Small Group Airfare Included Tours & Trip Packages

Small Group Airfare Included Tours & Trips

5,230 Small Group trips. Tours from 569 tour companies. 25,111 reviews. 4.7/5 avg rating.

142 trips exactly matchall of the the filters you selected.
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Airfare Included
Sri Lanka & Maldives in 13 days - Pearls of the Indian Ocean - LUXURY
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By Exoticca
preferred
2/5 Disappointing
100+ reviews
Small Group Tour
Why we love them
Although they’re cheaper than other brands, they still make sure all parts of the trip, like hotels, meet a high minimum standard.
Lodging level
Premium - 4 star
Physical level
Very Easy
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Visits

Dambulla, Kandy, Minneriya National Park, Polonnaruwa, Sigiriya

Highlights

  • Malé
  • Colombo
  • Kandy
  • Negombo
  • Nuwara Eliya
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Themes

50 plus, Cultural, Local Immersion & Homestays, National Parks, Nature & Wildlife

What travelers are saying

"The trip was well laid out. Tour guides were friendly and knowledgeable. The only complaint is some of our travel documents that were sent out were not in English. If your sending documents out correspondence should be in both the native language and the language of the people the correspondence to. Other than that a great first time experience."

Trip dates & details
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Ecuador in 11 days - Unique Ecuador & Magic Galápagos - Charm
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By Exoticca
preferred
1/5 Terrible
100+ reviews
Small Group Tour
Why we love them
Although they’re cheaper than other brands, they still make sure all parts of the trip, like hotels, meet a high minimum standard.
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Very Easy
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Visits

Cotopaxi, Galapagos, Galapagos Islands, Guayaquil, Quito, Santa Cruz

Highlights

  • Amazon
  • Baños
  • Cotopaxi National Park
  • Galapagos Islands
  • Guayaquil
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Themes

50 plus, Cultural, Local Immersion & Homestays, National Parks, Nature & Wildlife

What travelers are saying

"The trip was well laid out. Tour guides were friendly and knowledgeable. The only complaint is some of our travel documents that were sent out were not in English. If your sending documents out correspondence should be in both the native language and the language of the people the correspondence to. Other than that a great first time experience."

Trip dates & details
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Nile Cruise
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4.7/5 Excellent
100+ reviews
Small Group Tour
Why we love them
With a huge range of trip styles and themes, they cater to basically every type of traveler out there- even those with super specific interests.
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Moderate
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Visits

Abu Simbel, Aswan, Cairo, Luxor

Highlights

  • Visit the pyramids
  • Explore ancient temples and tombs
  • Cruise on the Nile
  • Enjoy the laid back atmosphere of Aswan

Themes

Cultural

What travelers are saying

"Discover Costa Rica is a great itinerary, covering varied habitats around the country and staying 2 nights each at 6 centres. Their birdwatching specials are led by local experts who really know their stuff."

Trip dates & details
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Health Safety +

Generous cancellation

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Athens, Crete, Milos and Santorini Travel Package
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By Greece Insiders
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
100+ reviews
Private Guided
Why we love them
Designing original, innovative, and out-of-the-box travel itineraries and incredible personalized service.
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Full schedule

Visits

Athens, Heraklion, Milos, Santorini

Highlights

  • Marvel the impressive Acropolis
  • Explore Athens in a tasty way with your food guide
  • Hike through the biggest gorge in Europe
  • Leisure Stroll with tastings in the picturesque town along the Santorini cliff
  • Unique sunset cruise around the volcano in Santorini
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Themes

Culinary & Wine, Cultural, Hiking & Walking, Small Ship Cruise, Photography

What travelers are saying

"Normally, I don't feel like writing reviews, but I felt compelled to do it for Athens Insiders. I made the decision to travel to Athens in the summer of 2012 in order to avoid the commotion that was predicted to result from the Queen's jubilee. As usual, my work kept me busy right up to the last minute, so I ran out of time to do anything fun for my week-long trip. I learned about this young group of tour guides for Athens and its vicinity from a friend. I had a wonderful experience. I got in touch with Daphne, who gave me email recommendations for Athens attractions to see, inquired about my preferences for local cuisine, and then devised an itinerary for my trip. In addition to visiting the typical suspects in Athens (Acropolis, etc.), I also chose to travel to Delhi and spend a night at a campground there. And I had a great time, honestly. We visited the attractions when there were few visitors and spent the busiest times outside of Athens rather than being herded around like cattle. I was taken to incredible tiny eateries (the well-known tavernas), marketplaces, and other regional shops."

Trip dates & details
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Costa Rica Family Escape
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5/5 Excellent
100+ reviews
Small Group Tour
Why we love them
With a huge range of trip styles and themes, they cater to basically every type of traveler out there- even those with super specific interests.
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Moderate
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Visits

Monteverde

Highlights

  • Enjoy zip-lining and white-water rafting excursions
  • Join a night walk in Monteverde to see the cloud forest come alive at night
  • Relax on Carrillo Beach and enjoy the Pacific coastline
  • Snorkel and join a boat excursion to see dolphins
  • Experience the beauty and vibrancy of tropical Costa Rica

What travelers are saying

"Discover Costa Rica is a great itinerary, covering varied habitats around the country and staying 2 nights each at 6 centres. Their birdwatching specials are led by local experts who really know their stuff."

Trip dates & details
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Health Safety +

Generous cancellation

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Family India Golden Triangle Adventure
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5/5 Excellent
100+ reviews
Small Group Tour
Why we love them
They explore a place beyond the typical tourist traps and offer exciting activities that bring the “wow factor” intrepid travelers want.
Lodging level
Premium - 4 star
Physical level
Strenuous
Trip pace
Full schedule

Visits

Agra, Agra Fort, Delhi, India Gate, Jaipur, Qutab Minar, Rajasthan, Red Fort, Taj Mahal

Highlights

  • See the magnificent Taj Mahal and exotic palaces of Rajasthan
  • Experience the thrill of tiger tracking in Ranthambore Tiger Reserve
  • Discover the wilderness of the desert on a camel ride
  • Stay in a restored fort

Themes

Cultural, Hiking & Walking

What travelers are saying

"Great itinerary, great guide (Luis) and great group - would highly recommend!"

Trip dates & details
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Family Active Portugal
Save this trip to your favorites or other list
5/5 Excellent
100+ reviews
Small Group Tour
Why we love them
They explore a place beyond the typical tourist traps and offer exciting activities that bring the “wow factor” intrepid travelers want.
Lodging level
Premium - 4 star
Physical level
Moderate
Trip pace
Full schedule

Visits

Porto

Highlights

  • Week long active trip visiting Porto, the scenic north and the Atlantic coast
  • Raft, surf, zip wire, via ferrata, wild swimming and hike all included
  • Characterful accommodation chosen for their excellent facilities

Themes

Cultural, Hiking & Walking

What travelers are saying

"Great itinerary, great guide (Luis) and great group - would highly recommend!"

Trip dates & details
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Cycling in France - Canals and Castles of the Midi
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4.6/5 Excellent
100+ reviews
Small Group Tour
Why we love them
They explore a place beyond the typical tourist traps and offer exciting activities that bring the “wow factor” intrepid travelers want.
Lodging level
Premium - 4 star
Physical level
Wheelchair Accessible
Trip pace
Full schedule

Visits

Toulouse

Highlights

  • Cycling adventure along France's historic Canal du Midi and the picturesque countryside
  • Explore Toulouse, Narbonne, Carcassonne's walled fortress
  • Visit vibrant local markets, and try delectable French cuisine along the way

What travelers are saying

"Great itinerary, great guide (Luis) and great group - would highly recommend!"

Trip dates & details
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Health Safety +

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Small Group Reviews & Ratings

4.7/5  Excellent
25,111  Reviews
See all Small Group tour reviews
Excellent
13,590
Great
3,623
Average
354
Disappointing
69
Terrible
43
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Trusted Customer

Oct 2023

Written on

Pure Brazil

The time in the Pantanal was amazing. Did the day trip to see the jaguars which was a long day, but worth it. Lots of animals around the lodge too. If you are lucky,...

T

Trusted Customer

Oct 2023

Written on

Pure Brazil

Visit to the pantanal. Amazing lodge and wildlife.

T

Trusted Customer

Oct 2023

Written on

Pure Brazil

Covered the highlights of Brazil making sure the traveller saw the best of its highlights with sufficient enough time to take in the various areas and experience wha...

T

Trusted Customer

Oct 2023

Written on

Pure Brazil

Pure Brazil was one of the few tours that covered my personal highlights of the country, Amazon, Pantanal, Iguazu falls and Rio. Accommodation overall was both comfo...

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Small Group Tour Selection Trips

  • ‘Small groups’ are loosely defined depending on which tour company you choose. Always read the details of the specific itinerary you are interested in or call the tour company to find out how many travelers will be in your group.
  • Be mindful of minimum number requirements, which means the minimum number of travelers that a tour must meet in order to depart. If it’s an option, look for ‘guaranteed departures’ which mean the tour will depart no matter how many (or few) travelers book on.
  • Small groups are a great way to see the world but usually also mean you have less variety regarding your fellow travelers. If you’re concerned about the group composition, ask your tour operator if they can tell you the general age range of people on your trip.
  • Find out how much flexibility there is in the itinerary. Are your days and nights fully booked with group activities and meals or are there opportunities to explore independently?
  • Make sure the pace of the tour is a good fit for your travel style. The best experiences happen when you don’t feel like you are being slowed down or slowing down others.

Additional details

How Many People Will I Be Traveling With?

Just how many new friends will you be making on your small group tour? That depends on the tour operator. We’ve found that there are group tours with intimate groups of 10 to 12 travelers, while some skew slightly larger with between 20 and 25 guests.

The sweet spot seems to be around 16 travelers and certainly no more than 25 if you want to maintain that small group ambience. The size of your group will depend on the popularity of the destination (hello, Europe tours!) and the time of the year in which you are traveling. 

These low numbers enable you to connect with other travelers, yet never feel like a face without a name in the group. There’s a great social vibe to that magic number of about 12 to 18 people that allows for a just-right level of camaraderie and energy.

It’s easier to delve deeper into your destination and spend more time in the places of interest to you when your tour size is manageable. Plus, smaller group sizes enable the tour operators to arrange for smaller-scale, boutique-style accommodations, meals in cozier, locally owned restaurants and off-hours visits to popular sightseeing attractions.

Are Departures Guaranteed?

Regrettably, not all small group tour departures are guaranteed. Perhaps there isn’t enough interest in a particular date. In some cases, the tour company will have to cancel that departure date.

This varies widely by tour operator, so read the fine print when researching and selecting your small group tour, even if you’re visiting a popular destination like Europe.

In some cases, the tour company won’t cancel the trip, but will instead collect a “small group fee” when the numbers drop significantly, say, to a group of just one couple. This is a helpful option, particularly in you are traveling a long distance to your destination, perhaps Australia or New Zealand, and are wary about putting down a deposit on an unguaranteed tour departure.

Benefits of a Small Group

  • A perfect blend of planned activities and independent exploration time
  • A great value, usually including admissions and fees (possibly discounted) that you would have to pay for individually if you planned your own tour
  • Just the right number of people to ensure a congenial ambience and enable you to stay in boutique hotels and dine in smaller, out-of-the-way restaurants
  • A tour operator specializing in small group tours that will take care of the itinerary, arrange your guides and plan your meals and accommodations
  • More time and independence to gain a deeper understanding of your destination with like-minded travelers
  • Passionate, local, expert guides eager to share the top experiences in their own countries
  • Spontaneous, off-the-beaten-path experiences 

Who Are Small Group Tours Good For?

If you have aspirations of traveling to the world’s top destination - from Europe to Asia to New Zealand - yet feel daunted by the planning and logistics, a small group tour is a great choice.

These thoughtfully curated escorted tours to some of the world’s most intriguing places - Europe, in particular - take the guesswork out of your planning. You’ll benefit from the knowledge and behind-the-scenes access a local guide can provide, while still maintaining a level of flexibility and independence that makes this feel like a trip you planned yourself.

When faced with a new destination, far from home, it can be overwhelming to determine how much you can fit into your schedule, which sights are not to be missed (and which ones can just as easily be skipped) and how to get from point A to points X, Y and Z. Don’t fret - just because you’re hearing the words “group tour,” doesn’t mean you’ll end up just another anonymous face on a giant tour bus.

Small group tour operators, from Egypt to Alaska to Italy, make it their mission to introduce you to real life in your chosen destination, taking you off the beaten path and with like-minded travelers with which to enjoy the journey. 

I’m Traveling Solo. Do I Need to Pay Extra?

If you have a thirst for adventure, what in the world are you waiting for? Get out there and explore on a small group tour. These days, more and more tour companies aren’t requiring a single supplement fee if you’re willing to room with another single traveler.

And, since you’ve chosen the same trip, it’s likely to be a fast friendship with your new roomie. Don’t balk at the opportunity to travel to a bucket list destination just because you might be going solo. Some of the world’s most intriguing destinations (think Iceland, Machu Picchu and Vietnam) are best explored with an esteemed guide leading the way and like-minded travelers at your side.

This way, you won’t fall into typical tourist traps or venture into an unsafe area. Your small group tour guide has your back! This being said, often the most high-end of small group tour operators still require a single supplement, so do your research in advance.

Always Find the Best

On Travelstride you can find 5230 trips to Small Group 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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