There are
as many approaches to travel as there are travellers. Everyone has their own
answers to the big four – Where, How,
When, and Why.
In truth,
we all wear many travel hats. In my opinion, the great debate between
independent and guided travel can be resolved with a simple “let’s do both."
Independent
travel is often a life changing experience. In truth, it’s an experience I wish
everyone were fortunate enough to
enjoy. I’ve seen much of the world from the perspective of an independent
traveller and plan to pursue many similar adventures in the future.
Although
independent travel can be highly fulfilling, it is only one slice of the tasty travel pie. In certain cases, the offerings of guided tours can either augment or exceed the offerings of independent
travel.
Our friend Darcy McGilvery at BikeHike Adventures shares
these 10 reasons to participate in guided tours. You’ll find that even the most
independent of travellers has a thing
or two to gain from the guided experience.
1.) Guides
Missed
opportunities for adventure are rarely disclosed to us. Only when we find them
do we know they’re there. A guide can
provide these opportunities and turn “what could have been” into reality. Many
independent travelers use guidebooks. These are great, but also lead to beaten
paths that many travelers want to avoid. Adventure guides are your golden
ticket to cultural and physical experiences you’d otherwise never see. Utilizing personal relationships with
locals, unparallel knowledge of community amenities, and extensive experience
with outdoor activities, guides immerse you in culture guidebooks simply cannot
provide.
2.) Friends
The
friends we make abroad drastically affect our experience. For those of us
working with constrained vacation time, developing meaningful relationships is
difficult. Group guided tours offer
immersive social experiences amongst like-minded travellers. Often times,
the people you meet on your guided
tour make for fun travel companions on subsequent independent travels.
Try
beginning your travels with a guided tour before
taking off on your own. You’ll find the two approaches complement each other by
adding a foundation for your independent travels.
3.) Hassle Free
As
fulfilling as independent travel is, it comes with its share of difficulties. Common
hassles associated with unaided journeys include scheduling, transporting,
cost, equipment, misinformation, backtracking, safety, etc. Whether you’re a
business professional looking for a quick escape or a seasoned travel vet looking for a break from the
nitty gritty, guided tours provide a
chance to see the world without the unwanted
baggage.
4.) Safety
A feeling
of safety while travelling abroad is an important component of a successful
trip. The vast knowledge and experience
synonymous with local guides provides a level of safety foreigners are
otherwise unable to obtain. In addition, group tours offer safety in
numbers via a large support group of fellow travellers.
5.) Money
Contrary to popular belief, guided tours can drastically cut
down on travel costs, especially with group tours. Guided tours allow travellers to split the cost of
transportation, equipment, and lessons. This is especially true for travellers
looking to test numerous activities in a short period of time. Imagine a couple
independently renting a raft, bikes, kayaks, climbing equipment, and transportation. They would quickly
find that tour operators have a necessary
place in the world.
6.) Encouragement
Among
those of us who want adventure, some
still need a little push. Sometimes the
only thing keeping us from letting go and allowing ourselves to experience
something new is a little encouragement. Guided tours do just that. With a
trusted support system in place, we find ourselves thrown into excitement and
pushing our own limits – all in a safe environment.
7.) Time
It’s an unfortunate
truth that most people’s holiday time is minimal. Although independent travel
is highly romanticized, it is also
time consuming. As nice as it is to find your own way around a foreign city,
you’re bound to make more than a few wrong turns along the way. Most people simply don’t have the time to
take the long way around. Guided tours specialize in providing a worldly
experience without the injury time.
8.) Orientation
If you are blessed with an abundant amount of
time to see the world, guided tours can start you off with a bang. A guided tour can serve as a great orientation to your destination.
I once did a weeklong guided trip in La Alberca, Spain. It was a wonderful
introduction to rural Spanish life. From that tour I made contacts all over the
country. I spent the remainder of two months visiting and travelling with my
new Spanish friends. This “locals experience” was a direct result of the
initial connections I made on my guided tour.
9.) Opportunities
In some situations, guided tours are the only option for (inexperienced) travellers. For adventurous souls looking to try whitewater rafting,
caving or canyoneering, tour operators provide guides, equipment, and
transportation. Without these three essential components, only experts with
substantial resources can partake in these activities, let alone numerous activities strung together in a
jam packed multisport adventure.
10.) Sustainability
Many adventure travel companies are committed to using local
adventure guides. Combined with commitments
to local dining and accommodation, these efforts help boost the economies of
the destination.
Related Articles:
Cycling in Germany - 5 Reasons to Get on your Bike
Make a Local Connection - Change your Travel Experience
About BikeHike Adventures
If you’re
interested in experiencing the
benefits of guided tours, check out BikeHike Adventures, a
global adventure travel company offering guided tours to over 30 destinations
worldwide. BikeHike caters to outdoor
enthusiasts looking to experience numerous activities in one multi-sport adventure.
Highly experienced and personable adventure guides facilitate the wonder and
pride of exploration. Both big and small groups are accommodated with varying
degrees of difficulty. Operating for over 17 years, BikeHike Adventures have
found their way into the lives of many reoccurring customers. National Geographic has repeatedly regarded
BikeHike as one of the best adventure travel companies in the world.
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