Small Group Tours
Our tours have something for everyone. Since Covid we travel in small groups of no more than 12 people to ensure that we can experience a different side of travel. We aim to travel and not impact on local communities but carefully tip toe into the lives of the places we visit and share our love of exploring new frontiers.
Our small group tours are specifically designed for women who have similar interests and provide a fantastic opportunity to make new friends and share this unique experience with like-minded travellers of all ages ( daughters and young kids are welcomed and there is lots for them to see and do).
Below are some of the answers we get asked about our tours. If you have any questions which are not answered here please don’t hesitate to email and we will be happy to answer them.
I’m used to travelling independently. Are these group tours really for me?
We provide small group escorted tours which are not conventional group tours. You will be travelling with a maximum of 12 other people on escorted small group tours (the average is only around 8). Tours are designed to provide you with a good balance of personal discovery and group activity with like-minded travellers. There is always plenty of time to go off on your own exploring and “alone time”.
Who will I be travelling with?
Our travellers are of all ages and from all parts of the world. They share a passion for travel and a desire to make a difference to the people they meet and to connect with the lives and cultures of the places they visit. Many of our travellers have done a lot of travel in the past but are looking for something that they can’t organise themselves and enjoy the company of others with the same interests. The age group of our tour participants ranges from around 25 to 75 years of age .
How fit do I have to be to join a tour?
Most tours are suited to anybody of normal fitness and mobility with a desire to get out and experience local culture. Walking and optional trekking may be included in some of our itineraries. Each tour dossier contains a section on trip type please read this carefully before deciding to book a tour.
What if I’m a single traveller?
Our groups are a mix of single travellers, family and friends. Most of our tours and retreats are advertised as a single person with room matching option. If you are travelling with a companion we are happy to provide a twin share.
What kinds of accommodation will I stay in?
Our hotels and guesthouses are handpicked by us and all support the same philosophies as we do. Whilst they do not offer all of the 5 star trimmings they provide a very clean, safe, quiet and relaxed atmosphere so you can enjoy your holiday. We also ensure that the majority of our accommodation is located in the centre of town so that it is easy for you to explore when you have some time to yourself. On some tours accommodation may be in either a home-stay or very basic hotel, if this is the case we endeavour to ensure that clean western style bathroom facilities are available where possible and details are always provided in the tour dossier. Most of our hotels provide mini-bars, cable tv, aircon, in room safes, private bathroom facilities and internet access facilities.
How will I be getting around?
We generally provide comfortable and air-conditioned private transport which allows us the freedom to stop and snack with the locals, shop with the locals and take those great photo’s along the way.
Do I need to worry about what to eat and where to eat?
Eating is one of the highlights of travelling and we like to make sure you get to experience some local flavour but will always include breakfast and dinner in hotels or Indian resturants where ever possible. Because we cater for single travellers we like to take the hassle out of eating for you by including most meals in the tour. We do not include lunches as we know its fun to go off on your own to explore food options. Your tour guide will provide you with recommended restaurants for meals which are not included on the tour. We often eat at small restuarants on the way or most of our travellers carry snacks so that we can see and do more during the day. If you have preferences for food, for example Jain or Gluten free etc you just need to indicate that at the time of your booking and we will look after it for you. When meals are included in your tour you must pay for beverages and extra’s.
Who will lead and guide my tour ?
Escorted Small Group Tours and Live-in Retreats – These tours can depart with a minimum of 6 people and a maximum of 12 people and are escorted by one of the TWT team member along with local guides.
Are there any hidden costs?
No, there are no hidden costs. There are generally no local payments, with the exception of independent tours which may incur a small local payment for hands on classes and workshops. The advertised tour cost covers everything except: train and flights, visa’s, beverages, tips and gratuities, personal expenses, meals taken outside the tour group meals, or activities that you undertake to do on your own.
Is tipping necessary?
To make things easy we generally nominate a Tips Kitty payment which is collected on Day 1 of your tour in USD for International trips and INR for domestic trips.