Ways to travel
Small-group adventures
A good small group gives you company on the trail and at the table, and a local leader who helps you find what you might miss on your own.
Photo: Paul Krüger / Unsplash
Some journeys are better shared. Walking towards Machu Picchu with a handful of others, sharing a tagine in a Berber guesthouse in the Atlas Mountains or swapping stories round a fire at the end of the day — a small group can make an unfamiliar place easier to step into, and more fun once you're there. For many solo travellers it's the most natural way to go: you travel on your own terms, but never feel alone unless you want to.
What makes the difference is design. A well-planned group itinerary balances time together with time to yourself, keeps the group small enough to stay in family-run guesthouses and eat where locals eat, and relies on a good local leader who knows the place and its people. We'll help you find a small-group journey that suits the way you like to travel — or shape a private one for you and a few friends.
First, we listen. Then, we explore what's possible.
How we approach it
- 01
The right group for you
We start by asking how you like to travel — your pace, the comfort you'd expect, how much time on your own you'd want — and help you judge whether a particular group journey will suit you.
- 02
Design that leaves room
A good group itinerary has free afternoons, optional activities and time to wander off on your own — not every hour needs to be spent together.
- 03
Local leaders matter
The person leading the group shapes much of the experience. We look for journeys led by people who know their region well and treat its communities with respect.
Ideas for a journey
Illustrative ideas, not bookable products.
- 01
An active Balkan journey
Hiking in the Albanian Alps, kayaking Lake Koman and evenings in the old lanes of Berat and Kotor — an adventure shared with a handful of like-minded travellers.
- 02
Vietnam from north to south
From Hanoi's street-food stalls to the lantern-lit lanes of Hoi An, travelling by sleeper train and sharing the discoveries with your group.
- 03
A private trip with friends
Six friends, a villa in the Algarve hills and days divided between coastal walks on the Rota Vicentina and long lunches in village taverns.
- 04
Exploring South America
From Cusco and the Sacred Valley to Lake Titicaca and Bolivia's salt flats — a longer journey through the Andes, sharing the road with a group and an experienced local leader.
Destinations to consider
Inspiration only — we plan journeys worldwide.
Albania
Coast · Mountains · Discovery
The Albanian Riviera, UNESCO-listed Berat and Gjirokastër, the ruins of Butrint and hiking in the Albanian Alps.
Vietnam
Food · Landscapes · Culture
Hanoi's streets, the karsts of Ha Long and Ninh Binh, Hoi An's old town and the lively Mekong Delta.
Peru
Trekking · Culture · Discovery
Cusco and the Sacred Valley, the routes to Machu Picchu, Lake Titicaca, the Amazon and Lima's kitchens.
Nepal
Trekking · Mountains · Culture
The cities of the Kathmandu Valley, treks for many fitness levels, Pokhara's lake and rhinos in the jungles of Chitwan.
Morocco
Culture · Desert · Cuisine
The medinas of Marrakech and Fes, Berber villages in the Atlas, a night in the Sahara and the windswept coast at Essaouira.
Iceland
Nature · Glaciers · Light
Waterfalls and black-sand shores, glacier lagoons, the coloured mountains of the Highlands, bright summer nights and, in winter, the chance of the northern lights.
Georgia
Mountains · Wine · Hospitality
Tbilisi's old town and sulphur baths, the vineyards of Kakheti, the mountains of Kazbegi, Svaneti and Tusheti — a country where the hike and the feast go hand in hand.
Montenegro
Mountains · Canyons · Hiking
Durmitor's lakes and the Tara Canyon, the old-growth forest of Biogradska Gora, the water lilies of Lake Skadar, Cetinje and Lovćen, and finally the Bay of Kotor: a small country where the mountains come first.
Sample journey
More journey inspiration
9–11 days
Albania on foot, by ferry and along the coast
Lake Koman, Valbona and Theth, Berat, Gjirokastër and the Ionian coast
Small-group adventures · Adventure & active travel
8–10 days
Valley to valley through the Dolomites on foot
Cortina d’Ampezzo, the Tre Cime di Lavaredo, Alta Badia, Val Gardena, the Alpe di Siusi & Val di Funes
Adventure & active travel · Exceptional stays & escapes
11–13 days
To Machu Picchu on foot: the Inca Trail or Salkantay
Lima, Cusco, the Sacred Valley, four days on the Inca Trail or five over the Salkantay pass, and Machu Picchu
Adventure & active travel · Small-group adventures
11–13 days
On foot through old Japan: the Kumano Kodo and the Japanese Alps
Pilgrim trails on the Kii Peninsula, a temple night on Mount Koya, Takayama, Kamikochi and Matsumoto
Adventure & active travel · Culture & discovery
14–18 days
Peru — Andean landscapes & cultural discovery
Lima, the Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu, Cusco & Lake Titicaca
Culture & discovery · Adventure & active travel
18–21 days
To the foot of Everest
Kathmandu, Namche Bazaar, Tengboche & the high Khumbu
Adventure & active travel · Small-group adventures
The Journal
Visit the JournalDestination guides
Walking in Slovenia: the Julian Alps, the Soča and how to plan it
Mountain huts, an emerald river and limestone peaks, barely an hour from the capital. Where to walk in Slovenia, when, and how to shape it so there's enough walking without too much.
5 min read
Destination guides
Montenegro for active travellers: Durmitor, canyons and trails across borders
Most people know Montenegro from the Bay of Kotor. Its heart, though, is in the mountains: the Durmitor plateau, the Tara canyon and the stark Prokletije, where trails lead on into Albania.
5 min read
Made to be combined
Combines well with
Small-group travel pairs naturally with adventure and culture, and you can always add a few days on your own at the end — somewhere quiet by the sea, perhaps.
All ways to travel
Plan your journey
Thinking about travelling with others? Tell us how you like to travel, and we'll help you find the right company and the right journey.
Your enquiry comes straight to labas@toliai.lt.