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Last Updated 21st August 2026
Maybe it’s just because my brain can feel like a constant stream of noise at the best of times, but I find group tours oddly peaceful. Everything’s organised. I don’t need to stress about getting from place A to B, or dread decision fatigue, or ever worry about feeling lonely. Group tours are the antidote to all of my most common travel anxieties.
Even though I’ve made the most beautiful memories from group tours, I always go through the same panicked spiral right before. Will I make friends? Have I done enough planning? Rinse, repeat.
If you’re considering a group tour or booked onto one, you may be asking yourself the same questions. Here’s everything I’ve learned over the years of doing group tours as a chronic overthinker.
I’d describe myself as an extroverted introvert. Too much socialising, and I can feel my batteries depleting in real time, which in turn makes me self-conscious. Too little, and my brain starts generating the slideshow of my most embarrassing moments until I start feeling as if I’m the most awkward human alive.
I was 21 when I travelled to Italy on my first group tour. My motive was a mixed bag: wanting a holiday, daydreaming about Italy since forever, and not really having anyone to go with.
Sure, there were definitely days where I felt tired, but that’s a 10% reality of my trip. What I do remember are all the fun little conversations, unexpected joys, and almost tearing up when we first drove into Florence (I’m a water sign, okay, leave me alone).
Most of all, I was just so grateful for taking that leap. I know it sounds dramatic, but I was kind of terrified before I got there. Then it turned out to be just fine. Better than fine.
They say don’t compare your reality to someone else’s highlight reel, and I really feel the same goes for travel.
Sometimes you just have one of those days. You know, where you’re a bit more low-energy, or you’d rather skip that activity, or you’re secretly craving baked beans on toast.
It happens. So instead of seeing it as a flaw, or worse, like you’re wasting your time abroad, embrace it. Saying no to one thing could open you up to something else that’s more your style.
To give you an example: the three weeks I spent in South Korea were genuinely some of the best of my life. Yet one night, I just wasn’t feeling up for the food market and went shopping for K-skincare at the nearest Olive Young store instead. Two girls on my tour joined me, and we ended up having a great time!
Because I listened to my body, I felt so much better the next day. Giving yourself permission to occasionally say no will make a huge difference.
Never say never, buuut I can’t see Ibiza on the cards for my future travels. If you love nightlife and hot weather, you’ll be thriving. That ain’t me.
Take me somewhere like Iceland (the country, preferably) and I’ll be the one who’s thriving. Glacier treks, chasing waterfalls and Midnight Sun? Ahhh.
Not every destination or travel style is going to be super compatible with your personality. And whilst it’s awesome to be adventurous and venture far outside your comfort zone, it’s also okay to just… enjoy the things you like. You’re also *way* more likely to meet your kind of people that way.
Don’t get me wrong. I have a long list of countries I’d love to visit someday. Then there are the countries I’d literally hop on the earliest flight tomorrow if I could. That’s what I mean.
You’ve decided where to go. Now comes the most exciting part: choosing how you want to experience it.
Every tour is built differently. Budget, group sizes, accommodation, meals included, the balance of free time versus included activities, and more. In other words, all the little details that make a tour even more compatible with your personality.
Two things I always appreciate on a tour are A) included breakfasts, because late-morning hanger sucks. B) when the accommodation is one of the highlights. Not dealbreakers, yet definitely things that tip a tour over from like to love. Hey, sometimes it pays to be picky.
Want personalised recommendations? Take advantage of our Free Travel Advice. Yep, free! You can chat with a real person who actually knows what it’s like, and ask them for any tips or recommendations. WhatsApp, Live Chat, video call, in person, or a phone call (if you’re not afraid of those like I am).
When I travelled to Costa Rica (my first time outside of Europe) at 23, all those nerves hit me at once. It took me a while to come out of my shell. How I felt by the end of my trip was a huge growth from the start.
And okay, I didn’t do a 180 and sign myself up for extreme ziplining. I didn’t have to. Because in my experience, group tours attract a fun mix of personalities. Some people are more outgoing, others are more shy, and it all just clicks.
It’s okay if group tours aren’t for you… although if you’ve read this far, I reckon it’s worth at least finding out.
Travelling doesn’t have to wait until you’re this idealised version of yourself without any fear or anxieties. Who you want to be is on the other side of saying yes, and I promise you, speaking as someone who has felt all those overwhelming feelings, you can do it.
Sure, you may never feel fully ready. The good news is you don’t have to be. Start exploring our top picks for First-Time Travellers, or reach out to one of our friendly travel experts.
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