GUIDED HOLIDAYS - What’s your travel style?

GUIDED HOLIDAYS - What’s your travel style?

Forget everything you thought you knew about guided holidays because tours have transformed. A revolution of sorts, modern touring offers something to suit everyone. With so many great reasons to choose a guided holiday, here are six we go nuts for.

1 | I want a totally unique travel experience.

TAKE ONE LOOK at the extensive itineraries offered by tour companies and the list of activities reads like a Lonely Planet best-seller. There’s always a strong emphasis on making your holiday both varied and memorable. You could go exploring abandoned jails in Estonia, or come face-to-face with the three mile stretch of Alaska’s Mears Glacier. On another route, you might stay the night in a French château, or camp out in the Thai jungle, cruise Halong Bay or take a Mafia themed walking tour around Palermo.

For those who tire of the well-trampled tourist haunts, guided holidays go above and beyond to ensure you have experiences that few others can achieve, such as skip the line privileges at the Vatican’s papal conclave and the Colosseum in Rome and visits to the very estate where The Sound of Music was filmed.

You’ll have a holiday which focuses on local insight, whether that’s dining in a small Italian trattoria or sipping at bouillabaisse made by the descendants of French nobility — in their 17th-century farmhouse no less.

Your experience can be as luxe or as lowkey as you wish, from wine tasting in the bellows of a French cave, to a cheesemaking masterclass in the Sicilian Hills. Basically, if you can imagine it, then you can probably do it.

2 | I like to get off-the-beaten-path.

Regardless of size, almost every tour company can get you off-the-beaten track. Whether that’s staying in remote Irish castles, or riding the bamboo train in Cambodia, it’s easy to have a refreshingly different experience.

3 | I prefer small-sized groups.

For a personalised holiday experience, consider travelling with a smaller tour group which limits its numbers. Some have a max of 14 guests, others are 18. Either way, you get to enjoy tailor-made tours with an intimate group

4 | I travel for the foodie experiences.

You might have to forgo the belt and give into culinary pleasantries. On a guided holiday you could visit a local agritourism farm in Dubrovnik, dine in the home of a Thai family, or learn the traditional techniques behind Scottish whisky. The foodie experiences are extensive.

5 | I like to explore one country in depth.

One country, done in depth, is a popular option for Kiwis, and while there are multiple tours covering several countries, it’s just as easy to find one which really delves into a single culture, its cuisine and history.

6 | I want memories with my family.

Just imagine the kids’ smiles while water rafting in Croatia, or gelato tasting in Rome! Certain itineraries are created solely for families with choices broken down into categories such as active, wildlife and teenager. You will join forces with 3-5 likeminded families.

Incredible access, unique opportunities

These sorts of offerings you can’t find without a guide.

• Cosmos. Witness the 5km face of Alaska’s Mears Glacier.

• Trafalgar. Get on the guest list for a private dinner at the Vatican.

• Globus. VIP access to the Vatican Museums and the Eiffel Tower so you needn’t wait in long lines.

• Back-Roads. Maximum 14-18 guests, savour lunch at Rick Stein’s signature ‘The Seafood Restaurant’ in the UK.

• Contiki. For 18 to 35-year-olds, party on an island-hopping yacht in Turkey.

• Topdeck. For 18 to 39year olds, visit a wacky abandoned jail in Estonia. Intrepid. Sustainable, small group travel. Share a meal with Buddhist monks in South Korea.

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