Because group travel is so much more than the inside of a bus\u2026<\/strong><\/p>\n Whether you\u2019re exploring your home country or taking an international adventure, the idea of booking a tour can be overwhelming\u2026 especially if you\u2019re torn between taking a coach and small group travel. The main difference between the two styles comes down to the size of the group; coach tours use huge motor coaches that hold up to 60 people, while small groups are (plot twist)\u2026 small, averaging about 10 travellers per group.<\/p>\n Over the past 30 years, Intrepid has figured out what travellers really want on a group tour: the ease and peace of mind of travelling with others plus a mix of local secrets and authentic experiences that help you experience the pulse of a destination\u2026 and not just see it. Just because you\u2019ve handed over the planning and logistics to someone else shouldn\u2019t mean you need to sacrifice comfort or settle for mediocre experiences.<\/p>\n We\u2019ve weighed up the biggest factors to consider when booking a trip, so whether you\u2019re in your 20s and embarking on your first trip to Europe<\/a> or you\u2019re a senior who\u2019s always dreamed of seeing the Grand Canyon<\/a>, you\u2019ll be able to decide which style of travel is right for you. We may be biased, but the winner is pretty clear\u2026<\/p>\n So you\u2019ve made all the important decisions, like where you want to travel and when. But when you\u2019re daydreaming about your perfect trip, how many people are travelling alongside you? Do you picture blending in with a crowd of 50 from your home country? Or getting to know an intimate group of travellers from all over the world?<\/p>\n If your answer leans more toward the latter, small-group travel is definitely for you. While group size can vary depending on the destination and type of trip, Intrepid averages about 10 people per tour \u2014 the perfect number to hop on a local bus, squeeze into a hole-in-the-wall restaurant and get to know people on a deeper level. <\/p>\n Intrepid travellers<\/a> are folks of all ages and backgrounds, so you could spend your time with a combo of solo singles in their 20s, couples in their 40s, seniors, retirees and beyond. If travelling en masse and zoning out with a prerecorded headset is how you envision your holiday, a coach tour might be more your vibe, but for those looking for a unique adventure, more isn\u2019t always merrier.<\/p>\n As the name implies, coach tours are just that: tours that utilize massive coach buses for long-distance travel. All fun and games until you\u2019re filing off to grab lunch, right? Getting off a coach bus takes much longer than you\u2019d think (especially if you do it multiple times a day), and don\u2019t even get us started on the headache of choosing seats.<\/p>\n The benefit of travelling with small groups is you can explore as the locals do; think small 4WDs on a South African safari<\/a>, tuk-tuks in Thailand and overnight trains in India<\/a>. Travelling with a tight-knit crew will give you all the benefits and authentic experiences you\u2019ll get if you go solo, minus all the stressful logistics and safety concerns.<\/p>\n We realised pretty quickly that when exploring a new destination, you need more than a guide<\/a>\u2026 you need a local. Intrepid\u2019s leaders aren\u2019t just tour guides; they\u2019re teachers and friends who know their country inside and out. They\u2019ll be by your side for the major highlights, of course, but they\u2019ll also happily provide recommendations for the best street food, help you learn the local language and steer you away from any experiences that don\u2019t feel so\u2026 Intrepid. Unfortunately, not all coach tours can say the same, so it\u2019s essential to work with a company that supports local economies, respects local cultures and protects the places we love to visit.<\/p>\n The small group sizes of Intrepid trips provide the perfect guide-to-traveller ratios, and you\u2019ll never have to worry about not getting 1-1 time. Have a question about a local custom or want to chat about a football rivalry over dinner? It\u2019s not so easy with a group of 50, but it\u2019s all part of the experience when your travel crew is small.<\/p>\n We\u2019ve all been there\u2026 you\u2019re stressing about needing a bathroom or a snack break but don\u2019t want to be\u00a0that<\/em>\u00a0person making the entire group stop. When you travel on a small group tour, bathroom breaks, snack stops and photo ops can be as frequent as you\u2019d like. Plus, with fewer people to keep track of, you\u2019ll never have to worry about your driver leaving you behind (does everyone have this recurring nightmare, or is it just me?). Strict timelines and feeling like you\u2019re being herded around just aren\u2019t Intrepid\u2019s speed.<\/p>\n The speed is more like this: hitting the major highlights like the Acropolis, the Great Wall of China and Machu Picchu<\/a> while also including some out-of-the-ordinary experiences in unexpected places. Think: sampling your way through a family-owned Greek pistachio farm, learning the art of Chinese cuisine at a homestay in Beijing and sipping pisco sours with Peruvian locals. We speak from experience when we say these moments, the ones you never even knew existed, leave the longest-lasting memories.<\/p>\n Although most Intrepid trips have a base itinerary, there\u2019s always time set aside for your own exploration or downtime. When dealing with a smaller group of people, itineraries can be reasonably customisable, allowing your guide to make appropriate, impromptu changes based on the group\u2019s preference. For example, if you\u2019re in Italy <\/a>and half of your group is feeling museum-ed out\u2026 no problem! With guidance and tips from your expert local leaders, you\u2019ll have the freedom to embark on a tour de pizza or a gelato crawl instead.<\/p>\n One of Intrepid\u2019s favourite ways to get to know a place is through its people\u2026 which is why we employ local guides, eat at family-run restaurants and incorporate community homestays into most trips. On coach tours, hotels usually have to accommodate 50+ people at once, so you could end up at a chain hotel that feels far from the centre of the action.<\/p>\n That might be cool if you simply want to scratch the surface, but Intrepid does things a little differently. A community-based tourism<\/a> approach allows you to get to know a place through a local\u2019s lens and ensures that you\u2019ll be travelling in a way that positively impacts the communities you visit.<\/p>\n Some of the best experiences are the ones that won\u2019t show up on Google Maps or get reviewed on Tripadvisor; we\u2019re talking about playing volleyball with indigenous locals on an overnight in Lake Titicaca, sharing a homecooked meal with a family during a rural Cambodian homestay or getting a lesson on local traditions on a Varanasi homestay in India. Imagine trying to organise this with 50 people? Impossible.<\/p>\n The choice seems pretty clear. Small group travel is not only more comfortable and enjoyable, but it\u2019s just an all-around better way to see the world. As the world\u2019s largest travel\u00a0B Corporation<\/a>, Intrepid wants to change the way we all see the world by creating positive change through the joy of travel. We want you to leave your trip with more cultural understanding and the knowledge that your trip benefits local people, communities and the planet.\u00a0<\/p>\nGroup size<\/h2>\n
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<\/a>Transport<\/h2>\n
Guides<\/h2>\n
![\"Two](\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/Intrepid-Travel-Vietnam-Hoi-An-leader-cafe_RF11558-1.jpg\")
<\/a>Itineraries<\/strong><\/h2>\n
![\"An](\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/Intrepid-Travel-Intrepid-Travel-Be-Curious-Vietnam_NEW.jpg\")
<\/a>![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/Intrepid-Travel-Italy_Rome_Food_Gelato_Frigidarium_Female_Traveller_Older.jpg\")
<\/a>Accommodation<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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<\/a>Verdict<\/h2>\n