Europe is a popular tourist location for a reason. Travelers can easily and quickly explore a wide variety of European cultures, nations, and landmarks due to the continent’s small size and accessible transportation.
Europe is home to several of the world’s “must-visit” nations, from the stunning natural beauty of Switzerland and Italy to the delicious cuisines and rich culture of Spain and Greece.
There are still some very conventional European tour companies, but today’s best European tour companies focus on all kinds of adventure and educational programs.
Many of these best European tour companies have charitable programs associated to them so you can enjoy a fulfilling vacation while helping the neighborhood by choosing one of these tour companies
On my list, you’ll find tour companies that base trips around themes, run large groups and private custom tours, and focus on topics like wildlife or local culture and history. So, keep reading!
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How To Pick A Tour Company In Europe
1. Consider what you’re looking for.
Decide where you want to travel, what you want to do, and how much money you want to spend before you begin your search. Focus your search on this criteria and find the company that suit you.
2. Consider the audience and group size.
Your trips will be significantly impacted by the number and makeup of your group. Look for excursions with no more than 15 people. Even though they are occasionally more expensive, you will have better access to your guide and a more personalized, in-depth encounter.
The tour’s primary audience is something else to think about because it will affect the people you spend the entire time with. For day trips or cooking courses, this is less crucial, but if you’re on a multi-day tour, you’ll be spending a lot of time with other people, which will affect your experience.
3. Examine the Schedule and Pace.
One advantage of taking a tour is that you can typically squeeze more into the schedule than you might if you were traveling alone. After all, one advantage of taking a group tour is that you won’t have to worry about planning or arranging transportation. Even while you will undoubtedly want to see a lot when traveling, search for tours that place an emphasis on quality over quantity.
4. Acquire What is Included
You should find out what is truly included on the tour in addition to the upfront cost so that you can plan for additional costs. Traveling and repeatedly being startled by unforeseen expenses will make the trip less enjoyable.
To properly plan your budget, review the information provided to determine exactly what is and is not covered. Most trustworthy businesses are clear about this.
5. Check Out a Few Reviews
Once you’ve identified a few tour companies you’re interested in, it’s essential to read some web reviews to determine whether the business lives up to its claims.
Just keep in mind to read reviews carefully (occasionally people complain about things that were obviously outside the control of the company) and try to read between the lines.
6. Review the Terms & Conditions before booking your trip!
When you locate a tour, reserve your spot before it fills up! It is inevitable that there will be a limited amount of spaces available for small-group tours.
However, take some time to read the terms and conditions, look over the cancellation procedures, and perform your due diligence before clicking the “book” button.
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Overview OfThe 15 Best European Tour Companies In 2024
Here is an overview of the 15 Best European Tour Companies In 2024.
1. Intrepid Travel
2. Trafalgar
3. Contiki Tours
4. G Adventures
5. Avalon Waterways
6. Topdeck
7. Exodus Travel
8. Tauck
9. Globus
10. The Natural Adventure Company
11. New Europe
12. Free Tours by Foot
13. Context Travel
14. Walks
15. Viking River Cruises
List Of The 15 Best European Tour Companies In 2024
Tour companies are a great way to take all the guesswork and stress from your next vacation in Europe! Below, you’ll find the best European tour companies in 2024.
1. Intrepid Travel
Intrepid Travel is the biggest small-group adventure European tour company in 2024. Intrepid provides over 1,100 escorted tours across the globe with an average of 10 travelers per tour. Their small groups ensure you’re never on one of those giant bus tours either.
Intrepid Travel Tours are led by native tour guides, and they travel by public transportation and lodge in locally owned hotels.
Due to the fact that it designs and manages its own trips, the business is vertically integrated. Intrepid also operates excursions on behalf of other businesses through its destination management firm.
2. Trafalgar
Trafalgar is one of the most established and best european tour companies in 2024 and has been delivering interesting, varied, and affordable tours since 1947.
Trafalgar is a fantastic place to connect with other travelers who share your passion for exploring a destination’s soul, taking in its culture, and seeing off-the-beaten-path locations.
They never have bad lodging, and the benefits include private access and queue-skipping. Beyond the well-known attractions, participants can tour French farms or learn to cook in Italy. Another benefit is the price; Trafalgar specializes in providing tours that are affordable.
Trafalgar European trips feature options including “Best of” country excursions, “Great Italian Cities,” “Spanish Wonder Summer,” and “Traditional Europe.”
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3. Contiki Tours
Contiki is a subsidiary of the Travel Corporation. In the past, Contiki tours was known for partying. However, their tour has changed significantly in recent years, promoting vegan and wellness travel as well as more intensive cultural experiences. Contiki claims to be the most popular and the best European tour company for youths.
Trips with Contiki combine sightseeing, free time, culture, networking, and adventure. It has its own residences that are available to guests across Europe, including the Gasthof Schoneck in the Austrian Tyrol and the Chateau De Cruix, a 16th-century castle in the Beaujolais wine region.
4. G Adventures
As the name might suggest, G Adventures is one of the best European tour companies for its fun sense of adventure in all the tours it runs.
You will not only see things if you take one of their trips; you will also experience them. You use local transportation, eat at neighborhood eateries, and generally explore the heart of the cities you visit.
G Adventures can accommodate all types of tourists although their original target market is still strong people who don’t want to play it too safe, don’t want their experience airbrushed, and want to take risks.
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5. Avalon Waterways
Avalon Waterways is one of the best European tour companies for high-end cruises and pure relaxation, with options ranging from the ultra-budget to the ultra-luxe. You don’t even need to get off the boat to take in all the natural splendor that this continent has to offer!
The food is excellent, and passengers may open their rooms to the outside thanks to the suits’ floor-to-ceiling windows.
The great thing is that so much is already included, so once you’re on board you don’t need to worry about hidden cost entry to must-see sites, or alcohol with your meal. Yes, it’s expensive, but the great thing is that so much is already included. Although anybody will enjoy the romanticism and indulgence of the water, it is primarily for people over 50.
6. Topdeck
Topdeck’s team of travel adventurers offer stress-free services to travelers. The team uses sophisticated and small metros, boats, planes, and ships to transport tourists to their selected locations. The company also provides a variety of trip types, including festival trips, sailing excursions, explorer adventures, and custom trips.
7. Exodus Travel
Exodus Travels, one of the best European tour companies, has been taking its customers on tours of various nations, cultures, habitats, towns, mountain ranges, deserts, beaches, and jungles for the past 44 years. They prioritize the joy of the traveler and provide them with authentically useful experiences.
Exodus Travels offers insurance for things like accidents, lost luggage, and medical expenses for tourists. The Exodus Agency Collective option helps tourists choose their travel agent with ease.
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8. Tauck
Tauck is the best tour company for tourists who want to see around Europe and discover new places. Tauck trips highlight the fascinating must-see attractions in every location, but they also go deeper to give insider access to off-the-beaten-path cultural experiences that really bring a destination to life.
A Tauck vacation includes almost all costs, including lodging in top resorts and hotels in the city center, admission to all sites and attractions, and a wide range of fine dining options.
Tauck pampers its customers with first-rate service, taking care of the tedious aspects of travel so that customers can focus their time and energy on savoring each location.
9. Globus
Globus, an European tour company, has a network of over 32 offices worldwide that are supported by a team of over 5,000 experts. Globus has partnered with companies like Avalon, Monograms, and Cosmos. The organization assumes full responsibility for giving travelers a stress-free travel experience.
Travelers can save time and money by taking advantage of the numerous travel deals offered by Globus.
10. The Natural Adventure Company
The Natural Adventure Company, one of the best European tour companies, is good at organizing walking & cycling holidays and adventure trips for independently minded people.
They began in 2009 by creating several ground-breaking trekking itineraries in the Balkans. Today, they provide 500+ self-guided walking holidays and cycling tours in addition to a variety of painstakingly selected small group and privately guided tours, family and discovery trips.
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11. New Europe
New Europe is one of the largest and best European tour companies out there. Its tours cover all the major tourist attractions, and its tour operators are knowledgeable. They also provide specialized tours including food tours, day outings, and excursions to specific historical locations. They are virtually everywhere in Europe.
12. Free Tours by Foot
Another European tour company on the list is Free Tours By Foot. They have qualified tour guides and a large range of themed trips in more than 30 locations throughout Europe. In all of the continent’s main cities, you can probably find a tour with them (or with an affiliated company). Wearing comfortable shoes is essential because their tours typically take three hours. Since the excursions are free, remember to tip your guide.
They collaborate with other tour operators as well, so you can find even more specialized alternatives here.
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13. Context Travel
Context provides thorough excursions of the continent’s culinary, historical, and cultural attractions. Context employs professionals to lead them (for instance, a chef for a culinary tour). They aren’t cheap, but if you’re serious about exploring a place in depth, they are absolutely worth the money. You should budget about 100 EUR per person.
Context also offers fantastic private tours, and if there is a particular topic that interests you, you can even organize a bespoke trip.
14. Walks
If you’re searching for something a little more in-depth, Walks are the preferred European tour company for that.
Walks’ cuisine, art, and history tours are unique because they provide you access to locations that most people can’t, such as the Louvre after hours, or other hidden spots in the Vatican, Versailles. Walks is the greatest option if you’re looking for a paid walking tour company.
Although they offer some full-day alternatives, their tours typically last around three hours. You should budget at least 60–90 euros each person.
15. Viking River Cruises
This is a good choice for anyone searching for a “hands-free” tour around Europe, with multi-day and multi-week itineraries available. All you need to do to join a Viking cruise is book it and relax. While stopping at some of the most fascinating towns Europe has to offer along picturesque rivers like the Danube, the Seine, and the Rhine, you’ll get to see the heart of Europe from a distinctive vantage point and the comfort of your own cabin. Their tour also include free port excursions, onboard meals, and a 24-hour concierge.
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What To Pack For A Tour In Europe
Depending on where you’re going, when you’re going, and what you’ll be doing, there are many things to pack for a tour of Europe.
No matter what tour you intend to do, the following items are things I advise you to bring with you:
1. Backpack: Europe is full of cobblestone streets designed for leisurely strolls, not rolling suitcases. You’ll be grateful you chose a backpack.
2. Bring a smaller day bag so you can keep your daily necessities in it while exploring.
3. Toiletries: Pack the essentials (toothbrush, toothpaste, floss, deodorant, shampoo, etc.) and a towel that dries quickly.
4. Clothes: Keep in mind that you can do laundry while traveling, so even if your tour is longer, bring enough clothes to last 7-9 days and wash them as necessary. Bring extra socks (why do those things always disappear?) and one fancier dress in addition to your everyday attire for an evening out at a fancy restaurant or show.
5. Water bottle: Most of Europe’s tap water is drinkable, so you can typically fill up in lodgings or dining establishments to stay hydrated and lessen your reliance on single-use plastic.
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FAQs
What is the cheapest time to go to Europe?
The cheapest times to go to Europe are frequently in the late fall and winter, from mid- to late-October through mid- to late-March (though fares can spike in December). Flying to Europe during the weekday, especially on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, is also less expensive.
Are flights included in the price of European tours?
The expense of air travel is not included in the great majority of European tour operators’ prices. You will need to make travel plans so that you can arrive at the meeting place on the day before your tour.
Do European tour companies include meal in their prices?
Most European tours include meals. Check the schedules of any tour company you are thinking about taking to see how many meals are included daily and whether any special meal is offered at particular locations.
What makes a deluxe European tour unique?
Luxury tours offer higher quality hotel accommodations and VIP experiences that let you see places and interact with people that aren’t included in regular tour packages.
Why Should I book my tour with a tour company?
On the tour company’s booking website, your tour package will be comprehensive and described. The tour company has done all the research, designed a schedule to make the most of your vacation.
Conclusion
It is an accepted fact that each traveler has his/her own expectations and requirements at the time of travel.
That’s why travelers need the best tour companies to fulfill their expectations.
This article has saved you the stress of researching the internet for the best European tour companies. Lastly, don’t forget to tip your guide!
References
· www.travelfashiongirl.com – How To Pick A Tour Company In Europe
· www.nomadicmatt.com – List Of The 15 Best European Tour Companies In 2024
· www.inspiredbymaps.com – List Of The 15 Best European Tour Companies In 2024
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