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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.

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Group travel booking: all your questions answered

The 10 best group travel companies, 10 of the best group travel companies, 1. travelperk.

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2. g adventures.

• Unique and off-the-beaten-path travel experiences
• Hiking, cycling, rail, and marine tours
• Tours focused on wellness
• 18-to-thirty-somethings tours
• Solo traveler-friendly group trips

3. Intrepid Travel

• 18-29s tours
• Active adventures (hiking, biking, kayaking, etc)
• Adventure cruising (travel by boat)
• Family tours
• Wildlife and polar tours
• Women’s expeditions (all-female tours)
• Urban Adventures day tours

4. Exodus Travels

• Trips for those in their 30s-40s, families, and self-guided tours
• Mixed activity trips
• Small ship cruises
• Desert treks, coastal walks, and wildlife walks
• Private group adventures

5. MT Sobek

• Search based on activity/fitness level
• Hiking, trekking, rafting, and kayaking activities
• Family adventures
• Adventure cruising and camping
• Search by accommodation, including luxury hotels, safari camps and lodges, and rustic lodging
• Private and customized travel tours
• Skiing and snowboarding tours
• Short trips and festivals
• Island hopping tours, road trips, and bus tours
• Pride trips
• 24/7 customer support

7. For the Love of Travel (FTLO)

• Weekend trips
• International trips
• A commitment to being a climate-neutral brand, supporting local economies, and only working with vendors that align with their values
• Low season travel tour deals
• “Choice touring”, a selection of curated experiences in off-the-beaten-path destinations
• Faith-based travel itineraries

9. EF Go Ahead Tours

• Multi-country tours
• Food and wine, history, and family tours
• Seasonal and special event tours (including Oktoberfest, Christmas market tours, and summer tours)
• Safari and wildlife, battlefield, and national park tours
• Private and customized group tours

10. Classic Journeys

• A loyalty program offering discounts and priority room assignments
• Groups and corporate luxury tours
• Couples and friends tours
• Limited edition vacations such as visiting Japan’s cherry blossoms or viewing a solar eclipse
• A variety of walking, food and wine, multisport, and heritage and ancestry tours

What are the common challenges involved in booking trips for large groups of people?

Gathering all of the necessary group travel information, multiple moving parts are difficult to manage, what are group travel companies and what services do they typically offer, design travel itineraries according to client needs, offer locally based guides.

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USA Tour Companies

Looking for an unforgettable USA tour? Book a fully-organized trip with the best tour companies in USA and let the tour operator take care of everything for you. Check out the tour details and read 191119 reviews from our customers to help you choose the perfect tour for you.

List of USA travel companies & tour operators with 191119 reviews

G Adventures

• Excellent - 19,081 reviews for USA tours

the tour itself was amazing. The national parks do not disappoint. The travel accomodations were very cramped and uncomfortable. I am only 5 foot tall and I was cramped in this 14 passenger van. Food opportunities were limited.

Fantastic experience - efficient use of time, great itinerary. Well-informed and interesting guide who is also just a great person.

Bindlestiff Tours

• Excellent - 1,456 reviews for USA tours

Yosemite was a dream! Yosemite was amazing! 3rd tour with Bindlestiff. Haley was a fun guide and got us from place to place safely. The campgrounds were great and close to the parks. Having a tour guide makes traveling so much more relaxing. You don't have to stress about planning anything or do the driving. Definitely recommend these tours.

Contrast to its name, Death Valley is a beautiful place for a road trip. I had taken this one day tour for Death valley National park. It was a beautiful tour. It pretty much covered most of the main places of this national park. Our tour guide, Hogan, was such an amazing , knowledgeable and friendly guide. As it was small group, it was well organized , on-time...perfect

Intrepid Travel

• Excellent - 11,698 reviews for USA tours

We were fortunate to have Claire Kredens as our driver guide. She is a gifted leader and could cope with ant situation. Such a tour is useful to learn which cities you might like to re-visit because our time in each is very short. Four and five hour drives every other day is exhausting and maybe the number of places visited could be edited downward. On the whole, I enjoyed the trip altho the age range 15-99 is unwise. 15-80 would be much more realistic.

My son and I had a great hiking adventure on the Sedona tour! The scenery was stunning, the hikes were fun! Tolman was an excellent guide, who was very knowledgeable about the area, he had great hiking tips, and he picked some enjoyable challenging hikes for us! He was also an excellent cook! He prepared us some great meals! His positive outlook on everything helped the group of strangers on the trek quickly bond which led us all to have a great hiking experience!

• Excellent - 985 reviews for USA tours

Great tour, good group size too

Great experience!

Southwest Adventure Tours

• Excellent - 95 reviews for USA tours

Just couldn’t have been better. Extremely professional guides Robin and Sarah were highly knowledgable, friendly and organised. Accomodation was excellent in every location (most hotels even had hot tubs and pools!) and the food options were always good. Lovely comfortable Mercedes minibus. Highly recommended to everyone - would do another tour with South West Adventure Tours in a heartbeat.

Guide was knowledgeable and helpful. It was a good group

• Excellent - 1,887 reviews for USA tours

Excellent. Great guide, driver, weather, hotels, food. Great itenirary. Love love this trip.

Optional excursions were reasonably priced. Suggest you put together other places in each city as a walking guide or short taxi or uber ride. Example access to close by museums open late and could walk to from hotel. Free time activities and what they are and where located is helpful.tour guide can offer to accompany a group interested to explore more during free leisure tome.Provide more detail info about the logistics of site visits. Niagara falls..suggest more water proof gear clothing and shoe types etc. Terrain to expect when visiting certain sites and possible alternatives.climbing and how difficult-easy or more strenuous or advanced climbing activity. Overall, small groups so much better than filling up bus. Thank you for giving single travelers their own bus space. Would love to watch more travel videos on longer driving distances.

BrushBuck Wildlife Tours

• Excellent - 23 reviews for USA tours

Although the tour was very expensive- over $2000 for 3 days is over the top- it wss a great experience, saw lots of wildlife and the guide was outstanding

What an amazing experience this was; from the greeting and pick up by our guide/driver, to the phenomenal sights and the historical references that accompanied them! I am so pleased. This was an exceptionally planned tour that successfully met all of my needs. I would not change a thing and look forward to future adventures with them.

National Geographic Journey…

• Excellent - 257 reviews for USA tours

Good time with lots of riding in the van going to interesting places

We had a wonderful time. The tour was well planned and well managed. The CEO was excellent ..good driver, good communicator, had good knowledge of the local attractions and made great recommendations for restaurants. The group we were with was also a very pleasant group which made the experience that much more enjoyable. That said, would have loved to see the accommodations updated.. most except the Denali cabins were old and "weathered".

Insight Vacations

• Excellent - 626 reviews for USA tours

My first experience with an organized tour like this. Expense alone will limit future trips. Much more walking than my wife was prepared for. This alone reduced her enjoyment. Tour guide was very knowledgeable and thorough with his planning and execution. Andrew has a fun personality and very personable. One item that disappointed me was the shuttle from airport to resort at both ends of the

Insights Tours are always amazing and this one was no exception. Nice balance of free time to relax and experience Hawaii on your own with visits to places on the islands to experience the culture. Learned a lot of Hawaii’s history throughout our visit. Overall a lovely experience and would highly recommend if you want to visit Hawaii and learn more about the islands.

Infinite Adventures

• Excellent - 118 reviews for USA tours

It was my first group trip and also my first camping trip. I have to say it was one of the best trips I've been on. It was an adventure! We were lucky enough to see the Northern Lights at Remote Camp. Tory and Dave took care of everything and made sure everyone had a great time. No matter what problem you had, they always helped each other! Dave cooked delicious food, we had marshmallows by the fire in the evening and it felt like family. It's a great tour and I can only recommend it to anyone! It certainly wasn't my last tour with Infinite Adventure! Many thanks to Tory, Dave and Natalie (who you could ask any question you wanted to know beforehand) for this unforgettable time! :)

Jump on the bus with Infinite Adventures for a magnificent Alaskan expedition! Dave and Tory are excellent guides and will keep you informed about the areas you visit and give expert advice. I found this to be a truly joyful experience!

• Excellent - 74,884 reviews for USA tours

This was our second trip on Globus and both experiences were fantastic.

I was skeptical of a group tour, particularly by coach. The experienced guide, Jason, along with driver Shauna, changed my view completely.

Bucket List Group Travel LL…

• Excellent - 15 reviews for USA tours

Had a wonderful time - a lot of hiking, seeing the sites in Alaska and viewing the Northern Lights.

The tour was amazing, great and tour guides:).

• Excellent - 19,643 reviews for USA tours

Could have had more included activities

The tour had a few bumps. It would have been better if there were some included meals. There was no information about some of the excursions such as where the island tour stopped.

Bamba Travel

• Good - 1,689 reviews for USA tours

The itinerary provided by tour radar was not exactly how the tour was set up. One of our stops said we would be doing a cruise on lake Powell. That was not provided with the tour. Also the hotels that they said we would be staying at did not line up.

Overall, the tour was very fun and we'll put together. The tour guides were all friendly, and seemed to work well as a team. Accomodations were not bad, but there were better options directly adjacent. Food options were pretty much all fast food, which makes sense for the tour concept. However, dinner options could have been a bit better. We really would have appreciated a little more hiking and exploring time, and a couple of the guides did the best to accommodate that. However, 20 minute stops are just not enough time to get "out and experience" the areas.

The Coyote Trip

• Good - 11 reviews for USA tours

This trip was run like a school trip, we were told that we had to stick to the schedule rigidly even though I asked several times to visit a different museum/shop. Free time was limited and it seemed like the guide had specific ideas of what he wanted to do and see. Our guide also left us on a subway in New York to get home close to midnight and then we had issues getting checked into the hostel. FYI most tour guides make sure their group gets to the hotel safely and without hassle. Waste of time and money.

From a speedboat to the Statue of Liberty to fireworks on 4th July in Washington to hiking to Yosemite Falls, this trip showcased the very best the USA has to offer. I went on the 21 day Full Cyote trip from New York to San Francisco with my brother. With such a packed itinerary of included activities, it offered great value for money. The guides in every region we visited were excellent. A particular shout out to Ryan, who added in extra stops and experiences based on the group's interests. Other highlights included the Grand Canyon, Washington's museums, whale watching in Boston, cycling across the Golden Gate Bridge and sunset in Griffeths Park. I met a great group of people on the trip, and I wouldn't hesitate to book with the Cyote Trip again.

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WELCOME to Enrichment Travel Services!  Let's explore amazing places together!   If you have a group and want a custom tour, call us. Enrichment Travel does special tours for special groups. Most of our tours are not shown here because they're for private groups but some are open to anyone who wants a fantastic travel experience. Founder Dave Matthews has owned tour companies for 27 years. We're based in Dublin, Ohio, and have partner offices in Palm Beach County and Nashville. Tell us where you want to go.

Enrichment Travel Services is proud to announce that we are the official tour partner of the Westport Folk and Bluegrass Festival in Westport, Co. Mayo, Ireland.  

Enjoy Bluegrass in Ireland at the   

June 5-13, 2024, including the wild atlantic way, dublin, donegal and more.

Sold out!! A Quilt Lover's Tour

June 5-14, 2024.

Lancaster Amish Country, Hershey, QuiltWeek Show, Sight & Sound Theater Lancaster Amish Country, Hershey, QuiltWeek Show, Sight & Sound Theater

September 11-14, 2024 september 11-14, 2024.

CALLING ALL COLLEGE FOOTBALL FANS

Call us about your group offering these buckeye road trips. dave - (614) 581-2126 or email dave @ enrichmenttravel.com.

Ohio State vs. Oregon Ducks

October 9-14, 2024, explore the great northwest and see the bucks vs. ducks first ever big 10, top 10 matchup.  this tour features seattle, portland, columbia river gorge, cannon beach, salem, eugene and much more..

Ohio State vs. Northwestern

November 15-17, 2024

Join enrichment travel services for a chicago holiday kick off tour and see ohio state vs. northwestern university.  enjoy a guided tour of the windy city, plus free time for shopping and exploring on the magnificent mile..

Are you a group leader?     We serve private groups, so most of our tours are not listed here. However, some tours are open to anyone, and those are on this site.

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A Specialty: Bespoke Tours o f Ireland with Brenda Willis.

These are special, customized tours for your small group. We discuss the possibilities with you and then create an intimate itinerary that gets you to up close to Ireland's famous sites, its people and music, plus some hidden gems. Add a focus, such as ancestry, music, golf, pub life, literature, or a blend of themes.

We also do most of western Europe, plus river or ocean cruises. And don't forget North America. Bring your ideas and we'll do the rest.

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• Our Process

You’re why begins here. Many travelers these days seem content to follow the crowd. Is that enough for you? Do you want to take the same trip your friend, family member or neighbor took? If not, then you are one of the 5% who follows your own passions. So ask yourself how far outside the box are you willing to go? At Big Five, our answer is “What box?”

You understand that extraordinary journeys are not simply a product of dollars and cents, nor are they pre-packaged and pulled off a rack. Life adventures are meticulously crafted with imagination, creativity, attention to detail, persistence and insider knowledge. All are elements of intellectual property – that elusive combination of equal parts education, intuition, talent and insight with a touch of inspiration that molds imaginings into reality.

As you travel your path, rest assured we are traveling with you. That is why since 1973, Big Five Tours & Expeditions has made it our creed to exceed our guests’ expectations. We have won accolades within the travel community for exceptional service, dynamic, and original itineraries and our experienced, knowledgeable staff. But it is you, our guests, who truly motivate us to bring out our very best efforts every time. We employ talented individuals in all departments, from accounting, to Sales, to corporate support, to management, ensuring that you receive exceptional service from your first contact to the last flight home. But there’s more.

• Level of Staff Knowledge  In working with Big Five, you and your travel advisor will get to know the Big Five team, among the most qualified and dedicated group of experts in the travel industry. Our Destination Specialists receive 900+ hours of in-destination and in-office training annually. They have a combined average of more than two decades in the travel industry.
• Cutting Edge Ideas from a Cutting Edge Company  Four in ten travelers as well as four in ten travel advisors working with Big Five are next generation. We change today by preparing for tomorrow. Innovation comes from the front, the vanguard.
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The Ultimate Guide To Group Tours

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While this website tries to encourage self-planned travel, I am by no means against traveling with group tours.  They can be a great way to travel that provide a different set of benefits compared to traveling on your own and contrary to popular belief…

They’re not only reserved for retirees either!  

There are group tours out there for every age demographic that cater to a multitude of different people so don’t write off group tours just yet.

In this guide, I will tell you everything you need to know about group tours, including who they are for, what to expect from them, what to look for in a good tour company, and the best companies out there for every age group.  

So without further ado, let’s get into it!

Table of Contents

Part 1: who are group tours for.

• Anyone looking to travel without having to do the work of planning out their trip on their own.   Group tours are fully pre-planned and apart from getting to the starting point, there is not much planning you have to do.  They will take you to all the top sights in a destination and provide both transportation and accommodation for you.
• Anyone looking to meet other travelers on their trip.   Group tours are great for people who want to meet other travelers while abroad because you’ll be sharing the same experiences with the same people every day meaning that it will be easy to make friends!
• Anyone who doesn’t want to have to deal with different languages and customs on their own.   If you’re worried about people abroad not being able to understand you or potentially offending someone because you’re not aware of the local customs, then a group tour can help.  Group tours come with a guide who will act as personal translator for you and inform you of the local customs which may differ from your own.
• Anyone who wants to see as much of a destination as possible without having to drive.   Some people might not have a driver’s license and others might not want to have to deal with driving on the other side of the road.  Others might just prefer not to drive at all while on vacation, but they still want to be able to see as much as possible of a destination.  Tour groups will take you to all the top sights in your destination meaning you just have to sit back and go along for the ride!
• Anyone looking to visit restricted places like Antarctica or North Korea.   Some parts of the world are off-limits without a tour.  For example, Antarctica can only be visited as part of an organized tour (you can’t just rent a boat and sail on over)!  The same goes for North Korea which is one of the most restrictive countries in the world for tourists.  There are a few other places like this in the world as well such as Iran, Turkmenistan, Tibet, Bhutan, and Cuba (if you’re American).
• Anyone who is worried about their personal safety while abroad.   Tour groups can provide an extra level of safety that solo traveling cannot.  Being part of a larger group gives you a sense of security as well as a guide who will help take care of you.  However, keep in mind that tour groups also attract pickpockets so make sure you’re prepared with the right travel accessories to prevent them.
• Anyone who wants a knowledgeable guide that can tell them interesting information about the places they visit.   Not only will your tour guide be able to translate everything and inform you about the local customs, but they will also be able to provide you with lots of information about the places you’re visiting and the things you’re seeing.  You will be able to learn a lot about attractions that you would otherwise only get a basic introduction to on your own!

If any of those sound like you, then you should consider looking into group tours!

Part 2: What to expect from group tours

Group tours come in different shapes and sizes.  They can range from less than 10 people to upwards of 60.  The size of your group will affect your experience and the smaller the group, the easier it will be to meet other people in it and the better the overall experience you will get.  

Larger group tours will be cheaper than smaller ones, but they will also be way less personal, often herding you around like cattle and taking you to inauthentic hotel buffet restaurants instead of local eateries. 

The type of tour will vary as well.  The stereotypical one is geared towards retirees and older couples looking to experience a destination at a slow pace, but there are also tours for young people with an emphasis on partying, tours for families with many child-friendly activities, tours for women who only want to travel with other women, and everything in between.  

Some will focus on city visits while others will focus on outdoor adventures.  Pick the tour type that caters to you to make sure you have a great experience.

What’s Included

All group tours include transportation to each attraction or destination they cover.  Most tours will also provide you with free accommodation and free entry to the attractions they take you to.  Some of them will also include free meals or cover the cost of a portion of them.  

Make sure you’re aware of what a group tour includes before booking it!

Regardless of which one you pick, every group tour will always include a tour guide who will be able to answer any and all questions you may have about what you’re seeing.  They will be able to translate things for you and let you know what to expect in every destination.  Whether or not the guide is a local will vary though.

Transportation & Accommodation

Most of the time, transportation to each destination will be provided by private tour bus.  For smaller groups, you may get a minibus or minivan. 

As for accommodation, it will depend on the tour type.  If it’s a tour for older couples or families, then you will probably be given accommodation in nice hotels.  However, if it’s a tour for budget travelers, backpackers, and partiers, then you will probably be given accommodation in hostels or guesthouses.  Something in between, probably boutique accommodation.

Part 3: What to look for in a tour company

Picking a good tour company is extremely important as it can mean the difference between a relaxing and enjoyable vacation and a forgettable and stressful experience.  

There are many tour companies out there and a lot of them exist solely to take advantage of travelers, providing them with a very basic experience which makes them wish they planned out the trip on their own.  Since that’s the last thing you want in a tour company, you need to make sure you pick a good one. 

Here are the 9 things you should be looking for in a tour company:

1. a target demographic similar to yours.

As stated earlier, tours can cater to a wide range of different people and to make sure you find the one that’s catered to you, you need to make sure their target demographic is one that you’re a part of.  

If you’re looking for a quiet and relaxing experience, you don’t want to go on a tour full of young partiers.  And similarly, if you’re looking for a fun party experience, you don’t want to end up on a slow-paced tour full of older couples or families.

Read the About page on the tour company’s website to see what kind of travelers they cater to.  If it’s not listed there, take a look at their photos to see what kind of people go on their tours.  You want to make sure you go on tours with people who are similar to you as it will be easier to connect with them and make friends.

2. Activities that interest you

Tour companies will try to save money by taking you to attractions that are convenient/cheap for them to visit and not necessarily the top attractions in each destination.  When booking a tour of a country or region, don’t assume that all the top attractions will be included. 

Find out which specific attractions they will visit and decide if there’s anything missing from the list.  Pick a different tour if the attractions they visit are not of interest to you.

The same goes for any non-tourism related activities such as meals or social events.  Find out which restaurants they will take you to and try to go for tours that take you local eateries instead of buffet restaurants to get a better experience.  

And if you’re looking to party and socialize, make sure to check what kind of social events are part of the tour as well.

3. A balanced schedule

The point of a group tour is to sit back and relax while someone else takes care of the travel planning for you so the last thing you want is to be running around because they are taking you to 10 different cities in 5 days.  

However, you also don’t want to be sitting around in the same place all day either as that would be a waste of time and money.  Always ask to see the full itinerary of the tour before booking it.

One way to tell if a tour is not well-balanced is if most of their stops are only for 1 night.  Try to go for tours that give you at least 2 nights in every city as it will ensure that you get a good balance of interesting attractions and free time to rest and/or explore on your own too.  You also don’t want to be spending too long in the same cities either though so judge accordingly.

4. Good reviews

Part of the appeal of tours is knowing that you’ll be in good hands.  A good way to make sure you’re going with a reputable tour company is by checking out their reviews.  See what other people have said about them both on their own website as well as on other sites like TripAdvisor or travel blogs.

That being said, if you see any bad reviews online, take them with a grain of salt.  More people will complain about a bad experience than praise a good one. Analyze a few different reviews and decide if their complaints are legitimate and representative of what to expect if you go on the tour yourself!

5. The right group size

In general, the smaller the group, the better the experience you’ll get.  Smaller groups will get more personalized attention from guides, access to attractions, restaurants, and accommodation that are too small for large groups, and more of a chance to get to know the other people in the group!

However, larger groups can be beneficial if you’re looking to save money or you want to socialize with a lot of different people (like on those party-centric tours).  

If that’s your priority, then more people might be ideal for you, but if your priority is to have the best experience possible in each destination, then you should be looking for tour groups that are 20 people or less.

6. A knowledgeable guide

Your guide can make or break your experience.  You don’t want a guide that simply leads you from place to place and tells you when it’s time to go to the next one without providing much else.  

You want a guide who knows what they’re talking about, cares about making the experience a good one for you, and explains everything you need to know at every attraction.

A local guide will be a lot more knowledgeable with regards to their home city, but being local is not a necessity.  A foreign guide can be just as good provided that at the very least, they have experience with/knowledge of the places they’re taking you to, speak the local language, and be trained in first aid in case of emergencies.  

Ask the tour company who your guide will be and find out this information before booking.

Be aware that some guides might also rely on tips for their income and if that’s the case, check out the  Destination Guide  for the country you’re visiting for a guide on how much to tip them.

7. Good accommodation in a good location

A lot of tour companies will try to save money by putting you in mediocre 2-star accommodation.  Find out where you will be sleeping and read reviews for it online.  

See what other people have said about it and how much it typically costs to book outside of guided tours to get an idea for its quality.  If it doesn’t look like a place that you would feel comfortable sleeping in, look for another tour.

In addition, even if the accommodation looks decent, make sure to also find out where it’s located.  Another way tour companies will try to save money is by putting you in a place that is located outside the city centre meaning that it will take you longer to get to and from the city than it will to actually explore it!  

Accommodation that is located in the heart of your destination will provide a more memorable experience than one that is located in the middle of nowhere.  Always ask for exact locations.

8. A reasonable price

Group tours will almost always be more expensive than self-planned travel, but they shouldn’t break the bank either.  Pick a tour that fits your budget and make sure to take taxes, fees, and any extra charges into account. 

Some tour companies will advertise a super low price, but then charge you for things that you expected would be included in the price such as meals or entrance fees to attractions and parks.  Find out what’s included in the quoted price and the cost of what they consider to be “optional” activities or features before making any bookings. 

Also, if you’re traveling solo, keep an eye out for tours that charge a single supplement.  This is something that some tour companies like to charge solo travelers since it means they would get a room to themselves.  

If you don’t have anyone to travel with, see if the tour company will put you in the same room as other solo travelers (of the same sex) without any extra fees and if they won’t, then you’re better off going with another tour company (unless you prefer a room to yourself, in which case expect to pay that fee).

9. A decent cancellation policy

Not every traveler will have  trip cancellation/interruption insurance  and even if you do, being able to cancel your tour and get a full refund without having to go through your insurance is so much easier.  You might also just have a change of plans and decide you don’t want to go on the tour anymore.  

Find out what cancellation policy the tour company has and decide if booking a non-refundable tour is worth the risk.

In addition, keep an eye out for tours that only require you to pay a deposit when booking it.  Make sure your deposit will lock in the price as some tour companies will try to raise the price later if not enough people sign up for the tour.

Also, some tour companies will actually completely cancel a tour if not enough people sign up for them so try to go with one that guarantees tours will happen no matter what to avoid wasting your time.

Part 4: The best tour companies for every age group

For multiple different age groups.

Intrepid Travel

Specializing in small groups of up to 10 people, Intrepid Travel is great if you want a personalized experience of every destination you visit.  They have tours for every age group so there’s something available for everyone.

G Adventures

Similar to Intrepid, G Adventures also offers small groups and multiple different tours for every age group.  However, they differ in that they like to offer lots of free time on their trips so you can explore on your own in addition to being led by a tour guide.

For the 18-30 somethings

Contiki is the ultimate party tour company.  Expect a fast-paced experience with a lot of drinking and partying with other travelers.  They have a strict age limit, not allowing anyone under 18 or over 35 to join their trips.

Similar to Contiki, Topdeck also offers a very social experience, however they tend to devote more time to cultural experiences meaning you get the best of both worlds.

A bit more hands-off than a typical tour company, Busabout specializes in a hop-on hop-off system that lets you customize your trip however you want it.  This gives you more freedom, but also means you still have to do a bit of planning on your own.

EF Ultimate Break

The only tour company on this list that includes the flights to the starting points, EF Ultimate Break is the ideal option for those that really want everything planned out for them in advance.  They also offer payment plans and have a max age limit of 29.

Under 30 Experiences

Under 30 Experiences has small groups catering to those looking for authentic experiences in the destinations they visit with less partying and more traveling.  Their minimum age is 21 and they allow people over 30 to join as well, despite their name.

For The Love Of Travel

For The Love Of Travel is a boutique tour company offering authentic cultural travel experiences to those who are a bit more mature than others in this age group and who are looking to go slow in each location.  Keep in mind that their minimum age is 25.

Travendly is a tour company that specializes in shorter trips designed with the young professional’s work schedule in mind.  They also prescreen everyone who goes on their trips to make sure groups are filled with like-minded people.

For those aged 30-49

One of the few tour companies catering to this demographic, Flash Pack is great for professionals looking to travel with other professionals.  They offer authentic travel experiences in small groups that range from city visits to exotic adventures.

For those aged 50+

Rick Steves’ Europe Tours

A travel expert in his own right, Rick Steves’ tour company offers trips around Europe which attract an older crowd looking for affordably priced tours that offer authentic experiences in groups no larger than 25.

Exodus Travels

With an average age of 53, Exodus Travels is a tour company that offers a few different tour types from small guided groups to self-guided holidays to tailormade adventures for those that are still young at heart.

Overseas Adventure Travel

Catering to the American crowd, Overseas Adventure Travel is a great choice for those aged 50+ looking to have authentic travel experiences in small groups.  Their tours have between 8-16 people and they also offer boat tours in groups no bigger than 25.

For families

Adventures by Disney

What child doesn’t love Disney?  Tell your kids that you’re going on an Adventures by Disney trip and they will count down the days.  And their trips aren’t only for kids; many adult-oriented activities are also offered, making sure everyone has a great time.

Thomson Family Adventures

An alternative to Disney, Thomson Family Adventures also offers travel experiences for families in small groups.  They offer a guide called a rafiki whose sole purpose is to make sure your kids are enjoying themselves, ensuring that you can enjoy yourself as well.

For women only

Women Traveling Together

Offering a mix of outdoor and city experiences, Women Traveling Together is a great choice for those looking to travel and share experiences with other women.  They typically attract an older crowd, but do not have any specific age requirements.

Explorer Chick

Explorer Chick is a tour company specializing in authentic travel experiences for female travelers who like the outdoors and are looking to experience them with other supportive women.  There are no age requirements to join their trips.

And that’s all there is to it!

Group tours can be a great way to travel that offer a totally different experience.  There is a group tour out there for everyone and if you found one that you like, don’t hesitate to go on it!  

Let me know if this guide helped you out in the comments below and if you’d like to know how to book your flights at the best prices, make sure to check out my Guide to Flights .

About The Author

Hi there,  I’m Sebastian , founder and creator of Travel Done Simple. Since I turned 20, I have lived in 5 different countries and traveled to over 40 others! You can learn more about me on my  About page   and find me on social media.

Hi there, I’m Sebastian , founder and creator of Travel Done Simple. Since I turned 20, I have lived in 5 different countries and traveled to over 40 others! You can learn more about me on my About page   and find me on social media.

I’m Sebastian , the founder and creator of Travel Done Simple! I was born in Europe and raised in Canada, but I now consider myself to be a citizen of the world. When I’m not busy exploring new destinations, I’m here giving you the best travel tips so you can do the same! 

You can learn more about me on my About page and if it’s your first time on my site,  start here !

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10 Tips For Traveling With A Large Group

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Traveling with a large group can be wonderful. Bigger numbers mean more people to do things with, more memories to be made, and more folks to split expenses between. But without careful planning, group trips can also be miserable. There’s nothing worse than misaligned expectations, budgets, and disagreements about the adventure ahead.

Bounce has assembled a list of first-rate tips for big-group travel in order to ensure the best group trip possible. Whether you’re planning a long-awaited family reunion, a coworker offsite, or an adventure with friends, these tips are sure to make your trip go off without a hitch.

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Assign a group leader

Establishing a group leader or two should be one of the first steps when group traveling. These leaders aren’t in charge of making every decision about the trip, but rather they are responsible for coordinating most aspects of travel: assigning tasks—like making dinner reservations or booking off-site adventures, disseminating information throughout the group, and booking tour guides or event tickets.

This will help make sure everyone going on the trip is aware of all dates and activities, on board with the plans, and conscious of how much everything will cost. Good leaders help maintain healthy social dynamics and assure no one feels out of the loop or uncomfortable with any proposed plans.

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Plan in advance

Once you’ve established a group leader, get everyone together for a general planning meeting. Use this time to pick dates that align with everyone’s work, family, and life schedules, identify a general destination, and come up with a broad framework for your vacation itinerary.

Now is the perfect time to decide things like whether you’re all after a more active trip or a more relaxed getaway, if you want to stay in an all-inclusive resort or check out home shares, etc. Don’t worry about the smaller details, like where to have dinner every night or what airline to fly, just yet—there will be plenty of time for those decisions down the line.

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Establish budget preferences

One specific thing your group should discuss in a planning meeting is the budget. It’s likely everyone will have different ideas about how much they’re able or willing to spend, and getting on the same page about finances early on is a key part of a successful group trip.

During this time, ask everyone about what they aren’t willing to pay for—like alcohol or fancy dinners out—and the things they are willing to pay for—maybe private airport transfers or admission to cultural sites. Knowing where every member of your party stands on these issues can help you hammer out more detailed itineraries or even multiple itineraries for different subsets of the group. Arguably there are few instances more awkward than on-the-spot fights about splitting a dinner bill or staying behind on an excursion.

Document itineraries and preferences

Most group trips can often take weeks for everything—from flights to restaurant reservations—to get pinned down. While in the planning phases of travel, keeping everyone in the loop on itineraries and any new information will smooth out the trip overall.

Curating lists and itineraries on platforms like Google Docs or shared iPhone notes can help keep the party up to date. Dropping links for everything from the hotel to that one off-site day trip you’re going to take—as well as notes about price, reservation time, etc.—ensures that everyone knows exactly what’s being planned and can raise questions and concerns beforehand. And of course, group chats on platforms like WhatsApp can facilitate discussions.

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Check for group discounts

Many airlines, hotels, ground transportation companies, and tours offer group discounts to larger parties. As you’re booking the various pieces of your trip, be sure to inquire about the possibility of a deal. Worst-case scenario, the company will tell you no, and best-case scenario, you’ll be able to save a few of your hard-earned coins. This tip is particularly important for groups looking to travel on a budget or groups dealing with a huge budget disparity among their members.

Create a routine

Before you go on the trip, consider establishing a routine for the members of the group. We’re not talking about a hard and fast schedule broken down into 15-minute increments, but rather a general plan of how you want the days to go.

How long do you want to spend at each event? An hour at breakfast for example, or two hours at the pool each morning. Most importantly, what time should the group be awake by each day? Keeping the broad strokes of each day the same will help everyone feel calmer and in more control over their time away.

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Consider homestays or group lodging

While hotels and all-inclusive resorts tend to be the first type of accommodations thought of when planning vacations, consider a homestay or group lodging instead. Unless you’re after a very specific experience or destination, staying in a rented house or group of houses might be a better option. These properties are often more affordable and spacious.

Additionally, they offer more opportunities for cooking meals together or spending downtime as a group. After all, if you’ve chosen these specific people to go away with, you likely want to be with them as much as possible.

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Avoid too many activities in one day

While spending time together is likely your top concern on a group trip, be conscious of how you plan to spend said time. Scheduling too many activities in a single day can leave people feeling tired and stressed, which can cause them to act irritable and anxious. And likely the last thing you want is to be stuck far from home with a group of cranky folks.

Limiting the number of activities you do in a day allows everyone to slow down and enjoy the moment rather than mentally rushing ahead to the next thing. Being less ambitious with planning also helps conserve energy for building happy memories rather than expending it all too early and burning out.

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Play to each person's social strengths

In any group of friends, coworkers, and family members, there are likely a variety of social and mental strengths. There might be one person who is exceptional with directions, another who’s good at math and can always calculate the tip accurately, and a third whose outgoing nature makes it easy to ask strangers questions.

Whatever the strengths in your travel group, allow them to shine while you’re away together. Giving everyone different jobs keeps any one person feeling overburdened and discourages anyone from turning into a control freak.

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Plan some time for solo exploration

Make sure you leave some time for solo exploration. Even if your group is in agreement about almost every aspect of the trip, there will always be at least one activity not everyone wants to do—and that’s natural.

Scheduling time where everyone can head off and do their own thing increases the likelihood of each member of your group leaving the trip feeling happy, fulfilled, and satisfied. And as a bonus, you’ll have a wealth of interesting stuff to talk about when you all reunite at the end of the day.

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10 Things to Know Before Your First Group Tour

It's going to be great. here's where to start..

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From  family travel adventures  to  senior travel  to  women-only tours , group tours are a great way to see some of the most amazing places in the world. Not only does traveling with an organized tour allow you behind-the-scenes access to tourist attractions and historic sites, it also lets you step away from planning every minute of the day so you can just be present and actually enjoy your vacation.

Before booking a group tour, there are some key things to consider, though. These include group size, the type of travel you want to do and what you want the group mix to be. And after you’re booked, there are other small details to take care of before setting out on your adventure. If you’re preparing to take your first group tour, here’s what you need to know before and during your trip.

Before you type in your credit card number and book your tour, there are some things you’re going to want to consider especially if it’s your first group tour. 

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1. Decide on Destination First, then Research Tour Companies (Most of the Time)

The first step for any vacation is deciding where you want to go. In general, knowing where you want to visit (even if it’s just the region or country) will help you narrow down the tour companies to choose from. Not every company goes to the same destinations, and some only go to certain places seasonally. After you’ve picked your destination, then it’s time to get into the fun part of comparing itineraries from tour companies.

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One caveat: If you already know you want to travel with a specific tour company like G Adventures , Trafalgar , or Contiki , you might do this in reverse and choose your provider first and then browse the tours during the dates that work for you. This can be a fun way to travel to places that haven’t been on your radar. Once you’ve chosen a destination and have a shortlist of activities you’re most interested in, it’s time to compare tour companies by reading tour operator reviews to find your best fit.

A tour with a company like National Geographic Expeditions will focus more on access and education, for example, while Adventure Women might be a good choice for a woman-only vacation and Overseas Adventure Travel (OAT) would be attractive to active travelers over the age of 50 .

2. Research Group Size for Each Tour Company

Tour companies run tours of different sizes. The size of the group is often determined by factors including where you’re going, what you’re going to be doing, and how you’re going to get around. Some tour companies have groups that are as small as 12 people, while others (often cruise tours) have groups that are over 100 people. Tour group sizes can even vary within the same tour operator; for example, standard coach tours from Trafalgar average 40 people, while its small group active tours top off at 17 participants.

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Tour group sizes are usually listed on the tour itinerary page, but if you don’t see it there you can call the tour company and ask. Each tour will have a minimum and a maximum number of participants. Don’t skip this part of the research process, because group size can have a big impact on your enjoyment. It all comes down to your preference and personality type.

3. Consider the Group Type

Along with the group size, you’ll want to consider the type of group you want to travel with. If you’re a solo traveler, for instance, you might want to travel with a company or on a departure geared to people traveling as a party of one. There are also women-only groups, adults-only groups, and family tours with kids as young as six. Before booking, think about what you want the group makeup to be. TourScoop’s tour company reviews go in deep on group types and demographics by company.

4. Assess Activity Level and Accessibility Concerns

Most tour companies rate their tours by level of activity and what baseline degree of fitness will be best to make the most of the offerings. Many (but certainly not all) companies disclose up front what sort of challenges travelers with mobility concerns might face; for instance, uneven footing on cobblestone streets, non-wheelchair-accessible sights, and so on.

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Depending on your concerns about minimum fitness levels or accessibility, it may be worthwhile to call the tour companies you’re considering and ask them specific questions about the itineraries in relation to your situation. It’s always better to know before you book than to find out you won’t be able to participate in some of the activities once you’re on the trip.

5. Compare the Activities Offered by Each Tour Company

If you’re hoping to hit the big sights in a destination, make sure the tour includes stops at the premier tourist attractions . For instance, if you’re booking a trip to Peru, you’ll want to be sure it includes a day at Machu Picchu . Or if you’re booking a group tour to Alaska, you may want to make sure the itinerary has a glacier tour. Even on tours that go to the same places, activities may vary.

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Often, activities are driven by theme, so for instance, a food-focused tour and a history tour of Rome might both go to a major sight like the Colosseum, but other offerings in the city might differ dramatically. Even general-interest tours don’t all have the same stops, so it’s worth it to go over that itinerary closely before deciding, both to make sure there aren’t any disappointing omissions and to check that most of the activities appeal to you.

Group tours that include children often have some separate activities for adults and children , and some activities that are good for everyone on the tour. Activities for families with kids may include a zip line tour through the jungle, or an easy hike to a beach or overlook. Trips that are adult-only often include time exploring historic landmarks, visiting wineries, or taking long hikes.

6. Check Accommodations

Lodging is a detail that varies greatly among group trips and tour operators. Some group tour companies book luxury hotels in the heart of a city, while others stay at more budget-friendly options to drive down the cost of the tour.  While you likely won’t be spending much time at your hotel, for some travelers, the choice of lodging can be a make-it-or-break-it detail. 

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Most group tours have links to the hotels that are part of the trip on the trip itinerary. If accommodations are important to you, take the extra effort before you book to click on the hotel name and do some sleuthing on where you’d be staying.

7. Note How Many Meals Are (and Aren’t) Included

If you’re just beginning to look into your first group tour, be aware that number of meals included in group tours are different from tour to tour and company to company. Some group tours will include almost every meal in the cost of the trip, while others will only include breakfast and one or two other meals. If you pick a tour that does not include most meals, be sure to budget money for those meals. When comparing tour prices, be aware that tours that don’t include most meals could end up being as expensive (or more) than another tour which includes meals.

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You’ll also want to bring some cash for snacks and sweets, especially in destinations you’ve never been to before. Imagine going to Italy on a tour, seeing a gelato shop, and not having a few Euros on hand to indulge in a sweet treat. 

What to Do After Booking and Before Arriving on Your First Group Tour

Once you’ve booked your trip, you enter a waiting period that’s equal parts excitement, impatience, and, if it’s your first time to a destination, probably a little anxiety as well. Here are a few easy ways to put all that energy to work and pave the way to a smooth journey.

8. Decide on Your Local Currency Plan

Even if most or all of your meals are covered and your travel expenses are built into the tour, you’re still going to want to have some local currency on hand. Some people prefer to go to their local bank and exchange money before the trip. This means not needing to go to a bank in another country where there may be a language barrier, and you may not have any exchange fees tacked onto your credit or debit card. You’ll usually get a decent but not exemplary exchange rate by going this route.

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Another option is to simply stop by the airport ATM on your way out of the airport or train station at your destination. You will likely incur a small bank fee for using a non-bank ATM (though if you use a bank like USAA that doesn’t have a physical presence, they’ll often reimburse the fee) but it’s the easiest way to get a good exchange rate. Whatever you do, do not exchange money at the airport because the exchange rates are typically among the worst.

9. Join Your Tour Company’s Social Media Group

Many tour companies host private social media groups where you can get great advice and find community with your fellow tour travelers. Sometimes you can even find a group for your specific tour. To check for one on Facebook, type in the tour company and tour name, plus the dates of the tour.

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Whether you join a tour company’s private group or a tour-specific one, these social media groups are a great way to virtually meet other travelers and learn tips and tricks from those who have previously traveled with the tour company. 

10. Be Flexible and Set Expectations

As with all things travel, it pays to be flexible. You’ll have a much better trip if you can accept in advance that you may get delayed at the airport or that the tour may have changes to the schedule based on the closures of attractions or sights. These types of things are often out of the tour company’s control, and they do their best to find alternative activities that are of the same value. If you’re able to go with the flow you’ll be able to appreciate the whole experience more and feel less put out when things don’t go exactly to plan.

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What’s tourscoop.

Tour Scoop’s team of travel experts brings you in-depth tour company overviews, tour itinerary reviews, the latest tour news, and travel tips and advice written just for guided tour travelers like you.

More about us

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So many tour companies try to separate the tour from its surroundings to create a cruise ship-like experience that floats across the land in a giant bubble where people are herded from place to place and purposely isolated from what they see.  So, people see but don't experience.  This is NOT what we do!

Go BIG was founded by a traveler to help fellow travelers appreciate not just the sites but the local culture by fostering experiences with locals, whether it be a cooking class in Nicaragua, fishing for piranhas in the Amazon, a pisco sour-making expo in Peru, or a rug weaving tutorial in Bolivia.  Go BIG brings guests closer to the places they are visiting for more intimate experiences.

How we're different

Joinable Groups

Select one of our tours and dates and join a group of up to 12 fellow explorers.

Arrange a solo journey or private group tour for up to any group size to accommodate your requirements. Utilize one of our itineraries or customize your own route.

Ultra Luxury

Upgrade your private tour for a luxury experience.

HOW WE DO IT

At Go BIG, we believe that tourism when done right benefits both the traveler and the destination.  We strive to create unique experiences in exotic locations while supporting local communities to incentivize preservation of landscapes, flora, fauna, architecture and culture.

Small Groups

Tour groups are small to allow for more personal experiencies (1-10 ppl).

Optional Tour Activities

We offer a wide range of optional activities for the scheduled free time to accommodate different interests and activity levels.

1 to 2 guides who will remain with the tour from start to finish in coordination with the community guides throughout the tour.

Local Guides

We utilize multiple guides in different regions to support the local community. They are information treasure troves providing intimate knowledge of the places and their histories.

Multiple Languages

All tours are given in the destination’s national language and English.

You can choose a private tour and add a translator in many different languages (subject to availability). Doing so will increase the price of the tour.

GIVING BACK

Go BIG wants to help!  There are so many ways to give back to leave the places visited better off because you were there, or to leave a better person because of your experience.  Often it's both!

Go BIG has partnered with multiple organizations that protect children, animals, and landscapes. If schedules permit, and pre-approval is granted, micro-volunteering opportunities can be available in certain areas of the tour. The goal for these volunteering opportunities is to allow for Go BIG travelers to be introduced to some incredible organizations that are making a difference for individuals, communities, landscapes, animals, and the world as a whole. The hope is that these opportunities will inspire future engagement with these organizations or similar ones. Each organization is unique as are the opportunities available to engage with them. Some of the opportunities will allow for seeing completed projects that the organization was involved in, some will allow for meeting of the staff members, others will allow for direct involvement. The specific engagements possible for one tour date may not be available for all tour dates, and we will do our best to provide maximum engagement for those that are interested.

Volunteering Opportunities

Give some of your scheduled free time to volunteer.  We will organize it and provide transportation for you.

With People

at an orphanage or community support organization

With Animals

at wildlife rescue & rehabilitation centers or domestic animal shelters

Charitable Contributions

Give stuff or give money.

Go BIG buys requested supplies and delivers them utilizing our tour transportation. Deliveries are made during non-tour itinerary times. Tour guests can take part by monetary contributions for the supplies or by joining the delivery team if they are so inclined, but taking part is completely optional.

Go BIG’s philosophy: Preservation through education and mindful travel. Tourism, when done right, helps people (both traveler and host) appreciate what they have as a resource to be preserved.

Help yourself to a new perspective by getting to know some of the charitable organizations Go BIG supports .

Help spread knowledge and goodwill by giving a mini lecture of a subject that you know well.

Empowers Local Stakeholders

• Employs local guides
• Contributes to local businesses
• Supports local charities
• Encourages local preservation projects
• Provides consultation regarding local conservation

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About Big Tours

Big tours DMC is incoming destination management company (DMC) based in centre of Belgrade. Our team made up of experienced tourism workers and guides who are driven by a desire and love for travel. Our goal is to professionally organize high quality tours and trips in the country and neighbour, from which you are going to return rested, with a new knowledge and full of good memories that will always give you new strength in everyday life.

Lot of experience with cultural heritage, archaeological sites, fortresses, medieval monasteries etc. allows to Big tours DMC team to create special cultural tours and trips. So if you are tourist who look for a unique private tours or partner tourist agency we are right choice for a cooperation.

Besides of classical tourist offer in Belgrade and Serbia we making a interested tours based on cultural heritage and archaeology. Decade every day connections and organisation of a tours and trips make us capable to fulfill highest demands but also we will be happy to organise tours for all passioned tourist and history lover.

Accommodation and Food recommendations

We know lot of accommodations (hotels, apartamnts etc.) and food places all around Belgrade and Serbia. If you need a 5 star hotel or you are looking budget hotel we are best address for you. We organising a group or individual lunch and diner, with classical tourist menus or specific Serbian soul food. I order to try original Serbian food and drinks contact us and that is all you need to do, all other is job.

Big tours DMC – services

Big tours DMC – services – individual (private and VIP tours) – shered tours – group tours – special tours (archaeology, history and other cultural tours) – live guided tours – live guided tours on different languages – round trips in Serbia and surrounding countries – Balkan tours – airport transfers – Bus and minibus rental

In Serbia you can find a lot of interested place where every stone have his story. Our team is made up of a experienced tourist workers and guides driven by a desire and love for travel. Our goal is, as it was before, to professionally organize quality trips in the country and abroad, from which you are going to return relaxed, rested and full of good memories that will always give you new strength in everyday life.

European Mediterranean countries represent our specialty, but we are constantly searching for new destinations. In recent years, an increasing number of foreign tourists have been coming to Serbia, but it is noticeable that people from Serbia also travel more frequently. Our country is becoming more attractive to foreign and domestic tourists and sometimes beautiful places are located right here in our vicinity. Representing all the beauties of our city, country but also the region is not only a job and an obligation, but a love and a way of life for all of us who live for it. See you on another trip where you can relax, enjoy, learn something new and everything else leave to us.

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Take a hidden tour of Grace Cathedral, San Francisco’s Gothic masterpiece

I t’s a blustery spring afternoon in San Francisco, and we are gathered for one of the first-ever behind the scenes tours of that Gothic wonder, Grace Cathedral .

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It may look like a grand flourish sitting atop Nob Hill, but the cathedral is still under construction — as you’ll discover now that these tours have opened to the public. Built in 1862, the original structure was destroyed during the 1906 earthquake and ensuring fire. Construction began on the current cathedral in 1927.

Today, the vaulting near the ceiling is unfinished and some statue niches remain empty. “It has been said that a great cathedral is never finished, words that echo the unfinished work of the Spirit,” says Julie Knight, director of cultural membership and visitor experience. Grace will one day be completed, but in the meantime it holds all sorts of neat fundraising activities. There are concerts devoted to the music of Nintendo and Hayao Miyazaki movies , yoga atop its labyrinths, sound baths and now, architectural tours like this new exploration of historic rooms, hidden passageways and ancient artifacts.

Our guide today is Kenn Sparks who, with a trimmed beard and rumbling basso, has the presence of an Orson Welles.

We stand in the cavernous central hall of the cathedral, which has massive organ pipes in front and also in back. If it didn’t, there’d be a quarter-second sound delay, and the front part of the congregation would be singing earlier than the back rows – presumably annoying god.

Up on a mezzanine is what looks like a child’s toy piano. If a child actually played it, though, the results might cause a public emergency. The keys link to dozens of bells in the tower, including a six-ton one that rings the hours. The bells clang to celebrate World Series and Super Bowl wins and other commemorations. Sometimes after service, musicians like to noodle on the keyboard, playing popular songs like “Over the Rainbow” and “I Left my Heart in San Francisco.”

We enter an ambulatory or hidden passageway located behind the altar. Clergy use this shadowy hallway during services to scurry from one side of the church to the other. A number of beautiful stained-glass windows point toward the Anglican Churches of the Pacific Basin, from New Zealand to Taiwan to Japan.

Now we’re inside the vestry, which is paneled entirely in ornate walnut and smells like a classy antique shop. This is where the California bishop (currently Marc Handley Andrus) keeps a private camp to pray and store liturgical vestments. We observe a bible open to Ezekiel: 35 (“I lay your towns in ruins; you shall become a desolation, and you shall know that I am the LORD”) and run our fingers through the bishop’s cloaks – not sure if his eminence would approve of this, but he’s not here right now. The vestments are all hand-sewn, and a member of our group jokes she has a friend who became a bishop “only for the clothes.”

Next up is the Chapel of Grace. This small chapel is normally closed and has Spanish-style wrought-iron gates barring passage from the outside. William Randolph Hearst’s body was laid in state here, and Bill Clinton booked it in 1994 to pray during a trip to San Francisco — just him, his thoughts and the Secret Service lurking in the background.

The cathedral holds all manner of unexpected artifacts. There’s a circa 1521 stone tomb from France with a coat of arms from the monastic-military Knights Hospitaller, Order of Saint John of Jerusalem. According to legend a Crusader knight was interred here but no longer, as French revolutionaries scattered his bones. A Romanesque limestone credence table for the host and wine likely dates to the 12th century; it’s the oldest furnishing in the church.

The next large room is filled with art and furniture, including the bishop’s chair, carved from redwood with armrests shaped like an owl (wisdom) and lion (strength). A hallway holds Ansel Adams photographs and an oak eagle carved by Gutzon Borglum, the sculptor of Mount Rushmore. It served as the cathedral’s lectern up until the 1960s. Lit from below is a brilliant, colorful portrait from photographer David LaChapelle of a Haitian model as the Virgin Mary; it was gifted a couple years ago and consecrated as an icon of the cathedral.

The cathedral’s crypt is unusual in that it’s above ground. There’s room for 3,000 souls, and it’s only half full, so get your plans in order today and you can spend the afterlife here for $8,000 . (Though $10,000 will get you a space at a more desirable “eye-to-heart” level.)

We climb into the upper recesses of the cathedral and, crossing a catwalk, encounter E=MC2, the stained-glass Albert Einstein tribute. A glassy version of astronaut John Glenn is nearby. Our guide cautions us to tighten our hardhats, lest they fall off while we’re looking around and bonk the noggins of the faithful below.

The final stretch takes us up multiple levels of stairs to an open-air observatory protected by pigeon netting. Bells crash and powerful winds blow, as we take in the cathedral’s nearly 250-foot-tall spire, called Le Fleche, because it represents an arrow shooting prayers directly up to god. There are no gargoyles on this steeple, but there are grotesques, in this case wyverns that look like fire-breathing dragons with scorpion tails. They’re meant to ward off evil from not just the church but also the city.

“I think we might need more dragons,” rumbles our guide Sparks.

The tower offers nearly 360-degree views of the expansive city below. Our attention is caught by a building in a park across the way. It’s the Pacific-Union Club at the top of Nob Hill, one of the largest men’s-only clubs in the U.S. The motto, our guide intones, is rumored to be “No women, no journalists, no Democrats.”

Details: General admission to San Francisco’s Grace Cathedral, located at 1100 California St., is $12. Behind the scenes tours are $27 to $30. Reserved a timed entry ticket at gracecathedral.org .

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