Trafalgar Launches New Small Group Tours

Trafalgar is expanding its guided vacation offering with the launch of Trafalgar Small Group Tours, a new collection of 22 itineraries with a maximum of 18 guests. The launch responds to growing demand from travellers beyond the classic touring audience who are culturally curious and seek accommodations that tell a story, immersive transportation, more access to Travel Directors and Local Specialists and experiences that go beyond traditional sightseeing. With access to experiences large groups simply can’t do, these tours give advisors a new conversation to have with clients who are new to touring. The group size allows for an even more personal group dynamic while maintaining the ease, support and confidence of a guided vacation.

“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, Deputy CEO and Chief Sales Officer, TTC Tour Brands. “These trips are designed for a different type of traveler 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 advisors, that means a new way to serve clients who are looking for something more personal without losing the Trafalgar signature experiences and support they know and trust.”

The collection has been intentionally designed or enhanced around what smaller groups make possible. The product was developed using in-depth research, including substantial customer analysis and trade engagement, to bring these new trips to life. Itineraries may incorporate smaller vehicles, private transport, trains and local transportation options that better suit the experience, along with access to local venues, communities and accommodations not always available to larger groups. The tours are especially well suited to active, culturally curious travellers, typically 40 and older, who want meaningful local interactions beyond traditional sightseeing and are more interested in responsible travel experiences. For advisors, the new collection gives advisors a Small Group Tour product that their clients are already looking for from a brand they already know and love. It gives clients more local connection and flexibility while still benefiting from Trafalgar’s Travel Directors, planned itineraries, included experiences and trusted operational support.

New itinerary highlights include:

• San Sebastian and Beyond – Travels from Bordeaux to Bilbao through southwest France and northern Spain. With Trafalgar’s local connections, travellers enjoy a Be My Guest experience at Geteria’s family-owned San Antón grill house, open only for guests of Trafalgar's Small Group Tours. Guests meet the family, discover the day's fresh catch straight from the Cantabrian coast, learn traditional grilling techniques passed down through generations and enjoy a hands-on culinary experience rooted in Basque tradition. Travellers have the chance to explore by rail on a historic rack railway climb to La Rhune in Basque Country and ride the Petit Train de Biarritz, for a unique way to experience the coastline.
• Wild Encounters of Borneo – Features a conversation and guided visit with Dr. Wong, Founder and CEO of the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre, offering guests the opportunity to discuss the vision and real-life stories behind the conservation work with Wong. On this itinerary, boat transfers and river cruises through Kinabatangan wetlands bring guests closer to wildlife and remote rainforest environments.
• Best of South Africa – Guests visit a traditional Swazi Chief’s village in Eswatini to connect with community members, sample local food and take part in a hands-on drumming class, an experience made possible by the intimacy of a small group. Travellers on this itinerary access remote wildlife, landscapes and local communities with enhanced transportation options, including safari vehicles, boat cruises, cable cars and 4x4 vehicles.

Small Group Tours are not a reinvention of what Trafalgar does best in touring. They are an addition that gives advisors more options to match more travellers to the right Trafalgar experience. Trafalgar Small Group Tours are designed to preserve the trusted elements advisors and guests know from Trafalgar, including expert Travel Directors, Be My Guest experiences, MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experiences and consistent service standards, while introducing a smaller group format built around deeper local connection and more flexible movement through each destination. Customer research shows that small group travellers are generally more sustainability-minded when choosing a travel company, making Trafalgar’s MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experiences a compelling part of introducing Small Group Tours to travellers.

Travel advisors can learn more about Trafalgar Small Group Tours and explore available itineraries on TAP at agents.ttc.com.