These 14 guided tour companies are the best in the business for 2026

Like cruises and theme park trips, guided tours aren’t for everyone. But if you enjoy traveling with like-minded people, they can be a great way to experience a new destination (and make a few friends along the way). I’ve enjoyed guided tours in France, Iceland, Peru, and the Netherlands, and what I love most is the ease: You show up on time and everything else is handled, with memorable adventures built into each day. There’s usually free time, too, so you can explore on your own when something off-itinerary catches your eye.

If you’re considering a guided group tour in 2026, the options run the gamut, from family-friendly trips to adult-only adventures in far-flung corners of the world. Here are the tour operators that rank among the best this year.

1. National Geographic Expeditions

Since 1999, National Geographic Expeditions has been taking guests to some of the most popular and some of the most remote areas around the world. The high-end vacations take place on all seven continents and come in a range of travel styles from land-based tours to incredible river and expedition cruises.

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While National Geographic mainly caters to older travelers who are interested in subjects like nature and history, the brand also has plenty of family-friendly trips that are run through G Adventures. Group size varies based on the style of travel. Expedition cruising can see over 100 people in a group, while some land-based tours cater to around 20 people. Pricing is dependent on the type of travel, where expedition cruises start around $3,000, while signature land trips start around $6,000 per person.

There are a variety of new trips to take in 2026, including Christmas and New Year’s on the Danube: A Holiday Voyage on the new National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions river cruise ship, Evolve; India by Land and River: Taj Mahal, Safaris and the Brahmaputra; and Journeys: Explore Egypt, which is in partnership with G Adventures.

2. Exodus Adventure Travels

If you’re looking for an active trip with fellow active travelers, Exodus Adventure Travels is the group tour brand for you. For more than 50 years, the brand has been taking guests to more than 100 countries with 600 different tour options. Exodus’s small-group tours offer the luxury of having a local expert guide you every day, which ensures that you see everything each destination has to offer.

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Group sizes are as small as five people, but can be as large as 16 people. Small-group tours highlight each destination through cultural immersion and various activities like hiking, biking, walking, and more. Prices for guided group tours start at around $1,000 for trips like hiking the Atlas Mountains in Morocco, and can go up to $38,000 for a 23-day Antarctica expedition cruise.

New in 2026, the brand is offering 103 new trips, including a Croatia Adventure, Discover Switzerland by Rail, and Highlights of South Africa’s Wineland.

3. Contiki

Younger travelers who want to ditch their parents and the older crowd will love Contiki. The brand is known for its guided group tours for travelers aged 18 to 35. You can choose from over 200 different tours that take place over six continents, including incredible itineraries in Thailand, Kenya, India, and more.

Contiki is also known for its “Make Travel Matter” experiences that occur on most itineraries. These hands-on experiences often highlight local culture or wildlife and help to give back to the community that you are visiting. Each experience has to advance one of the 11 United Nations’ Global Goals and be educational for travelers.

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Group sizes are based on the destination and travel style, and can range from under 15 to over 50 people. Trips are relatively affordable and start around $300 per person and can go up to $6,700 per person.

This year, Contiki is launching a host of new trips, including a Kenya and Tanzania Adventure and Norway Fjords Explorer.

4. Black Tomato

Black Tomato is a luxury guided tour company that specializes in completely custom tours, and states that no two journeys are ever exactly the same. The tours that are listed on its website are just springboards to help you decide where to go before trip planners start executing your ideal itinerary. Even better, these custom tours are just for your traveling group, so you’ll never be added into a massive tour group with a flag-waving guide hussling you through the sites.

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While pricing does vary based on the trip, how many people you have in your group, and customizations, the prices listed on the Black Tomato website are based on two or more people sharing the cost of all elements of a trip.

Those looking for an immersive cultural trip may enjoy the Jordan & Oman: A Cultural Adventure itinerary, while those looking to learn more about the local flavor of a destination may enjoy the Tasting Notes of Peru with Virgilio Martínez.

5. Tauck

Guided tour operator Tauck has been a leader in high-end group tours since its founding in 1925. Operating land-based group tours on all seven continents (as well as river tours in Europe and small-ship tours around the world), Tauck caters to families, couples, and solo travelers.

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The average size of a guided tour group with Tauck is 35 to 44 guests, though the group size may vary depending on the season and the nature of the tour. Travelers enjoy Tauck for its attention to detail and ease of planning. Prices for tours vary by location, type of tour, and season, but the average Tauck tour starts at around $4,000 and goes up from there for one room with two guests. 

New tours in 2026 include a river cruise along the Danube, New Zealand: A North & South Island Adventure (land-based tour), and The Mekong, Vietnam, Laos & Cambodia (land-based tour).

6. Trafalgar

Taking groups on guided tours to destinations around the world since 1947, Trafalgar runs trips to nearly every corner of the planet except Antarctica. The mostly land-based guided tours are offered year-round, including to popular destinations like New Zealand and Africa. The number of guests on tours vary based on the destination. Africa tours are the smallest with a maximum of 20 guests, while the United States and Canada tours are the biggest with up to 52 guests. 

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In addition to its standard tours, Trafalgar also offers women-only tours. Other travelers who may enjoy Trafalgar are adventure travelers and foodies. Trafalgar tours start at just over $1,000 for one guest.

New this year, the brand is taking travelers on six new tours, including a land-based tour of the Villages of France, a river cruise highlighting the Best of the Rhine and Amsterdam, and a land-based tour called the Balkans Coast Explorer.

7. Collette

No travel company brand has been doing group trips longer than Collette, which has been in business since 1918. The group touring agency goes to all seven continents and has 180 different tour options. Its top tour destinations are Ireland, Italy, and Iceland. 

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Collette’s small group exploration tours allow for 14 to 24 people per tour, while its classic group tours can be up to 44 people. Collette primarily serves an older audience of travelers over 55. Tours with Collette start at just over $1,700 per person. 

In 2026, Collette is launching 34 new tours, including Wilderness of Southern Africa: Safari by Land & Water, The Balkans, Journey Through the Heart of Japan, and Japan & South Korea: From Tokyo to Seoul.

8. Grand Circle Travel

Another popular group tour option for travelers over 50 is Grand Circle Travel, which has been in operation since 1958. Grand Circle’s variety of land-based tours and river cruises range in size from 24 to 47. Trips with Grand Circle start around $3,400 but vary based on the destination and season. 

This year, the brand is launching a handful of new itienraries. Three of the new river cruises that you can book include sailing The Douro River: Lisbon to Porto, The Danube’s Imperial Heart: Budapest to Vienna, and the Mekong River Cruise: Vietnam, Cambodia & Angkor Wat.

9. Adventures by Disney

The luxury travel arm of Disney, Adventures by Disney is known for its focus on guided family tours. Since its founding in 2005, the company has continued to add new touring options with land- and river cruise-based adventures to destinations worldwide. Land-based tours with Adventures by Disney can have upwards of 40 people, including kids under 10 years old. The tour company does offer some adult-only adventures as well. If you want to set sail on a river cruise, group sizes can be well over 100 guests.

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One reason why travelers choose Adventures by Disney for family vacations is that they likely already partake in other Disney vacations and know the level of service Disney can provide. Adventures start at just under $2,800 for one person for a short three-night escape. 

In 2026, there are a few new trips to consider. One completely re-imagined itinerary takes guests to London, Paris, and Rome, while another enhanced itinerary takes travelers along the Rhine River. Two brand new land-based trips are also available, Switzerland and Greece: Mythology of Athens, Peloponnese & Rhodes. A new three-day escape to Munich can also be booked.

10. G Adventures

Best known for its cheaper group tours that span the globe from Croatia to Tanzania, G Adventures was founded in 1990 as a way to bridge the divide between solo adventure travel and more mainstream travel. G Adventures focuses on small group trips; the number of travelers per group is typically between 10 to 15 participants. 

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New this year, G Adventures is launching a wide variety of new tours. These include Bali’s Wild Heart: Soul, Surf & Spirit, China: Cultural Sites & Epic Cities, and Turkey: Cave Churches & Fairy Chimneys.

11. Intrepid Travel

Eco-conscious travelers will want to consider a group travel vacation with Intrepid Travel, which is known for its active stance on climate action and sustainable travel. Intrepid offers tours for families as well as more strenuous walking tours and cycling tours. Since 1989, Intrepid has been taking small group tours of 12 to 14 people around the world from Bali to Antarctica. 

2026 brings 75 new trips to the Intrepid portfolio, but three of our favorites include Iceland: Hike, Bike & Kayak, Premium Hiking and Trekking in Morocco, and China Real Food Adventure.

12. Backroads

Travelers with a more active lifestyle who want to take a group tour will want to look into Backroads, where hiking and biking tours are the main attraction. Backroads has been traveling around the world from famous U.S. national parks to the glaciers of Antarctica since 1979. Backroads offers more than 550 different tours, most of which have an average of 16 participants. Prices start around $2,700 per person. 

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New this year, Backroads will launch over 150 new trips of all kinds. A few worth checking out for your next vacation include the Brittany & Normandy Hiking & Walking Tour, the Croatia Bike Tour, and Utah’s Bryce & Zion Family Multi-Adventure Tour.

13. Classic Journeys

Luxury group tour operator Classic Journeys (founded in 1995) offers walking tours to destinations around the world, and are especially well tailored to travelers interested in wildlife or local food and drink. These small group tours are typically no larger than 12 guests. Land-based trips start around $4,800.

One new tour for this year is the eight-day Japan Cultural Walking Tour. On the tour, you’ll take a cooking class in Tokyo, sross Torii Pass in the Japanese Alps, and learn about tea with a tea master.

14. Road Scholar

Since 1975, Road Scholar has provided educational tours around the world for small groups of 12 participants or less. The trips are ideal for those who want to do a deep dive into a destination’s culture or be immersed in nature. These budget-friendly trips start around $900 per person.

The brand has nearly 80 new programs, including Cooking in Puglia, Arctic Expeditions: Norway’s Communities, Islands & Fjords, and Gems of South America: Machu Picchu, Iguazu Falls, Rio & Beyond.

Frequently asked questions about guided group tours in 2026

What is the best travel group tour?

This really depends on your travel style. If you’re looking for a great luxury tour that’s going to hit all of the highlights, Tauk is fantastic. Those looking for family tours may enjoy G Adventures or Adventures by Disney.

Is it cheaper to travel with a tour group?

Oftentimes, it is not cheaper to travel with a group tour, but depending on the tour group, you may get special access to area highlights that you wouldn’t otherwise get while traveling on your own. You’re also paying for the convenience of having everything planned out for you rather than having to figure out your days on your own.

What is the average cost of a group tour?

Group tours can range in cost from a few hundred dollars to thousands of dollars, depending on which brand you travel with, what destination you plan to visit, and other factors.

What are the best destinations for a group tour?

There’s truly no bad destination for a group tour, but the ones I always suggest booking are the places that are either hard to reach or where you would book a guide anyway. Think somewhere like Peru, where having a local guide at my side each step of the way (including hiking up the 34 flights of stairs at Machu Picchu) was incredibly valuable. Other destinations that would be ideal for a group tour include Japan, India, the Galapagos, and an African safari.

What are the advantages of a group tour?

The biggest advantage of a group tour is that you pay one set cost and nearly everything, from daily activities to meals are included. To me, though, the biggest advantage is the ability to let someone else handle the logistics, so all I have to do is show up on time each morning to have a great day.

What are the disadvantages of a group tour?

The cost can be a hindrance for some looking to book a group tour. The other biggest disadvantage is that you don’t get to plan everything, meaning you may not make it to all of the sights that you want to see. This is why I often tell people to stay a few days before or after a tour to ensure they get to see and do everything on their travel list.

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