Why Escorted Tours Are Back in Demand
One Himalaya founder Maggie Maguire explains why more travellers are turning to escorted and guided tours for stress-free adventures, meaningful experiences and expert local knowledge.
Hello everyone,
Summer is officially here and when you read this, I hope we’ll all be enjoying some wonderful weather at home as well as on our travels.
Ongoing Travel Disruptions
Over the last couple of months, I’ve mentioned the conflict in the Middle East and the impact that has been having on travel. Sadly, the situation is still ongoing, although commercial flights have since restarted, albeit with reduced schedules and in some cases alternative routes and connections.
If you want to check current travel advisories for any country, a good source of information is the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office travel advice pages at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice.
Why More People Are Choosing Escorted Tours
Lately, I’ve been talking to a lot of people about escorted tours, so I thought I’d explain why they’re becoming so popular again.
If you haven’t considered one before, they are definitely worth thinking about. Escorted tours come with a planned itinerary, group travel and a tour leader who takes care of the logistics, so you can simply relax and enjoy the experience.
Accommodation, transfers, excursions, guide services, entry fees and some meals are usually included, which removes a huge amount of stress when planning a trip.
As well as taking care of the practical side of travel, escorted tours often give you access to expert local guides, carefully selected hotels and restaurants, key sites and activities, and excellent value through group rates.
They are also ideal for people who enjoy meeting like-minded travellers or who are visiting destinations where organising everything independently could feel overwhelming.
Solo travellers in particular often love escorted tours because everything is arranged for them, while still giving them the chance to explore with others.
Importantly, escorted tours are not about being tied to a group every minute of the day. Most itineraries include free time to explore independently or simply relax, along with optional activities for anyone wanting to do more.
Some of My Favourite Escorted Tours
I’ve been lucky enough to experience some incredible escorted tours over the years.
One of the most memorable was a small group tour through Mexico to see the Monarch Butterfly Migration. We travelled from Mexico City through mountain towns and villages, visiting butterfly sanctuaries high in the mountains.
The logistics would have been incredibly difficult to organise independently, so joining a small group made perfect sense.
We travelled by coach, local bus, horseback and on foot, with a fantastic local tour leader who shared her knowledge and introduced us to wonderful local hotels and eateries along the way.
Seeing and hearing millions of butterflies surrounding us in the mountains was completely mesmerising and remains one of my favourite travel memories.
Another unforgettable escorted tour was Jordan, starting in Amman, exploring Petra, staying in a desert camp and ending with sailing, snorkelling and diving in Aqaba.
Again, having a knowledgeable guide handling the arrangements made the experience feel effortless.
Not Just for Older Travellers
One thing I always say is that escorted tours are no longer aimed solely at older travellers.
There are now options for everything from short city breaks and specialist interest tours to long-haul adventures across destinations such as Japan, China, Mongolia, Vietnam and South America.
Personally, I love smaller groups of around 12 people because they feel more personal, although larger groups definitely have their appeal too.
Escorted Tours vs Guided Tours
People often ask what the difference is between an escorted tour and a guided tour.
The main difference is that escorted tours involve travelling with a tour leader throughout the trip, while guided tours include planned itineraries and local guides for specific locations or activities rather than one person travelling with you full time.
At One Himalaya, for example, our guided cultural tours and treks across India, Nepal, Bhutan and Tibet include all logistics, accommodation, permits, transfers, sightseeing and local English-speaking guides.
Depending on the itinerary, guests may have city guides, trekking guides or activity-specific guides throughout different stages of the journey.
Everything is organised for you, while still allowing flexibility and free time to explore independently.
Current Offers
We currently have some fantastic escorted tour offers available, including:
- A solo traveller offer on a five-star river cruise through the Rhine and Moselle valleys
- A nine-night escorted tour through the Canadian Rockies
- A 16-day South Africa tour including Kruger National Park, Cape Town, the Winelands and more
Visit www.latitude55escapes.com to see the latest deals and offers, or follow the recently launched Facebook page.
For small group and tailor-made Himalayan adventures, visit www.one-himalaya.com.
Have a wonderful June and I’ll see you in the next issue.
One Himalaya / Latitude 55 Escapes
Latitude 55 Escapes: www.latitude55escapes.com
Email: hello@latitude55escapes.com
One Himalaya: www.one-himalaya.com
Email: hello@one-himalaya.com
Tel: +44 (0)28 20768975
