Tour companies offer the ease of following an organized itinerary—complete with accommodations, meals, activities, and more—while handling all the logistics for you. But most of them are structured as groups of anywhere between roughly 10 to 30 other people. If you’re not ‘feeling’ the idea of traveling with a bunch of strangers and having to explore at the group’s pace, rest assured: A number of companies offer independent tours for those who prefer to travel on their own and at their leisure.
Beyond having the freedom to do whatever you feel like on a given day, independent tours allow you to customize itineraries to meet the needs of you (and your travel companions). Prefer to be totally on your own, or within a more structured, guided agenda with loads of free time? You set the tone for your perfect vacation.
Below is a rundown of the top tour companies and travel package companies that offer independent vacations.
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1. Intrepid Basix Trips
Intrepid focuses on adventure and off-the-beaten-path destinations, and with its Basix trips it offers independent travelers a sort of tour-light experience that’s big on independent vibes. The budget-minded option packages accommodations such as simple, clean, centrally located hotels, hostels, and even sometimes camping accommodations. Most Basix trips also include a night or two of homestays to give you a feel for local life.
You’ll have a local tour guide who meets you between stops and offers recommendations for food, attractions, and so on. There are optional activities that you can choose to join a group for or opt out of and explore on your own.
Sample tours:
- Real China (12 days)
- Essential Southern Balkans (9 days)
- Wild Kruger Camping (4 days)
2. Kensington Tours
Private guided tours are Kensington’s bread and butter, but the luxury tour company caters to more independent spirits with the chance to customize their itineraries to allow for more free time. You can travel at your own pace, leave and return whenever you choose, and even change plans on the fly. Accommodations, meals, and experiences are top-notch, while Destination Experts keep in touch with you throughout your trip, for support and guidance.
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In a pampering fashion, Kensington opens up travelers to more obscure destinations, like Mongolia, Georgia, and Uruguay. Special interest tours also cater to foodies, culture connoisseurs, and serenity seekers. Exclusive-access activities and unique stays up the levels of wonder and mystique.
Sample tours:
- Vast Skies of Mongolia (10 days)
- Gastronomic Journey Through Georgia (7 days)
- Peru, Bolivia, and the Atacama Desert (15 days)
3. Independence by Globus
A leader among major tour group companies, Globus touts its Independence by Globus offering as having the “many benefits of touring, untethered and unscheduled.” There are two formats—one called Independent City Stays, the other Independent Tours—and together they cover a wealth of itineraries in Africa, Asia, Europe, South America, and the South Pacific.
Independent City Stays by Globus
Globus’ Independent City Stays focus on cities like Dubai, Santiago, and Madrid. Included in the stay are hotel accommodations, daily breakfast, sightseeing orientations, and transportation between cities. You’ll have the support of Globus Local Hosts in the city as well as the GlobusGO app with its many traveler resources.
Sample tours:
- Independent Dubai and Abu Dhabi City Stays (6 days)
- Independent Santiago City Stay (4 days)
- Independent Barcelona and Madrid City Stays (7 days)
Independent Tours by Globus
Globus’ Independent Tours include hotel accommodations, daily breakfasts and some other meals, some guided sightseeing, and transportation between cities. You’ll also benefit from the expertise of Globus Local Hosts and have access to the GlobusGo mobile app. These independent tours include plenty of free time so you can choose what you want to do and when.
Sample tours:
- Independent India: The Golden Triangle (8 days)
- Independent South African Sojourn with Victoria Falls (11 days)
- Independent Galapagos cruise aboard the Galápagos Legend (7 days)
4. Exodus Travels
With its self-guided tours, Exodus Travels does the heavy lifting on the planning of European cycling, walking, and cultural adventures, freeing up more room for you to just enjoy your travels. The golden ticket on these self-guided tours are its in-depth trip notes that give you detailed guidance right down to the best spots for lunch and where to stop along the way. I felt totally comfortable getting around Bosnia and Herzegovina’s cities and villages on my own, during a trekking tour with Exodus back in 2017, thanks to my local team of guides’ advice and recommendations.
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These independent tours also include accommodations, luggage transport between hotels, plus plenty of local support (and 24-hour emergency support). Where the company truly stands out is in its collection of unique, bucket-list experiences—think hiking the Maltese island of Gozo, exploring the lakes of the English countryside, and biking along the coast in Portugal.
Sample tours:
- Walks in the Italian Dolomites (8 days)
- Walking on Gozo, Calypso’s Isle (8 days)
- Cycling on the Danube from Passau to Vienna (15 days)
5. Road Scholar
Like Intrepid’s Basix tours, Road Scholar‘s Independent City Tours offer the basic structure of a guided tour but with miles more flexibility and free time than the typical tour. It’s like a tour in that you have a Group Leader and Road Scholar’s signature educational programming (geared toward senior travelers), but you also have lots of free time plus resources that help you make the most of your independent hours (think self-guided excursion programs and transit and museum passes).
Sample tours:
- Independent City Discoveries: Quebec City (4 days)
- Independent Warsaw and Krakow: Capitals Past and Present (9 days)
- Independent Buenos Aires: The Paris of South America (10 days)
It’s always important to ask yourself whether your travel style is better suited to a guided group tour or something more independent. If you’re curious about guided tours but have never tried one, here’s a helpful checklist of important things to consider before booking a guided tour.
More from TourScoop:
- 7 best group travel companies for young adults
- 8 best senior travel tour companies
- 11 best tour companies for family tours
Christine Sarkis also contributed to this story.
