Why choose an escorted tour?

What is an escorted tour?

More than a simple group tour, on an escorted tour you’ll have a tour manager hosting the group from start to end. Unlike a guided tour, which often uses a local representative who doesn’t accompany the trip throughout, tour managers stay with travellers for the entire trip, handling all aspects of the trip, especially practicalities like flights, hotels, transfers and transportation.

The tour itself will include various excursions and activities, with those entrance fees and sightseeing costs included in the tour. Meals may also be included in the trip, although the number and type varies from tour to tour.

Otherwise, there’s no single format for an escorted tour, with trips ranging from under one week to over a month. Some will visit a single area in a country, others might visit more than one country during the trip. You’ll also find different paces to the trip, with the chance to choose a more relaxed approach, with less travelling and more free time, while others will stay at multiple hotels and have daily excursions, and some are active adventures taking you to more remote destinations.

Why choose an escorted tour?

There are a string of reasons why an escorted tour could make the perfect holiday for you. Here’s why you should choose an escorted tour.

Saves you hassle

We want our customers to have an effortless adventure, to be able to see the world without any hassle. An escorted tour means you can avoid any of the stresses of planning a holiday, from working out an itinerary, planning how to get around, booking entrance tickets, hotels and flights, and all the other practicalities. Instead, everything is arranged for you, so you simply need to turn up and enjoy yourself.

Our door-to-door travel service means you don’t even have the hassle of planning your trip to the airport, and with our expert tour managers and local guides on hand, there’s someone knowledgeable and fluent in the local language to sort out any issues which might arise.

Some departures even combine a cruise and tour, as well as offering small ship cruises to multiple destinations, something which would be tricky to arrange independently.

Expert insights

Our experts carefully create itineraries using our wealth of experience and advice from contacts in the destination to ensure that you get the best holiday possible in every destination. Rather than spending hours researching all the options, we’ve done the hard work for you – and our experts know the best places to visit, and the best way to do it to ensure you experience incredible moments and make memories that will last a lifetime.

Some of our escorted tours even visit two or more countries in one trip, with our teams making the journey seamless, thanks to in-depth knowledge of each destination.

See more in less time

After years of planning trips, we know the most efficient ways to cover the destination, so we can tailor our escorted tour itineraries to fit more into your holiday. With transfers and transport arranged, there’s no time wasted getting from A to B, and we know just how much you can squeeze into each day and still have a great time.

We also ensure that travellers can get to the heart of each destination, immersing yourself in local cultures and customs, and discovering hidden gems not to be found in the guidebooks.

Reduce the risks

Our tours are constantly fine-tuned and adapted, based on feedback from earlier customers and tour managers, so there’s less risk that you’ll find yourself visiting sights or staying in hotels which aren’t right for you. Holiday time is precious, so who wants to risk returning home filled with disappointment that it didn’t go according to plan?

If you’re heading off the beaten track or exploring solo, travelling as part of an escorted tour can also limit the risks which come with travelling alone or visiting more remote places. If you’re nervous of navigating a foreign country, language and customs on your own, particularly in areas with less developed tourist infrastructure, having the support of your tour manager is priceless too. Our experts can also provide advice about any specific risks at the locations, whether that’s the need for mosquito repellent or how to avoid local scams.

Meet new people

Joining a group of like-minded fellow travellers is another of the big bonuses of escorted tours, whether you’re hoping for the opportunity to make new friends, love socialising or are travelling solo and looking for companions along the way.

With themed escorted tours focusing on everything from nature and history to food, you can ensure you’ll be joined by people sharing the same interests as you. Whether you’re fascinated by Roman architecture, Italian cuisine or hoping to spot some of the world’s rarest creatures, it’s always more fun knowing your fellow travellers are just as excited.

Easy budgeting

Knowing the price of the tour upfront makes it far easier to budget for your holiday, with the total covering the main costs in advance. Some escorted tours will include almost all meals and excursions, so you’ll have few additional expenses beyond a few souvenirs, drinks and tips. Others will only include a limited number of meals, and might leave you more free time to plan your own independent exploring, but it’s always clear what’s excluded and included, so you know what other expenses to factor in.

Escorted tours are often excellent value too, as we can negotiate group rates which are cheaper than if you were travelling individually.

Who is an escorted tour best suited for?

Although many people assume that escorted tours are only for older travellers, these trips can suit a far wider range of people.

First time travellers to a region

If you have never visited a particular destination before, many escorted tours will take you to the key sights, so it’s a great way to discover many of the country’s highlights. It’s also a good option if you are unfamiliar with the destination.

Travellers with specific interests

Escorted tours certainly aren’t just for the first time you visit a destination, as they can be a great way to explore particular areas in more depth, as well as allowing you to see sides to the country which interest you most – anything from birdwatching and walking to learning about local cuisine.

Travellers looking for a stress-free escape

Love travel but hate all the hard work that often goes into a trip? An escorted tour is perfect to take the stress of arranging the practicalities and planning every last detail, so you can simply enjoy yourself.

Travellers heading off the beaten track

Even if you’re a confident traveller, it takes more effort to visit some countries than others. Whether tourist infrastructure is still developing, or it simply takes more time and knowledge to get around, having an expert on hand for support makes a big difference.

Solo travellers

Whether you’re hoping for some like-minded travelling companions or are nervous about travelling solo, joining an escorted tour is a great way to see the world without doing it completely on your own. You don’t need to be single; if you’re hoping to tick off a bucket-list destination and it doesn’t appeal to your family and friends, there’s no need for you to miss out.

Travellers working to a fixed budget

If you want to know the total price of your trip before you go, an escorted tour is a great way to see all the expenses upfront. With the biggest costs bundled into the price, including flights and accommodation, as well as many meals and excursions, you’ll be able to budget, plan and pay before you set foot on the plane. And there will be no surprises about any costs which aren’t included, such as additional meals or optional excursions.

Sociable travellers

What’s even more fun than travelling with friends and family? Making a whole group of new friends as you discover a fascinating new location. It’s not always straightforward to strike up conversations when you’re travelling independently, but in an escorted group tour, you’ll have plenty of new faces to get chatting to.

What questions should you ask when choosing an escorted tour?

If you’re tempted by the idea of an escorted tour, you’ll have plenty of choice when it comes to choosing an itinerary. Before you book, there are a few more questions that it’s worth asking first to ensure you find the perfect fit.

What type (and age) of people will be on this company’s tour?

As well as visiting the company’s website, take a look at social media accounts such as Facebook and YouTube to see who is commenting on their content or leaving reviews. You can also find more reviews on sites like Trustpilot, along with TripAdvisor, travel blogs and by searching on Google.

How many people will be in the group?

Titan has a range of small group tours, with between 12 and 24 people travelling, which are ideal if you prefer not to be part of a bigger group. Long-haul destinations also tend to be smaller groups than European locations, although the average number for all Titan’s tours is 27 people.

What is not covered in the fare?

Once you’ve found a tour that appeals, check the specific details to see how many meals are included, how many excursions and how much free time you have, as well as the pace guide. Not only does this help show how active or relaxed the trip will be, it also allows you to work out any additional expenses for meals, or any optional excursions you’re keen to take.

How much travelling is involved?

Check maps of the tour’s itinerary to get an idea of distances between locations, as well as whether you’ll be travelling by road, train or plane. You can doublecheck any precise distances on maps online to get a sense of how much travelling will be involved, if long journeys are something you want to avoid.

What are the hotels like?

The tour’s itinerary will list the hotels that you’ll be staying in and their star rating. It’s easy to search for additional reviews and information online if you want to see photos or look at their precise location. Even if the choice of accommodation has to change, this gives a good indication of the type of place you’ll be staying in.

What do I need to pack?

Titan has lots of helpful content on its website with advice on what to take on your trip, including an essential packing list. You can also find more information in the FAQs on the destination page, as well as in the Titan Travel blog, whether you’re planning to go on safari or a cruise, or head off the beaten track in destinations like Borneo and Costa Rica.

So, will you be joining us on one of our itineraries? Have a look at our full selection of escorted tours

So, will you be joining us on one of our itineraries? Have a look online to see our full selection of escorted tours.