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The 10 Best Group Travel Tour Companies for 2023

Caroline Morse Teel

Caroline Morse Teel is the Managing Editor for SmarterTravel Media. Follow her adventures around the world on Instagram @TravelWithCaroline.

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For those truly epic, once-in-a-lifetime destinations, you want to leave your itinerary to the experts. Whether your dream is to see the Big Five on an African Safari, trek tall mountains, explore European cities, or something even wilder, a group tour is the easiest way to do it.

However, picking the wrong group tour company is the quickest way to ruin your trip. Make sure you choose a tour company that aligns with your goals and travel styles. Do you want an intimate group tour or do you prefer to make lots of new friends in a big group? Does the price line up with what you like (luxury vs. budget)? Is the itinerary going to all the places you want to see? 

We’ve done the research and found the very best group travel tour companies for 2023 for every type of traveler.

Best Overall Group Travel: Exodus Travels

With trips on every continent, Exodus Travels covers anywhere on this planet that you could possibly want to go, from popular destinations like the Amalfi Coast to well off-the-beaten path adventures like Tajikistan. This award-winning group travel company boasts thousands of repeat customers who sign up for trips year after year (97% of past participants would recommend Exodus Travels to a friend). 

These small group tours operate with only around 12-16 people, and always feature experienced local leaders who can give you a unique insight into your destination. Exodus Travels caters to any type of travel style, including trips broken down by type of activity (think walking, cycling, multi-adventure, winter, or cultural) as well as type of traveler (family, age group, etc.). There are curated collections (coastal, “away from it all”, European wilderness, and trips of a lifetime) to inspire you, as well as self-guided options for when you want all the benefits of a group tour planner without the actual group. Looking for that special safari? Exodus Travels just partners with the African Wildlife Foundation to create carefully curated luxury adventures that go above and beyond the standard safari. 

Exodus Travels tours work for almost any budget, with options that range from affordable to premium. 

Top Trip: Explore under-the-radar Europe by foot on Exodus Travels’ Lakes & Mountains of Slovenia walking tour .

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Best Adventure Group Travel: World Expeditions

World Expeditions has been taking adventurous travelers to remote locations all over the world ever since its first group trek through Nepal in 1975. Today, World Expeditions offers active itineraries on every continent. Intrepid travelers can opt for trips themed around mountaineering, rafting, cycling, hiking, and more. 

World Expeditions aims to leave communities and places where they operate tours better than they found them. Trips are created using the company’s Thoughtful Travel Charter as a guideline, which emphasizes respect for the environment, sustainability, having a positive impact on local communities, protecting wildlife, and more. 

World Expeditions’ trips are capped at just 16 people to provide a good experience for participants, and there are no single supplements for solo travelers willing to share a room with someone of the same gender. 

Top Trip: Summit Africa’s tallest mountain on a fully-supported trek up Kilimanjaro on World Expeditions’ eight day trip up the beautiful Lemosho Route . 

Best Budget Group Travel: G Adventures 

For travelers on a budget, G Adventures offers cheap group tours that make dream destinations accessible to nearly anyone. (Think: sailing the Galapagos for just $1,124 , criss-crossing India’s Golden Triangle for $559 , or spending 8 days in Bali for less than $800.)

G Adventures is one of the best tour companies for solo travelers as well, as most trips don’t have a single-supplement. You can choose to share a room with another G Adventures solo traveler, or pay extra to have your own space.

G Adventures keeps costs down by opting for cheaper hotels and local meals, and making certain activities optional (for an additional cost). Pick your travel style—options range from “basic” to more luxe tours run in partnership with National Geographic. Family tours, local living tours (featuring homestays), and wellness-focused tours are also available. 

Top Trip: G Adventures’ China Express trip is a great way to see the highlights of China if you’re short on both time and budget. 

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Best Educational Group Tours: EF Go Ahead Tours

When you really want to learn about a destination, consider a group trip with EF Go Ahead Tours . EF is the world’s largest private education company, and the Go Ahead Tours arm capitalizes on the company’s relationships with local educators, historians, and tour guides to create group trips that take you deep into a destination. 

These small group tours generally cap at 38 travelers, and feature unique educational experiences. For a bucket list trip, EF Go Ahead Tour’s special event tours are particularly enticing, as they offer behind-the-scenes access to tough-to-plan trips like Oktoberfest in Munich or Cherry Blossom season in Japan. 

Intimidated by solo travel? EF Go Ahead Tours is a great option for solo travelers, since it offers designated trips for solo travelers , where everyone is traveling alone, making it less intimidating.  

Top Trip: Bring the tastes of Italy home with you on EF Go Ahead Tours’ Food & Wine: Piedmont & Tuscany tour (operated in partnership with America’s Test Kitchen), where you’ll learn how to make local dishes. 

Best Responsible Group Travel: Intrepid Travel

Looking for a responsible group travel operator that focuses on bettering the communities and destinations they visit? Intrepid Travel is the world’s largest travel B Corporation, a certification for companies doing good. 

Intrepid Travel’s tours focus on sustainability, diversity, inclusion, and sustaining communities. The company has its own charity, The Intrepid Foundation , which has donated over 7 million dollars to over 130 community organizations. 

Intrepid Travel’s small group tours attract a wide range of travelers, but they are especially great for younger travelers, as they have a large number of trips designed for people aged 18-29 . (Other trips, including family-focused trips, are geared toward any age.)

Top Trip: Experience unforgettable wildlife encounters on Intrepid Travel’s Premium Uganda & Rwanda trip which includes time with the mountain gorillas of Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. 

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Best Private Group Travel: Kensington Tours

Whether your group consists of just two people or involves taking the entire extended family, Kensington Tours will take all the hassle of planning out of the equation. This private group operator creates personalized trips and itineraries tailored to your preferences, while their experts handle all the logistics and bookings. 

Plans are entirely flexible, and can even be changed while on the trip on a whim. Need some inspiration? Browse Kensington Tours’ travel ideas , to get some ideas for your next adventure. 

Top Trip: Sail around the stunning shores of Croatia and the Dalmation Islands on a private luxury catamaran on Kensington Tours’ fully customizable tour . 

Best Polar Group Travel: Chimu Adventures

Whether you’re headed north to the Artic or south to Antarctica, Chimu Adventures has the perfect polar group trip for you. Chimu Adventures has some of the most variety for polar trips, with options to fly, cruise, or a combination of both to get to your destination.

For an ultra-unique Antarctica trip, Chimu Adventures offers cruises departing from Australia or New Zealand (most Antarctica trips depart from Argentina). Can’t stay long? Book one of Chimu Adventures’ scenic flights to Antarctica , which fly as far as the south pole in one spectacular 16-hour day.

Chimu Adventures is one of the cheapest group trips to Antarctica, with rates starting under $5,000.

Top Trip: If you’re pressed for time (or simply don’t have the stomach for the Drake Passage), Chimu Adventures’ Antarctica Fly Cruise will get you to the ends of the earth quickly and smoothly.

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Best Group Tours for Solo Travelers: For the Love of Travel

Group tours can be a great way to meet new people, but they can sometimes skew on the older age range. If you’re between 25-39 and a solo traveler looking to meet new people, you’ll love For the Love of Travel . All participants on the trips are between 25-39, and according to the company, 80 percent are solo travelers—so you’ll make friends fast. Hoping to meet someone who will be more than just a friend on your next trip? Trips include a balanced number of “gal and guy spots” to ensure an even balance of genders within groups (and of course, non-binary genders are always welcome). 

For the Love of Travel offers weeklong (or longer) international trips as well as shorter weekender trips to nearby destinations like Mexico or Denver—perfect for people without a lot of vacation time.

Top Trip: Sleep in a glass igloo under the Northern Lights, go sledding with huskies, and warm up in traditional saunas on For the Love of Travel’s Lapland tour , already booking dates for 2024.

Best Biking Tours Group Travel: DuVine Cycling

Biking through the rolling hills of Italy or across the mountain roads of Chile sounds like a dream, but the logistics seem daunting (especially if you don’t want to haul all your own stuff from point-to-point). Enter: DuVine Cycling , a luxury small group tour company that specializes in bike trips. 

With trips across Europe, Latin America, Africa, Asia, and the United States, DuVine Cycling is a cyclist’s dream. Choose from all-biking trips or mix things up with a cycle and sail bike tour or a multi-sport adventure —no matter what, everything is included, from luxury boutique accommodations to top-quality name brand bikes. 

Top Trip: DuVine’s Holland Bike Tour promises “tulips, windmills, beer, and cheese”—what more could you need?

Best Luxury Group Travel: Abercrombie & Kent

Abercrombie & Kent has been delighting discerning travelers since 1962. Today, they take travelers on unforgettable adventures across over 100 different countries and all seven continents. Although Abercrombie & Kent’s trips are pricey, they encompass once-in-a-lifetime experiences like private jet tours around the world or luxury chartered cruises .

There are trips designed for solo travelers and families , and the small group journeys max out at around 14-18 guests.

Top Trip: Swim with whale sharks in the Philippines, feed proboscis monkeys in Malaysia, and photograph wild tigers in India on Abercrombie & Kent’s Wildlife Safari: Around the World by Private Jet trip , already booking dates into 2024.

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For independent explorers who don’t want to miss out on these amazing destinations, book your hotel stay for a great rate with SmarterTravel Hotels .

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The best tour operators in the world: 2023 Readers' Choice Awards

By Condé Nast Traveller

It’s been a challenging few years for tour operators but the names below are in it for the long haul (as well as the short and medium), honing itineraries and managing expectations. So who prepared your travel documents this year? Red Savannah and Black Tomato scored highest for first-hand knowledge, and Exodus Adventure Travels and Abercrombie & Kent for on-the-ground support. But when it came to all-round endeavour, Scott Dunn and The Turquoise Holiday Company were leaders of the pack. Both report a surge of interest in Asia, as well as multi-generational travel, solo adventures to Namibia, Bhutan and Mexico, and authentic experiences such as outback stations in Australia and bear lodges in Canada.

These are the best tour operators in the world, according to the 2023 Readers' Choice Awards . The scores below are percentages representing overall average levels of satisfaction.

The best general tour operators in the world 2023

15. Cox & Kings. Score 88.00

14. Hayes & Jarvis. Score 89.44

13. Carrier. Score 90.73

12. Simpson Travel. Score 91.48

11. Kuoni. Score 92.82

10. Mr & Mrs Smith. Score 93.29

9. Kensington Tours. Score 94.14

8. Audley Travel. Score 94.77

7. Original Travel. Score 95.44

6. Cazenove + Loyd. Score 95.92

5. The Ultimate Travel Company. Score 96.75

4. Abercrombie & Kent. Score 97.12

3. Elegant Resorts. Score 97.39

2. Red Savannah. Score 97.96

• The Turquoise Holiday Company. Score 98.42

The best travel specialists in the world 2023

15. Wild Frontiers. Score 94.81

14. Martin Randall Travel. Score 95.17

13. Intrepid Travel. Score 95.40

12. Wilderness. Score 96.54.

11. Inntravel. Score 96.88

10. Oxford Ski Company. Score 97.15

9. Kirker Holidays. Score 97.47

8. andBeyond. Score 97.61

7. Ampersand Travel. Score 97.65.

6. InsideJapan Tours. Score 97.79

5. Steppes Travel. Score 97.88

4. Black Tomato. Score 98.03

3. Exodus Adventure Travels. Score 98.15

2. Healing Holidays. Score 98.35

• Scott Dunn. Score 98.70

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TravelAwaits

Our mission is to serve the 50+ traveler who's ready to cross a few items off their bucket list.

11 Best Group Trip Providers According To Our Readers

• Activities and Interests
• Best Of Travel
• Best Of Travel Awards: 2023
• Group Travel
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• Sightseeing
• Types of Travel

Travel is one of the most exciting parts of life — it can mean experiencing new cultures, forging new friendships, or just relaxing on a beach. That said, the unfortunate reality is that there’s a great deal of planning and endless decision-making involved in setting up the perfect trip. Even then, it can be tricky to meet new people on shorter journeys.

Enter group trip providers: organizations that not only handle the tedium of planning travel but also set you up with like-minded individuals or couples to share in the adventure with. TravelAwaits readers tend to be a discerning bunch, so we asked them which group trip providers are worth the expense. Explore the results below to see which group best suits you.

1. National Geographic Expeditions (Winner)

National Geographic is a name that is inextricably tied to seeing the world. There are plenty of benefits to traveling with Nat Geo, but let’s start with their experts . The experts who guide trips are made up of the organization’s trusted writers, conservationists, photographers, and other explorers who know their subjects and regions like the backs of their hands.

In addition to world-class guides, National Geographic Expeditions offer a huge variety of trip types – from train , private jet , and riverboat journeys to its signature land and family trips. Travelers can explore just about any locale or culture that interests them in a responsible, but still exciting fashion.

2. Rick Steves’ Europe

Rick Steves is an entertainer and educator who highlights how knowing about a destination’s culture and history is an essential part of travel. Steves has shared this philosophy with the world over several decades through his writing, television shows, broadcasts, and speaking engagements.

Fans of his travel style can take one of many trips guided by his expertise and travel philosophy. From Portugal to Bulgaria and just about every European country in between, every corner of Europe can be explored with a Rick Steves group tour.

3. REI Co-Op Adventure Travel

REI began in the 1930s as a way for a group of local outdoorsmen to pool their resources to purchase high-quality mountaineering gear in bulk to save money. With over 23 million members and 181 stores worldwide, it’s safe to say the idea spread. The cooperative now offers the same member discount for experiences in addition to gear.

REI trips all include upfront information about difficulty level, group size, and activities included. Most also include whatever specialized gear is necessary, which helps keep costs lower for the traveler. For the outdoor gear junkie, the trips feature extensive packing lists as well. These adventures are a great social way to experience the wonders of the American outdoors.

4. Road Scholar

To once again generalize about TravelAwaits readers, it’s safe to say that they tend to love learning. For the education-focused traveler, Road Scholar trips are an incredible way to see the world. This non-profit organization builds every trip around education, with cultural experiences, talks and demonstrations by locals and experts, and more. Being on site keeps the learning engaging and memorable. With a large range of collections , Road Scholar offers trips for countless interests and destinations.

5. Overseas Adventure Travel

Overseas Adventure Travel is a group trip provider that puts a major emphasis on off-the-beaten-path journeys. The company was founded on the pursuit of personal growth through travel – especially travel to less-visited destinations. OAT trips are oriented toward smaller groups, which makes experiencing a destination a more intimate experience.

Trips include small-ship voyages around the Aegean Islands and Istanbul , a Morocco Sahara Odyssey , or a tour of Botswana, Zambia, and Zimbabwe . And of course, the list doesn’t end there! In addition to popular destinations in Europe, Asia, the Pacific Islands, and the Americas, travelers can even explore Antarctica with Overseas Adventure Travel.

6. Girls’ Guide To The World

Solo travel as a woman comes with its share of baggage, but one solution to any concern is to join a group trip offered by Girls’ Guide to the World . Though the organization began with small trips to Paris, they now offer groups going to over 25 countries. With a dual focus on authentic and responsible travel, these trips can help curious travelers meet like-minded women and make long-term friendships.

The themed trips bear descriptive names like “ Living Like a Queen – Marie Antoinette’s World in Paris and Versaille ” and “ Goddess of the Nile .” Every trip includes an exciting itinerary full of inspiration and highlights of the trip.

With 98 years in the travel industry, the family-run company Tauck knows a thing or two about seeing the world. With a stated core goal of doing the right thing, Tauck offers exclusive access to experiences around the globe. The trips also promise to bring travelers into the communities they are visiting so they can learn about local life and culture.

Tauck provides guidance on trips to all seven continents, but a very small sample includes “ The Essence of Japan ,” “ Northern India and Nepal ,” “ Canadian Maritimes ,” and “ New Zealand: A North & South Island Adventure .”

8. Trafalgar Travel

Trafalgar Travel offers 303 trips in 72 countries over six continents. The company promises unparalleled access and insight into hidden gems, both of which are worth their weight in gold to enthusiastic travelers. In addition to special moments and experiences, Trafalgar is known for high-quality service at every step of the journey, making getting out into the world a breeze.

Finally, Trafalgar has set responsible travel as a guiding principle, focusing especially on clear goals around climate action, sustainable food production, responsible consumption, overtourism, and more.

9. Grand Circle Travel

Grand Circle Travel is a family of companies with the specific goal of providing life-changing experiences centered around human connections. While Grand Circle offers a variety of land trips, the cruise line arm of the business is noteworthy.

Grand Circle’s European river cruises take small groups of travelers through France, Holland, Hungary, and other countries on such famous rivers as the Rhône, Seine, Danube, and Rhine. For the seasonal experience of a lifetime, consider taking one of Grand Circle’s Christmas market cruises.

10. Globus Journeys

Globus Journeys is a company that’s all about striking a balance between fulfilling travel dreams while also exploring the undiscovered local side of different locations. On a Globus trip, you can expect to see iconic sights like the Colosseum or Machu Picchu, but also spend an afternoon baking in a small farm’s kitchen.

Globus Journeys makes picking a tour easy through their handy “ travel styles ” system. By breaking down travelers’ preferences, they ensure that everyone finds the right trip. Styles available range from “Small-Group Discoveries” and “Cosmos Tours” to “Undiscovered Tours” and “Faith-Based Vacations.”

11. Abercrombie & Kent USA, LLC

Rounding out the list is Abercrombie & Kent , a company that emphasizes luxury small-group travel. Abercrombie & Kent attributes its success to having some of the best expert guides in the world, combined with an extensive network of partners who lead authentic experiences.

The catalog of small-group journeys includes itineraries dotted with the best luxury hotels and transportation. The “Marco Polo Journey” category is comprised of limited-edition trips that change from year to year. While the small-group journeys earned Abercrombie & Kent its place on this list, the company also offers other types of travel like tailor-made trips and private jet journeys.

Read more from our  2023 Best Of Travel Awards .

Dan Happe is an editor from Des Moines, Iowa. He loves that his work allows him to see the world from his desk, but he particularly enjoys articles that involve cycling, accessibility, and sustainability. When Dan isn’t reading or writing, he is repairing and riding bikes, cooking, and searching for the perfect cup of tea.

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8 Ways to Choose the Perfect Tour Company

Last Updated: November 3, 2023

That idea of tours being bad is an old and outdated perception.

These days tour groups have become more adept at the changing landscape. They feature smaller groups, more authentic experiences, a better environmental impact, and more local guides.

I love group tours.

Even though I am an independent traveler, I find group tours super fun, a great way to meet people, learn more from an informed guide, go to places you normally can’t, and wet your feet in travel. My first trip overseas was on an organized tour. I didn’t know the first thing about travel and that tour gave me the confidence to travel on my own. It was the taste test I needed to become hooked on travel. Tours give a lot of people time to adjust to the “travel lifestyle.”

Unlike in the past, today’s tours are eco-friendly, cater to all travel styles, over cheap, and make a point to use local transportation and guides. And many destinations (like Halong Bay, the Galápagos Islands, the Serengeti, Machu Picchu, Antarctica, Everest) are virtually inaccessible without an organized group tour!

In this article, I am going to tell you how to find the best tour company so you get one that is inexpensive, eco-friendly, provides local guides, and gives back to the local community:

1. Research the costs

With tour companies, it’s not always true that you get what you pay for. Many tour companies nickel-and-dime you, while some are really good at maximizing value for your every penny. Ask how your money is spent to find out if you are really getting the best value for your money. How much of your fee is their overhead? Are you paying for top-notch hotels but staying in two-star guesthouses? You want a company that is transparent with why prices are the way they are.

Moreover, make sure you ask if there are added fees to pay when arrive. Many companies require you to pay additional money when the tour starts or don’t include park or attraction entrance fees. That cheap tour won’t be so cheap if you have to pay for everything while you’re there!

2. Make sure you are the audience 

Is the tour geared toward older couples? Young people? Families? You don’t want to end up on a loud Contiki tour full of drunk twenty-year-olds when all you want is a quiet holiday.

There’s a tour company for everyone — just make sure you don’t end up on one that isn’t yours. Most tour companies list their guest demographics on their “About” page, and you can usually see from the photos of their tours who goes on it.

You can also tell the audience based on accommodation: if it’s hostels or guesthouses, it’s usually for backpackers and budget travelers; if it’s fancy digs, it’s for older travelers and families.

This is very important because these are the people you’ll be traveling with so you want to make sure it’s the kind of people you are traveling with. I’m still friends with the people from my first tour in 2003 because they were people like me. The tour in Japan that was filled with older families? Not so much. We didn’t have much in common. Wonderful people but we didn’t connect.

So, I always look for tours that have my demographic in them.

3. Get local guides

Guides can make or break your trip. They are going to explain everything to you and keep the flow of the tour going. I don’t want them hiring some young kid, non-expert, or someone who doesn’t know the place well. I’ve been on tours where the guide was a walking encyclopedia, and on somewhere the guide was a glorified timekeeper.

Make sure the company uses knowledgeable, local guides. The guide should be a local or at least a long-term resident, know the local language, have travel experience, and know life-saving techniques.

If you are unsure about the guides, call the customer service line and ask them about their guides.

4. Safety record 

Make sure the company follows all the proper safety requirements and is accredited by the local government, the government where they are registered, and any other appropriate trade organizations.

5. A balanced schedule 

You’re paying for them to fill most of your day. How do they do that? Are they doing that? Do they have a lot of activities organized, or do they leave you to your own devices?

That said, you don’t want a schedule that is crammed with things to do. Make sure you get a schedule of all the activities and pick a tour that is balanced. Running around will leave you wishing you had a holiday from your holiday, but you don’t want to be sitting around all day, either.

I love taking small group tours because they generally have a good balance. Any tour that requires you to be on a huge bus and hits 6 cities in 5 days is not a tour to take!

6. Environmental impact

There’s a growing trend among travelers called ecotourism . It’s about more responsible travel, not only toward the environment but also toward the locals in an area. This means using local guides, hotels, and services, and making sure to reduce waste and your footprint on the local habitat.

Moreover, these companies tend to offer better and more interactive tours that also give you a good degree of autonomy.

I think it’s important to pick a company that provides great value and gives back to the place you are visiting. After all, did you go there to ruin it for others? Doubtful.

Check with groups like the International Ecotourism Society for a list of companies that have been certified “eco-friendly.” With so much money pouring into the industry now, you have a lot of companies fraudulently saying they practice ecotourism but end up being involved in terrible labor practices, animal abuse, and waste.

7. Group size

Tour companies that have smaller groups tend to be much more mindful of the environment and the impact they are leaving. It’s a lot easier to meet people in a group of 10-15 than it is in a group of 60. I don’t like to go on tours with more than 15 people on them. However, I have friends who love Contiki tours with 40-50 people. Know what you are getting yourself into, so you don’t find yourself with a group too small or too large for your tastes.

Just remember larger groups tend to stay at bigger, more impersonal accommodations (they can only accommodate the numbers), eat at more touristy restaurants, and tend to travel to more destinations quicker.

In my expert opinion, small group tours are the best.

8. Check their reputation

How have other travelers enjoyed their time? Look for online reviews to see what a company’s reputation is. It might not always be what they claim, and it’s important to find out the truth before you book.

Remember that MOST people only write a review if something goes wrong. Someone might give a tour company one star just because their eggs were runny. Find the average. Someone might hate a tour because the weather was hot. Seriously. These are actual negative reviews from the tour operator company, Thomas Cook:

“On my holiday to Goa in India, I was disgusted to find that almost every restaurant served curry. I don’t like spicy food.”

“We went on holiday to Spain and had a problem with the taxi drivers as they were all Spanish.”

“We booked an excursion to a water park but no-one told us we had to bring our own swimsuits and towels. We assumed it would be included in the price.”

“No-one told us there would be fish in the water. The children were scared.”

“Although the brochure said that there was a fully equipped kitchen, there was no egg-slicer in the drawers.”

“When we were in Spain, there were too many Spanish people there. The receptionist spoke Spanish, the food was Spanish. No one told us that there would be so many foreigners.”

“We had to line up outside to catch the boat and there was no air-conditioning.”

So how can you trust the reviews you read online?

Take them with a grain of salt. You can read reviews on websites TrustPilot . The approval rating should look like a bell curve but with more A’s and B’s than C’s. I look for companies that average 85% or higher (or 4 out of 5 stars). If a company is that highly rated, the negative reviews are probably just outliers.  

My Recommended (Best) Tour Companies

Here are some of my favorite small, day-tour, or backpacker bus tour companies:

• Take Walks – This is my favorite walking tour company. They run a wide variety of insightful and entertaining tours around Europe and the US. What makes them so good is they get you inside access to attractions and places you can’t get elsewhere. Their guides rock too!
• Get Your Guide – A massive marketplace for tours, activities, and excursions. If you’re looking for something niche, you’ll find it here!
• Devour Food Tours – My go-to tour company for tasty food tours around Europe and the US.
• Kiwi Experience – A hop-on, hop-off bus tour company in New Zealand for backpackers!
• Baz Bus – A hop on, hop off again bus tour company in South Africa for all travelers.
• New Europe – Free walking tours throughout Europe.
• Free Tours By Foot – Pay-what-you-like tours throughout Europe and the United States. They are one of my favorite free walking tour companies in the world!

THE #1 COMPANY FOR MULTI-DAY SMALL GROUP TOURS

When it comes to multi-day, multi-week tours (think trips through Morocco, sailing in the Galápagos, etc.), I highly recommend using Intrepid Travel .

Intrepid is my favorite and best small group tour operator out there! I really love their guides, their small groups, off-the-beaten-track itineraries, and their commitment to the local environment and community. I always have an incredible time on their tours. They are my favorite multi-day tour operator and the only one I use now (the picture at the top of this page is me on their Patagonia trip). Intrepid is environmentally friendly, uses local guides and transportation, doesn’t rush their tours, and are quite inexpensive. I don’t even consider anyone else when it comes to multi-day trips.

I love tours. They are a great way to meet people, get a local to add value and knowledge, and see places you can’t get to alone! I don’t take them often but I do take them. And, since I follow the above rules, I always have a good time. Some of my favorite travel memories were when I was on a group trip. If you follow my tips above, you’ll never go wrong either.

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9 Best Travel Companies That Specialize in Women-Only Tours for 2024

From active excursions to cultural immersions, the best travel groups for women offer a safe space to try new activities..

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Group travel can be a special experience no matter the tour company or destination. But for many women travelers, a tour designed just for them is often much more than just a memorable vacation. Women-only travel groups offer the chance to explore destinations with like-minded travelers and serve as safe spaces for trying new activities like whitewater rafting or rock climbing. They also tend to be great options for women who want to see the world but may not have a travel companion at the ready.

2024’s Best Tour Companies for Women and Women-Only Travel Groups

Tours that specialize in travel groups for women can include everything from cultural immersions and culinary tours to wine-focused itineraries and hiking and trekking tours all around the world. Some even offer experiences that wouldn’t be possible in mixed-gender groups. Here are the best travel groups and tour companies for female travelers.

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1. AdventureWomen

Since 1982, women’s only travel group AdventureWomen has offered tours that encourage female travelers to explore the world and experience different cultures in active and meaningful ways. The company offers almost 50 tours in more than 65 counties and is not simply one of the best travel groups for women, but one of the best overall tour companies in the world .

AdventureWomen’s tour guests run the gamut from solo travelers to women traveling together with friends to sisters, mother-daughter pairs , and more. These women-only tours take you to venues where trying new activities is encouraged, and they often include opportunities for cultural exchange with other women in the destinations visited, such as the chance to learn from female artisans or enjoy a meal in a local home.

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Popular women-only tours include a  Galapagos Islands wildlife cruise  by private yacht, a  journey along Croatia’s Dalmatian Coast , and a  wintertime tour of Iceland  to view the Northern Lights. Other tours bring you off the beaten path in locations as varied as Mongolia and Oman. Tour descriptions outline the activity level required for the itinerary and offer plenty of information on what to expect for accommodations during the tour.

The company’s women’s only tours include lodging, ground transportation, most meals and activities, guides, and some gratuities. AdventureWomen tour guides, called Managers, handle all of the details so you can focus on having fun. The small group sizes of 12 to 15 women allow for conversation and camaraderie. 

Quick Facts about Women-Only Tours with AdventureWomen

• Average guided tour group size: 12 to 15 women.
• Price range: Upscale (from about $4,500 to $6,500 a person).
• What’s included: Accommodations, most meals and activities, ground transportation during the tour, guides, and some gratuities.
• What’s not included: Pre- and post-trip transportation, alcoholic beverages, some gratuities, and some meals.
• Primary audience: Women travel groups.
• Destinations: The Americas, Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East.
• How to book: Nearly all of the company’s participants book directly with AdventureWomen , either by calling, filling out the online outreach form , or by clicking through directly from a tour description page.

2. Trafalgar

Led by an all-women team of travel directors, the women-only travel tours  offered by Trafalgar help female travelers forge connections whether you join the tour as a solo traveler or in the company of friends or family. The tour operator also provides roommate matching to help women traveling alone find a new friend to share a room with (and save a little money too).

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Popular women’s travel itineraries include  Highlights of Turkey , which features visits to landmarks like Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, and Istanbul’s Grand Bazaar; and  Best of Egypt , where you can enjoy a Nile cruise and a day exploring the Valley of the Kings. Trafalgar offers roughly a dozen female-only tours.

The company’s travel groups for women feature visits to female-owned businesses and other opportunities for you to learn from and talk with women in the destination. That might mean a dinner at farm in Ireland or Norway or a lesson in soap making from female artisans in Jordan. Local specialists add further cultural insight throughout the excursions.

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Tour prices include accommodations, transportation during the trip, and most meals and activities. You can also add on optional experiences to further explore a destination.

Quick Facts about Tours with Trafalgar’s Women-Only Travel Tours

• Average guided tour group size: 20 to 30 women.
• Price range: Moderate to Upscale (from about $1,800 to $5,580 per person).
• What’s included: Accommodations, transportation during the trip, most meals and activities, and some gratuities.
• What’s not included: Airfare, some meals, and optional experiences.
• Destinations: Europe, Africa, and the Middle East.
• How to Book: Directly through Trafalgar ; via Travelstride , Tourhub , or TourRadar , all of which are tour specialist online travel agencies (OTAs); or through a travel agent such as AAA .

3. Road Scholar

A longtime travel tour company that began as Elderhostel in 1975, Road Scholar offers educational travel opportunities geared mainly toward senior travelers . More than 60 percent of its tour participants are women, and between 25 and 30 percent of its tour-goers are solo travelers, among which an overwhelming number are are women. Some are widows; others are women whose partners aren’t interested in traveling.

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Road Scholar offers a handful of women-only wellness-focused experiences in  New Mexico ,  Arizona , and California . While most of its other tours aren’t female-only, women still enjoy the ability to safely travel as a solo participant and have Road Scholar tour guides lead the way. The company has a  Women of Road Scholar Facebook group  and a Facebook group for retired teachers  for virtual meet-ups and discussions of all things travel.

The company’s most popular tours for women include an excursion to Utah’s Grand Circle  , a nature-focused Costa Rica tour , a tour exploring the Civil Rights movement in Georgia and Alabama , and a  journey through New Mexico . Tours include all accommodations; most meals; expert-led lectures, field trips, and hands-on experiences; and transportation and gratuities.

Another plus? Participants receive coverage under the  Road Scholar Assurance Plan  that provides 24-hour assistance in the event of an emergency, as well as insurance for emergency medical evacuation. Road Scholar’s Travel Services Department can also book airfare for international tours, adding an additional level of convenience and ease for travelers.

Quick Facts about Tours with Road Scholar

• Average guided tour group size: 22 people.
• Price range: Budget to luxury (from about $699 to $21,999 per person).
• What’s included: Accommodations, most meals, expert-led experiences, transportation, gratuities, and the Road Scholar Assurance Plan coverage.
• What’s not included: Pre- and post-trip transportation.
• Primary audience: Lifelong learners over the age of 50, about 25-30% of which are solo travelers.
• Destinations: Europe, the Americas, Africa and the Middle East, Asia, Australia and South Pacific, and Antarctica.
• How to book: Directly through Road Scholar ; via Travelstride , a tour specialist OTA (online travel agent) that offers more than 1,500 Road Scholar trips; or through a travel agent such as AAA .

4. Adventures in Good Company

Women-owned and operated Adventures in Good Company has offered active travel groups for women since 1977. The company offers more than 100 adventure itineraries around the world catering to “women of all ages and life stages” and led by female wilderness guides. Travelers on these tours tend to be women ages 40 to 70, and many are solo travelers in search of adventure with similarly inclined female companions. About 60 percent of travelers each year are repeat guests. 

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The company’s tour offerings include a  Colorado horseback riding and hiking trip , a  tour of Guyana’s natural wonders , a  writing retreat with active elements in Maine , and an  excursion through Iceland . Tour descriptions provide information on the level of physical activity the trip will entail and answer common questions you might have about both the destination and the tour itself. 

These female-only tours average about 12 people, which allows Adventures in Good Company to foster authentic and fulfilling experiences. Prices include all lodging, meals, transportation during the tour, gear and equipment for the activities on the itinerary, and certified and experienced guides. 

Quick Facts about Women-Only Tours with Adventures in Good Company

• Average guided tour group size: 12 women.
• Price range: Budge to upscale (from about $1,595 to $7,395 per person).
• What’s included: Lodging, meals, transportation for the duration of the trip, experienced and certified guides, luggage transport, group gear, and equipment for activities.
• What’s not included: Pre- and post-trip transportation, alcoholic beverages, guide gratuities, and travel insurance.
• Destinations: The Americas, Africa, Asia, Europe, and New Zealand.
• How to book: The vast majority of travelers with Adventures in Good Company book directly through the company’s website .

5. Intrepid Travel’s Women’s Expeditions

Though not an exclusively women’s tour operator, Intrepid Travel first launched a limited number of women’s only travel groups in 2018. They were so popular that the company added more, and now its  Women’s Expeditions  help female travelers explore destinations as varied as  Peru ,  India ,  Morocco , and  Jordan . 

Local women tour leaders help you learn about female culture and daily life in these destinations off the usual tourist track in ways you might not be able to on a mixed-gender tour. Connections between women of different backgrounds are made while you learn how to prepare traditional Indian food during a home-cooking class in Jaipur, for example, or while observing female weavers creating colorful textiles in Peru. 

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Intrepid’s women-only travel tours average about 10 women per trip, and each tour description shares info on the kinds of immersive cultural experiences you will have on the trip. There’s also plenty of insight to help you determine if a tour is the right fit for you based on factors like the activity level and the local climate and terrain.

Around 65 percent of Intrepid’s guests are female overall, and about 60 percent of the company’s staff around the world are women. Female staffers are leading efforts within the company, like its climate commitment plan and diversity initiatives, that aim to make travel more inclusive and sustainable and empower women both within and outside of the company.

Quick Facts about Tours with Intrepid’s Women’s Expeditions

• Average guided tour group size: 10 women.
• Price range: Budget to Moderate (from about $925 to $2,840 per person)
• What’s included: Accommodations, tour activities, most meals, and transportation during the tour.
• What’s not included: Airfare and mandatory travel insurance.
• Destinations: Iran, Peru, India, Morocco, and Jordan.
• How to book: Directly through Intrepid ; via Travelstride , Tourhub , or TourRadar , all of which are tour specialist OTAs that offer hundreds of Intrepid trips; or through a travel agent such as AAA .

6. Wild Women Expeditions

For more than 30 years, Wild Women Expeditions has been helping female travelers get out into the wild and enjoy the natural world. Tours are offered in more than 30 countries on all seven continents and include environmental education and community projects to give back to the destinations visited. An active  Facebook group  of more than 25,000 participants helps women stay connected and discuss their favorite travel topics before and after trips.

The female-founded women’s travel tour company not only helps women travelers see the world, but it also employs women as tour leaders and in-destination guides. Additionally, Wild Women Expeditions chooses lodging, dining spots, and experiences owned or run by female entrepreneurs or women-led cooperatives on the itineraries. The company’s  beginner-friendly Baja kayaking adventure  in Mexico ranks as its most popular tour and tends to sell out. Other much-loved tours include a  two-week journey through Morocco  (including a camel ride), a  horseback-riding tour in the Golden Circle of Southern Iceland , and an  Inca Trail trek to Machu Picchu .

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Wild Women Expeditions also offers  excursions to the Arctic and Antarctica  in partnership with Adventure Canada and Quark Expeditions . While these specific expeditions are not 100 percent female-only, the women’s only travel groups from Wild Women Expeditions do partake in some experiences exclusive to them on these cruises.

All of these women-only travel tours include accommodations, most meals, one or two female guides (depending on tour size), safety equipment and gear for all activities, ground transport, and park/temple entrance fees. Tour descriptions include an FAQ page and an “Is this trip right for me?” section outlining the physical requirements needed to enjoy the experience. The minimum age to book is 18 years old, but girls ages 15 to 17 may accompany a paying adult for a mother-daughter experience.

Quick Facts about Women-Only Tours with Wild Women Expeditions

• Average guided tour group size: 6 to 12 women.
• Price range: Moderate to Upscale (from about $2,795 to $3,995 per person); Arctic/Antarctic experiences are more expensive.
• What’s included: Lodging, most meals, female guides, gear and safety equipment for activities, ground transportation, and park/temple entrance fees.
• What’s not included: Airfare and gratuities.
• Destinations: All seven continents.
• How to book: Directly via the Wild Women Expeditions website .

7. Women Traveling Together

Founded in 1997, Women Traveling Together specializes in solo travel opportunities for women. Tours offer built-in companionship and a safe and supportive environment for female travelers to explore destinations in the Americas, Europe, Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and Antarctica. And the formula works, as more than 500 repeat customers have taken 10 tours or more with Women Traveling Together, according to the company.

Though tour-goers tend to be in the 45 to 75 age range, female travelers of all ages are welcome, and Women Traveling Together does not specifically identify itself as a senior travel provider. The company’s  “We’re Not for Everyone” page  on its website stresses how tour participants need to be nimble, flexible, have a sense of adventure, and be physically fit enough to keep up on foot and handle their own luggage.

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Women Traveling Together offers more than 100 tours a year. Its U.S. national parks tours are popular options where you can explore sites like Bryce Canyon and Zion National Parks and Death Valley National Park. New experiences are added to its tour calendar often. Recent additions for 2024 include Portland and the Oregon Coast , Montreal and Quebec City , and walking in Vermont . International excursions include women-only tours of  Ireland ,  Switzerland , and  London and Paris .

Groups tend to be about 20 women or less, and tours include all meals and activities on the itinerary, plus a Women Traveling Together tour leader, gratuities for local guides, and shared lodging with another solo traveler. Becoming a Women Traveling Together member  provides access to member pricing for tours, an online directory of other members passionate about travel, and WTT’s member magazine.

Quick Facts about Tours with Women Traveling Together

• Average guided tour group size: 10 to 22 women.
• Price range: Moderate to Uupscale (from the high $2,000s to the mid $5,000s per person).
• What’s included: Shared lodging with another solo traveler, all meals and activities on the itinerary, tour leader, and gratuities for local guides.
• What’s not included: Pre- and post-tour airfare, airport transfers, luggage handling during tours, tour leader gratuities, and travel insurance.
• Primary audience: Solo women travelers.
• Destinations: The Americas, Europe, Asia, Middle East, Africa, and Antarctica.
• How to book: Directly via the Women Traveling Together website .

8. Canyon Calling Adventures for Women

Offering small group tours for women for more than two decades, Canyon Calling understands that something special happens when women come together to share a travel experience. Whether it’s moms in need of a break from the daily grind, solo female travelers looking for companionship, or women interested in trying new activities in a non-competitive way, participants in these travel groups for women tend to forge bonds while seeing the world in the company of other women.

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Canyon Calling’s tours for women travel throughout the North America, Central America, South America, Europe, Africa, and New Zealand, and incorporate the local culture through learning experiences and other activities. The company’s American Southwest tours are always a favorite, like  an excursion around Sedona , with lots of hiking plus massages for tired muscles; the  “Desert Dreams” tour  through California and Nevada; or a  trip around Northern New Mexico  that includes visits to hot springs, galleries, and ancient ruins. Other tours take you to locations like  Costa Rica ,  Panama ,  Norway , and  Alaska .

Tour prices include van transportation during the trip, lodging, meals and nonalcoholic beverages, activities and permits/passes, guides, and gratuities. Canyon Calling’s  FAQs page  answers questions about everything from required fitness levels to packing tips.

Quick Facts about Tours with Canyon Calling Adventures for Women

• Average guided tour group size: 8 women.
• Price range: Moderate to upscale (from about $1,695 to $6,495 per person).
• What’s included: Lodging, van transportation during the trip, meals and nonalcoholic beverages, activities and permits/passes, guides, and gratuities.
• What’s not included: Airfare, alcoholic beverages (unless included on an itinerary), and optional trip leader gratuity.
• Destinations: The Americas, Europe, Africa, and New Zealand.
• How to book: Directly via the Canyon Calling website .

9. REI Women’s Adventures

REI has been providing gear and advice for outdoorsy types since 1938. And with Women’s Adventures from REI , they’re also providing women-only backpacking, hiking, kayaking, biking, and rafting trips around the United States. All-female guides lead small travel groups for women who want to connect with nature and each other without having to handle all the planning details themselves.

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Tour descriptions detail the activity level of a tour, the kinds of accommodations to expect, the gear needed (and any provided), and the weather in the destination. REI members  get access to discounted tour prices, and you’re connected with a female Trip Specialist after booking a trip, who can answer any remaining questions you have. 

Among the tours offered are a  backpacking excursion of Joshua Tree National Park , a  hiking and camping adventure at Pinnacles National Park , and a  backpacking trip on the Grand Canyon’s North Rim . REI’s women-only tours include guides, meals, group gear, transportation during the tour, and accommodations, plus access to national parks.

But you won’t be totally roughing it. Morning coffee is brought to the tents each day during the  Bryce Canyon hiking and camping trip , for example, and there’s also a relaxing outdoor yoga session during the tour.

Quick Facts about Tours with REI’s Women’s Adventures

• Average guided tour group size: 16 women or fewer.
• Price range: Moderate to upscale (from about $999 to $3,400 per person)
• What’s included: Accommodations (often camping tents), guides, meals, group gear, and transportation during the tour.
• What’s not included: Airfare, airport transfers, insurance of any kind, guide gratuities, and personal gear.
• Primary audience: Active women.
• Destinations: Areas within the United States.
• How to Book: Directly via the REI Adventures website .

Whether you’re looking for a tour that hits city sights or goes deep into nature, there’s likely a women-only tour option. And like all tours, price varies wildly depending on accommodations, style of travel (luxury, budget, etc.), modes of transportation, and number of meals included. But what unites all women-only tours is the chance for women to travel together in a supportive, supported environment.

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Best Tour Companies for Singles

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Ligaya Malones is an editor, blogger, and freelance writer specializing in food and travel. Ligaya's work has appeared in publications including Lonely Planet and BRIDES.

We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Learn more .

A recent study showed that the solo travel industry is projected to experience a significant influx in the upcoming years. Whether you want to experience a solo adventure, see the world at your own convenience, or hope to meet new people along the way, there’s always something worthwhile about traveling by yourself. 

Luckily, there are plenty of travel companies that cater to solo travelers to make planning stress-free. Below, we’ve rounded up some of the best companies for every budget and travel preference to support your wanderlust—including our top picks for women-only and solo parent travel.

8 Best Tour Companies for Singles of 2024

• Best Experience: Exodus Travels
• Best for Ages 35-50: El Camino Travel
• Best Sustainable: G Adventures
• Best for True Solo Travel: Black Tomato
• Best for Ages 25-39: For The Love of Travel
• Best for 50+: Overseas Adventure Travel Rates
• Best Female: Wild Women Expeditions
• Best for Solo Parent Travel: Intrepid Travel

Best Experience : Exodus Travels

Courtesy of Exodus Travels

Traveling solo on an Exodus Travels group trip means access to self-guided and guided excursions around the world for every type of traveler. Choose a walking wine holiday in Portugal or explore Egypt via cruise boat and sleeper train, for example. Additionally, its Exodus Edits collection offers shorter itineraries of up to five days and is geared towards travelers in their 30s and 40s—though they’re ideal for anyone looking for more vigorous activity such as ziplining and surfing in Costa Rica or sampling street eats and beach hopping in Sicily. 

There is no single supplement fee when you room with a fellow traveler, and chances are you may end up with your own room anyway. Booking a travel itinerary with UK-based Exodus Travels includes a full refund should the company need to cancel your trip and a complimentary trip transfer to another tour or different person up to 21 days before the scheduled trip. Plus, travelers who book their third or more trips with Exodus receive a 5 percent discount on their next booking.

What’s more, the company works to curate trips that align with a number of United Nations sustainable development goals including goals for responsible consumption and production, empowering local communities, and climate action considerations. Exodus Travels (founded in 1974) was awarded Best Operator in National Geographic Traveller’s sixth annual Reader Awards in 2021.

Best for Ages 35-50 : El Camino Travel

Courtesy of Encounter Travel

According to El Camino Travel ’s founder, Katalina Mayorga, elder millennials are their strongest customer base. That means if you were born between 1980 and 1985 approximately, you’ll find yourself among curious, like-minded solo travelers looking to immerse themselves in destinations like Trinidad and Tobago, Colombia, and the Eastern European nation of Georgia. Some trips even add a professional photographer to capture shareable shots so you can remain in the moment.

All of El Camino’s guided, small group trips max out at 12 participants. They’re also curated with an ethos of preserving and protecting local culture, the environment, and communities. For example, some of their partners include the Environmental Research Institute Charlotteville in Tobago and La Sierra Artist Residency in Santa Marta, Colombia.

Best Sustainable : G Adventures

Courtesy of Intrepid Travel

G Adventures is particularly known for its sustainable, responsible ethos. The company works with small, locally-owned hotels and operators to ensure your travel dollars benefit the community you’re visiting; outlines policies around child and animal welfare practices; aims to reduce single-use plastics, and works to ensure experiences taking place in Indigenous communities align with community goals.

Founded in 1990, G Adventures specializes in small group adventure tours to a host of destinations from Asia to South America and Africa to the Arctic. Nearly half of the travelers on every trip are flying solo, and there’s no single supplement if you choose to bunk with a same-sex roommate. Or, select your own room for a fee. 

A Chief Experience Officer leads each group tour and itineraries are searchable by travel style. For example, find wellness-centric trips like nine days of daily yoga, visits to Hindu temples, and partake in traditional healing ceremonies in Bali. Or travel with their partner, National Geographic, for an exclusive guided tour of South Africa’s Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden and a visit to Soweto township in Johannesburg, the home of Nelson Mandela. 

G Adventures partnered with hostel booking service Hostelworld in 2021 to launch its Roamies itineraries. Its combination of backpacking and organized travel itineraries includes countries like Albania, Mexico, the Netherlands, and Vietnam. The trips are marketed to 18- to 35-year-olds, though like-minded individuals keen on budget travel and communal environments may enjoy these trips, too.

Best for True Solo Travel : Black Tomato

Courtesy of G Adventures

Black Tomato specializes in bespoke luxury travel experiences. For those interested in traversing around the world solo and willing to pay a premium for tailored itineraries, its adventurous or culturally immersive experiences may just be your ticket.

Your travels might look like hiking and biking in Patagonia, embarking on a spiritual pilgrimage through Bhutan and India, chasing glaciers and geysers in Iceland, or learning to cook Georgia and Armenia’s local dishes or Japan’s regional cuisine.

In 2017, Black Tomato launched its Get Lost adventure travel experience. With the support of a dedicated team, and without prior knowledge of where they're headed, Get Lost participants will find their way home from an undisclosed location. The location is selected based on a pre-travel questionnaire about which environment clients would like to immerse themselves in. Then, they show up at the airport and the adventure begins.

Best for Ages 25-39 : For The Love of Travel

Courtesy of Contiki

With 80 percent of individuals traveling with For The Love of Travel jet -setting solo, each trip is packed with opportunities to meet fellow Millennial and Gen Z travel enthusiasts. For example, within your small “crew” of up to 14 people, make new friends doing snow sports and unwinding in saunas in Lapland or devouring tacos and sipping mezcal in Mexico City. Trips range from four to nine days, including weekends in Colorado’s Rocky Mountain wilderness or an extended weekend in Costa Rica where you’ll hike through rainforests, relax in hammocks, and hike, bike, or surf.

According to company feedback, the average FTLOT traveler is 30 years old and interested in meeting new people while traveling . The company bills itself as a mid-range travel company, where “​​we might stay in a more basic hotel for a couple of nights so we can include a Michelin-worthy meal and a private catamaran ride.” 

In 2022, FTLOT plans to offer at least 10 new itineraries including to Belize, Turkey, and Spain’s Basque Country. And for those with the flexibility, the company launched Sojrn in 2021 featuring month-long, themed stays in destinations like Cape Town—focused on biodiversity—and a fashion-oriented stay in Paris.

FTLOT requires an initial deposit and allows installment payments if not paid in full.

Best for 50+ : Overseas Adventure Travel Rates

Courtesy Flash Pack

Overseas Adventure Travel is primarily aimed at American travelers aged 50 and over. It offers guided itineraries to worldwide destinations, including Africa, Antarctica, Asia, and the South Pacific, with trips ranked by activity level and accompanied by a list of physical requirements to help select an itinerary that is best suited for you. For example, their Japan and South Korea itinerary advise that participants be able to carry their own luggage as the selected hotels do not have porter service.

Some of Overseas Adventure Travel’s most popular trips include 17 days of wending the Adriatic from Croatia to Bosnia and Herzegovina (think a walking tour in Dubrovnik, sampling traditional Bosnian food in Sarajevo, and exploring the countryside near Zagreb). On another popular trip, you spend 15 days traveling through Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia, ending in Helsinki, Finland. All trips offer pre-and post-itinerary extensions, and either waive the single supplement entirely or offer a discount on a private room.

The company offers a free Roommate Matching Program which helps you find a like-minded, same-sex roommate. If they can’t find a match, your single supplement is deducted. Small group sizes typically average 13 travelers.

Overseas Adventure Travel won the Solo Travel Award for Best Tour in 2017 and 2018, thanks in large part to its policy of offering a limited number of single spaces for each itinerary.

Best Female : Wild Women Expeditions

Courtesy of Overseas Adventure Travel

It began as an all-women, Canada-based canoe tripping company in 1991, and Wild Women Expeditions is perfect for boundary-pushing women who want to travel independently and enjoy the safety and support of an organized tour. The company also prioritizes hiring female tour leaders and on-the-ground guides. It offers outdoor adventures for women of all ages and identities and with a range of physical abilities (“whether your greatest skill is tracking a storm or talking up a storm, summiting mountains or summoning courage, keeping your kayak in line or coloring outside the lines,” as the company describes).

The company travels to 31 destinations around the world like Egypt, Tanzania, and the Azores islands. Itineraries are typically adventure-based and are filtered on their website by activity, with options ranging from sailing to cycling and horse riding. Imagine yourself sea kayaking and snorkeling in the Galapagos or scaling glaciers in Alaska. 

Most guests are solo travelers and there’s no single supplement to worry about as accommodation is typically in a shared room or cabin. Though if privacy is a priority, you can usually snag your own room for a nominal extra fee. Group sizes are kept small and social with between six and 14 women, depending on the itinerary you choose. The average group size is eight. 

Wild Women Expeditions also takes care to curate trips that avoid or minimize the disturbance of wildlife; supports environmental education and advocacy projects; and partners with social justice and women’s rights organizations.

Want to take a look at some other options? See our guide to the best women-only adventure travel companies .

Best for Solo Parent Travel : Intrepid Travel

Courtesy of Wild Women Expeditions

Intrepid ’s family-themed holidays welcome adults traveling with children, including solo parents looking to travel with their kids without the stress of planning and coordinating a trip. Since each family’s travel needs and preferences are different, every itinerary includes an “essential trip information” section where Intrepid outlines whether the trip would be a good fit for you and your kids, as well as a physical rating from least to more strenuous activities. 

For example, an itinerary through part of the Amazon Jungle in Peru advises the jungle can be very hot and humid, and that the weather can be unpredictable in the Andes. On the other hand, an 11-day trip to Borneo island in Southeast Asia lists a minimum age of 5 and outlines a range of accommodations from hotels to guesthouses and jungle camps; on a few occasions, travel times between destinations range between four to five hours. Trips to Costa Rica, Tanzania, China, and Morocco are also listed.

Individuals under 17 years typically receive a 10 percent discount, and the company requires that adults have at least one child under 18 years traveling with them. As part of Intrepid’s commitment to responsible travel, itineraries support initiatives surrounding sustainability and conservation, climate education, and preservation of Indigenous culture.  

Mathieu Young / Getty Images

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Best travel groups to join

Interest in travel groups is booming , especially among the new generations; They are a great option for people to make new friends, discover fascinating places, have their travel planning taken care of and go on a trip even if they don’t have anyone to travel with.

While we love solo travel, group tours offer many advantages such as:

• Sharing costs and avoiding the single supplement
• Have a host/guide that takes care of everything during the trip
• The convenience of having everything planned out for you
• Help keeping safe
• The opportunity to visit destinations that may be hard, expensive or challenging solo
• Make new friends who share a love for travel

There are thousands of groups for travel out there, and sometimes loads of options can be overwhelming and confusing. This is why we’ve narrowed it down to this list of the best. 

Besides regular travel groups, we’ve also included niche and specific options that specialize in a certain travel style, age range or community. This is the only travel group list you need.

• 1 Women-only travel groups
• 2 Mixed gender travel groups 
• 3 Adventure travel groups
• 4 Mature & senior travel groups
• 5 Educational travel groups
• 6 Boutique/niche travel groups
• 7 Black travel groups
• 8 LGBT+ travel groups
• 9 Groups to find travel buddies
• 10 Facebook travel groups

Women-only travel groups

Travel groups for women who want to travel solo, but in a group. Small group trips are a safe, affordable and convenient way to visit challenging destinations or to test solo travel in a predefined way.

Traveling with a group of like-minded women means a group of new travel friends and the beginning of genuine connections and long lasting friendships. 

Here are our recommendations for the best women travel groups out there.

Solo Female Travelers 

Join us in bucket list destinations and unusual places for life changing connections with local women, great food & wine, fabulous company, culture, nature, wildlife and so much more! 

Our trips are designed by women, for women and are led by women. We offer a range of luxury, personally curated experiences that have all the ingredients of a well-deserved vacation and adventure expeditions to unheard of places.

What sets us apart from all other group travel companies is that our tours are focused on women; we provide employment opportunities to women in the destinations we visit, we engage them in conversations about women’s rights and learn more about a country through the eyes of their women. We believe that the best path to peace and understanding is through building bridges between cultures and do that on all our trips.

For that extra something, many of our female travel tours are accompanied by our photographer to capture unforgettable moments and candid instants that will stay with you.

Come solo and we’ll pair you with another traveler or book with a friend, and get ready to have an unforgettable experience. These are the places we take you to – click on the image to see the detailed itinerary.

Mixed gender travel groups 

If you’re longing for a group vacation but less concerned about connecting with local women, in this section we will suggest group travel companies that offer a wide range of options for all ages and genders. 

These travel groups accept female and male guests, with a mix of solo travelers, couples and families, so they’re great for meeting people . These tour companies guarantee an exciting and fun holiday abroad. Take a look!

Contiki is a tour company that focuses on social travel, that is, people traveling together to make memories. 

They offer group trips all around the world, great for people from 18-35 years old. Almost 60% of their travelers are solo, so it’s perfect for meeting people, making friends and creating meaningful connections abroad if you are in your younger years.

All the tours are culturally immersive led by expert guides, and center on exploring new places without hassle. They have everything from short trips, festivals, hiking, ski & snowboarding, to island hopping and safari tours. 

Most of their tours have a lot of in-built free time and some meals so make sure you look at the inclusions carefully to estimate extra expenditure.

Their most popular trips are: Egypt & the Nile, Ireland and East Africa Safari. 

• Who’s Contiki for: 18-35 years old travelers who want all the planning sorted out
• Destinations: More than 350 trips across 6 continents
• Duration: short trips of a few days up to 4+ week trips 
• Group size: they have trips with 15 people or less, trips with 16-30 people and trips with 30+ people 
• Single supplement: They pair you up with a roomie. If you want a private room for yourself, they can arrange it for a small supplement

Exodus Travels offers unique tour experiences such as cycling in Croatia or hiking in Morocco, that guarantee you’ll have the best time and share memorable moments with like-minded people in whatever activity level you choose: leisurely, moderate or challenging. 

Compare the tours and find the one that matches your interests. Have a detox of the ordinary and make the most of your singles vacation going to a bucket list trip like Pyramids and Pharaohs in Egypt, Cabernet and Capers in South Africa or Street food and Sunshine in Sicily. 

• Who’s Exodus for: adventurous people who like unique experiences 
• Destinations: More than 100 countries across 6 continents
• Duration: from 3-23 days
• Group size: 8-16 people
• Single supplement: Their tours have no single supplements as they will put you in a shared room with a fellow traveler of the same gender. Occasionally, you may end up with your own room

A UK adventure travel company, Explore creates unforgettable experiences for small groups and were recommended by members of our community. 

They have a wide variety of tours including the classic ‘Discovery’ tours, walking holidays, cycling trips or solo holidays. They also have unique special tours like Polar trips. Some of their bestsellers are: Costa Rica wildlife tour, Cycle Turkey trip and Maldive cruise. 

• Who’s Explore for: travelers looking for adventure and fun
• Duration: from 4-19 days
• Group size: average is 12 people
• Single supplement: As a single traveler you won’t have to pay any extra charges for traveling alone. A twin room is included in their trip price and they will pair you with another individual of the same sex. You can opt to pay a single room supplement, available on most of their tours

Solos Holidays

With more than 40 years of experience, Solos Holidays is a tour company that hosts especially crafted holidays designed for single and solo travelers. 

They focus on creating sociable experiences where one can travel independently, but with the convenience of traveling in a group and having a tour leader. 

In order to appeal to a wider range of travelers, they have many holiday types with specific activities that match almost any interest. There are solo travel groups for the active which include activities such as hiking, cycling, water sports, yoga, golf, whale watching. They also have ClubSolos which is an exclusive tour in luxurious accommodation.

• Who’s Solos Holidays for: independent travelers seeking the support of traveling in a group
• Destinations: more than 45 countries in all of the 7 continents
• Duration: from 7-14 days
• Group size: average size is 15, but can be up to 20 or 30 people, depending on holiday type
• Single supplement: there are no single supplements on all of their holidays

Adventure travel groups

Feeling bold and brave? Join one of these adventure travel groups. 

The companies in this section specialize in outdoor intrepid holidays and will make sure you have the time of your life while making new friends and staying safe.

You don’t have to be super fit or have the best physical condition to join one of these tours. There are tours with different activity levels, look for the one that suits you best.

Mt Sobek 

It all started in 1969 with their first Everest Base Camp trek. MT Sobek creates small group adventure travel vacations with unique itineraries. They have a wide range of trips with more than 150 in different categories such as trekking, hiking, safaris, rafting, kayaking, cruising and cultural voyages. 

They were recognized as a preferred travel outfitter by Smithsonian Journey and the New York Times Journeys. 

• Who’s MT Sobek for: adventurous travelers who enjoy outdoor activities
• Destinations: more than 60 countries
• Duration: from 4-15 days 
• Group size: fewer than 10 people per group
• Single supplement: if you’re comfortable sharing your room with a same-gender roommate, you pay no single supplement through their Single-Share Program. If you want a private room, you do pay a low single supplement

Duvine is an international adventure company that specializes in cycling tours around the world. Their bike tours offer much more than cycling; they involve the local culture, culinary experiences (including wonderful local wines!), luxurious accommodation and passionate people to connect with. 

Duvine provides top-quality bikes and all the necessary gear to explore the world by bike. Their most popular bike trips are in Tuscany, Provence and Mallorca.  

• Who’s Duvine for: travelers who like biking and cultural & culinary experiences
• Destinations: 30 countries across Europe, Latin America, US and Africa 
• Duration: from 4-8 days 
• Group size: up to 14 people
• Single supplement: their bike tours are priced based on double occupancy. If you ask the tour coordinator, they can pair you with another solo traveler in order to waive the single supplement

Recreational Equipment, Inc (REI) was founded in 1938 and has been one of the top outdoor companies in the world. Best known for selling outdoor gear and apparel, REI hosts exciting outdoor adventure tours throughout the US. Activities on the trips include hiking, backpacking, cycling, kayaking, mountain biking, and rafting.

In REI Adventure trips you can discover places like a local, explore at your own pace and eat delicious food. REI also makes uniquely crafted women’s adventures . Some of their best selling trips are: Yosemite Hiking and Camping, Grand Canyon Backpacking, and Alaska Cycling.

• Who’s REI for: travelers who love outdoor adventures
• Destinations: 6 national parks and 8 states across the US
• Duration: short trips are 4 days or less, the rest are from 5 to 13 days 
• Group size: 4-16 people
• Single supplement: prices are based on double occupancy. If you request single accommodation, you will be asked to pay the single supplement fee

Mature & senior travel groups

Mature adults and seniors are an important and growing segment in the travel industry and according to a US study , by 2025, seniors will be traveling more than ever before and should account for 13 percent of all international travel. 

If that’s you, you are in luck because more and more travel companies are ready to cater to your needs. Here are some good senior travel groups options.

Expat Explore

Founded in 2005 by two South African travelers, Expat Explore specializes in coach tours mainly in Europe and the UK, but also offers travel experiences in USA and Canada, Asia, Africa, the Middle East and South America. Expat Explore was recommended by many members of our community. 

They’re known for covering the highlights as well as the hidden gems of a destination, in a very convenient and affordable way. Their coach tours are most aimed at adults and seniors and there’s a wide variety of options: from those trips that cover many countries in a few days, to those which explore the region more in-depth. The tour prices include accommodation, transport, and many meals. 

Their most popular trips are Greece, Turkey & Croatia, Egypt and Eastern Europe. 

• Who’s Expat Explore for: adults looking to travel affordably and comfortably in a group
• Destinations: more than 50 tour packages across Europe, UK, USA, Canada, Africa, Asia, Middle East and South America
• Duration: from 5-26 days
• Group size: 40-50 people
• Single supplement: they pair-up solo travelers of the same gender in twin-share rooms, and if you prefer to have your own room, they have that option available at an affordable  extra cost

Rick Steves 

American Rick Steves is an expert in European travel and has a best-seller guidebook series, a TV show, a radio show and a travel column. 

His company gives tours throughout Europe and focuses on fun, affordable and culturally broadening trips. Some tours have a large group size, while others limit to small groups. His travel groups were recommended by members of our Facebook group.  

Some of their top sellers tours are Heart of Italy, Best of the Adriatic and Best of Scotland. 

• Who’s Rick Steves for: people looking to immerse culturally in a European country
• Destinations: more than 20 countries in Europe
• Duration: from 7-21 days
• Group size: 24-28 people
• Single supplement: they offer solo travelers the option  to  either  share a room with another  solo  tour member of the same sex  or  pay a single supplement to secure a private room

Overseas Adventure Travel

Established in 1978, Overseas Adventure Travel (O.A.T) is the first US travel company to offer adventure trips to travelers aged 50 and over. Their tours specialize in providing travelers an active experience in exotic places, without losing the comfort and service components. They offer adventures by land and by small ships. 

O.A.T travel groups are ideal for adult & senior solo travelers, according to their stats : 46% of all O.A.T. travelers join the company as solos— which has increased significantly from 44% in 2015 and 27% in 2010. Also, 85% of O.A.T.’s solo travelers are women who travel solo regardless of their marital status.

Their most popular tour destinations are Morocco, Iceland and Botswana on safari. 

• Who’s O.A.T. for: adults & seniors who want to travel off the beaten path in a small group
• Destinations: more than 70 countries across the globe
• Duration: from 5-30 days
• Group size: 8-16 people in tours by land and 20-25 people aboard ship tours
• Single supplement: 92% of their single spaces are free on all 2022 adventures. The remaining 8% have low single supplements. They also offer free single supplements on every trip extension and stopover

Insight Vacations

Travel in style with Insight Vacations , a tour company that creates premium small group trips in outstanding destinations. Their trips are fancier than most tour companies and offer stylish accommodation, fine dining, and unique experiences. 

Insight Vacations have out of the box experiences in many of their tours like Twirling on the dance floor in Vienna, savoring Egyptian sun bread in a local village and learning about Oyster farms in Croatia.

Their top destinations are Croatia, Switzerland and Italy.  

• Who’s Insight Vacations for: travelers looking for unique experiences in a premium tour
• Destinations: Europe, Britain & Ireland, Americas, Asia, North Africa
• Group size: 12-40 people
• Single supplement: many of their tours have a solo traveler supplement discount, from 15% to 100% off. Find the deals here

Educational travel groups

Who says going on a trip means laziness and not being productive? This is a huge myth about traveling , and these tour companies prove it. 

Make your next trip a worthwhile vacation by learning deeply about the culture and history of a destination, or learning a new skill like cooking or painting. Take a look at these companies that create memorable educational holidays.

Road scholar 

Road Scholar states that they are “a diverse community of knowledge seekers and explorers, united in the belief that lifelong learning is a vital part of overall wellbeing”. 

They specialize in learning trips for people of 40+ years old and, according to their PR Director, Kelsey Knoedler, almost 30% of their travelers in 2021 came solo and 80% of them were women. 

They have a massive variety of destinations, travel styles and trip lengths. Immerse yourself in the Latin American ambience going on their South American Odyssey (Brazil, Argentina, Chile and Peru), discover Morocco in their Melting Pot of Cultures, or dive into the Cultural Highlights of Japan. 

This is a very unique way to have a single holiday, focused on learning about the destinations, connecting with new people, and making the best of your vacation. 

• Who’s Road Scholar for: intellectually curious travelers
• Destinations: more than 100 countries across the Americas, Europe, Australia, Asia, Africa and Antarctica
• Duration: short trips from 2-6 days and longer tours from 6-29 days
• Group size: 10-24 people
• Single supplement: they offer a roommate option to avoid paying a full single supplement

Flavours Holidays

Created in 1998, Flavours Holidays gives unique learning tours for solo travelers: quality cooking, painting, pilates, language and photography holidays. 

All the trip destinations are picturesque sites in Italy, Spain and the UK, where guests can learn from passionate chefs and experienced tutors. All their tours are custom-made for solo travelers, with over 70% of their guests coming without a travel partner. 

Our top pick is the cooking holiday in Italy, they have options in many Italian sites: Tuscany, Puglia, Amalfi, Venice, Bologna and Sicily. 

Other great options for your singles holiday can be a painting tour in Andalusia, Spain or in the Scottish Highlands. These holidays are perfect for singles over 40 who want to learn something new while discovering places and cultures.  

• Who’s Flavours Holidays for: people who want to learn a new skill while traveling
• Destinations: Italy, Spain, UK
• Duration: 4-8 days 
• Group size: 8-10 people
• Single supplement: they don’t charge single supplements, so you can have a comfy room for yourself

EF (Educational First) is a well known company that focuses on student travel. Their trips promise to widen student’s perspectives through experiential learning. Expert educators and teachers lead each tour, and EF works hard to ensure safe travel for all students. 

EF has a wide variety of tour types and destinations, which give students the opportunity to immerse themselves culturally and have life-changing experiences. Discover the Galapagos Islands or taste traditional Italian cuisine, or choose another adventure from their exciting itineraries.

• Who’s EF for: students or solo travelers looking for a cultural travel experience
• Destinations: 40+ countries across Americas, Europe, Africa, Asia
• Duration: 7-32 days 
• Group size: 14-38 people
• Single supplement: If you wish to have a single room, a single room supplement will be charged

Boutique/niche travel groups

Whether you want to see a destination through a professional photographer’s eyes or have an active fitness holiday, these niche travel groups craft exciting tours. Check them out! 

Under30Experiences

Founded in 2012 in the US, Under30Experiences makes travel accessible for young people with a focus on Millennial travel on a budget.

U30X’s adventures are small groups aimed at people from 21-35 years. These travel groups are very focused on solo travelers (more than 70% come solo), so they make it easy for you to make new friends from the start. They also provide optional experiences if you wish to try new things, or you can always opt out and explore at your own pace.

Whether you want to explore Petra in Jordan, kayak in Greece, or hike in New Zealand, Under 30 Experiences has a wide variety of trips to choose from.

• Who’s U30X for: young vibrant travelers from 21-35
• Destinations: 20+ trips across 6 continents
• Duration: 4-11 days 
• Group size: up to 16 travelers
• Single supplement: they don’t charge single supplements, as they pair you up with a roommate

Fit & Fly retreats

Founded by attorney and travel writer Rebecca, Fit & Fly offers fitness, wellness and cultural retreats in beautiful locations. They empower women to take special care of themselves and make meaningful connections with other women. 

If you want to workout and get a vacation at the same time, this is the travel company for you. The retreats include stylish accommodation, fitness classes, delicious eats, wellness activities, spa experiences, cultural excursions and more. You don’t have to be super fit or be great at workouts to join, Fit & Fly has a supportive environment and instructors that tailor workouts to be challenging but doable, depending on the person’s capabilities.

Their top retreat destinations are Bali, Dubai and Maldives, with a few more exotic places to choose from. 

• Who’s Fit & Fly for: women who want to take care of themselves in a wellness retreat
• Destinations: Palm Springs, French Riviera, Ibiza, Iceland, Tuscany, Dubai & Abu Dhabi, Maldives, Bali
• Duration: 5-7 days 
• Group size: 12-20 women
• Single supplement: a single supplement is charged if you want a private single room

Black travel groups

These travel groups offer fabulous experiences specially designed for the Black community. Make new friends, have a blast and explore destinations surrounded by an amazing group of people.

Wind Collective

Wind Collective is a global travel company that combines adventure and creativity. They host monthly group travel experiences for those travelers who are curious and brave enough to explore the world creatively. 

All of their tours are immersive experiences in fascinating destinations, curated by the creative team in partnership with local businesses and with a healthy dose of music and creative endeavors including dynamic photoshoots and Give back sessions. 

• Who’s Wind Collective for: curious travelers who love to try new things from local culture
• Destinations: Cuba, Colombia, Morocco, Los Angeles, Sri Lanka, Ghana, Bulgaria, Brazil, South Africa, Jordan, Dubai, South Korea, Bali
• Duration: 4-9 days 
• Group size: 8-12 people 
• Single supplement: no single supplement for solo travelers as they will be paired with another solo traveler in double accommodation. There’s an additional charge only if they request a private single room

LGBT+ travel groups

Have a trip of a lifetime in a tour specially curated for and by LGBT+ community members. These companies host incredible trips and make sure you feel safe and welcome as a LGBT+ traveler.

Out Adventures

Founded in 2009, Out Adventures creates small group experiences for the gay community around the world. They have an expert team that takes care of everything including how to navigate local customs and attitudes towards the LGBT community. 

Their carefully made itineraries include local restaurants, authentic experiences, boutique hotels and friendly partners, who make members of the LBGT community feel truly welcomed. 

Out Adventure’s small group tours offer a balance between time to explore the destination’s highlights and time for guests to enjoy on their own.

• Who’s Out Adventures for: Gay community travelers looking for unique experiences
• Destinations: 40+ countries across 6 continents 
• Duration: 4-12 days 
• Group size: up to 16 people, cruises up to 40 people
• Single supplement: they pair you with another solo traveler in double-bed rooms. If you want your own room, you have to pay a single supplement

Outstanding Travel

Outstanding Travel is an Israel-based group travel company that hosts Mediterranean LGBTQ+ adventures especially for gay travelers. Their tours immerse in rich history and culture, culinary experiences, and the LGBTQ+ scene. 

All their travel groups have a tailor made approach and promise an unforgettable cultural experience involving beaches, fabulous people and vibrant nightlife.

Their top tour destinations are Jordan and Israel. They also offer Pride Events special tour packages. They also offer a feature that lets you design your custom trip , choosing the dates, destinations, how many people are joining, activities you wish to do, accommodation type, and more. 

• Who’s Outstanding Travel for: LBGTQ+ travelers seeking a cultural vacation with lots of fun
• Destinations: Jordan, Israel, Greece, Egypt
• Duration: 7-10 days 
• Group size: 10 – 40 people
• Single supplement: there’s a single supplement if you want a private single room

Groups to find travel buddies

We love traveling solo, but sometimes it’s nice to share some parts of the journey with other travelers or even with locals. There’s something special about making connections far away from home, and the possibility to transform them into long lasting friendships that makes finding a travel buddy all the more appealing. Here are travel groups designed just for that.

SFT Connections

Since there are always so many people interested in connecting with other travelers, we created a subgroup of our main group called Solo Female Travelers Connection , set up just for women who want to find travel buddies, a host, other travelers or locals to meet up or hang out with, even someone to pet sit their house or to swap homes with. 

Join the group , post your travel details, house/pet sitting offer or request and connect with others who match up. This is a great way to meet new people and make friends abroad.

Meetup is a great site for meeting people. This isn’t only for global travel, but is also a great way to meet people locally who share your interests.

You join a meetup in the area you’re situated, which is basically an event or activity, and meet people for anything, from sunrise yoga to kayaking. 

Travel-related Meetup groups are a great way to find a travel buddy as you can connect with people who have shared interests and friendships may form. And remember meetups are for anyone, both locals and international travelers, so you never know who you’re going to meet.

Couchsurfing

Couchsurfing is a free version of Airbnb, or shall we say Airbnb is a paid version of Couchsurfing since they were first!

You get to immerse yourself in the culture as you stay with a local for a short period of time for free sleeping on their couch, bed or a mattress. 

Like Workaway, Couchsurfing offers a meetup feature where you can either meet with another traveler one-on-one or you can create a group meetup for similarly-minded people who like to do the same activities as you, from hiking to wine tasting. 

Join my trip

Join My Trip is sort of like a local guided experience where you can tag along with other travelers on a local journey around a specific part of the world.

The trips vary in price as some are with professional guides while others are just for tagging along with other solo travelers who want to share transportation fare (what they call a “seat filler”). The trip leader can charge a small fee to organize the entire trip.

They also have a “Global Greeter Network” where you pay the annual membership and then can request someone to pick you up at a designated spot. You can then go on for a guided tour, a walk around the city, or just be dropped off somewhere.

In this way, you get to find out more about the area from a local without worrying about having to find a taxi. Other categories include “Travel buddies”, “Group Travel”, and “Female Travel”. 

Host a Sister

Created by Host A Sister, a company that promotes cultural exchange through women sharing their homes and friendships with other female travelers for free. This is a great community where you can find travel buddies or meet up with a new friend. 

You can even seek for a host to stay with or offer your own home as free accommodation for other women. The group is properly moderated and all of the posts follow a certain format to make every request clear and straight to the point.    

Facebook travel groups

Looking to connect with like minded travelers? Facebook is a great place to find them, as well as handy tips and resources for your next trip. Here are a few of the best travel Facebook groups out there, find the rest here .

Solo Female Travelers

This is our group and consists of well over 272,000+ member community of brave, fearless and independent women with a shared passion for traveling solo.

Our Facebook Group is the heart of our community, where women are empowered to explore the world solo, safely and on their own terms. In this group you will find meaningful conversations, travel tips and resources to make solo travel as a woman rewarding, enriching and safe. 

If you love to travel solo, dream of doing it in the future or just want to get travel inspiration from diverse women from all around the globe, this group is for you.

We strictly enforce our values of inclusion, open-mindedness, courage, positive impact, and union and keep the group free from spam and trolls. We love to travel solo, but we also meet up for women-only tours to travel together . 

Travel Community

This group was created by Scott’s Cheap Flights , a company that delivers amazing flight deals to your inbox.

Travel Community is very well run by a group of expert moderators that contribute to keep the posts that are going to add value or answer questions from the community. The group members are very interactive and engaged, almost every post has dozens of comments. 

Also, the posts are relevant and range from many topics like travel tips, how to find great deals and discounts, personal experiences, itinerary suggestions, among many other travel related topics. The group is often updated on news from Scott Cheap Flights and how to take advantage of their website.

Digital nomads around the world

Digital Nomads Around the World is a resourceful group by Digital Nomads Nation , which is the world’s first e-nation, connecting global digital nomads with the shared passion of working remotely as a lifestyle and traveling the world. 

You can go to their website and navigate the company’s resource platform, where you’ll be able to do research on career opportunities and access their talent database and find remote job opportunities from worldwide companies. 

The Digital Nomads network offers a lot of perks and benefits like attending on and offline talks and events or doing networking with fellow professionals. They have taken the idea of a virtual digital nomad community further with a range of services and resources that are specifically targeted at those without a fixed lifestyle.

Join this Facebook group where fellow travelers share their insights around digital nomad life, whether you are an experienced digital nomad or are looking to get started, the group will give you knowledge based on the experience and advice of members.

Travel Divas

Travel Divas is an online community where black female travelers share their stories and experiences traveling as a woman of color. Admins and moderators do a great job avoiding any solicitation of promotion posts, so the feed may stay organized and resourceful for all.

Join this awesome group if you want to get inspiration and insight from the perspective of someone like you, which will help you to make the best of your next trip.

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List of USA travel companies & tour operators with 115074 reviews

G Adventures

• Excellent - 19,036 reviews for USA tours

the tour itself was amazing. The national parks do not disappoint. The travel accomodations were very cramped and uncomfortable. I am only 5 foot tall and I was cramped in this 14 passenger van. Food opportunities were limited.

Fantastic experience - efficient use of time, great itinerary. Well-informed and interesting guide who is also just a great person.

Bindlestiff Tours

• Excellent - 1,417 reviews for USA tours

Well organised and informative

I like the HYOH (Hike Your Own Hike) part of this guided tour. I like the freedom to do as strenuous or as little as I want at the National Park stops. I like that yes, you can do things as a group but you aren't stuck going as fast or as slow as anyone else. Just mind what time to be back to the meeting spot & go for it!

Intrepid Travel

• Excellent - 11,667 reviews for USA tours

Judd was excellent, and very knowledgable, he was very prepared and i would recommend Intrepid to my friends and family

Our trip was great! Judd from Intrepid travel made the entire trip so easy and was so patient and quick to adapt to all of our requests. We had no issues the entire week. Accomondations were usually a LaQuinta and every day we had something cool planned to see.

Southwest Adventure Tours

• Excellent - 92 reviews for USA tours

This was a wonderful experience brought to life by a passionate and caring tour guide.

Excellent tour. Our guide Robin, was very informative and had an entertaining flair. We went to a series of awe-inspiring viewpoints and did some wonderful hikes in what were referred to as “the mighty five” of Utah. An unforgettable trip with a terrific group of people and a very knowledgeable, gregarious guide.

• Excellent - 130 reviews for USA tours

The tour was great, especially our guide Pasquale, who brought more flavour to all places we visited and did his best to show and teach us everything, meet everyone’s expectations and create a great atmosphere. Our driver Jacob also was very kind and supportive. Hotels had a good standard and necessary itinerary adaptions were on spot. In my point of view, the only shortfall was tour start and end (meeting/drop-off) points; which would work quite better starting and ending in a hotel, also offering pre and post tour accommodation for the ones arriving early or leaving late. Meeting points in public spaces when you have luggage is not comfortable and might cause problems to travellers. All the rest was great!

Thanks a lot. I had a very good 8 days from 22nd of Jan till 29th 2024 with your team and literally suggest your company to all. Your tour leaders were responsible, respectful, helpful, and supportive. Goodness bless you guys.

• Excellent - 1,873 reviews for USA tours

Excellent. Great guide, driver, weather, hotels, food. Great itenirary. Love love this trip.

Optional excursions were reasonably priced. Suggest you put together other places in each city as a walking guide or short taxi or uber ride. Example access to close by museums open late and could walk to from hotel. Free time activities and what they are and where located is helpful.tour guide can offer to accompany a group interested to explore more during free leisure tome.Provide more detail info about the logistics of site visits. Niagara falls..suggest more water proof gear clothing and shoe types etc. Terrain to expect when visiting certain sites and possible alternatives.climbing and how difficult-easy or more strenuous or advanced climbing activity. Overall, small groups so much better than filling up bus. Thank you for giving single travelers their own bus space. Would love to watch more travel videos on longer driving distances.

BrushBuck Wildlife Tours

• Excellent - 23 reviews for USA tours

Although the tour was very expensive- over $2000 for 3 days is over the top- it wss a great experience, saw lots of wildlife and the guide was outstanding

What an amazing experience this was; from the greeting and pick up by our guide/driver, to the phenomenal sights and the historical references that accompanied them! I am so pleased. This was an exceptionally planned tour that successfully met all of my needs. I would not change a thing and look forward to future adventures with them.

• Excellent - 14,883 reviews for USA tours

Excellent driver and director. Would have liked more time in Yellowstone as there was a lot we didn’t get to see eg Grand Prismatic Spring which was disappointing. Good hotels

Randy did a wonderful job. i only wish there was more room between seats as i am 6'4" 175. the scenery was breathtaking.

Insight Vacations

• Excellent - 624 reviews for USA tours

My first experience with an organized tour like this. Expense alone will limit future trips. Much more walking than my wife was prepared for. This alone reduced her enjoyment. Tour guide was very knowledgeable and thorough with his planning and execution. Andrew has a fun personality and very personable. One item that disappointed me was the shuttle from airport to resort at both ends of the

Insights Tours are always amazing and this one was no exception. Nice balance of free time to relax and experience Hawaii on your own with visits to places on the islands to experience the culture. Learned a lot of Hawaii’s history throughout our visit. Overall a lovely experience and would highly recommend if you want to visit Hawaii and learn more about the islands.

Infinite Adventures

• Excellent - 116 reviews for USA tours

It was my first group trip and also my first camping trip. I have to say it was one of the best trips I've been on. It was an adventure! We were lucky enough to see the Northern Lights at Remote Camp. Tory and Dave took care of everything and made sure everyone had a great time. No matter what problem you had, they always helped each other! Dave cooked delicious food, we had marshmallows by the fire in the evening and it felt like family. It's a great tour and I can only recommend it to anyone! It certainly wasn't my last tour with Infinite Adventure! Many thanks to Tory, Dave and Natalie (who you could ask any question you wanted to know beforehand) for this unforgettable time! :)

Jump on the bus with Infinite Adventures for a magnificent Alaskan expedition! Dave and Tory are excellent guides and will keep you informed about the areas you visit and give expert advice. I found this to be a truly joyful experience!

National Geographic Journey…

• Excellent - 253 reviews for USA tours

Good time with lots of riding in the van going to interesting places

We had a wonderful time. The tour was well planned and well managed. The CEO was excellent ..good driver, good communicator, had good knowledge of the local attractions and made great recommendations for restaurants. The group we were with was also a very pleasant group which made the experience that much more enjoyable. That said, would have loved to see the accommodations updated.. most except the Denali cabins were old and "weathered".

The Coyote Trip

• Excellent - 10 reviews for USA tours

From a speedboat to the Statue of Liberty to fireworks on 4th July in Washington to hiking to Yosemite Falls, this trip showcased the very best the USA has to offer. I went on the 21 day Full Cyote trip from New York to San Francisco with my brother. With such a packed itinerary of included activities, it offered great value for money. The guides in every region we visited were excellent. A particular shout out to Ryan, who added in extra stops and experiences based on the group's interests. Other highlights included the Grand Canyon, Washington's museums, whale watching in Boston, cycling across the Golden Gate Bridge and sunset in Griffeths Park. I met a great group of people on the trip, and I wouldn't hesitate to book with the Cyote Trip again.

Great tour. We were a group of 7 and had lots of fun. Tour guides were really nice and friendly and itnwas a great combination of nature and the big cities.

• Excellent - 4,906 reviews for USA tours

It was a real pleasure from start to finish! Everything was so well organized! Brenda was a great guide

Most aspects of the tour was enjoyable but feel that some improvements could be made. For instance when dropped off for dinner we were only allowed two hours which was not long enough to find a restaurant, sometimes queue for a table and get back to the bus and therefore seeing little of the town we were visiting. Another instance after a long day of travelling we stopped at a Wallmart to buy food for both evening meal and breakfast as out tour operator could not guarantee the hotel restaurant would be open for business for an evening meal, this was at the Sunday river resort. There were no microwaves in our rooms but we did have fridges,which greatly limited our choice of what to buy. We along with other guests felt like this was not ideal for two meals together and felt abandoned and isolated. Whilst on the coach it was apparent that the seats at the front had more leg room but at the rear half of the bus the leg room was very restricted, some very tight, and not very suitable for sitting for long periods. The overhead bag storage was very limited as some seats had none and others had limited space. This was not helped by some guests having large hand luggage wth them as i understood hand luggage size was restricted. i do understand some guests do have to carry medical supplies. Overall we had a lovely trip and we both enjoyed the experiemnce.

Bucket List Group Travel LL…

• Good - 14 reviews for USA tours

Had a wonderful time - a lot of hiking, seeing the sites in Alaska and viewing the Northern Lights.

The tour was amazing, great and tour guides:).

Bamba Travel

• Good - 1,682 reviews for USA tours

A hectic and fast paced trip, starting with early mornings. Loved Niagara Falls and being able to go to the Canadian side for one night (remember to apply for a Canadian Esta and bring your passport). Pennsylvania and Amish country side was a treat. Wish we had more time there. Love hearing about American history. Then Washington DC- amazing city. We disembarked after touring DC monuments and aeronautical museum and spent two more days in DC. Wharf, eateries, sights and monuments within reach.

Bamba Travel was the only tour operator which responded and agreed to help me plan my tour in Hawaii. Although I would have liked a more thoroughly organised tour like pick up from the cruise terminal and transport to the Kualoa ranch organised, I had to take the public bus by myself. It was a bit daunting but Bamba gave me some instructions. At Hawaii it quite easy and safe to take public transport during the day. Bamba was helpful at every step. A bit slow with regards to correspondence bec of time differences as they are in the USA but they would respond daily. Thank you Bamba for helping me organise a tailored plan to meet most of my needs. I had a great time in Hawaii.

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Best Tour Groups for Families

Update : Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here .

Traveling with kids can sometimes make you insecure about your ability to manage grand-scale trips, whether you are a fearless adventurer who once backpacked across Europe during your college years or your travels are relegated to a few transcontinental business trips a year. Even the best of us can be intimidated by the logistics of bringing young kids and/or unimpressed teens on what is meant to be an adventure of a lifetime.

Just how does one manage to find all modes of transport between multiple destinations; the right attractions and activities to appease every family member, regardless of age; and hotels and restaurants that are kid-friendly -- on top of all the other pieces we need to put into place?

Enter tour groups. Before you grumble that these are meant for an older set and are guaranteed to include more bus rides than activity time, we're here to inform you that family tour operators have really gotten it right with a great array of travel options, services and family fun.

To date, a Danube River cruise with Adventures by Disney is one of my family's favorite trips. The kids adored the Adventure Guides, who felt like part of the family before the cruise ended, and they met other children their age to play with during the nonactive periods along the river. Outings were included and set up by age groups. We had choices of what we wanted to do, and with multigenerational trips including kids as young as 6 up to grandparents, this 10-day adventure through various countries was enjoyable and, actually, a piece of cake. Disney did all of the heavy lifting!

Can I Use Miles to Pay for a Group Tour?

While tour companies aren't as connected to the miles world as hotel chains and airlines, there are ways to both earn and use miles to pay for a group tour. To apply points to a group tour, you'll want to dip into fixed-value miles from programs that allow you to "erase" a travel purchase from your credit card statement: Think Capital One miles that you earn with the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card, or Barclaycard Arrival miles that you earn with the Barclaycard Arrival Plus World Elite Mastercard.

In the case of Capital One, you can "wipe out" any travel-coded purchase that's hit your statement in the past 90 days. Redeem your miles at a fixed rate: 1 mile equals 1 penny. You can redeem for a partial credit but need to redeem at least 2,500 miles.

Barclaycard Arrival miles work in a similar fashion with 1 mile equaling 1 penny in redemption. You can erase any travel-coded purchase you've made in the last 120 days. The downside in this case is that you need to have all of the miles in your account to erase the entire charge; Barclaycard doesn't offer partial redemptions. But you will get 5% of your redeemed miles refunded, so that's a nice bonus after the fact.

If you don't have fixed-value miles to help reduce the cost of your group tour, make sure to use a credit card that rewards for travel purchases when you book. The Chase Sapphire Reserve, for example, offers 3x the points for every dollar you spend on travel (excluding $300 travel credit). Considering tours can be a bit pricey (you are paying for convenience, after all), you could easily earn enough points for a cheaper future getaway.

Family-Friendly Group Tour Companies

Looking for tour operators that cater to families? Here's a look at the companies TPG has its eye on. All tour prices are per person without airfare.

Thomson Family Adventures

Since 1998, the Thomson family has offered small-group tours geared toward families like them who want to travel deeper by connecting to a country and its culture. Tours include a "Rafiki," or a friend, who will break the ice with the group and help keep things entertaining for the kids, while local expert guides show you around at a pace comfortable for everyone.

Thomson creates family itineraries that will take your brood back to ancient civilizations for tours that are not only family-friendly and fun but also educational. (Shh, the kids won't know they are learning on this vacation!) Trips are organized by activity level, so parents can select those best-suited to their children's needs. Multigenerational trips scheduled for 2019 can whisk your family off to exotic destinations like China, Egypt and Tanzania, as well as swings through the Caribbean and Europe.

Not only does your child get to explore faraway lands but he or she will also get to cultivate new friendships. Through the company's Friends Across Borders program, kids are paired with a child of similar age in the country you will be visiting so they can write to each other before and after the trip, and meet up at some point during your tour to potentially kick off a lifetime of friendship. We don't know of any other tour group that provides this.

Best Ages: 6 and up

Sample Starting Price: Thomson's popular seven-day Costa Rica Multi-Sport Adventure starts at $3,130 per person as of press time. On this trek, your clan will visit a sea turtle conservancy, learn to make chocolate and leave no stone unturned in Tortuguero National Park.

REI Adventures

The outdoor-lovers' go-to shop began uniting its customers with adventure tours more than 30 years ago, with many accommodations of the canvas tent or ecolodge variety. REI Adventures features 150 different trips across every continent (although the family junkets won't get you to Antarctica).

Family forays can be all-out exotic with rambles to Thailand and Machu Picchu , or within the national parks of the US, such as the Great Smoky Mountains or Zion and Bryce Canyon national park tours that will have the entire family enjoying the great outdoors. (Here are some tips for visiting national parks with kids.) You'll find three- and seven-day weekend getaway options, as well as seven- to 15-day adventures. REI has been committed to the environment since its founding in 1938. Every trek organized by the company practices green initiatives: using recyclable and reusable materials, minimizing environmental impact and following high ethical standards. The company also works in conjunction with host countries by offering meaningful cultural exchanges and patronizing local businesses.

Best Ages: Due to the tours' physical activities, REI Adventures is best-suited for active teens who can keep up with the hiking, kayaking, river rafting and biking that are often at the forefront of the tours.

Sample Starting Price: A three-day hiking weekend is $1,599 per person (with REI member discounts bringing the price down to $1,449), while a 10-day Thailand trip starts at $3,309 ($2,999 for members).

Points Perks: REI loyalty begins with $20 for a lifetime membership. As a member, you'll get discounted tours, as well as discounted classes, events, services and merchandise at REI locations around the world. Sign up for the REI Co-op World Mastercard and you'll get an additional 5% back on purchases at REI, as well as 1% back on everyday purchases with no annual fee. Plus, every purchase means a donation to the National Forest Foundation.

Intrepid Travel

By pairing three to five families with like-minded individuals, especially matching children of similar interests and ages, Intrepid Travel works to create lasting friendships along with its tours. Keeping the groups to no more than 10 people means more focus on you, and kids 17 and younger receive 10% off trip prices.

Family voyages are uber-exotic with Intrepid. You can explore the desert landscape of Morocco, the African valleys of Kenya and the opulent palaces of India. Any one of the action-packed journeys will combine activities that coincide with your child's school curriculum or hobbies.

Intrepid doesn't just show you the world, it gives back as well. Through the nonprofit Intrepid Foundation, funds have been distributed to support local and grassroots projects, including sustainable development, environmental conservation and wildlife protection.

Best Ages: Age minimums vary but start at 5 and up, depending on the location. Most children on these trips fall between 8 and 18 years of age.

Sample Starting Price: Imagine Morocco with the kiddos for eight days starting as low as $675 per person, not including airfare. Cross wind-swept dunes, ride a camel in the desert and get lost in the alleyways of bustling markets. (Single parents will love Intrepid, as well, because of its solo parent options with other solo moms and dads.)

Points Perks: Intrepid has its own loyalty program: After nine trips, you'll earn $1,800 toward a 10th tour when you become an Intrepid Legend.

Adventures By Disney

If you think creating "The Happiest Place on Earth" is all Disney can do, you haven't tried Adventures by Disney, the high-end, "we take care of everything" family travel company. You'll pay a pretty penny to join these tours, offered since 2005, but your entire family is guaranteed to have a blast with tours that include Disney-trained local guides who stay with you for the entire journey.

Immersing your family into the cultures you visit, ABD (as it is known by its fans) offers more than 30 adventures across six continents. Go deep into China with a visit to the Forbidden City, Shanghai, Beijing and Hong Kong, or traverse across Australia, from the Great Barrier Reef to Ayers Rock to the Gold Coast to Sydney. (Here are the best ways to use points and miles to fly from the US to Australia .) Disney goes big when it creates its cruising adventures and has partnered with AMAWaterways for ABD cruises throughout Europe. Trips range from three-day weekends to two-week adventures.

With backstage, one-of-a-kind tours, you'll skip lines and do things you wouldn't do on other tours like visit the Good Morning America studios in New York City or take an after-hours tour of the Vatican Museum and Sistine Chapel in Rome. From the moment you step off the plane, you'll have Adventure Guides with you so you feel like a VIP from start to finish.

Best Ages: Minimum ages start at 4 or 6 years of age, depending on the destination.

Sample Starting Price: Disney's tours are so great that its pricing falls under the "if you have to ask" category. They are expensive. A 12-day/11-night tour of China starts at $8,949 per person while a four-day/three-night tour of New York City starts at $2,929 per person.

Points Perks: The Chase Disney Visa returns 1–2% back in the form of Disney dollars, which can be used on Adventures by Disney tours. Or, put your ABD vacay on your Disney card, and use your rewards for a future Disney outing.

Lindblad Expeditions

Launched in Sweden by the explorer Lars-Eric Lindblad, the Lindblad family combines a National Geographic partnership with highly engaging expeditions that kids not only learn from but also will enjoy. With this program, certified field educators serve as tour directors and guides, helping your children connect with nature

Family and multigenerational expeditions make it easy for ages 8 to 80 to enjoy explorative travel together, all aboard adventurous small ship cruises that allow you to get up close to the wildlife of the Galapagos, Alaska, the Amazon River basin and even Antarctica. Kids under 18 get $500 off, and specials often include free airfare for everyone and bar tabs for parents. (Yes, it's a family affair, but it doesn't deprive parents on the journey.)

Best Ages: All trips designated Family Travel do not have any age minimums, although these explorations often require children to be old enough to handle active adventures.

Sample Starting Price: Spend 10 days touring the Galapagos starting at $7,290. 2019 is the 50th year Lindblad has been conducting expedition cruises to the land of Darwin, where kids will encounter giant tortoises and sea lions.

Tauck Bridges

Tauck has provided tours around the world for more than 90 years, but it is the Bridges arm of the company that was developed specifically for families, with tour directors who love kids and aim to please.

Tauck Bridges offers 20 different family experiences to choose from in 2019 and 2020. You'll find river cruises down the Danube, rafts through the Grand Canyon, wildlife safaris in Tanzania or horseback riding in America's cowboy country, and everything in between, including trips to Europe's most charming cities.

Tauck's commitment to the environment extends to its partnerships with esteemed National Geographic filmmaker Ken Burns on its Ken Burns American Journeys, while Earth Journeys is a partnership with BBC Earth.

Best Ages: Children must be a minimum of 4 years old for river cruises, 5 years old for safaris and 6 years old for its Galapagos cruise.

Sample Starting Price: Cross the border to the Canadian Rockies for a seven-day tour through Western Canada's famed national parks, Banff and Jasper. Your family will ride the river rapids, climb glaciers and hike in the beautiful hills starting at $3,640 per person.

Bottom Line

Let someone else do all of the planning and work so you can truly enjoy a vacation by taking a group tour that was specifically designed for families. The best way to lessen the cost of a big trip like this is by using your miles to get your family to the tour's embarkation point, and then focus on fixed-value points that can help "erase" all or part of the tour cost.

Have you booked a group tour for your family? Which company did you use and would you do it again?

Here are some more trip-planning resources:

• The Best Credit Cards for Family Travelers
• The Best Travel Rewards Credit Cards for Families in 2019
• How to Get a Family of 4 or More Into an Amex Centurion Lounge
• Tips for Using Frequent Flyer Miles for Family Travel

18 Group Travel Planning Apps That Make Life Easier

P lanning a group vacation with a number of different people can be a fun yet challenging endeavor. It requires effective coordination, communication, and savvy budget management. Whether you’re the group leader or just a member of your traveling group, you should check out the best group travel planning apps that will make the process smooth and simple.

*Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, which means we may receive a commission if you click a link and purchase something that we have recommended. Please check out our  disclosure policy  for more details. Thank you for your support!

Group Travel Planning Apps to Organize Your Next Trip

There are a variety of mobile apps that are designed to simplify vacation planning and help while you’re traveling on the trip. In this comprehensive guide, we have the top-notch mobile apps that are the very best for group travel planning, whether it involves accommodating different budgets, organizing an unforgettable friend group getaway, or discovering expert tips for the best deal on anything from train tickets to hotel rooms.

1. Wanderlog

​Wanderlog is the ultimate travel companion when you’re planning for a diverse group of friends, each with their own unique budgets and preferences. Whether you have a smaller group or you have a lot of group members in your travel party, this comprehensive travel app empowers every member to contribute their preferences and financial constraints. Hopefully this will ensure a smooth, fun trip for the whole group. 

From finding budget-friendly hotel choices to meticulously mapping out the best time for spa appointments, Wanderlog covers every aspect of your adventure. It can even create a detailed itinerary to help you get started.

With its seamless integration with Google Maps, you can easily chart your course and discover the hidden gems that will make your group trip the best thing you’ve ever done together.

Wanderlog offers a free version with basic features, but it also has a premium paid subscription plan called “Wanderlog Pro” for advanced features. Download on App Store or Google Play

2. Shared Notes (iPhone)

​ Communication is key when coordinating a group adventure, and Notes on iPhone helps you maintain clear and concise group texts and notes. From hashing out travel dates and sharing to-do lists to keeping track of key things to remember during your journey, this feature keeps the whole group informed and organized.

Shared Notes is a built-in feature on iOS devices, and it’s free to use. All you have to do is create in your Notes app and then select that you want to share.

​ Handling expenses for a large friend group can be a challenge, but Tab simplifies it by helping you keep track of who owes what. This app’s seamless functionality makes sure that everyone enjoys the whole trip without any financial hiccups, allowing your group to focus on the fun of your adventure.

Tab is a free app for  splitting expenses . Download on App Store or Google Play

4. Trip Splitter

The mobile app Trip Splitter is an indispensable tool for meticulous expense management. Its ability to maintain a comprehensive record of spending is particularly valuable when dealing with different budgets and a variety of preferences. 

Whether you’re tracking expenses for a long-term trip or ensuring that everyone contributes their fair share at dinner, this app has got you covered.

Trip Splitter offers a free version with basic features, but it also has a premium paid subscription plan for additional features. Download on App Store or Google Play

5. Splitwise

Managing expenses — even with a large group of people — becomes a breeze with Splitwise . This free travel planning app is designed to create fairness and financial transparency. No one wants to be bogged down with financial worries during a trip, and Splitwise ensures that everyone enjoys their vacation without worrying about budget disparities. 

It’s a reliable tool for tracking who owes what, making sure your friend group’s budget remains intact throughout your adventure.

Splitwise is a free app for expense splitting and management. Download on App Store or Google Play

6. Facebook Group (FB Group)

​ Creating a private Facebook Group is a great way to facilitate communication about trip plans within your friend group. It’s also one of our favorite platforms to use when  planning a family reunion . This is a versatile platform for discussing everything from the tourist attractions you want to visit to organizing group conversations and answering questions from your fellow travelers.

The platform allows for discussions, event planning, and real-time updates. This is a great free travel app for keeping everyone in the loop.

Creating and using private Facebook Groups is free. Download on App Store or Google Play

7. WhatsApp

​ Using WhatsApp is the perfect way to coordinate a travel-based group chat instead of working your way through texts with everyone’s phone number or email threads when planning. It’s an ideal platform for coordinating plans and sharing arrival times with your friend group. 

Stay connected, share travel ideas when planning, or meet up locations when at your destination. You can make the most of your adventure with this reliable messaging app that ensures everyone is on the same page. This app uses your device’s data or wifi to send the messages, so it doesn’t charge you any international rates. 

WhatsApp is a free messaging app. Download on App Store or Google Play

​GroupMe elevates group messaging with advanced features like event planning and location sharing. It is perfect for keeping everyone informed and connected during your friend group’s journey. Using the app is a simple way to ensure that every member of the group can be a part of the process of working out travel details, and helps you stay connected while traveling.

GroupMe is a free messaging app. Download on App Store or Google Play

​ Streamlining the planning process for your group of friends is effortless with TripIt . This sophisticated app automatically generates a master itinerary that includes hotel bookings, real-time flight alerts, and key things to do during the trip. 

This trip planner app also keeps all of your confirmation numbers for hotel reservations, flight information, and rental cars all in one spot. It’s a must-have tool for ensuring everyone in the group is well-prepared and informed.

TripIt offers both a free version with basic features and a premium paid annual subscription plan called “TripIt Pro” for enhanced features. It’s great for keeping all of the important details in one place. This is one of the best travel planner apps out there. Download on App Store or Google Play

​Band is a fantastic communication hub for friend groups, offering document sharing via Google Docs, creating shared photo albums, and maintaining group chats for discussions.

This is the best way to keep everyone engaged and informed about the latest developments and ideas throughout the planning process and the journey.

Band is a free communication app. Download on App Store or Google Play

11. Coordle

​ When coordinating activities for groups with varying preferences, Coordle shines by simplifying the process of finding the best time for group activities and excursions and allowing all planning to happen in one centralized app. It ensures a good time for everyone, making it easy to have an unforgettable adventure. 

Coordle offers a free version with basic features, but it also has a premium paid subscription plan for additional features. Download on App Store or Google Play

12. Family Album

​ Preserving cherished memories is easy with Family Album, a private photo-sharing app that lets you create dedicated photo albums to relive the highlights of your adventure with your friend group. Share expert tips and insider knowledge through images and captions that encapsulate your experiences.

Family Album offers a free version with basic features, but it also has premium paid subscription plans for more storage and features. Download on App Store or Google Play

13. Shared Photo Albums

​ Capture every moment of your adventure by using Shared Phone Albums, available for use on both iOS and Android devices. Ensure that each member of the friend group contributes their photos to create a complete visual narrative of the experiences from your trip.

This feature is available on iOS and Android devices, and it’s part of the phone’s functionality. It’s one of the best free travel planner apps for organizing your group’s memories.

​Troupe makes decision-making easy within smaller groups by facilitating the process of selecting activities and planning excursions together. It ensures that the travel itinerary aligns with the diverse preferences and expectations of your friend group, guaranteeing a well-rounded adventure that everyone will love.

Troupe offers a free version with basic features, but it also has premium paid subscription plans for additional features. Download on App Store or Google Play

15. Tripline

Tripline introduces a creative quality to your group travel experience by enabling the creation of captivating interactive travel maps. These maps serve as an engaging showcase of your journey’s route and highlights. This makes it easier for your friend group to relive the adventure and share their travel tips with others.

Tripline offers a free version with basic features, but it also has premium paid subscription plans for more advanced features. Download on App Store or Google Play

16. TravelSpend

​TravelSpend is great for streamlining expense management. It simplifies the process of splitting costs among friends or family members with real-time expense tracking, and it converts currencies automatically. TravelSpend empowers group travelers to stay on top of their financial commitments, making it easier for everyone to enjoy the trip without financial stress. 

Thia app also offers analytical data about your spending so that you can track what you’re spending the most (or the least) on. 

TravelSpend is a free app for tracking travel expenses. Download on App Store or Google Play

17. Google Maps

​ Google Maps has a function called My Maps that can be used to create personalized maps for different destinations. It’s a great addition to your next trip with family and/or friends. 

You can drop pins on the best places to visit, separate maps by different cities, pin the must-try restaurants, landmarks, and museums, and navigate to the nearest transportation hubs. Everyone can share this travel map, making it essential to have it on everyone’s phones.

It also works as a typical map app showing the best routes and travel time between destinations. You can also get offline access if you don’t have phone service.

Google Maps is a free application that works on Android and iOS. Download on App Store or Google Play

18. SaveTrip

SaveTrip is another app that can be used by family members to plan trip itineraries together. You could work together on each day, or split your trip days between family members and let everyone plan a day. 

After you have planned your days you can present your ideas to the group. The next step is to vote on things, set a budget, and agree on travel. You can even make a vision board using the notes tool. 

Once you take the trip, you can manage a budget, share costs, and use the integrated Google Maps feature to get around. 

This app is free to download and use. Download on App Store or Google Play

Mastering the art of group travel planning with different budgets and varying preferences can be challenging. With these indispensable mobile apps, it can be an easy experience that allows everyone to relax and have fun. With apps like these, you can be your own travel agent. Use these travel apps to put together a successful trip with all of your friends and family.

From expense management to communication and itinerary planning, these apps cater to every aspect of group getaways. So, gather your favorite people, download one of these great travel tools, and get ready to easily make some amazing travel plans!

The post 18 Group Travel Planning Apps That Make Life Easier appeared first on Groups Are A Trip .

Marriott’s Ritz-Carlton in Jaipur. Plus: Skift India Summit Starts – India Report

Bulbul Dhawan , Skift

March 19th, 2024 at 11:00 PM EDT

The Skift India Newsletter is your go-to platform for all news related to travel, tourism, airlines, and hospitality in India.

The debut Skift India Summit is off and running! It’s a sign of the enormous possibilities of post-pandemic travel in a changing India.

On March 20, we are bringing together the best minds in the travel business from India and across the globe at The Leela Ambience, Gurugram, to discuss the future of travel in the country. We are focusing on three main themes: The new outbound Indian traveler; the massive potential in a market of 1.4 billion people; and the steadily growing inbound tourist market into India. We’ll have coverage throughout the day on Skift.com and highlights in tomorrow’s India Report.

– Peden Doma Bhutia

Marriott International Signs First Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Jaipur

Marriott International has announced the signing of its debut Ritz-Carlton property in Jaipur, Maharashtra. The 250-key hotel is expected to open in 2028. Currently, the hospitality company operates five hotels in the city. Rajeev Menon, president, Asia Pacific excluding China at Marriott International, said that the Indian market is flourishing and its interest in luxury travel is leading to a growth in demand for global luxury brands. 

Marriott has two Ritz-Carltons in India, in Bengaluru and Pune. A third one has been signed in Shimla and is slated for a 2029 opening. Skift earlier reported that Marriott has plans to open 12 hotels in India this year. After Moxy’s debut in India earlier this year, Menon said that the company would be looking at possibilities of launching more brands in the country.

IndiGo Announces Operations in Lakshadweep

India’s largest airline IndiGo is adding Agatti in the Lakshadweep archipelago in its network. Starting March 31, the carrier will fly between Bengaluru and Agatti daily. The island group marks IndiGo’s 88th domestic destination. At present, only Alliance Air operates to the Lakshadweep archipelago. 

The move not only marks the expansion of IndiGo’s network, but also significantly impacts the aviation and tourism landscape of Lakshadweep. Earlier this year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighted the island group’s beauty in an effort to boost its tourism industry. The government is looking to develop a new airfield on Minicoy Island for military and commercial aircraft. Indian Hotels Company (IHCL) also has two Taj resorts coming up at the destination to enhance accommodation options for travelers. 

Indians Exploring Diverse Experiences, Spiritual Destinations For Holi, Easter Getaways

The festivals of Holi and Easter are mere days apart this year, offering Indians an opportunity to travel. Hence, they are exploring domestic as well as international destinations. According to Booking.com data, travelers are looking for diverse experiences, as aside from metros, the website has seen significant uptick in searches for leisure destinations such as Udaipur, Jaipur, Goa, Lonavala, and Manali. The online travel agency also noted that spiritual destinations including Vrindavan, Rishikesh, Puri, and Varanasi were also among the most-searched destinations. 

Indians also searched international destinations for travel between March 23 and 31. Dubai was the most-searched destination, followed by SIngapore, Bangkok, Makkah in Saudi Arabia, and London. Santosh Kumar, country manager for India, Sri Lanka, Maldives and Indonesia at Booking.com said that the company’s Travel Predictions 2024 research revealed that 85% of Indian travelers feel more alive when they are on vacation. 

Air India Express Summer Flights Frequency Grows 25%

Air India Express has increased its flight frequencies to navigate the anticipated surge in demand during summer. The airline is set to operate more than 360 daily flights. Its 2024 summer schedule has a 25% increase in domestic flights as compared to last year. For international flights, this increase is 20%, the airline said.

Air India Express is a subsidiary of former national carrier Air India, and it offers budget flights to travelers. The airline, which is being merged with AirAsia India (now AIX Connect), is planning to operate 40% more flights in the 2024-25 financial year . It is also expecting to complete the acquisition of 50 white tail Boeing 737 Max aircraft by the end of this year.

SpiceJet Enhances Fleet For Upcoming Peak Season

Budget carrier SpiceJet has finalized lease agreements for 10 aircraft to enhance its capacity for the summer schedule. The airline has also received three airframes as part of recent settlements with key aircraft lessors, the company said in an exchange filing last week. 

In a subsequent exchange filing , the company said that it had signed a lease agreement to introduce two wide-body A340 aircraft in its fleet. These two aircraft have been earmarked for the upcoming Haj operations, and will fly from Srinagar and Guwahati. With this move, SpiceJet is seeking to match the revenue of INR 3.37 billion ($41 million) that it generated from Haj operations last year. 

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Hottest Australian holiday homes of 2024 revealed

The most coveted spots to spend a weekend away have been unveiled, with stunning homes in almost every state.

Wild price to rent ‘outside bedroom’

Airbnb crackdown could end holiday pastime

Hotel to give guests $965 off if it rains

The hottest Australian Holiday Homes of the Year have been revealed and includes waterfront homes, wine region stays, ski and countryside escapes.

The top ten list includes accommodation at the Hamilton Island, Mount Buller, Margaret River and Kangaroo Valley.

Three of the ten homes are located in NSW.

In total they boast six pools, five firepits, three spas, one tennis court, as well as luxe amenities like a wine cellar, video arcade, sauna and an outdoor bath.

The homes are selected from over 50,000 properties on Stayz, and must have a 4.5 or higher star rating, positive guest reviews and standout amenities.

“The hosts of this year’s Holiday Homes of the Year go above and beyond to offer exceptional, reliable and relaxing guest experiences and are key to making a traveller’s holiday seamless,” said Stayz Partner Success vice president Tim Rosolio said.

“We have incredible partners on our platform and this list of properties really raises the bar and sends a clear and compelling trust

signal to travellers about where to find the best, and consistent experiences on Stayz.”

TOP 10 HOLIDAY HOMES IN 2024

1. Robinsons Run, Kangaroo Valley, NSW

Neighbouring the picturesque Morton National Park is a 70-acre property featuring a luxury country home .

With enough rooms for a party of twelve, the home boasts a swimming pool, spa, fire put and outdoor bathtub.

The three-storeys also give guests breathtaking views of the sprawling natural landscapes on your doorstep.

2. Luxury Waterside Home, Kyle Bay, NSW

This waterfront property just a 20-minute drive from the CBD showcases 360-degree views of the glistening bay.

Soaring ceilings and an abundance of natural light lights up each of the rooms in its palatial four levels.

Open plan living and dining areas, a state-of-the-art kitchen with deluxe marble finishings, and oversized rooftop terrace perfect for entertaining.

Guests can get cosy by the fireplace or heated infinity pool all year round.

3. Casa Scenic, Macmasters Beach, NSW

A short ten-minute walk from the Central Coast’s iconic MacMasters Beach, this property hosts six bedrooms on a 1.6-acre private estate.

Views of the stunning Bouddi National Park make it the ideal destination to unwind in nature and relax by the beach.

The home is pet-friendly and features a fire-pit, magnesium therapy pool and kids’ playground, making it perfect for entertaining all ages.

4. The Easton of Maleny, Maleny, QLD

An off-the-grid luxury home situated halfway between Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast offers up tonnes of privacy and stunning views.

The home can sleep up to eight-guests and features a large outdoor deck overlooking the pool and manicured gardens with space for lawn sports.

One of the key features is a glass wine storage room on display next to one of the main living areas, a sun-drenched magnesium salt pool, sauna and deck area with daybeds.

5. Lotus House, Hamilton Island, QLD

The island destination is a must-see getaway favoured by international VIPs, so its no surprise one of the top ten rentals is situated in the tropical paradise.

Accommodating up to eight-guests, the home is located on the northern tip of the island and offers incredible views of Fitzalan Passage with private and direct water access.

Two golf buggies are included with the home and a wet-edge pool elevates the islands sunsets to new heights.

6. River Hamptons, Berri, SA

This property is located in the heart of South Australia’s riverland, well known for wineries and cellar doors.

The homestead has enough room to sleep eight with an outside pool area, whirlpool spa, tennis court with basketball hoop and sprawling gardens.

7. Sunrise Tranquility, Yallingup, WA

The lush landscape and Mediterranean blue waters of the Yallingup Hills makes it the perfect spot to getaway and recharge.

The four-bedroom home offers an indoor-outdoor living experience with a large outdoor kitchen complete with pizza oven and plenty of seating.

Guests can relax in the six-seater heated spa or unwind on the comfy lounges by the outdoor heaters.

8. Inji Dreaming, Yallingup, WA

The Yallingup region, in the southernmost tip of WA, is so coveted it made the list twice. This architecturally crafted home is surrounded by native bushland in Injidup.

Alfresco dining and a designer kitchen are major drawcards for staying in, but there is plenty of adventure to be had on its doorstep with beaches, wineries, and galleries just a moment away.

9. Mount Edgcumbe House, Rowella, TAS

This three-bedroom home on Points Rapide Estate looks out onto incredible views of the River Tamar and Tamar Valley.

The 37-acre property includes botanical gardens, a vineyard and a restored heritage home, built in 1835 and considered one of the first homesteads established in Tasmania.

Eights guests can enjoy the cosy fireplace, cook up a storm in the modern kitchen and sit on the patio soaking up the spectacular views.

10. Wild Fauna, Mount Buller, VIC

This luxury eco-friendly getaway is right in the heart of the Victorian ski region, and is home to a wide range of native wildlife.

It is ideal to host a big family with space for up to ten people and plenty of room to spread out in including a patio dining and kitchen area.

The home also boasts a ski storage room for those heading to the slopes.

A landlord has exposed the ridiculous state of the rental crisis by advertising a bed on her outdoor veranda.

New proposals could pose a threat to big group getaways such as birthdays and weddings, short term renter site Airbnb has warned.

A hotel has offered a wild package to guests that will see them get a refund if it rains.

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• The Inspectors Reveal All on Le Gabriel, France’s New Three Star Restaurant for 2024!

The MICHELIN Guide Inspectors recount a year of visits to Le Gabriel. Led by Jérôme Banctel, it becomes one of 2 new Three Michelin Star restaurants in France.

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The understated, reserved Breton chef Jérôme Banctel is most likely to be found at La Réserve, the hotel that houses his restaurant Le Gabriel – when he’s not busy appearing on TV that is. He has been a contestant on French TV’s Top Chef twice and belongs to that category of chefs who, with little fanfare, have come into their own under the guidance of the greats. After notching up plenty of experience all over France (working, most notably, for André Daguin in Auch and Christian Constant at Le Crillon), Jérôme Banctel spent a decisive decade earning his stripes alongside Bernard Pacaud at L'Ambroisie, before honing his technical skills under the watchful eye of Alain Senderens at Lucas Carton.

NEW: Discover Paris by The MICHELIN Guide – expert insights on where to dine, stay and enjoy the City of Light

The Cooking

The dishes tasted.

Mackerel on pebbles, bottarga, sea urchin and samphire "Prepared at the table, a thick fillet of fresh mackerel is presented under a glass cloche, wrapped between two cedar leaves and placed on hot pebbles. It is basted with a white wine broth as it finishes cooking, then plated up and served with creamed sea urchin and an emulsified bourride sauce flavoured with garlic and ginger. Three small, melt-in-the-mouth steamed potatoes topped with bottarga and samphire complete the dish – proof, if proof were needed, that when perfectly cooked, a common ingredient can be completely sensational." Plump chicken with ‘lait ribot’, pea tartlet and wild garlic "The fillet of Mayenne poularde is marinated in ‘lait ribot’ buttermilk for several hours, then poached. Cooked to perfection, it has tender flesh and crispy skin. It is served with a ‘lait ribot’ emulsion for a pleasantly sour note, and a tartlet with ‘petits pois à la française’, onion, bacon and wild garlic flowers. A delicious reduction flavoured with wild garlic oil rounds off this delicious and indulgent dish."

Illustration image: Grégoire Gardette/Le Gabriel - La Réserve Paris

The Full List of Paris's Michelin Star Restaurants in The MICHELIN Guide France 2024

On the eve of the Olympic Games, the Parisian food scene is flexing its muscles, from legendary restaurants making a comeback to a Japanese tea ceremony and 50 shades of bistronomy.

5 New Bib Gourmands in Paris

Discover the latest Parisian restaurants to be awarded for their great value for money in The MICHELIN Guide France 2024

This Week’s New Hotels

MICHELIN Guide hotel experts share their most exciting discoveries for the week of March 11.

Keep Exploring - Stories we think you will enjoy reading

Pierre Gagnaire’s Paris – Cafés, Classics, Cocktails and More

The culinary titan with 13 MICHELIN Stars opens his address book and reveals his favourite spots in Paris

5 Expert Tips to Know Before You Travel to Paris

Here are a few essential recommendations to help you prepare for (and enjoy) your stay in Paris

The Best Bistro Dishes in Paris, According to Our Inspectors

Our MICHELIN Guide Inspectors have scoured the capital in search of quintessentially French dishes that are emblematic of the Parisian dining scene

The Best Brunches in Paris

On Sundays in Paris, it's common to linger a little longer in bed, maybe even rest up after a late night. When you do emerge from beneath the covers, there's nothing like a gourmet brunch in a cosy setting to kick-start the day. Here are our top brunch picks.

The Peninsula Paris’s Perfect Pair: Chef David Bizet & Sommelier Florent Martin

Meet the duo from L'Oiseau Blanc, who have mastered the art of pairing food and wine like few else have managed

Boris Campanella and Matthieu Carlin, a Perfect Pairing

At L’Écrin, this Chef/Pastry Chef duo work together like a well-oiled machine. Here, they tell The MICHELIN Guide the secrets of their success.

Datil is the Parisian Restaurant of the Future

We go inside the Inspector-approved spot and meet the team behind one of Paris's most inclusive and eco-minded restaurants

Where to Stay and Eat in Paris by Neighbourhood

In emblematic districts where most of the capital's monuments are to be found, or in "villages" popular with Parisians, we've selected the best of our picks, from intimate hotels to emblematic palaces, from Bib Gourmand-awarded bistros to trendy Michelin-starred restaurants. Follow the Guide !

The MICHELIN Guide’s Best Spots Near Paris Landmarks

Who could even think of coming to Paris without going out for a meal, whether it be in a fancy Starred restaurant, a trendsetting brasserie or a friendly neighbourhood bolthole? Here is our pick of restaurants on the doorstep of some of the capital’s most well-known landmarks.

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10 Adventure Travel Groups for Women

Ranging from hardcore outdoor adventures to luxe glamping-style getaways, these trips have a no-guys-allowed policy.

Lila Harron Battis is a freelance writer and editor. She was previously a senior editor at Travel + Leisure .

Girls just want to have fun — in the wilderness, that is. That's the idea behind these travel groups for women and nonbinary adventurers. Whether you're a thrill seeker keen to kayak some rapids or a wellness enthusiast more interested in practicing your yoga poses in the serene outdoors, there's a female-focused trip or retreat for you.

With the guidance of these adventure tour operators, you can learn a new skill, conquer a physical challenge, explore new surroundings, and meet some amazing people along the way. So buckle your helmet for a days-long cycling trip or strap into your harness to take on a scenic climbing route with a supportive group.

Adventures in Good Company

This tour company specializes in small-group expeditions in more than 100 destinations on every continent except Antarctica. Adventures include climbing Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, camping on the Sea of Cortez, and kayaking in Greenland. Trips are categorized by activity level, on a scale of one to five, ranging from gentle activities for beginners to itineraries for the very fit. Adventures in Good Company welcomes all women — including trans women — and nonbinary people "who identify with the women’s community."

AdventureWomen

Operating since 1982, this trusted female-focused group leads hikes through the Himalayan Mountains, transports travelers to the Galápagos Islands by private yacht, and facilitates multisport adventures in the Canadian Rockies, among some 60 other options. You might opt to go alone and meet new friends or treat your mom to one of its mother-daughter trips . Tours range from moderate to active, high-energy, and challenging.

Balanced Rock

Balanced Rock hosts groups of women in Yosemite National Park. These trips lean less toward the adventurous and more toward the spiritual, "inspir[ing] healing and wellness through yoga, hiking, Ayurveda, creative expression, and community." The nonprofit runs a variety of programs throughout the year, including annual Women of Color retreats. Trips are for "any individual who self-identifies as trans, woman, nonbinary, intersex, two-spirit, and/or genderqueer."

Damesly trips — ranging from Cuba to Bhutan, Uzbekistan, the Grand Canyon, and beyond — cater to "creative and professional women" between 30 and 65, though any woman 21 or older can join. Offerings include high-energy adventures and self-discovery workshops alike. The groups are kept small (12 maximum), making for an intimate experience. And you can bet this women-owned business supports as many females as possible along the way.

Explorer Chick

Explorer Chick 's trips include hiking, snorkeling, kayaking, rafting, rock climbing, and sometimes even whiskey tours, glamping, or survival workshops. Destinations range from Uganda to Patagonia to Croatia, among many others. Women of all ages are welcome as long as they're physically capable of the itinerary. The only demographics this group discriminates against are "mean girls" and "Debbie Downers."

Anna Shvets/Getty Images

Fit & Fly

Instructor-led daily workouts anchor Fit & Fly retreats to sunshiny locales like Bali, Morocco, and Mexico City (also Iceland — not so sunshiny). Fitness opportunities might include a surf lesson, a glacier hike, or yoga in the desert. Accommodations are high-end and comfortable — ideal for post-workout recovery — and time outside of "class" often involves good food and spa treatments.

REI Women's Adventures

The outdoor retailer REI invites any traveler who identifies as a woman on adventures in U.S. national parks and beyond. Choose between backpacking in Joshua Tree, kayaking in the San Juan Islands, camping in Bryce Canyon, section hiking the Pacific Crest Trail, and more. You won't need a passport for any of them. Activity levels for said trips range from two ("easy active") to five ("strenuous"). One major selling point of an REI Women's Adventure ? Members get a discounted price.

Buena Vista Images/Getty Images

WHOA Travel

The concept of WHOA is apparent in the name: "Women High On Adventure." These itineraries are for women who want to climb mountains. This is your chance to hike to great heights in Mount Cook National Park, New Zealand, to ice climb a volcano in Iceland, or to scale a trio of peaks in Ecuador. Tours are also offered in Patagonia, Antarctica, Peru, and more. Some trips, billed as WHOA Plus, are just for "curvy" or plus-sized women.

Wild Women Expeditions

This Canada-based tour operator welcomes wild women "of all ages, sexual orientations, and identities" on trips in every corner of the world. Adventures might include taking a dinghy to see Greenland's glaciers up close, horseback riding in Mongolia, or sailing the Nile River in Egypt. Wild Women Expeditions has hosted girls and women from eight to 86 in more than 30 countries and on every continent.

Intrepid Travel Women's Expeditions

Intrepid Travel is the biggest adventure travel company — and one of the most eco-conscious, earning the reputable B Corporation certification for its social and environmental efforts. It isn't totally women-focused, but it does host a number of women-only adventures to Jordan, Pakistan, India, Morocco, and beyond. These trips are specifically designed to create immersive, hands-on experiences such as traditional weaving in Morocco's Amejgag village and cooking with Tibetan refugees in Nepal. On these expeditions, visitors get the chance to support female employment opportunities and women-owned businesses.

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Screen Rant

25 best horror movies about a group of friends.

Many horror films feature groups of friends fighting a killer or supernatural force, and Redditors share their faves, like Scream and The Descent.

• Horror movies with groups of friends add emotional stakes, making the characters more relatable and the story more engaging.
• Unique takes on friendship dynamics in horror movies can create compelling narratives, ranging from comedic to chilling.
• Making a group of friends the center of a horror story adds an extra layer of complexity and impact to the overall theme of the film.

There are many examples of a groups of friends in horror movies that prove the ensemble approach is an effective storytelling tool in the genre. Some of the most exciting horror movies are about a group of friends who have fun while hanging out, only to realize they are in terrifying danger . Whether they're about teenage serial killers or supernatural forces at work, these movies add emotional stakes. The most endearing and engaging horror movies are the ones where friends are in it together and look out for each other, even if not all of them make it out alive.

Slasher movie characters often fit the "group of friends" horror trope, usually involving young friends fleeing from some masked killer. However, there are a lot of interesting ways to explore the idea of friendship in horror movies with some stories telling genuinely touching stories of these close companions in horrific scenarios, while others test the limits of friendship with people turning on each other. While there are a lot of ways to approach horror movies, making a group of friends the center of the story has proven to add another layer to some of these standout horror gems.

15 Best Horror Movies Of All Time, Ranked

25 attack the block (2011), a gang of youths take on invading aliens, attack the block.

Attack the Block is one of the rare group of friends horror movies that focuses on a young cast. The movie follows a group of troublemaking youths, led by John Boyega in his breakout role. While they spend their time doing petty crimes and intimidating people, they find their chance to be heroes when aliens begin invading their city.

They are easy to root for, and it's genuinely heartbreaking when they don't all make it out alive.

Writer-director Joe Cornish is a longtime collaborator of Edgar Wright, and it is clear to see their similar styles with Attack the Block using the same comedic energy while never undercutting the thrills of the story. The young heroes make for an endearing group of friends who are much more complex than they initially seem. They are easy to root for, and it's genuinely heartbreaking when they don't all make it out alive.

24 Green Room (2015)

A punk rock group is targeted by neo-nazis.

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Part of what makes group of friends horror movies so effective is that, seeing these friends together makes them into richer characters that the audience wants to see survive the ordeal. That is all the more impactful when it becomes clear that not all of them will. Green Room is an exceptional, small horror movie about a punk rock band who reluctantly take a gig playing at a compound for neo-Nazis. However, after witnessing a murder, they find themselves trapped and targeted by their hosts.

The movie is also notable for giving Patrick Stewart his best villain role as the head of the Nazi group.

Green Room is one of the most unsettlingly realistic horror movies with the violence and evil in the movie being portrayed as so matter of fact. The friends are shown to be real characters who react in relatable ways without Hollywood storytelling flourishes. The movie is also notable for giving Patrick Stewart his best villain role as the head of the Nazi group.

23 Bodies Bodies Bodies (2022)

Friends begins to suspect one of them is a killer during a late-night party, bodies bodies bodies.

One of the most underrated A24 horror movies that have come out in recent years, Bodies Bodies Bodies mixes elements of horror, comedy, and a whodunnit mystery. The movie follows a bunch of young and spoiled friends having a wild party at the mansion owned by one of their parents. However, when their night of fun is shaken by one of them dying, they realize there is a killer in the group .

The movie does a number of clever things with its approach to the group-of-friends horror trope. It has a lot of fun satirizing as well as examining the young culture of the modern world with some funny and insightful things to say. It is also fun to see the group of friends turn on each other when it becomes a life-or-death scenario.

22 House Of Wax

House of wax.

The 2005 film House of Wax is a remake of Mystery of the Wax Museum , which was released in 1933, and best known for Paris Hilton having a starring role. There are several characters in this group of friends horror movie who go on a road trip : Nick and Carly, who are brother and sister, and their pals Dalton, Blake, Paige, and Wade.

House of Wax was critically slammed when it was first released, but it has since become something of a cult classic and something of a guilty pleasure.

While they're trying to go to a football game, they find themselves in an abandoned area and stumble upon the wax museum, which is an incredibly creepy setting. It's easy to imagine how freaked out everyone is and how they wish that they had never found this place at all. House of Wax was critically slammed when it was first released, but it has since become something of a cult classic and something of a guilty pleasure.

Host is one of the many movies born out of the COVID-19 pandemic, and for the most part, it's one of the most successful and a great deadly friends movie. Haley and her friends are keeping in touch on Zoom during the COVID-19 pandemic but when Haley adds a medium to the chat, they are each attacked by spirits.

It's a creative story, and the characters are clearly great friends as they have easy, natural conversations with one another. How well Host will age is uncertain, as being so closely connected to the event of the time of its release could hold it back.

20 As Above, So Below

As above, so below.

As Above, So Below is a found footage horror movie that tells the story of Scarlett, who wants to find the philosopher's stone because that was her dad's quest. The movie follows people visiting the Catacombs of Paris and filming their experience for a documentary. Scarlett explores with a guide named Papillon, Papillon's pal Zed, Papillon's girlfriend Souxie, and Scarlett's ex George.

While it might borrow a lot of its narrative from The Descent it does enough differently to stand on its own.

It's fascinating seeing a group of friends in this setting that mixes horror and adventure. While it might borrow a lot of its narrative from The Descent it does enough differently to stand on its own. What makes As Above, So Below most unique is its Paris setting, making for one of the surprisingly nicest-looking horror movies, even if it is mostly set in a cave.

Rent on Vudu.

19 Cabin Fever

Cabin fever.

Horror movies set in the woods are a well-known trope of the genre and can make for an effective point of isolation for a group of friends to experience some real terror. Cabin Fever is exactly that, as it follows a group of friends stuck in a cabin when all hell breaks loose. While groups of friends in cabins is essentially a subgenre of horror, as there are so many of them, Cabin Fever does something much different with the formula.

Instead of a zombie attack or a demon possession, the movie is about a deadly virus that has disgusting effects. Bert, Paul, Karen, Marcy, and Jeff just want to have some fun on spring break by going away to a cabin, but they get more time in nature than they bargained for when they come across a flesh-eating virus.

Stream on Starz.

18 Head Count

Joshua Tree is a great location for a horror movie , as it's in the middle of nowhere, and the sweltering heat certainly won't help the situation, not to mention that the location is heavily linked to psychedelics, which will make any potential victims hallucinate the worst things. It is used effectively in the underseen horror movie Head Count.

The movie follows Evan, who is spending time in the picturesque area when he meets a group of friends who are all about having fun. He hangs out with them and ends up staying with them at their house rental. Head Count has it all: a close group of characters, a beautiful location, and a supernatural entity, as the teenagers summon a paranormal presence which mimics their appearances, a la The Thing .

17 Malevolent

Malevolent (2018).

Malevolent offers an interesting twist on the usual group of friends horror movie plot, as Jackson and Angela are siblings who pretend to look into supernatural occurrences in houses. They work with a crew, and the characters have become friendly with each other as they are lying about what they can do and just trying to make money.

Florence Pugh has become a certified scream queen and one of the best horror actors working today

Malevolent is one of the best supernatural horrors that many people might not have seen, and Angela and Jackson are compelling, tough characters and interesting con artists. Between Malevolent and Midsommar , Florence Pugh has become a certified scream queen and one of the best horror actors working today, along with Jenna Ortega.

Malevolent is available to stream on Netflix.

16 I Know What You Did Last Summer

I know what you did last summer.

Following the phenomenal success of Scream , so many studios rushed slasher movies into production, and none of them made a bigger splash than I Know What You Did Last Summer. While it was criticized for being too derivative of Scream without the clever satire, I Know What You Did Last Summer is such an underrated late '90s slasher movie with a great young cast that has incredible chemistry.

The 1997 movie isn't attempting to reinvent the wheel, and it simply delivers on being a fun mystery movie involving a group of friends.

The 1997 movie isn't attempting to reinvent the wheel, and it simply delivers on being a fun mystery movie involving a group of friends. The movie was also clearly inspired by classics like Prom Night and packaged into a cool 90s movie. I Know What You Did Last Summer is ultimately a great genre piece that the entire cast and crew were enthusiastic about, and it shows on the screen.

15 The Babysitter

The babysitter.

The Babysitter cleverly flips the idea of horror movies surrounding a group of friends on its head. While most examples see the friend groups being tormented by spirits, becoming possessed, or fighting for survival, the friends in The Babysitter are the bad guys. The 2017 movie follows Cole (Judah Lewis), a 12-year-old boy who finds out that his babysitter is part of a satanic cult.

Between the buckets of blood and the subtle humor, The Babysitter features a standout performance by Samara Weaving.

The Babysitter gets more outrageous when it's revealed that the cult plans to kill Cole. The movie is a perfect blend of comedy and horror, and it's full of energy, and for a horror movie, it's surprisingly rewatchable. Between the buckets of blood and the subtle humor, The Babysitter features a standout performance by Samara Weaving. A sequel, The Babysitter: Killer Queen , which stars Jenna Ortega, was released in 2020 and is almost as good as the original film.

14 Joy Ride

So many "group of friends" horror movies came out of the late '90s and early 2000s and all had the same aesthetic, whether it's I Know What You Did Last Summe r or Final Destination . Joy Ride is one of those movies, but it has unfairly disappeared into obscurity and is criminally underrated.

Rusty Nails is also one of the most effective horror movie villains that is barely seen

The movie follows Lewis, who is giving the love of his life Venna a ride, and he ends up helping his troubled brother Fuller by picking him up too. The characters are tormented by Rusty Nail, a villainous truck driver, and while the movie is pretty cheesy, it's a solid story of characters in a truly chilling scenario. Rusty Nails is also one of the most effective horror movie villains that is barely seen, with Ted Levine providing the sinister voice of the character to great effect.

Joy Ride is available to stream on Hulu.

The 2019 release Haunt follows Bailey and Harper, who go to college together, and after meeting Evan and Nathan, the four new friends decide to visit a haunted house. However, it's nothing like a typical Halloween attraction and it's clear that it won't be simple to escape this place, especially when they start getting attacked by masked killers.

The characters care deeply about each other but are scared for their own survival.

Like other slasher horror movies, the characters care deeply about each other but are scared for their own survival, and Harper is an especially good protagonist who knows how to take care of herself because of traumatic events from her past. The killers' chilling masks are some of the scariest in a horror film , making their mark on the long history of slasher movie killers . The whole of Haunt is as if an episode of Scooby-Doo was turned into a genuine horror movie, and it works surprisingly well.

Stream on Prime Video & Hulu.

12 Final Destination

Final destination.

All of the Final Destination movies have the same premise, as each one follows a group of friends who all survive near-death experiences, but as a result, the balance of life and death is disturbed, and Death comes after each one of the friends in an attempt to restore balance . Whether it's avoiding an airplane crash or a rollercoaster disaster, every movie in the series has the same formula, but none have ever been able to top the original 2000 movie.

The movie has incredible practical effects and some great tension with the threat of Death striking at any moment.

Though its premise was weakened with each consecutive sequel, Final Destination has such a clever story, and it's terrifying not only on a supernatural level, but it's terrifying for anyone with a fear of planes too. The movie has incredible practical effects and some great tension with the threat of Death striking at any moment.

11 Annabelle: Creation

Annabelle: creation.

In Annabelle: Creation , Esther and Samuel Mullins start an orphanage, and the children staying there come across a demon who makes their lives difficult and terrifying. The orphanage setting makes this movie stand out when compared to the other stories about the famous doll Annabelle, and it's sweet seeing the children become close as they fight this evil.

The doll itself is inherently creepy, but creepy dolls in horror movies aren't anything new, as M3GAN and The Boy are two very recent examples of horror films about dolls. However, what makes Annabelle: Creation a great "group of friends" horror movie is that it does what other movies of its ilk are afraid to do, as young children are the potential victims. Few other horror movies will go that far, with Evil Dead Rise being one of the few recent examples.

10 The Final Girls

The final girls.

Final Girls sees a friend group being put in a unique situation: literally walking into a slasher movie from the 1980s . When a screening of the fictional movie Camp Bloodbath goes wrong, Max and her friends Duncan, Gertie Michaels, and Chris Briggs find themselves in the film. The movie is compelling as Max has to learn to get along with Vicki Summers, with whom she was once close, and Max also clearly misses her mother, who was the star of the movie.

While Final Girls isn't quite a classic like Scream is, it's just as entertainingly meta.

Final Girls has an entertaining story but has a stronger emotional undercurrent as Max feels closer to her mother through this experience, even though it still delivers great scares. Given the movie's inclusion of horror movies in the narrative there are a lot of parallels to another deadly horror movie about friends, Scream. While Final Girls isn't quite a classic like Scream is, it's just as entertainingly meta.

Who The First Horror Movie "Final Girl" Actually Was

9 it (2017), young kids face off with a demonic clown.

Another "group of friends" horror movie that is willing to let little kids be the one in danger is the 2017 adaptation of Stephen King's It . The movie follows a group of young outcasts living in the strange and dark town of Derry . They are drawn together as companions but also learn that they share something in common — they are all tormented by the demonic clown entity known as Pennywise.

Pennywise is one of the most effective horror movie villains of all time, with one look at the sadistic clown being enough to induce nightmares. However, the movie would not succeed without the charm and fun of the young cast. Despite the terrifying elements of the movie, they always seem like kids who joke around and try to have fun. The second part of the story in which adult actors take over the roles was missing the youthful feel of this original cast.

8 Midsommar (2019)

A grieving woman joins her boyfriend and friends on a visit to a cult festival.

Florence Pugh stars in Midsommar which features another interesting take on the friend group dynamic. Pugh stars as a young woman who is still dealing with the trauma she experienced from a recent tragedy. In an attempt to cope with the ordeal, she joins her problematic boyfriend and his self-centered friends on their trip to a Swedish midsummer festival in an isolated community. However, the festival soon reveals darker aspects.

This is another movie that has fun tearing down the concept of the group of friends as Pugh's character is the only one of the group who is not a self-involved and thoughtless person. They turn on each other, get in arguments, and generally are terrible friends and it is interesting to see that realistic dynamic play out within this surreal story.

7 The Descent

The descent.

The main characters in The Descent want to have a good time exploring a cave in North Carolina, but things take a turn for the worse pretty quickly. While the film has some legitimate scares, as there are creatures named crawlers who hunt them down, the story also focuses on the strong friendships between the characters.

The movie is wholly terrifying, and few other films feature as much blood as The Descent

The Descent has two different endings, with one release being happy and the other being totally harrowing, and it's up to audiences which one they choose to believe is the real ending. The movie is wholly terrifying, and few other films feature as much blood as The Descent . It's also one of the rare instances where the sequel is just as good as its predecessor, as The Descent Part II achieved the impossible and is even scarier.

Stream on Max.

6 The Cabin In The Woods

The cabin in the woods.

The Cabin in the Woods is another horror movie that walks a fine line between paying homage to the genre tropes and satirizing them. The movie follows a likable group of friends who venture into the woods to stay at an isolated cabin. However, before long they are fighting for their lives when a terrifying evil is unleashed, but soon discover that there is something even stranger at play.

Cabin in the Woods leans into the cliches and tropes of deadly horror movies just as much as it subverts them.

While fans focus on this movie for its artistic ideas and references to other films, The Cabin in the Woods is also a smart friendship story. Satire in horror has never been done as well as it has in this 2012 film, as it's a commentary on the tried-and-true formula, and Cabin in the Woods leans into the clichés and tropes of deadly horror movies just as much as it subverts them.