Best Tour Companies Small Group Tours & Trips

Highlights

• Like everything else it does, China’s ancient history is on a grand scale – see it first-hand, with time to explore and walk the epic Great Wall’s Mutianyu section.
• Sit back and relax on one of the world’s greatest train journeys – a marathon 45-hour ride to the literal Roof of the World, passing by incredibly mountainous and remote terrain, and the occasional grazing yak!
• Immerse yourself in Tibetan culture, from the spiritual side – explored on monastery visits, pilgrim trails and a monk-led meditation session – to traditional daily life, experienced at a momo-making class and Tibetan family home.
• Climb phenomenal mountain passes and thrilling peaks on your scenic overland journey to see the mightiest of them all – Mt Everest – and visit the world’s highest monastery on your way!
• With a Tibetan leader by your side, it’s a great opportunity to gain true local insight and understanding of the Tibetan culture and the modern life on the plateau .

Highlights

• Get to know the Moroccan way of life as you travel with a local leader and expert guides, visit a local home for dinner in Fes, enjoy tea with an Amazigh family in the Dades Valley and meet the women of the Tawesna social enterprise in Ait Benhaddou.
• Discover Morocco’s iconic sights during visits to the ruins of Volubilis, the blue city of Chefchaouen, the remarkable Sahara Desert, the timeless Ait Benhaddou, the bustling cities of Fes and Marrakech the laidback seaside city of Essaouira.
• In a remote oasis among the dunes of the Sahara Desert, embrace an escape from the modern world at your feature stay camp. Enjoy comfortable beds, en suite bathrooms and authentic décor, plus a traditional feast and live music under a sky full of stars.
• Morocco is a paradise for food lovers – this trip is bursting with culinary experiences, including a traditional feast at a restaurant in Casablanca, picnic at the ruins of Volubilis, goat’s cheese tasting in Chefchaouen and medfouna demonstration in Khemliya.
• See behind the scenes of Moroccan cuisine during a hands-on cooking class with a celebrated chef. Harvest fresh ingredients from the on-site organic garden, learn how to transform them into classic aromatic dishes then tuck into your creations.

Highlights

• Dine in the home of a local family, where you’ll be treated to a traditional home-cooked Turkish meal and have the opportunity to learn about life in the desert.
• Explore the weird and wonderful world of Cappadocia – this might be the most unusual place in Turkey. Learn all about its fairy chimneys and sprawling rock formations from your expert local leader.
• Wander the warrens of underground cities, homes and churches carved straight into the sandstone of the Cappadocian desert, and maybe opt to gaze down at the city from above on a sunrise hot air balloon ride.
• The thriving metropolis of Istanbul is where East literally meets West. Discover the highlights and the history of this incredible city that melds the cultures of two continents.
• Learn about the history and culture that was born in Konya, from the teachings of Sufism to the art and skill of the whirling dervish.

Highlights

• Meet some Maasai Mamas (the name for women artisans in Tanzania) and learn about their village life, including how to prepare a local Swahili dish.
• Encounter roaring lions and magnificent zebra in the famous Serengeti National Park as our small safari vehicles get you close to the action in this spectacular wildlife arena.
• Keep your eyes peeled for black and white rhinos on an adventure through Lake Nakuru National Park
• Make friends with warriors of the Maasai tribe around the camp fire; they'll be on guard for lions while you and your family camp overnight
• Venture into the incredible Masai Mara National Reserve for a full-day game drive

Highlights

• Discover magical northern India, where the plains meet the Himalaya
• Explore the yoga capital of Rishikesh, where the Beatles wrote songs for the White Album
• Enjoy a wonderfully scenic ‘toy train’ ride to Kalka
• Marvel at Amritsar’s greatest monument, the serene Golden Temple
• Head to the India-Pakistan border at sunset for the spectacular Beating Retreat ceremony

Highlights

• Fiesta the night away in Mexico City and get into the true spirit of this haunting ceremonial festival.
• Get the low-down on all of the traditions and rituals of the Day of the Dead festival, including taking part in making your own traditional altar offering.
• See the ruins known as the Pyramid of the Sun and the Pyramid of the Moon at Teotihuacan and stroll down The Avenue of the Dead to discover what life here was like nearly 2000 years ago.
• VisitTlahuaccemetery to view graves that have been decorated with colourful flowers, photos and food, and see the Day of the Dead ceremonies.
• Sample tasty street food at the open air Mercado Jamaica where people come to buy everything they need for the Day of the Dead, including the famous pan de muerto sweet rolls.

Highlights

• Enjoy two evenings at your historical Feature Stay hotel in the heart of Tbilisi, Georgia’s capital. Once owned by a noble family, it has played host to aristocrats, famous writers and public figures.
• Visit the Tserovani Refugee Settlement in Georgia during an Exclusive Experience, where you’ll visit a jewellery making workshop aimed at providing employment to displaced women within the camp. Create a piece for yourself and learn about the issues surrounding long-term displacement.
• Sample this region’s diverse cuisine, from a home cooked meal with a local family to a lunch of regional specialties in a refugee settlement in Georgia. Then, try organic qvevri wine made according to the world’s oldest winemaking tradition.
• Discover ancient wonders during visits to the open-air archaeological museum of Qobustan in Azerbaijan, the magnificent cave town of Vardzia in Georgia and the Haghpat in Armenia.
• Drive through the mighty snow-cowered Caucasus mountains, which provide diverse landscapes from lunar semideserts to forests and countryside. With expert guides and an exciting 4WD excursion, you’ll soak up the unique scenery in the best way.

Highlights

• Explore Cahuita National Park on a hike through the lush vegetation and coastal beaches (where you can take a dip) and look out for the abundant wildlife on the land and in the sky.
• Take part in a Caribbean cooking class in Puerto Viejo de Talamanca and sit down for lunch with the locals – a blend of African, Indigenous and Spanish flavours mixed with coconut milk, spices, fruits, curry and seafood.
• Enjoy plenty of free time to choose your own adventure – maybe hike through the lush forest of La Fortuna, go wildlife spotting near Arenal Volcano or explore Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Reserve looking out for sloths.
• Kick back on the Caribbean coast in Puerto Viejo, surrounded by vibrant coral reefs – the perfect spot for some swimming, snorkelling or relaxing under the shade of palm trees.
• Start and end your trip in San Jose, the urban centre of Costa Rica, to balance out the outdoor adventure with some nightlife, bar hopping, markets and museums.