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G Adventures Review: My Honest Opinion

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G Adventures Review

Are you considering a tour with G Adventures ? Here’s my honest G Adventures review!

G Adventures is a group tour company that describes themselves as having a focus on “small group, sustainable, adventure travel.” They have been running tours for more than 30 years and currently offer tours on all seven continents.

I’m going to talk about my personal experience with G Adventures this year, as well as whether I recommend them to other travelers.

I did a 16-day Costa Rica Adventure tour with G Adventures and it was the first time I had ever done a group tour, and I wasn’t sure what to expect.

Here’s my honest review of my experience with G Adventures and whether I recommend them!

Who Are G Adventure Tours For?

First of all, let’s talk about the target audience for G Adventures.

G Adventures tours are a good option for a variety of travelers. As a whole, I would say they are more focused on adventure travel and more standard accommodations (not super budget or super luxury.)

However, they do offer different categories of tours, with some of them being tailored toward specific age groups, interests, or travel styles. The categories for tours are:

• Classic Tours 
• National Geographic Journeys
• 18-to-Thirtysomethings Tours
• Wellness Tours
• Active Tours
• Marine Tours

And a few more! You can see all their categories here on their website .

The Classic Tours is a great option for anyone. From what I gather, the National Geographic Journeys typically attract older travelers or families and are more luxurious, while the 18-to-thirtysomethings tours are obviously for a younger crowd and more basic.

If you have a specific interest, like wellness or outdoor activities, you can choose a tour that is more heavily focused on those aspects and incorporates them into the itinerary.

My G Adventures Cost Rica Tour Experience

I did the G Adventures 16-day Costa Rica Adventure tour in February 2021.

This was obviously an interesting time to be traveling because of the pandemic, and so there ended up only being me and one other girl on their tour (along with our guide!)

More on their COVID policies and cancellation policies further down!

I really enjoyed this experience because we basically had a private tour. Obviously, this isn’t the norm, and on a typical tour, you can expect to have 10-15 other travelers.

However, you can also book a private group tour with G Adventures (for example, if you just want it to be you and your family or a group of friends and no strangers.)

On this tour, we visited the following destinations:

• San Jose, Costa Rica (1 day)
• Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica (2 days)
• Tortuguero, Costa Rica (2 days)
• Sarapiqui, Costa Rica (2 days)
• La Fortuna, Costa Rica (3 days)
• Monteverde, Costa Rica (2 days)
• Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica (2 days)

We enjoyed adventurous activities like waterfall rappelling, ziplining, surf lessons, a catamaran cruise, nature walks, hiking to a waterfall, a jungle boat safari, and so much more.

Costa Rica is famous for its biodiversity, and we saw plenty of animals like monkeys, sloths, toucans, caimans, crocodiles, frogs, and more in the wild!

The Costa Rica Adventure tour is one of their Classic Tours.

Highlights of My Tour

Honestly, I enjoyed almost everything about my tour with G Adventures. The whole time I was on my tour, I was thinking of how glad I was that I did it!

Some of the main highlights for me were…

I thought the price for this tour ($1,600 when I went) was fair and worked out to about $100 per day. This included hotels, transportation, some activities, and some meals.

I did spend an extra $750 on food and activities that weren’t included in the tour.

Overall, I felt like this is the amount I would have spent even if I had traveled independently since Costa Rica is the most expensive country in Central America. It was well worth it not to have to worry about planning the logistics myself, which I normally have to do as a solo traveler .

Our guide (or CEO as G Adventures calls them) was great!

Having a local Costa Rican guide was really nice and helpful, and I felt like I experienced more of the country than I would have on my own. Our guide was also super fun and friendly and since we had such a small group it just felt like traveling with another friend!

Again, it was also nice to have someone who dealt with all the logistics and organization, meaning I didn’t have to worry about anything for the entire two weeks of the tour

The ease of the tour

Going off of what I said above, it was nice to be on a tour where I didn’t have to worry about planning or arranging anything myself. I had never done an organized tour like this before, but I would definitely do it again because it was such a fun, seamless experience.

If you don’t enjoy planning trips but want a vacation that’s more active and adventurous than just sitting in an all-inclusive resort somewhere, G Adventures tours are a great option.

As a solo traveler, I normally do ALL the planning for trips myself, and it can get exhausting. So one of the best parts of this tour was not having to worry about any of that.

Our itinerary

I felt like I really got to see the highlights of Costa Rica on this itinerary!

It was a mix of beaches, jungle, and mountains. We saw so much wildlife and got to do so many cool activities.

Although we only spent 2-3 days in each place, it felt like enough time and never felt rushed. I definitely would not change anything about the itinerary for this trip.

Lowlights of My Tour

Honestly, I only had one disappointment on my tour, and that was the accommodations.

When I booked my tour, I hadn’t done much research into the accommodations, but I knew I was booking the “Standard” service level (out of Basic, Standard, and Upgraded) and we would be staying in 3 star hotels described as “comfortable tourist-class accommodations” on this tour.

I’ve stayed at plenty of great 3-star hotels (and even 2-star hotels) around the world, but the quality of accommodation on my Costa Rica tour left me pretty disappointed.

Out of all seven places we stayed on this tour, I would not recommend a single one.

Some of the issues at our hotels included…

• Lack of amenities (no hand towels, washcloths, shampoo, or even soap…)
• No air conditioning in several places
• WiFi that barely worked or didn’t work at all
• Non-working appliances (lamps, etc.)
• Lizards, spiders, ant infestations, and other bugs…

I was just really unimpressed with the accommodations on this tour, and it would definitely make me hesitate to book a standard service-level tour with G Adventures again.

I would probably book an Upgraded service level tour instead or do extensive research on all of the accommodations first if I was going to do Standard.

Overall, while this was definitely the biggest drawback, I still highly enjoyed my tour. The accommodations on this particular tour might not even bother you, depending on how picky you are when it comes to where you stay. I’m definitely on the more picky side!

I also can’t speak for the hotels on any other G Adventures tour since this is the only one I’ve done.

G Adventures Cancellation Policy

G Adventures Book with Confidence policy allows you to cancel or reschedule your tour up to 45 days prior to departure. It’s a pretty flexible policy that makes it a no-brainer in terms of booking ahead.

And during the pandemic when travel plans and restrictions were constantly changing, G Adventures introduced a flexible cancellation policy that allowed you to cancel and rebook your tour up to 14 days prior to departure. This gave you maximum flexibility when booking a tour. It’s not so relevant now, but I appreciated this policy back then.

Would I Recommend G Adventures?

Yes, I would definitely recommend G Adventures.

Even though I was pretty disappointed with the accommodations on my tour, I overall still REALLY enjoyed the experience, and I’ll be reminiscing on this trip for a long time to come!

This trip was a major highlight of my months in Central America.

If you’re looking for a group tour option that’s not too expensive and is guaranteed to be an adventure, G Adventures is the perfect choice for you.

I hope you found these G Adventures review helpful!

Ready to book? Click here to explore all G Adventures tours!

Read Next:  The Perfect Two Week Costa Rica Itinerary

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About Denise Cruz

Denise is a marketing executive who escaped corporate to travel the world… twice. A Brazilian native living in the U.S., she’s lived in 4 countries and visited 35+ others. After side-hustling her way to financial independence, she curates solo destination guides, slow travel tips, and travel blogging advice on Wander Her Way. When she’s not on the road, you can find her in Miami with her dog Finnegan.

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G Adventures Review – Adventure Travel Tours [Tour Styles, Destinations, Reviews]

Amar Hussain

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Table of Contents

Who are g adventures tours good for, g adventures tour types and destinations, g adventures top tours, g adventures reviews, g adventures vs. contiki, g adventures vs. intrepid, final thoughts.

We may be compensated when you click on product links, such as credit cards, from one or more of our advertising partners. Terms apply to the offers below. See our Advertising Policy for more about our partners, how we make money, and our rating methodology. Opinions and recommendations are ours alone.

Most of us have a travel bucket list, but there are some destinations that you may feel more confident exploring with a guided tour. Maybe you’re concerned about language barriers , or you’d rather not have to worry about navigating public transport yourself. It’s natural to feel both excited and apprehensive when visiting somewhere new, and booking an escorted tour can alleviate any concerns you may have, especially if you’re traveling solo.

G Adventures has been providing small group tours for over 20 years and consistently listens to customer feedback to provide authentic and life-changing experiences. The G stands for “Good,” which doesn’t just refer to the good time that you’ll have on a tour — it also applies to the impact G Adventures strives to have on the local communities that it encounters along the way.

All G Adventure tours have 100% guaranteed departures , which some operators can’t provide. This avoids the disappointment of having to move to another date or destination just because the number of participants is not viable to run the tour.

Solo Travelers

Group tours are perfect for those that are itching to get away but can’t find a travel buddy. As tour prices are based on a solo rate , you needn’t factor-in expensive single supplements, as you’ll often have the option to upgrade to a private room if you choose. You’ll find that adventure tours attract like-minded individuals, and many G Adventurers have made life-long friends on their trips.

Although socializing is not compulsory on a tour, it does help if you enjoy the company of others. You could be spending weeks with the same people on your tour bus, group trips, and activities, so if you hate being around strangers, then this type of tour probably isn’t for you.

Hot Tip:  If you’re thinking about the iconic sights you might want to explore on a tour, check out these virtual tours of popular tourist attractions around the world , including Angkor Wat and the Great Wall of China. 

Friends or Groups

Friends often book onto tours as no 1 person needs to be responsible for arranging or coordinating the itinerary or managing payments. 1-on-1 travel can be an intense experience, especially if you’re not used to spending that much time together, so joining a tour can alleviate the pressure.

Just because you start a family, doesn’t mean that you can’t explore new and exotic destinations. If your children are 12 years or older, they are welcome on most standard tours when accompanied by an adult, and dedicated family tours are suitable for families with children aged 7-17. A family tour can broaden horizons for many children and educate them in different cultures and languages.

Touring Skeptics

You may have embarked on many solo trips and love the thrill of independent travel, but it doesn’t necessarily mean that a small group tour isn’t for you. There are a few destinations, such as some southern African countries, where public transport isn’t the most reliable. The prospect of being driven the vast distances while getting some shut-eye along the way can be quite appealing.

With a small group tour, you’ll have a permanent tour guide that will be an expert in the destination and will be able to answer any questions you have along the way. With tried and tested itineraries , you can rest assured that you’re exploring the highlights of that destination and can often immerse yourself more in the local culture and communities due to the connections the tour company has established.

G Adventures recognizes that not everyone likes the same kind of travel, so it offers various styles of tours that cater to most.

18-to-Thirtysomethings Tours

These tours are a little larger in capacity (up to 22) to allow you to meet more people , and let’s face it, if you’re on an 18-to-Thirtysomethings Tour, you’re likely open to the opportunity of meeting some new pals. Tours have a good balance of culture and free time, so you can be exploring temples by day and the local bars and restaurants by night.

Active Tours

Active Tours allow you to explore new destinations through hiking, biking, and other activity sports, such as kayaking and rafting. Each tour has an activity rating to let you know how physically demanding a tour is, and they have a maximum of 16 people (but an average of 10).

Hot Tip:  G Adventures recommends bringing a backpack on your tour rather than a suitcase, as it’s easier to transport than a suitcase. Check out the best hiking and backpacking backpacks for your trip and don’t forget your other adventure travel essentials .

Classic Tours

Classic Tours offer the perfect blend of cultural experiences, must-see highlights, and free time . If you discover something amazing and unscheduled along the way, the G Adventures Chief Experience Officers (CEOs) can adjust the itinerary accordingly to ensure you don’t miss out on those spontaneous, once-in-a-lifetime experiences.

Family Tours

Organizing a family holiday can be stressful, but with a G Adventures Family Tour, you have the comfort and security of your knowledgeable guide, family-friendly accommodations, and specially-designed itineraries. Family tours usually include 3 or 4 families from all over the world with children around the same age. To ensure everyone has a great time, all family tours have a recommended age ranking indicating how suitable the activities are for children.

Hot Tip:  Traveling with the kids can be a little overwhelming at times, especially to an unknown destination. Read these tips for amazing family travel with your kids .

Local Living Tours

If you’re not a fan of moving from hotel to hotel on a busy tour, but you’re keen to experience a local’s way of life, then a Local Living Tour could be just the ticket. Most tours involve unpacking only once at your home-from-home , including a Tuscan farmhouse or remote village in the Amazon. Live like the locals and do as little or as much as you like with flexible itineraries.

Marine Tours

From river cruises to ocean expeditions, traveling by water can provide a unique way of exploring some of the world’s most magnificent aquatic destinations. Traveling onboard smaller ships than cruise liners allows you to get closer to extraordinary marine wildlife and enjoy more meaningful encounters with local people and communities.

National Geographic Journeys

National Geographic Journeys with G Adventures offers a range of unique tours that delve deeper into the communities and habitats than on a Classic Tour. Your CEO will have specialized National Geographic training for more in-depth, local knowledge on your destination, and tours feature more inclusions and hands-on exploration than standard tours.

It’s as much about the journey as it is about the destination with a Rail Tour. Cruise through some of the world’s most remote areas while enjoying a window view and a glass of wine. Not only is rail travel an authentic and exciting mode of transport, but it also leaves a smaller carbon footprint compared to coaches and airplanes , if responsible travel is important to you.

Hot Tip:  There are many ways that you can become a greener traveler, from taking reusable water bottles to being selective with your toiletries. To do your bit for the environment, take a look at our green travel tips . 

With a G Adventures Wellness Tour, you’ve got the perfect combination of rejuvenating practices such as yoga or mediation and an incredible location. Experience ancient restorative practices and ceremonies and explore cultural sights and awe-inspiring scenery. Most tours include wellness moments such as a daily yoga session or spa treatment, and tours focus on healthy food experiences to nourish the mind and body.

Destinations

G Adventures operates tours to over 100 destinations across the following continents, countries, and areas:

• Australia and New Zealand
• Central America and the Caribbean
• North Africa and the Middle East
• North America
• Polar regions
• South America

G Adventures Antarctica

The Antarctic is a destination that many adventurers dream of visiting. Colossal icebergs, gigantic glaciers, and jagged mountains make up the beautiful but barren landscape, and it’s a wonder how the brutally cold conditions create a home for such a variety of wildlife.

You’ll be on board the G Expedition that can sleep up to 134 passengers and has many communal areas such as the Penguin Library and Polar Bear Pub. All rooms are  en suite with either a porthole or a window view so that you can spot humpback and minke whales breaching in the surrounding waters.

• Includes accommodation, most meals, Zodiac excursions, educational programs, waterproof boots, and parka

Hot Tip:  There are a couple of optional extras available on the G Expedition that are worth considering. Sleep out under the stars with a camping experience or upgrade from the Zodiac excursions to kayaking to get the closest you can be to your surroundings.

G Adventures Cuba

Go beyond the beach with a G Adventures tour to Cuba. This vibrant Caribbean island has only recently opened up to non-traditional travel, so you can explore more than just the beautiful beaches. Stay in a local homestay for an immersive Cuban experience , tour a tobacco plantation, or see the sights of bustling Havana from the comfort of a classic car.

G Adventures offers Classic, Active, Marine, and 18-to-Thirtysomethings tours to Cuba.

• Includes transfers, excursions, accommodation, and breakfast

G Adventures Costa Rica

Costa Rica is a tropical paradise with one of the highest densities of biodiversity of any country. Magnificent volcanoes emerge from the lush landscapes, and mysterious cloud forests are home to exotic flora and fauna, including the red-eyed tree frog and the white-faced Capuchin monkey . You’ll need your camera on hand at every moment exploring Costa Rica’s incredible scenery.

G Adventures offers Classic, Active, National Geographic Journeys, Family, Wellness, and 18-to-Thirtysomethings tours to Costa Rica.

• Includes transportation and accommodation

G Adventures Galápagos

Located 600 miles off the coast of Ecuador, the Galápagos Islands are accessible by flying in to either 2 of the larger islands of Santa Cruz or San Cristóbal . You’ll then spend your trip sailing through the archipelago, spotting whales and dolphins, and snorkeling amongst sea lions. It’s nature’s paradise! You can choose between a small ship adventure where you’ll sleep on board, or if you prefer to spend your nights on dry land, you can opt for a tour with land-based accommodation.

G Adventures offers Classic, Marine, Active, and 18-to-Thirtysomethings tours to Galápagos.

• Includes basic accommodation, some meals, transportation, and some excursions

Hot Tip:  If you combine a Peru tour with a Galápagos tour, G Adventures will pay for your flight between Peru and Ecuador. 

G Adventures India

India can be chaotic, mesmerizing, and an intense sensory experience with so many colorful sights, sounds, and smells to absorb. Taking a tour with G Adventures can offer a more organized travel experience. You can spend more time savoring the sights without worrying about the sometimes confusing logistics of navigating this vibrant country. Marvel at the majestic Taj Mahal, cruise along the Kerala backwaters, or relax on the wild beaches of Goa.

G Adventures offers Classic, Wellness, Rail, National Geographic Journeys, and 18-to-Thirtysomethings tours to India.

• Includes transportation, accommodation, excursions, and some meals

G Adventures Japan

Japan is a captivating city with a charming blend of ancient traditions and cutting-edge technology. One minute you’ll be wandering around a sacred Buddhist temple, and the next, whizzing between cities on the high-speed Shinkansen bullet train. Visit in spring to see the famous cherry blossom trees , relax in a traditional onsen, or learn about samurai culture. Nothing about Japan disappoints.

G Adventures offers Classic, Active, Rail, National Geographic Journeys, and 18-to-Thirtysomethings tours to Japan.

Hot Tip:  For a limited stay trip, Americans do not currently need a visa to enter Japan, so that’s 1 thing less to worry about. 

G Adventures Morocco

From stunning beaches to bustling cities and rolling sand dunes to mountainous Berber villages, if you’re looking for a diverse destination, Morocco ticks all the boxes. If you’re a little unsure about exploring the bustling medinas and labyrinthine alleyways independently, a G Adventures tour can give you confidence and security, while still allowing an authentic experience .

G Adventures offers Classic, Active, National Geographic Journeys, and 18-to-Thirtysomethings tours to Morocco.

G Adventures Peru

Peru is an active adventurer’s paradise , with the wild and rugged landscapes providing endless hiking opportunities and enormous sand dunes begging to be boarded down. Many hike the famous Inca Trail to Machu  Picchu , while others opt for a less strenuous journey to marvel at the magnificent ancient ruins. Kayak on Lake Titicaca or visit the floating island communities of Uros.

G Adventures offers Classic, Active, National Geographic Journeys, Marine, Wellness, and 18-to-Thirtysomethings tours to Peru.

• Includes transportation, accommodation, excursions, and most meals

G Adventures Thailand

Foodies will love sampling the culinary delights of the charming market stalls and seafood beach shacks, while others will enjoy tasty home-cooked meals while spending the night with a hill tribe family. With scenery so spectacular, it’s no wonder Thailand has featured in many blockbuster movies, with limestone rocks protruding from crystal-clear waters. Gleaming temples, a vibrant capital, and spectacular beaches make Thailand a well-rounded destination that offers something for everyone .

G Adventures offers Classic, Active, National Geographic Journeys, Marine, Family, and 18-to-Thirtysomethings tours to Thailand.

• Includes transportation, accommodation, excursions, and breakfast

G Adventures is a highly reviewed tour company with the following overall ratings:

• Trustpilot : 4.4 out of 5
• Facebook : 4.5 out of 5
• TourRadar : 4.6 out of 5

To give you a flavor of the feedback G Adventures receives, these are some testimonials from some of its most popular trips.

Antarctica Classic Tour “This was the MOST amazing trip of my life (and I have traveled a lot). The experience of seeing this vastly untouched continent is something I won’t ever forget. The penguins were adorable, and the staff was excellent in giving the passengers a full and knowledgeable trip. Highly recommended!” — Stacie C, United States

Cuba Libre Tour “I had a fabulous time. I visited towns and sites that I would not have found on my own. I also enjoyed meeting other tour participants from various European countries who appreciate traveling just as much as I do.” — Sondra W, Canada

Costa Rica Quest Tour “Our guide was exceptional. Her knowledge of each area and unwavering commitment to ensure that we all had the most positive experience did not go unnoticed. This was the best trip I have ever taken, and I would not hesitate to travel with her again. There were plenty of activities to choose from, so we could take advantage of as little or as much as we liked. The drivers were friendly and accommodating.” — P. Victoria Anne W, Canada

Comfort Galápagos 10 Day Tour “I had an amazing experience like no other. Never have I been so much in contact with wildlife. The trip was very memorable and gave me a very good impression of the place and its people. I have to admire the people at G Adventures in Ecuador, in which they made my travel experience as smooth as possible without any hassle. My trip there was not a luxury trip, but I felt I was treated with first-class service. I was delighted and enjoyed myself a lot. Even though I traveled alone, I felt very comfortable and had one of the best times in travel adventures.” —  Lemuel D, United States

Rajasthan Adventure “This was an impressive tour. We saw a lot of sights and experienced a vast range of Indian cultures. Our tour guide, Narendra Pal Singh, was excellent. A great character to be around. Thank you. The accommodations were incredible; the most impressive for me was the hotel in Ranakpur, that was surrounded by lush vegetation.” — Jamahl M, United Kingdom

Discover Japan Tour “Where else in the world, except Japan, can you go to experience the traditional mixed with the modern, and while not speaking the language and still feel completely at home. Mix in a group of people with different backgrounds, traveling together to places they have never seen and who realize at the end they could not have imagined or understood these places without being there, and you receive 15 perceptions of a place which absorbs you. The tour brought you the opportunities to explore on your own and as a group and the confidence to step out of what you thought was your comfort zone. A great experience which went by way too fast, as they say, time flies when you’re having fun.” — Janelle A, Australia

Highlights of Morocco Tour “This is my 2nd G Adventures tour, so I knew that everything would be well organized and planned. It really showed the diversity of Morocco from cities, mountains, and desert. The local guides were really informative. The level of accommodation was very good.” — Janet C, Australia

Inca Empire Tour “The G Adventures tour far exceeded my expectations, and I would recommend G Adventures to anyone when considering a tour group option. Everything was taken care of, and a special mention to our tour leader Caroline who did a tremendous job from chasing down lost luggage, to taking us to the best restaurants every night! The high point of the trip was when our group made it first to the Sun Gate at Machu Picchu and watched an awesome sunrise over the Inca City. A big mention also to G Adventures for outsourcing their treks to tremendous companies.” — David T, Australia

Northern Thailand: Hilltribes & Villages “The tour was excellent! I was a little apprehensive about embarking on a tour, but this type of tour enabled lots of freedom to do what I wanted, but with the convenience of a guide to helpfully offer advice and make arrangements.” — Sandra F, Canada

Contiki is a tour company that caters to travelers that are 18 to 35 years old only  and quite often has larger group sizes than G Adventures . Some destinations can have up to 50 people — quite a lot compared to G Adventures’ more intimate tour groups of up to 16. If you’re looking to meet lots of people, then you might like the idea of a larger tour group. G Adventures offer young person tours with a permitted age bracket of 18 to 39 but also caters to families and travelers of any age.

Contiki’s range of tour types offers volunteering trips, ski and snowboarding, and festivals , whereas G Adventures has a slightly more mature offering of local living, wellness, and rail tours. G Adventures offers a wider choice of destinations , while Contiki focuses on those typically popular with younger travelers. When it comes to cost, Contiki can be slightly cheaper than G Adventures, but this can depend on the accommodation included and the quality of excursions included in the tour.

G Adventures and Intrepid both offer the same levels of trip styles for their tours, including basic, standard, and comfort (upgraded), so you have the choice depending on your budget and requirements . The group sizes are also very similar for both companies, including 12-16 people on most tours. You won’t be charged a single supplement with either company as you’ll be paired up with a traveler of the same gender to room-share.

All G Adventures tours offer guaranteed departures, as do the majority of Intrepid tours, although these are marked with a “guaranteed departure” flag on the tour page so you can be sure. G Adventures offers around 700 itineraries, whereas Intrepid has over 1,000 , so if you’re looking for the company with the most variety, Intrepid could be your answer.

G Adventures provides responsible, sustainable tours and supports local communities, so you can take comfort knowing that you’re giving back as much as you’re taking away from the experience. Overall, its booking process and customer service are very good, but it’s the ground CEOs (Chief Experience Officers) that are the shining stars. These passionate and knowledgeable guides are with you every step of the way and are there to introduce you to the amazing destination.

G Adventures has completely revolutionized group touring. Instead of following a standard itinerary, you can now choose how you want to discover a new destination, whether that’s exploring by bicycle on an active tour or in the company of like-minded families.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are g adventures any good.

G Adventures is a well-review tour company that scores well-above average for TourRadar and Trustpilot. Many reviewers are repeat customers, which shows that the quality of service is consistent across various destinations.

What does the G stand for in G Adventures?

The G stands for “Good,” which doesn’t just refer to the good time that you’ll have on a tour — it also applies to the impact G Adventures strives to have on the local communities that form part of its tours.

Which is better, Intrepid or G Adventures?

G Adventures and Intrepid both offer the same levels of trip styles for their tours, including basic, standard, and comfort (upgraded). Group sizes are also very similar for both (12-16 people on most tours) and you won’t be charged a single supplement with either.

All of G Adventures tours offer guaranteed departures, as do the majority of Intrepid tours. G Adventures offers around 700 itineraries, whereas Intrepid has over 1,000 .

Is G Adventures a Canadian company?

G Adventures was founded in Toronto, Canada and has 28 offices worldwide.

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About Amar Hussain

Amar is an avid traveler and tester of products. He has spent the last 13 years traveling all 7 continents and has put the products to the test on each of them. He has contributed to publications including Forbes, the Huffington Post, and more.

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10 Best G Adventures Tours to Take in 2024

These g adventures trips have especially amazing itineraries..

Review: EF Go Ahead’s Food & Wine: Piedmont & Tuscany with America’s Test Kitchen

Founded in 1990, G Adventures has been offering exceptional adventure-focused small group tours to bucket-list destinations around the world for more than 30 years. The travel company’s trips are a great fit for younger travelers, families, and active people of any age who want to learn about their destination in an immersive and hands-on way. 

Something I love about G Adventures is that in addition to its own tours, the company also partners with National Geographic for special different tour types: National Geographic Journeys with G Adventures and National Geographic Family Journey’s with G Adventures . It also partners with Dr. Jane Goodall’s institute (for Jane Goodall Collection tours) to showcase locations and experiences that bring people together with the natural world. 

The Best G Adventures Tours to Take in 2024

Group tours with G Adventures include all of the essentials like accommodations, local guides, activities, meals, and transfers between places. Each trip accommodates up to 15 people, but the average group size is 10. For solo travelers , there’s often no single supplement fee on G Adventures tours, though you may share a room with another traveler. While G Adventures tours number in the hundreds, these 10 stand out for 2024 with especially amazing itineraries in some of the most dazzling destinations around the world.

TOURS FOR YOUR TWENTIES: 7 Best Group Travel Companies for Young Adults in 2024

1. Vietnam: Historic Cities and Halong Bay Cruising with G Adventures

G Adventures takes small groups deep into the culture and nature of Vietnam with its Vietnam: Historic Cities & Halong Bay Cruising tour. This standout 12-day trip starts in Ho Chi Minh City, where you’ll meet the group before wandering Pham Gnu Lao Street and its exciting nightlife scene. The trip continues with plenty of free time in Nha Trang, a coastal city known for its beaches, temples, and food. 

ADVENTURING WOMEN: 9 Best Women-Only Travel Groups and Tour Operators in 2024

This G Adventures tour then spends two nights in Hot An, where you can try your hand at a cooking class, walk the old town streets, or take a cruise down the Thu Bon River. If you’re an adventure seeker, you’ll love day nine of the trip when the group visits the caves of Phong Nha-Kẻ Bàng National Park. The guided tour ends in Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam, where you will see Halong Bay, explore more caves, and take a tour of the city’s old quarter. 

• Length: 12 days
• Starting price: $699
• Average group size: 14 people 
• How to book: Book online through  G Adventures ,  TourRadar , or Tourhub ; or through a travel agent such as  AAA .

2. France Family Journey: From Paris to Normandy and Beyond

Take the kids to France on the G Adventures-led France Family Journey: From Paris to Normandy and Beyond , which is a family tour in partnership with National Geographic. The tour starts in Paris, where you can see everything from the sparkling Eiffel Tower to walking through the galleries at the Louvre. Day three takes the group to the home of Claude Monet to see his impressive gardens and quaint home. 

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The highlight for many people will be the day in Bayeux, where you’ll board military vehicles to ride out to the Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial. Other highlights of this immersive France tour include a day in the Loire Valley and canoeing the Cher River past castles. At the end, you’ll spend some time in the Palace of Versailles before heading back to Paris for the evening and a next day departure.

• Length: 9 days 
• Starting price: $3,899
• Average group Size: 18 people 
• How to book: Book online through  G Adventures or  TourRadar ; or through a travel agent such as  AAA .

3. Iconic Ireland with G Adventures

Another great National Geographic partner tour from G Adventures is Iconic Ireland . The nine-day tour starts and ends in Dublin, where you’ll get to wander the Medieval Quarter including St. Patrick’s Cathedral and Dublin Castle. The tour continues to Cork, where you’ll spend the morning on a walking tour and then check out the city on your own. 

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If you’re looking to kiss the iconic Blarney Stone, you’ll get your chance on day four, then the group continues on for a day each in Killarney and Galway. The trip comes to a close after seeing the Cliffs of Moher on a coastal cruise and spending one last day in Dublin to check out the pubs or take a tour of the Guinness Factory. 

• Length: 9 days
• Starting price: $3,499
• Average group size: 12 people 
• How to book: Book online through  G Adventures , TourRadar , or Travelstride ; or through a travel agent such as  AAA .

4. Peru: Ancient Cities and the Andes with G Adventures

For an active and incredible way to see Machu Picchu and some of Peru’s other natural wonders, G Adventures’ Peru: Ancient Cities and the Andes tour is the way to go. This guided trip starts in Lima, where you’ll arrive and immediately hit the nightlife scene in the city. Then the tour group heads to Arequipa, where you’ll see the Santa Catalina Monastery and taste some of the local cuisine. 

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In Cusco, you can explore on your own before the group heads to the indigenous Ccaccaccollo community for a weaving demonstration and overnight homestay. The highlight of the tour starts on day 10, when begin your three-day Inca Trail trek before reaching Machu Picchu for a guided site tour. The trip ends back in Cusco.

• Length: 14 days
• Starting price: $1,759
• Average group size: Average 14 people
• How to book: Book online through  G Adventures or TourRadar ; or through a travel agent such as  AAA .

5. Mt Kilimanjaro Trek – Machame Route

If you’ve ever dreamed of climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro, this G Adventures guided trek is for you. The eight-day Mt Kilimanjaro Trek – Machame Route tour is intensely physical and worth every step. It starts in Moshi, Tanzania, where you’ll spend the afternoon and evening meeting your trek leaders and fellow hikers. Each day you’ll hike to a different camp, passing by beautiful landscapes and stunning scenic views. 

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On day five, you’ll pass the postcard-perfect Helm Glacier. On day six, the hike takes place at night to the summit so you can see the sunrise over Stella Point before starting your descent. The trip ends with a climbing ceremony by the Moshi Women’s Cooperative to celebrate your achievement. 

• Length: 8 days 
• Starting price: $2,647
• Average group size: 10 people

6. Mexico City to Oaxaca: Pottery and Aztec Pyramids with G Adventures

Traveling through Mexico is a feast for the mind and the belly, especially on the Mexico City to Oaxaca: Pottery & Aztec Pyramids tour. This weeklong trip starts in Mexico City, where you’ll spend two and a half days seeing the sights, sampling food, and checking out artifacts. Then the trip ventures to Puebla, where you’ll visit a ceramics workshop and see pyramids before watching a Mexican wrestling match. 

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The tour ends with two full days in Oaxaca. Here you’ll visit markets, see the Alebrijes Artisan Community , and have plenty of free time to wander on your own. During your free time, consider taking a cooking class or visiting a local distillery to try tequila or mezcal. 

• Length: 7 days
• Starting price: $804
• Average group size: 12 people

7. Alaska Kenai and Denali Adventure with G Adventures

Alaska is a bucket-list destination many travelers, and G Adventures’ Alaska Kenai and Denali Adventure tour hits many of the state’s most incredible sights. The eight-day trip begins in Anchorage, though you won’t be spending much time there before venturing south towards Seward to hike through Kenai Fjords National Park . The trip then takes everyone north to Talkeetna for a visit to the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Museum and an afternoon of free time for activities. 

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Once you reach Denali National Park , you can take a hike through the rugged landscape or see a sled dog demonstration. You’ll spend an additional day in Denali when you can do everything from taking nature tours to hiking on your own on the trails. The trip ends back in Anchorage. 

• Length: 8 days
• Starting price: $2,564
• Average group size: 9 people

8. Spirit of Shackleton

If you’ve ever wanted to make landfall in Antarctica, G Adventures is giving you the chance with its absolutely epic Spirit of Shackleton expedition cruise . The 21-day sailing starts in Ushuaia, Argentina, which is the gateway to sailing to Antarctica. The first few days are spent traversing the Drake Passage, which can be an adventure because you never know if you’re going to get what travelers call the “Drake Shake” or the “Drake Lake.” On day five you’ll finally arrive in Antarctica, where you can see the continent’s incredible wildlife and attempt to make landfall daily. 

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The second half of the trip takes you to the Scotia Sea and South Georgia to see former whaling stations and a colony of king penguins. Then cruise to the Falkland Islands to see more penguins before heading back to Ushuaia to go home. 

• Length: 21 days
• Starting price: $16,899
• Average group Size: Up to 134 people per cruise

9. Highlights of New Zealand with G Adventures

New Zealand is a gorgeous country with a unique culture that you can learn about on the newly updated for 2024 Highlights of New Zealand tour. The 15-day tour starts in Auckland, but you’ll quickly be shuttled off to the see the Waitomo Glowworm Caves and lakeside town of Rotorua. On day five, you’ll visit the lively city of Wellington to take a guided walking tour before being let out on your own to go where your interests take you.

Wine lovers will enjoy day six, when the group visits a local winery before stopping for the night in Kaikoura. Here, you can swim with dolphins or just enjoy the laidback atmosphere before going to Hanmer Springs for a dip in the natural hot springs. The trip ends with a few days in Queenstown where you can do everything from mountain biking to skydiving, before heading to Christchurch to depart New Zealand and begin the journey home. 

• Length: 15 days
• Starting price: $3,779
• How to Book: Book online through  G Adventures or  Tourhub ; or through a travel agent such as  AAA .

10. The Best of Morocco

On the nine-day Best of Morocco tour, your small group will explore the African country from Casablanca to Marrakech. The tour begins in Casablanca, where you’ll tour the medieval ruins and Roman ruins of Meknès and Volubilis, respectively. Then the group moves to Fez for a walking tour of the Medina. The trip continues into the Sahara desert to Merzouga, where you’ll spend the night on the edge of the sand dunes and take tours on a 4×4 vehicle. 

Ending in Marrakech, you’ll have time to explore on your own before taking a cooking class to learn how to use all of the spices and flavors of Morocco. Your local guide will suggest things to do while on your own, including activities and dining options. 

• Starting price: $2,049
• How to Book: Book online through  G Adventures or through a travel agent such as  AAA .

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Discover the best G Adventures adventures in one convenient place. TourRadar offers 546 G Adventures tours. You can find the perfect trip spanning across 3 day to 65 day itineraries with prices starting from just EUR 35 per day!

250+ G Adventures trips

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• Christmas & New Year

Southeast Asia Discovery: Seasides and Street Food

I really enjoyed traveling with Cheak. He really made our group feel as a family. 10 out of 10 would recommend traveling with Cheak

Morocco Kasbahs & Desert

Was excellent i will def refer

Costa Rica Quest

One of the best trips I've ever had. Every day is very well planned and organized. The tour CEO helps organize free time and book all the activities. My only issues was that some of the hotels' matrasses were solid as rock lol. So I definitely didn't get enough sleep.

Highlights of Morocco

It was my fourth trip with G Adventures, and they didn't disappoint once again! Thank you!

• Train & Rail

Japan Express: Osaka to Tokyo

The whole trip was so incredible. All made possible by our excellent tour guide Mayumi. She is a asset to your company and I will miss her.

Machu Picchu Adventure

Amazing experience! The tour moves quickly so you see a lot in a short amount of time, which is exactly why I love these types of tours. I couldn't of asked for a better guide or group.

Discover Japan

The tour guide was very friendly. The activities were very age-friendly.

Bangkok to Singapore: Jungle Hikes & Island Nights

Love ever part of this tour, sadly it was only for 2 weeks! definitely made some amazing friends for life

Delhi to Kathmandu Adventure

Our guide Raj and my fellow travellers made the trip very memorable. we will always keep in touch.the family I never knew I had.

Uncover India: High Deserts & Markets

Excellent guide, very well organized tour

Costa Rica Adventure

Costa Rica and GAdventures didn’t disappoint. Had a fantastic time touring both coasts, the mountains, cloud- and rainforests of CR. Tito our guide was a lot of fun, knowledgeable and took the time to get to know everyone - and to make sure the trip was special for each of us. Great tour with a wonderful group of fellow travellers.

Highlights of Madagascar

Overall was a good tour ! Just read well ! You will not see the baobab avenue! There only 3 meals inc'ude in all the tour so its add on the budget !!! The restaureant we went were kind of expansive ! ( still ok for sure but if you were tight on a budget it male a big difference) Otherwise i really enjoy my tour and the time spend in the home stay this is the real higtlight of the tour for me ! The ceo was nice and the driver amazingly good we all feel really safe ! Most of the activity are walking tour ! So if you dont like to walk this is not for you ! But you will see a lot of lemurs! most hotels only have one power outlet so provide a double usb port. I loved my tour and can recommand it for sure !

Southeast Asia Encompassed

Ratha was amazing. Takes the time to get to know everyone in the tour and if there's anything specific you want to see or do. He's a fountain of knowledge too.

Golden Triangle

Jam packed days and nights experiencing the REAL INDIA , from the backstreets of Delhi to the mesmerising Taj Mahal . Abi , a wonderful story teller , took us back in time with his vast knowledge of local history and passion for his country .

Absolute Turkey

The overall experience is good. I like the logistics and the coverage of the different attractions and activities. The tour guide provided a good service and everything went smoothly. G Adventure gave us a variety of experiences and we loved their choices of locations and experiences other travel companies don't provide (ig. homestay). There are two issues though: The hotel we stayed in Antalya was the worst. The location is convenient, but we couldn't sleep at all all night due to the noise outside (until 5am!). Our tour guide told us the tourists gave the G Adventure the same feedback over and over again, but nothing has changed. This might be my #1 negative thing to say about the G Adventure. The second issue was some of the restaurants the tour guide took us were a little sketchy and dishonest. But I will still recommend G Adventure to other people.

Reviews of G Adventures Tours

This was my first time ever travelling without family and it was amazing! One of the best months of my life. Our CEO Tong was brilliant and full of knowledge about where we were going and what we would be doing. He made sure to have enough time for anyone and helped in anyway he could to make things run smoothly for everyone on tour including myself. If you go on this tour, make sure you ask for Tong or (Phanet Tep) as your CEO!

Excellent tour that was well organised. A lot of places covered, always felt safe and well informed. Our host Abdul was amazing! His knowledge and experience made the trip so personal and wonderful. I feel as though after 9 days I have seen a lot of the beautiful country that is Morocco! Highly recommended.

Overall the tour was good. The CEO Katherine was wonderful. People in our group are very friendly. What we liked most was the beaches at Manuel Antonio National Park, Also the guided walking tour at the park to explore a variety of amazing wildlife was Great. Hot Springs in La Fortuna and Horseback riding in Monteverde were enjoyable, The amenities in the hotels could be better.

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Few travellers make it to this icy continent, but the lucky ones who do get to explore a frozen Eden ruled by the elements and teeming with wildlife.

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Whether it’s a family retreat or a girls trip, you can surround yourself with a hand-picked crew and customize a tour that fits you all perfectly.

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Our new line of premium active adventures is officially here. With perfectly paced itineraries, one-of-a-kind accommodations and elevated dining, this is adventure at its finest.

National Geographic Journeys

Go deeper into the cultures and habitats of the places we explore. More is included and you’ll enjoy greater hands-on exploration, interactions with local experts, and freedom to roam.

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Are you an adventure-loving family in search of meaningful ways to discover the world together? These tours are specially designed for travellers seven and up and their inquisitive families.

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Step deeper into the animal kingdom while respecting all of its inhabitants. Our incredible collection of wildlife-focused tours is endorsed by the world-renowned ethologist.

Roamies by Hostelworld

The thrill of adventure. The awesomeness of hostels. Get ‘em both on these immersive small group trips for 18 to 35-year-old travellers.

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As the leader in small group travel for 30 years, we know how to do it right: flexible itineraries, freedom to roam, safety, peace of mind, and locally based guides.

Change the world just by having the time of your life. When you travel with us, you become a force for good by acting responsibly and creating positive impact.

Together with our non-profit partner, Planeterra, we ensure local communities touched by our tours benefit from our visits in as many ways possible.

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Leave your destination even greener than you found it! For every day on tour, we’ll plant a tree in your honour and ensure that our forests get to live their best lives.

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G Adventures: Is It Worth the Money? Our Honest Review

It's never easy to pick a group tour, especially when they're all saying the same things. Are they actually as great as they're saying they are? Find out what their tours feature, whats their pros and cons are, and how they compare to other tour companies.

Traveling solo is quite difficult when compared to traveling in a group with friends or family. You have to tackle everything from planning the trip to navigating your way to conversing in a foreign language with locals. This is where Pilot comes in handy to aid you in the trip planning process and allow you to focus on making meaningful experiences. However, planning a trip alone all by themselves is not for everyone.

This is why tour companies are a good choice for solo travelers who also have less experience! They can help you optimize your travel experience better. But, as you might know already, there’s an endless list of options when it comes to tour companies. As if choosing from the endless possibilities of tour companies isn’t enough, the entire outcome of your trip depends on the tour company you choose.

Let us help you pick the right tour company for you. We’re here to review a popular adventure travel company, G Adventures.

G Adventures is a tour service that pledges to “Do the Right Thing” by offering travelers valuable experiences and supporting local communities at the same time. It is a company that supports ethical tourism, and we thought it is worth your attention.

If you're looking for more options, we've previously done reviews of similar tour companies like GetYourGuide so you might want to check that out as well!

Is G Adventures a good tour company? Read our review to find out!

What is G Adventures?

G Adventures , formerly known as Gap Adventures, was founded by Bruce Poon Tip in 1990. It is an adventure travel company that carries out guided tours in small groups of up to 16 people. They offer itineraries to destinations around the world, mostly with local tour guides to assist travelers. 

Since its inception, G Adventures tour has earned fame as a tour operator that offers unique and off-the-beaten-path experiences for travelers, with a focus on sustainability and responsible travel.

Who uses G Adventures?

G Adventures tour caters to travelers aged 18 and above. Its main client base consists of young to middle-aged travelers, and some tours are restricted to independent travelers between 18-39 years. However, there are packages for older travelers and families as well. 

G Adventure tours are mainly focused on adventure travel aspects, but they do provide other types of travel tours. They offer a standard tour service which is neither budget-friendly nor luxurious but somewhere in between. G Adventures is ideal if you need the support of a reliable tour company but with ample flexibility to do your own thing!

What does a G Adventures tour include?

Every trip has a Chief Experience Officer (CEO), otherwise known as a tour guide, to assist the group throughout the trip. They are mostly locals, although some can be expats with good knowledge about the destination.  

G Adventures will take care of accommodation, transportation (within the destination), some meals (mostly breakfast), and the costs of entrance tickets for attractions and other major experiences included in the itinerary. 

What’s not included in the pricing are visas, airfare (unless you book via them), border crossing fees, meals, additional activities, and tips. So, it's necessary to bring extra cash.

What are the types of tours offered by G Adventures?

G Adventures offers a long list of tours based on different travel styles, experiences, and age categories.

• Classic Tours : A mix of different experiences that include major attractions and activities, cultural sites, uncommon and local experiences.
• National Geographic Journeys : A high-end tour with close-up experiences of the best attractions and activities of the destination.
• 18- Thirtysomethings Tours : Fun, fast-paced, and adventurous tours ideal for the young. Expect a lot of partying and drinking.
• Wellness Tours : Tours focusing on yoga, meditation, nourishing food, and other experiencing focusing on self-improvement. Ideal if you are looking for a retreat.
• Active Tours : Action-packed activities like hiking, kayaking, biking, and other experiences that are ideal for adventure seekers.
• Rail Tours : Tours along famous rail routes in the world, experiencing different cities along the way.
• Marine Tours : Cruise tours exploring marine life and other attractions that are only accessible by boats or ships. Eg: G Adventures Arctic cruises.
• Local Living Tours : Tours that give you a good dose of local life in each destination.
• Family Tours: Tailor-made tours to cater to all family members with kid-friendly activities.

What's Great About G Adventures.

In a G Adventures tour, every major aspect of a trip is planned for you, ensuring you have a hassle-free experience. This way, you can focus on enjoying the trip without worrying about logistics, accommodation, etc. You also don’t have to worry about tackling a new language as your tour guide will help you.

• Better travel experience

Many guided-tour companies carry out tours in large, crowded groups, and it’s not a very comfortable experience. Most of the time, it feels like you are taken from place to place with less time to enjoy them. G Adventures tours allow for more interaction. They hire knowledgeable local tour guides to give you informative details! Their tours also focus on authentic and off-the-beaten-path activities, helping you derive more localized experiences.

Many G Adventures reviews praised the service for its reasonable pricing. There are tours available in varying budget ranges, offering a choice for everyone. Traveling with a tour company shouldn’t cost you an arm and a leg, and G Adventures is a good example of it.

• Transparency

G Adventure’s “Ripple Score” shows the impact of your spending on local communities. This way, you know how your travel supports the livelihood of people and businesses that need support. If you feel like making an impact while you’re traveling, this is the perfect opportunity to do so!

• Female-friendly

If you are a solo female traveler, there would be a bunch of concerns, regardless of how safe a destination is. G Adventures is renowned as one of the best tour companies for female travelers. They pair you with a female traveler when sharing accommodation and will update you on tips to stay safe when touring around.

What's Not Great About G Adventures.

• Tour guides

Your tour guide can significantly elevate or hamper your experience. While most of them tend to be very knowledgeable and eager to help, there are instances where travelers have got stuck with unreliable guides who are just there for the money.

• The cancellation policy

Although G Adventures claims to have a flexible refund policy, it seems to be otherwise. Many customers had to go through a frustrating process and lousy customer service to cancel their trips and claim a refund. Some had to wait over a year.

Also, G Adventures had canceled many trips over the last year due to the pandemic and has refused to provide refunds, inconveniencing many customers. Keep reading to find out what other people have been saying about their experiences.

• Poor choice of accommodation (rarely)

There had been instances when travelers had to stay in subpar hotels throughout their tour. The complaints included lack of amenities, insect bites, and poor customer service. We think it’s important to provide comfortable accommodation so travelers can get a good rest before their next trip.

Although not really a con, we like to warn you about how extras can easily pile up your expenses. When traveling in a group, you are somewhat compelled to go with the rest – be it dinner at an expensive restaurant or a river cruise (who wants to be a party pooper?). You might overspend if you are not cautious enough, especially if you are on a tight budget.

G Adventures vs. Contiki tours - What’s the difference?

A popular question amongst travelers looking for tour companies to choose from is the difference between the G Adventures tour and the Contiki tour. Which tour company offers the better touring experience, and why?

G Adventures and Contiki are both adventure-based tours that cater to young adults. They’re both small to medium-sized tours that offer authentic and local experiences. If you’re a solo traveler, both tours will likely pair you up with one or more travelers of the same gender in shared accommodation. 

In general, if you’re interested in socializing, making new friends, and partying, Contiki might be a better choice. If you’re interested in a slower-paced tour with more free time, then G Adventures might be the better choice for you.

As always, it’s a good idea to check the individual tours that you’re interested in to see what kinds of activities or people it would attract. If you’re not interested in strenuous activities, Contiki might be a better choice but there are always different tour options in G Adventures as well.

Contiki might be slightly cheaper and budget-friendly than G Adventures but keep in mind that different itineraries may vary in cost and you might also spend more during your trip on optional activities.

What’s up with the G adventures reviews?

As with every tour company, your experiences will vary from the people and guides that you’re traveling with. However, there seem to be a few G Adventures complaints that talk about the same points. We’ll summarize some G Adventures reviews here for you so that you can make a more informed decision on picking the right tour company for you.

One of the big complaints that many users experienced is the level of knowledge the “CEOs” have during their trip. Some “CEOs” will provide an excellent guide that goes above and beyond what you’d expect on a group tour, while others might not. With group tours, it’s very difficult to know who you’re going to get, but the majority of the reviews on the quality of their guides are quite positive.

Some G adventure reviews have mentioned that their dietary restrictions were not honored during the trip. This might be due to the lack of communication between the service and their caterers. If you have dietary restrictions, make sure to check up ahead of the trip to make sure that everything’s good!

Another complaint that travelers had with G Adventures was with the amenities that come with the accommodations. Some of the travelers found that there was no air conditioning, bedding, hot water, etc during their stay despite the trip description saying that they’re provided. A good rule of thumb is to always check up with the trip operator ahead of time to reconfirm and make sure all the amenities are there!

Is G Adventures worth it?

With over 30 years of experience, we think G Adventures is a great tour company that knows what’s good for its clientele.

It takes the hassle of organizing everything by yourself and is a safer way to travel. There are downsides, of course, as with every other tour company. They also don’t offer tours for every country in the world, so make sure you check that. The choice also depends on your personal preference, and you can reach out to their support team and clarify your doubts.

If you want more options for other reliable and established tour guide companies, read our reviews on Contiki, Busabout , and EF Ultimate Break .

Our Rating: 4.6/5

• Adventure-based travel
• Local, real, and sustainable experiences
• Affordable tours
• Many positive experiences by past travelers
• Lacking amenities (sometimes)
• Varying customer service
• Frustrating cancellation policy
• Poor accommodation (sometimes)

Traveling solo? You’ll need a plan.

If you’re still indecisive about joining a group tour, why not try traveling solo? While it is daunting to go traveling alone, the experiences and friendships you’ll gain on the trip is second to none.

Whether you’re going on a trip solo or with friends and family, you’ll need a good plan. Let Pilot take care of that for you!

Disclosure : Pilot is supported by our community. We may earn a small commission fee with affiliate links on our website. All reviews and recommendations are independent and do not reflect the official view of Pilot.

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A Review Of G Adventures’ Costa Rica 16-Day Tour

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I’m rocking in a hammock in my hotel in Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica, on the penultimate day of my 16-day tour of Costa Rica with G Adventures . There’s a light rain pattering on the corrugated plastic roof and dripping fatly over the top of a leaky gutter, and a breeze is tickling the leaves of the plants in the courtyard garden.

I can hear chatter and the occasional laugh from one of the other rooms, where some of the girls from my group are hanging out, and just to my left the black-and-white hotel cat snoozes under a rattan garden chair. We have an hour till we meet for dinner, so what better time to start writing my G Adventures review than right now?

During my years of solo travel, I’ve done quite a few small group adventure holidays. From Tanzania to Cuba (also with G Adventures), and from Myanmar to Morocco , I’ve experienced a range of different companies, destinations, and group dynamics, so I’m pretty clued up on what works and what doesn’t, what companies should be aiming for and what makes a good (or bad) group tour.

So if you’re thinking of visiting Costa Rica with G Adventures, or doing any of their other group holidays, read on for my expert review of G Adventures in general and their Costa Rica tour in particular.   

Note: I travelled in the off-peak (rainy season) month of July and received an additional 10% discount on top of the 20% off they were already offering for last-minute bookings. I’ve never been asked to write any G Adventures reviews in exchange for discounts or freebies. All prices are given in US Dollars and are correct at the time of writing.

Why Costa Rica?

If you’re reading this review, chances are you’ve already decided you want to go to Costa Rica, and you probably already know that Costa Rica is considered one of the safest and most rewarding countries to visit in Central America. With abundant wildlife, from curious toucans and noisy macaws to mischievous monkeys and the lovable sloth, Costa Rica is a nature enthusiast’s dream.

And that’s just the start of the country’s attractions. There are also stunning landscapes to explore, volcanoes to hike, coastlines on both the Pacific Ocean and Caribbean with miles of palm-fringed sandy beaches, huge swathes of jungle where you can do adventure activities like zip-lining and white-water rafting, plus buzzing towns with colourful bars, restaurants and shops.

So if you’re here because you’re wondering if you should go to Costa Rica, then no need to read further. The answer is yes, you should!

Why take a group tour?

Of course, you don’t need to do a group tour. Plenty of people get around Costa Rica just fine using public buses, tourist shuttles, or by hiring a car.

However, for solo travellers, those who like the safety and community vibe of a group, or people who don’t want or have time to plan every detail of a trip, a group tour is a great option.

For me, group travel is an excellent way to pack in as many highlights as possible in a short amount of time. Tour companies like G Adventures do all the work so you don’t have to, planning the best routes and activities so you can make the most of your holiday without having to spend days researching hotels and reading travel blogs (though of course you should still read this one!).

What’s more, not only do you get a gang of like-minded travel buddies to hang out with, you also get an experienced guide, who’ll show you round, shower you with interesting information, and look after you should anything go wrong.

If you’d like to know more about why I think group tours are one of the best ways to travel, head to my separate blog post: 10 Great Reasons To Do Group Holidays .

What you get on a G Adventures Tour

The specifics of each tour will vary, but all G Adventures tours follow a similar format.

• The duration can be anything from a few days to several weeks, and you’ll be travelling with a group of up to 16 people, who could be families, couples or solo travellers.  Typically G Adventures customers are in their 20s-50s, but you might get a few older people or families travelling with kids as young as 12.
• The price of your ticket will include all your transport and accommodation for the duration of the tour, apart from airport transfers. If you’re a solo traveller, you’ll be expected to share a room with another solo traveller of the same gender, though if you want your own room, you can usually pay an additional fee to get one.
• The cost also includes the guide, or Chief Experience Officer (CEO) – he or she will be your tour guide, event planner, history and politics teacher, fixer, problem solver and friend for the next few days or weeks.
• Meals are not normally included , though a few breakfasts or dinners may be, depending on the itinerary.
• Some activities may be included, but in general G Adventures make most of their day trips and excursions optional, to give people more choice and to keep the price down. It’s important to check this as you may find that adding on activities can significantly increase the final cost of your holiday, but if you don’t participate, you may start to feel left out of the group.

I’ll talk about how much the whole G Adventures Costa Rica trip cost me at the end of this post.

Every trip also usually includes the following:

• ‘Discover’ Moment – there is always at least one included activity, usually something simple such as a walking tour or cultural experience. You may have to pay a little extra for transport to the location.
• ‘G for Good’ Moment – as part of G Adventures’ commitment to giving back to local communities, 5% of your ticket price goes to help grassroots projects in the country you’re visiting, and this is your chance to see one of them in action.
• Foodie Moment – a food tour, tasting event, or local cookery experience.

Types of G Adventures Tour

G Adventures also have different types of tour. They are:

• Classic tours – the original style of G Adventures tours, these trips include a variety of different activities but are not especially challenging. Accommodation is normally in mid-range hotels.
• National Geographic Journeys – more expensive (but with more activities included), these trips focus more on culture and wildlife and may go a little more off the beaten track.
• 18-to-thirtysomethings tours – does what it says on the tin: adventures for younger travellers. They tend to be a bit more budget, the accommodation a bit more basic, and with more time for partying.
• Wellness trips – as the name suggests, these trips are more focussed on health and wellbeing.
• Active trips – tours for the more adventurous, with a greater focus on activities like hiking, cycling and other outdoor sports.
• Marine tours – boat based, including sailing, river and polar expedition cruises .
• Rail tours – while other G Adventures trips may include a train journey, these tours put train travel front and centre of the itinerary.
• Family trips – aimed at parents who still want to travel and have adventures, but want to bring the kids.
• Roamies trips – these are more for backpackers and the accommodation is mostly in hostels.
• The Jane Goodall collection – wildlife tours

The G Adventures Costa Rica adventure is one of their Classic Tours, meaning you get a good balance of activities while still travelling in relative comfort.

You can read more about the different types of tours here .

G Adventures Review: The Costa Rica Itinerary

So what did the Costa Rica 16-day adventure actually involve?

You can see the planned itinerary here , but sometimes things can change a little due to unforeseen circumstances, so here is what we actually did.

Costa Rica Tour Day 1 – Arrive in San José

The first day of any G Adventures tour is a free day for your arrival – you just need to get yourself to the first hotel at some point on that day. I had already been in Costa Rica for a week, so I booked myself a tourist shuttle from my hostel in the beachside town of Tamarindo to the group hotel in San Jose. Most people flew in that day and got transfers from the airport, which cost about US$35 (though an Uber is much cheaper, at around $10).

At 6.30 pm there was a welcome meeting – a chance to meet the guide/CEO, get a bit of basic information about Costa Rica and the tour, and check out your new travel buddies. After the meeting, everyone went for dinner together and then had an early night, ready to leave San Jose early the next morning.

Some people had arrived a day or two earlier to explore San José. The feedback I’ve had from people who’ve spent time in the city is that there’s not that much to see, so if you want to extend your Costa Rica trip by a few days, I strongly recommend getting out of San José and heading to the beach or the highlands instead.

Where we stayed: Boutique Hotel Casa Las Orquideas . This was a clean but fairly basic hotel on a main road on the edge of central San José. It was conveniently located a short walk from a supermarket, a Starbucks and some bars and restaurants, so it was ideal as a rendezvous point at the start and end of the trip, but I wouldn’t recommend it for longer stays.

G Adventures Costa Rica Tour Day 2 – San José to Quepos

Next day we left at 7 am and drove a few hours to Quepos, the gateway to Manuel Antonio National Park. En route, we stopped off at the Tarcoles river crossing to look for crocodiles.

Quepos is a small town on Costa Rica’s Pacific Coast. The town itself has a beachfront and a few shops, hotels, bars and restaurants, but the main reason to go there is to use it as a base for visiting Manuel Antonio National Park, about 20 minutes away by local bus.

After dropping our stuff at the hotel, we headed over there to get our bearings. At Manuel Antonio there’s another, prettier beach, plus more touristy restaurants, a few shops, and the entrance to the park. We had free time to swim, relax, grab a frozen daiquiri, and look for monkeys playing in the trees by the side of the road. There are also options to do a sunset catamaran cruise, take a surfing lesson, or go parasailing.

Where we stayed: Villa Romantica Quepos. Another reasonable but basic hotel, with air-conditioned rooms set around a jungle garden where we saw frogs and monkeys. The German owner was extremely welcoming after being closed due to Covid. Unfortunately, the swimming pool was still out of action.

Costa Rica Tour Day 3 – Quepos / Manuel Antonio National Park

In the official itinerary this is listed as a ‘free day to explore and relax’. In the morning some of our group opted to do a catamaran cruise along the coast to enjoy the scenery and look for dolphins. The rest of us had wanted to make an early start in the National Park but as it was a bank holiday weekend, morning tickets were sold out. Instead, we had more free time (some people went for brunch in Quepos and I found my way to a gym), and then at lunchtime we hopped back on the public bus to the Manuel Antonio.

Manuel Antonio National Park is Costa Rica’s smallest National Park, with clearly marked trails for hiking or bird and animal watching. With the help of our guide, Tito, we got our first taste of Costa Rican wildlife – spotting two sloths, deer, iguanas, bats and lizards, before heading down to one of the pristine protected National Park beaches to dip our toes in the warm waters of the Pacific.

I would have liked to spend more time here, but the park closed at 4 pm. If you do this tour, I recommend going to in the morning if you can.

G Adventures Costa Rica Tour Day 4 – Quepos to Monteverde

After two nights by the sea, we headed into Costa Rica’s central highlands, to the mountain town of Monteverde. Monteverde is another small, quite touristy place, the gateway to Costa Rica’s cloud forests and several parks offering hiking, animal-watching, and adventure activities.

In the afternoon we visited the Monteverde cloud forest reserve and spent about two hours hiking through the damp jungle. Sadly the ‘cloud’ forest lived up to its name and we weren’t able to see any views, but we did spot this gorgeous quetzal bird waiting out the rain.

Later we did our included ‘Discover’ moment – a torchlit guided Guided Cloud Forest Night Walk. We saw frogs, a green viper, a sleeping howler monkey, a tarantula, and even a sloth, though it was very high up in a tree and hard to see.

Where we stayed: Hotel Holistico Monteverde . A quiet retreat hotel with comfortable rooms and decent breakfast. The hotel was nice but located about 25 minutes’ walk outside the town centre up a steep hill, making it a bit of a hassle if you wanted to explore by yourself.

G Adventures Review Day 5 – Monteverde

Day 5 is a full day in Monteverde, during which you have a choice of many things do including more hiking and wildlife-spotting, walking suspension bridges through the jungle, visiting a butterfly garden, horseback riding, or zip-lining.

Our entire group opted to do the canopy bridge walk followed by the ziplining. We went to 100% Aventura who have a series of ziplines through the cloud forest, including the longest zipline in Costa Rica at over 1.5 km! You can choose to do it on your front, flying superman-style, which literally took my breath away!

You can pre-book the ziplining as part of G Adventures’ Costa Rica Adrenaline Bundle which saves you a bit of money. There’s more information about how much this all cost coming up later in the post.

G Adventures Costa Rica Tour Day 6 – Monteverde to La Fortuna

It was time to move on again, this time to La Fortuna, close to lake Arenal and the majestic Arenal volcano. The journey was about three hours by bus and then a very pleasant hour spent crossing Lake Arenal, with the volcano looming ever closer.

La Fortuna is another touristy town with plenty of restaurants, shops, and tour agencies, so after our fairly long travel day we had free time to relax and explore before heading for dinner.

Where we stayed: Hotel Las Colinas . Rooms here were clean and comfortable with working air-con, hot showers and views of the volcano. The hotel has a terrace bar which could get quite noisy, but calmed down after 10 pm.

G Adventures Review Day 7 – La Fortuna

The next two days were devoted to adventures around La Fortuna . There are dozens of different tours you can book, from whitewater rafting, waterfall rappelling, mountain biking and ATV excursions to calmer activities like hiking, boat trips or SUP on the lake, or a visit to the Caño Negro Wildlife Refuge.

On the morning of Day 7 most of the group opted to go canyoning and waterfall rappelling, and in the afternoon we went to see Arenal volcano. It’s active so you can’t climb it, but there are several scenic hiking trails around the base where you can learn more about it and see lava from previous eruptions.

On the way back we stopped at the Paradise Hot Springs which was one of my favourite places on the trip: a gorgeous resort with eight thermal pools in a leafy jungle setting. At night they were lit up in different colours and one of the pools has a swim up bar, making for a fabulous place to relax after another busy day.

G Adventures Costa Rica Tour Day 8 – La Fortuna

Another day in La Fortuna: we were offered the chance to book more adventure excursions through a recommended adventure tour company, but everyone decided to have a more chilled day, visiting the La Fortuna waterfall for a swim and then taking the afternoon off to enjoy the town’s many cafes, shops and bars, or getting a massage.

I had a quiet lunch in an organic restaurant, ate gelato, and browsed for souvenirs.

Costa Rica Tour Day 9 – La Fortuna to Sarapiquí Rainforest

Another travel morning – several hours by bus heading east from La Fortuna to Sarapiquí.

En route, we stopped at the Mi Cafecito Coffee Cooperative for our ‘G For Good’ moment, visiting one of the local organisations supported by the G Adventures and the Planeterra Foundation. We had a tour of the site, learned about how Costa Rican coffee is produced and why it’s considered some of the best in the world, and ate a delicious Costa Rican lunch of fresh fish with rice, beans and plantain.

Once we arrived at Sarapiquí we headed straight out for a short hike to another waterfall where we were able to swim in the cool water and relax after another sweaty bus journey.

Later the hotel staff took us on a short night walk to see tree frogs, and then fed us a traditional dinner.

Where we stayed: Pozo Azul. This was one of my favourite places that we stayed on the trip: very rustic safari tents with no air con or hot water, but what they lacked in luxury they more than made up for in the location, right in the heart of the rainforest so we fell asleep listening to the rain and the sounds of frogs and crickets chirruping.

G Adventures Costa Rica Tour Day 10 – Sarapiquí Rainforest

Some of us got up before dawn to do a sunrise birdwatching hike around the property, where we saw hummingbirds, toucans and a colourful trogon, before heading back for a delicious included breakfast (I especially loved the sweet fried plantains).

Then it was time for more adventure: whitewater rafting on the Sarapiquí river. The rapids here are Grades 2-4, so not too scary but still exciting enough to give you a thrill and get you pretty wet!

In the afternoon we had more free time to relax in our jungle oasis, and we also had our included ‘Foodie Moment’ – learning how to make traditional empanadas (and then eating them!).

G Adventures Tour Day 11 – Sarapiquí to Tortuguero

Time to move on again on our whistlestop tour of Costa Rica – this time to Tortuguero, on the Caribbean coast.

Tortuguero is a unique village: a small cluster of shops, simple houses and bars built on a very narrow strip of land between the Tortuguero River and the Caribbean Sea. It’s only accessible by boat and feels like the sort of place you need to visit soon before rising sea levels wash it away completely.

Getting there was another adventure – a few hours on the bus and then an hour’s boat ride downriver, looking out for wildlife as we chugged along between overhanging jungle fronds guarded by beady-eyed herons and noisy howler monkeys.

Tortuguero gets its name from the green and leatherback sea turtles (tortugas) that come here to nest on the beaches, and as we were lucky enough to visit at the start of nesting season, late in the evening we had the chance to go and see them.

The experience is closely regulated: visitor numbers and time spent on the beach are strictly limited and you can’t take phones or cameras, but it’s still a unique chance to see these rare endangered creatures up close.

Where we stayed: La Baula Lodge . Another of my favourites, a riverfront lodge featuring comfortable rooms (though without air con) arranged around a gorgeous garden filled with colourful flowers, with monkeys and toucans playing in the trees and a small pool for cooling off after the sweaty day. Breakfast and dinner were included.

G Adventures Costa Rica Tour Day 12 – Tortuguero

A full day to explore the delights of Tortuguero National Park. In the morning we did a peaceful kayak excursion downriver, paddling gently along spotting monkeys, herons, bright green basilisks and other birds.

In the afternoon we were supposed to hike up to a viewpoint to look for more wildlife and admire the landscape, but the heavens opened and it was cancelled, so we hung out in the hotel, relaxed to the sound of the rain, and enjoyed the 2-for-$10 cocktail deal!

Read more: Nature Vacations: 25 Amazing Places For An Outdoors Adventure

G Adventures Review Day 13 – Tortuguero to Puerto Viejo de Talamanca

I would have liked to spend a bit longer wildlife-spotting in Tortuguero but it was time to move on again, back along the river by boat and then a few hours by bus down the coast to Puerto Viejo.

Puerto Viejo is one of Costa Rica’s popular Caribbean beach villages, a small, friendly, walkable place with a few streets jammed with cafes, bars and souvenir shops, a sandy, palm-fringed beach, and a relaxed Caribbean vibe.

The plan for the afternoon was to relax on the beach, but again the weather was not on our side (the perils of travelling in rainy season!) so people either relaxed in the hotel or went to find a bar to hang out in.

Where we stayed: Cabinas Jacaranda Hotel . Located just a short walk from the beach and shops, this cute hotel had comfortable rooms with air-con and hot showers arranged around a leafy courtyard with hammocks for relaxing in.

Costa Rica Tour Day 14 – Puerto Viejo

Puerto Viejo is known for its miles of sandy beaches, some black, some white, so in the morning we were given bicycles so we could explore. Most people cycled along the main road to a quiet and pretty beach where we relaxed and enjoyed a dip in the Caribbean before heading back to the town to explore the shops and buy all those important last-minute souvenirs and gifts.

G Adventures Costa Rica Tour Day 15 – Puerto Viejo de Talamanca to San José

And before we knew it, it was the last full day of the tour. We had a lazy morning, a relaxed breakfast, the chance for another quick dip in the sea, and then an 11 am start for the long drive back to San Jose.

We got back at about 5 pm, giving us enough time to grab a coffee, pack for the plane, or pick up essentials for the journey home, before heading out for a final group dinner to say goodbye.

G Adventures Costa Rica Tour Day 16 – Departure

The final day of any G Adventures tour is just departure day. Some people had early flights, others were staying on in Costa Rica for a few days, and my flight was at lunchtime so I had breakfast, said goodbye to the group and our excellent guide, and then hopped in an Uber to the airport for my journey back to London.

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G Adventures Review: The Guide (CEO)

G Adventures call their tour guides CEOs – or Chief Experience Officers. Ours was Tito, a 45-year-old Costa Rican with 20 years of guiding experience, boundless enthusiasm and energy and endless patience when it came to our many questions.

He was extremely knowledgeable too, full of information sometimes to the point of excess, like when he would continually point at things from the bus even when we were trying to sleep, or being so thorough at the evening briefings that we would start to get confused from the information overload. But he was always likeable and smiling, ready with a joke or a few words of encouragement, a man who clearly loves his job and his country and enjoys sharing it with visitors.

Of course there’s no guarantee you’ll get Tito if you do the Costa Rica G Adventures tour, but in my experience of group travel in general and G Adventures in particular, I’ve found all the guides to be of a similar level of enthusiasm and knowledge that really helps to bring the tour to life.

G Adventures Review: The Food

Costa Rican typical food usually involves rice, beans, fried plantain, and some sort of grilled or fried protein, alongside Mexican-style dishes like tacos and burritos and deliciously sweet local pineapples, mangos and bananas.

Mostly you’ll be eating in touristy restaurants which typically serve up crowd-pleasers like pizza, pasta, or burgers.  

Food and drink were not usually included in our Costa Rica tour. The exceptions were a couple of the hotels that provided breakfast, or the remote jungle lodges where there were no restaurants nearby, so dinner was also part of the service. In total only 4 breakfasts, lunches and dinners were included.

When choosing restaurants for us to visit, Tito always tried to pick a mid-range place where there were enough options to suit all tastes – though the vegetarians in our group did struggle a little.

Invariably we ended up in very average places that always offered the same food, most of which was fine and some of which was terrible, though there were a few excellent meals tucked in there too.

That, unfortunately, is one of the downsides of traveling with a group where everyone has different price points and expectations around food. Let’s just say this is not a foodie tour, and if culinary adventures are a priority for you, you might want to research your own restaurant options online and not eat with the group every night.

G Adventures Review: Accommodation

The Costa Rica Adventure is one of G Adventures Classic trips, which means travelling in a little more comfort than some of their more basic tours, while still sticking to a budget.

Hotels in general were clean and comfortable but basic. We usually had wifi, air-conditioning and hot water, but not always. Sometimes the rooms were quite small and dark, and only one of the hotels had a swimming pool.

This is not a luxury trip – the focus is much more on adventure and seeing this wonderful country on a fairly limited budget. So if room service and a pillow menu are important, this probably isn’t the trip for you.

But if like me you’re not planning to spend much time in the room anyway, and you don’t much care about the accommodation as long as you have a clean bed and a shower, then you’ve come to the right place!

G Adventures Review: Transport

Transport for our tour was in an air-conditioned private bus, with the occasional public bus, taxi or boat ride. Unlike other tours I’ve done, we didn’t always have the same bus and driver; instead we used local companies and drivers where necessary, so the buses varied in size and comfort but they were always big enough and had air-conditioning. Very occasionally we had to share with other travellers but usually we had the transport to ourselves.

We were told that pre-pandemic more of the journeys involved using public transport, but that switched to private buses due to Covid. By the time you travel, this may have changed back, so it’s worth checking if this is important to you.

None of the buses had toilets, but we made regular bathroom stops. The longest bus ride was about 5 hours and I usually passed the time by listening to music, reading a book, or watching Netflix downloads on my phone. Some of the roads are windy, so make sure you bring travel sickness pills if you’re a sufferer.

G Adventures Review: The group

G Adventures market themselves to a wide range of travellers from teenagers all the way up to pensioners. As long as you have a love of travel and a sense of adventure, then G Adventures is for you.

However, in general I have found most of my fellow travellers on these sorts of trips to be in their 20s to 50s. The maximum group size is 16, and at the moment most of their tours seem to be operating at near capacity.

We had 14 in our group, consisting of two middle-aged couples with children in their late teens; one middle-aged single man, and five solo women in their 20s and 30s. Plus me.

I found this was a good mix of ages and interests, and while people did tend to make friends and form little sub-groups, overall we got along well. Our guide told us that sometimes he’s had tours where people split off or seriously clash, but we had no problems.

Of course you can’t predict who you will get, but I think G Adventures does tend to attract the same sort of adventurous, outgoing people, so even if you don’t bond with everyone, you stand a good chance of at least finding a few people in your group that you get along with.

G Adventures Review: Sustainability and ethics

More than ever we need to be thinking about the ethics and sustainability of our travel choices. So if that’s important to you (and I hope it is), you’ll be pleased to hear that G Adventures take it seriously too.

All G Adventures trips have a focus on community tourism. That means making sure that all trips directly benefit the people and places they visit. This includes working with the Planeterra Foundation to help develop local communities, and 5% of your trip fee goes to the foundation.

All trips now also have a ‘Ripple Score’, which is a measure out of 100 of how often the trip uses local businesses and services. The Ripple Score for the Costa Rica Adventure is 100, meaning you can be confident your money is helping to support small businesses in the communities you’re visiting.

There’s loads more information about the different ways G Adventures take their ethical responsibilities seriously on their website here .

G Adventures Costa Rica Adventure: How much did it cost?

So after all that, what was the final cost of the trip?

The list price for this tour at the time of writing is £1279 in off-peak season and £1429 in peak season. However G Adventures quite often do discounts of up to 20%, so if you travel in rainy season (as I did) and book during a discount window you could pay as little as £1087.

This price does not include flights, most meals, or most of the activities.

You can make savings on some activities by pre-booking, for example:

• Catamaran tour in Manuel Antonio – in advance for $75
• Adrenaline Bundle (includes canyoning in La Fortuna and zip-lining in Monteverde): $135. If you pay separately during the tour the price would be $96 + $54 = $150.

Other optional extra costs were as follows (all prices in US$ and sometimes estimated or rounded to the nearest $10):

Add all this up and what it means is that if you do all the activities, eat every meal in the restaurants recommended by the guide, drink the tap water and only do laundry once, you’re looking at roughly an extra $1260 on top of the baseline cost of the trip.

So your total for the whole trip, not including flights, will be somewhere around $2900 or £2300 per person, assuming you travel in off-peak season and are happy to share a room with a fellow traveller (if not, you’ll pay around $680 / £570 extra to have your own room).

When is the best time to do the G Adventures Costa Rica tour?

The best time to visit Costa Rica is during the dry season, November to March. However, this is also peak season and everything will be more expensive. I visited in rainy season and although it did rain a fair bit and a couple of things did get cancelled, we also had some good weather and managed to do almost everything as planned on the itinerary.

If you visit during rainy season, you will save money but you will also have to be prepared to put up with some bad weather. So if money is not an issue, I recommend paying a bit more and travelling during the UK/US winter (when you’ll also get to escape the cold back home!)

G Adventures Review: My verdict

Before I joined the tour, I spent a week in Costa Rica by myself. During that week, I spent about $630 on private rooms in mid-range hotels, and $100 on transport. So $730 just for transport and accommodation in a single week, travelling by myself.

On that basis, the G Adventures Costa Rica tour is very good value. For less money than I would have spent travelling by myself, I got my whole trip organised for me, all my accommodation, an expert guide, some meals and activities, and a group of like-minded people to hang out with.

It did cost a lot more to do all the activities, but Costa Rica is not a cheap destination, and the activities we did do were varied, exciting, well-managed, and worth paying for.

Cost aside, I thought this was an excellent tour. It was well planned, with a good balance between activities and free time. There was an excellent choice of activities and a good balance between wildlife spotting and hiking and other adventure sports.

Bus journeys were no longer than about four hours each and we always spent at least two nights in each destination, so while the itinerary did feel packed, we weren’t overwhelmed and rushed.

While group travel may not be for everyone , I do think that if you want to explore Costa Rica with the comfort and safety of a group and the convenience of having your trip planned for you, then the G Adventures Costa Rica Adventure Tour could be just the thing you’re looking for.

But don’t just take my word for it! Click here and then scroll down to read hundreds more reviews from previous customers.

Convinced? You won’t regret it!

Where to next?

If you enjoyed this post, why not try some of my other group holidays posts?

• A Neilson Activity Holidays Review – Messini Beach Club in Greece
• An Ideal Morocco Itinerary in 2 Weeks
• The Beautiful Leg-Rowing Inle Lake Fishermen, Myanmar
• The Best Wheeled Backpack: Osprey Farpoint Wheels 65 Review
• How To Climb Kilimanjaro In 10 Easy Steps

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Bella is a multi-award-winning travel writer, wildlife photographer and science and history documentary director from London. Among many awards and nominations she won Blogger of the Year at the British Guild of Travel Writers’ Awards 2023 and Best Photography at the Travel Media Awards 2020. Her work has been published by National Geographic, Wanderlust, and BBC Travel among others. Her films have been shown around the world including on the BBC, Discovery and PBS.

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Chichicastenango market in guatemala: a photo guide.

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G Adventures Review 2024 + Best of Iceland Tour

Let me start this review by prefacing that I had never considered taking a group tour (fun fact, I now host group tours!) before this trip. I didn’t like the idea of being cooped up with the same people (what if they suck?) or following an itinerary that could be sup-par.

So, if you’re not only interested in a review of G Adventures but are also on the fence about taking a group tour in general, this review is for you!

After years of being adamant about never taking a group tour, I considered it for Iceland because my time was limited, and I didn’t want to drive. It seemed like the smartest option to cover both of those items and get a good overview of the country from a local (all of G Adventures guides are local) — which was important to me.

I’ll admit right up until we left for Iceland, I was worried we had made a mistake booking this — if the booking hadn’t been last minute, I might have even canceled it.

Ultimately, I am glad I didn’t have the opportunity to back out. 

This trip broke all of my preconceived ideas about small group tours. It will always be one of the most memorable — not just because Iceland is a pretty unique country but because G Adventures did a great job with the itinerary, and we got to share it with some really lovely people. 

Iceland definitely won’t be my last G Adventures tour! Keep reading for a full review of my G Adventures experience, including the Iceland adventure.

This article contains affiliate links (paid links) and Veggies Abroad is a member of Amazon Services LLC Associated Program. A t no cost to you, I may earn a small commission if you make a purchase — this helps keep Veggies Abroad churning out free content! For an explanation of our advertising partnerships, please review our privacy policy.

Table of Contents

G Adventures Review: Company Overview

What is g adventures known for.

G Adventures is a small group (most tours are less than 16 people, mine had 12) tour company that specializes in adventure travel, but I think what sets them apart is their commitment to the community. They share on their website that they are a “social enterprise as much a small group travel company.”

To be honest, this is what drew me to G Adventures in the first place. All of their itineraries are created to impact the community positively — most people assume that if they spend $1 in a town, all of it stays there, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. A recent report from the World Tourism Organization showed that only $5 of $100 actually remains in a community. All of the G Adventures itineraries come with a Ripple Score to show on a scale from 1 to 100 how much of your money is staying in the destination. 

In addition to that, all of their itineraries have high standards for animal and child welfare practices and respect local cultures. Some itineraries also support the non-profit Planetterra , which ensures that local communities can benefit from tourism through economic opportunities.  

Travel has the power to do great things, but as we’ve seen repeatedly, it can also be really destructive. As a traveler, blogger, and travel agent, I always want to support companies working to find ways to be better and care about how their business impacts others. 

The G Adventures Booking Process & Customer Service

You can book a G Adventures tour in two ways — directly on their website or through a travel advisor (I’m one of those, in case you didn’t know). 

Whichever way you choose, the process is straightforward (honestly, if you book through an advisor, you don’t have to worry about anything). If you book on your own, G Adventures offers a live chat feature on their website, which can be helpful if you have any questions or concerns. 

Regarding customer service, I found G Adventures to be very responsive and helpful. I had a few questions after I booked the Iceland tour , and they responded (via email) to each question in less than 24 hours. They have a 24/7 customer service line you can call if you need assistance while on your trip. 

What Does a G Adventures Tour Include? 

Exactly what is included in each tour varies, but it is always clearly described in the tour description. All tours will include your accommodations (the type of accommodations varies by tour), a guide, some activities, and transportation during the tour. 

Things that aren’t included are optional extra activities, airfare, airport ground transportation, travel insurance (which is required), meals (some might be included), and gratuity.

At the bottom of every tour, there is always a section that’s titled “What’s included,” and if you click on the “tour details” link, it will take you to a massive breakdown of the entire trip that covers things like emergency contacts, packing lists, visa requirements, etc.  

What Types of Tours Does G Adventures Offer?

G Adventures offers an enormous variety of tour options called “Travel Styles” — there is something for everyone. Their Travel Style (tour) options include:

Classic Tours

These tours are a great balance of comfort while having a unique adventure. Accommodations can include standard hotel rooms, homestays, or jungle lodges — all of the accommodations are always described in the itinerary, so there are no surprises. Classic Tour options are generally a pretty solid option for most individuals.

National Geographic Journeys (including a family option)

If you want a more culturally immersive experience, check out the National Geographic Journeys. These unique tours include local experts and more opportunities to have a deeper understanding and appreciation for the destination(s) you’re visiting.

18 to 30-Something Tours

This one is pretty self-explanatory. If you fall within this age range and want to travel with others around the same age, these tours are for you.

Wellness Tours

These tours perfectly balance experiencing the destination with ways to relax and rejuvenate. Some options include relaxing in geothermal pools, yoga sessions, and hiking. If you want to take a break from constantly going and come home feeling recharged, check these out.

Active Tours

If you love hiking, biking, kayaking, rafting, and more, these tours are for you.

A fantastic way to see a country is by train (it’s also a greener travel option). These tour options include some of the most iconic and scenic rail routes worldwide.

Marine Tours

These aren’t your ordinary cruises. G Adventures uses a network of small ships that allows access to areas others don’t go. You can cruise down the Amazon, see Blue Footed Boobies in the Galapagos, or experience the frozen tundra of Antarctica.

Local Living Tours

The best way to get to see and understand a destination is from a local, and that’s just what these tours are curated to do. In each of these tours, you get the opportunity to stay with a local host family.

Family Tours

These family tours are for all ages and curated specifically for younger travelers.

Book with Your Bubble Tours

Want to travel with just your friends or family? This option is for you! Bubble Tours allows you to book a group of 8 or 12 on one of their 55 tours or 36 mini-adventure itinerary options.

The Jane Goodell Collection

From gorilla trekking to penguin watching, all of these itineraries have been created with the highest animal welfare standards and endorsed by the world-renowned ethologist Dr. Jane Goodall. A portion of these tours’ profits also supports the Jane Goodall Institute.  

Roamies Trips

This is another tour aimed at 18 – 30 somethings who enjoy staying in hostels. G Adventures teamed up with Hostelworld to create immersive experiences while staying at some of the best hostels worldwide.

Where Does G Adventures Offer Its Tours? 

G Adventures tours are available worldwide — from Asia to North America and everywhere in between. 

What Age Group is Appropriate for G Adventures Tours?

It’s dependent upon the tour that you select. Most tours are for ages 12 and up (as long as an adult accompanies them). For children under 12, check out the Family Tours, which are open to all ages. 

Does G Adventures Have Sustainability Initiatives?

G Adventures launched the Plastics Partnership Project to reduce its plastic footprint. Through the project, G Adventures works with its suppliers to reduce plastic consumption on its tours and encourages travelers to bring reusable water bottles, forgo sample-size personal care products, ditch straws, and more.

In addition to the Plastic Partnership, all tours are created to support the local community; this means supporting local businesses through activities, dining, accommodations, and more. They also work with the non-profit Planeterra to support sustainable tourism options. Planeterra works in collaboration with local communities, NGOs, and partners to support projects that support local communities, preserve cultural heritage, protect the environment, and improve livelihoods through tourism.

The organization provides funding, capacity-building support, and expertise to help develop and sustain community tourism initiatives. This includes initiatives such as homestays, cooperative-run guesthouses, women’s weaving and handicraft projects, and other community-led enterprises. Some of Planeterra’s projects have been integrated into G Adventures’ itineraries, allowing travelers to contribute to the local communities they visit directly.

To further bring all of these points together, G Adventures was involved in the production of the documentary, The Last Tourist. The film looks are the impact tourism has on the environment and local communities and begins the discussion for what’s next.

Would I Book a G Adventures Tour Again?

The bottom line for this review is that I would h ighly recommend G Adventures to anyone seeking a unique and immersive travel experience. The company’s commitment to responsible tourism and the support of local communities is terrific. I would suggest researching the specific tour you are interested in to ensure it aligns with your interests and abilities.

Best of Iceland G Adventures Tour Review

If you’re interested in exploring a large portion of Iceland but are short on time, this itinerary is for you! Word of warning, the itinerary is jam-packed, so if you don’t enjoy early mornings and being on the go, then you’ll want to scroll down to the final section of this review, “Other Iceland itineraries to consider.” 

Best of Iceland Itinerary

This 7-day itinerary covers many of the highlights of Iceland’s famous Ring Road (Route 1), starting in the capital, Reykjavik. The itinerary is broken down as follows:

Day 1: Reykjavik 

Day 2: Akureyri

Day 3: Akureyri to Bakagerdi

Day 4: Bakkagerdi/Hofn

Day 5: Hofn/Vik

Day 6: Vik/The Golden Circle/ Reykjavik

Day 7: You can depart anytime from Reykjavik (or extend the trip if you have more time).

Included Activities

The itinerary included many popular stops along the way, with a few extras. One of the bonuses of traveling with a small group and with a local guide is that you can make detours if time allows. Our group really wanted to see puffins, so our guide added an extra stop just for us (also, probably to get us all to shut up about the puffins)! In addition to the puffins, we also saw:

• Dimmuborgir, and Námaskarð stops
• Mývatn Lake visit
• Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon visit (the boat tour was extra but well worth it)
• Diamond Beach
• Reynisfjara Beach
• The Golden Circle 

Plenty of waterfall visits, including:

• Goðafoss Waterfall 
• Dettifoss Waterfall visit (plus an additional hidden waterfall nearby)
• Seljalandsfoss Waterfall
• Gullfoss Waterfall

The price is dependent upon the time of year that you visit. The high season in Iceland is June, July, and August, and the low season is early fall through late spring. The average tour price ranges from approximately $3,800 – $4,200 per person, but G often has deals ! If your travel is even a little flexible, join their mailing list or follow them on social media for special deals. When I just looked, I saw a deal for $2,949!

Tour Complaints (From Other Travelers)

Overall, the Best of Iceland itinerary is highly rated and comes in with 4.5/5 stars. While scanning the reviews, the biggest complaint I saw was that the tour was too busy — to be honest, that’s not G Adventures fault; that’s the traveler’s fault. It is abundantly clear that it is a jam-packed itinerary with an average physical rating.

Another complaint is that the trip’s price didn’t reflect the overall comfort, specifically with hotels. The hotels included in the itinerary are basic for US or even European standards. Before booking, I encourage you to look up the hotels but keep in mind that you are visiting some rural areas, so you shouldn’t expect the Four Seasons.

In regards to the price, Iceland is an expensive country. I actually did the math before booking the tour, and what I would’ve paid if I had booked almost everything on my own was a little less but didn’t include a guide for the entire trip or all of the local information — to me, that’s an essential part of the trip.  

What I Loved About the Tour

There are quite a few things I loved about traveling with G Adventures, some things I expected to enjoy, and some were a surprise to me!

The Itinerary

I loved that there were opportunities to add on an activity or go and do your own thing. Since this itinerary was so busy, there weren’t too many opportunities for this, and that’s ok; we were well aware of what we were getting ourselves into.

It was fantastic to have a local with us the entire time. We could ask questions, and as we got to know him better, we could have deeper conversations — that’s not an opportunity you get on every trip.

I thought I would hate traveling with strangers, but our group was fabulous! I think the ethos of G Adventures draws fairly like-minded and flexible people (you must be flexible to travel this way). By the end of the trip, we had definitely made new friends. 

What I Didn’t Love About The Tour

There were only a few things that I didn’t love — did they majorly hamper our trip? Nope. Are they things I would cause a stink about? Nope. But because I want to provide a complete and honest review of my G Adventures experience, I’ll share them with you.

Not knowing if a human actually read my vegan/gluten-free special request

When you book, they ask if there are any dietary things that should be considered, so I wrote that my husband is vegan, and I am vegan and gluten-free. After that, I didn’t hear anything. We’re both flexible (in the way that we’re ok if we have to eat fruit, protein bars, or French fries), but it would’ve been nice to know that someone did see this and was sharing it with the hotels or guide ahead of time. I did share it with the guide on the first day, and honestly, he kind of blew it off as, of course, you’ll have options (I think that honestly made me worry more — overconfidence is generally a red flag). Some of the hotels had better choices than others, but that was to be expected, and there was only once when my meal consisted of French fries and tortilla chips!

The Hotel in Reykjavik

Before leaving, I read the reviews about Hotel Cabin, which weren’t stellar. Most people disliked the accommodations, which Matt and I found absolutely fine. Others had issues with the staff, which is my complaint as well. When we first arrived, the front desk wasn’t staffed (it’s supposed to be 24 hours); once I found a person, she snapped at me that we couldn’t check in yet, which I knew, but requested to drop off our bags. The next morning, the hotel had a sign in the breakfast room that said something along the lines of, “Have special dietary needs? Let us know, and we can check the ingredients.” So, I asked which cereals were gluten-free, and the staff person threw the bag at me which was in Icelandic. Needless to say, I stuck to coffee and oatmeal that morning.

Visiting the Golden Circle

I know the Golden Circle is one of the most popular things to do in Iceland, but after you’ve been able to explore non-touristy parts of the country, it really just feels like Iceland’s Disney Land (our group had a running joke about this for the entire day). Instead of visiting the Golden Circle, I wish we would have started with a visit to the Snæfellsnes Peninsula and then headed north. You probably would need an extra day, but it would be worth it (there is a Best of Iceland option that adds on the Snæfellsnes Peninsula, but you still visit the Golden Circle).

These things were annoying but nothing to make me think twice about booking again. 

Other Iceland Itineraries to Consider 

If you’re thinking you can’t wait to go to Iceland, but this itinerary doesn’t sound up your alley, or you’re curious about the other options, you’ve currently got nine others to check out! One note: the included pricing reflects current special offers, so it could be more when you look (another good reason to join their mailing list). Some of the tours include: 

Best of Iceland: Golden Circle & Snæfellsnes Peninsula

Classic 9-day tour Available late April – beginning of October Starts at $3,849

Hiking Southern Iceland

Active 6-day tour (this is a strenuous tour) Available June – September Starts at $2,549

Iceland Family Journey: Geysers, Glaciers, and Fjords

National Geographic Family Journey 8-day tour Available late June – August Starts at $4,899

Wellness Iceland

Wellness-focused 7-day tour Available May – September   Starts at $3,059

Iceland Northern Lights & Golden Circle

Classic 5-day tour Available October – the beginning of April Starts at $1799

Iceland Adventure: Northern Lights & Snæfellsnes Peninsula

Classic 7-day tour Available October – the beginning of April Starts at $2,649

Wrap Up G Adventures Review: More Iceland Travel Help

Now that you’ve read this review you might be considering a G Adventures tour or still thinking about going at it alone. No matter what you choose, I have more to help you plan! Check out these other guides and articles to help plan your adventure.

The Best Day Trips from Reykjavik to Explore Iceland Is the Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon Worth Visiting? The Best Iceland Vegan Guide: Where to Eat & Stay Ultimate Vegan Reykjavik Vegan Guide: Restaurants, Hotels, & More The Best Hotels on Iceland’s Ring Road

Rebecca is the founder of the vegan travel company Veggies Abroad. In 2021, she bid her 15-year career goodbye and ventured into the world of ethical business with the launch of a vegan travel blog (the one you’re reading!). As the blog flourished, Rebecca expanded her vision to encompass personalized travel planning services and launched Veggies Abroad's inaugural vegan tour to Thailand, marking the beginning of many more eco-conscious, plant-powered adventures to come. Follow her adventures on Instagram or Facebook @veggiesabroad

Further Reading...

19 Best Day Trips from Reykjavík to Explore Iceland’s Natural Wonders

14 Iceland Ring Road Hotels to Book in 2024

Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon Boat Tour: Is It Worth a Visit in 2024?

19 best day trips from reykjavík to explore iceland's natural wonders.

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The 10 Best Group Travel Tour Companies for 2023

Caroline Morse Teel

Caroline Morse Teel is the Managing Editor for SmarterTravel Media. Follow her adventures around the world on Instagram @TravelWithCaroline.

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For those truly epic, once-in-a-lifetime destinations, you want to leave your itinerary to the experts. Whether your dream is to see the Big Five on an African Safari, trek tall mountains, explore European cities, or something even wilder, a group tour is the easiest way to do it.

However, picking the wrong group tour company is the quickest way to ruin your trip. Make sure you choose a tour company that aligns with your goals and travel styles. Do you want an intimate group tour or do you prefer to make lots of new friends in a big group? Does the price line up with what you like (luxury vs. budget)? Is the itinerary going to all the places you want to see? 

We’ve done the research and found the very best group travel tour companies for 2023 for every type of traveler.

Best Overall Group Travel: Exodus Travels

With trips on every continent, Exodus Travels covers anywhere on this planet that you could possibly want to go, from popular destinations like the Amalfi Coast to well off-the-beaten path adventures like Tajikistan. This award-winning group travel company boasts thousands of repeat customers who sign up for trips year after year (97% of past participants would recommend Exodus Travels to a friend). 

These small group tours operate with only around 12-16 people, and always feature experienced local leaders who can give you a unique insight into your destination. Exodus Travels caters to any type of travel style, including trips broken down by type of activity (think walking, cycling, multi-adventure, winter, or cultural) as well as type of traveler (family, age group, etc.). There are curated collections (coastal, “away from it all”, European wilderness, and trips of a lifetime) to inspire you, as well as self-guided options for when you want all the benefits of a group tour planner without the actual group. Looking for that special safari? Exodus Travels just partners with the African Wildlife Foundation to create carefully curated luxury adventures that go above and beyond the standard safari. 

Exodus Travels tours work for almost any budget, with options that range from affordable to premium. 

Top Trip: Explore under-the-radar Europe by foot on Exodus Travels’ Lakes & Mountains of Slovenia walking tour .

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Best Adventure Group Travel: World Expeditions

World Expeditions has been taking adventurous travelers to remote locations all over the world ever since its first group trek through Nepal in 1975. Today, World Expeditions offers active itineraries on every continent. Intrepid travelers can opt for trips themed around mountaineering, rafting, cycling, hiking, and more. 

World Expeditions aims to leave communities and places where they operate tours better than they found them. Trips are created using the company’s Thoughtful Travel Charter as a guideline, which emphasizes respect for the environment, sustainability, having a positive impact on local communities, protecting wildlife, and more. 

World Expeditions’ trips are capped at just 16 people to provide a good experience for participants, and there are no single supplements for solo travelers willing to share a room with someone of the same gender. 

Top Trip: Summit Africa’s tallest mountain on a fully-supported trek up Kilimanjaro on World Expeditions’ eight day trip up the beautiful Lemosho Route . 

Best Budget Group Travel: G Adventures 

For travelers on a budget, G Adventures offers cheap group tours that make dream destinations accessible to nearly anyone. (Think: sailing the Galapagos for just $1,124 , criss-crossing India’s Golden Triangle for $559 , or spending 8 days in Bali for less than $800.)

G Adventures is one of the best tour companies for solo travelers as well, as most trips don’t have a single-supplement. You can choose to share a room with another G Adventures solo traveler, or pay extra to have your own space.

G Adventures keeps costs down by opting for cheaper hotels and local meals, and making certain activities optional (for an additional cost). Pick your travel style—options range from “basic” to more luxe tours run in partnership with National Geographic. Family tours, local living tours (featuring homestays), and wellness-focused tours are also available. 

Top Trip: G Adventures’ China Express trip is a great way to see the highlights of China if you’re short on both time and budget. 

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Best Educational Group Tours: EF Go Ahead Tours

When you really want to learn about a destination, consider a group trip with EF Go Ahead Tours . EF is the world’s largest private education company, and the Go Ahead Tours arm capitalizes on the company’s relationships with local educators, historians, and tour guides to create group trips that take you deep into a destination. 

These small group tours generally cap at 38 travelers, and feature unique educational experiences. For a bucket list trip, EF Go Ahead Tour’s special event tours are particularly enticing, as they offer behind-the-scenes access to tough-to-plan trips like Oktoberfest in Munich or Cherry Blossom season in Japan. 

Intimidated by solo travel? EF Go Ahead Tours is a great option for solo travelers, since it offers designated trips for solo travelers , where everyone is traveling alone, making it less intimidating.  

Top Trip: Bring the tastes of Italy home with you on EF Go Ahead Tours’ Food & Wine: Piedmont & Tuscany tour (operated in partnership with America’s Test Kitchen), where you’ll learn how to make local dishes. 

Best Responsible Group Travel: Intrepid Travel

Looking for a responsible group travel operator that focuses on bettering the communities and destinations they visit? Intrepid Travel is the world’s largest travel B Corporation, a certification for companies doing good. 

Intrepid Travel’s tours focus on sustainability, diversity, inclusion, and sustaining communities. The company has its own charity, The Intrepid Foundation , which has donated over 7 million dollars to over 130 community organizations. 

Intrepid Travel’s small group tours attract a wide range of travelers, but they are especially great for younger travelers, as they have a large number of trips designed for people aged 18-29 . (Other trips, including family-focused trips, are geared toward any age.)

Top Trip: Experience unforgettable wildlife encounters on Intrepid Travel’s Premium Uganda & Rwanda trip which includes time with the mountain gorillas of Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. 

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Best Private Group Travel: Kensington Tours

Whether your group consists of just two people or involves taking the entire extended family, Kensington Tours will take all the hassle of planning out of the equation. This private group operator creates personalized trips and itineraries tailored to your preferences, while their experts handle all the logistics and bookings. 

Plans are entirely flexible, and can even be changed while on the trip on a whim. Need some inspiration? Browse Kensington Tours’ travel ideas , to get some ideas for your next adventure. 

Top Trip: Sail around the stunning shores of Croatia and the Dalmation Islands on a private luxury catamaran on Kensington Tours’ fully customizable tour . 

Best Polar Group Travel: Chimu Adventures

Whether you’re headed north to the Artic or south to Antarctica, Chimu Adventures has the perfect polar group trip for you. Chimu Adventures has some of the most variety for polar trips, with options to fly, cruise, or a combination of both to get to your destination.

For an ultra-unique Antarctica trip, Chimu Adventures offers cruises departing from Australia or New Zealand (most Antarctica trips depart from Argentina). Can’t stay long? Book one of Chimu Adventures’ scenic flights to Antarctica , which fly as far as the south pole in one spectacular 16-hour day.

Chimu Adventures is one of the cheapest group trips to Antarctica, with rates starting under $5,000.

Top Trip: If you’re pressed for time (or simply don’t have the stomach for the Drake Passage), Chimu Adventures’ Antarctica Fly Cruise will get you to the ends of the earth quickly and smoothly.

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Best Group Tours for Solo Travelers: For the Love of Travel

Group tours can be a great way to meet new people, but they can sometimes skew on the older age range. If you’re between 25-39 and a solo traveler looking to meet new people, you’ll love For the Love of Travel . All participants on the trips are between 25-39, and according to the company, 80 percent are solo travelers—so you’ll make friends fast. Hoping to meet someone who will be more than just a friend on your next trip? Trips include a balanced number of “gal and guy spots” to ensure an even balance of genders within groups (and of course, non-binary genders are always welcome). 

For the Love of Travel offers weeklong (or longer) international trips as well as shorter weekender trips to nearby destinations like Mexico or Denver—perfect for people without a lot of vacation time.

Top Trip: Sleep in a glass igloo under the Northern Lights, go sledding with huskies, and warm up in traditional saunas on For the Love of Travel’s Lapland tour , already booking dates for 2024.

Best Biking Tours Group Travel: DuVine Cycling

Biking through the rolling hills of Italy or across the mountain roads of Chile sounds like a dream, but the logistics seem daunting (especially if you don’t want to haul all your own stuff from point-to-point). Enter: DuVine Cycling , a luxury small group tour company that specializes in bike trips. 

With trips across Europe, Latin America, Africa, Asia, and the United States, DuVine Cycling is a cyclist’s dream. Choose from all-biking trips or mix things up with a cycle and sail bike tour or a multi-sport adventure —no matter what, everything is included, from luxury boutique accommodations to top-quality name brand bikes. 

Top Trip: DuVine’s Holland Bike Tour promises “tulips, windmills, beer, and cheese”—what more could you need?

Best Luxury Group Travel: Abercrombie & Kent

Abercrombie & Kent has been delighting discerning travelers since 1962. Today, they take travelers on unforgettable adventures across over 100 different countries and all seven continents. Although Abercrombie & Kent’s trips are pricey, they encompass once-in-a-lifetime experiences like private jet tours around the world or luxury chartered cruises .

There are trips designed for solo travelers and families , and the small group journeys max out at around 14-18 guests.

Top Trip: Swim with whale sharks in the Philippines, feed proboscis monkeys in Malaysia, and photograph wild tigers in India on Abercrombie & Kent’s Wildlife Safari: Around the World by Private Jet trip , already booking dates into 2024.

Book Your Stay With SmarterTravel Hotels

For independent explorers who don’t want to miss out on these amazing destinations, book your hotel stay for a great rate with SmarterTravel Hotels .

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G Adventures Enables Its Guests to Travel With a Purpose

This article originally appeared the April issue of AGENTatHOME magazine.  Subscribe here to receive your free copy each month.

As G Adventures has grown it has become part of a larger company, but its mission remains the same: to be “a social enterprise in the business of changing lives through travel,” said Steve Lima, director of marketing.

That mission goes back to when Bruce Poon Tip started the company in 1990 as a small-group tour operator with a focus on community tourism and how travel can make a positive impact, instilling that belief in all employees and extending it to partners, including travel advisors and their clients.

“I don’t just work for a travel company,” said Lima, “I work for a purpose.”

G Travel Community

With the recent acquisition of several other tour operators, a holding company called G Travel Community (GTC) was formed. Ben Perlo is now CEO and president of G Adventures while Jeff Russill is CEO of GTC. Poon Tip continues to play a highly active role on the board of GTC.

With the larger structure, the company is able to have an even more powerful impact on the places it visits – an impact measured by a proprietary Ripple Score, a tour evaluation that provides data on the money spent locally by G Adventures, including accommodations, restaurants and transportation. The higher the score, the more positive the effect on a community.

Small Groups

That pervasive social consciousness, said Lima, is combined with a quality product offering memorable experiences as the operator has evolved in recent years from its origins as a high-end adventure travel provider. Since about 2015, G Adventures has upgraded accommodations and slowed tour pacing but kept the focus on small groups – 10 passengers on average, a “true small-group operator,” he said. This year, the company expects to move 200,000 people on 15,000 departures, with a choice of more than 750 different trips in 100 countries on every continent.

Although it now offers more programs on the soft-adventure side, a full gamut of options is available, including more active ones like treks to a basecamp at Mount Everest or hiking the Atlas Mountains in Morocco, Lima said.

Sailing Options

The company portfolio also includes three ships and 15 tours in the Galapagos, offering everything from active trips to explorations for families. The newest ship, which debuted last year, is the Reina Silvia Voyager, accommodating just 16 passengers. The sailings are accompanied by a Chief Experience Officer (CEO) naturalist guide who introduces passengers to the wonders of the islands. In addition, there are sailing trips in Greece, Croatia, the Caribbean and elsewhere, as well as expedition cruises in Antarctica.

G Adventures is also focusing on its National Geographic Journeys product, now comprising 90 tours globally under two umbrellas: National Geographic Journeys and National Geographic Family. These are designed to take travelers deeper into cultures and habitats, and offer more inclusions, greater hands-on exploration, interactions with local experts, and the freedom to roam, all within the structure and security of traveling in a small group.

Domestic Offerings

During the pandemic, G Adventures doubled down on domestic tours, refocusing them to appeal to American travelers. With the rise of domestic travel in the last few years, a series of USA Adventures was developed to the American West featuring upgraded accommodations, a slower pace and visits to national parks, Lima said.

G Adventures sells a great majority of its tours through travel advisors and has as many as 85 consortia partnerships, mostly in the U.S. – and it is aggressive in offering incentives to sellers. The annual G-Normous promotion, which runs for the first four months of the year, offers over $75,000 in prizes, including a $10,000 top prize, lots of cash giveaways, free trips and bonus commissions.

Change Makers Summit

In September, the Change Makers Summit – an annual conference for advisors – will return for the first time since 2019 in G Adventures’ top destination, Peru. A Change Makers Challenge is running from March 1-June 30 with 13 advisors chosen from each major market based on their sales and brought to Peru for the event. There they will meet with global purpose specialists and senior leaders for a week.

The feedback from the travel community following the inaugural summit in 2019 was “incredible,” Lima said. “We change the lives of our travelers when they choose to explore the world with us. We’re so excited to not just welcome our valued travel advisors on this special trip, but to also celebrate the return to travel with them.”

Selling G Adventures

The operator offers the National Geographic Journeys Agent Specialist Program, a four-part course that provides advisors with everything they need to know to start booking tours. Sherpa is G Adventures’ advisor booking engine, which lets them book tours, check availability, order brochures, access online training, create marketing collateral and gain access to exclusive deals like G-Normous.

Also inside the portal is the Agent Backpack, filled with helpful selling tips and product training as well as access to a private “Agents of Chance” Facebook group.

G Adventures offers 13 Travel Styles. The newest is Roamies, a collaboration with Hostelworld designed for younger travelers who want to combine the fun of staying in some of the world’s best hostels with the ease and excitement of a G Adventures trip. Another unique Travel Style is Local Living, where travelers unpack once and stay at the same accommodations throughout. Among the options are a winery in Tuscany or a week or at lemon farm.

Travel booking times are shortening back to three to five months, with younger clients booking within one to two months out.

Portrait of the Client

G Adventures’ U.S. clients’ age averaged around 35-42 in the past, but with the expanded National Geographic and National Geographic Family lines, the company is seeing a lift in that range to 47-52. That includes more multigenerational groups on family adventures and more mature customers sailing on the G Expedition polar ship.

Over 68 percent of clients are female.

Hosted solo travelers are a significant contingent of the company portfolio – people avoiding big motorcoach tours but perhaps not ready to explore on their own.

The company is seeing more worldly/conscientious travelers who like knowing their trips are “Built with Purpose” and feature a supplier infrastructure that’s mindful of its impact on communities. The Ripple Score metric “has been super helpful to travelers who want to dig deeper into how their dollars make a difference,” Lima said.

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Yury Gagarin Cosmonauts Training Centre (Zvezdny Gorodok - Star Town) (7 hours)

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The Yuri A. Gagarin State Scientific Research-and-Testing Cosmonaut Training Center is a Russian training facility responsible for training cosmonauts for their space missions. It is in Star City of Moscow Oblast, a name which may refer to the facility itself or to its grounds. (Read more about Yury Gagarin Cosmonauts training center )

The secret Star City was built to train Soviet cosmonauts, including Yuri Gagarin, the 1st man in space. Many other famous Russian cosmonauts trained here with Gagarin: German Titov, Valentina Tereshkova, the first female cosmonaut, and Alexei Leonov, the first cosmonaut to exit the spaceship into space . The best facilities were built for them: the world’s largest centrifuge and hydro laboratory. Many cosmonauts from other countries (USA, Japan, Germany and many others) also have trained here together with Soviet Russian cosmonauts. On this Star (Space) City Tour you will see:

• Models of Soyuz Soviet spacecraft 
• World's largest centrifuge with an 18-meter radius 
• Hydro laboratory, with the model of the International Space Station in water, which allows to simulate the weightlessness and many more

Important info

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• Professional English-speaking guide assistance. Other languages upon request (additional charge may apply)
• Roundtrip transportation to and from your central hotel (Comfortable car/minivan with A/C)
• Fully private tour to ensure a personalized experience
• Entrance fee to Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Centre (territory)
• Entrance fee to Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Centre Museum
• All taxes, fees and handling charges
• Food  / Drinks
• Personal expenses
• Gratuities to guide/driver (optional)

The tour price already includes all the taxes & fees, you will not see any of them later during the checkout.

Adult pricing applies to all travelers

IMPORTANT! To book the tours please provide us with the copy of your passport (scan of page with photo) and the following information (for all the travellers):

1. Surname / Names (as in passport) 2. Passport number 3. Passport expiry date 4. Date of birth 5. Place of birth (country, city, state) 6. Place of current residence (country, city, state) 7. Citizenship 8. Place of work 9. Position held 

This information is required to get access to the Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Centre, as per their security policy.

If it took Gagarin 1 year to get prepared, now it takes 7 years to become a cosmonaut, and 50 days to pass  security  check for foreign visitors.

Due to the security policy of the Centre, the guided tours are to be arranged in 50 days before the tour date. Last-minute arrangements are not available. 

Departure: from your Moscow hotel

Return: to your Moscow hotel (or any other place in Moscow that you choose)

Sights included in program

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Our flexible payment options allow you to pay 20% of a deposit first and the remaining 80% in 14 days prior to your tour date - payment can be done both online or over the phone. This gives you the peace of mind knowing your spaces are booked on the tours and that you do not miss out on making the most of your time in Russia.

Also you get 5% discount and get the best, top-rated and most experienced and knowledgeable hand-picked tour guide appointed on a priority basis. In our experience, exceptional travel experiences are almost always delivered by exceptional people. With that in mind, we utilize a comprehensive approach to select and employ the best tour guides only. Multilingual and well travelled, each possesses deep insight into the diverse attractions and cultural patterns throughout the region. With us guides undergo a rigorous selection process, achieving outstanding knowledge of local culture and language. Rest assured that the best tour guides only will be working on the tours to give you excellent opportunity to explore the best of the sights during both short and long-term stay in Russia.

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Out of the Centre

Savvino-storozhevsky monastery and museum.

Zvenigorod's most famous sight is the Savvino-Storozhevsky Monastery, which was founded in 1398 by the monk Savva from the Troitse-Sergieva Lavra, at the invitation and with the support of Prince Yury Dmitrievich of Zvenigorod. Savva was later canonised as St Sabbas (Savva) of Storozhev. The monastery late flourished under the reign of Tsar Alexis, who chose the monastery as his family church and often went on pilgrimage there and made lots of donations to it. Most of the monastery’s buildings date from this time. The monastery is heavily fortified with thick walls and six towers, the most impressive of which is the Krasny Tower which also serves as the eastern entrance. The monastery was closed in 1918 and only reopened in 1995. In 1998 Patriarch Alexius II took part in a service to return the relics of St Sabbas to the monastery. Today the monastery has the status of a stauropegic monastery, which is second in status to a lavra. In addition to being a working monastery, it also holds the Zvenigorod Historical, Architectural and Art Museum.

Belfry and Neighbouring Churches

Located near the main entrance is the monastery's belfry which is perhaps the calling card of the monastery due to its uniqueness. It was built in the 1650s and the St Sergius of Radonezh’s Church was opened on the middle tier in the mid-17th century, although it was originally dedicated to the Trinity. The belfry's 35-tonne Great Bladgovestny Bell fell in 1941 and was only restored and returned in 2003. Attached to the belfry is a large refectory and the Transfiguration Church, both of which were built on the orders of Tsar Alexis in the 1650s.  

To the left of the belfry is another, smaller, refectory which is attached to the Trinity Gate-Church, which was also constructed in the 1650s on the orders of Tsar Alexis who made it his own family church. The church is elaborately decorated with colourful trims and underneath the archway is a beautiful 19th century fresco.

Nativity of Virgin Mary Cathedral

The Nativity of Virgin Mary Cathedral is the oldest building in the monastery and among the oldest buildings in the Moscow Region. It was built between 1404 and 1405 during the lifetime of St Sabbas and using the funds of Prince Yury of Zvenigorod. The white-stone cathedral is a standard four-pillar design with a single golden dome. After the death of St Sabbas he was interred in the cathedral and a new altar dedicated to him was added.

Under the reign of Tsar Alexis the cathedral was decorated with frescoes by Stepan Ryazanets, some of which remain today. Tsar Alexis also presented the cathedral with a five-tier iconostasis, the top row of icons have been preserved.

Tsaritsa's Chambers

The Nativity of Virgin Mary Cathedral is located between the Tsaritsa's Chambers of the left and the Palace of Tsar Alexis on the right. The Tsaritsa's Chambers were built in the mid-17th century for the wife of Tsar Alexey - Tsaritsa Maria Ilinichna Miloskavskaya. The design of the building is influenced by the ancient Russian architectural style. Is prettier than the Tsar's chambers opposite, being red in colour with elaborately decorated window frames and entrance.

At present the Tsaritsa's Chambers houses the Zvenigorod Historical, Architectural and Art Museum. Among its displays is an accurate recreation of the interior of a noble lady's chambers including furniture, decorations and a decorated tiled oven, and an exhibition on the history of Zvenigorod and the monastery.

Palace of Tsar Alexis

The Palace of Tsar Alexis was built in the 1650s and is now one of the best surviving examples of non-religious architecture of that era. It was built especially for Tsar Alexis who often visited the monastery on religious pilgrimages. Its most striking feature is its pretty row of nine chimney spouts which resemble towers.

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Galereya Kino

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Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Galereya Kino - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

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• Kontinental Hockey League

Gagarin Cup Preview: Atlant vs. Salavat Yulaev

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Gagarin cup (khl) finals:  atlant moscow oblast vs. salavat yulaev ufa.

Much like the Elitserien Finals, we have a bit of an offense vs. defense match-up in this league Final.  While Ufa let their star top line of Alexander Radulov, Patrick Thoresen and Igor Grigorenko loose on the KHL's Western Conference, Mytischi played a more conservative style, relying on veterans such as former NHLers Jan Bulis, Oleg Petrov, and Jaroslav Obsut.  Just reaching the Finals is a testament to Atlant's disciplined style of play, as they had to knock off much more high profile teams from Yaroslavl and St. Petersburg to do so.  But while they did finish 8th in the league in points, they haven't seen the likes of Ufa, who finished 2nd. 

This series will be a challenge for the underdog, because unlike some of the other KHL teams, Ufa's top players are generally younger and in their prime.  Only Proshkin amongst regular blueliners is over 30, with the work being shared by Kirill Koltsov (28), Andrei Kuteikin (26), Miroslav Blatak (28), Maxim Kondratiev (28) and Dmitri Kalinin (30).  Oleg Tverdovsky hasn't played a lot in the playoffs to date.  Up front, while led by a fairly young top line (24-27), Ufa does have a lot of veterans in support roles:  Vyacheslav Kozlov , Viktor Kozlov , Vladimir Antipov, Sergei Zinovyev and Petr Schastlivy are all over 30.  In fact, the names of all their forwards are familiar to international and NHL fans:  Robert Nilsson , Alexander Svitov, Oleg Saprykin and Jakub Klepis round out the group, all former NHL players.

For Atlant, their veteran roster, with only one of their top six D under the age of 30 (and no top forwards under 30, either), this might be their one shot at a championship.  The team has never won either a Russian Superleague title or the Gagarin Cup, and for players like former NHLer Oleg Petrov, this is probably the last shot at the KHL's top prize.  The team got three extra days rest by winning their Conference Final in six games, and they probably needed to use it.  Atlant does have younger regulars on their roster, but they generally only play a few shifts per game, if that. 

The low event style of game for Atlant probably suits them well, but I don't know how they can manage to keep up against Ufa's speed, skill, and depth.  There is no advantage to be seen in goal, with Erik Ersberg and Konstantin Barulin posting almost identical numbers, and even in terms of recent playoff experience Ufa has them beat.  Luckily for Atlant, Ufa isn't that far away from the Moscow region, so travel shouldn't play a major role. 

I'm predicting that Ufa, winners of the last Superleague title back in 2008, will become the second team to win the Gagarin Cup, and will prevail in five games.  They have a seriously well built team that would honestly compete in the NHL.  They represent the potential of the league, while Atlant represents closer to the reality, as a team full of players who played themselves out of the NHL. 

• Atlant @ Ufa, Friday Apr 8 (3:00 PM CET/10:00 PM EST)
• Atlant @ Ufa, Sunday Apr 10 (1:00 PM CET/8:00 AM EST)
• Ufa @ Atlant, Tuesday Apr 12 (5:30 PM CET/12:30 PM EST)
• Ufa @ Atlant, Thursday Apr 14 (5:30 PM CET/12:30 PM EST)

Games 5-7 are as yet unscheduled, but every second day is the KHL standard, so expect Game 5 to be on Saturday, like an early start. 

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