Take a TOUR in ’24
And see the world in good company
TAKE a small group of like-minded holidaymakers. Add a friendly tour manager. Mix well over several days amid the world’s most exciting sights, cities and experiences... and you’ve got a small group tour, newly confirmed as one of the world’s fastest-growing holiday types.
Bookings for small group tours are running well ahead of expectations this year, defying those who said the future was all about travelling independently and booking individual adventures online.
Here’s why tours are so popular – and six of the best to consider.
THREE SAVINGS
Time is the first thing you save with a small group tour. Why spend days trying to arrange the perfect itinerary when the experts have already done it? They’ve worked out the best days and times to arrive at each destination and found the most suitable places to stay. They’ve arranged transport and transfers, whether that’s planes, trains, minibuses or boats.
Money is the next big saving. Look at the itinerary of almost any small group tour then try to price just the hotels and transport independently. You’ll almost certainly come up with a figure far higher than the one your tour firm’s connections and purchasing power have negotiated down to.
And don’t forget saving yourself stress if things go awry mid-travels. On a small group holiday your tour manager (and office staff back at base) will problem-solve if required.
GOOD COMPANY
Many small group tours take around 16 people on each holiday, though some have larger groups. Most are a mix of couples, friends and solo travellers of all ages. A trained tour manager meets the group on the first day and will be with everyone throughout the trip. He or she leads the way, takes charge of timings and makes sure no one misses a thing.
The best tour managers also play a social role – and small group holidays can be a very social experience. Many group tours include a few people who met on previous holidays, stayed in touch and decided to travel together again.
Travel tends to be a common denominator with plenty of conversations on places people have visited or plan to see next. There are often lots of group meals at large tables. But there are also plenty of opportunities for time alone.
TOP TOURS
ONE: Treat yourself on the 11-day Luxury Eco Escape tour of Thailand with Travelbag. The sights and experiences are extraordinary, from a sunset sail past the skyline of Bangkok, a cruise to the limestone towers of ‘James Bond island’ and the chance to join Chiang Rai’s elephants in their daily bathing sessions. The other joy is the accommodation, from a Four Seasons Tented Camp to a private villa in a Six Senses resort.
TWO: Flamenco displays in Seville, where the dance was born; a tour of Granada’s huge Alhambra Palace and Cordoba’s elegant Mezquita; a relaxed stroll around clifftop Ronda amidst the ancient pueblos blancos; and the chance to taste local sherry in a family-owned bodega in Jerez. It’s all on the 9-day The Spirit of Andalucia a tour with Titan Travel. You even get chauffeured from home e to your departure airport and back.
THREE: Wine- and honey-tastings, boat rides, forest walks – and the chance to see the ‘secret’ Balkan island that was a favourite of Elizabeth Taylor, Sophia Loren and Princess Margaret. It’s all on the relaxed 11-day Balkan Discovery tour of Croatia and Montenegro with Saga. You’ll tour Dubrovnik and have time to enjoy Kotor Bay, stuffed with superyachts yachts and a a ‘must-see spot’ for fo 2024.
FOUR: Enjoy ‘the best snorkelling in Central America’ when you reache the sandy, car-free island of Caye Caulker in Belize – perfect for optional trips to the nearby Great Blue Hole. On the 13-day Discover Belize tour with Explore you’ll visit huge Mayan temples and see jungle ruins with monkeys, toucans, crocodiles and more.
FIVE: There are no single supplements on the small group Salsa Dance Holiday Holid to Cuba offered by Responsible Travel – so it’s ideal for solos, and dates are already selling fast for 2024. Most mornings have dance classes (taking in a host of different styles) and local dance experts will join you on nights out in music clubs and dance venues.
SIX: Few things beat sleeping on a world-famous train. And on Great Rail Journeys’ 14-day fully-guided tour across Canada you’ll be rocked to sleep for three nights aboard The Canadian, as well as spending two days on the Rocky Mountaineer. The tour goes all the way from Vancouver to Toronto with Banff National Park and Niagara Falls just two of the big sights.