Best Tour Companies Small Group Tours & Trips

Highlights

• Trek deep – super deep – into the northern Thai hinterland with two days of trekking and two nights staying in a traditional hilltribe village, laughing with the locals and learning about their lifestyle.
• Immerse yourself in some of the most beautiful landscapes in all of Thailand, from cascading waterfalls and mountainside views to a kayaking adventure on Mae Taeng River (followed by a spot of white-water rafting if you dare) to get a new perspective.
• Get your street food fix in bustling Bangkok and cool Chiang Mai and tuck into some of the tastiest eats in all of Asia. When you’ve had your fill (is that even possible?), be treated to traditional homecooked dinners during your hilltribe village homestays.
• Hit the nightlife in cruisy Chiang Mai, in the Nimman area that’s swarming with hipster bars and uber-cool lounges. Bar hop, hit the night markets and find all the best spots from a local leader with all the insights.
• Enjoy loads of free time to choose your own adventure, whether that’s a bit of rest and relaxation at the local Thai massage place or discovering new friends at the Chiang Chill Elephant Sanctuary.

Highlights

• Step into history at Kanchanaburi, home to the infamous 'Bridge on the River Kwai', before taking a swim in the turquoise water of Erawan waterfall.
• Get an introduction to Bangkok on an EV boat trip through its canals, then make a visit to Wat Pho where the larger-than-life reclining Buddha will blow you and your family’s mind.
• Learn about local life during a day trip to Ban Hua Tung village, then sample some delicacies with a traditional lunch cooked by the community.
• Spend a morning at the Chang Chill elephant experience, watching these incredible creatures freely (from a distance) and learning about the organisation’s conservation efforts.
• Let your expert leader take the hassle out of family travel as they guide you through the sights and bites of Thailand, so relax and hand over the responsibility – you deserve it.

Highlights

• Learn about Pakistan – its turbulent past, fascinating present, and hopeful future – from a local leader who knows and loves the country best.
• Discover the jagged snow-capped peaks, bright blue lakes and traditional culture of the Hunza Valley, a little touristed but unbelievably beautiful region of northern Pakistan.
• From its ancient museums, gardens and forts to its fantastic food scene, Lahore has so much to offer. Spend three days discovering this dynamic city.
• Travel to the incredibly remote village of Shimshal where you’ll meet the local families who live in this challenging environment and hike through the surrounding mountains.
• Visit a women’s group supported by the Aga Khan Foundation to learn about their projects and have lunch at a cafe run by local women.

Highlights

• Hike to Taktsang, commonly known as the Tiger's Nest, the small monastery clinging to a rocky cliff 900 metres above the valley floor, and soak in its magnificence.
• Discover the 15th-century fertility temple of Chimi Lhakhang, and visit the magnificent Punakha Dzong, an ancient fortress and religious centre that sits at the confluence of two rivers.
• Feel the heat of Bhutanese cuisine when you tuck into traditional meals made with red rice, local cheese and lots of tastebud-tingling chillies.
• Experience Bhutanese hospitality in the Paro Valley when you enjoy a homecooked meal at a rustic farmhouse and opt to take a soak in a traditional hot stone bath.
• Spend a day exploring Thimphu, from the city to the woodlands, visiting the Cheri Dorji Dhen monastery, National Memorial Chorten, Simply Bhutan and the National Textile Museum.

Highlights

• Take a trek through Uganda's steamy forests to seek out acclaimed mountain gorillas, getting the rare chance to spend an unforgettable hour in their presence.
• Head out on an early evening game drive in Lake Nakuru National Park, well known for its rhino population, and explore the plains of the Serengeti in search of lions, leopards, elephants and giraffes.
• Spend a few days at your own pace in Jinja, which can be either a relaxing riverside retreat or an adrenaline-pumping adventure capital, depending on your style of travel!
• Meet with Maasai communities – known for their vibrant red dress and elaborate jewellery – and gain an insight into the culture and ancient ways of this proud East African community.
• Embark on a hike through the Usambara Mountains to the Irente viewpoint, then stop at a farm on the way back for a picnic lunch.

Highlights

• Visit a local indigenous community and meet the Terraba people – a matriarchal community who have lived along the Terraba River for the last 500 years – and learn how to make a traditional wooden mask.
• Hike through the scenic landscapes of Manuel Antonio National Park with a local naturalist guide and learn all the hidden secrets of the rainforest, looking out for local wildlife like sloths and iguanas.
• Tuck into a super fresh garden-to-table lunch of Costa Rican favourites, including fresh tortillas that you’ll learn how to make from a skilled local woman, with ingredients from her orchard.
• Meet the family who run the Tierra Amiga organic coffee farm, and learn the whole process of the coffee bean, from planting to harvesting to tasting. Enjoy a cup fresh from the grinders and tuck into a locally made lunch.
• Wander through the incredible Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve, home to more than 100 species of mammals and over 400 species of birds. Learn about the biodiversity of the region and look out for quetzal birds and howler monkeys.

Highlights

• Follow the most scenic and interesting section of the coastal Fisherman’s Trail, taking in awe-inspiring views of Portugal’s cliffs, beaches and ocean.
• Delight in Portugal’s bountiful coastline and enjoy a fresh seafood lunch in the village of Almograve with ingredients from the local fish market.
• Walk to Capela de Nossa Senhora do Mar, a delightful chapel overlooking the ocean, and enjoy a spectacular sunset you won’t soon forget.
• Take a load off – literally! Your luggage will be transferred between your accommodation each day, meaning you’ll only have to carry a day pack, and your luggage will be waiting at your hotel.
• Rest your legs or keep the momentum going during a day at leisure in Aljezur, a mecca for surfing, hiking, stand up paddleboarding (or chilling on the beach!)

Highlights

• Explore Lake Argyle and take an optional cruise on the still waters, looking out for crocodiles, wallabies and rare birds against the mountain island backdrop. 
• Spend nights camping in the Australian Outback under a star-studded Milky Way sky. There is little, if any, reception out here, so it’s the perfect chance to disconnect, recharge and get back to basics in the heart of nature. 
• Swim in rock pools, waterfalls and watering holes, travel along the Gibb River Road in a 4WD and hike through rivers past towering red cliffs, rocks and spires.  
• Explore the World Heritage area of Shark Bay, home to the oldest living organisms in the world – stromatolites.  
• Spend two nights and three days in the red-hued Pilbara, away from any light pollution, in Karijini National Park and spend your days exploring ancient gorges and refreshing swimming holes and waterfalls.