Best of · PREMIUM SMALL-GROUP TOURS
Eight people instead of forty changes the guide, the pace and whether you can hear anything. The 15 below name their real cap, and the ones that say "intimate" without a number are not on the list.
Travel from Queenstown to Milford Sound in a small group of up to 15, with hotel pickup, live commentary, picnic lunch, scenic stops, and a two-hour cruise past Mitre Peak and waterfalls. Guides such as Andy, Danny, Jess, Joe, and Dean lead the journey.
“Small scale tour with a comfortable minibus and a great guide. We had some great stops along the way”
Leave Reykjavík in a minibus of about 20 people and chase clear skies with guides such as Ody, JP, Axel, Michael, and Jonas. Expect several dark-sky stops, aurora facts, photo help, hot chocolate, and a free retry within three years if the lights do not appear.
“It was fantastic!! Our driver had so much knowledge about Iceland, the weather, and how to best find the northern lights. We found the northern lights too. He gave loads of info and facts while on the tour. Would highly recommend. The only negative we had, which was a very small one, was that we weren’t keen on the hot chocolate!!”
Travel from Hoi An or Da Nang to Ba Na Hills in a small group of up to 12, ride Southeast Asia’s modern cable cars, visit the Golden Bridge, gardens, French-style buildings, and Fantasy Park. Guides such as Mr Bean, Long, Lucy, and Tony lead the day.
“Very informative tour! The cable car ride was a great start, we didn’t realize the size of this place. Golden bridge is what was expected & didn’t disappoint. The flower garden was simply superb & my favourite part of BaNa Hills. The amount of time & work that went into this place is incredible It also has 3 levels of rides & games area. Once the mist & clouds cleared the views were spectacular . I 💯 % recommend”
Leave Phuket early with a group of no more than 18, watch sunrise over the Andaman Sea, and reach Maya Bay before the main rush. You will visit Pileh Bay, Monkey Beach, Viking Cave, Nui Beach, and a relaxing beach stop, with breakfast, snacks, snorkel gear, and lunch at Soho Pool Club included.
“Even with the rain, this was a beautiful experience! The snorkeling was amazing and swimming in the lagoon felt so surreal.”
Spend about nine hours exploring the Douro Valley from Porto with a local guide such as Alex, Sara, Sergio, or Miguel. Visit Quinta do Panascal, taste three Ports, enjoy lunch at Casa dos Barros, cruise the Douro from Pinhão, and sample wine, olive oil, and honey.
“Well organized day with several different interesting experiences including several wine tastings with understandable explanations of the different wines and processes plus beautiful scenery”
Meet River Ventures in Crystal River for a small-group manatee snorkel tour led by a Coast Guard Certified Master Captain and in-water guide. You’ll get a wetsuit, gear, instruction, snacks, drinks, and a heated cabin in winter. Manatees are wild, so sightings and clear water are never guaranteed.
“We saw a lot of manatees even though the manatee season was over. Our tour guide Nataly and the captain were very attentive and friendly and took good care of us. The photos unfortunately weren't that good .- We were able to use only one photo - the group photo at the start of the tour, and one video of a manatee.”
Leave Hurghada before dawn for Luxor with driver Ahmed and a professional guide such as Said. Visit Karnak, three Valley of the Kings tombs, Hatshepsut’s temple, and the Colossi of Memnon. Expect a long day, a small group of up to 30, buffet lunch, Wi-Fi, snacks, and an optional longer Nile boat ride.
“Had a fantastic time on my recent excursion with Driver Ahmed and Tour Guide Said. Ahmed was an excellent driver, ensuring a safe and comfortable journey and making sure that we arrived before the crowds, number 1, which he was very proud of!!! Said was incredibly knowledgeable and passionate about the history and culture of ancient Egypt. Be prepared for speed walking in the Egyptian heat though and a lot of pestering by locals but all in all I would highly recommend this excursion to anyone visiting Egypt 😉”
Sail Fuerteventura’s volcanic south coast aboard the 15-meter Magic Deluxe, a Lagoon 450S catamaran with a small group, open bar, chef-prepared lunch, and a swim near Jandía. Crews such as Alex, Karolina, Eloy, and Christina have earned praise for warm, attentive service. Wildlife sightings are possible, not guaranteed.
“Excellent. We have seen dolphins. The crew was extremely nice.”
Spend 10 hours on Maui’s Road to Hana with up to eight people, a Hawaii-certified guide, hotel or port pickup, and a luxury limo-van. Expect Kaumahina, Ke‘anae, Wai‘anapanapa, a possible waterfall swim, breakfast, lunch, and guides such as Ray, Gayle, Ernie, or Malissa.
“Our tour guide Ray was fabulous! He was friendly and knowledgeable. He made sure we knew how the day would go and checked in on us throughout the trip. Ray made it a point to remember our names. He didn’t let us open our van door one single time and made sure we safely exited at each stop! The breakfast and lunch were fantastic. We really enjoyed the tour and would highly recommend it!”
Explore Toronto with a local guide and no more than 12 people. Ride up the CN Tower, see Queen’s Park and Nathan Phillips Square, browse St. Lawrence Market, and take a seasonal harbour cruise. Guides such as Heather, Tim, Nathan, and Ansar are praised for friendly, personal service.
“Great tour with friendly guides and good activities. Would highly recommend for anyone hoping to get an overview of downtown Toronto.”
Sail from Morro Jable on a 15-meter catamaran with up to 12 people. Look for dolphins and whales, swim near Jandía, and enjoy a chef-prepared lunch with beer, wine, Prosecco, soft drinks, and water. Crew names vary, including Laura, Miguel, Mimi, and Francis.
“Journée extraordinaire avec notre commandant Uriel et Miguel très attentionné. Une jolie promenade sur une mer calme avec un arrêt saut et baignade près d’une jolie plage. Le service boissons (alcoolisé et non alcoolisé) plutôt généreux et le repas simple, efficace et bon. Nous n’avons pas vu de dauphins mais nous ne venions pas pour cela, cependant Uriel et Miguel ont essayé de les chercher. Nos amis les cétacés se sont fait discrets, telle est la loi de la nature. Merci vraiment à Miguel pour ses sourires, sa joie et bonne humeur. L’équipe des 7 françaises !”
Spend 11 to 12 hours visiting the Cu Chi Tunnels and Mekong Delta from Ho Chi Minh City. Learn how wartime tunnels worked, eat Vietnamese food, cruise the Tien River, sample coconut candy, ride a sampan, and hear Southern folk music. Guides may include Haley, Kevin, Robert, or Ken.
“Walking around the tunnel was fun and the tour guide explaining about the history and what happened and how they survived in there very interesting. On the bus she also explained about the little history of what went down and happened between north and south with the communist party which was very easy to understand.”
Spend about four hours on a catamaran for up to 16 people, visiting Koločep’s Blue and Green Caves and Šunj Beach on Lopud. Snorkel gear, waterproof bags, a restroom, and up to three drinks are included. You must be able to swim from the boat to some stops.
“Beautiful boat ride but in the write up they never told us they would be stopping for lunch so we didn't have as much time in the water as we would have liked. There were also no noodles which would have been pretty helpful.”
Cruise from Koh Samui to Angthong National Marine Park with Jason, Roon, Cara, or another 100 Degrees East guide. You’ll snorkel at Koh Wao Yai, kayak beside limestone cliffs, eat a Thai lunch on the beach, and climb to Emerald Lake in a group capped at 12.
“One of the best tours I have been on. Truly 5 star service and experience. Would recommend to anyone wanting to explore the marine park in Thailand. Thank you for a great experience!”
Travel from Las Vegas in an air-conditioned Mercedes-Benz van with an English-speaking guide such as Pam, Chris, Keith, or Victor. Walk across the Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge, stop at Lake Mead, and spend 25 minutes on top of Hoover Dam. Pickup is available from selected Strip hotels.
“Pam was brilliant , explaining history of the dam , made trip very pleasurable”
Pick a door, a deck or a driver.
