All Small Group Trips
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Small Group Tours & Trips
5,214 Small Group trips. Tours from 569 tour companies. 25,285 reviews. 4.7/5 avg rating.
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Small Group Reviews & Ratings
T
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...
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.
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