Best Tour Companies Small Group Tours & Trips

Highlights

• Spend three-and-a-half days trekking in one of the most pristine self-contained environments on earth, parts of which are still yet to be explored.
• Begin your adventure with a homestay with a Dusun family in Tambunan, including a local village tour to a house filled with headhunter skulls.
• The myriad waterways that flow into the basin’s Maliau River have created dozens of known waterfalls. Take in their hidden beauty during your trek, including the seven gorgeous tiers of Maliau Waterfall.
• Wonder at the bizarre flora that has adapted to this environment, like ‘ant plants’ that survive and grow by feeding on the waste of the ants that live on them.
• Tourism to the basin is restricted, which means after this trip you’ll be part of a very exclusive group of people to have experienced the majesty of this wilderness.

Highlights

• Make the most of Iceland’s long winter nights by tracking down the shimmering lights of the aurora borealis.
• Explore one of Europe’s largest ice caps on an adventurous walk over the alien landscape of Solheimajokull Glacier, and bask in the spray of the spectacular Skogafoss and Seljalandsfoss falls.
• Visit a local art workshop and chat with the artists in a rugged, off the beaten path harbor town.
• See the sights that make Iceland’s famous Golden Circle so celebrated, from Gulfoss Waterfall to Strokkur Geysir and Thingvellir National Park.
• There are few things more quintessentially Icelandic than soaking in a geothermal pool – experience it for yourself during a visit to the lesser-known Secret Lagoon.

Highlights

• Totally unspoilt, easy cycling off the tourist trail - great for first timers!
• Characterful, friendly hotels; great Venetian home cooking
• Steeped in history: medieval castles, Palladian villas, Roman roads
• Venice, Verona, Padua and Vicenza all within reach on your rest days
• Masses of wine-tasting opportunities

Highlights

• Fa'a Samoa – The Samoan Way. This phrase refers to the Samoan culture and traditions that influence the lives of many local people. Experience this in immersive village tours with your local leader, who will introduce you to the culture and traditions of each spot.
• Make the most of the pristine water and slide down a natural rockslide into the waterholes at Papase’ea. Visit the stunning sandy beaches Vauvua and Lalomanu and snorkel in Palolo Deep Marine Reserve, teeming with tropical fish and coral.
• Be amazed by the ancient Star Mounds in Cape Falealupo, one of Samoa's most sacred places, and the remains of the Virgin's grave and the LMS Church. Walk across lava rocks – evidence of the destructive eruption in 1905.
• Enjoy a fiafia night – a traditional celebration of dance, costumes, music and feasting on dishes that are cooked in an umu oven using hot volcanic rock.

Highlights

• Discover three Baltic states and Finland in 12 days
• Visit Koguva, the best-preserved ancient village in Estonia
• Hike the Sääretirp trail, one of the most famous trails in Hiiumaa
• Walk the width of the Venta Rapids
• Walking around Līču-Laņģu sandstone cliffs

Highlights

• Visit Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City and Jingshan Park in Beijing
• See giant pandas at Chengdu Breeding & Research Centre
• Marvel at one of the best-preserved parts of the Great Wall of China at Mutianyu
• Admire the Terracotta Warriors of Emperor Qin
• Discover the Bund waterfront area and French Concession of Shanghai

Highlights

• Soak up the royal history of Krakow's Wawel Castle and step back in time with a stroll through the city's medieval main square.
• Immerse yourself in the history, architecture and bohemian vibes of the Czech Republic. Soak up the smooth sounds of jazz at a low-lit bar in Prague before stepping right into a fairytale in the World Heritage-listed town of Cesky Krumlov.
• Enjoy a scenic walk along the banks of the River Danube in Budapest. Threaded with bridges and hemmed in by castles and historic city buildings, Europe’s second longest river is also one of its most beautiful.
• Hike in the picturesque Tatra Mountains and traverse the steep slopes via funicular, gondola and electric steam train.
• Wander through Belgrade’s Bohemian quarter and grand 19th-century boulevards, before launching yourself into its animated nightlife.

Highlights

• Get to know Mexico City on a tour with your leader, visit the spectacular ruins of Teotihuacan, Cholula, Mitla, Chichen Itza, and Muyil, and explore the Tulum archaeological site.
• Enjoy the old-world charm of your Feature Stays in Oaxaca and Merida – magnificent 19th and 17th century mansions turned boutique hotels with elegant decor and traditional touches.
• Understand the diversity of Mexican food during Exclusive Experiences, including a Maya Pibil meal in a local home, tortilla making demonstration with the Laguna Chabela community and dinner at an award-winning restaurant in Oaxaca.
• Discover traditional craft industries with enlightening Exclusive Experiences. Learn about Zapotec woven fabrics, textile making, mezcal distilling and beeswax candle-making, and visit a family-run obsidian workshop.
• Enjoy an Exclusive Experience at the Celestun Bird Sanctuary and Biosphere Reserve. Learn about conservation efforts while looking out for colourful flora and fauna.