Not long ago, guided tours were something mostly geriatrics did from the not-so comfortable confines of oversized buses. But thanks to growing interest in push-button adventures, socially and culturally aware travelers, and new modes of transportation, times are changing.
Take my 10-day hike around The Alps this summer. Behind the scenes the once-in-a-lifetime trip involved dozens of bookings, numerous transfers and sub-transactions, and lots of logistical back and forth. All I did, however, was press “book now” and everything was taken care of, save for packing and boarding my flight.
Which explains why new-age adventure escorts such as G Adventures and Intrepid Travel are expanding as fast as they are. Instead of offering underwhelming trips that are brief, shallow, impersonal and low-impact, modern group tours reach as far as Antarctica and give birth to new friendships from like-minded individuals.
“We’re making group tours cool again,” proclaims Bruce Poon Tip, founder of G Adventures. In addition to removing the logistical hassle of bagging some of the world’s greatest hikes, Poon Tip’s company has partnered with National Geographic, Jane Goodall, and all seven continents to bring 800 destinations to life.
Travel styles include active, “yolo,” marine, rail, family, local living and classic group tours to some of the most unique corners of the world. “Before the internet, do-it-yourself guide-booking was the only way to go and required a lot of time,” Poon Tip says. “Now with a couple of clicks, you can go to Tibet or Mongolia as early as Thursday. And you can get more experiences in less time and share them with like-minded people.”
That social aspect is a big reason for the rise in-group tours, Poon Tip says. “Since starting 25 years ago, our group sizes have grown to 12-14 total,” he says. “We’ll still run trips with 4-6, but our customers prefer groups twice that size.”