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Hello,

Much has been said about what it’s like to go on a private tour as a guest, but have you ever wondered what a private tour is like from the guide’s perspective?

The joys of taking a private tour are obvious. You have the undivided attention of your guide. You can tweak your itinerary on a whim. And your questions are given as much airtime as you choose. Not to mention how much easier it is to get off the beaten path and slip behind the scenes when there are just a few of you.

But those very things that make a private tour such a wonderful experience for you can also be the hardest things for your tour guide to provide. Our latest article considers the challenges faced by private tour guides and how they deal with them. It turns out that the best tour guides relish the challenge! It’s a fascinating insight into the world of tour guiding.

After spending so much time talking about what makes a great private tour guide, we thought it only fair to turn the tables and ask our Tour Leaders what qualities they think make a great tour guest. Here’s what they had to say: 

•    “Anybody with a sense of adventure or a sense of humour! You put those two things together, and I could pretty much travel the world with someone.” – Alex Hare, Tour Leader and Photographer

•    “A guest that has done a bit of research into where they are going. Then I can focus on the unusual rather than generic information.” – Seren Welch, Tour Leader

•    “The best guests are interested to learn and also share their own knowledge and experience. It also helps if they don’t mind getting a bit wet if it rains!” – Jonathan Evans, Tour Leader

Adventurous, curious, generous, a sense of humour, and a touch of stoicism! If that sounds like you and you’re considering a private or custom tour, get in touch via the form (scroll to bottom of page). 

We hope to see you on one of our upcoming small-group tours soon.

Rob

Rob Knipe
Chairman, Emeritus Professor and Tour Guide

P.S. Confused about the difference between a private tour and a custom tour? A private tour is a pre-existing small-group itinerary arranged for a group of friends or family (or even just one person). A custom tour is a completely new itinerary planned for you. 

What really goes through the mind of your private tour guide?

From making it possible to hold a human skeleton to planning last-minute dawn walks, the things that private tour guides manage to arrange for us are rather incredible. But how do tour guides really feel about leading private tours? After all, leading a private tour is a very different experience to leading a group tour. We spoke to three experienced guides to find out...

5 Curious Things for Inquisitive Travellers

📻 It was a pleasure to talk on Travel Itch Radio last week. Host Dan Schlossberg asked us what makes GeoCultura's tours so special - "those OMG moments"! - and we got into the nitty-gritty of our Ireland tours, Darwin in Wales tour, and what sets our tour guides apart. If you have any questions about GeoCultura, this 15-minute interview should answer them! (Via YouTube.)

😊 Who’s happy, who’s not? The top of the list of the happiest countries in the world stays the same for 2024 (anyone else considering a move to Finland?), but there are a few surprising changes towards the bottom of the top 20. (Via CN Traveler.)

⛪ One hundred and forty-four years after it was started, Barcelona’s Sagrada Familia is set to be completed. The completion, in 2026, of the world’s most famous unfinished building will coincide with the centenary of the death of the basilica’s creator, Antoni Gaudi, who’s buried in the crypt. (Via Sky News.)

🐚  A hasty office cleanout in the 1980s nearly saw the end of a precious collection of shells from Captain Cook’s final voyage. Fortunately they were rescued from the skip (dumpster, for our US readers) in Newcastle, northeast England, and are now going on display. Let’s hear it for the hoarders [clap emoji] (Via Smithsonian Magazine.)

🤔 If you enjoyed this about how Edward Abbey’s Desert Solitaire can help you get even more out of your Utah tour, you might be interested in this piece about the ethics of naming a Utah development project after Abbey. After all, he was profoundly anti-development. (Via Outside.)
 

Thank you to everyone who has travelled with us so far. If you're considering a tour with us, read these testimonials from travellers like you, or get in touch directly.

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