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As much traveling as I’ve done, I haven’t done many land tours. I can easily count on one hand the number of land tours I’ve been on—two. The first was our family trip to Japan in 2019, a ten-day jaunt to five different locales connected by the Shinkansen (bullet train). Of course, the second was just a few weeks ago, taking the Chamber of Commerce group to Tuscany, Italy.
Maybe it’s because I’ve traveled on nearly all major cruise lines in the past five years and aim to do more land travel in the next few years. I am not sure if that will entail groups because, to be honest, I prefer traveling on my own or with RAS. One of the best trips I’ve taken is the self-guided bike tour of Tuscany we did twelve years ago. We traveled at our own pace, did what we wanted and didn’t have to follow a schedule or strict itinerary. But groups can be fun, so it’ll probably be part of the mix.
This idea made me think—would land tours be something that you would do? We all have preconceived notions about what they are like: They’re only for older people. You will zip through ten countries in seven days. They’re too regimented and don’t allow for exploration on your own. You’ll only get to have meals with everyone else, etc. So, let me guide you through some considerations for group travel.
A moderately to highly structured itinerary
This is probably the most significant concern about group travel. Depending on the company, your travel schedule can be planned to the hour or somewhat flexible. My recent trip to Tuscany with Collette somewhat allowed for both kinds, but even this was too regimented for some of my group mates. I would love to have the group as a framework but plenty of flexibility with activities—that is, go on the planned tour or stay in the town where you’re staying.
Traveling with an unfamiliar (and often large) group
Another factor to consider is traveling with strangers, frequently in numbers of 25 to 40 or more. More companies are trending to small group offerings, but that’s still not the norm. Even though our group numbered sixteen, there were still 22 others on our tour. Luckily, we generally all got along. But that sometimes doesn’t happen, making the travel experience trying for all involved. If you feel comfortable with this aspect of guided tours, then you should be good.
Groups with a specific focus
While I went on a general-interest tour that included some history, art and culinary activities, some itineraries emphasize a particular specialty. If you are looking for one of these areas, look for a company that will provide that. I would love to do something with active adventure, particularly biking or hiking, which Backroads has done for decades. You will also find like-minded people as your fellow travelers, which could make the group aspect easier.
Skimming the surface of a place
Unlike a cruise, you will see more of a destination with a land tour. But if your itinerary is wide-ranging, you may not see everything you want in a particular place. For instance, my group mates didn’t like that we zipped through Florence and didn’t see much in popular sites. The problem was that it’s such a large city with so much to see, and it would’ve been hard to do everything everyone wanted. So, if you want to explore a place on a deeper level, think about how many days a tour will give you.
Budget, moderate or luxury?
Just as with cruising, land tours come in different price categories. You’ll have to determine your comfort level and how much you want to pay. Naturally, smaller group tours, as will those with five-star accommodations, will likely cost more. Certain companies will also market themselves as one of these classifications or offer all three types.
