One of the X factors when you book a group tour, is how many people will actually be in your group.
Different travel companies have different interpretations of what constitutes an ‘intimate’ experience and some can push the envelope way too far with large groups that leave you feeling a little like a battery hen as you join the throng for morning check-out in the hotel foyer every day.
It always pays to ask a lot of questions before you book to determine exactly what you’re signing up for.
If you book a tour from the Discovery range with Gate 1 Travel Australia for example, you know for certain the maximum group size is 22 (and the average is actually 12-15 people in a group). The ‘Discovery’ moniker means a lot more to.
Put simply, the Discovery Small Group Tours – 38 in all that include itineraries in Alaska, Canada, Mexico, South America, Africa, Morocco, Southeast Asia, India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, New Zealand, Israel, Ireland, Europe and Scandinavia – focus on genuine, immersive cultural experiences and include hand-picked boutique hotels to match the authentic experiences groups on these trips share.
The smaller group size also means you can go places the big tour groups can’t get to enabling you to enjoy genuine local interactions and unforgettable moments.
You can explore the Discovery range here. But first, here’s two examples of the trips to whet your appetite.
14 Day France & Spain: History Culture & Wine
- 2 nights Madrid
- 2 nights Bilbao
- 2 nights St. Emilion
- 2 nights Sarlat
- 1 night Carcassonne
- 3 nights Barcelona
It’s a dream trip for epicureans everywhere, sampling the regional cuisine in the culinary hotspots of Europe. And the tour organisers have gone to great lengths to ensure everything is covered.
San Sebastian for example in the Basque country of Spain is an absolute ‘must-taste’ destination for all serious foodies with its countless world class restaurants serving incredible creations derived from the local produce and wines of the region.
And once your tastebuds have recovered from the world famous Bordeaux food and wine, you’ll have time to explore the incredible Romanesque churches and buildings, ramparts and narrow alleys that characterise the region – including the stunning picture postcard town of St Emilion.
And of course no food-focused tour would be complete without a cooking class and where better to learn how to cook authentic paella than a classroom in Spain (Montjuic).
This tour is priced from $4699 per person.
TOUR HIGHLIGHTS
- Visit the renowned Prado Museum – stand before masterpieces by Goya and El Greco
- Tour a traditional Spanish winery and cellar in the Rioja region and enjoy a wine tasting
- In the Basque city of Bilbao, visit the inspirational and glittering Guggenheim Museum
- Visit the stunning seaside resort of San Sebastian, called the “Pearl” of northern Spain
- Stay at a Chateau in the countryside near the UNESCO World Heritage village of St. Emilion
- Specially arranged wine tasting at a local vineyard of fabulous Bordeaux wines
- Travel to the exquisite pilgrimage site at Rocamadour, set precariously into limestone cliffs
- Visit the impressive fortified walled city of Carcassonne, a UNESCO World Heritage Site
- In the Catalonian city of Figueres, visit the Dali Theatre-Museum, designed by the artist
- Visit Gaudi’s masterpiece, the unfinished fanciful La Sagrada Familia in Barcelona
12 day Israel, Ancient & Modern Culture
- 2 nights Tel Aviv
- 1 night Haifa
- 2 nights Galilee
- 1 night Dead Sea
- 4 nights Jerusalem
From a cable car ride to the amazing underwater grottoes and sea caves of Rosh Hanikra, to magnificent Caesarea, named by King Herod in honour of Augustus Caesar, to the beautiful wetlands of the Hula Valley en-route to your stay in a kibbutz overlooking the Sea of Galilee, this once-in-a-lifetime tour is packed with unforgettable experiences. Here’s some more …
- Visit Old Jaffa, the ancient port city known for its Biblical links with Solomon, Jonah and St. Peter
- Walking tour in Tel Aviv highlights the splendid Bauhaus architecture, named a UNESCO World Heritage Site
- In Haifa, view the Baha’i Shrine and see the magnificent and serene Baha’i Gardens
- Enjoy wine tasting and a vineyard tour at a boutique hilltop winery in the Golan Heights
- Pamper yourself in the warm thermal pools or float in the waters of the Dead Sea
- On the fabled mountaintop of Masada, you’ll be transported back in time to the days of King Herod
- Discover the “golden” city of Jerusalem, one of the oldest and holiest cities in the world
- Participate in the Temple Mount “Sifting Project” of ancient rubble dating back to the Temple period
- In Jerusalem, share a Sabbath Dinner with a family in their private home – a feast of local favourites!
- Attend a fabulous performance of the dramatic “Sound & Light Show” at David’s Citadel
- Visit the Jerusalem Archaeological Park and Davidson Center offering a window into Jerusalem’s glorious past
For a nominal extra cost, there’s even a half-day tour option to Bethlehem where guests cross the border from Israel into Palestine where a local guide will escort you and provide insights into some of history’s most significant sites.
Priced from $4429
