Ocean, San Francisco is a hilly city with a reputation for being surprisingly outlandish. Look beyond the iconic Golden Gate Bridge, cable cars and year-round blanket of mist and you will find a vibrant city with a character like other. This is a town that has been shaken to its core by earthquakes, dot-com crashes, gold rushes and social revolutions, and lived to tell the tale. These days it is a delightful jumble of colourful Victorian houses, innovative architecture and wind-sculpted treetops that can be viewed from San Fran’s many famous hilltop viewpoints.

Los Angeles, CA

Los Angeles, City of Angels, La La Land. A city with many names, and as many personas, LA is a glittering Southern Californian settlement known as the epicentre of America’s film and television industry. Visitors flock here to encounter the famous Hollywood sign, the Walk of Fame, Hollywood Boulevard, and behind-the-scenes tours on the lots of major studios like Paramount Pictures, Warner Bros, and Universal. And yet, it’s a city with indelible ties to the land. Sprawling neighbourhoods back onto golden beaches, city streets edge onto verdant hillsides and the piercing sun rises to linger on the edge of each new day. LA is all glamour and contrast, and it’s gorgeous.

Grand Canyon West, AZ

Situated in Arizona, at the heart of the Grand Canyon National Park, the immense Grand Canyon with its layered bands of crimson rock is the culmination of millions of years of geological history. This iconic landmark is approximately 2 billion years old, which means it’s been around for about half the time the earth has existed. This also makes the layer of Vishnu Schist at the bottom some of the oldest exposed rock on the planet. Bearing in mind that the very thing that exposed it, the mighty Colorado River, is still carving away at it some six million years later, makes this sight even more epic.

Las Vegas, NV

Situated in the heart of the Mojave Desert in Nevada, Las Vegas is a resort city known for its incredible nightlife and entertainment. The city revolves around glittering 24-hour casinos, themed hotels, and concert venues of all kinds. The Strip, an iconic 4-mile stretch of the city’s main road, is home to some of the most elaborate examples of this stunning opulence. Think neon lights, illuminated fountains and over-the-top architecture promising excitement, fortune, and fame. It’s also filled to the rafters with big-budget stage shows and A-list entertainers that range from megastars like Celine Dion and Elton John to electronic dance music superstars like Calvin Harris and Steve Aoki.

New York, NY

Made up of five boroughs that congregate where the scenic Hudson River meets the Atlantic Ocean, New York City is a destination like no other. At the core of the Big Apple lies Manhattan, a densely populated borough that represents the hub of the USA’s commercial and financial sector. It’s big business out here, as you can tell just by looking at the stoic Chrysler and Empire State Buildings. But NYC is also an epicentre of the arts, with the Met, MoMA and Guggenheim housing famed art from all over the world. Not to mention its culinary wonders, which includes everything from Prohibition-style gastropubs serving cocktails and small plates, to restaurants that grow their own organic veggies on the roof. And then there’s the ballet, jazz, indie cinema, and experimental theatre! And Central Park and China Town! New York City will blow your mind and leave you breathless with wonder.

Boston, MA

Boston, Massachusetts was founded in 1630 and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. In fact, it played a very important role in the American Revolution. These days visitors can follow the 2.5-mile Freedom Trail that connects 16 historically-significant sites throughout the city. But it’s more than just a historical hub. Boston is also home to many fine academic institutions that infuse the city with innovative art, architecture and a palpable sense of contagious energy that keeps it on the cutting edge of vibrant reinvention. It’s also the place where you’ll find some of the best seafood in the US! Think fresh steamed lobster, oysters on the half-shell and thick, creamy chowder. YUM.

Montreal, QC

Life in Montréal is all about festivals, the arts, good food and living well. The city is the largest settlement in Canada’s Québec province and situated on an island in the Saint Lawrence River. The many boroughs that cluster around Mt Royal, the triple-peaked hill at the heart of the city, all used to be independent cities and retain their individual flavour to this day. This includes the cobblestoned, French colonial reaches of Vieux-Montréal with the towering Gothic Revival Notre-Dame Basilica at its centre and the uniquely bohemian Plateau with its many colourful characters. While Toronto may be Canada’s economic capital, Montréal is its beating cultural heart. Here you can join in on 90+ music and arts festivals throughout the year!

Niagara Falls, ON

Niagara Falls is a natural spectacle that straddles the international border between Ontario in Canada and the state of New York in the United States. This gorgeous confluence of three naturally-occurring waterfalls has left visitors speechless for centuries. The Horseshoe Falls, the American Falls and the Bridal Veil Falls have attracted visitors from far and wide with its ethereal hypnotism and thundering beauty ever since Napoleon Bonaparte’s brother Jérôme honeymooned here with his bride in the early 19th century. These days it is also an important source of hydroelectric power for both Canada and the USA.

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Want to find out more about our range of brand new USA & Canada tours? Visit this page to fuel your wanderlust.