Organised group holiday tour companies

I need a holiday and am interested in joining a group tour with a tour company that specialises in small group tours and gives a good, reliable service and organises pleasant tours. Has anyone done anything like this and, if so, can you recommend any companies to try? Would be interested to hear what these kinds of group tours are like.

I'm interested in something fairly stress-free with comfortable accommodation (i.e. not trecking up Mount Kilimanjaro or sleeping in a tribal hut in Borneo, and NO CAMPING), preferably with a bit of walking, seeing the countryside/wildlife, cultural sites, that sort of thing. So not lazing on the beach either. I have this dumb idea of being able to tramp around during the day but return to comfortable accommodation in the evening. Hopefully with a nice tour leader and not a bossy Commandante.

(Please don't say "Saga"... despite the description, I'm not ready for that quite yet.)

try asi, they do some really great stuff.

have also done walking liguria and really liked that, too

Where would you like to go?

Maybe you put some information into your profile so that we have a clue about you which might give us a guide to what to recommend?

I was thinking of the US/Canada/Europe/NZ/Australia/UK. Or another developed country.

I've been considering "Explore". Has anyone travelled with them?

Thanks for the tips, tinap! I'll check out these sites.

www.kumuka.com

Interprepid also does tours like that.
I prefer to travel with Meier's Weltreisen- nice tours, good hotels, am getting too old to want to hangout in hostels.

am off to Peru with explore in September. First trip with them but know other people who have had good experiences.
Another one is Exodus

Ok I'm not going to suggest SAGA but Solos Holidays which my sister has been using for the last 10-15 years. They are a very good company - attract more professional single people teachers/doctors/accountants etc. Accommodation is first class worldwide. My sister has done everything from Peru to Dublin (she's not the outdoors type and likes museums etc and also some fun). They usually have smaller groups but very well organised. http://www.solosholidays.co.uk/

[quote name='Lorelei' date='Jul 14 2007, 4:01 pm' post='1000251']
I have this dumb idea of being able to tramp around during the day but return to comfortable accommodation in the evening. Hopefully with a nice tour leader and not a bossy Commandante.quote]

a friend of mine did this trip in Morocco recently with Explore where day trips trekking but staying in lovely kasbah at night so it is possible! Guess you just need to check through the brochures carefully. I also found explore very helpful on phone so maybe worth calling them and see what trips they can advise.

I used Exodus in South America last year. It was fun to me but most nights were under canvas so not quite what you'd want. However we crossed paths with an Explore group a couple of times and they seemed to be having the same fun but paying a bit more and staying in warm and dry permanent accommodation, so I'd take a look at them first.

That sounds interesting, Agnes. It's not a "dating" holiday, though, is it? Attracting people who want to "meet someone" (even if it's just for a week). A kind of "Club 18-30" for an older age-group?

Thanks about the tips regarding Explore and Exodus.

I've used Gap adventures in the past... fabulous! Would highly recommend them and using them again at Christmas.
http://www.gapadventures.com/

No Lorelei, Solos is not a dating holiday. Its purely for people who want to go on holiday and who don't really want to go alone. Friendships develop of course but not necessarily relationships. The nice thing is just the company of other people in the same situation. My sister was widowed very young and enjoyed the company the groups offered and as I said - top class accommodation wherever you go.

Sounds good, Agnes.

If you are looking for a European trip how about Scotland? Great in the summer www.wildinscotland.com

Somwhere hotter? Oman www.omanworldtourism.com

I have lots of contacts in South Africa aswell!

I work in the Travel Industry and have worked for small group travel companies for years! So ask me anything

Iam based in Frankfurt so if you would prefare to chat give me a call 01633519595

I have my own website in English...www.blescapes.com and am now based in Lingen (Ems), I can quote for join-in tour on Canada or USA..how long and when?

Also can do Kenya, Tanzania, South Africa and Namibia...the website is not yet fully loaded, but have the rates...

Once you have done a bit more research and maybe made a short list, remember to check Trip Advisor for other people's comments on their experiences.

I'm surprised at people recommending Explore travel company. I booked a holiday with Explore and they were terrible! First off they sent me to the wrong hotel to start the trip. When I called their local agent (since the hotel didn't have my booking) they had no idea where I should be. Took several hours to sort out. Then I met the tour guide who, although a nice guy, was not fluent in the local language. Later on in the trip there were discrepancies in the printed itinerary and the type of accommodation we stayed in as well as a hike that was supposed to be included in the tour price and was not.

I would NEVER recommend Explore. I have travelled with many other companies and they all have their act together, in my experience, compared with Explore.

Why not try somewhere modern, safe, vibrant and exotic in Asia? Singapore ! check out visitsingapore.com. If you need more information, do let me know.

Why not try somewhere vibrant, modern, safe and exotic in Asia? Singapore! check out visitsingapore.com and let me know if you need more info.