Are tours worth it? When to book one and when to go it alone

Tours get a bad name from the worst of them: a coach, a flag, forty people and twenty minutes at each stop. They also get overlooked for the best of them, where a good guide turns a pile of old stones into something you will remember for years.

The question is not whether tours are good or bad. It is which ones are worth your time and money on this particular trip.

When a tour is worth it

Some things are simply better with someone who knows.

• When the place needs explaining. Ruins, old battlefields, historic districts and museums with complicated collections make more sense with a guide. A wall is a wall until someone tells you what happened there.
• When getting there is hard. A remote site with no public transport, a trail with a tricky start or a day trip that needs three connections.
• When access is limited. Some places can only be visited on a guided visit, and some have a skip-the-queue route attached.
• When you want local food. A food walk with a local is a short route into dishes you would not order unprompted, in places you would not find alone.
• When there is a safety reason. Hiking, diving, climbing, wildlife and anything in unfamiliar terrain are safer with someone who knows the conditions.
• When you are short of time. If you have one day in a city, a tour gives you the outline quickly.
• When you are on your own and want company. A small group tour is an easy way to meet people.

When to go it alone

Other things are better without.

• Places you can explore by wandering. Most old towns and neighbourhoods are best on foot, at your own pace.
• Places you want to see slowly. A tour that moves at a set pace will frustrate you in a museum or a landscape you love.
• Easy, well-signposted sights. A good guidebook or audio guide may be enough.
• Anything that is mostly queuing. If the tour is mainly a way to be part of a crowd, skip it.
• Meals. Eating where local people eat is cheaper and usually better than eating at a stop on a tour route.

You can often mix the two: a guided tour on the first morning to get your bearings, then a few days on your own.

Choose the type that fits

Walking tour. The classic first-day tour. Good for getting a feel for a city. Look for a guide who is local, and a small group.

Day trip by coach. Efficient, but with fixed stops and a lot of time on the road. Fine to reach a few sights in a day; less good if you want depth.

Private guide. Costs more but is tailored to you. Worth considering for a group, where the cost is shared; our piece on where to stay with a group touches on how groups can share costs like these.

Activity tour. Cooking classes, kayaking, bike rides, wine tastings. You learn something and do something.

Multi-day tour. The whole itinerary arranged for you. This takes the planning off your hands, and costs you flexibility. It suits people who want to see a lot without arranging it.

Self-guided. Some operators sell the route, the bookings and the bags transferred, but no guide. A middle way if you like walking or cycling and do not want to plan every detail.

How to tell a good one from a bad one

Reviews are your friend, but read them closely. Look for:

• Group size. Small groups mean more attention. Ask the maximum number.
• The guide. Reviews that name the guide and say what they were like are a good sign.
• What is included. Entrance tickets, food, transport, equipment. Find out what is extra.
• The itinerary. How much time at each stop, and how much on the road.
• The meeting point and timing. Clear instructions suggest a well-run operation.
• Cancellation terms. Especially for weather-dependent tours.
• Who runs it. Local operators often give a better experience than big resellers, and more of your money stays in the area.

Be wary of anything very cheap, anything that promises "everything" in a day, and anything that pushes you into shopping stops. Some tours earn money from commission at shops or restaurants, which shapes where they take you.

Ask a few questions before you book

1. How many people are in the group?
2. What is the pace, and how much walking is there?
3. What is included and what do I pay for on the day?
4. What happens if the weather is bad?
5. Can I cancel, and until when?
6. Is it suitable for my needs, such as limited mobility, children or dietary requirements?

A good operator answers clearly. If they do not, that tells you something too. Our article on avoiding tourist traps has more on spotting the ones that waste your day.

Book ahead, but not too far

Popular tours fill up, especially in high season and for small groups. If something matters to you, book it as soon as you know your dates. For less important tours, wait until you arrive and see how you feel. You can ask your accommodation, who often know which operators are reliable.

Check the weather policy and refund terms. Some tours are cancelled in bad conditions, and you want to know what happens then.

Keep the confirmation with the trip

A tour has a time, a meeting point, a booking reference and a price. Those details tend to end up in an email you cannot find on the morning you need it.

Whatever you use, keep the details together with the plan, and save a copy that works without signal.

Tour or not, a quick test

Ask yourself three things:

1. Would I get much more out of this place with a guide than without?
2. Is it hard to reach, or limited in access, on my own?
3. Is the price fair for what is included?

If the answer to two of them is yes, book it. If not, spend the time and money elsewhere, or walk it yourself with a map.

Then go and enjoy it

Once you have chosen, show up early, bring water and sensible shoes, ask questions, and tip in line with local custom; see our note on tipping around the world. A good guide is one of the best things a trip can give you, and the right tour can be the story you tell afterwards.