What are the benefits of joining a Small Group Tour?
If you’re still wondering should I join a Small Group Tour as a Solo Female Traveller, here are some of the benefits of this type of travel for solo travellers.
1. It’s an easy way to make friends
One of the top reasons to join a small group tour is that it can be a great way to make friends as a solo female traveller. There are likely to be other solo travellers in the group, so you’ve instantly got other people to talk to who share common interests. Other people on the tour might be groups of friends or couples who welcome you into their group. Often, the whole group will become one big friend group. I’ve been on tours where we’ve all become like one big family. Even in the free time, we’ve chosen to spend time together and have meals together. And some people I’ve kept in touch with for years after a trip. It really is a great way to make friends for life.
The other advantage of making friends on a tour is that you can take photos of each other! Taking photos of yourself when travelling solo can be challenging, but if you’re part of a group, you can all take photos of each other if you want.
2. You can have a break from organising logistics
Planning your travels can be fun. But sometimes, it can feel overwhelming. Especially if you’re trying to visit multiple places within a country and you don’t understand the language and transport system. Small group tours can be the perfect answer. You can let someone else organise all the logistics of getting between each place. You won’t need to think about hiring a car and finding the way yourself. On multi-day tours, you can have someone else choose the hotel for you, and maybe the restaurant as well. It means you can just focus on enjoying your experiences and have a break from organising logistics.
3. It can feel safer
Travelling with a small group tour can feel a lot safer for some solo female travellers, especially in some regions. Small group tours can open up possibilities that would be challenging for solo women, such as experiencing a wildlife safari in Africa. It can also feel safer in any country in the world if you prefer. You’ll have friends and your guide always looking out for you, and they’ll be able to answer your questions as well.
If your family is concerned about you travelling solo, then joining a small group tour can help reassure them that you’ll be safe. They might feel more comfortable if they know you’ve got people around you and a guide.
4. It can make travelling with chronic health issues feel more possible
Small group tours can also help you feel safer if you’re travelling with chronic health issues. You can feel reassured that there will be someone to look out for you and make sure you’re ok. You guide can also help if you need a doctor, and they’ll be able to find one who speaks English. They can also help with translating a menu if you’ve got dietary requirements, or they can translate medication if it’s in a different language. Small group tours with a guide who speaks the local language can make solo travel with health issues so much easier, so you can just focus on enjoying your trip.
5. You might get to see more sights in less time
With all the transport organised for you, you might find you can see more of a country in less time than if you tried to plan it all yourself. The tour might use private vehicles such as minibus so you get taken straight to your next destination without having to wait for a train or public bus. If you’ve got limited annual leave from work and want to cram in as much as possible, a small group tour can help you do that.
6. Your guide can help with language barriers
Having a local guide can help a lot if you don’t speak the local language. They’ll be able to translate important signs, and also teach you some important phrases in the local language so you’ll be able to speak to local people. If you need something translating, such as a menu in a restaurant or some medication, they can also help. Having a guide on a tour can really help if you’re nervous about travelling to countries where you speak little of the language.
7. You’ll learn more about the local people and cultures
With a local guide, you can learn more about the local people and cultures of the country that you’re visiting. If your guide is from that country, you’ll be able to ask them all about their life and culture. They’ll be able to share things with you that you won’t be able to read in a guide book. They might even take you to some of their favourite local spots so you can really feel like you’re a local and not just a tourist.
8. It can feel a better way to travel with Covid-19 travel uncertainties
Travelling during the Covid-19 pandemic is undeniably challenging. It can be difficult to keep up with the constantly changing rules and regulations about testing, quarantines, isolation, masks, and so much more. Being on a tour with a guide means they’ll know all the local rules so you won’t make any mistakes. You might also worry about what might happen if you get Covid-19 while on your trip. Again, your guide might be able to help you get access to a test – although make sure you have travel insurance that covers this as well.
9. You won’t need to have meals alone
One aspect of solo travel that can feel the most challenging for many women is having meals alone. It can feel daunting to choose a restaurant, especially if you’re not familiar with the language and food. And sitting alone at a restaurant can feel uncomfortable. If you’re travelling with a group where meals are included, you won’t need to worry about this. Even if meals aren’t included in the price of the tour, you might find other people want to have meals together, and your guide can recommend restaurants.
What are the downsides to Small Group Tours?
So far, I’ve given all the positives about small group tours. I really enjoy them, and often include several when I’m on a long trip. However, small group tours aren’t for everyone. Here are some of the downsides it’s important to consider when thinking about should I join a Small Group Tour as a Solo Female Traveller.
- No privacy – some people find small group tours make them spend too much time with other people and gives them little privacy. this all depends on your personal preference and travel style. Maybe consider taking a tour for a day or just a few days to see if it’s for you, before committing to a longer tour.
- No close friends – you might not become close friends with anyone on your trip if you don’t find things in common with them. But that’s ok – you can’t expect to be best friends with everyone. As long as you’re polite and friendly, you can still enjoy your trip. And you can just hope that your next trip will have people you feel closer to.
- You can’t get away from people – occasionally, you might have one or two people on a tour who you don’t particularly like. But if you’re on a tour, you can’t get away from them. You’ll just have to be polite and deal with it – but you don’t need to keep in touch afterwards!
- Waiting around – there can be some waiting around for others to be ready. If the guide says to meet back at 2pm, there might be someone who is five minutes late and you all need to wait. It can be annoying, but try not to let it get to you. If you relax, you’ll have a better time.
- Too much or too little time – you don’t have full control over how long you spend in each place. Sometimes you can feel rushed and wish you had longer to explore one place. Other times you might get bored and spend too long in a place you’re not interested in. That’s just the nature of small group tours. You can always give yourself a few days at the end of a tour to go back to somewhere if you want.
- Less choice and freedom – you might find that you have less freedom than you’d like, so you can’t do everything the way you want. You might have less choice as well, for example less choice about the hotel you stay at. But that’s just part of group travel. If you want to choose everything yourself and not be on a tour you can, and that’s completely fine. But if you want someone else to choose things for you to make it easier, then just accept what is there and enjoy it as much as you can.
What are the best companies for Small Group Tours?
There are so many tour companies that offer small group tours. If you’re looking for a day tour from a city you’re visiting, I’d recommend searching for local companies on the internet to find one. They can offer a more bespoke service than international companies, as they’ll know the area a lot better. Make sure you read some reviews online before booking anything to make sure they’re legitimate.
For multi-day tours that can take you around a whole country, check out my blog here for the best companies for Small Group Tours and also my blog about G Adventures. And most importantly, enjoy your trip!
I did a small group tour in Northern Sweden to see the Northern Lights. I am so glad I did this.