On an independent tour of the wine region of Mendoza, Argentina
There are so many things that make me happy about travelling, and so many things I love about fellow travellers. As I’ve mentioned before, years ago, there is one thing that I cannot stand, however: judgmental travellers. I’ve always believed that as long as people are being as environmentally, morally, and culturally responsible as possible, everyone should travel however he or she likes.
The kind of travelling I do means that I am very often in the presence of backpackers and long-term travellers. We’ve all heard some version of that overused phrase: I’m a traveller, not a tourist. We picture a traveller and we imagine someone who travels slowly and independently, someone who goes off the beaten path, who counts experiences and not countries. A tourist is that person who shuffles from one destination to the next, most likely part of a large tour, camera round his neck, white runners on his feet, and an inability to know how to be culturally sensitive (or when he’s getting ripped off).
On tour in Jaisalmer, India
By very definition the words traveller and tourist mean the same thing; it’s only the labels we’ve put upon these words that have the deeper meaning. As I’ve said before, however, I strongly maintain that I’m both. I’ve done the long, slow travel, hung out with the locals, lived places for a little while. I’ve also done my fair share of tours.
The trip I’m on at the moment is a good mix of the two, I believe. For the first five days I was solely in Cape Town, South Africa. I had many grand plans – too many, perhaps – and I of course could not fulfill very many of them. I ended up loving the hostel I stayed in, meeting lots of cool people, and deciding to just take it easy most of the time (this is, after all, a short holiday from my studies, as well as part of my birthday present to myself). While I walked around the city every day, went to the top of Table Mountain, and spent a full day on a wine tour, I probably missed out on a lot. As I’ve always felt, however, if I like a place, I’ll go back. This was simply an introduction to Cape Town.
On tour near Uyuni, Bolivia
The next week of the trip is going to be the complete opposite; it will be jam-packed, every hour planned. I will be joining a G Adventures tour through Botswana, so I’ll travel with them from the south of the country to the north, ending in Livingstone, Zambia. This isn’t my first time with G Adventures; I spent three weeks on an tour through India with them in 2011.
There are a few reasons why I decided to join tours in these situations. Firstly, as a solo female traveller, there are a few countries I feel more comfortable travelling around in a group. I personally wouldn’t feel comfortable renting a car in Botswana and trying to navigate all of the reserves on my own. Now that I’ve been to India, I know that I could fairly easily travel solo through it, but at the time I felt a bit nervous doing so. I ended up absolutely loving my three weeks on the tour and made many friends I’m still in contact with today.
On tour in the Thar Desert, India
Secondly, I have limited time to travel at the moment. With only a few weeks off of school, and with lots of work to do, I only had two weeks away. Joining a tour is, in many cases, the best way to see a lot of a place quickly and efficiently. I don’t always love to travel this rapidly, but in these circumstances, I was left with little alternatives.
Thirdly, it’s fun. I genuinely enjoy joining tour groups – for one day, or for a few weeks – because I always meet a lot of people and learn a lot more about a place than I might have on my own. My favourite day in South Africa, for example, was the day I spent on a wine tour with Wine Flies (and no, it wasn’t just because of the wine, though that certainly helped).
On tour with Wine Flies near Cape Town, South Africa
Once again, I think that we all have the right to travel the way we want to. I see nothing wrong with joining tours; independent travel isn’t always the most viable option, especially on a time limit. While I generally prefer independent travel, I can’t wait to see the things I get up to this week in Botswana while on tour.
On tour at Machu Picchu, Peru
What do you think? Are you a fan of tours? Have you ever taken one?
Both Wine Flies and the Backpack generously offered most of my time with them as complimentary; I will be writing articles about them soon as I was so impressed with them both. As always, though, I was willing to pay full price. G Adventures has not compensated me in any way.
15 comments
Agree with you 100% and have written on the tourist vs. traveller debate on my blog! I am quite frankly tired of the superior attitudes of travellers who believe they are better somehow because they do certain types of trips. And don’t even get me started on the tired “off the beaten path” phrase. Whether you trek through the Amazon solo or go on a cruise, travel is travel. It is highly personal!
At any rate, I have both travelled independently and with a tour and see the merits of both. A couple of years ago I did a Busabout tour through 5 countries in Northern Europe in 8 days — while it was hectic and faster than I would have liked to move, I recognised that it was a FABULOUS efficient, cost-effective, and hassle-free way to get from country to country.
Have a GREAT time on your trip — sad to have missed you in London! Hopefully I will catch up with you in the UK over the summer! xo
Ha ha – I know how you feel, Oneika, and I agree with you! That’s why I love your take on travelling.
I am so sad that we didn’t connect in London, but maybe this means we have to connect somewhere else in the world?? xx
I love your perspective and completely agree. I travel with my guy and we mix it up on every adventure. While we usually prefer a lazy vacation pace with lots of lounging around with locals, tours give you the opportunity to see and learn things you might often miss on your own. Not to mention, like you said, some countries it is more comfortable and a sufficient adventure to join the tour. We just spent four weeks in Europe and while most of it was self guided, tours gave us the opportunity to learn details and tips about our destination that we wouldn’t have gotten elsewhere. Traveler or tourist – I say be both!
Thank you so much, Maren! It sounds like we have really similar outlooks on travelling.
A very age old topic! I did my first ever tour in New Zealand. At the time I was going alone and was young, it was also my first trip overseas. With no one to go with and no idea what to expect I did a contiki tour. I hated every minute of it and regret ever going on tour. More so because I was stuck in a bus with people I didn’t get along with. So I swore of tours. I found it expensive and limited towards my experiences.
I then only ever did solo travel. I took a tour around Scotland for the isle of Skye and Hogmanay and whilst I had thoughts about being on a tour again, it worked out very cost effective at the time. I had a great time, met some fun people, and saw more then I would have having been on my own.
Im never completely against tours but there are some, I guess I personally would never take. I would have to agree that some countries (Spec as a solo female) you would feel more comfortable on tour. Guess it just comes down to the individual person and trip at the time.
I agree that it definitely comes down to the individual and the trip at the time. I personally would never swear off tours (there are a lot of really cool ones out there) but to each their own!
Whilst I travel by bicycle independently most of the time, I never hesitate to take a tour if it makes the best use of my time and money, and enables me to see something I might not otherwise get to.
I’ve gone full circle on the whole traveller/tourist debate…. Unless you actually live full time in another country you are a tourist, no matter what you think!
Agreed! Thanks a lot for your comment, Dave.
When I think about it, I’ve actually been very fortunate to typically be staying with people who lived in the countries I’ve visited. Sometimes they were locals and sometimes they were expats, but it’s always been incredible to witness a place through the eyes of those who live there (not to mention it made the trips much more affordable!).
Planning this trip to Italy coming up has been interesting because I don’t actually know anyone who lives in the country (except a hotelier who used to own a hostel I stayed at in Nicaragua). I plan on doing part tour, part independent travel. But the tour isn’t a move-from-place-to-place kind of tour — it’s a culinary tour! We’ll work with a local chef and explore a little bit of the region, but it’s 6 days in the same hotel, learning about the culture through its food. I’m crazy excited!
The only times I’ve ever found myself caring about how other people travel is if a) they’re being disrespectful/insensitive towards local customs/culture, or b) I’m trying to learn how they do it because I admire their panache. Otherwise? It’s fairly hypocritical for someone who claims to be a “traveler” — who claims to respect culture and experience — to be judgmental about how other people, each with their own culture, experiences, etc., make their way around the world. Is it not?
It’s so amazing to know someone there, or to hang out with locals! That is always the best. I’m sure your trip to Italy is going to be incredible, no matter what you plan (or don’t plan).
I totally agree with your last paragraph, very well said.
I mostly travel with my bf and I arrange everything for our trip. I wouldn’t mind going on a tour if it absolutely makes sense for us but we prefer to do things on our own and at our own pace.
If I am traveling solo then I might think about going on a tour depending on which country I would visit. If it’s Europe then probably not.
Yes, to each their own! I usually prefer to be on my own, too, but there are some countries I feel more comfortable being a part of a group.
I agree with you…sometimes when your time is limited, tours are best. Also, a good choice to join a group when you are a solo female traveller. It’s also great when you just want to leave it all up to someone else to plan( planning is hard work)!!!
Absolutely! I loved touring with G, so I would do it again. It was so fun and easy.
[…] on holiday with someone or a group. When I went to Botswana earlier this year for my 30th birthday, I joined a tour group; I didn’t want to face the challenges of solo travel through that country, nor did I want to […]