Take a tour holiday, even 20 years ago and odds-on, it involved more people than you thought possible squeezed into a 52-seat coach for a frenzied sprint through Europe, staring down nine countries in 12 days.
But today, you’re likely to be one of a much smaller group of travellers, making your way at a far more leisurely pace through fewer destinations, with myriad opportunities to immerse yourself in the surroundings, the culture and the food.
“Escorted journeys have been evolving over the last 10 or so years which has led to significant changes in the experience,” says James Hewlett of the 31-year-old Albatross Tours. His company offers tours all around Europe, like to the Christmas markets and the French Epicurean Trail.
“For instance, Albatross has an average of 22 people on each tour and slows things down. We spend multiple nights – three, four or five – in a location so we can embrace slow travel.
“With that also comes shorter driving distances, stays in character hotels, and more ‘regionality’ rather than lists of countries. There’s various transportation, too, like rail and ferries, a new ‘luxury’ range, and more free time built into itineraries, so guests can choose to wander, or shop or visit cafes and really get a feel for a place.”
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That new luxury range includes Swiss Grandeur from Milan to Zurich, with a ride in the panoramic carriages of the Glacier Express and a stay at the famed Chedi Andermatt Hotel.
A relative newcomer to the escorted journeys market, Inspiring Vacations started eight years ago with large groups of mostly first-time travellers in big vehicles, covering a lot of ground very quickly, with one-night stays and all meals included. Now it too has diversified its offering radically, with eight different types of tours, from classic to small-group, luxury platinum to tailor-made for four people or more.
The most popular are small-group tours, such as 27 days in Peru and Galapagos, 14 days in Vietnam and Sapa, and 15 days exploring Japan. These have eight to 20 people, depending on the destination, two-to-three-night stays in each place and excursions with both the tour leader, and local guides.
“These tours take you off the beaten track to places you wouldn’t see otherwise,” says Paul Ryan, Inspiring Vacations’ managing director. “There are immersive experiences in homes, schools or churches, and they’re unique in terms of getting a feel for where you are. There might even be a meal thrown in, too.
“Nowadays not all meals are included. We find that people want to break away from the group sometimes and have the freedom to explore and try restaurants themselves, even though our guides are always there to advise them.”
Two years ago, the company introduced its “independent” range of tours with only transport and hotels booked for, say, the “20-day Rovos Rail Namibia Safari with Cape Town & Kruger”. Last year, it also launched its “solo journeys” with no single supplements and lone travellers knowing they won’t be outnumbered by couples.
Veteran tour company Intrepid Travel was doing small tours – with an average group size of 10 – from its start, 37 years ago but it too has expanded its offering, now with more than 1000 itineraries in 120 countries. It has also introduced a premium range of tours, with four-star accommodation and private transport, has expanded its “expeditions” to less well-known countries, started a family small group travel specialty introduced women-only trips to places such as Saudi Arabia, Cambodia, Bhutan and Peru.
“Over the last 15 years, we’ve probably doubled the different types of trips we offer,” says Intrepid’s Erica Kritikides. “We’ve had a huge level of diversification in that time, both in terms of destinations and different ways for people to travel.
“There’s a growing awareness of small-group travel and people wanting their own preferences acknowledged. They don’t want to go on a generic whistle-stop trip. They want more innovative experiences – perhaps a food adventure in South Korea, a walking trip in Nepal, or cycling through Vietnam. They want escorted journeys that will suit them, their tastes, their interests, and their budget.”
Sue Williams is a Sydney-based freelance travel writer, author and journalist who’s filed for newspapers, magazines, radio and TV stations around the world.Connect via email.
