Discover the Best Escorted Tours for Your 2026 Adventure

New year, new chunk of annual leave. But how best to use it? The answer might be an escorted group tour. Increasing numbers of travellers are turning to guided trips in order to pack the most into limited holiday time. Joining an escorted group certainly means less faff – someone else takes care of navigating Arrivals and booking attractions. “An escorted group tour enables you to relax,” says Theresa McDermott of ECT Travel. “If something goes wrong, there’s someone on hand to sort things out.” Group tours are also great for meeting like-minded people and lowering costs. They work especially well for solos, offering sociability and security, plus savings for those willing to share a room. So what should you look for when planning your next adventure? “Smaller groups – but not too small – so that dynamics flow well,” recommends Annie Manson of Annie B’s Spanish Kitchen. “Access,” says The Ultimate Travel Company’s Nick Van Gruisen, “whether it’s to private art collections or experts.” Here are some of the best on offer this year. Mix it up in Mexico Best for classic sites (with extras) Journey Latin America has been offering its Eagle tour for over 30 years and believes “it’s the ultimate holiday to Mexico”. It ticks off big-hitters such as Mexico City, Oaxaca and Chichén Itzá but also veers off to boho San Cristóbal de las Casas, the indigenous village of San Juan Chamula and the jungle-cloaked ruins of Palenque. Tour leaders are always Spanish-fluent and incredibly knowledgeable: they know which markets are most authentic, which street food is best, how to get to the ruins before the crowds. They can also help you experience the Day of the Dead at its most traditional – the October departure will be in Oaxaca for this vibrant festival. How to do it Journey Latin America (020 3553 9647) offers the 15-day Eagle tour from £4,598pp including B&B accommodation, excluding flights; February 11, March 18, August 5, October 27, December 9. Expert insight “If you want some alone time or R&R after your escorted trip, ask about extensions – for example, we can organise a post-tour add-on to the Riviera Maya or Holbox island.” Jim Ashworth, Group Tours Manager, Journey Latin America Spot tigers in India Best for wildlife When wildlife is your focus, you want an expert guide, and you want to maximise your time in the field to increase chances of sightings. Naturetrek’s Tiger Direct tour ticks both boxes. It’s led by a top in-country naturalist with a deep knowledge of local mammals, birds and the region’s natural history. It also gets right to the heart of the action, flying straight into Nagpur (only a one-hour drive from Pench), avoiding any big, hectic cities and long overland journeys. Time is split between Pench and Kanha, two of India’s best Tiger Reserves; as well as big cats. Other encounters might include wild boar, golden jackal, a bounty of birds and even leopard or sloth bear. How to do it Naturetrek (01962 733051) offer the nine-day Tiger Direct safari from £2,995pp including full-board accommodation and flights; March 23, April 13, October 26, November 16, December 21, plus 2027 departures. Expert insight “Before booking any tour, read past reports to see what previous travellers thought and what they saw – this trip has a 100 per cent track record of tiger sightings, from over 80 tours.” Andy Tucker, Managing Director, Naturetrek Cruise and walk in Norway Best for value Ramble Worldwide’s Norway cruise-walk is an economical way of exploring this pricey country; in both comfort and like-minded company. You’ll sail from Liverpool aboard Fred Olsen’s large – but not enormous – MS Bolette, which has extensive facilities (all-weather pool, fitness centre, numerous restaurants and bars). But you’ll also be part of a small group, with a dedicated leader and bespoke on-foot excursions awaiting at each port – all included in the cost. None of the walks are tough (ideal for those unsure about hiking holidays) and include scenic strolls around Bergen and Ålesund, through the valleys of Hardangerfjord and towards the snout of the Brennsdal Glacier. How to do it Ramble Worldwide (01707 331133) offers the ten-night Fjords of Norway trip from £2,296pp including onboard meals and excursions; May 27. Expert insight “Cruise and walk trips offer the best of both worlds: quality cruising plus walking in a small group with an expert leader. It’s great for more expensive countries too, as most meals are taken onboard and drinks are at UK prices.” Amber Parish-Smith, Product Manager, Ramble Worldwide Make friends in Oman Best for solo travellers Most escorted group tours are good options for solo travellers. But One Traveller specialises in trips for solos only; specifically solos aged over 50. This means you’re guaranteed maturer travelling companions, your own room, no single supplements, diverse activities and even a meal seating system designed to help you mingle. One Traveller’s Oman trip is led by a tour manager plus two young, passionate local guides who will show off their country; from capital Muscat to the rippling Wahiba Sands, the rugged Hajar Mountains and the Arabian coast. Get to know your trip-mates as you haggle at Nizwa market, bash the dunes by 4WD, visit forts and castles, dip in oases and take a traditional dhow cruise. How to do it One Traveller (01760 722011) offers the 12-night Oman trip from £5,090pp including full-board accommodation, activities and flights; February 6, October 30, November 20. Expert insight “Book a pre-holiday get-together – which includes a welcome drink, dinner, hotel stay and airport transfers – to meet fellow travellers the night before departure and get rid of any nerves you might have.” Ian Darkin, Founder, One Traveller Cover the lot in New Zealand Best for coach travel New Zealand is a long way away – most travellers go only once, and want to see it all. New Zealand Sky’s ‘ultimate experience’ is an efficient and elegant way to do so. It traverses the whole country, from the Bay of Islands to the dramatic fissures of Fiordland, via Rotorua’s hot springs, capital Wellington, Fox Glacier and more. Travel is mostly by luxury coach, which has huge windows and a maximum of 20 passengers. Additional journeys are made by train, including the spectacular TranzAlpine over the Southern Alps, and by boat: take the scenic inter-island ferry and enjoy a magical overnight cruise on Doubtful Sound. How to do it New Zealand Sky (01342 310580) offers the 18-night Ultimate Rail Cruise Coach Experience from £7,729pp including B&B accommodation, some meals, activities and flights; various 2026 departures. Expert insight “Not all coach tours are made equal. Choose a smaller coach that has been specifically designed for touring, with lots of leg room, reclining seats, big picture windows and useful onboard facilities such as USB charging.” Mike Collins, Managing Director, New Zealand Sky Head offbeat in Japan Best for avoiding the crowds With over-tourism increasingly an issue – especially in popular spots like Japan – it’s never been more important to head away from the honeypot sites. InsideJapan has been leading tours to the country for 25 years and knows it intimately. Its Hidden Japan tour begins and ends in Kyoto but visits lesser-tramped regions in between, using public trains and ferries to get around so you’re always immersed in local life. The trip includes a temple stay on sacred Mt Kōya, an exploration of rural Shikoku (from its vine bridges to its samurai castles), the arty Setouchi islands and tea with a trainee geisha. How to do it InsideJapan (0117 409049) offers the 12-night Hidden Japan tour from £4,975pp including B&B accommodation, some meals and activities, excluding flights; various 2026 departures. Expert insight “Travel small. Japan does things beautifully, and often in miniature. Our groups have a maximum of 14 people to enable travellers to experience the best Japan has to offer.” James Mundy, PR & Partnerships Manager, InsideJapan Go big in southern Africa Best for safari Reduce the cost and up the adventure levels of safari-ing by joining a small group for a big overland journey. KE Adventure’s pioneering coast-to-coast trip travels 5,300km through Namibia, Botswana, South Africa, Zimbabwe and Mozambique to link the Atlantic and Indian oceans. Nights are spent at lodges or under canvas, at both official sites and wild camps (always with an expert guide on hand). Days are spent on game drives in world-class parks such as Chobe, Hwange and Kruger (all park fees and permits are included), punting through the Okavango Delta, dolphin-spotting at Ponta do Ouro, ogling natural wonders such as Sossusvlei and Victoria Falls, meeting the San Bushmen and walking with rhinos in Matopos National Park. How to do it KE Adventure (017687 73966) offers the 27-day Ultimate Overland trip from £5,195pp including accommodation, many meals and activities, excluding flights; June 4. Expert insight “When you’re camping, get involved with pitching your tent, taking it down, helping with food prep, washing up – these are all great ways to gel with your travelling companions.” Andy Watson, Product Manager, KE Adventure Dig deeper with historians in France Best for insider access There are some things you just can’t organise yourself. Like touring Adam Henson’s Cotswold Farm with Adam Henson himself. Or having drinks with Frankie Dettori after watching the Breeders’ Cup. Tripsmiths specialises in tours that include something, well, special. For instance, in 2026, you can join historian and broadcaster s on a journey to northern France. David has written four books on the fall and rise of the British Army during the Second World War, and will guide a select group through the fractious, fascinating period, from Dunkirk to D-Day. Visit Dieppe and Caen, the Operation Overload landing beaches, and an array of cemeteries, key sites and memorials, with David guiding every step of the way. How to do it Tripsmiths (03300 291574) offers the six-day Saul David northern France trip from £1,949pp including B&B accommodation, activities and ferry; April 19. Expert insight “Travelling on an expert-led escorted tour allows you to experience the world in the company of acclaimed writers, artists, chefs and more. These carefully curated, often one-off itineraries provide unique access and insight that independent travel cannot match.” Katie Panagou, Chief Operations Officer, Tripsmiths Go flight-free to the Baltics Best for rail-lovers Exploring by public transport is better for the environment and better for cultural immersion. But plotting a trip involving multiple providers, countries and connections can be complicated. Adventures by Train – founded by third-generation railwayman and avid offbeat traveller Jim Louth – organises escorted tours that take care of all the logistics, so you can relax and enjoy the view. Its flight-free Baltic states trip (12 passengers max) loops from London, via Sweden, to Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, returning via Poland and Germany; travel is on a mix of first-class day trains and overnight sleepers and ferries. And if that gives you the bug, you should consider the company’s 100-day Around the World by Train epic. How to do it Adventures By Train (0191 389 6495) offers the 14-day London to Baltic States trip from £4,995pp including accommodation, most meals and all travel; July 9 2026, August 12 2027. The 100-day Around the World by Train trip costs from £112,900pp; March 14 2027. Expert insight “Pack light. You’ll be carrying your luggage on and off trains. A backpack or small suitcase is ideal.” Jim Louth, Founder, Adventures By Train Roam the ends of the earth in Chile & Argentina Best for wilderness Escorted tours can make it easier to get to wild, remote places. That’s certainly the case with Mountain Kingdoms’ Patagonia & Tierra del Fuego trip, which combines two of the wildest and most remote places of all. The tour mixes days of moderate walking with general exploring, and hotels with camping and eco domes; all in a group of no more than 12 people. You’ll start in Santiago before hiking the classic W-trek in Torres Del Paine, visiting the Perito Moreno Glacier, cruising across the Beagle Channel and walking at ‘the ends of the world’. How to do it Mountain Kingdoms (01453 844400) offers the 16-day Patagonia & Tierra del Fuego trip from £6,575pp including accommodation and most meals, excluding flights; February 14, October 10. Expert insight “Check where land-only escorted holidays start and end – internal flights and accommodation in capital cities can be expensive. Also, lock in your price: South America has seen some extreme currency fluctuations. Mountain Kingdoms has a no-surcharge guarantee so that any increases in internal flights or national park fees won’t be passed on once you’ve booked.” Jude Limburn Turner, Marketing Manager, Mountain Kingdoms Hit the backroads in Italy Best for cycling Cycling is one of the best ways to see the world – especially when there’s a support vehicle on hand should things go awry. Much Better Adventures’ Backroads of Sicily moderate-grade ride enables offbeat exploration with the safety net of local mechanics and guides. You’ll pedal through the island’s southern Val di Noto, bike along coast roads, stop for gelato, wine and chocolate-tastings in hilltop towns and climb to look into the plunging Cavagrande del Cassibile canyon (before hair-pinning down). It’s a good choice for solos too: 70 per cent of Much Better Adventure’s travellers come alone and the company named Italy its top destination for solos. How to do it Much Better Adventures (020 3966 7597) offers its six-night Backroads of Sicily trip from £1,516pp including accommodation, some meals and bike hire, excluding flights; April 4, June 13, September 12, October 24, November 7. Expert insight “Guided cycling tours remove the hassle of logistics. Sicily’s rural backroads can be tricky to navigate solo – having a local expert guide means you’ll skip the stress of route planning, bike hire and luggage transfers.” Vicky Leach, Trip Designer, Much Better Adventures