Solo travel is character-building and all… but sometimes you just want someone to split a bottle of wine with. Or to have someone to whom you can point out a llama on a Peruvian hike. Group travel used to mean name tags and awkward small talk. But now, it’s all about curated adventures, cool and beautiful people, expert guides, and the kind of bonding you normally only get at summer camp (but with wine and 5* beds).

We’ve rounded up six group travel companies that are redefining what it means to see the world with strangers. By the end, these might just become your new ride-or-die travel crew.

Walk Japan

Walk Japan is a pioneer in cultural walking tours, operating since 1992. It was founded by academics, who wanted to share Japan’s rich historical trails with the world. So, this company takes an ultra-authentic approach. Their guided walking tours are the opposite of surface-level sightseeing. Instead, they take you into the heart of Japanese history, rural culture, and stunning scenery. The guides are experts in everything from Edo-period history to regional dialects. And they’re more likely to point out ancient poetry carved into stone than lead you to a souvenir stand. They offer a whole menu of routes, from beginner-friendly to “hope you’ve been training.”

The Nakasendo Way is their signature. It’s an 11-day trek along the old samurai road linking Kyoto and Tokyo. You’ll walk about 10km per day, through charming post towns, rice paddies, and misty forests. You’ll be staying in traditional inns (ryokans) and enjoying elaborate multi-course kaiseki dinners. There’s also the Kumano Kodo Pilgrimage, a spiritual trek through sacred mountains, and the winter-only Hokkaido Snow Tour, where you crunch through snowy landscapes by day and soak in onsen baths by night. All groups are intimate (10–12 people), the guides are a mix of historians, anthropologists, and lovable weirdos, and you can look forward to thoughtful, slow travel with great snacks. In the end, you’ll be left with forever lasting memories of the beautiful scenery, a newfound respect for your legs, and life-long friends.

Abercrombie & Kent

Abercrombie & Kent has been leading high-end adventures since 1962, when it started as a luxury safari outfitter in Kenya. They pioneered luxury travel before it was cool. Today, they offer curated small group journeys to over 100 countries, but they’ve kept their VIP roots. You won’t get their private jet options, 5-star lodges, and insider access just anywhere. The guides are more like walking encyclopedias with excellent taste, and the focus is on upscale, access-all-areas-style experiences. Think gorilla tracking in Rwanda, glamping in the Serengeti, and candlelit dinners under Egyptian temples.

If wildlife is your thing, their Botswana Safari in Style (10 days, 14 people max) is basically a National Geographic dream — flying between lux tented camps, tracking big cats with expert guides, and sipping sun-downers while watching elephants saunter past. Accommodation includes canvas suites with hardwood floors, outdoor showers, and private plunge pools. For something more urban, the Egypt & the Nile tour is complete with private boat cruises, exclusive access to tombs in the Valley of the Kings and stays in the historic Old Cataract Hotel. There’s also a Peru & Machu Picchu tour that pairs ancient Incan cities with luxury train rides and Andean feasts. Everything is included, right down to the bottled water, and group sizes are small enough that you’ll know everyone’s go-to fun fact by day three.

Butterfield & Robinson

Founded in 1966 by Canadian college friends, B&R was one of the first to blend biking, hiking, and high-end living. Their ethos is: slow down, move your body, eat well, and never pass a vineyard without stopping. Their group trips are for the “I like exercise, but I like wine more” crowd (you know who you are). This agency is living proof that mixing active exploration with decadent downtime works. So yes, you might be biking 30 miles a day, but you’ll also be tasting Barolo in an 18th-century wine cave before dinner.

Take their Puglia Biking Tour is six days of riding through olive groves, baroque towns, and coastal cliffs, with pit stops for fresh burrata, espresso, and local wine. Accommodations include chic farmhouses and palazzos, and support vans follow you in case you (a) tire out, or (b) just want to walk less and drink more. If you’re more into hiking, the Bhutan Walking & Hiking Trip combines gentle treks with monastery visits, farm lunches, and views of the Himalayas that make you question your life choices (in a good way). You’ll stay in boutique lodges, join locals for archery, and maybe pick up a bit of Dzongkha. For this one, trips average 16 people and lean toward the active, but you’re never too far from a hot bath or a glass of something cold.

Luxury Gold

Luxury Gold doesn’t do budget. This is the glam squad of group travel — think five-star hotels, after-hours museum access, and private tastings in vineyards you didn’t even know you were allowed to visit. If your idea of roughing it is flying business class instead of private, welcome. They are offering ultra-premium small group experiences (usually max 18 guests) that focus on style, service, and substance. Their trips are a mix of Michelin-star meals, behind-the-scenes tours, and swanky hotels.

Their Majestic Japan tour covers Tokyo, Kyoto, and Kanazawa with sushi masterclasses, bullet train rides, and a night in a luxury ryokan with your own private onsen. Or, if you prefer your travel steeped in European history, the Ultimate Italy trip is here. It includes skip-the-line access to the Vatican Museums, a private gondola ride in Venice, and wine tastings in Tuscany—all with luxe digs and a Traveling Concierge who handles every detail. Other popular journeys include Peru with Machu Picchu & the Amazon and Spain & Portugal in Style, with Iberian ham tastings and private flamenco shows. Group sizes cap around 20, and the itineraries balance guided experiences with “go do your own fabulous thing” time.

GeoEx

This one is for the brave ones. GeoEx (short for Geographic Expeditions) was born in the 1980s as one of the first Western companies allowed to operate in Tibet. Since then, they’ve built a cult following, for trips that go deep into the cultural, historical, and geographic heart of each place. Their guides are often authors, academics, or local legends, and they’ll casually drop facts about ancient trade routes between bites of yak dumplings. If you want a place that still feels undiscovered — or at least undiscovered by your Instagram feed — they’ve probably got a tour there.

They’re known for pushing boundaries (Afghanistan, Chad, remote Indonesian islands), but they also offer cushy classics with a twist. Their Bhutan: Land of the Thunder Dragon trip is a standout — a 12-day immersion into the kingdom’s mountain temples, fortress monasteries, and peaceful villages, with local guides and boutique accommodations. Or, try their Georgia, Armenia & Azerbaijan tour — a Caucasus adventure with cave towns, wine tastings, and polyphonic choirs in candlelit cathedrals. GeoEx trips max out at 16 people and often skew toward curious, independent travelers. So, expect dinner convos about ancient texts and fermented foods, not party shots and nightclub recaps.

Insight Vacations

Insight Vacations’ specialty is premium escorted journeys that combine comfort, style, and seamless logistics, without the chaos of big-bus tours. You won’t be herded around with color-coded stickers or megaphones—this is elevated travel with first-class seats (literally, their coaches have fewer passengers, and business-class legroom), top-notch hotels, and VIP access. The group sizes are kept small—24 people max—so you won’t have to elbow your way through breakfast buffets or compete for window seats. And the hotels are always centrally located and full of character. No sad airport chains here.

Tour options are extensive and gloriously detailed. Want to sip Chianti at a Tuscan farmhouse with the family still pressing grapes? The Country Roads of Italy tour has you covered. Prefer your castles with a side of Guinness? Try Irish Elegance, which includes stately stays and cozy fireside music sessions in manor houses. There’s also Treasures of Greece & the Islands, where you’ll hop from Athens to Santorini on boutique ferries and dine on rooftop terraces with Acropolis views. And yes — someone else handles your luggage the whole time. In short: it’s everything you want from a group tour—well-orchestrated, socially relaxed, and indulgent—without the stress of planning and with above-average meals.

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FAQs

Q: Does Walk Japan organize cultural walking tours in remote parts of the country?
A: Yes, Walk Japan offers culturally immersive walking tours through lesser-known regions, like Kunisaki and Oita.

Q: Are Abercrombie & Kent’s small group safaris considered luxury experiences?
A: Yes, their safaris include luxury accommodations, expert guides, and exclusive wildlife viewings.

Q: Does Insight Vacations include premium dining in their small group tours?
A: Yes, Insight Vacations features premium dining experiences at acclaimed local restaurants.