Best Tour Companies Small Group Tours & Trips

Highlights

• Safari, safari, safari – what East African adventure would be complete without one? On this trip, you’ll embark on multiple safaris within three different areas.
• Go in search of hippos, lions, leopards, zebras and more during 4WD game drives in the Serengeti National Park, Ngorongoro Crater and the Masai Mara National Park with your experienced local leader.
• Spend the night in a Maasai village to learn about life from community elders, visit a widows’ community and maybe even learn to throw a spear.
• Cross the Serengeti in a purpose-built truck for one of those classic East African experiences – think vast plains spotted with thorn trees and herds of animals.
• Stop in places like Mto wa Mbu and Musoma for the best opportunities to chat with locals, swap stories and get to know their culture.

Highlights

• Explore some of the local underground dwellings of Matmata, before enjoying lunch in a troglodyte restaurant where mythical scenes from Star Wars Episodes I, II, III and VI were filmed.
• Wander the largest medina in North Africa in Tunis, navigating the twisting alleyways to discover tiny stores overflowing with goods, ancient mosques and bustling squares.
• Marvel at the spectacular Roman amphitheatre of El Jem. This 3rd-century structurerises impressively above the surrounding city, playing host to gladiators, musicians, villagers and many more throughout its life.
• Meet local female artisans in their workshops and homes and learn how they’re keeping their crafts and art practices alive. Sample local sweets, share home-cooked meals and join in on local cooking demonstrations.
• Trek through the Sahara with local Amazigh guides, then settle in at a desert camp to watch the sunset over the epic sea of dunes.

Highlights

• Spend two nights at your spectacular Feature Stay accommodation in Nardo. Once a 13th century Baronial Palace, then a 17th century Carmelite monastery, the historic property has been converted into a fabulous hotel with modern comforts.
• Join an expert local guide to learn about and explore the ancient ruins of Pompeii, destroyed and preserved by the eruption of Mt Vesuvius in 79 AD.
• Explore the truly unique town of Alberobello under the guidance of a local expert. Alberobello is famed for its thousands of fairy-tale trulli homes built in the 14th century.
• Discover an awe-inspiring maze of ancient sassi homes in the town of Matera, believed to be the third-longest continuously inhabited human settlement in the world.
• Visit a local olive oil producer on a farm that has been active since Roman times. Learn how production techniques have changed over the centuries, taste the farm’s olive oil, and dine on delicious regional specialties.

Highlights

• Visit a centuries-old pottery village in Hoi An. During this Exclusive Experience, you’ll learn about this ancient artform and meet the artisans who keep traditional techniques alive.
• Experience the beauty of UNESCO World Heritage site Ha Long Bay from the comfort of a traditional style junk boat – your Feature Stay accommodation. Enjoy a candlelit dinner on deck and soak in the magnificent landscape.
• Sit down to a soul-stirring Exclusive Experience – a Hat Xam performance in Hoi An. This ancient musical art form is rarely seen today and dates back over 700 years to the Tran Dynasty.
• Enjoy a tasty Exclusive Experience as you explore a local market with an expert chef in Hue, then visit his home to learn how to turn fresh ingredients into delicious Vietnamese dishes during a cooking class.
• Uncover Vietnam's astounding history during a visit to the Cu Chi tunnels in Ho Chi Minh City, a stroll around the historic streets of Hoi An and on a walking tour of the northern city of Hanoi.

Highlights

• Spend four nights cruising on a comfortable catamaran, accompanied by a naturalist guide
• Snorkel and hike to find sea lions, iguanas, tortoises and an abundance of birdlife
• Discover an underwater paradise as well as a volcanic landscape, with daily snorkelling and on-shore excursions

Highlights

• Follow the Danube downstream, passing romantic castles, small villages and lowland forests – the best way to see Eastern Europe is on two wheels!
• Cycle leafy paths away from the traffic of main roads and cities, from vibrant Vienna to cosmopolitan Bratislava and bohemian Budapest. Away from the tourists, you’ll have a better chance of connecting with local cultures!
• Spend some time at the domed Basilica of Esztergom – the biggest church in Hungary – and see how it’s reflected in the still waters of the Danube Bend. Then, make your way into Budapest and indulge in one of the steaming public baths.
• See the Roman remains at Carnuntum – one of Austria's most important archaeological sites. Wander the ruins and reconstructions and then hop back on your bike to the Slovak border.
• Straddle the borders of Hungary and Slovakia in the historic spa town of Komarom and soothe your sore muscles during one of the optional spa visits.

Highlights

• Stay in a wonderful 200-year-old olive mill with pool and beautiful gardens
• Superb hosts and walking leader
• Exceptional cuisine; all meals included
• Moorish white villages, olive orchards, old mule tracks and panoramic vistas
• Nerja Caves and the Balcon de Europa

Highlights

• Settle into local life with a homestay in Phrom Lok. Cycle around the countryside, cool off in a waterfall and tuck into some delicious home-cooked meals.
• Take some time out in Ao Nang to recharge, relax and soak up the beachside bliss with loads of free time to go sea kayaking, rock climbing or cocktail hunting.
• Eat on the roadside in Bangkok, Penang and Singapore, with included and optional street food experiences and plenty of free time (not to mention your trusty local leader) to find all the best food stalls.
• Marvel at the reclining Buddha at Wat Pho in Bangkok, and then see the other 1000 images of Buddha throughout the gorgeous complex.
• Spend your downtime in the green Cameron Highlands chilling out and soaking up the scenery or opt for an optional day tour to various local farms and a tea plantation.