BEST DAY TOURS AND MULTI-DAY SMALL GROUP TOURS AROUND THE WORLD

The best day tours and small group tours are the ones that are able to provide a knowledgable and engaging guide, organization and value.

A personable guide with solid knowledge of the area is, of course, essential. But he or she also needs to be attuned to the guest’s interests.

The tour needs to be flexible and organized so as to facilitate the journey for the guests within a condensed period of time. Finally, the group tour needs to deliver value.

We asked frequent travelers to describe favorite day tours and multi-day small group tours that they enjoyed so much they wanted to share with other potential travelers.

BEST DAY TOURS AND MULTI-DAY SMALL GROUP TOURS ACCORDING TO TRAVEL BLOGGERS

India

You haven’t really experienced India unless you’ve taken a tuk tuk (motorized rickshaw) in traffic. Careening down crowded streets, barely braking for dogs, people, or cows, tuk tuks are the fastest (and most heart pounding) way to get from place to place. But I often feel my heart accelerate while traveling in India.

Ann Marie of Cracking India Tours knows and loves India deeply and shares her knowledge and positive attitude with small groups of women travelers. I simply would never have seen as much nor met such a wide array of people had I not traveled with her last November.

Our trip focused on Rajasthan. How could I ever choose my favorite moments? There was the sunset cruise on Lake Pichola in Udaipur and sitting on a rooftop restaurant overlooking the lake (familiar from a scene in the movie The Best Marigold Hotel).

We danced with locals and visited forts and walled cities in Jaisalmer and Jodphur. We toured villages and farms, artisan’s homes (got some great tie-dyed shirts) and explored Hindu, Sikh, and Jain temples.

We talked to schoolchildren in the streets, posed for photos requested by Indian families we met along the way, and stayed in the most amazing havelis (royal mansions) and other historic hotels.

Ann Marie once wrote that travel in India is “transformational, if you are willing to be open to the experiences.” She was right.

Barbara Winard blogs at The Baby Bloomer

Cuba

Anyone can travel to Cuba but U.S. citizens must abide by specific guidelines stipulated by the U.S. government. Fortunately these requirements are not difficult to comply with.

U.S. citizens can travel to Cuba under any of 12 categories of travel including family visits, research or support for the Cuban people among others. Most visitors choose the Support for the Cuban people option.

The Support for the Cuban People category involves staying in privately-owned airbnb type accommodations known as “casas particulares,” eating in privately-owned restaurants known as “paladares” and supporting private Cuban entrepreneurs like tour guides, taxi drivers, cooking or salsa teachers and artists. All activities that enrich a visit to Cuba which one would want to do anyway.

Our very own Travels with Talek offers Cuba Cultural tours that meet U.S. government requirements 100%.

These multi-day small group tours visit some of Cuba’s most interesting cities like, vibrant Havana, the Viñales countryside, Cienfuegos with its French-influenced architecture, Trinidad, the most perfectly preserved colonial town in the Americas, Varadero, home to the most beautiful beach on earth and Matanzas, the Athens of Cuba due to its many poets and literary figures.

The tours are designed to maximize contact with the local people and to enhance the understanding of the fascinating Cuban culture through its art, food, music, dance, architecture and history. All delivered with a perspective and insight that only locals can provide. A visit to Cuba is truly a unique experience.

Save money on your visit to Cuba by staying in a “casa particular” an Airbnb-type of accommodation.

Baiona, Galicia, Spain

The last ship that carried Columbus’ fleet to the New World on his first journey, the Pinta, limped into the port of Baiona in Spain’s northwestern region of Galicia on the return voyage to Spain.  It was here in Baiona that the world first learned of Columbus’ voyage and the exotic and exciting marvels of the Americas.  Today a replica of the Pinta is a fixture in Baiona harbor.   

Baiona offers much more than a historic footnote. I took a day tour with Eat and Walk About to see the many things to do and see in Baiona and had a delightful and eye-opening experience.

The city has a beautiful bay, medieval streets and churches, fabulous restaurants and a spectacular parador (hotel), the Parador de Baiona, refurbished from an ancient palace perched atop a mountain overlooking the wild Atlantic. How cool is that!

Baiona has many festivals throughout the year, one of the most important being La Fiesta Medieval de la Arribada or the Feast of the Arrival, commemorating the Pinta’s arrival in Baiona harbor.  The town’s population swells during this time with visitors from Spain, Europe and beyond. These festivals are among the best things that Spain is famous for.

An important stop on the Camino de Santiago, Baiona is a place to linger and get to know the surrounding area. Hike the many roads going through rural villages and ancient quarters with centuries of history. Enjoy the area’s regional dishes and signature crisp, dry white wine called Albariño because, after all, you are in the Rias Baixas wine region.   

For those who like to know the history of places they visit, a tour with Eat and Walk About will illuminate the history of an area as well as show you where to get the best tapas in town.  They will show you why this town lives up to its motto, “Baiona will hook you.”   

Talek blogs at Travels with Talek

Sedona, Arizona

If you ever visit Sedona, Arizona there is one group day tour that is a must-do in this city. An alternative to hiking to get a close-up view of the Red Rocks, is an off-roading jeep day tour.

We chose The Pink Jeep Tour company for an off-road day tour of The Broken Arrow Trail because of their flawless reviews. Also, who wouldn’t want to ride around in pink Jeep? We really wanted to do the Jeep tour because it was a unique experience to add to our already thrilling trip.

We made sure to book the tour weeks prior because the group tour can sell out, especially during peak season. We had 4 adults and 2 children in our group and the six of us got one Jeep to ourselves. They also provided a car seat for my 3-year-old which was really convenient.

The Pink Jeep Day Tours start right in the middle of town, we could even walk there from our hotel. The tour guide drove us through the town first, and then within a few minutes, we were off the road and driving through the desert and up on the rocks!

Our tour guide was very informative and patient with our questions as he told us everything there is to know about the area! We had a very up close and personal experience with the backcountry of Sedona and the views could not be matched.

The tour was broken up into segments of things to see and do. Twice we got out of the Jeep and walked around to explore and take pictures. Everyone in our group had a great time on this day tour, and my kids even said it was their favorite thing to do in Sedona.

Where to stay in Sedona.

Amanda blogs at Patsey Family Travels

New York City Ethnic Food Tour

Everyone agrees New York City is a melting pot of different and rich ethnicities. Nowhere is this more evident than in the city’s Lower East Side where the aromas of dozens of cuisines waft around the old tenements, handball courts and ethnic restaurants.

I took Big Onion’s Multi-Ethnic Food Group Tour because It focused on the ethnic foods of the inhabitants of the Lower East Side. What better way to experience aspects of a variety of cultures than to sample the foods of the locals? This amazing day tour did not disappoint.

The knowledgeable and pleasant guide explained early immigration routes as we walked the very streets where it all happened. We covered immigration for Jewish immigrants, Little Italy, Chinatown, and areas with Puerto Rican concentrations. We even saw a couple of famous NYC restaurants.

You can’t beat the tasty and plentiful samplings of ethnic food; calzones, Italian mozzarella, fried plantains from the Caribbean, Malaysian beef jerky, Vietnamese spring rolls, and even the unusual Jamaican pickled pineapple. As we ate the guide explained the immigration of the people whose food we were sampling.

Nothing beats walking a city’s streets when you want to get a feel for a place fast. And the professional and pleasant guides at The Big Onion Walking Tours make it happen. It was one of the best day tours I’ve taken.

Now Big Onion offers virtual adventures!

Where to stay in New York City based on what you want to see and do.

Talek blogs at Travels With Talek

Milford Sound Day Tour, New Zealand

Milford Sound was at the top of my list of things to do when I was on the South Island of New Zealand. But it was 5 hours away, I’m not used to driving on the left, and the roads are so winding that they’re hypnotic.

Renting a car to go to Milford Sound was not appealing. I asked the front desk at my hotel to “book me the bus day tour you think is best.”

Although they had lots of options, they didn’t hesitate to book me on a Real Journeys bus group tour to Milford Sound. I soon discovered why:

First, the bus has a lot of legroom (I’m 185 cm and was quite comfortable). The Real Journeys bus also has windows that extend to the ceiling. They are immaculately clean and you can see in all directions – including up! Finally, each seat has two USB ports. No worries about charging phones and cameras on your long trip.

Second, the driver was amazing. For nearly 5 hours, Brian entertained us with history intertwined with personal experiences. Listening to him was like being engrossed in a good audiobook. On the late drive back to Queenstown, he only spoke when necessary – allowing us to rest.

Finally, the Milford Monarch is a great boat with a seasoned crew. We toured to the outer reaches of Milford Sound, with excellent commentary along the way. Coffee and tea is free. Other drinks are extra. And if you pay for it in advance, you’ll get a pretty decent box lunch to eat while watching seals and, if you’re lucky, dolphins or other whales.

I could not have been happier with my day tour. If you’re looking for a guided bus group day tour, the trip from Queenstown to Milford Sound with Real Journeys is exceptional.

Where to stay in Queenstown

Michael blogs at The Round the World Guys

The DMZ

When visiting Seoul, one of the highlights is learning about the history between North and South Korea. The summits and continuous discussions for peace between the two countries are currently hot topics in the news.

What better way to get a glimpse of the political tension between them and also the chance to see the elusive North Korea area than to go on a Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) half-day tour?!

Our group day tour with Cosmojin Travel Agency consisted of visiting four major locations along the DMZ. The first stop is the Imjingak Theme Park to see the Freedom bridge and a bombed train used during the war.

Afterward, the Third Tunnel is where you grab a hard hat and walk through an underground tunnel that the North Korean soldiers dug to try and infiltrate South Korea.

The Dora observatory area is the only opportunity to look into the North Korea side. Due to the rain, we didn’t see anything. Luckily, a video in the auditorium provided an overview of what we should have seen in North Korea.

Norasan Station is the final destination of the tour. It’s the only subway station in South Korea which will go directly to Pyongyang, North Korea once the peace agreement is finalized.

We enjoyed the tour and didn’t feel rushed when visiting the sights. Our group tour guide did a great job explaining the history and also share the general sentiments of the long-lasting war. If you’re visiting South Korea, don’t forget to add this day tour to your Seoul itinerary.

Where to stay in Seoul

Jackie blogs at Life of Doing

Great Ocean Road Day Tour, Australia

Visiting the Great Ocean Road was a bucket list item for me when I decided to visit Australia. The next decision was to figure out how to do the tour. The initial plan was to do a road trip because that would allow for greater flexibility and I could go at my own pace.

Given the limited time I had in Australia, I realized that planning the logistics on my own would not be ideal for my trip. I started looking into Great Ocean Road Day Tours and was overwhelmed by the vast number of tour options available for the Great Ocean Road. Once I narrowed down my criteria, I chose Sightseeing Tours Australia.

My experience with the tour was incredible – the itinerary allowed us for enough time for most of the sites, and because we did the Great Ocean Road drive in reverse, most places were not crowded when we arrived at each destination.

Add to the fact that our tour guide was incredible (quite possibly the best one I’ve ever met) and you have a happy camper. She even went out of her way to drive us out to a remote area so that we could see the stars in the beautiful night sky! I couldn’t have picked a better day tour for this trip and would recommend it to anyone who is considering a Great Ocean Road Group Tour

Nancy blogs at enSquaredAired.

The Scottish Highlands

When we were in Edinburgh, Scotland we did a spontaneous tour with Rabbies to go see the magnificent beauty of Rannoch Moor, Glencoe, the Great Glen, Highland Perthshire and went looking for Nessie in Loch Ness.

This trip to the Scottish highlands was one of the best group day tours we have even done. We drove in the shadow of Britain’s highest mountain, Ben Nevis, before arriving at Fort Augustus on the shore of Loch Ness where we went on a boat ride to look for the legendary monster Nessie.

We loved it so much that we signed to go on the Scottish Lowlands tour with the same tour company the next day.

These group day tours from Edinburgh are great for those looking for a tour outside Edinburgh but don’t have time for a multi-day trip. The tour group was small and the driver who also led the tour was so entertaining and full of knowledge. He kept all of us including the kids engaged with all the information he shared.

Rabbies is also flexible since it is a smaller group tour, they gave us some options along the way depending on the interest of the group.

Seeing the highland cows, driving through the glens and learning about the life of people who lived here created some lasting memories for us. Really one of the best day tours ever.

Where to stay in Edinburgh

Priya blogs at Outside Suburbia

Warsaw Street Art Tour

Warsaw is a relatively ‘under the radar’ European destination although it is a vibrant and diverse city full of surprises. I never thought that Warsaw would have such an interesting street and urban art scene, so as a street art fan, I had to take a walking day tour to learn more about it.

The day tour takes place in one of the most intriguing places to visit in Warsaw, the Praga district. While 80% of Warsaw was completely destroyed during World War II, only 20% of Praga was destroyed. So, apart from learning about street art, you also get to learn about the history of this district and see authentic buildings that have survived the war.

During the group day tour, the guide explains the difference between street art and urban art, the diverse artistic techniques, and the purpose and message of each work of art.

I loved how informative and professional she was, and taking this kind of tour in a city full of history was just fascinating.

The day tour is free of charge and is operated by Free Walkative TOUR Poland, and there is no need to make a reservation in advance. Get to the meeting point at the time stated and enjoy!

Where to stay in Warsaw

Or Amir blogs at My Path in the World

Lisbon Vegan Food Tour

Food tours in Lisbon, Portugal are a dime a dozen. But it’s not so easy to find a tour that highlights the best vegan food in Lisbon. Most group tours tend to focus on the meat, fish and egg-filled pastries that traditional Portuguese cuisine is known for.

But Lisbon also has a vibrant vegan food scene and is a fantastic destination for vegan foodies! I was excited to finally find a tour experience designed specifically for vegan and veg-curious visitors to Lisbon.

It’s called the LX Vegan Tour and is led by Tatie Jorge, a Brazilian who now lives in Lisbon. The tour can be booked through Airbnb Experiences.

On this day tour, not only did we taste delicious vegan food, including vegan versions of traditional Portuguese specialties, but we also saw some impressive street art and visited some viewpoints for fantastic vistas over the city.

Rather than staying in the touristy areas of Lisbon like Baixa and Chiado, Tatie leads her groups through the more off-the-beaten-track neighborhoods of Anjos and Penha de França.

I’ve lived in Lisbon for more than two years, and even I had never been to some of these spots before! It was a morning filled with new discoveries for me.

We finished the tour at one of the most beautiful lookout points in Lisbon, from where we could see the red-tiled roofs below us, the Tagus River and the statue of Christ the King on the other side.

Tatie even sent us a PDF file after the tour with photos and descriptions of all the places we had visited. This was a much-appreciated extra touch that I’ve never seen provided on any other day tour before.

Where to stay in Lisbon

Wendy blogs at The Nomadic Vegan

Dubai Desert Safari

Dubai is more than just skyscrapers and malls – if you don’t want to believe it, I highly suggest a desert safari tour. I mostly visit Dubai solo – so, one of the things I regularly do is to go on a desert safari.

Whether you are with friends and family or traveling solo – this tour group is a lot of fun.

There are many different tour operators and while I have never had bad experiences, the best Dubai day tour I have taken was probably with Arabian Adventure.

Basically, all group day tour operators will pick you up from the hotel you stay at (and drop you off there at the end of the day). You will drive in a 4×4 vehicle to the desert and normally share a car with about 5-6 other people.

Though there are only a few people in the car, it is actually a big group tour as the tour operator normally has numerous vehicles and they all meet in the desert.

The fun starts in the desert.

So, fasten your seatbelt and be prepared for some fun and wild dune bashing which is a fun activity for people of almost all ages. But ideally, for people older than 5 years and people who are not motion-sick – pregnant women are not allowed to join.

The tour also includes a photo stop in the desert and then you can have a beautiful dinner in the desert.

This is probably the most fun: sitting with many other visitors in a traditional Arabic camp in the middle of the desert, having Arabian food (vegetarian options available) and listening to Arabic music (which sometimes comes with a belly dance show) – a desert safari in Dubai is not only one of my favorite group day tours,  but also my favorite activity!

Where to stay in Dubai

Arzo blogs at Arzo Travels

Saint Peters, Rome

My husband and I were never group tour kind of travelers until we visited Rome and decided that with only two days in Rome we wanted to see and learn as much as possible about this city in a short period of time.

We booked our St. Peter’s Basilica and Dome tour, one of the most beautiful buildings in the city, with LivItaly Tours. We met our tour guide at Saint Peter’s Square, which is right in front of the church itself. It was a great opportunity to get some fabulous photos before the crowds arrived.

The tour is 2.5 hours long and shows off the magnificent church’s tombs, the final resting place of Popes from centuries ago. This tour included visiting the spectacular Michelangelo’s Dome.

The workout up the 281 flight of stairs was worth the breathtaking views of the city. This is an amazing group tour and one of the top things to do in Rome.

What we really loved was the small group size of these day tours, with a maximum of 6 people per group, it was very like a private tour. This tour starts at 8 am so it is great for the early risers and those wanting to make the most of their day in Rome.

Where to stay in Rome

Diana blogs at Diana’s Healthy Living

Have you taken any group tours or day tours? Which one? Do you think they offer a good way to explore a new location?

Learn more about best day tours and multi-day tours with these handy guides:

BTW, if you are getting ready for your trip, make sure to take advantage of these useful, money-saving links to book your trip:

• Research and book your flight with Skyscanner. I have found them to be the best because they list all airlines including the budget ones. You are always sure of having researched all options.
• For car rental around the world, Discover Cars has flexible pickup and drop-off options, I recommend Discover Cars.
• Book your accommodation with Booking.com. I find they have a wide selection and a nice, user-friendly, transparent website.
• Protect your trip and, more importantly, protect yourself with travel insurance. I use Travelinsurance.com and have been very happy with them.
• Looking for a small group tour to unforgettable destinations with top professionals? Intrepid Travel is your choice.
• For more general tours to any destination or attraction, book with Viator. Check them out.
• Need a visa?  Get your visa for all countries with Passport Visa Express.
• Looking for a cool walking tour to explore a city? My favorite walking tours are offered by Take Walks.
• Food and drink tours are the best way to enjoy a city. And Devour Tours are my favorite.
• Looking for a good VPN to protect your security, privacy and freedom online while traveling? Nordvpn is your best option.

I personally use, and can recommend, all the companies listed here and elsewhere on my blog. By booking through these sites, the small commission we earn – at no cost to you – helps us maintain this site so we can continue to offer our readers valuable travel tips and advice.