Forget the guidebooks and self-made itineraries. The Guided adventure are back in style, offering a deeper experience with local experts and a curated selection of trips.
A recent survey revealed that younger generations, particularly Millennials (42%) and Gen Z (40%), are leading the charge, with a significant majority booking guided tours in the past year and planning future adventures.
Millennial (81%) and Gen Z (80%) travelers are also most likely to book a guided tour in the next year. From cycling in Spain and Utah to hiking in New Zealand and Italy,
From hiking in New Zealand to cycling in Spain, there’s a guided adventure for every traveler, regardless of age or preferred activity level. So ditch the stress of planning and embrace the knowledge and camaraderie of a guided adventure.
Check out 12guided tours for travelers of any generation:
1. New Zealand Guided Hiking
Explore New Zealand’s North and South Islands on foot on a new 15-day small-group tour from Adventure Life. Watch for glow worms in Waitomo’s caves, experience Māori culture and geothermal wonders in Rotorua, trek the Tongariro Alpine Crossing, enjoy the golden beaches and native forest of the Abel Tasman Coast Track, take in the glacial landscape of the Southern Alps and spot marine wildlife in Milford Sound.
2. Girona Road and Gravel Riding
Join The Cycling House on a Girona seven-day tour of world-class roads or less-traveled gravel paths surrounding the beautiful walled city of Girona, Spain. Girona has become a cycling mecca thanks to the many professionals who call it home between grand tours, and gravel riding there has grown tremendously in recent years, with miles of dirt roads ready to be explored. Enjoy cycling routes along the rugged Costa Brava, through farmlands and vineyards, and into the foothills of the Pyrenees, as well as accommodations in a large villa, chef-prepared meals with authentic Spanish ingredients and a few favorite local restaurants.
3. Cruising Ancient Turkey
Travel along the coast of ancient Caria and Ionia aboard a traditional gulet and visit some of Turkey’s most important and more intimate archaeological sites on Peter Sommer Travels’ eight-day Cruising to Ephesus tour. Led by an expert guide, explore the remains of the port town of Iasos, the mountaintop sanctuary of Zeus at Labraunda, the vast ruins of Miletus, the huge Temple of Apollo at Didyma and the beautifully wooded Priene. The highlight of the tour is the magnificent Ephesus, with its monumental squares, marble roads, 25,000-seat theater, impressive Library of Celsus and remarkable Terrace Houses.
4. Historic Arizona Ranch Stay
Located north of Phoenix, the Kay El Bar Guest Ranch is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and has been hosting travelers for more than 100 years. Explore the cactus forests, slot canyons, sandy washes and rocky ridges of the Sonoran Desert and the Hassayampa River on a guided horseback ride or UTV tour, try cattle work, sport shooting or archery, or go for a hike, then unwind with a swim in the pool or a cold drink in the adobe lodge.
5. Guided Big Sky Wonders
In Big Sky, Montana, use The Wilson Hotel as a basecamp for a variety of adventures outside the northwest corner of Yellowstone National Park. When they aren’t hiking, mountain biking or skiing, guests can arrange guided tours of Yellowstone National Park’s natural wonders and wildlife in summer and winter, go fly fishing or rafting on the clear waters of the Gallatin River, or experience the thrill of dog sledding or snowmobiling.
6. Alaska Northern Lights Adventure
On Gondwana Ecotours’ eight-day Alaska Northern Lights Adventure, guests will get a dose of local culture by day, then photograph the aurora borealis at night. Highlights of the tour include dogsledding through snowy forests, taking curling lessons from locals, enjoying a meal with homesteaders, soaking in a geothermal hot spring, learning how to photograph the aurora borealis, snowshoeing on private land, having tea with a family of reindeer herders and more.
7. Luxury RV and Bicycle Tours
Escape Adventures is thrilled to announce a new partnership with Blacksford Luxury RV Rentals to offer multi-day guided cycling tours by luxury RV. Using Blacksford RVs on a new selection of road and mountain biking tours, Escape Adventures will be the only travel operator to offer this elevated experience that perfectly blends the comforts of home with the thrills of active travel. The first itineraries being offered are six-day multi-sport trips in Canyonlands and Arches national parks and Moab, Utah, by road or mountain bike. Thrill seekers lacking outdoor experience or family groups will find this tour a perfect mix of adventure and tempo.
8. Play Cowboy in Big Horn Mountains
Ranchlands is excited to formally open the 80,000-acre Paintrock Canyon Ranch in the Bighorn Mountains of northern Wyoming. Guests will immerse themselves in ranch life, explore the surrounding areas on horseback, fly fish, hike and experience the natural world in this unique landscape. Accommodations are designed for guests to be as close to nature as possible, but with all the comforts of home. Large safari-style tents are stylishly furnished with full-size beds, bedside tables, dressers and chairs. And meals are prepared by a private chef and incorporate Ranchlands beef, local produce and dairy whenever possible.
9. Amazon and Galapagos Getaway
This adventurous 11-day journey combines two of Ecuador’s most iconic and wildlife-rich regions, the incredible Galapagos Islands and Amazon Rainforest. Scalesia Galapagos Lodge and Finch Bay Hotel will provide a comfortable base for the guided Galapagos Islands tour, with guests exploring Isabela and Santa Cruz islands and taking a yacht to other nearby islands. Guests will then visit Ecuador’s Amazon Rainforest from the comfortable Sacha Lodge, going into the jungle on guided tours to discover colorful birds, fascinating reptiles, many species of monkeys and a variety of other wildlife.
10. Rafting Montana
Looking for exciting Yellowstone whitewater rafting, breathtaking Montana scenery and awesome river rafting guides? Choose from a half-day whitewater trip, full-day whitewater trip, scenic float or overnight Montana whitewater trip for thrilling and exhilarating rafting adventures. Flying Pig Adventures’ river experts ensure each trip is safe and enjoyable for all ages and experience levels.
11. Trekking Amalfi and Capri
Experience the pure magic of Italy’s Amalfi Coast and the enchanting nearby island of Capri on this seven-day hiking tour offered by Tourissimo. The fragrant lemon groves and vibrant flowers, the gentle breeze of the Mediterranean Sea, the verdant woods, and the picturesque towns perched on cliff slopes will captivate guests, much like the Sirens’ song that lured Ulysses’ sailors in Homer’s “Odyssey.”
12. Jackson Hole Glamping
Wyoming’s Fireside Resort offers 25 pint-sized, luxuriously outfitted tiny house rental units designed by Wheelhaus a short distance from Grand Teton National Park and Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, making it the perfect place to post up for a spring getaway. Snowshoe across Grand Teton National Park, enjoy a snowmobile tour with Scenic Safaris, or sit back and relax around a cozy fireplace.
13. Bonus Trip: Grave Cycling Tour in Arizona’s Chiricahua Mountains
Ride among the fascinating geology and incredible biodiversity of the Chiricahua Mountains – the largest Sky Island range—on The Cycling House’s new Arizona Chiricahua gravel cycling tour.
Using a private resort as a base, explore gravel routes from the pinnacles, spires, and balanced rocks of Chiricahua National Monument to the Mexico border. The five-day tour starts at $2,945 per person based on double occupancy with departures available in March and April 2025.
“After searching far and wide for a new destination, we discovered the magical Chiricahua Mountains,” said Owen Gue, Owner of The Cycling House. “This unique area is unforgettable for many reasons, but the beautiful ribbons of gravel that traverse the range are the main draw for us. If you love gravel riding, this trip is for you.”
Guests will fly into Tucson, Arizona, then shuttle to Rodeo, New Mexico, and get settled into the Painted Pony Resort. Rides are mainly in Arizona and range from 20 to 65 miles with shorter and longer options available on some days.
Highlights include an introductory ride to the Chiricahua Mountains; riding through the foothills to the ghost town of Paradise, then climbing into the impressive mountains around Silver Peak and two fun out-and-backs; an epic out-and-back with a challenging climb to nearly 8,000 feet and a spectacular paved section among Chiricahua National Monument’s pinnacles, spires and balanced rocks; and riding along the southern edge of the Chiricahuas, climbing toward Limestone Mountain, continuing through Leslie Canyon National Wildlife Refuge and finishing on the Mexico border.
Back at the resort, guests will enjoy the opportunity for yoga on the patio, a pool and hot tub to swim and soak in, nightly skills discussions over appetizers and delicious chef-prepared meals using locally sourced ingredients.
The tour includes airport transfers, accommodations, meals, bike build and breakdown, professional guides, van support, ride nutrition and high-quality ride photos.
Final Words on Guided Adventure Tours
Forget the guidebooks and self-made itineraries! Guided tours are back in style, offering a deeper experience with local experts and a curated selection of adventures. From New Zealand hikes to Montana whitewater rafting, there’s a guided tour for every traveler, regardless of age or preferred activity level. So ditch the stress of planning and embrace the knowledge and camaraderie of a guided adventure.