Small Group Tours
Are you a “traveler” rather than a “tourist”? Prefer experiences over sightseeing?
Join one of our curated small group tours, rich in local culture, customs and natural surroundings, always with a bit of adventure.
The perfect blend of planned activities and independent time with a great group of like minded travelers.
You will bring back memories to last a lifetime!
2024 Tours – Come Travel With Me
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Come Travel With Me!
I Will Host These Tours
Departures will be guaranteed once we reach the required number of travelers (15 maximum)
All pricing is based on double occupancy. I will match same gender roommates for solo travelers.
Pricing does not include airfare or gratuities unless noted. Some pricing is approximated until full tour details can be finalized.
Northern Lights Adventure in Norway
March 15-21, 2024
Starting price double occupancy: $1979 per person
Starting price solo occupancy: $3464
Visit a range of coastal communities, including charming cities, towns, and villages. Cross the Arctic Circle for an Arctic tour of Norway and hunt for the Northern Lights. Add more adventure to your voyage by choosing between up to six optional hikes and from up to 50 optional seasonal excursions.
Your voyage starts in Bergen, Norway’s second-largest city and a gateway to the fjords. Founded in 1070 A.D., Bergen boasts architecture influenced by the prosperous 14th-century German trading organization, the Hanseatic League. Visit the UNESCO-listed wharfs in the colorful Bryggen district, now a neighborhood with artisan’s shops, complete with cobblestone streets.
Your voyage ends in Kirkenes, just a few miles from the Russian border. You’ll have traveled farther east than St. Petersburg and Istanbul! Hopefully you will have gazed many times at the magnificant Northern Lights.
England's Lake District
June 21 – 29, 2024
$4678 (includes flight)
From Peter Rabbit to Castles and Lakes, this district of England is overflowing with magnificent gardens for us to explore!
Along with our usual private home owner gardens (specifics to follow), we will visit Hill Top Gardens, Beatrix Potter’s farmhouse retreat, Rydal Gardens inspiring Wordsworth’s poem, “An Evening Walk.” The Royal Horticultural Society’s 2022 finalist, Holehird Gardens among others.
Our tour will be interspersed with activities like walking the hills around the lakes, taking a boat cruise on the lake, shopping in the villages, and more.
Our tours always include flights (unless you opt out) breakfast and dinner each day, all ground transportation, accommodations, and admissions.
Your hosts are Layanee DeMerchant, horticultural expert and Lorraine Whittemore, travel planner. Together we design unique and custom garden tours.
Alaska Cruise Vancouver to Anchorage
September 7 through 14, 2024
Balcony $2030 per person, double occupancy (other cabin types available). Solo rate is $3809.
Join me on Princess cruise line to explore Alaska! Royal Princess, one of the top cruise choices for Alaska. We will sail from Vancouver to Anchorage, stopping at major ports, including cruising Glacier Bay. Pricing depends on cabin type. A balcony cabin will range $2030 per person. You can opt to add the *PLUS Package – beverages, wifi, gratuities, etc.,
In Design Stage, More to Come - Discover India's Magical Wonders
Proposed month, October 2025
$3000, 15 Days
Delve into northern India’s cultural riches on an unforgettable journey from Delhi to Varanasi, Agra to Jaipur, and beyond. Discover the world’s most magnificent monument to love, the Taj Mahal; learn about the spiritual significance of the Ganges River with a local scholar; and gain insights into rural life in a quaint Rajasthani village. Get a glimpse of a rarely seen side of Delhi alongside a youth guide from a supported project, and immerse yourself in the culinary heritage of Lucknow on a food tour.
Delhi, Varanasi, Lucknow, Agra, Ranthambore NP, Udaipur, Dungriya Khurd Village, Jaipur
Small Group Tours
Custom designed tours for small groups of like minded couples, solos, and travel buddies.
These tours are scheduled for specific dates. Departures are guaranteed.
A local in destination tour guide will host throughout the tour.
All pricing is based on double occupancy. You will be matched to a same gender roommate. Solo supplements may be required for solo rooms.
Pricing does not include airfare or gratuities, unless noted. Some pricing is approximated until full tour details can be finalized.
Safari in Tanzania
February 15-24, 2024
SOLD OUT, please consider our July trip or our 2025 February trip
$4800, 10 days
February is prime viewing season for wildlife, especially cats! And many babies will be adventuring out and about.
View amazing wildlife across 5 National Parks in Tanzania. Each park brings different animals, landscapes and even weather.
Stop at Olduvai Gorge, a fascinating archeological museum where the remains of the earliest human beings were discovered. Stay in hotels and luxury tented camps.
9 Days/8 Nights - Stresa, Como, Verona and Venice - Northern Italy
May 11-19, 2024
$4475.00
Enjoy breathtaking natural landscapes in the North of Italy. You will start from Stresa and visit the magnificent Isole Borromee on Lake Maggiore. Then, you will take the panorama train “Treno Panoramico Centovalli” to reach the beautiful Locarno, in Switzerland, and you will continue to Como. Enjoy a boat cruise to Bellagio and back. The next morning, on your way to Verona, you will hop off and take a tour to discover Milan’s best authentic places, along with a tram tour and a walking tour of the city center. Then, it’s time for Veneto: Verona and Lake Garda, and Venezia, the pearl of this region, await you. Take a walk between the beautiful canals and discover a unique artisanal experience in Murano, the homeland of the finest Italian glass. Relax in a charming hotel located right on the island.
Celtic Delights, Ireland!
June 19-26, 2024
$2659.00
Delight in all that is delivered on this special 7-night tour of Ireland, which features a wonderful 2-night stay at a castle! This is the perfect tour for those that want the best of Ireland. Enjoy scenic beauty, historic sights and a relaxed but refreshing itinerary that delivers.
Arigna Mining Experience, Cliffs of Moher, Cobh, House of Waterford, Guinness Brewery Storehouse, and the new Epic Museum in Dublin, Ring of Kerry are on the list for experiences.
Visit Sligo, Adare, Killarney, Blarney, Cobh, Waterford, and Dublin
Croatian Coastline With Slovenia
July 21 – 31, 2024
$4049
When you stroll through Croatia’s leafy towns, enjoy a walk in a national park, and marvel at its sparkling emerald lakes, it’s easy to see why other countries are green with envy. With its glorious coastal cities, ancient Roman ruins, magnificent medieval architecture, and stunning natural wonders, Croatia has it all. On this Undiscovered Tour of Croatia, you will see what European vacationers have long tried to keep secret from the rest of the world—impressive caves and castles, spectacular waterfalls, and walled cities, picture-perfect shorelines, and famous film locations. Game of Thrones fans will recognize Old Town Dubrovnik as the medieval setting for the fictional city of King’s Landing, yet at the end of this dramatic vacation to Croatia, you’ll be perfectly happy with the start-to-finish storyline.
7 Night Idyllic Aegean, Greek Islands Cruise
PRICE DROP
September 7-14, 2024
$1885, $2355 (depending on cabin selected) per person based on double occupancy, 7 nights. Call for single supplement.
Discover the rich history, fascinating culture and sumptuous cuisine of the unforgettable Greek islands. With rugged landscapes to explore, our 7-night experience invites you to indulge in traditional flavors, admire stunning landscapes and delve deeper into charming villages . We even give you a unique chance to take guided visits to the grand Palace of Knossos and the intriguing city of Ephesus, one of the best-preserved archaeological sites in the Mediterranean.
Our extra special tour takes you on a romantic and effortless odyssey to sun-soaked shores, quaint fishing villages, and iconic historical sites. With overnight stops on Santorini and Mykonos.
Ports: Athens, Mykonos, Kusadasi, Thessaloniki, Milos, Santorini, Heroklion
Cabin, port charges, gratuities, full board, premium drink package, $160 per person shore excursion discount, 1 hour wifi per day, 25% discount on specialty dining, entertainment and on board activities.
2024 Tours – Working on these – more to come soon!
Safari in Tanzania
February 17 – 26, 2025
$4900, 10 days (solo $5300)
February is prime viewing season for wildlife, especially Wildebeest babies being born and cats! Many babies will be adventuring out and about.
View amazing wildlife across 5 National Parks in Tanzania. Each park brings different animals, landscapes and even weather.
Stop at Olduvai Gorge, a fascinating archeological museum where the remains of the earliest human beings were discovered. Stay in hotels and luxury tented camps.
Escape to Egypt
Proposed month April 2025
$2800 (est.), 10 days
Step into the magical land of Egypt with this custom designed tour. Beginning in Cairo with the Great Pyramids and the Magical Sphinx, then traveling down the Nile on a 4-night Egyptian river boat cruise. We will explore Luxor, The Valley of the Kings, and much more along the way. Stopping along the way at the magnificent Abu Simbel, exploring Ramses II temple and the one he built for his wife Nefertari, you won’t believe the size and the impressive story of how the temples had to be moved due to flooding. On to Aswan, with more ancient sights and experiences. We end in Cairo at the Egyptian Museum and the exciting and busy Khan El Kahilili Bazaar.
Christmas Markets, Berlin to Vienna
Proposed month, December
$1850 7 days
Europe is filled with timeless cities — but there is one time of year where some of them really twinkle, sparkle, and shine: the holidays. On this seven-day adventure, you’ll tour the historic Christmas markets of not one but five different destinations. You’ll sip some warm Glühwein as you wander through Gendarmenmarkt square in Berlin, travel by train to Nuremberg, search for handmade ornaments in Munich, visit local Christmas markets just outside of Salzburg, and get into the festive cheer while you walk through the Viennese Christmas markets. So dig out your best scarves and start practicing your Yuletide carols, because no one does Christmas quite like Europe.
Discover Patagonia
Proposed month February 2025
$7000 (est.) 14 days
Amid the pristine landscapes of southern Argentina and Chile, snowcapped volcanoes and sparkling lakes set the backdrop for an exhilarating adventure. Experience Patagonia’s rugged natural beauty by foot, boat, and private vehicle, journeying from the idyllic town of Bariloche to Torres del Paine National Park, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. Come face-to-face with the Perito Moreno Glacier, part of the world’s third largest ice cap; visit a penguin rookery in the Beagle Channel, looking out for seabirds and sea lions; and round off your trip with a tango lesson in bustling Buenos Aires.
How I choose suppliers to partner with…
I have some specific criteria for selecting the suppliers I partner with to offer tours to my valued clients.
- They must use local guides and suppliers.
- They must make sustainable travel a priority. For example, the GAdventure Ripple Score.
- Activities must be hands on, off the beaten path, and soft adventure (no athletics required).
- A good mix of down time and experience time.
- They work with travel advisors and value our expertise, loving care of our clients and mutual support.
- Pricing enables a good 4 star experience without breaking the bank for my clients.
- Solo travelers are supported with no or low single supplements.
- Groups are small, under 16 people.
You will note, I use GAdventures for many of my tours. They meet all of the above criteria. G has a great cancellation policy (offering you a chance to use your deposit if you must cancel a trip anytime during your lifetime and you can even choose to transfer it to another person). G offers a loyalty program once you travel on one of their trips. I do appreciate your booking your GAdventures tours through me. There is no difference in pricing and I will help you match your interests to the best tour and ensure all of your details are in order.
Schedule a Complimentary Travel Planning Session now by using my online scheduler to find a time that’s convenient for you.
Don’t Miss A Beat!