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Expertly Designed

We get it. You’re not the homebody type. We aren’t either. Your passion, needs, and desires have shaped our business. Destination experts hand-craft transformative experiences designed specifically with you – our fellow traveler – at heart. We wouldn't trust your experience with anyone else.

Guided Touring Reimagined

We know you want to explore and also dive in. We’re curious travelers, just like you, so rest assured, you’ll experience must-sees and connect with the people and culture that define the destination. You’ll eat in locals’ homes, take cooking classes, travel by trains and tuk tuks, explore cities with food tours, and stay in igloos, castles, and chateaus.

Value Beyond Price

Your time is one of your most precious commodities, so you should spend more of it in the destination, not driving between places. We design tours that spend the fewest hours on the coach. One-night stays are a rarity. This is your trip, and you shouldn’t feel rushed. With choice, flexibility, and free time, take it all in – this is your tour.

Confidently Collette

Travel with trust. Because this is your trip - something you've planned for and dreamed about. You should feel confident in your journey every step of the way.

Industry-Leading Travel Protection

Cancel for any reason (bad hair day applies) up to 24 hours before your tour leaves and get a full money-back refund. Collette issued a record-breaking $185 million cash back to travelers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Experience & Expertise

We've been doing this for a long time. Since 1918, in fact. Collette is the most experienced and longest-running tour operator in North America. You choose...

Traveling Well

Our team is on the pulse of world events and protocols, so you are kept fully aware and feel well-prepared for your trip.

Service Rating

Independent

Why Guided Travel

You're a traveler with places to go. We'll take care of the details. You embrace the journey.

Social Connections

Meet a group of people who share your love of travel. Learn from locals. Forge friendships in the coolest places.

Independence

There's plenty of time built into our itineraries, plus optional tours, Choice on Tour excursions, and more. It's your trip, your way.

Expertly Planned

You know what you want to see and do - let a team of experts handle all the details from the must-sees to centrally-located accommodations and local lessons.

The Best Pacing

Don’t rush – this is your time to see the world. Get more time in the destination, and enjoy an ideal balance of included excursions and free time.

Our Best Moments

When you go, capture all those incredible moments, and use the hashtag #GoCollette so that we can share your joy!

Featured Tours

Collette travelers choose from 160 tours across all 7 continents, as well as 5 travel styles including small group touring and destination spotlights. Check out some trending tours for inspiration on your next adventure.

Explorations

Tuscan & Umbrian Countryside featuring Italy's Charming Hill Towns

Alaska's Northern Lights

African Safari: Kenya and Tanzania

Winter in Croatia featuring Plitvice Lakes and the Adriatic Coast

Costa Rica: A World of Nature featuring Tortuguero National Park, Arenal Volcano & Manuel Antonio National Park

$4,949 pp* $5,399 pp.

Icelandic Adventure

Mediterranean Coastal Journey Spain, France & Italy

The Best of Ireland featuring the Wild Atlantic Way

Exploring South Africa, Victoria Falls & Botswana

$3,299 pp* $3,699 pp, historical greenbrier featuring washington d.c. & williamsburg, $2,299 pp* $2,499 pp, spotlight on northern italy featuring venice, verona & the dolomites.

Spain's Costa del Sol & Madrid

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• World's Best

Travel + Leisure Readers' 15 Favorite Tour Operators of 2023

The right tour operators can make or break a trip. These specialists came out on top in our annual "World’s Best Awards" survey for 2023 thanks to insider knowledge and personalized service.

How Voting Works

What readers loved, the full list.

Courtesy of Butterfield & Robinson

While we travel to see the sights, what we really take home with us are the experiences. And finding the right tour operator — one that’s able to meld insider knowledge about a destination with the best ways to take it in — can make or break a trip. But when the right combination does come along, it can be pure magic, so it’s no wonder that the last year has seen group travel on the rise .

Every year for our World's Best Awards survey, T+L asks readers to weigh in on travel experiences around the globe — to share their opinions on the top hotels, resorts, cities, islands, cruise ships, spas, airlines, and more. Nearly 165,000 T+L readers completed the 2023 survey, an increase of nearly 25 percent over pre-pandemic voting levels. A total of more than 685,000 votes were cast across over 8,500 unique properties (hotels, cities, cruise lines, etc.).

Tour operators and safari outfitters were specifically rated on the criteria below:

• Staff/guides
• Itineraries/destinations
• Accommodations

For each characteristic, respondents could choose a rating of excellent, above average, average, below average, or poor. The final scores are averages of these responses.

With nine of the companies returning from last year’s list , one major trend that stands out is the focus on a region, like with this year’s No. 1 pick, ATJ, which focuses on luxury travel, ranging from bespoke private to small group itineraries, in Austrasia. Also destination experts are Inside Japan Tours (No. 10), who offer themed trips, from honeymoons to diving, around the island nation, and Vagabond Tours of Ireland (No. 12), which makes its debut on the list, standing out for its B Corporation status, as it guides travelers around the Emerald Isle in their choice of style, either relaxed and culture-focused or active and adventurous. 

Also notable are the operators who go a step beyond, like two returning favorites: Artisans of Leisure (returning as No. 3) has been called “top notch”; one reader said that “no other tour operator comes close in terms of knowing the destinations [and] understanding what we want and executing our trip flawlessly.” Black Tomato (dropping from last year’s No. 4 to a still respectable No. 6) manages to both fulfill curiosity and allay FOMO on its adventures globally.

But more than anything, it’s loyalty that shows what a strong tour operator is made of, and readers often raved about return visits with a particular company. One, for instance, shared that after 25 journeys, Du Vine Cycling + Adventure Co. (No. 2) stands out among them all. “The best cycling trips I’ve been on,” they said. “Great staff, accommodations, and first class all the way.” And that’s the winning combo for a tour company — leaving travelers with that passion for exploring the world through their eyes. See the complete list of top 15 tour operators, according to T+L readers, below.

Courtesy of ATJ

Formerly known as Asia Transpacific Journeys, ATJ made the list in 2011, 2017, and 2018, and it now leapfrogs back in triumphantly, notching the No. 1 spot. Offering tours in countries like Australia, Bhutan, Japan, Laos, Mongolia, Morocco, Nepal, Vietnam, and Taiwan, the company specializes in custom itineraries and private group trips. But what travelers rave about is its band of extremely helpful customer service reps who are “responsive and personable.” They added, “I can call and speak with a live person immediately.” Customers tend to be loyal, but so are the agents: “I have used the same agent and she always remembers what we like and any special needs we have.”

I have used the same agent and she always remembers what we like and any special needs we have.

Reader Score: 99.07

2 . DuVine Cycling + Adventure Co.  

Reader Score: 99.05

3 . Artisans of Leisure  

Reader Score: 98.89

4. TCS World Travel

ReaderScore: 98.84

5. Trek Travel 

Reader Score: 98.62

6. Black Tomato  

Reader Score: 98.29

7. Classic Journeys  

WBA Hall of Fame honoree.

Reader Score: 98.27

8. Adventure Unbound  

Reader Score: 98.15

9. Scott Dunn  

10. Inside JapanTours  

Reader Score: 98.13

11. Butterfield & Robinson  

Reader Score: 98.00

12. Vagabond Tours of Ireland

Reader Score: 97.78

13. Quasar Expeditions

Reader Score: 97.53

Reader Score: 97.33

15. Jacada Travel

Reader Score: 96.20

Related Articles

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• Tour Operators

Top Tour Operators and Travel Agencies in USA 2024/2025

Top Tour Operators and Travel Agencies in USA. Below you will find 28 of the best tour operators and travel agencies in USA offering in total 340 tours and holidays through-out USA. Combined they have received 173 customer reviews and an average rating of 5 out of 5 stars. The top tour activities offered in USA are: Adventure and sport, Wildlife, landscapes and nature & Sightseeing, attractions, culture and history.

• Tours in USA
• USA Travel Guide
• 12 Things to do in the USA

28 Tour Operators in USA with 173 Reviews

Infinite Adventures

• Address 809 W Riordan 100-325, Flagstaff, USA
• Response Rate 100%
• Response Time 2 hours

Expat Explore

• Address 10 Merryweather Place, London, England
• Response Rate 90%
• Response Time 3 hours

• Best-in-Class Top 5% of companies
• Excellent Service Top 10% of companies
• Superior Service Top 15% of companies

• Address 2461 FM 778, Mineola, USA
• Response Rate 95%

Omega Tours

• Address 142 Westmount Avenue, Toronto, Canada
• Response Rate 94%

Intrepid Travel

• Address 380 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne, Australia

World Expeditions

• Address 1B Osiers Road, Wandsworth, London, England
• Response Rate 81%
• Response Time 1 hour

• Address Picquet House, St Peter Port, Guernsey, London, England

The Coyote Trip

• Address 182 Mayall Road, London, England

Luxury Gold

• Address 33 Kern Road, Toronto, Canada
• Response Rate 60%

Doctor Gumbo Tours

• Address 823 Decatur St, New Orleans, USA
• Response Rate 50%

Indus Travels

• Address 233, 11951 Hammersmith Way, Richmond, Canada
• Response Rate 98%

• Response Rate 88%

• Address Nelson House, 55-59 Victoria Rd, Farnborough, England

G Adventures

• Address G Adventures Ltd, 60 Bastwick Street, London, England

USA Tour Reviews

• Ms. Rachel T.
• Ms. Aimee A.
• USA budget tours
• Eco tours in USA
• USA guided tours
• USA family tour packages
• USA luxury tours
• USA private tours
• USA self-guided tours
• USA small group tours
• USA solo trips
• USA tailor-made vacation packages
• USA tours for senior citizens
• USA tours for young adults
• USA group tours
• USA last minute deals
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The best tour operators in the world: 2023 Readers' Choice Awards

By Condé Nast Traveller

It’s been a challenging few years for tour operators but the names below are in it for the long haul (as well as the short and medium), honing itineraries and managing expectations. So who prepared your travel documents this year? Red Savannah and Black Tomato scored highest for first-hand knowledge, and Exodus Adventure Travels and Abercrombie & Kent for on-the-ground support. But when it came to all-round endeavour, Scott Dunn and The Turquoise Holiday Company were leaders of the pack. Both report a surge of interest in Asia, as well as multi-generational travel, solo adventures to Namibia, Bhutan and Mexico, and authentic experiences such as outback stations in Australia and bear lodges in Canada.

These are the best tour operators in the world, according to the 2023 Readers' Choice Awards . The scores below are percentages representing overall average levels of satisfaction.

The best general tour operators in the world 2023

15. Cox & Kings. Score 88.00

14. Hayes & Jarvis. Score 89.44

13. Carrier. Score 90.73

12. Simpson Travel. Score 91.48

11. Kuoni. Score 92.82

10. Mr & Mrs Smith. Score 93.29

9. Kensington Tours. Score 94.14

8. Audley Travel. Score 94.77

7. Original Travel. Score 95.44

6. Cazenove + Loyd. Score 95.92

5. The Ultimate Travel Company. Score 96.75

4. Abercrombie & Kent. Score 97.12

3. Elegant Resorts. Score 97.39

2. Red Savannah. Score 97.96

• The Turquoise Holiday Company. Score 98.42

The best travel specialists in the world 2023

15. Wild Frontiers. Score 94.81

14. Martin Randall Travel. Score 95.17

13. Intrepid Travel. Score 95.40

12. Wilderness. Score 96.54.

11. Inntravel. Score 96.88

10. Oxford Ski Company. Score 97.15

9. Kirker Holidays. Score 97.47

8. andBeyond. Score 97.61

7. Ampersand Travel. Score 97.65.

6. InsideJapan Tours. Score 97.79

5. Steppes Travel. Score 97.88

4. Black Tomato. Score 98.03

3. Exodus Adventure Travels. Score 98.15

2. Healing Holidays. Score 98.35

• Scott Dunn. Score 98.70

Best Tour Companies

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South Australian Eyre Peninsula Escape

Considering the way out places we stayed the accommodation was very good. One m...

Silo art. The walks down to the beaches along the way

Excellent. All on trip were friendly, courteous and happy. Accommodation was good ,meals generous and beds comfortable. The bus was comfortable. roads a bit roug...

Amalfi Coast Walking - Hotel Risorgimento

Our week in Amalfi hiking with our guide Gennaro was great! The first day of hiking was the toughest, split up between the morning/afternoon and I think it was mean...

It was a great experience. Our guide had a lot of knowledge about the country and ...

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15 Best Group Travel Companies for Guided Tours in 2024

The best tour companies for guided tours in 2024 deliver special insider experiences you simply can't book independently..

The Scoop: What to Know About Trafalgar Tours

Guided tours are an easy and stress-free way to discover new places. When you travel with the best tour operators, you can often dig much deeper into the history, culture, and daily life of your destination than if you’d gone it alone. In fact, the world’s top tour companies employ local guides, handle all of the details, and often deliver special insider travel experiences you simply can’t book independently. And travel tour groups are a good value, too.

To learn more about this year’s best tour companies and their guided tours, click on any company name in the list below to go straight to their website and start your search. Or, scroll down to read more about my picks for the best tour operators in 2024.

2024’s Best Tour Operators for Guided Tours 

• G Adventures  
• Adventures by Disney
• Grand Circle Travel
• Road Scholar
• Collette  
• Tauck  
• National Geographic Expeditions  
• Overseas Adventure Travel
• Intrepid Travel  
• AdventureWomen  
• Abercrombie & Kent
• Exodus Travels

1. Trafalgar Tours

One of the largest and most established tour operators in the world, Trafalgar offers everything from standard coach tours and small group active tours to private tours, hiking and biking tours, and special interest tours built around nature, history, food, and other interests. All told, Trafalgar hosts more than 350 guided tours in 72 countries and all seven continents. England, Italy, the Iberian Peninsula, Egypt, Ireland, Argentina, and Thailand are some of its most popular destinations. ( Read our full Trafalgar review here .)

Seniors and travelers 50 and older are Trafalagar’s core audience, though children as young as five years old are welcome on its family tours. Trafalgar’s solo travel options include free or reduced single supplement prices for many of its most popular trips. Each of its tour directors has at least three to five years of road experience, and many have been with the company for decades. 

TAKE A HIKE: 9 Best Companies for Walking Tours and Hiking Tours in 2024

Trafalgar’s guided tours cover all accommodations (typically four-star hotels where available) and most transportation during your trip, including airport transfers on the majority of its overseas tours. Most meals and activities are included. Trafalgar also offers special one-of-a-kind experiences such as dining with locals, sleeping in a castle or historic hotel, and early entry to popular tourist attractions. Anyone who books a tour with Trafalgar’ is automatically enrolled in its Very Important Traveler (VIT) program that offers discounts and priority access on future trips. 

Quick Facts about Guided Tour Operator Trafalgar

• Average guided tour group size: 40 guests (standard coach tours); no more than 17 guests on small group active tours.
• Price range: Upscale.
• What’s included: Accommodations, transportation within the trip, admission prices, and most meals.
• What’s not included: Pre- and post-trip transportation, some meals, and tips.
• Primary audience: Seniors and travelers over the age of 50.
• Destinations: Europe, Africa, North America, Central America, South America, Middle East, Oceania, and the Polar regions.
• How to book:  Directly through  Trafalgar or through a travel agent
• More tours: 10 Best Trafalgar Tours to Take in 2024

2. G Adventures

Small group tour operator G Adventures has guided trips suitable for a wide range of travel preferences. The company’s driving philosophy is all about improving the world through travel, and it supports this mission by utilizing local businesses and community resources on its tours. Many of G Adventures’s guests share this philosophy as a core value. 

FOODIE VACATIONS: 9 Best Companies for Culinary Tours and Food Tours in 2024

The company’s guided tours cater to a variety of fitness levels and cultural interests. Its classic tours hit a sweet spot between backpacking and traditional group tours; active tours focus heavily on hiking, trekking, biking, and other physically intense activities; family tours lean into age-appropriate activities and kid-friendly accommodations; local living tours let you participate in the rituals of daily life in unique destinations around the world; and 18-to-thirtysomething tours let young adults explore the world with similarly aged companions. 

G Adventures also partners with National Geographic for both general tours and family journeys designed to provide guests with an even deeper understanding of the cultures and traditions of each destination. And the company’s one-of-a-kind Jane Goodall Collection of guided tours offers a responsible way to experience wildlife up close. G Adventures offers a unique perk on all of its trips. The company’s Lifetime Deposits program allows you to retain your initial deposit for use at a later date at no extra charge if you need to postpone a trip due to a change in plans or circumstances.

Quick Facts about Guided Tour Company G Adventures

• Average guided tour group size: 12 people.
• Price category: Moderate.
• What’s included: Accommodations, activities, and some meals.
• What’s not included: Airfare.
• Primary audience: Adults ages 30 to 55, but also families and younger travelers.
• How to book: Directly through G Adventures or through a travel agent.
• More tours: 10 Best G Adventures Tours to Take in 2024

3. Adventures by Disney

Founded in 2005, Adventures by Disney offers upscale small group tours to about 40 destinations on all seven continents. While you may associate Disney with princesses and talking animals, a vacation with Adventures by Disney is more about the Disney way of doing things than it is about The Walt Disney Company’s entertainment brand. 

When you travel with Adventures by Disney, what you’re getting is top-notch service, people-pleasing trip leaders (called Adventure Guides), and special experiences created just for Disney’s guided tours (think skip-the-line access to tourist attractions like the Louvre in Paris, special backstage tours on Broadway, or traditional bread-baking demonstrations in Iceland). Each trip also includes at least one Adventure Guide from the host destination, who brings local knowledge and a deep connection to the destination. 

BRING THE KIDS: 10 Best Tour Companies for Family Tours in 2024

On guided tours with Adventures by Disney, things run smoothly and right on time . That makes it a great choice for stress-free family travel adventures . Most of Adventures by Disney’s guided tours feature built-in family time as well as built-in alone time for the adults. On some evenings, the Adventure Guides may host a “Junior Adventure” movie night. Other times there may be a kids-only dining table for the evening meal. 

Guided tours with Adventures by Disney include upscale accommodations, transportation within the trip (such as airport transfers, internal flights or trains, and motor coaches), admission prices and VIP experiences, luggage and concierge services, taxes, most gratuities, and many meals. There are typically some “on your own” meals, and pre-trip transportation is not included in the price. Adventures by Disney vacations tend toward the luxury side of the price range: an eight-day Peru vacation starts at $6,199 in 2024; an Adriatic expedition cruise starts at $8,999. In addition to its family-oriented trips, Adventures by Disney also offers private tours and adults-exclusive tours.

Adventures by Disney travelers can enroll in the company’s Adventure Insiders program to receive special offers, including advance notice of new tour destinations.

Quick Facts about Guided Tour Operator Adventures by Disney

• Average guided tour group size: 35 to 44 guests.
• Price range: Upscale/premium.
• What’s included: Accommodations, transportation within the trip, admission prices, VIP experiences, luggage and concierge services, taxes, most gratuities, and most meals.
• What’s not included: Pre- and post-trip transportation, some meals, and tips for your Adventure Guides.
• Primary audience: Families and adult Disney fans.
• How to Book: Directly through Adventures by Disney or through a travel agent.

The flagship brand of the Globus family of companies (which also includes Cosmos and Avalon Waterways ), tour operator Globus offers coach tours on six continents spanning more than 70 countries. Tour styles include small group tours , offered on Europe and North America itineraries; choice tours, which allow you to choose from three or four possible excursions rather than a one-size-fits-all schedule; undiscovered tours that take a deep dive away from the tourist areas; self-guided independent tours; Escapes by Globus , which operate during the slower tourism season between November and March; and faith-based trips to destinations such as the Holy Land.

ACTIVE AND OVER 50: 8 Best Senior Travel Tour Companies in 2024

Globus caters to older adults, generally from about 50 to 70 years old, with most guests traveling as part of a couple or family. For solo travelers, which comprise about 20% of the tour company’s guests, Globus offers single supplement waiver promotions on select tours. Globus also has a Welcome Back Credit loyalty program. Each trip earns up to a $250 credit toward a future trip with Globus, Cosmos, or Avalon Waterways.

Quick Facts about Guided Tours with Globus

• Average guided tour group size: 38 guests (classic coach tours); 20 to 24 guests (small group discovery tours).
• Price category: Budget to moderate.
• What’s included: Hotels, all breakfasts, some additional meals, all transportation, VIP “skip the line” access, and local guides.
• What’s not included:  Gratuities and airfare; however, Globus offers the option to purchase airfare when you book, which comes with free airport transfers.
• Primary audience: Adults between 50 and 70 years old.
• Destinations: Europe, Africa, North America, Central America, South America, the Middle East, and Oceania.
• How to book: Directly through Globus or through a travel agent.

5. Grand Circle Travel

Operating since 1958, Grand Circle Travel is another highly regarded tour operator for adults over 50. The flagship brand within the Grand Circle family of companies (which also includes Overseas Adventure Travel ) offers a wide selection of land-based tours and river cruises for groups ranging in size from 24 to 47 people. 

GO IT ALONE: 4 Great Tour Companies with Independent Tours in 2024

Grand Circle Travel’s trips are specifically designed for older travelers. Leisurely pacing and a focus on value are hallmarks of the Grand Circle experience. Like its sister company Overseas Adventure Travel (O.A.T.), which is a top choice for active solo travelers over age 50, Grand Circle stands out as a great fit for solo travelers interested in finding camaraderie and community on vacation. The company offers free or low-cost single supplement fees on all of its itineraries. Grand Circle has guided tour experiences on all seven continents. Land-based group tours average about 30 travelers, while river cruises can range from about 38 to 45 guests. Grand Circle’s loyalty program, called the Inner Circle Club , offers discounts for frequent guests and multiple trips booked within the same calendar year. 

Quick Facts about Guided Tour Operator Grand Circle Travel

• Average guided tour group size: 24 to 30 guests (land tours); 38 to 45 guests (river cruises).
• Price category: Moderate to upscale.
• What’s included: Airfare, meals, activities, accommodations, transportation, special events, gratuities for local guides and motor coach drivers (land tours); airfare, accommodations, most meals, onboard drinks and house beer and wine, port charges, and gratuities for local guides and motor coach drivers (cruises).
• What’s not included: Airfare can also be purchased separately.
• Primary audience: Adults, including solo travelers, over the age of 50.
• How to book: Directly through Grand Circle Travel or through a travel agent.

6. Road Scholar

What started as the tour company Elderhostel in 1975 has since evolved into Road Scholar , a non-profit tour company with an educational focus that offers guided tours around the world. Its primary audience is senior travelers, but it also has the special and unique Grandparent Adventures , which support grandparents and grandchildren traveling together. Road Scholar is also very solo-traveler friendly—about 25 percent of Road Scholar tour guests are solo travelers. And the tour company has a number of itineraries for women-only tours as well.  

CULTURE TRAVEL: 9 Best European Wine Tours to Take in 2024

Road Scholar’s educational tours include all accommodations plus most meals, expert-led lectures, field trips, and hands-on experiences, as well as transportation and gratuities. Road Scholar is able to book airfare for international tours, which allows you to have your travel monitored and supported by the company from start to finish. 

Quick Facts about Guided Tour Company Road Scholar

• Average Tour Size: 22 people.
• Price Range: Budget to luxury (from about $699 to $21,999 per person).
• What’s Included: Accommodations, most meals, expert-led experiences, transportation, gratuities, and the Road Scholar Assurance Plan coverage.
• What’s Not Included: Pre- and post-trip transportation.
• Primary Audience: Older travelers, grandparents traveling with grandkids, women, and solo travelers.
• Destinations: Europe, the Americas, Africa and the Middle East, Asia, Australia and South Pacific, and Antarctica.
• How to book: Directly through Road Scholar or through a travel agent.

7. Collette

A family-run business with hundreds of guided tour options across all seven continents, Collette offers a mix of small group trips (14 to 24 people per tour) and classic guided tours (up to 44 people). Its group tours start around $1,500, and most guests are over the age of 55. Collette is worldwide travel brand and tour operator with offices in the U.S., Canada, Australia, and the U.K.

BE PREPARED: 10 Things to Know Before Your First Group Tour

From land tours and river cruises to rail journeys, small group tours, and city stays, Collette offers a variety of ways to travel, including optional excursions and pre- and post-tour nights at your destination. And while the company tends to attract an older and budget-focused audience with an eye toward value, many of its hotels are four-star quality, and meals favor well-reviewed local restaurants with generous menus. 

Collette employs local guides for all of its trips and puts an emphasis on utilizing local businesses and restaurants. It also offers community sustainability programs for its guests in destinations across the world and invests a percentage of its proceeds back into local community or sustainability projects. Tour guests are automatically enrolled in The Collette Passport Club and receive credit toward future trips. 

Quick Facts about Guided Tours with Collette

• Average guided tour group size: 44 guests (classic tours); 14 to 24 guests (small group tours).
• What’s included: Hotels, activities, museum and attraction admissions, local guides, transportation, and airport transfers.
• What’s not included: Airfare, meals, and gratuities.
• Primary audience: Adults, primarily couples, between the ages of 50 and 70.
• How to book: Directly through Collette or through a travel agent.

8. T auck Tours

Family-owned Tauck has a simple philosophy: Deliver more than what’s expected. The award-winning guided tour operator has been doing just that for nearly 100 years by offering authentic experiences and behind-the-scenes access to destinations all over the world. Tauck’s century of experience is evident in nearly every detail of its guided trips, which cover more than 100 destinations in 70+ countries across all seven continents.

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The company’s tours are well-regarded for their expertise in local customs, traditions, flora, and fauna. Meals and accommodations are upscale. Its tour guides, called Tauck Directors, come from 40 countries and average a decade of experience each. You can choose from five unique trip styles: land tours, small group journeys, river cruises, small ship cruises, and multigenerational family journeys called Tauck Bridges. The tour operator also boasts an exclusive partnership with the award-winning documentary filmmaker Ken Burns, offering deep-dive trips that explore the themes of his films, including the American Civil War, U.S. national parks, baseball, and jazz. 

Quick Facts about Guided Tour Operator Tauck

• Average guided tour group size: 35 people (standard tours); 24 people (small group tours).
• Price category: Upscale.
• What’s included: Gratuities, sightseeing and admissions, most meals, airport and luggage transfer, and taxes.
• What’s not included: Airfare and alcohol.
• Primary audience: Adults over age 50 and multigenerational family groups.
• How to book: Directly through Tauck or through a travel agent.

9. National Geographic Expeditions

Launched in 1999, National Geographic Expeditions leans into its parent company’s core values of exploration, science, education, and storytelling to offer exceptional guided tours on all seven continents. From exploring the Swiss and Italian Alps by train to photographing Machu Picchu at sunrise, National Geographic Expeditions takes you to some of the most celebrated natural wonders, archaeological sites, and wildlife-rich destinations in the world. 

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A guided trip with National Geographic Expeditions is all about meaningful exploration of the world and its many cultures. Whether by land, small ship, train, river cruise, or even private jet, you can expect a guided tour that goes way beyond the ordinary. And with itineraries geared specifically for photographers, families ( in partnership with G Adventures ), or independent travelers, you’ll be exploring alongside both like-minded travelers and subject matter experts. 

The company offers two unique ways to travel: National Geographic Signature Land tours, led by NatGeo experts, are its flagship trips and feature high-end accommodations, special access to field researchers and sites of interest, and even photography workshops; National Geographic Journeys, led by local guides, utilize mid-range hotels and blend hands-on exploration with more free time to explore on your own. Many National Geographic Expeditions trips also offer pre- and post-trip extensions.

The National Geographic Lifelong Explorers program offers loyalty discounts for return guests. Additionally, a portion of the proceeds from each trip helps fund the National Geographic Society’s research and conservation programs around the world.

Quick Facts about Guided Travel Tours with National Geographic Expeditions

• Average guided tour group size: 16 to 25 people per departure; cruises are all in small ships under 200 passengers.
• Price category: Premium (National Geographic Signature Expeditions); budget to moderate (National Geographic Journeys).
• What’s included: Meals, accommodations, excursions, services of a National Geographic Expert, ground transportation, most transfers, baggage handling, most gratuities (for National Geographic Signature Land); some meals, accommodations, excursions, local guides, ground transportation, and some transfers (for National Geographic Journeys).
• What’s not included: Airfare, some meals, and some gratuities.
• Primary audience: Photographers and families with a passion for learning.
• How to book: Directly through National Geographic Expeditions or through a travel agent.

The budget-friendly member of the Globus family of travel brands (alongside Globus and Avalon Waterways ), Cosmos offers a range of tours around the world but has a particularly strong focus on European tours. Cosmos offers similar itineraries to its sister brand Globus but brings costs down by opting for good-but-more-budget-minded accommodations. While Cosmos is best known for its coach tours, the company also offers small group trips, off-the-beaten-path itineraries in popular destinations, event-focused tours, and Christian faith-based trips that highlight religious history in the Holy Land, Italy, Spain, and Portugal.

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Cosmos runs tours on five continents spanning more than 60 countries. Among its most popular destinations are Great Britain and Ireland, Canada, France, Greece, Italy, Portugal, Spain, and the United States. Many of the company’s tour directors hail from the country in which they lead tours, and a number of them have spent decades with Cosmos. The company also employs local guides to help with additional on-the-ground aspects of its tours. Cosmos offers a Welcome Back Credit loyalty program. Each trip earns up to a $250 credit toward a future trip with Globus, Cosmos, or Avalon Waterways.

Quick Facts about Group Tours with Cosmos 

• Average guided tour group size: 36 guests (standard coach tours); 20 to 24 guests (small group tours).
• Price category: Budget.
• What’s included: Hotels, guided city sightseeing excursions, ground transportation, and some meals.
• What’s not included: Airfare, optional excursions, gratuities; flights and airport transfers can be purchased at additional cost from Cosmos.
• Primary audience: Adults in their early to mid 50s.
• Destinations: Europe, South America, Central America, North America, Asia, Africa, and Oceania.
• How to Book: Directly through Cosmos or through a travel agent.

11. Overseas Adventure Tours (O.A.T.)

Part of the Grand Circle family of companies that also includes Grand Circle Travel and Grand Circle Cruise Line, Overseas Adventure Travel (also called O.A.T.) is a small group adventure travel tour specialist offering guided tours on all seven continents. O.A.T.’s tour group guests are over the age of 50 and many are solo travelers looking to join like-minded travelers on active itineraries around the world.

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Why is O.A.T. is so popular with older solo travelers? One reason is that the company rarely charges a single supplement on its trips. A fair number of the company’s guided tour itineraries also have women-exclusive departures. Overseas Adventure Travel rates all of its tours by activity level ranging from one (easy) to five (strenuous). The company operates more than 60 unique trips on all seven continents. Both multi-country and single-country tours are offered; some itineraries focus on culture while others have an ecological focus.

Unlike many other guided tour companies, O.A.T.’s prices typically include airfare, though guests also have the option to book their own flights. Overseas Adventure Travel’s loyalty program is the Sir Edmund Hillary Club , which offers benefits beginning with your third trip.

Quick Facts about Guided Tours with Overseas Adventure Travel (O.A.T.)

• Average guided tour group size: 13 people.
• What’s included: Airfare, most meals, all transportation, accommodations, activities, and gratuities for local guides.
• What’s not included: Gratuities for trip leaders, some meals; airfare can also be booked separately.
• Primary audience: Active adults over 50, particularly solo travelers.
• Destinations: Europe, Africa, North America, South America, Middle East, Oceania, and the Polar regions.
• How to Book: Directly through OAT or through a travel agent.

12. Intrepid Travel

Sustainable and experience-rich travel is the heart and soul of everything Intrepid Travel does. The not-for-profit group travel tour operator runs trips geared toward young adults, women, solo travelers, active travelers, and families, and it generally attracts like-minded guests who value responsible travel, conservation, and respect for indigenous cultures. In fact, many of Intrepid’s most compelling guided tours make personal connections with local communities a centerpiece of the experience.

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Intrepid offers a wide range of trip styles and themes to suit a variety of audiences: Basix caters to independent travelers who prefer free time to explore on their own; Original tours include a mix of activities and free time; Comfort goes at a relaxed pace; and Premium tours offer the best accommodations, most comfortable transportation, and exclusive experiences. Different themes include Active, Food, Expeditions, Family, Solo, 18 to 29s, and Trekking, among others. Travelers are automatically enrolled in the Intrepid Insiders program with their first trip. The loyalty program offers advance notice of sales and new trips.

Quick Facts about Guided Tour Operator Intrepid Travel

• Average guided tour group size : 12 people.
• What’s included: Accommodations, local transport, and some meals.
• What’s not included: Airfare, travel insurance, and tips.
• Primary audience : Adults ages 25 to 40.
• Destinations : Europe, Africa, North America, Central America, South America, Middle East, Oceania, and the Polar regions.
• How to Book: Directly through Intrepid or through a travel agent.

13. AdventureWomen

The women’s-only travel group AdventureWomen makes it easy for female travelers to explore the world in a safe and meaningful way alongside other women. Founded in 1982, AdventureWomen now offers nearly 50 tours across more than 65 counties. AdventureWomen’s guided travel tours for women welcome solo female travelers, women traveling together, mother-daughter pairs, sisters, and more. Each tour description clearly outlines the required fitness level for the journey. 

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The company’s most popular guided tours include a wintertime tour of Iceland to view the Northern Lights, a Galapagos Islands wildlife cruise by private yacht, and a journey along Croatia’s Dalmatian Coast. These guided women’s only adventure tours include lodging, ground transportation, most meals and activities, guides, and some gratuities. AdventureWomen’s average tour group size is on the small side, with tours generally welcoming 12 to 15 women per departure. Guests often credit the small group size for fostering camaraderie with other travelers on these guided tours. 

Quick Facts about Guided Tour Company AdventureWomen

• Average guided tour group size: 12 to 15 people.
• What’s included: Accommodations, most meals and activities, ground transportation, tour guides (called Managers), and some gratuities.
• What’s not included: Pre- and post-trip transportation, alcohol, some gratuities, and certain meals.
• Primary audience: Women seeking to travel with other women.
• Destinations : Europe, Africa, North America, Central America, South America, and the Middle East.
• How to Book: Directly through AdventureWomen or through a travel agent.

14. Abercrombie & Kent

A pioneer in the world of luxury small group trips, Abercrombie & Kent has been operating guided tours for more than 60 years. These days, the tour company runs trips on all seven continents spanning more than 100 countries. Each of Abercrombie & Kent’s small group tours is run by a Resident Tour Director who remains with the group throughout the trip, while additional specialized local guides help travelers enjoy one-of-a-kind insider experiences.

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Because Abercrombie & Kent is a luxury tour operator, accommodations tend toward high-end hotels wherever possible. Participants are often Gen X and Boomers. Guests are automatically enrolled in the company’s Marco Polo Club loyalty program on their third journey with Abercrombie & Kent. 

Quick Facts about Guided Tours with Abercrombie & Kent

• Average guided tour group size: 14 people.
• Price category: Upscale/premium.
• What’s included: Inter-trip flights, upscale accommodations, luggage transfers, meals, mid-journey laundry services, all activities, and expert guides.
• What’s not included: Airfare to and from your trip destination.
• Primary audience: Adults aged 40 and older.
• How to Book: Directly through Abercrombie & Kent or through a travel agent.

15. Exodus Travels

A worldwide adventure travel tour operator, Exodus Travels offers small group and independent cycling, walking, hiking, wildlife, and cultural tours in nearly 90 countries across all seven continents. Exodus has operated small group guided tours, self-guided tours, and private tours around the world since 1974, and today offers more than 500 unique tours ranging from popular locales like the Amalfi Coast in Italy to remote destinations like Tajikistan. 

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The company’s small group tours average between eight to 16 guests and utilize local trip leaders and experienced local guides. Solo travelers comprise nearly half of Exodus’s guests, who are given the option to pay a single room supplement or share a room with another guest at no additional charge. For those who want the convenience of a curated trip (pre-planned accommodations, activities, and transportation) without the constraints of traveling with a group, Exodus’s self-guided options give you freedom and flexibility to explore on your own. 

While Exodus is popular with budget-minded travelers, the company also offers premium guided tours to some popular destinations. A partnership with the African Wildlife Foundation allows Exodus to offer luxury safaris, for example. Guests are automatically enrolled in the tour operator’s loyalty program, called Exodus Collective , after two trips. Exodus Collective offers special discounts and members-only sales. After your seventh trip, you’ll be upgraded to the company’s Pioneer level, which comes with even greater discounts and perks. 

Quick Facts about Guided Tour Operator Exodus Travels

• Average guided tour group size: 8 to 16 people.
• Price category: Budget to upscale.
• What’s included: Accommodations, some meals, activities, and local guides.
• What’s not included: Airfare, airport transfers, and gratuities.
• Primary audience: Adventure travelers, solo travelers, and active independent travelers.
• How to Book: Directly through Exodus or through a travel agent.

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Guide Vs Tour Operator

The differences between guides and tour operators can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a guide and a tour operator. Additionally, a tour operator has an average salary of $47,294, which is higher than the $34,479 average annual salary of a guide.

The top three skills for a guide include brand awareness, product knowledge and safety rules. The most important skills for a tour operator are reservations, customer service, and customer feedback.

Guide vs tour operator overview

Guide vs tour operator salary.

Guides and tour operators have different pay scales, as shown below.

Differences between guide and tour operator education

There are a few differences between a guide and a tour operator in terms of educational background:

Guide vs tour operator demographics

Here are the differences between guides' and tour operators' demographics:

Differences between guide and tour operator duties and responsibilities

Guide example responsibilities..

• Manage kayaks, guest and guide gear and repaired/ordered as needed.
• Lead VIP guests on guide tours of the property and facilitate their involvement in special events, productions, and conventions.
• Manage payroll - specifically manage overtime.
• Provide hands on experience in stream exploration, plant identification, and survival classes.
• Wrangle horses, clean fish, and elk.
• Generate high quality reports in the form of listing, HTML, XML, RTF and PDF formats using SAS ODS.

Tour Operator Example Responsibilities.

• Plan itineraries, make reservations, lead tours, obtain licenses for foreign pilots, manage a fleet of light aircraft.
• Manage VIP guest calendar to ensure these guests are given quality service from staff.
• Process and issue airlines, transfers, hotels, and city tours reservations for groups.
• Train customers in operating Segway personal transport devices and hold entertaining tours.
• Film all selection tour events and act as intermediary between AAG and hundreds of Midwestern media outlets.

Guide vs tour operator skills

• Brand Awareness, 26%
• Product Knowledge, 12%
• Safety Rules, 12%
• Customer Service, 8%
• Safety Procedures, 5%
• Reservations, 32%
• Customer Service, 22%
• Customer Feedback, 4%
• Travel Arrangements, 3%
• Tour Guides, 3%
• Reservation System, 3%

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Canada Tour Companies

Looking for an unforgettable Canada tour? Book a fully-organized trip with the best tour companies in Canada and let the tour operator take care of everything for you. Check out the tour details and read 179082 reviews from our customers to help you choose the perfect tour for you.

List of Canada travel companies & tour operators with 179082 reviews

Fresh Adventures

• Excellent - 82 reviews for Canada tours

Great trip Fresh Adventures! Well organized tour, wonderful resorts with powder skiing, nice breakfast, lunch and dinner venues. Nice accommodation. Fantastic guides both on and off the mountain. They knew the best places to ski and enjoy. I really enjoyed skiing together, dining together and hot pools as a group. Thanks Sam and Laurence!

My lifelong dream to come to the Yukon and it was everything I hoped for and more! High five to the Fresh Adventures crew for putting together an epic adventure I won't soon forget. The hikes were tough but absolutely worth it and the views from the top were unreal. I've been on a trip with Fresh Adventures in the Rockies before and was happy to see that they offered a Yukon trip as well. The guides, Carl and Alex were fun to be around and the rest of the group was amazing. Loved all the good times and the laughs in the van. Thanks for a great trip!

• Good - 180 reviews for Canada tours

I had a great experience on this Colette tour with Bernadette and Dave. They were excellent guides and drivers, and the tour was well-organized. I would recommend it.

This wasn’t inclusive of much besides a boat ride and bus ride. Any significant sight seeing requires purchase of optional tours. Local eating and transport are extras.

G Adventures

• Excellent - 19,137 reviews for Canada tours

The tour length was ideal for us, We had one day of porr weather at Whistler which curtailed us but otherwise it was very good. The hotels were all good and the camp at Golden was a nice contrast Our guide/driver (simon) was great, friendly, very helpful and professional, and went out of his way to ensure we had a great trip.

This trip was the best experience of my life so far! My CEO Melanie was so amazing, I felt so at ease and happy throughout every step of the tour. This is the perfect trip to see some of Canada. 100000/10 would recommend to everyone!

Moose Travel Network

• Excellent - 167 reviews for Canada tours

Super Reise mit tollen Aktivitäten und abwechslungsreicher Landschaft. Unser Guide (Bruno) war top!

I took the 5-day Coho tour starting in Vancouver. Our tour guide Kiera was just great and has always given us with a lot of interesting information about Canada in general, our surroundings, nature and trains. In general, you could ask her anything and thus got a life coach or Canada expert! Also our group was great! We were only 7th at the beginning and became a group of 11 in Banff, due to the fact that we were the last tour for the year. Together we had fun bus rides and marveled at the beauty of Canada. I really recommend everyone to do this tour! We saw so much that otherwise would not have been possible for one independently in the short amount of time! We also did a lot of great things as a group (campfires, cooking, game night, going out) and became great friends that definitely keep in touch! Keira also always asked us about our preferences, which also allowed us to decide for ourselves what we wanted to focus on! I really loved this flexibility! My expectations of the trip were definitely exceeded and I am overjoyed to have chosen it. The hostels were also all very pleasant and clean. The Wildness Hostel was definitely a highlight, which made the experience even more special. I would gladly give it more stars as I am absolutely convinced and can recommend it to everyone!

Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tou…

• Excellent - 35 reviews for Canada tours

Accomodation was just as amazibgbut what made it special was our tour manager Cathy. She went out of her way to help, support and just be the best that she could be. Just love her and her crazy Xmas hats. ????????

Discover Canada Tours

• Excellent - 380 reviews for Canada tours

What a most wonderful experience. Ian and Oliver went over and beyond to make this a smooth and memorable experience. Ian and Oliver’s story telling and knowledge of all our stops was amazing. Thank you sincerely!!

It was very nice experience.Thank you our tour guide Sabio, trainee guide Mike ,apprentice Natalino & driver Yee. Sabio is very professional & kind, Mike is knowledgeable. Natalino helpful. All the team us very nice.

Intrepid Travel

• Excellent - 11,729 reviews for Canada tours

Overall: Overall, the Canadian Rockies are spectacular. All of the people in our group were fun to be with, and we made some great friends. Our tour guide was knowledgeable, patient, and flexible given the physical abilities (or inabilities) of the members of the group and tried to tailor the tour to accommodate as many people in the activities as possible. My issue was with Intrepid's misrepresentation of the physical activity level rating, the inaccurate pricing of optional activities, the required travel insurance policy, the sub-par lodging, and the labeling of the trip as a Northern Lights trip when there were only 2 nights out of 10 listed in the itinerary that gave us an opportunity to see them. Lodging: The hotels were sub-par. The Metterra in Edmonton didn’t have a functioning hair dryer and the TV didn’t work (during the SuperBowl) The Holiday Inn Express in Slave Lake didn't have a functioning fireplace in the lobby, where we gathered to eat dinner. It was cold as it was adjacent to the front doors the were constantly opening and closing. The TV in the breakfast room and where we met to eat take out dinner was on a political station and the volume was loud. The person working at the front desk stated that the remote control had been stolen, so we couldn't turn it off or adjust the volume. The Lake Louise Inn had disgusting carpeting that we didn’t even want to walk on with bare feet. The Rundlestone Lodge in Banff did not have any food or drink options in the hotel and we had to walk to another hotel to get our included breakfast. The breakfast at that hotel was also sub-par. The eggs were powdered eggs. The bread, bagels, and pastries were all stale and hard. Everyone had a room where the window looked DIRECTLY into the pool area. It was noisy with kids screaming at the pool. One of the members of our group had to pay to upgrade her room, so she wouldn't have to hear the noise from the pool area until 10:30 PM. Intrepid Activity Level rating: Intrepid listed this physical activity level rating as a 2/5, which is one step above sunbathing. It said that the activities were easy and no prior physical fitness was necessary to do most of the activities. First, many of the activities were done at higher altitudes than most were accustomed to, which makes any activity more challenging. Second, walking on ice, hiking on steep mountain trails, and snowshoeing in deep snow require a much higher level of fitness than casual walking. Itinerary: The itinerary was labeled a Canadian Rockies and Northern Lights tour. There were only 2 nights listed on the itinerary (in Slave Lake) that there was even an opportunity to go out to see them. The northern lights and weather conditions are unpredictable, so it should not be listed as a “northern lights tour” unless there would be an opportunity to see them every night. The tour guide had drive time restrictions and couldn’t take us out every night to remote areas to get the chance to see the northern lights. On an Iceland tour, we had our lodging (with restaurant and bar) in remote areas with minimal light pollution, so I could set my alarm a few times throughout the night to go outside to see if the lights were visible. The quality of northern lights can change on an hourly basis and it is not reasonable to expect to stay outside in a remote area without light pollution all night to see them. All the hotels we stayed at had significant light pollution preventing us from going outside the hotel to check the quality of the northern lights. Don’t label it a northern lights tour. It was a Canadian Rockies tour. Slave Lake activities: The ice fishing listed as a possible alternate activity was never discussed. No one said the lakes were safe or not safe for fishing. It was not discussed as an option at all. Snowshoeing was also listed as an activity at this location, but was not given as an option. Jasper activities: Walking on ice in the Maligne Canyon was challenging and risky for people who aren’t physically fit. There were a few people that had to skip the grotto for fear of injuring themselves by going further. Similarly, on the drive along the Icefields Parkway, none of us were able to hike all the way to the toe of Athabasca Glacier due to the level of fitness required. Lake Louise activites: Difficulties with the level of fitness required also impacted the hike at Johnston Canyon. Some people struggled but managed to make it to the lower bridge, but many could not go further due to the fitness level needed to hike up the steep trails. Snowshoeing was offered as an option and one group member had to insist to go snowshoeing here, since the terrain was flat. Otherwise, it was also not included as an option. Banff activities: This was the snowshoe hike at Sunshine Mountain. Despite it being listed as an option twice before on the itinerary, this was the first day we went as a group. It was challenging to say the least. Half of the group were not able to participate due to the level of fitness required that was misrepresented in the tour description rating. The next day the grotto ice walk was listed, but not offered and instead we went on a hike. Optional Activities: There was a SIGNIFICANT discrepancy of the prices listed for the optional activities on the tour description and the actual prices. It seems the prices listed by Intrepid were pre-COVID prices and had never been updated. I understand if there would be a minor difference in prices, but they were 40-70% higher than Intrepid quoted. Here are examples of the activity and price per person. Dogsledding (an anticipated highlight of the trip, which we ended up not going on due to price): Intrepid price $200 CAD and actual price was $315CAD. Lake Louise Sleigh ride: Intrepid price $37CAD and actual price was $52CAD Lake Louise Ice Skating including hockey stick: Intrepid price $20CAD and actual price was $29CAD Banff Hot Springs: Intrepid price $8CAD and actual price was $17.50CAD Travel Insurance: I have the AmEx Platinum card that has very good travel insurance coverage. Intrepid forced me to buy a separate policy stating that I needed a “policy number” and not just claims made coverage that my credit card supplies. I had to pay an extra $174USD to get travel insurance when my credit card already covers travel insurance. Then I found that one of the guests in our group used her credit card policy and did not require a separate travel insurance policy to go on this trip. That was infuriating! White Mountain Adventures: White Mountain Adventures was coordinating this trip and I felt they were at a disadvantage to plan a trip when the Intrepid itinerary and physical activity level was misrepresented prior to the trip. Scott, our tour guide, was very kind, knowledgeable, patient, accommodating, and flexible to try to meet the expectations and physical abilities of those on the tour.

the trip overall was good but a few things to be aware of: The Edmonton Sky shuttle has not been in service since 2020! You must take a taxi. The guide was surprised that we were told to schedule extras through her and by the time the trip started, much of what we wanted was already booked out. You must book the extras yourself. Neither intrepid nor tour radar does this. this was unclear in all the communications. you can't talk to a tour radar person. on line chat is fine if you are not in a hurry for answers. That aside, the guide was knowledgeable, pleasant, and worked hard to give all tour participants an extraordinary time.

Calgary Tours

• Good - 42 reviews for Canada tours

It was an amazing tour. Enjoyed it very much.

Excellent hotels, food and tour.

• Excellent - 880 reviews for Canada tours

The tour guide and bus driver were kind and courteous. More tour stops needed to be included that do not require additional payment.

Was a very good tour great Tour guide & First class Driver The only down for the tour was being let down by Costsaver by being put in sub below Hotel for 2 nights in Canmore when we all thought we would have been in Banff They obviously did not inspect rooms no heating working dusty smelly rooms toilets not flushing dirty sheets even with blood on them an absolute disgrace for the money we paid for this trip Was so disappointing as rest off accomodation was above our expectations

West Trek Tours Inc.

• Excellent - 98 reviews for Canada tours

Our tour guides are awesome

Excellent tour Chris was a great tour guide and had lots of information. Yee the driver was very helpful and I would recommend the tour there was so much to see but rushed at time and would have liked to spend more time in Banff. Robert Hanna

• Excellent - 19,655 reviews for Canada tours

Everything was perfectly organized for our convenience. Director was experienced and handled everything flawlessly. We really enjoyed the experience. Hotels were very comfortable. The only comment I would add that we had to get up very early to be at the bus between and 8. Then after having the excursion we had the whole afternoon for ourselves. I would prefer to get up later and finish daily activity later.

Great guide Peter and driver who made the tour a very good experience

• Good - 14 reviews for Canada tours

My mistake probably. I thought this was a tour as it is expensive. It is only expensive because the hotels are very expensive. Brewters company gives a bit of guidance but Sundog is just a transfer company (take you from one paoint to another). So the agency books hotels and transfer that is it. Can do it yourself for cheaper. There are no groups, no guide and two of my drop off and pick up were at the wrong hotels. You also need to call so have a canadian number each day to call transfer company to confirm your pick up so be ready to spend money on a canadian sim card. Tour or agencies would be better as they actually ask what you really want and as for me a cheaper hotel would have been better and easier as hotels booked where out of town and without a car it is not always easy to go around. Real disappointment as this is sold as a tour with many lookout point but it is just wikipedia recommendations. I use Intrepid or Gadventures which provides tour where you meet people and what you pay is really what you have definitelly stick to what I know. What needs an improvement is the way to describe it you cannot say it is a tour when it is not and if you get people asking for it maybe ask what they are really looking for like a tour operator. if you are looking at this tour you can just book 2 nights in each town in nice hotels there are plenty and brewster transfer and this will not take you much time. If you need an agency call a tour operator which will hopefully ask your needs what you want in terms of accomodation, budget, activities to tailored it and this is worth the extra charge. If thy dont do it yourself you save some money.

Every employee we met from pick up @ the airport to drop off after our final trip to the Aurora Center was wonderful - Professional, pleasant, and friendly. Price was right! Hotel was OK. My one important critique was we got absolutely no info on the Aurora Borealis. I expected a video or “lecture” or some explanation about what we were looking for/seeing. (And, so so so very happy we saw them!!!) This was a trip specifically to see the northern lights and we heard nothing about them. I will (and have steady) recommend your tour to others but tell them to study up on the Aurora before they go. Thanks for asking!

• Excellent - 74,893 reviews for Canada tours

It was an excellent trip!

The technology needed was hard for us.The guest help place was the best. All was good and the captain kept us safe. Thanks.

• Excellent - 1,898 reviews for Canada tours

Very nice tour. Would have liked more time in a place or two but, overall, good.

Optional excursions were reasonably priced. Suggest you put together other places in each city as a walking guide or short taxi or uber ride. Example access to close by museums open late and could walk to from hotel. Free time activities and what they are and where located is helpful.tour guide can offer to accompany a group interested to explore more during free leisure tome.Provide more detail info about the logistics of site visits. Niagara falls..suggest more water proof gear clothing and shoe types etc. Terrain to expect when visiting certain sites and possible alternatives.climbing and how difficult-easy or more strenuous or advanced climbing activity. Overall, small groups so much better than filling up bus. Thank you for giving single travelers their own bus space. Would love to watch more travel videos on longer driving distances.

Arctic Range Adventure

• Excellent - 47 reviews for Canada tours

Greatful for the trip

The tour was excellent. The itinerary was excellent as was our guide Leo. Our only issue was that in Dawson City, our hotel was not serving any food or beverages. Its bar and restaurant were closed. This was because of renovations by new owners to the hotel which should have been known and remedied by our tour provider. It was not satisfactory having to look for alternatives in cold, snowy conditions,

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Tour operator business model guide.

Building a tour operator business from scratch may feel a bit overwhelming. There are many pieces of the puzzle you have to put together: from choosing your niche to building relationships, conducting thorough market research, building your brand and online presence, etc.

Download Business Model Guide PDF

Creating the right business model will give you a clear roadmap to guide your business journey. Addressing these three main points is the first step in creating a viable tour operator business model:

• Tour and activity selection:  What are you selling? What makes it unique/what’s your unique selling proposition (USP)? What resources do you need to get started?
• Your market:  Who are you selling your products or services to? Which category of traveler/tourist are your services for? Who are your competitors?
• Money-making plan:  How will you make money? How will you market your trips and activities?

Setting goals and objectives for your tour operator company

This part is extremely important in several ways. Think about what your company will look like a few years from now. How many customers will book your tour per week? How many activities can you handle per week?

Answer questions of that nature and you’ll be able to come up with at least 10 objectives and steps that you need to take to get there.

Some examples of goals and steps you may come up with:

• Expand your tour activity selection. In order to do so, you need to find gaps in the market that you can meet with your resources and experience . Refer to the Entrepreneur Tour Operator Toolkit - Product Development Guide for ideas and guidance.
• Reach a new market segment. That requires that you perhaps partner with other travel agents and activity providers.
• Further streamline your booking experience. That requires that you activate online bookings if possible.

The Value Proposition: Why would anyone buy your tour?

Your business's value proposition is arguably the most important element of your overall marketing message and will assist you with your overall marketing plan. It is the part where you define how you’re creating value for your prospective customers.

To be a bit more technical: Your value proposition is a clear and concise articulation of why customers should choose your tours or activities over your competitors.

What goes into creating a clear and concise value proposition?

• State your vision for the business
• What value does your product or service provide to the customer?
• Why are you qualified to offer that value offering?
• What is unique about your product or service?
• What is the growth potential for your product or service?

The aim of writing down your value proposition is that it makes it easier for customers and  potential investors  to evaluate your offering — from a market and financial perspective. In fact, every single item on your business model or plan has to relate back to your value proposition.

Your business's value proposition is arguably the most important element of your overall marketing message. It is the part where you define how you’re creating value for your prospective customers.

Key resources you’ll need to deliver your unique selling proposition (USP)

What do we mean by that? Simply put, your key resources are the main resources your company uses to create your USP and to provide your tour or activity offerings. They are the most important things to have for your tour operator business model to work.

Think about a few things:

• What are the main assets your company needs to put on tours and activities?
• What key resources does your tour require?
• Which resources are most important in all your distribution channels?
• What does the operational end of your business look like? For example, what kinds of materials do you need? What equipment will you need? What types of people will you employ?

The key resources section plays a vital role in bringing your vision and value proposition to life. It highlights what you need in order to deliver the value your customers expect from you.

Sorting out your finances

You’re really excited to get your new business model up and running— we get it. But remember that a successful tour operator business needs to make economic sense.

So, you need to ask yourself some financial questions, which include:

• What’s the initial investment of capital that my tour operation company will need?
• When will I start making profit?
• What will my profit statements look like in 6 months? A year?
• What income can I take home?
• Will I be able to dedicate enough, finance-wise?
• What is the likelihood of the business failing?
• What if it does (fail)?

Those questions are vital to accurately gauging your ability to develop a successful tour operator business model.

Establishing your revenue streams

Perhaps the most critical component of any sustainable tour operator business model? A positive cash-flow.

You need to figure out your revenue streams from the get-go. To help you fine-tune them, here are some questions you should ask yourself:

• What are your primary and secondary revenue streams?
• What value are your customers willing to pay for?
• How would they prefer to pay?
• How much does every revenue stream add to overall revenues?

Defining your customer relationships

Customer relationships refer to the way you interact with new and existing customer segments. Once you know their communication and purchasing preferences, you can adequately build a system to attract customers, get repeat business and more referrals.

Here are some key questions to think about when mapping out your customer relationships:

• What does your target audience expect from you?
• Can you integrate that into your business (cost and format-wise)?

Those two questions will further inform your USP, finances, and other strategies.

  Pulling everything together into your marketing strategy

You need a marketing strategy that is solely designed for your target market and customers. There are so many niches in the tour operator industry which also means that there are so many different marketing plans that are particularly favorable to specific niches.

You need to create a marketing plan that is tailored to your niche.

So, ponder the following:

• What is my customer persona? Meaning, who are they? How old are they? What do they do for a living? Where are they from? What do they want from your tour or activity?
• Where do you find your ideal customer? For example, are they heavy social media users? If so, which channels are they active on?
• What are their purchasing personas? Meaning, is it a segment that purchases online? Do they prefer sending through a check or buying in person?

You can then do your research to create an effective marketing strategy that your customer segments will buy into.

Let’s give you potential strategies you can incorporate into your overall marketing strategy:

• Add a blog to your website to substantially boost your search engine optimization (SEO) efforts.
• Cultivate your social media presence.
• Run campaigns that make sense for your customer segment. For example, if your target market is millennials looking for the ultimate holiday experience, then social media should be your priority over print advertising.

Tour Operator Toolkit Outline

Best Tour Companies in Iceland | Top-Rated Excursions to Book

How to Choose the Best Tour Operator in Iceland

Years of operation, pricing and inclusions.

• Tour Vehicles

Local Guides

Top 25 tour operators in iceland, 25. iceland photo tours, 24. gravel travel, 23. elding adventure at sea, 22. special tours, 21. reykjavik sightseeing, 20. mountaineers of iceland, 19. eldhestar horse riding, 18. midgard adventure, 17. star travel akureyri, 16. glacier mice, 15. adventure vikings, 14. east west, 13. glacier journey, 12. nordurflug helicopter tours, 11. your friend in reykjavik, 10. southcoast adventure, 9. jokulsarlon ehf, 8. bustravel, 7. arctic adventures, 6. reykjavik excursions, 5. katlatrack, 4. your day tours, 3. icelandic mountain guides, 2. nicetravel, 1. troll expeditions, booking tours with guide to iceland.

Discover the best tour companies in Iceland. Read this article to know what to look for in choosing the tour operator that will handle your trip to Iceland. Learn about their most exciting tours , from sightseeing to adventure experiences.

Iceland is one of the most popular destinations in the world. Thanks to its diverse landscapes, natural attractions, and rich culture, nearly a million travelers visit Iceland yearly.

When exploring Iceland, most visitors book organized tours from tour operators and travel agencies rather than make DIY trips. These organized tours can help save time and provide itinerary options even before you arrive in the land of fire and ice.

For example, suppose you want to visit the Golden Circle of Iceland or go  boating at the Jokulsarlon glacier lagoon . The best tour operators in Iceland can give you an easy and convenient experience. Their impeccable services and extensive experience can transform a visit to these locations into an unforgettable Icelandic holiday.

Choosing a tour operator that will handle your travel activities can make or unmake your Icelandic holiday. That’s why it’s essential to research the tour company and its products before finalizing your booking.

What makes a tour provider the perfect match for your travel needs? You can search the web for blogs and articles about this question, but you’ll probably get unlimited or overwhelming answers.  To save you from the trouble of extensive research online, we have listed five recurring factors to consider when choosing a tour provider in Iceland or anywhere else.

Does your tour operator have positive reviews online? You can start selecting the best tour operator by knowing if they have a good reputation in handling tour packages. Most tour companies have an online presence you can check through search engines and social media.

Search engines like Google display review ratings of tour companies from unique users who had prior transactions with them. Apart from the five-star rating you can base on, you can also view the comments by users for specific details of their tour experiences.

How many years has the tour company been operating? In most cases, those with long years of operation in the travel industry have more expertise in running excursions.

If you have saved up months of your salary for this travel, you may not want to gamble your Icelandic dream holiday on a company with less than a year of operation. 

How much are the operator’s tour products compared to their competitors? Pricing or budgeting is a vital part of every traveler’s vacation planning. Before booking a product, consider comparing the price with other companies offering a similar experience.

Pricing for tours in Iceland varies widely depending on the duration, type of activity, and the number of participants. Sightseeing tours are typically cheaper than activity tours like skiing and glacier hiking, in the same way that group tours are more affordable than private tours.

In addition, the best tour operators in Iceland have detailed tour descriptions where you can read the inclusions of each tour product. For example, a tour product should include a guide and entrance fees to attractions. Meanwhile, your tour package must include accommodations for multi-day tours in Iceland .

Tour Vehicles 

What vehicles are used for tours in Iceland? 

Tour providers in Iceland use different types of vehicles for their packages, depending on the kind of activity and number of participants. 

Private tours typically use private cars, super jeeps, and minibusses for their packages. This setup is ideal for those who want a more personalized experience with a better pace and privacy.

On the other hand, tours with a bigger number of joiners use large buses to transport travelers to specific destinations. The buses can accommodate at least 30 passengers and up. This setup is standard for sightseeing tours in the  Golden Circle and the South Coast . 

Do the tour guides speak English? Do they know other languages?

A tour guide is one of the most significant parts of any tour experience. They can either make your adventure more fun or forgettable.

A reliable tour operator in Iceland has local tour guides that are friendly and knowledgeable. They know the elements of your tour at the back of their hands even when not holding a brochure. They will tell you trivia, stories, and folklore about the attractions you’re exploring.

In most cases, the guides can speak English to accommodate foreign travelers. Sometimes, other guides can even speak different languages like French, German, Spanish, Chinese, and more. You can verify this when checking out a tour product and website or by asking the tour operator directly.

To help you plan your trip to Iceland, below is a list of 25 tour companies we consider the best in Iceland based on the five factors mentioned above. These operators are ranked and arranged based on their 5-star ratings, reviews, and quality of tours from the lowest to the highest.

Whether you’re interested in exploring Reykjavik , geothermal bathing at the Blue Lagoon , or hunting for the northern lights , these top 25 tour companies in Iceland have something to offer that will match your travel cravings.

The photography tours of Iurie Belegurschi has a 5/5 star rating from different travelers and photographers globally. These adventures are ideal for professional photographers and beginners who love natural landscapes. During the workshop, you’ll learn the best techniques, tips, and camera configurations in photography straight from an expert.

Apart from the lessons, joining Iceland Photo Tours will let you enjoy sightseeing in the most beautiful parts of Iceland. For example, on this eight-day summer photography workshop in Iceland and this four-day northern lights photo tour , you can see stunning waterfalls, black sand beaches, ice caves, glaciers, and a glacier lagoon.

These tours include accommodations, breakfast on most packages, and transfers to and from Reykjavik.

Gravel Travel is one of Iceland’s most trusted tour operators for private tours in the remote Highlands region  and other remote locations in the country.

To reach the mountainous regions of Iceland, Gravel Travel uses luxury vehicles like super jeeps to drive you in comfort and style. For example, you can reach the Central Highlands if you hop on this super jeep tour to Landmannalaugar geothermal area .

Gravel Travel also offers luxurious golfing tours where you can play while surrounded by breathtaking landscapes. For example, a thrilling golfing trip in Borgarnes Golf Club awaits you on this West Iceland golfing and sightseeing excursion .

Gravel Travel is rated 4.4/5 stars  by over 250 travelers for their 13 tours at Guide to Iceland.

Elding Adventure at Sea offers some of the most incredible tours if boat tours in Iceland are what you have come to do. This family-owned tour operator, rated 4.5/5 stars by over 225 travelers, boasts 16 sea adventures like this whale and puffin watching from Reykjavik and this  northern lights hunting cruise in Iceland . 

Most of Elding’s tours are group day excursions under 10 hours, but they also have a few combo packages like this two-day whale-watching boat tour in Reykjavik and Akureyri ports .

Tour sizes range based on your preferred activity, but Elding primarily operates in small groups. Elding Adventure at Sea does not include airport transfers but does include pick-up from Reykjavik or nearby towns, depending on the tour description.

Photo from  Classic 3-Hour Sea Fishing Trip Departing from Reykjavik Harbor

Special Tours is an excellent choice for travelers longing to see the  wildlife and birdlife in Iceland . The Nordic company operates 20 boat-based wildlife and nature tours at Guide to Iceland that depart from the historic Reykjavik Old Harbor. 

Two of the most popular tours in their portfolio include the Reykjavik whale-watching tour and the combo tour of lava caving and whale-watching in Iceland . Whale watching is a must-do in Iceland because its high seas are feeding grounds for different whale and dolphin species.

Special Tours doesn’t guarantee that the marine animals will be seen during the excursion. However, they offer a voucher for another tour to double your chances of spotting the rich wildlife in Iceland.

Nearly 400 tour joiners rated Special Tours with 4.4/5 stars .

Reykjavik Sightseeing is a leading tour provider offering affordable bus tours with audio guides so that visitors from foreign countries can learn about the sights in their mother tongue.

Their top tours are in 10 languages, mainly English, French, German, Dutch, Italian, Spanish, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, and Finnish. They also use comfortable coach buses with large windows so visitors can see the landscapes and nature of Iceland conveniently before arriving at their destinations. 

Reykjavik Sightseeing provides a wide array of tours with pick-up from your Reykjavik hotel. Choose from small group northern lights hunting tour , a more adventurous  ATV tour to the DC3 plane wreck , or an easygoing  whale-watching tour in Faxafloi bay .

Meanwhile, if you want to learn more about the rich culture of Iceland , why not join a food tour in Reykjavik or this guided walking tour of Reykjavik landmarks ? After all, Reykjavik Sightseeing is rated 4.5/5 stars  by more than 400 travelers for their selection of 27 tours at Guide to Iceland.

Photo from  Fast-Paced 5-Hour Snowmobiling Tour of Langjokull Glacier from Gullfoss Waterfall

Mountaineers of Iceland is the oldest snowmobiling tour company in Iceland. They offer a variety of small and large group wintertime adventures in the most accessible glacier from Reykjavik, Langjokull .

Snowmobiling is one of the most exciting activities that you can do in the land of fire and ice, where you can also explore the diverse landscapes of glaciers. Beginners and experts in snowmobiling who want to zoom across expanses of snow can choose this short one-hour snowmobiling on Langjokull glacier or this longer 10-hour Golden Circle super jeep with snowmobiling tour .

Tours by Mountaineers of Iceland operate out of Gullfoss and Reykjavik, with transfers included via bus or minibus. You must be at least 18 years old with a valid driver’s license to use a snowmobile. Fortunately, children six and up can ride as a passenger.

Around 150 reviewers gave Mountaineers of Iceland  4.6/5 stars rating  for their five tours at Guide to Iceland.

Eldhestar Horse Riding specializes in group horseback riding tours in Iceland. The beautiful Eldhestar horse farm, with around 350 horses, is 29 miles (47 kilometers) southeast of Reykjavik.

Many of their 20 tours at Guide to Iceland include pick-up from your accommodation in the capital city via minibus. Group sizes depend on the specific excursion you’re joining, but some range from seven to 15 guests.

For example, this horseback riding tour with the Golden Circle  and this  easy horseback ride over meadows and mountains from Reykjavik  have up to 15 participants per booking.

Families booking this fun activity should note that the minimum age to enjoy most day tours at Eldhestar Horse Riding is seven years old. 

Apart from the tour packages, Eldhestar manages a hotel of the same name, Hotel Eldhestar . Over 175 vacationers and tour joiners rated Eldhestar with 4.7/5 stars.

The most famous destinations of Midgard's 11 tours at Guide to Iceland are Thorsmork valley and the Landmannalaugar area in South Iceland. You can choose from day adventures or multi-day tours depending on how long your trip is in the country.

For example, some of their top expeditions include this seven-hour super jeep tour in Thorsmork and this four-day summer tour on the South Coast with glacier hiking .

If you need more proof of this tour operator's excellent track record, more than 10 adventurers rated Midgard Adventure with 5/5 stars .

Star Travel Akureyri is one of the high-rated tour companies in Iceland, with a 4.8/5 star rating from 30 travelers. The tour operator specializes in private and small group tours in North Iceland on minibusses and super jeeps. The northern region of Iceland is known for its dramatic landscapes and breathtaking natural water attractions, from  Lake Myvatn to the Dettifoss waterfall .

As the name suggests, Star Travel Akureyri is based in Akureyri, the capital of North Iceland, but they also operate many tours in and from the Myvatn area. Excursions such as this Diamond Circle day tour and this Lake Myvatn with geothermal bathing depart from either location.

Likewise, one of the most unforgettable tours they offer is the Game of Thrones tour , which visits some recognizable filming locations for the popular HBO television series. The hit HBO show was filmed in several locations across Iceland, including areas surrounding Lake Myvatn.

Glacier Mice is a professional tour company that offers excellent tours of Iceland’s icy wonders. If ice climbing or ice caving in Iceland is on your travel bucket list, Glacier Mice has your back and will provide every piece of equipment you need. 

Their most in-demand tour is the Vatnajokull ice-caving tour from Jokulsarlon , rated 4.5/5 stars by over 1,300 adventurers.

The tour starts from the Jokulsarlon glacier lagoon car park, so travelers must arrange transportation from Reykjavik.  Vatnajokull glacier is Europe's largest glacier, covering around eight percent of Iceland’s landmass.

Glacier Mice adventure tours include an English-speaking guide, crampons, a helmet, and other safety equipment for ice caving.

Photo from  Private 2-Hour Silfra Snorkeling Tour with Underwater Photography and Optional Pick-up .

Adventure Vikings is a popular tour company based in Reykjavik most known for its water and caving activities. With over 10 years of experience, this operator is an expert in providing quality snorkeling, diving, and paddleboarding nature adventures in and around the Icelandic capital.

The most in-demand day tours of Adventure Vikings are their drysuit snorkeling and wetsuit snorkeling at Silfra with underwater photos . These day activities let you explore the underwater chambers of the Silfra fissure in the Thingvellir National Park, considered to be one of the clearest waters in the world.

When joining Silfra snorkeling and diving trips, please note that you need to have good physical shape and health and can swim independently. A certified snorkel guide or divemaster, snorkeling equipment, and underwater photos are included in these packages.

The selection of 13 tours by Adventure Vikings at Guide to Iceland is rated 4.7/5 stars by around 350 travelers.

If you want an adventure near the Icelandic capital, Reykjavik, you'll enjoy the eight selections of tours by East West at Guide to Iceland. Some of these top destinations include the Snaefellsnes Peninsula, the Golden Circle, and the South Coast.

By joining this 11-hour tour of Snaefellsnes from Reykjavik and this Golden Circle minibus tour , you can see diverse attractions, from waterfalls to hot springs to mountains and beaches. These experiences by East West are rated 4.9/5 stars by over 30 nature lovers.

Photo from Incredible 3-Hour Snowmobiling Tour under the Midnight Sun on Vatnajokull Glacier

There's not quite like exploring a massive glacier in Iceland than doing it with Glacier Journey . Rated 4.9/5 stars by 40 travelers, Glacier Journey is managed by a small family and a group of expert guides with decades of experience.

Glacier Journey primarily runs its tours in the Vatnajokull National Park, the largest glacier in Europe. Vatnajokull covers at least 10% of Iceland's landmass and is home to the most diverse landscapes from ice sheets, ridges, mountains, valleys, and more.

Some top tours of Glacier Journey that you can join include this family-friendly ice cave tour from Jokulsarlon and this three-hour Vatnajokull snowmobiling tour . These glacier expeditions are perfect for those keen to have a rush of adrenaline while surrounded by breathtaking landscapes.

Although pricier than bus tours, a helicopter tour in Iceland offers a unique and special perspective of Iceland's best landscapes. You also have a chance to see sites that are otherwise inaccessible by land travel. 

For example, this 40-minute helicopter tour of Reykjavik will let you see the beautiful coastal city through a bird's-eye view and enjoy a summit landing on a nearby mountain.

On the other hand, this longer helicopter tour of the Golden Circle and Highlands is your best option to conquer the famous tourist route of Iceland and remote mountains within just four hours.

Nordurflug Helicopter Tours is rated 4.9/5  by nearly 50 travelers.

Photo from  Walk with a Viking 2-Hour Guided Reykjavik Walking Tour .

Your Friend in Reykjavik is a trusted tour provider in Reykjavik with as much as over 40 tours at Guide to Iceland. As how its name suggests, this tour operator promises to deliver friendly, more personalized experiences for those who prefer a more laid-back adventure.

The company offers a range of tours and activities, city walking tours, food tours, northern lights tours, Golden Circle tours, and more. They cater to both small groups and individual travelers, providing an opportunity to experience the vibrant culture, history, and natural wonders of Iceland.

The guides at Your Friend in Reykjavik are typically locals who possess in-depth knowledge of the area. They are passionate about sharing their insights, stories, and recommendations with visitors, making each tour informative and engaging.

Your Friend in Reykjavik is rated 4.8/5 stars by over 50 tour joiners.

This Icelandic company offers super jeep and luxury tours to destinations such as the Eyjafjallajokull glacier, Thorsmork valley, Thorsmork valley, and Solheimajokull glacier. A super jeep allows thrill-seekers to see the hidden and rugged terrain of the Icelandic Highlands up close while away from busy crowds.

If you're up for these kinds of adventures, you'll be satisfied to join this Landmannalaugar super jeep tour or this Eyjafjallajokull snowmobiling tour . After all, over 100 adventurers rated Southcoast Adventure tours with 4.8/5 stars .

Jokulsarlon glacier lagoon is Iceland's most famous glacier lagoon and the country's deepest lake. Thousands of travelers flock to the area yearly to see icebergs breaking away from a nearby glacier before floating toward the Atlantic Ocean.

To get close to these chunks of ice of different sizes and colors, you can join this affordable boat tour of Jokulsarlon or this 1-hour Zodiac boat tour to Jokulsarlon glacier lagoon . Tours on the Zodiac boat will get you closer to the ice and glacier because of their smaller and more flexible sizes.

These excursions depart from the Jokulsarlon Cafe, also operated by the same company. Collectively, Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon Boat Tours and Cafe are rated 4.7/5 stars by almost 700 travelers.

The key destinations of BusTravel tours include some of the most visited in Iceland, particularly the Golden Circle and Jokulsarlon glacier lagoon. If you want to see these popular attractions, you can book this South Coast tour with waterfalls, glaciers, and black sand beaches .

During winter, the company also runs cheap aurora borealis experiences like this northern lights bus tour with a transfer from Reykjavik .

Apart from comfortable transportation, knowledgeable guides and excellent itineraries are highlights of these packages. This is evidenced by the 4.5/5 stars rating of BusTravel from more than 500 reviews.

Arctic Adventures is a sustainable tour provider specializing in small-group tours. The company aims to reduce its carbon footprint while providing affordable adventure and sightseeing tours.  

Most Arctic Adventures tours operate out of Reykjavik and specialize in top Golden Circle and South Iceland attractions. Enjoy their professionally guided tours like this combo tour of Golden Circle sightseeing and lava caving and this  Into the Glacier ice tunnel tour of Langjokull .

If you plan on visiting Iceland for a longer time, you can join the multi-day tours offered by Arctic Adventures. You can travel to all regions of Iceland on their  guided tour of the ring road from Reykjavik .

Some Arctic Adventures tours include transfers via minibus to and from the airport, but be sure to check your specific package since some include pick-up and drop-off at your Reykjavik hotel. 

Arctic Adventures and its over 50 tours at Guide to Iceland are  rated 4.6/5 stars  by 250 travelers globally.

Reykjavik Excursions is one of the largest tour operators in Iceland, known for its affordable bus tours. The adventure provider offers must-do destinations in its many tour options, rated 4.6/5 stars by a staggering 2250 vacationers.

The most common destinations of these bus tours are tourist spots near the capital city. In particular, this  Golden Circle tour from Reykjavik and this  South Coast bus tour  will allow you to see the Gullfoss waterfall , Reynisfjara black beach , and more Icelandic attractions in one day.

But before venturing outside the city, you may also want to explore Reykjavik on a hop-on hop-off bus tour . Reykjavik has plenty of exciting places to explore, like Hallgrimskirkja , the tallest church in Iceland.

Reykjavik Excursions currently has 47 tour products offered at Guide to Iceland.

Katlatrack  has been one of the top tour operators in Iceland since 2009, offering ice cave adventures in remote locations. The company operates from its base in Vik, a scenic fishing village known for its black sand beaches. 

Katlatrack uses super jeeps, ATV buggies, or minibusses, depending on the type of activity. For example, if a buggy tour along the black sand beaches sparks your interest, Katlatrack is an excellent choice.

The highlight of Katlatrack is its trips to Katla volcano , one of Iceland’s most active volcanoes. If you want to witness the hidden wonders of Katla, don’t hesitate to join the Katla ice-caving tour from Vik and this three-hour South Coast super jeep with ice caving .

If you need additional proof of its excellent services, Katlatrack is rated 4.8/5 stars  by approximately 150 travelers.

Your Day Tours is a family-run tour provider with high-quality tours showcasing Iceland’s beautiful nature. The operator specializes in sightseeing tours where visitors can witness jaw-dropping waterfalls, impressive glaciers, and picturesque towns like Vik i Myrdal .

Your Day Tours offers excursions to Icelandic destinations close to Reykjavik, including this day trip to the Snaefellsnes Peninsula . If you're strapped for time, this Golden Circle tour with a transfer from Reykjavik is another great option. These highly visited destinations are must-see spots for many tourists, so you'll ride comfortable minibusses with large windows for the best sightseeing experience.

All tours from this provider operate out of Reykjavik, with pick-up and drop-off from select Reykjavik hotels and guesthouses. Your Day Tours and its five tours at Guide to Iceland are  rated 4.9/5 stars  by around 800 travelers worldwide.

Rounding up on the top three on this list of the best tour companies in Iceland is the  Icelandic Mountain Guides . This tour provider hosts fun adventure tours in the wilderness of Iceland, with a high approval rating of 4.8/5 stars from over 550 hikers. If  glacier hiking  and  Highlands trekking  are on your bucket list, Icelandic Mountain Guides will help you check them off. 

Depending on the activity you want, tours range from day tours to multi-day adventures. In particular, if you plan on exploring Iceland for a week or so, this five-day hiking tour from Landmannalaugar to Thorsmork will satisfy you.

Most tours by Icelandic Mountain Guides operate outside of Reykjavik in the wilderness of  Skaftafell and Solheimajokull glaciers, and along the best hiking trails of the Highlands of Iceland. Some tours are meet-on-location, while others include transfers to and from pick-up points or your hotel.

Nicetravel , rated 4.8/5 stars by around 1700 local and foreign travelers, has been one of Iceland’s premier tour providers since opening in 2012. The tour operator offers day and multi-day tours showing Iceland’s awe-inspiring nature, such as this four-day guided tour of Iceland’s ring road . 

From lava caving to hot spring bathing in Iceland , this family-run tour company has thrilling and family-friendly tour options for adventures departing from your Reykjavik hotel. Airport transfers are not included in these tours. 

Tour sizes depend on the excursion type, but all are small groups of up to 19 joiners. Popular tours from Nicetravel include Snaefellsnes Peninsula sightseeing and South Coast to Jokulsarlon lagoon tour .

Nicetravel is notable for its personalized service, small group experiences, and knowledgeable guides. These local guides are passionate about Iceland and possess extensive knowledge of its history, culture, geology, and natural wonders. 

Topping this list is one of the most established and in-demand tour providers in the land of fire and ice, Troll Expeditions .

Troll Expeditions is one of the highest-ranked tour operators because of its exciting and fun adventure tours. Their northern lights multi-day tour in Iceland  is particularly popular during winter.

If snorkeling in Silfra is on your travel bucket list, Troll Expeditions offers a variety of snorkeling and scuba-diving in Silfra tours. You’ll even get free underwater photos during these experiences.

Another challenge you can take with Troll Expeditions is glacier hiking atop Iceland’s mighty ice caps. Explore ice ridges, walls, crevasses, and moulins on this five-hour glacier hiking tour in Skaftafell or this three-hour tour of Solheimajokull .

Remember that snorkeling in Silfra tours has a minimum age requirement of 12 years, and glacier hiking tours have an age requirement of eight to 14 years old, depending on the difficulty level. Tours start and finish at your hotel, depending on your location.

An overwhelming 4,100 locals and foreign travelers rated Troll Expeditions with 4.8/5 stars .

We hope this list makes your first or next trip to Iceland more special and unforgettable. These 25 companies are just some of Iceland’s trusted and reliable tour operators. Each has excellent tour packages that will fit the time and adventure every traveler is looking for.

As the largest travel marketplace in Iceland, Guide to Iceland  partners with these leading tour operators in the country. This collaboration makes it easy to provide you with tours that have proven excellent quality and services.

Besides the tour packages, Guide to Iceland offers everything you might need from the start to the end of your holiday. In particular, we provide the best flights  and  accommodations in Iceland .

Tell us about your excellent experience with a tour company while exploring Iceland. Don’t hesitate to leave your comments and stories below.

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How to look for the qualities of an effective tour guide operator when hiring

By Kevin Tjoe — 24 Jun 2018

amadeus   tips   tour guide   tour operator

Updated June 2022 – Raise your hand if you’ve ever felt like giving up on hiring your next tour guide. When you on-board new hires, you’re hit with the realization that they’re just not a good fit, killing any sense of confidence you had about finding the best person for the job. It’s daunting enough finding a new hire – never mind going through the on-boarding process all over again when it doesn’t work out.

Well, there’s good news: selecting your next tour guide role doesn’t have to be that hard. With the right set of criteria of tour guide skills at your disposal, you could easily find the best tour guide for your business, all without the hassle that comes with having it not work out.

Wondering what personality traits do tour guides have that will reveal their future success or failure? To help you answer this, we’ve outlined 10 important qualities of a good tour guide. 

With these tour guide characteristics tips, you’ll know exactly what makes a good tour guide and have the proper tools in place to hire someone who will exceed customer expectations and customer satisfaction. 

1.  Enthusiasm

One of the most fundamental tour guide characteristics is enthusiasm.

Customers can tell if a tour guide doesn’t want to be there. Considering that nobody wants to feel like their presence is a nuisance, it is impossible to provide customers with a fun and engaging tour if it’s obvious that their guide would prefer to be at home.

On the other hand, enthusiasm is contagious. If a customer notices that their tour guide is as excited to be there as they are, they’ll feel a lot more satisfied with their overall experience. Enthusiasm fosters an authentic connection between the tour guide and customers. It’s also the backdrop of all of the other essential characteristics of a good tour guide. An enthusiastic tour guide will be not only willing but excited to grow their skills and engage with the customers.

2.  Organization and punctuality

Besides dressing themselves well, this involves setting expectations prior to the tour – informing customers of location, time, and length of tour, what they need to bring, and any rules or special considerations (if your online booking system doesn’t automate this for you). Your tour guide needs to have organisational skills to be able to run through the structure for each tour in advance.

Ultimately, one of the key characteristics of a good tour guide is effective time management skills and punctuality. They shouldn’t make customers wait for them, and they should end the tour on time.

How punctual are they when it comes to their appointments with you during the interview process? This is a good indicator of how they will be when running your tours.

The speed with which they speak and move the tour along should also be just right – it can’t be too fast or too slow. You don’t want your customers to get bored or feel rushed through certain parts of the tour.

3.  Prepared for anything

A good tour guide is adept at improvising, no matter whether it’s responding to hiccups in the tour’s timing, unexpected customer questions, or responding to crises. It’s key that your tour guides are capable of efficiently detecting and responding to any crisis, no matter how big or small. They should also have a comprehensive understanding of your company’s tour guide insurance policies and how this may relate to their work.

Unexpected situations can crop up where medical assistance is needed. Every guide should know First Aid and carry the appropriate equipment. Can your candidate attend to the injured using this equipment? If not, are they willing to attend First Aid training prior to starting?

4.  Can read the room

A good tour guide will take the initiative to learn about customers on the tour, then include universally relevant information to tailor the examples they use to make it more personal. They need to be aware of who they’re speaking to, the audience needs to see that your tour guide engages with all the attendees.

5.  An engaging storyteller

Obviously, you don’t want people to become disinterested whilst on your tour. Your guide’s personality is a huge part of that. Can they make the tour more interactive? They should be able to invite questions and use demonstrations to help tourists to learn by themselves. 

One of the most essential qualities of a good tour guide is a great customer service experience and the ability to hold good conversations. It’s also important that they have a passion for travel as this will keep the audience interested and engaged .

Make sure that they themselves are interested in the subject matter, because they need to be enthusiastic about what they’re saying.

6 .  Knows their stuff

Another one of the most important characteristics of a tour guide is their ability to retain information.

Your guide must be able to recite facts from memory and be clear in delivering them. Facts have to be accurate – otherwise, they should be able to say they aren’t sure and get back to the customer asking.

Of course, you can’t expect your tour guide to know everything from day one. But hiring a tour guide who demonstrates an enthusiasm for learning and has clearly researched your tour company prior to their job interview, is key to ensuring that your staff are committed to learning and understanding the tours they provide.

7. Multilingual

While it may not be a necessity, speaking multiple languages is an excellent and particularly useful quality of a good tour guide. A multilingual tour guide will dramatically broaden your target audience and help welcome people from varying backgrounds to your tour.

A tour guide doesn’t need to be fluent in dozens of languages for their lingual skills to be handy. All tour guides should at least have a conversational grasp of commonly encountered languages. This knowledge becomes extremely useful if someone has an emergency.

8.  Leadership and initiative

Since they’re managing a group of people, the ability to have a certain level of authority is crucial. Tour guides must be able to lead a group of people without being condescending, snobby, or aggressive. If something unexpected happens on the tour, a good tour guide will be able to take charge in an assertive manner to ensure that all customers receive the right directions.

9.  A good sense of humor

Whilst they don’t have to be total comedians, tour guides need to be quick witted so they can throw in friendly jokes or light banter with the customers. Again, it’s not a stand-up routine, so they should also know when to be quiet. You can gauge this aspect of their personality when they interview for the job.

10. Willingness to learn

 A key part of your tour should be collecting feedback and using it to make it better. Your tour guides should be open to change based on customer criticism – without taking it too personally.

Of course, the ideal tour guide will look differently for each tour operator company as some traits are necessary for certain activities but not others. However, there are certain qualities of a good tour guide that transcend time and place: enthusiasm, a willingness to learn, leadership skills, and punctuality.

Now that you’ve found what makes a good tour guide, it’s time to ensure that your newly hired tour guides are given the right tools they need to succeed.

Rezdy’s all-in-one online booking software simplifies the management of your tour company so you can ensure that your customers receive a satisfying experience. Curious to see how Rezdy can help your tour guides succeeds? Start a  FREE 21-day trial  or  book a demo so you can  experience first-hand the benefits of automated activity booking websites.

If you enjoyed this article then make sure to follow the  Rezdy blog . There are a lot of marketing tools and tour operator tips designed with businesses like yours in mind.

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Enjoy 21 days to take a look around and see if we are a good fit for your business.

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What is the difference between a tour guide and a tour operator?

A tour guide travels with the tourists from their place of arrival to all places they would like to visit in Kenya.

Tour Operator

A tour operator is someone who makes all the arrangements for the tourists who will be visiting Kenya e.g. accommodation, transport and places of attractions

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Tour Guide Insurance

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Why do I need Tour Guide Insurance?

As a professional tour operator, you’re tasked with knowing the ins and outs of your blank. We say “blank,” because you could be a tour company guiding people through a city’s downtown, elating taste buds on a wine tour, or growling and roaring with lions on a children’s jungle safari tour at a zoo. Knowing everything about your blank means being able to wax poetic about all the best facets of your blank. But it also means knowing all the worst parts about it too.

“Insurance” is our blank. We know the ins and outs of this industry and why tour guides absolutely need to protect themselves with general liability insurance and professional liability insurance .

Imagine, poor weather in the forecast threatens to cancel the tour. Without a cloud in the sky, and knowing how excited guests are for your tour, you decide to ignore the warning and continue without canceling. Near the end of the tour, a flash of rain douses the entire group. In an attempt to get to cover, two of your tour members collide and an ambulance needs to be called. Both parties conspire to hold you responsible for the medical bills and for negligence on continuing the tour despite the forecast.

It’s the simple factors, often outside of your control and done with the very best of intentions that can escalate to needing insurance. Our Tour Guide General Liability and Professional Liability Insurance was made with the worst-case scenario in mind.

Ensure you have Thimble’s Tour Guide Insurance and keep your business on the route to success.

Quick thinking insurance for small businesses.

What does Tour Guide Insurance cover?

Unforeseen circumstances or an accident shouldn’t spell the end of your business. Thimble’s Tour Guide Insurance is designed to protect tour guides from situations like the below:

Third-party, non-employee bodily injury

At the final stop on the wine tour, a particularly lively guest leans too far back in their chair. Unable to catch themself, they fall backward and catch the corner of the table directly behind them. The paramedic in the ambulance suspects it might be more than a concussion. The guest then expects you to cover any costs that arise from this.

Third-party property damage

Part of your city tour involves renting electric scooters. Though you’re an expert on two wheels, you’ve never dealt with a bee flying into your eye. Losing control, you steer right into a car, leaving a sizable dent. Unfortunately, this wasn’t “just a car;” it was a brand new Rolls Royce. The owner expects to be paid in full.

Defense costs

A family has booked your tour months in advance. They’re flying across the coast for a vacation and this tour has been the only thing their son has talked about. When an unexpected thunderstorm rolls through your city, you’re forced to cancel. The son is devastated, and the parents are especially litigious. Despite having no control of the weather, you need a lawyer, because they’re suing you for a breach of contract.

Errors & omissions

You’ve advertised a new tour for a while, with multiple tour guests waiting patiently for the expedition. Once you set out with your group, one of your clients decides that the excursion doesn’t live up to expectations. They then sue you for false advertising.

How much does Tour Guide Insurance cost?

Our Tour Guide Insurance policy rate reflects the risk factors that are related to your niche. Wine tour guides and museum tour guides, for example, need personalized coverages, and neither party wants to pay for anything they don’t need. That’s why we customize your policy rate to the location you work in, the size of your crew (if you have one), and the coverage limit required.

Thimble’s Tour Guide Insurance is on when you’re working and off when you’re not. Plus, you can add as many Additional Insureds as you’d like for free. That’s game-changing flexibility. That’s insurance done right. Get your free Tour Guide Insurance quote now.

Tour Guide Insurance FAQs

How quickly can I get a Certificate of Insurance?

Quicker than you can say “And if you’ll look to your left.” When you need Tour Guide Insurance, you can get a free insurance quote, and then purchase that policy all within 60 seconds. The COI (Certificate of Insurance) will be sent to your inbox immediately.

Did your friend ask you to cover for them while they’re on vacation? While you’ve never worked for their company before, you decide to accept the job. The manager in charge asks for your Certificate of Insurance. Thanks to Thimble, you can hop on the app and show them your COI within seconds.

With Thimble, you can schedule your coverage up to six months in advance, and if your friend’s plans end up changing, you can cancel your policy penalty-free up to an hour before the coverage was expected to begin. That’s fast and flexible insurance.

If any changes need to be made, consider them done. Add and modify your Additional Insureds at a moment’s notice, right through the Thimble app.

What are the Tour Guide Insurance policy limits?

There are two Tour Guide Insurance policy limits offered by Thimble: $1 million and $2 million. You can choose the one that protects your tour guide business best, depending on the risk factors you’re facing.

Are workplace injuries of my staff covered?

No. General Liability Insurance for tour guides only provides coverage when the injury happens to a third party. If you want to have three extra tour guides working for you, you may want to consider workers’ compensation coverage . In many states, you can only operate legally with workers’ comp in place.

Does Thimble’s Tour Guide Insurance cover damage to my equipment?

Also no. Thimble’s Tour Guide Insurance only provides this protection for third party damage. If you’ve purchased your own Segway to help maximize your efficiency, you may want to consider a commercial property policy to insure your gear.

How do I get Tour Guide Insurance with Thimble?

Getting Tour Guide Insurance has never been easier, thanks to Thimble. All you need is one minute and the Thimble app. Offer some details about your tour guide business, your ZIP code, and the length of your desired coverage (hourly, daily, or monthly), and we’ll send you a quote instantly. From there, click to purchase and you’ll receive your Certificate of Insurance instantly.

Quick-thinking insurance for fast-moving businesses.

Fewer questions. More options. Buy a policy online, in the app, or over the phone in minutes. Get to work before the other guys even call you back.

Any size. Every stage. Get coverage by the job, month, or year. Choose how you pay, then upgrade when business really takes off.

Total Control. Seamless edits. Modify, pause, or cancel instantly, whether work slows down or hiring picks up.

Get covered in minutes. (Then get to work!)