Best Tour Companies Small Group Tours & Trips

Highlights

• Take a cooking class in Los Ramos – an Indigenous community in the middle of Ometepe Island’s volcanos – and learn traditional techniques used to make Nicaraguan dishes like nacatamales.
• Enjoy a full day at leisure in one of El Salvador’s most beautiful national parks – Cerro Verde. Get up close and personal to a volcanic crater or take the plunge in a pristine lake. The choice is yours!
• Have breakfast at Cafe de las Sonrisas – a local café run entirely by deaf people. The café's owner is aiming to bridge the gap and inspire other business owners to employ local people living with disabilities.
• Island life doesn’t get much better than Ometepe in Nicaragua – volcanoes, wildlife-rich rainforests, stunning beaches, ancient rock carvings and a massive lake are all at your disposal.
• Get a taste of four different countries in Central America on an epic Latin adventure that takes in the sights and offers a whole heap of optional activities too! You’ll have loads of free time to choose your own hike, kayak, swimming or dancing adventure.

Highlights

• Explore the Serengeti, a wildlife arena like no other, and look for lions, leopards, elephants and giraffes in this iconic park.
• Take a mind-blowing safari across the floor of the Ngorongoro Crater in an open-roof 4WD vehicle for a chance to see the endangered black rhinoceros.
• 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.
• Wander around Stone Town’s bustling bazaars and fragrant spice markets, and consider heading on an optional guided tour of the island’s spice plantations.
• Accompanied by a local crew — a leader, driver and cook – you'll be in excellent hands for the duration of your adventure.

Highlights

• Visit local wineries during a tasting tour in the picturesque Douro Valley during an Exclusive Experience, stopping off for a lunch made with regional delights.
• Get an insight into Fado – an atmospheric amalgamation of music and poetry, during a soul-stirring and intimate live show in Coimbra.
• Spend a night in the rolling vineyards of the Douro Valley – your Feature Stay accommodation takes you into the heart of the region. Enjoy outdoor pools, excellent onsite restaurant and unforgettable views.
• Explore Sintra’s Pena Palace during a Premium Exclusive Experience. Then, explore at your own pace – wander the colourful architecture in the foothills of the mountains or head to UNESCO World Heritage site, Quinta da Regaleira.
• Create a personalised memento of your trip and learn about the history of the vibrantly coloured tiles that adorn the facades of buildings all over Portugal with a tile-painting workshop.

Highlights

• Sip your way around Waiheke Island off the shores of Auckland during an Exclusive Experience, visiting three cellar doors to learn about their production methods and sample some of the local wine.
• Discover an underground world during a tour of the Waitomo Glow Worm Caves, then experience the geothermal wonders of Rotorua, from bubbling hot springs to geysers and mud pools.
• Enjoy an iconic Exclusive Experience as you take a trip to Middle-earth and tour Hobbiton, where the iconic Lord of the Rings and Hobbit movies were shot – a must-do for any visit to New Zealand!
• Be amazed by Tongariro National Park as you spend the day exploring its volcanic landscapes, then retire to your chateau-style Feature Stay where you can sit back and soak in views of Tongariro’s peaks.
• Get a special look at New Zealand’s trendy capital city, Wellington, during an Exclusive Experience on board a private catamaran, cruising around the harbour.

Highlights

• Head deep into the jungle to the lush wilderness of Lacanja River during your stay at an eco-lodge, which supports the local indigenous community in the forest of the Lacandon area. Maybe opt to raft through the waterfalls and backwaters or take a guided hike.
• Tour the historic site of Chichen Itza – one of the new Seven Wonders of the World – and learn why these ancient Maya ruins are the most important in all of Mexico.
• Indulge in some delicious Mexican cuisine, with an included taco crawl and marquesitas tasting and some optional cooking classes (not to mention the huge range of fresh seafood, hot street food and everything corn!)
• Experience the bustling nature and bright colours of local Mexican markets. Wander the stalls, snap some photos and pick up traditional handicrafts in Oaxaca and Merida.
• Kick back, get active or explore this amazing region with loads of free time – maybe go snorkelling in the paradisical waters of Playa de Carmen, discover the ruins of Uxmal from Merida or take day trips to some archaeological sites and ancient Maya ruins.

Highlights

• Sail beyond the Arctic Circle to 80° north
• Zodiac and shore excursions to discover the icy wilderness
• Arctic fox, whales, walrus and huge 200,000 strong colonies of Little auk
• Polar bears often seen hunting on ice floes
• Travel in a small expedition vessel

Highlights

• Taste the best of Spanish cuisine during Exclusive Experiences – taste paella in Valencia, sample olive oil at a family-run farm in Andalucia and try delicious marzipan in Toledo.
• See the enchanting Alhambra Palace in Granada by day and by night with an expert guide – a Premium Exclusive Experience. Avoid the crowds as you receive special insight into the complex’s fascinating history.
• Spend two nights in a hotel housed in 27 converted Sevillian cottages for your Feature Stay in Seville. From antique furnishings to first-class service and an unbeatable location, this family-run hotel will be simply unforgettable.
• Take guided tours of both Valencia and Madrid, giving you the chance to hear from a expert about the local landmarks while getting to sample Spanish delicacies like horchata and paella along the way.
• Visit the iconic unfinished masterpiece of La Sagrada Familia Cathedral in Barcelona – construction on this hugely ambitious project began in 1882 and is still underway.

Highlights

• Be welcomed into a countryside home and learn how to make lalagia – a delicious Greek doughnut that can be served sweet or savoury – then turn to savoury treats and tuck into a home-cooked Greek feast including moussaka and stuffed vegetables.
• Add to your recipe repertoire as you learn to prepare a selection of traditional dishes from a local chef in Poros – an island renowned for its lamb and olive groves – who’s ready to share their best-kept cooking secrets.
• Mingle with the local producers who are just as passionate about good food and fresh ingredients as you are with visits to a countryside pistachio farm; a small, family-run apiary (a bee yard); and a family-owned distillery for a taste of the iconic Greek aperitif – ouzo.
• Take a step back in time and explore some of Greece’s most incredible sites – including Athens, Aegina and Poros islands, Epidaurus and Mycenae – with your locally based guide leading the way.
• Get a real taste for Greece as you dig into iconic eats like cheese, honey, olives, spit-roasted lamb, moussaka, mezze and lalagia – delicious!