Why book small group tours?

Before we get into the nitty gritty of how to find the best tour company for you, it’s important to address why you should consider small group tours in the first place. People generally travel either independently, or on a tour. Independent travel is wonderful, giving you total flexibility on your itinerary, but it also has downsides, especially if you are unfamiliar with a location, or simply want a more social dynamic. 

Group tours are useful because they take the planning out of the mix and let you truly immerse yourself in a destination. However, not all group tour companies are created equally. There are group tour companies that will pack you and 50 other travelers into a tourist bus and give you a canned experience booked down to the last second of each day. Sound fun? Probably not.

That is why we recommend small group tours, which are a perfect mix of the benefits of both independent and group travel. With a small group, you can better bond with your fellow likeminded travelers and have more influence on your daily plans and itinerary. Furthermore, with a small group size you can easily get entrance to ‘behind the scenes’ unique experiences.

6 things to look for when booking small group tours

If you want to avoid the stereotypical group tour experience (you know the one… a mob of obviously foreign tourists all wearing the same neon color, being shouted at through a loudspeaker by their guide), you need to book with the right company. But with the thousands of companies out there, how do you find the right one?

At Purposeful Nomad, we designed our trips to incorporate ethical adventures which support the local economies, all while getting unique experiences you couldn’t arrange on your own. We strive to follow the following six principles, which we think should be present in any small group tour worthy of your time and money!

1. Flexible schedule

For many travelers, their worst nightmare is having every minute of their day booked. In all honesty, group travel can be exhausting. It’s important to have time to explore on your own, or at the very least chill out on your hotel bed if that’s what you need. Check the itinerary and make sure the company has dedicated free time.

2. Local guides

As responsible tourists, we believe it’s important to support the local economy and infrastructure by using local guides. Beyond that, you will have a much deeper and memorable trip if you experience the destination through the lens of locals. These connections can be life changing and lead to international friendships and an altered worldview. You don’t necessarily have to book with a local company to get local guides. Some companies, including Purposeful Nomad, partner with local institutions and employ local guides for all or part of the trip.

3. Testimonials from past travelers

Don’t take a tour company’s marketing point blank. Sure, a tour company can post a breathtaking photo on Instagram, but what are the people on their tours actually saying? Look for a company that has a testimonial section on their websites from verified travelers – Are they mentioning specific experiences? What did they love about the trip? Did they recommend changes and have these changes been implemented? How responsive is the company? You can also check out reviews on Facebook, TripAdvisor, and other platforms.

4. Fits your travel style

One of the challenges of group travel, whether organized by a company or among friends, is creating the right balance of travel styles. You know yourself best: Do you prefer luxury travel, adventure travel, or a mix? Consider your favorite travel experiences in the past, your bucket list, and of course your budget. Then, find small group tours that fit within your budget and have itineraries that match your style. Pay close attention to the planned activities and accommodations. Chances are, if the company’s branding, mission, and itinerary match your own style, then you will end up with a group of likeminded travelers. 

For example, at Purposeful Nomad we lead responsible small group tours for women. Itineraries include everything from spas to hiking to even marching in protests. While each trip has a slightly different style, our overall style is mid-range immersive travel.

5. Group size

As we mentioned, size can really make or break a group tour. The ideal size of a group tour is up to personal preference, but in our experience the best small group tours include 6-12 people. That means enough people to make connections and friendships, but not too many that it gets rowdy or difficult to travel to off the beaten path locations. For many companies, each trip will have a slightly different size depending on interest, season, and who books. Reach out to the company to see if they have a cap on the number of travelers.

6. Community engagement

Finally, we believe that what truly sets a group tour company apart is its commitment to community engagement. As responsible travelers, we should not only experience a destination, but also contribute to advancing it socially, economically, and environmentally. The most sustainable way to do this is by supporting the local entrepreneurs and infrastructure that is already set up. Check small group tour itineraries for things like staying in local accommodation or home stays, visiting local charities, eating at local restaurants, and more. Community engagement is a cornerstone of the Purposeful Nomad travel style, and examples of it are interwoven into all of our trip itineraries.

Ready to book your next small group tour?

Look for those six things when choosing your next small group tour. Of course, we are a bit biased at Purposeful Nomad and suggest you check out our upcoming trips to see if they match your schedule and interests!