Trafalgar has responded to the rising demand for smaller groups with its new collection of tours from Borneo to Bordeaux, purpose-built for groups of no more than 18 people.
The Trafalgar Small Group Tours collection features 22 itineraries designed for ‘active and culturally-curious travellers’, typically aged 40-plus.
By utilising smaller vehicles and an 18-guest cap, Trafalgar says it can open up bespoke destinations and boutique stays impossible on classic touring.
“Small group travel is one of the biggest opportunities we’re seeing in guided touring right now and this collection is our answer to that,” says Melissa DaSilva, TTC Tour Brands deputy ceo and chief sales officer.
“These trips are designed for a different type of traveller than a classic tour. Someone who seeks experiences that bring travellers even closer to the people, places and stories that make a destination real.”
For agents she says that means a new way to serve clients who are looking for something more per sonal ‘without losing the Trafalgar signature experiences and support they know and trust’.
TTC’s partner marketing director Oceania Louise Levesque expects these new tours to resonate strongly with New Zealand travellers.
Alongside the smaller group size, the attraction of these tours for this market, she says, include story-driven accommodation, diverse local transport, and immersive experiences that traditional large-group sightseeing cannot access.
Many Kiwis are increasingly seeking deeper connections with local cultures and more authentic experiences beyond the traditional tourist trail, she adds.
. . . The Tours
Highlights of the collection include the nine-day San Sebastian and Beyond, ex Bordeaux to Bilbao (pictured) through Southwest France and Northern Spain. Experiences include historic rail journeys up La Rhune and the Petit Train de Biarritz and a Be My Guest dining experience at Getaria’s family-owned San Antón grill house.
There’s also an eight-day Wild Encounters of Borneo exploring the island’s rainforest and wetlands, with experiences including a private conversation and guided tour with Dr. Wong, founder and ceo of the wildlife refuge Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre. Every itinerary features a new Be My Guest experience. See all the new tours HERE.
