Escourted Tours

Escorted Tours

Group Tours are great ways to take worry away from your travel. You are part of a group that is moving together and there is a tour director to make sure you are not lost or left behind.

One of the great things about Group Tours is that their stops include the “greatest hits” for each location they visit, which allows you to check off a lot of lists along the way, without having to arrange for the travel. Each step of the way, you have an expert who will provide context for what you are seeing or visiting.

Group tours are also generally less expensive than independent travel because you are taking advantage of group discounts.

I recommend group tours to people who do not traveled a lot, or to people who are social and like to meet new people when they travel. Those who haven’t traveled a lot will be able to leave the worry behind. For those who want to make friends, there will be between 6 and 80 people traveling with you. Bonds and friendships are often formed on these trips as you meet people who want to travel to the same places that you do.

What’s included in group tours?

While it depends on the company you are using, you can generally expect that a group tour will cover:

  • Housing

  • Ground transportation (buses, trains)

  • Tickets for activities

  • Breakfast, and some other meals

  • Transfer to and from airports or train stations

  • Guided tours with experts

  • Opportunities for optional excursions

Important to note: As the number of travelers on the group tour increases, the price decreases. Many luxury groups limit their groups to no more than 15 or 20 people. That individualized attention will be more costly than if you’re part of a larger group.

Here are some inspirations for your next group tour:

Trafalgar Tours is a well-respected small and large tour operator that travels to all corners of the globe. Their prices are in the middle range, neither budget nor luxury, which meets the needs of most travelers.

  • 9-Day Japan Tour from Tokyo to Kyoto (Cost from $4,004 pp/double)

  • At Kyoto’s Fushimi Inari Shrine, climb the extraordinary path lined with hundreds of orange torii gates that snake through the forest up into the mountains above the city. Indulge in a delicious kaiseki lunch at a traditional ryokan and gain an insight into Japanese customs.

  • The Activity Level of this tour is Dynamic, meaning this journey features 4+ miles of walking on some days and may involve steep hills.

  • Travel & Accommodation

  • 9 days, 1 country and 6 cities

  • 8 nights accommodation

  • Meals

  • 8 Breakfasts, 3 Lunches, 3 Dinners

Luxury Gold is a more luxury tour company, also with a great reputation.. The experiences are all 5* and you will never travel with more than 20 people, as a rule. An example of one of their tours is this one, which would cost each traveler roughly $8,750 for each person:

Adventure Awaits During a 12-Day Guided Tour of New Zealand's Best Sights

  • 12 days

  • 8 cities

  • 1 country

  • 19 meals

  • Leisurely Activity Level

Experience the best of New Zealand’s South Island on this twelve-day guided tour. Travel on the TranzAlpine, one of the world’s great train journeys, to the wild West Coast. Discover the Franz Josef Glacier on a guided walk with local experts. Journey along the Haast River in an enclosed jet boat, then travel to the picturesque former mining village of Arrowtown. Take time to explore the charming town of Queenstown: here, you can choose a guided e-bike tour or join a boutique wine tour, then dine on exceptional fare at one of its most exclusive restaurants. Journey through Fiordland National Park to Milford Sound, where you’ll enjoy a half-day guided walk along the famous Milford Track — often described as the finest walk in the world. Travel to the ‘Edinburgh of the South’, Dunedin, to sample craft gin at Dunedin Craft Distillers. End your adventure in Christchurch, where you will toast your travels during a celebration dinner.