There are so many ways to travel and explore the world. From solo travel, to large group tours to small group adventures. Here at CulturallyOurs we love the people we meet and get to travel with during our small group guided tours. One of the things we routinely hear from our trip participants is how transformative, affordable, sociable and sustainable small group trips are for them.
This past weekend our second annual travel retreat kicked off in India. Our founder Karthika Gupta is leading a small group guided trip on a culture and adventure retreat through the Indian Himalayas. The group is traveling from Rishikesh (known as the yoga capital of the world), through Gwaldam (a small village in Uttarakhand) and finally ending the trip at Rajaji National Park to see some elephants in the wild.
We recently came across an article that talked about small group travel verses self-guided adventure and so much of what the article spoke about was so relevant for our India retreats. While there are multiple ways to travel, be it self-guided adventures, solo travel or even big group adventures, we find that small guided trips are some of the best way to experience a place, a people, a culture and a community.
If you ever through that small group trips are not for you, we encourage you to think again. There are multiple benefits of embarking on a small group guided adventure and we wanted to share some of them in case you are planning a trip or would like to join us along our India travel retreats for 2020.
1) Local knowhow that you can learn from
This is so true. Both Meeta Rao (the retreat co-host) and Karthika are from India. In fact Meeta lives in Uttarakhand many months of the year and is quite the local celebrity in her village because she is working with the local population on sustainability and helping the villagers look at their environment and home soil with a sense of pride. It is not everyday you get to look out of your window and see the majestic Himalayas in your backyard.
Both the trip leaders are extremely knowledgable about the culture, community, people, and history of the place and the region. Even the guides and trek leaders are local to the area and always willing to share subtle nuances and folk tales about the region.
2) Flexibility at a comfortable pace
If you have ever traveled on a large bus journey you know what we mean. Larger groups tend to follow a fixed schedule based on majority opinions on things to do and time for each activity. The schedule is followed no matter what – rain or shine. While it can be a good thing to maintain a schedule, lack of room to alter it does leave some people wanting out. There is not much room for any flexibility or last minute changes. And not to mention scheduled bathroom breaks are sometimes extremely inconvenient! 🙂
During our 2018 India travel retreat to Jaipur, one of the favorite activities was an impromptu night safari outside Ranthambore National Park. This was possible because the group was small and a jeep could be arranged last minute. The group also stopped at a local tea stall in a village market for an incredible experience of engaging with the locals. That chai was amazing.
3) Peace of mind every step of the way
There is an incredible sense of comfort and peace of mind when you travel in a group where the organizers are available and approachable. Because the group is small, individualized attention can be given – before, during and even after the trip should you have any questions or concerns. Tickets, visas, packing guidelines all questions acceptable and welcome because the tour leaders want to make sure everyone is taken care of.
Often when traveling independently, things may not go according to plan. While this might be exciting and adventurous for some, it does add some anxiety and stress especially when traveling to a very different place or culture than what you are used to. With small groups, that stress is eliminated. Hotels, transportation and activities are arranged with itineraries that engage with local life and showcase the very best of the country. And the best part is that with small groups tours, your tour leaders and fellow attendees share a similar passion for the place and the adventure just like you do.
4) Sustainable travel and smaller carbon footprint
More often than not, small group trips have a huge stake in the local community. So a large part of the trip is about giving back in some way or the other. For CulturallyOurs travel retreats we connect with local non-government organizations that operate in the areas we travel to. Sometime help is monetary and other times help is in terms of social outreach. Our attendees love this part of our trips because we get to meet with local change makers who are really making a different at the grass roots levels in the communities that we visit.
Smaller groups are also able to minimize the travel footprint by using smaller, locally owned operators, home stays as well as local restaurants thus providing economic benefits to the local communities we visit. The focus is on education, sustainability and authentic immersive experiences.
5) Size does matter
This one might be a little cheeky but when you are looking at investing in a once-in-a-lifetime trip, do your research. No matter who you choose and where you decide to travel, make sure the trip is all that YOU are comfortable with. Like anything in life – cheaper doesn’t always mean better. A guided tour can also connect you with other like minded travelers. Wouldn’t you rather make a few good friends as you travel verses share a big adventure with a group of strangers?
Large groups also tend to sometimes attract unwanted attention especially in places that are known as tourist hotspots for the local merchants. Prices tend to be much higher and often times large group tourists do face some harassment and discrimination. While it is not ideal and is unfortunate, it comes with the territory of going in a large group. Smaller guided groups on the other hand tend to blend in. The group guides are often known in the local community and they offer a sense of security to the group participants.
If you want to follow along the 2019 CulturallyOurs travel retreat to the Indian Himalayas, you can check out our Facebook page and Instagram account. You can even check out Karthika’s Instagram or Meeta Rao’s Instagram for behind the scenes of the trip.
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