6 Things to Consider When Choosing a Guided Tour

Research shows that more travelers are seeking to experience destinations in more authentic, immersive ways. The demand for guided tours is growing and tour companies are offering new ways to see, feel and even taste local culture on a more intimate level. And if you’re paying a premium a guided vacation experience, you want to make sure it meets your expectations. Here are six important factors to consider as you choose a tour provider and prepare to embark on a guided journey:

Immersive experiences

By far the biggest factor in choosing a guided tour among today’s well-traveled generation is experiencing the local culture first-hand. From learning how to lead a dogsled team in Finland, kayaking with river dolphins in Cambodia, or learning the fine art of glassmaking in Italy, tour companies that are staying ahead of the curve are focused on curating these immersive experiences that take their clients beyond the surface to discover the heart and soul of a destination.

 Group size

For many travelers, group size is an extremely important consideration and a key question to ask early in the planning process. Most guided tours mean travelling with a group and it’s becoming more important for tour companies to keep the size small to allow clients to have a more intimate local experience. Explorations by Collette Travel, for example, is all about keeping clients off the well-traveled path with less than 19 travelers on its cultural expeditions.

 Freedom to explore

Also important is choosing a guided tour that offers the freedom and flexibility to explore on your own. Guided tours are all about bringing travelers unique experiences in a qualified, controlled setting, but they also understand that to truly take in a destination, travelers need ample time to plot their own path. Tours that offer a balance of planned experiences and independent exploration are becoming a popular choice.

 Local experts

The most important role in any guided tour is of course -- the guide. Established tour companies like Intrepid Travel spend an immense amount of time forming close relationships with the communities they visit and always use local adventure providers so clients can truly learn what it means to be local. Great guides are at the core of every memorable trip.

 Authentic flavors

Experiencing the authentic flavors of a destination should be not be overlooked when choosing a guided tour. It’s about much more than just the food. From the preparation, rituals and social gathering, meals are an important part of any local culture. And whether hunting for truffles, a culinary class or tasting traditional dishes you won’t find on any tourist menu, it’s a delicious slice of the guided tour experience that should not be an afterthought.

 Unique lodging

Finally, while travelers may not spend much time in their hotel rooms, the lodging choices available on guided tours can range significantly, from chain hotels to strikingly unique properties that are steeped in history and local tradition. Whether it’s a castle, palace, glass igloo or eco lodge – just some of the options on Collette’s Explorations - choosing a tour with the right type of lodging can make all the difference in capturing the spirit of a destination.