Itching to go away but can’t find anyone with the time or money to go with you? Have you considered going on a group tour?
There are many tour companies offering you the chance to see the world!
Group tours are a great way to see a country or a region if you are short on time. You will definitely cover a lot of ground and see many things in the time given. One of the great benefits of group tours is that you don’t need to worry about how you will travel from one place to the next and finding accommodation as this is all arranged for you.
You will also have the chance to meet people from a range of countries, backgrounds and ages, all with a similar passion for travel. Group sizes tend to vary from tour to tour and company to company. Some companies will let you know how many people are on the tour, if requested. Some tours only run if a minimum number is reached so make sure the tour is guaranteed or you have a back up plan before booking your flights.
Accommodation can vary with tours, tour companies and countries. You could be sleeping in a tent amongst the African wildlife or in a swag in Australia’s Red Centre, on a sleeper train through Thailand or in a monastery in China, on a boat in Halong Bay Vietnam or in a motel in Las Vegas, in an eco-lodge in Costa Rica or a hotel just minutes away from Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro.
One of the greatest benefits for solo travellers is there aren’t any single supplements as you will probably be sharing a room with someone else on the tour. If this doesn’t appeal to you then quite often there is the option to pay extra to have your own room.
Modes of travel also vary. Overland tours, quite often in Africa and South America, provide a large vehicle which stays with you throughout the tour and will carry your camping equipment, food, etc.
Other tours will hire vehicles or use public transport – whether it’s a plane, bus, mini bus, train, taxi, boat or tuk tuk.
Meals depend on the type of tour you’re on. If you’re camping you and your fellow camp mates will probably cook most nights. Rotas are drawn up in which people take turns to cook in teams (other duties include washing up and cleaning the truck), unless there is a chef as part of the crew.
If you’re staying in hotels you will be eating in restaurants etc giving you the chance to experience the local cuisine, whether it’s Argentinian steak, phad thai in Thailand, guinea pig in Peru, kangaroo in Australia, sea food in Vietnam or Moroccan tagine.
Many tours offer optional activities so you can choose which activities you’d like to experience.
These can include anything from turtle watching to sand boarding, hiking a glacier to going to Universal Studios and kayaking in the mangroves to bungee jumping!
Tours may also include some activities and the levels of fitness required may vary, check the itinerary before booking.
Many tour companies have offers and last minute deals, have a look at their sites and pick the best tour for you 🙂
Here are just a few options to get you started…
G Adventures run over 800 trips across all 7 continents designed for all budgets, all interests and all ages and are led by knowledgeable Chief Experience Officers (CEOs)
G Adventures provides
- trip pricing (ranging from £300 to £9,000) appealing to a range of travellers
- up to 25% off last minute departures
- guaranteed departures
- socially and environmentally sustainable tours
Search for a tour online, order a brochure or sign up to their e-newsletter.
Current offers:
- Last minute travel deals
- Save up to 30% on river cruising
- Save up to 25% on select expedition tours
Explore run small group and tailor-made adventure holidays around the world, mostly off the beaten track and always responsibly. With 500 trips available in 120 countries you are spoilt for choice. Run by award winning Explore leaders, adventure travel options include walking and trekking tours, cycling tours, polar voyages, family adventure holidays and much more.
Current offers:
- Save £100 off 100 summer departures, offer ends 19 June
- Save up to £200 on selected Explore trips
- Last minute escapes
- Save up to 40% off Polar voyages
300 small group tours with professional tour leaders on six continents exploring over 70 countries.
Current offers:
- 30% off Group Tours, offer ends Tuesday 4th July
- June Madness Sale ~ up to 20% off Worldwide Adventures
- 10% off selected departures in North America
Small group tours with a local leader offering 1,000 trips in a variety of styles across 100 countries.
Current offers:
- Feeling spontaneous? Get 20% off Intrepid adventures departing in June, be quick though – the offer ends Saturday 17th June
- Last minute deals
- 10% off family holidays
- Summer sale: up to £200 off Asia
- Up to 35% off Antarctica
Whether you just have two weeks or four months, Dragoman takes you on overland adventures off the beaten track across Asia, Africa and the Americas on 319 trips in 55 countries.
Current offers: Discounts on selected trips, regularly updated
Tip: Subscribe to Wanderlust magazine and you receive a £50 voucher redeemable with many group tour operators, check the website for details.
Booking your flights couldn’t be easier
For other holiday ideas, see our Travel World page
