Self-Guided & Independent Photography Tours & Trip Packages

Self-Guided & Independent Photography Tours & Trips

1,119 Self-Guided & Independent trips. Tours from 248 tour companies. 1,195 reviews. 4.6/5 avg rating.

95 trips exactly matchall of the the filters you selected.
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Photography
Walk from Van Gogh's landscapes to the Luberon trip
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By Intura Travel
Local Expert
Verified by Travelstride as locally operated and in the top of their field for customer reviews, local knowledge, and safety.
5/5 Excellent
94 reviews
Self-Guided / Independent Tour
Why we love them
They are true experts in walking & cycling trips in France & Portugal, exploring places and routes few other operators offer.
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Moderate
Trip pace
Full schedule

Highlights

  • An incredible variety of scenic walks, giving you a wide experience of Provence
  • Awe-inspiring vistas atop theAlpillesand the Luberon mountains
  • The perched medieval village of LesBaux de Provence
  • The vineyards and olive groves blanketing the plains
  • The lavender fields in front of Sénanque Abbey
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Themes

Cultural, Hiking & Walking, Nature & Wildlife, Photography

What travelers are saying

"The variation in the scenery from La Brigue to Menton was spectacular, especially as we took it day by day and could see the gradual difference as we descended through the Maritime Alps. Our favorite towns were St. Agnes and Menton. We did our one-week tour in June, with super weather both in the Alps and down on the coast. This was the perfect way to get away for one week, but feel like we had been on a two-week holiday - fresh air, exercise, good food and nothing to arrange or worry about. Thank you"

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Let's Go Europe
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By Interrailing Packages
Local Expert
Verified by Travelstride as locally operated and in the top of their field for customer reviews, local knowledge, and safety.
4.8/5 Excellent
100+ reviews
Self-Guided / Independent Tour
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Moderate
Trip pace
Flexible schedule

Visits

Amsterdam, Barcelona, Berlin, Bratislava, Bruges, Budapest, Copenhagen, Croatia, Florence, Hamburg, Krakow, Lake Como, Ljubljana, London, Nice, Paris, Prague, Rome, Sorrento, Split, Venice, Vienna

Highlights

  • Take a walk in Trafalgar Square and admire he fountains and the famous monuments, such as the four bronze lion statues and Nelson’s Column
  • Visit Eiffel Tower
  • Visit places with amazing architecture and take sightseeing to a completely new level in Barcelona.
  • Visit Ljubljana
  • Visit UNESCO World Heritage Site
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Themes

Cultural, Family Friendly, High Adventure, Nature & Wildlife, Train & Rail Journeys, Sailing, Photography

What travelers are saying

"Los funcionarios de Interraling son excelentes personas y atienden las inquietudes a tiempo y con amabilidad. Nos ayudaron a organizar nuestras vacaciones familiares en Europa, de acuerdo a nuestras solicitudes, las cuales llenaron todas nuestras expectativas. Gracias a ustedes disfrutamos al máximo este viajes. Las salidas de los trenes fueron en el horario previsto y los hoteles buenos y bien ubicados."

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Dordogne: castles, caves and villages of the Périgord Noir
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By Intura Travel
Local Expert
Verified by Travelstride as locally operated and in the top of their field for customer reviews, local knowledge, and safety.
5/5 Excellent
94 reviews
Self-Guided / Independent Tour
Why we love them
They are true experts in walking & cycling trips in France & Portugal, exploring places and routes few other operators offer.
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Full schedule

Highlights

  • A joyful mix of walks, relaxation & heritage
  • Discovery of gardens, castles, troglodyte villages and prehistoric caves
  • Longer walk options on days 3, 4, 5 & 7
  • A cultural break in the most beautiful villages
  • Visit of the Château de Commarque included
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Themes

Cultural, Hiking & Walking, Nature & Wildlife, Photography

What travelers are saying

"The variation in the scenery from La Brigue to Menton was spectacular, especially as we took it day by day and could see the gradual difference as we descended through the Maritime Alps. Our favorite towns were St. Agnes and Menton. We did our one-week tour in June, with super weather both in the Alps and down on the coast. This was the perfect way to get away for one week, but feel like we had been on a two-week holiday - fresh air, exercise, good food and nothing to arrange or worry about. Thank you"

Trip dates & details
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The Ultimate Bucket List
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By Interrailing Packages
Local Expert
Verified by Travelstride as locally operated and in the top of their field for customer reviews, local knowledge, and safety.
4.8/5 Excellent
100+ reviews
Self-Guided / Independent Tour
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Moderate
Trip pace
Flexible schedule

Visits

Berlin, Budapest, Florence, Krakow, Ljubljana, London, Nice, Paris, Prague, Rome, Split

Highlights

  • First stop on this Eurail package is none other than Amsterdam!
  • Take a walk in the Old Town in Krakow
  • Visit the poignant Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial
  • Visit Hidden gem of Europe included on this package, capital of Slovenia, Ljubljana!
  • Visit the magical split
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Themes

Cultural, Family Friendly, Relaxing Retreats, Train & Rail Journeys, Photography

What travelers are saying

"Los funcionarios de Interraling son excelentes personas y atienden las inquietudes a tiempo y con amabilidad. Nos ayudaron a organizar nuestras vacaciones familiares en Europa, de acuerdo a nuestras solicitudes, las cuales llenaron todas nuestras expectativas. Gracias a ustedes disfrutamos al máximo este viajes. Las salidas de los trenes fueron en el horario previsto y los hoteles buenos y bien ubicados."

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Thailand (South): See & Experience it ALL in 11 Days, 1st Class Custom Tours
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By Charlie The Traveler
Local Expert
Verified by Travelstride as locally operated and in the top of their field for customer reviews, local knowledge, and safety.
4.9/5 Excellent
100+ reviews
Private Guided
Why we love them
Travelers report that traveling with CharlieTheTraveler is a life-changing experience, in the best possible way.
Lodging level
Luxury - 5 star
Physical level
Moderate
Trip pace
Full schedule

Visits

Phuket

Highlights

  • Cooking Class Followed by Dinner
  • Rock Climbing over a Tropical Beach (optional)
  • Several Boat Daytrips to Exotic Islands
  • Canoeing Through Lagoons & Rivers
  • Kayaking Inside Caves
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Themes

Climbing & Mountaineering, Culinary & Wine, Cultural, Education / Learning, High Adventure, Hiking & Walking, Nature & Wildlife, Rafting, Kayaking, Canoeing, Relaxing Retreats, Trekking & Expeditions, Photography, Scuba Diving

What travelers are saying

"Our trip to Iceland was absolutely stunning and Charlie the Traveler curated an amazing and adventurous trip for us that kept in mind all of the attractions that were on our list and many other gems this beautiful country has to offer. We hit a few roadblocks with our tours due to weather conditions and volcanic activity in the area, but Charlie The Traveler and his team were on it at every moment and were able to provide us with alternative tours that did not take away from the overall experience. His team is led by individuals that truly cares about your experience. If you need a perfect trip planned then Charlie the Traveler is the way to go. This trip has been absolutely perfect and can’t wait to come back and explore it again."

Trip dates & details
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Health Safety

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South Island 13 Day Coast to Coast Highlights Tour
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By Real New Zealand Tours
Local Expert
Verified by Travelstride as locally operated and in the top of their field for customer reviews, local knowledge, and safety.
4.9/5 Excellent
41 reviews
Self-Guided / Independent Tour
Why we love them
They are dedicated to providing personalized, authentic, and sustainable travel experiences that showcase the best of their country.
Lodging level
Luxury - 5 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Visits

Christchurch, Dunedin, Fiordland National Park, Milford Sound, Mount Cook, Queenstown

Highlights

  • All inclusive tour package prepared by New Zealand based specialists so you sit back and relax
  • An exciting itinerary will be customised to suit you - let us help plan and perfect your dream vacation
  • We offer self-drive trips (rental car) we arrange all your accomodations, activities, attractions (you select) we book your car (fun, freedom, independence, flexibility) you set the pace each day or, select a private driver trip (fully guided) or, escorted coach tours (daily commentary).
  • Either way, you will have an awesome time we promise!

Themes

Cultural, High Adventure, Hiking & Walking, Nature & Wildlife, Rafting, Kayaking, Canoeing, Sailing, Photography

What travelers are saying

"Geoff helped my wife and I to put together an itinerary that customized to our particular interests and preferences. At the outset he asked us where we'd like to go and, after a small number of iterations, together we were able able to craft an itinerary that met our budget, touched on much of the places we wanted, and did not have us staying at a different resort each night. Before leaving for our trip we were given our itinerary and confirmation #'s/vouchers/contact #'s for all of our activities and hotels captured in an easy-to-use app that made it extremely easy to transition to the next point of our journey. He and his assistant were quick to respond to any questions we had along the way as well. Overall, we had a great stay and highly endorse Geoff and RealNZ for anyone planning a bespoke trip to NZ."

Trip dates & details
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Generous cancellation

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Adventure at the End of the World - Ushuaia
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By Qwerty Travel Argentina
Local Expert
Verified by Travelstride as locally operated and in the top of their field for customer reviews, local knowledge, and safety.
5/5 Excellent
27 reviews
Self-Guided / Independent Tour
Why we love them
They offer a unique way to connect with nature and locals through exciting voyages and expeditions that are sure to take your breath away.
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Moderate
Trip pace
Full schedule

Visits

Buenos Aires, Ushuaia

Highlights

  • Explore Buenos Aires, cosmopolitan city of South America
  • Discover Iguazu Falls and Iguassu National Park
  • Visit El Calafate and Tierra del Fuego National Park in Ushuaia, End of the World
  • Be in touch with nature
  • Discover Argentina on Private basis tour. Only for you!

Themes

Cultural, High Adventure, Hiking & Walking, Nature & Wildlife, Photography

What travelers are saying

"QWERTY travel did an awesome job of planning our trip. After speaking with Constance she offered a couple of optional itineraries. We worked together to tweek them to our specific desires. Our trip was designed just for the two of us and was a total of 25 days. Constance was always available and easy to work with. She planned our trip perfectly and everything went flawlessly. All of the transports and optional excursions were prompt for pickup. The guides spoke good English and very knowledgeable. While on our trip we reached out to Constance to book an additional excursion for the following day which she promptly completed. I cannot say enough positive things about this tour operator and it’s agent."

Trip dates & details
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Health Safety +

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The Euro Trip
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By Interrailing Packages
Local Expert
Verified by Travelstride as locally operated and in the top of their field for customer reviews, local knowledge, and safety.
4.8/5 Excellent
100+ reviews
Self-Guided / Independent Tour
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Moderate
Trip pace
Flexible schedule

Visits

Amsterdam, Berlin, Budapest, Krakow, Ljubljana, London, Paris, Prague, Rome, Split, Zagreb

Highlights

  • Visiting the likes of Paris, Interlaken, Rome, Split, and Ljubljana
  • Overnight ferry
  • Enjoy exploring and discovering local life, without the added pressure of having to tick off those famous tourist sights.
  • Visit Ljubljana, Slovenia's capital city is the hidden gem of Europe on this rail holiday, an interrail route favourite!
  • UNESCO World Heritage Site

Themes

Cultural, Family Friendly, Small Ship Cruise, Train & Rail Journeys, Photography

What travelers are saying

"Los funcionarios de Interraling son excelentes personas y atienden las inquietudes a tiempo y con amabilidad. Nos ayudaron a organizar nuestras vacaciones familiares en Europa, de acuerdo a nuestras solicitudes, las cuales llenaron todas nuestras expectativas. Gracias a ustedes disfrutamos al máximo este viajes. Las salidas de los trenes fueron en el horario previsto y los hoteles buenos y bien ubicados."

Trip dates & details
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Self-Guided & Independent Reviews & Ratings

4.6/5  Excellent
1,195  Reviews
See all Self-Guided & Independent tour reviews
Excellent
218
Great
49
Average
7
Disappointing
2
Terrible
3
C

Cheryl & Michael

Jan 2023

Written on

We thoroughly enjoyed our trip. The hikes were fantastic, the route notes very accurate

We thoroughly enjoyed our trip. The hikes were fantastic, the route notes very accurate (we only were confused one time and missed a turn but it didn't take long to ...

D

David & Frances

Jan 2023

Written on

The actual walks were all terrific and we enjoyed them very much, and all the accommodations were excellent too

We loved the trip and only have good things to say about the experience. The only thing we might have changed would be to have put a rest day in the middle of the it...

B

Beth & Frederick

Jan 2023

Written on

We enjoyed the scenery, all hotels except in Avignon, the food, and the people we met

We enjoyed the scenery, all hotels except in Avignon, the food, and the people we met. Yes, I would travel again with your company and would recommend to friends. Th...

J

Jayne & patricia

Jan 2023

Written on

Everything was so beautiful yet varied. It’s hard to single out a highlight : so many !!

Everything was so beautiful yet varied. It’s hard to single out a highlight : so many !! We are planning to do our next walking tour in Portugal with Intura Travel, ...

K

Kathleen

Jan 2023

Written on

We really enjoyed our trip.

We really enjoyed our trip. The hikes took up a large portion of our day and we would have liked to have more time exploring the towns and villages. Maybe a good ide...

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Self-Guided & Independent Tour Selection Trips

A self-guided or independent tour offers unparalleled freedom and flexibility, but it's essential to keep a few key tips in mind:
  • Research your destination thoroughly before your trip.
  • Plan a rough itinerary to maximize your time.
  • Pack light to ease mobility and navigation.
  • Stay connected with reliable communication tools.
  • Prioritize safety and security throughout your journey.
  • Embrace local transportation for an authentic experience.
  • Keep important documents organized and accessible.
  • Learn basic phrases in the local language for convenience.
  • Always carry a water bottle and stay hydrated.
  • Budget wisely to avoid overspending during your trip.
  • Stay open-minded and embrace unexpected adventures along the way.
 

Additional details

Who Will Enjoy Self guided & Independent Tours?

Self guided and independent travel is great for anyone that wants to see the world on their own time, at their own pace and completely tailored to their personal interests. These travelers enjoy working with a tour operator to create a plan, book accommodations and check all the boxes for their perfect trip. They aren’t scared of being alone in a new place but embrace the adventure and responsibility of getting from point A to point B.

This type of travel is great for an independent individual. They enjoy exploring, experiencing and seeing. Traveling with a group is great, but adventuring in a new place with only yourself brings the immersion and freedom to a new level. 

Independent travel isn’t just for the adventure traveler who loves backpacking and adrenaline highs. It’s for any traveler that wants to see the world and experience all the sights, culture and people. It may take a level of boldness to go alone and be entirely responsible for getting to each destination and activity as well as catching flights and trains. However, any traveler, no matter the style whether its luxury, nature, sightseeing or active can be an independent traveler.

Self Guided & Independent Tours Commonly Combined with Budget Travel

Independent travel is often associated with budget travel. This is because when traveling alone, the price for a trip as well as accommodations will be cheaper and easier to book than when traveling with a group.

Self guided and independent travel is great for the budget traveler because when traveling alone, you can decide where the money goes. You can work with a tour operator to include all the things you want but also exclude all the things you don’t want.

Traveling for cheaper will allow you to travel for longer. Instead of traveling for a week with a group it can turn into three weeks alone. While budget travel isn’t for everyone due to the cheaper food, accommodations and transportation, it can be exciting for the independent traveler.

Budget travel is a great way for travelers to unearth hidden gems of an area. This could include finding the best tasting food at a street stall, making great cultural connections through a homestay or making new friends when staying in a hostel.

Staying Safe

It is always important to remember safety when traveling, especially if you are traveling alone. One challenge when traveling alone is not having anyone else there if something does go wrong. However, there are things travelers can do to ensure safety.

Make sure to have back up plans in case your set itinerary falls through or you miss transportation. It’s also a good idea to know where local authorities are if you find yourself in an unfortunate situation or need help when out exploring or doing activities such as hiking or cycling.

Travelers shouldn’t be afraid to go on self guided and independent tours, but it’s always a good idea to be more prepared than less. It’s important to do research both on the destination but all planned accommodations and places that you plan on visiting.

How to Prepare for Self Guided & Independent Travel

One of the most important things to remember about self-guided travel is that you will be on your own. This means that there are important steps you should take when preparing to explore the world independently.

Research:Whether it’s where to go, which hotel to stay in or what to do while you’re there, research is key when it comes to traveling independently. Research is an important part of creating your dream trip because it will ensure you’re including the right destinations and activities that are right for your travel style.

Work with a Tour Operator:When crafting your trip, working with a tour operator is a great way to take the stress off your shoulders. Self guided tours can be pre-planned or custom depending on the tour operator. Depending on how hands on you want to be for the creation of the itinerary you can either choose to decide each thing that is included or allow someone else to do the heavy lifting so you can simply focus on experiencing.

Traveling independently is often related with budget travel. Working with a set budget may deter travelers from working with a tour operator especially when traveling alone because they fear it will be too expensive. However, tour operators often have the key knowledge and understanding of travel to get you the best experience for the best price. It can also save you time and stress.

Pack appropriately:It is essential that you plan appropriately when going on a self guided or independent tour. Often, you will be alone whether exploring, traveling or finding your accommodations. This means that you are responsible for where you’ll go and what you’ll see which also means you should pack according to your personal plan.

If you’re going hikingdon’t forget your gear and hiking boots. If you know you’ll be doing a lot of walking, you’ll want to pack comfortable shoes that won’t hurt your feet after a long day. Depending on what you intend on doing, make sure to not only pack appropriately but bring extras or precautionary items in case things don’t go as planned.

Top Considerations

When traveling independently there’s a lot of factors to keep in consideration. There’s a lot that goes into planning a trip and when you’re crafting a self guided tour there’s a lot of decisions that need to be made.

Right Company: One of the most important considerations when planning a self-guided tour is picking the right tour company. Many of the major companies provide itineraries for solo tours or book your hotels or dinners. However, if you are looking for a particular destination or activities, picking the right tour agency can be extremely important.

Best Location:Not every country is ideal for self-guided tours and some countries may not match well with your travel style. Selecting the best location for your self-guided tour can not only lead to an amazing adventure, but will keep you safe as you travel.

Pre-Bookings: With selecting the right travel agency to help you plan your self-guided tour, it’s important to note how much help the agency can provide. Do they book your hotels and meals, only your transportation, or do they create a simple itinerary? If you are unsure about your travels or need a little more guidance, make sure the agency you use provides the additional services you want.

Always Find the Best

On Travelstride you can find 1119 trips to Self-Guided & Independent and more than 20,000 trips worldwide ranging from budget to luxury and private guided to group tours and everything in between. Only on Stride can you find and compare expert-planned trips from 1,000+ tour operators, cruise lines and local experts. Read traveler and professional reviews so you can confidently find your perfect trip.

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