g adventures tour reviews

G Adventures Review: My Honest Opinion

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G Adventures Review

Are you considering a tour with G Adventures ? Here’s my honest G Adventures review!

G Adventures is a group tour company that describes themselves as having a focus on “small group, sustainable, adventure travel.” They have been running tours for more than 30 years and currently offer tours on all seven continents.

I’m going to talk about my personal experience with G Adventures this year, as well as whether I recommend them to other travelers.

I did a 16-day Costa Rica Adventure tour with G Adventures and it was the first time I had ever done a group tour, and I wasn’t sure what to expect.

Here’s my honest review of my experience with G Adventures and whether I recommend them!

Who Are G Adventure Tours For?

First of all, let’s talk about the target audience for G Adventures.

G Adventures tours are a good option for a variety of travelers. As a whole, I would say they are more focused on adventure travel and more standard accommodations (not super budget or super luxury.)

However, they do offer different categories of tours, with some of them being tailored toward specific age groups, interests, or travel styles. The categories for tours are:

• Classic Tours 
• National Geographic Journeys
• 18-to-Thirtysomethings Tours
• Wellness Tours
• Active Tours
• Marine Tours

And a few more! You can see all their categories here on their website .

The Classic Tours is a great option for anyone. From what I gather, the National Geographic Journeys typically attract older travelers or families and are more luxurious, while the 18-to-thirtysomethings tours are obviously for a younger crowd and more basic.

If you have a specific interest, like wellness or outdoor activities, you can choose a tour that is more heavily focused on those aspects and incorporates them into the itinerary.

My G Adventures Cost Rica Tour Experience

I did the G Adventures 16-day Costa Rica Adventure tour in February 2021.

This was obviously an interesting time to be traveling because of the pandemic, and so there ended up only being me and one other girl on their tour (along with our guide!)

More on their COVID policies and cancellation policies further down!

I really enjoyed this experience because we basically had a private tour. Obviously, this isn’t the norm, and on a typical tour, you can expect to have 10-15 other travelers.

However, you can also book a private group tour with G Adventures (for example, if you just want it to be you and your family or a group of friends and no strangers.)

On this tour, we visited the following destinations:

• San Jose, Costa Rica (1 day)
• Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica (2 days)
• Tortuguero, Costa Rica (2 days)
• Sarapiqui, Costa Rica (2 days)
• La Fortuna, Costa Rica (3 days)
• Monteverde, Costa Rica (2 days)
• Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica (2 days)

We enjoyed adventurous activities like waterfall rappelling, ziplining, surf lessons, a catamaran cruise, nature walks, hiking to a waterfall, a jungle boat safari, and so much more.

Costa Rica is famous for its biodiversity, and we saw plenty of animals like monkeys, sloths, toucans, caimans, crocodiles, frogs, and more in the wild!

The Costa Rica Adventure tour is one of their Classic Tours.

Highlights of My Tour

Honestly, I enjoyed almost everything about my tour with G Adventures. The whole time I was on my tour, I was thinking of how glad I was that I did it!

Some of the main highlights for me were…

I thought the price for this tour ($1,600 when I went) was fair and worked out to about $100 per day. This included hotels, transportation, some activities, and some meals.

I did spend an extra $750 on food and activities that weren’t included in the tour.

Overall, I felt like this is the amount I would have spent even if I had traveled independently since Costa Rica is the most expensive country in Central America. It was well worth it not to have to worry about planning the logistics myself, which I normally have to do as a solo traveler .

Our guide (or CEO as G Adventures calls them) was great!

Having a local Costa Rican guide was really nice and helpful, and I felt like I experienced more of the country than I would have on my own. Our guide was also super fun and friendly and since we had such a small group it just felt like traveling with another friend!

Again, it was also nice to have someone who dealt with all the logistics and organization, meaning I didn’t have to worry about anything for the entire two weeks of the tour

The ease of the tour

Going off of what I said above, it was nice to be on a tour where I didn’t have to worry about planning or arranging anything myself. I had never done an organized tour like this before, but I would definitely do it again because it was such a fun, seamless experience.

If you don’t enjoy planning trips but want a vacation that’s more active and adventurous than just sitting in an all-inclusive resort somewhere, G Adventures tours are a great option.

As a solo traveler, I normally do ALL the planning for trips myself, and it can get exhausting. So one of the best parts of this tour was not having to worry about any of that.

Our itinerary

I felt like I really got to see the highlights of Costa Rica on this itinerary!

It was a mix of beaches, jungle, and mountains. We saw so much wildlife and got to do so many cool activities.

Although we only spent 2-3 days in each place, it felt like enough time and never felt rushed. I definitely would not change anything about the itinerary for this trip.

Lowlights of My Tour

Honestly, I only had one disappointment on my tour, and that was the accommodations.

When I booked my tour, I hadn’t done much research into the accommodations, but I knew I was booking the “Standard” service level (out of Basic, Standard, and Upgraded) and we would be staying in 3 star hotels described as “comfortable tourist-class accommodations” on this tour.

I’ve stayed at plenty of great 3-star hotels (and even 2-star hotels) around the world, but the quality of accommodation on my Costa Rica tour left me pretty disappointed.

Out of all seven places we stayed on this tour, I would not recommend a single one.

Some of the issues at our hotels included…

• Lack of amenities (no hand towels, washcloths, shampoo, or even soap…)
• No air conditioning in several places
• WiFi that barely worked or didn’t work at all
• Non-working appliances (lamps, etc.)
• Lizards, spiders, ant infestations, and other bugs…

I was just really unimpressed with the accommodations on this tour, and it would definitely make me hesitate to book a standard service-level tour with G Adventures again.

I would probably book an Upgraded service level tour instead or do extensive research on all of the accommodations first if I was going to do Standard.

Overall, while this was definitely the biggest drawback, I still highly enjoyed my tour. The accommodations on this particular tour might not even bother you, depending on how picky you are when it comes to where you stay. I’m definitely on the more picky side!

I also can’t speak for the hotels on any other G Adventures tour since this is the only one I’ve done.

G Adventures Cancellation Policy

G Adventures Book with Confidence policy allows you to cancel or reschedule your tour up to 45 days prior to departure. It’s a pretty flexible policy that makes it a no-brainer in terms of booking ahead.

And during the pandemic when travel plans and restrictions were constantly changing, G Adventures introduced a flexible cancellation policy that allowed you to cancel and rebook your tour up to 14 days prior to departure. This gave you maximum flexibility when booking a tour. It’s not so relevant now, but I appreciated this policy back then.

Would I Recommend G Adventures?

Yes, I would definitely recommend G Adventures.

Even though I was pretty disappointed with the accommodations on my tour, I overall still REALLY enjoyed the experience, and I’ll be reminiscing on this trip for a long time to come!

This trip was a major highlight of my months in Central America.

If you’re looking for a group tour option that’s not too expensive and is guaranteed to be an adventure, G Adventures is the perfect choice for you.

I hope you found these G Adventures review helpful!

Ready to book? Click here to explore all G Adventures tours!

Read Next:  The Perfect Two Week Costa Rica Itinerary

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About Denise Cruz

Denise is a marketing executive who escaped corporate to travel the world… twice. A Brazilian native living in the U.S., she’s lived in 4 countries and visited 35+ others. After side-hustling her way to financial independence, she curates solo destination guides, slow travel tips, and travel blogging advice on Wander Her Way. When she’s not on the road, you can find her in Miami with her dog Finnegan.

G Adventures: Is It Worth the Money? Our Honest Review

It's never easy to pick a group tour, especially when they're all saying the same things. Are they actually as great as they're saying they are? Find out what their tours feature, whats their pros and cons are, and how they compare to other tour companies.

Traveling solo is quite difficult when compared to traveling in a group with friends or family. You have to tackle everything from planning the trip to navigating your way to conversing in a foreign language with locals. This is where Pilot comes in handy to aid you in the trip planning process and allow you to focus on making meaningful experiences. However, planning a trip alone all by themselves is not for everyone.

This is why tour companies are a good choice for solo travelers who also have less experience! They can help you optimize your travel experience better. But, as you might know already, there’s an endless list of options when it comes to tour companies. As if choosing from the endless possibilities of tour companies isn’t enough, the entire outcome of your trip depends on the tour company you choose.

Let us help you pick the right tour company for you. We’re here to review a popular adventure travel company, G Adventures.

G Adventures is a tour service that pledges to “Do the Right Thing” by offering travelers valuable experiences and supporting local communities at the same time. It is a company that supports ethical tourism, and we thought it is worth your attention.

If you're looking for more options, we've previously done reviews of similar tour companies like GetYourGuide so you might want to check that out as well!

Is G Adventures a good tour company? Read our review to find out!

What is G Adventures?

G Adventures , formerly known as Gap Adventures, was founded by Bruce Poon Tip in 1990. It is an adventure travel company that carries out guided tours in small groups of up to 16 people. They offer itineraries to destinations around the world, mostly with local tour guides to assist travelers. 

Since its inception, G Adventures tour has earned fame as a tour operator that offers unique and off-the-beaten-path experiences for travelers, with a focus on sustainability and responsible travel.

Who uses G Adventures?

G Adventures tour caters to travelers aged 18 and above. Its main client base consists of young to middle-aged travelers, and some tours are restricted to independent travelers between 18-39 years. However, there are packages for older travelers and families as well. 

G Adventure tours are mainly focused on adventure travel aspects, but they do provide other types of travel tours. They offer a standard tour service which is neither budget-friendly nor luxurious but somewhere in between. G Adventures is ideal if you need the support of a reliable tour company but with ample flexibility to do your own thing!

What does a G Adventures tour include?

Every trip has a Chief Experience Officer (CEO), otherwise known as a tour guide, to assist the group throughout the trip. They are mostly locals, although some can be expats with good knowledge about the destination.  

G Adventures will take care of accommodation, transportation (within the destination), some meals (mostly breakfast), and the costs of entrance tickets for attractions and other major experiences included in the itinerary. 

What’s not included in the pricing are visas, airfare (unless you book via them), border crossing fees, meals, additional activities, and tips. So, it's necessary to bring extra cash.

What are the types of tours offered by G Adventures?

G Adventures offers a long list of tours based on different travel styles, experiences, and age categories.

• Classic Tours : A mix of different experiences that include major attractions and activities, cultural sites, uncommon and local experiences.
• National Geographic Journeys : A high-end tour with close-up experiences of the best attractions and activities of the destination.
• 18- Thirtysomethings Tours : Fun, fast-paced, and adventurous tours ideal for the young. Expect a lot of partying and drinking.
• Wellness Tours : Tours focusing on yoga, meditation, nourishing food, and other experiencing focusing on self-improvement. Ideal if you are looking for a retreat.
• Active Tours : Action-packed activities like hiking, kayaking, biking, and other experiences that are ideal for adventure seekers.
• Rail Tours : Tours along famous rail routes in the world, experiencing different cities along the way.
• Marine Tours : Cruise tours exploring marine life and other attractions that are only accessible by boats or ships. Eg: G Adventures Arctic cruises.
• Local Living Tours : Tours that give you a good dose of local life in each destination.
• Family Tours: Tailor-made tours to cater to all family members with kid-friendly activities.

What's Great About G Adventures.

In a G Adventures tour, every major aspect of a trip is planned for you, ensuring you have a hassle-free experience. This way, you can focus on enjoying the trip without worrying about logistics, accommodation, etc. You also don’t have to worry about tackling a new language as your tour guide will help you.

• Better travel experience

Many guided-tour companies carry out tours in large, crowded groups, and it’s not a very comfortable experience. Most of the time, it feels like you are taken from place to place with less time to enjoy them. G Adventures tours allow for more interaction. They hire knowledgeable local tour guides to give you informative details! Their tours also focus on authentic and off-the-beaten-path activities, helping you derive more localized experiences.

Many G Adventures reviews praised the service for its reasonable pricing. There are tours available in varying budget ranges, offering a choice for everyone. Traveling with a tour company shouldn’t cost you an arm and a leg, and G Adventures is a good example of it.

• Transparency

G Adventure’s “Ripple Score” shows the impact of your spending on local communities. This way, you know how your travel supports the livelihood of people and businesses that need support. If you feel like making an impact while you’re traveling, this is the perfect opportunity to do so!

• Female-friendly

If you are a solo female traveler, there would be a bunch of concerns, regardless of how safe a destination is. G Adventures is renowned as one of the best tour companies for female travelers. They pair you with a female traveler when sharing accommodation and will update you on tips to stay safe when touring around.

What's Not Great About G Adventures.

• Tour guides

Your tour guide can significantly elevate or hamper your experience. While most of them tend to be very knowledgeable and eager to help, there are instances where travelers have got stuck with unreliable guides who are just there for the money.

• The cancellation policy

Although G Adventures claims to have a flexible refund policy, it seems to be otherwise. Many customers had to go through a frustrating process and lousy customer service to cancel their trips and claim a refund. Some had to wait over a year.

Also, G Adventures had canceled many trips over the last year due to the pandemic and has refused to provide refunds, inconveniencing many customers. Keep reading to find out what other people have been saying about their experiences.

• Poor choice of accommodation (rarely)

There had been instances when travelers had to stay in subpar hotels throughout their tour. The complaints included lack of amenities, insect bites, and poor customer service. We think it’s important to provide comfortable accommodation so travelers can get a good rest before their next trip.

Although not really a con, we like to warn you about how extras can easily pile up your expenses. When traveling in a group, you are somewhat compelled to go with the rest – be it dinner at an expensive restaurant or a river cruise (who wants to be a party pooper?). You might overspend if you are not cautious enough, especially if you are on a tight budget.

G Adventures vs. Contiki tours - What’s the difference?

A popular question amongst travelers looking for tour companies to choose from is the difference between the G Adventures tour and the Contiki tour. Which tour company offers the better touring experience, and why?

G Adventures and Contiki are both adventure-based tours that cater to young adults. They’re both small to medium-sized tours that offer authentic and local experiences. If you’re a solo traveler, both tours will likely pair you up with one or more travelers of the same gender in shared accommodation. 

In general, if you’re interested in socializing, making new friends, and partying, Contiki might be a better choice. If you’re interested in a slower-paced tour with more free time, then G Adventures might be the better choice for you.

As always, it’s a good idea to check the individual tours that you’re interested in to see what kinds of activities or people it would attract. If you’re not interested in strenuous activities, Contiki might be a better choice but there are always different tour options in G Adventures as well.

Contiki might be slightly cheaper and budget-friendly than G Adventures but keep in mind that different itineraries may vary in cost and you might also spend more during your trip on optional activities.

What’s up with the G adventures reviews?

As with every tour company, your experiences will vary from the people and guides that you’re traveling with. However, there seem to be a few G Adventures complaints that talk about the same points. We’ll summarize some G Adventures reviews here for you so that you can make a more informed decision on picking the right tour company for you.

One of the big complaints that many users experienced is the level of knowledge the “CEOs” have during their trip. Some “CEOs” will provide an excellent guide that goes above and beyond what you’d expect on a group tour, while others might not. With group tours, it’s very difficult to know who you’re going to get, but the majority of the reviews on the quality of their guides are quite positive.

Some G adventure reviews have mentioned that their dietary restrictions were not honored during the trip. This might be due to the lack of communication between the service and their caterers. If you have dietary restrictions, make sure to check up ahead of the trip to make sure that everything’s good!

Another complaint that travelers had with G Adventures was with the amenities that come with the accommodations. Some of the travelers found that there was no air conditioning, bedding, hot water, etc during their stay despite the trip description saying that they’re provided. A good rule of thumb is to always check up with the trip operator ahead of time to reconfirm and make sure all the amenities are there!

Is G Adventures worth it?

With over 30 years of experience, we think G Adventures is a great tour company that knows what’s good for its clientele.

It takes the hassle of organizing everything by yourself and is a safer way to travel. There are downsides, of course, as with every other tour company. They also don’t offer tours for every country in the world, so make sure you check that. The choice also depends on your personal preference, and you can reach out to their support team and clarify your doubts.

If you want more options for other reliable and established tour guide companies, read our reviews on Contiki, Busabout , and EF Ultimate Break .

Our Rating: 4.6/5

• Adventure-based travel
• Local, real, and sustainable experiences
• Affordable tours
• Many positive experiences by past travelers
• Lacking amenities (sometimes)
• Varying customer service
• Frustrating cancellation policy
• Poor accommodation (sometimes)

Traveling solo? You’ll need a plan.

If you’re still indecisive about joining a group tour, why not try traveling solo? While it is daunting to go traveling alone, the experiences and friendships you’ll gain on the trip is second to none.

Whether you’re going on a trip solo or with friends and family, you’ll need a good plan. Let Pilot take care of that for you!

Disclosure : Pilot is supported by our community. We may earn a small commission fee with affiliate links on our website. All reviews and recommendations are independent and do not reflect the official view of Pilot.

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G Adventures Review – Adventure Travel Tours [Tour Styles, Destinations, Reviews]

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Table of Contents

Who are g adventures tours good for, g adventures tour types and destinations, g adventures top tours, g adventures reviews, g adventures vs. contiki, g adventures vs. intrepid, final thoughts.

We may be compensated when you click on product links, such as credit cards, from one or more of our advertising partners. Terms apply to the offers below. See our  Advertising Policy for more about our partners, how we make money, and our rating methodology. Opinions and recommendations are ours alone.

Most of us have a travel bucket list, but there are some destinations that you may feel more confident exploring with a guided tour. Maybe you’re concerned about language barriers , or you’d rather not have to worry about navigating public transport yourself. It’s natural to feel both excited and apprehensive when visiting somewhere new, and booking an escorted tour can alleviate any concerns you may have, especially if you’re traveling solo.

G Adventures has been providing small group tours for over 20 years and consistently listens to customer feedback to provide authentic and life-changing experiences. The G stands for “Good,” which doesn’t just refer to the good time that you’ll have on a tour — it also applies to the impact G Adventures strives to have on the local communities that it encounters along the way.

All G Adventure tours have 100% guaranteed departures , which some operators can’t provide. This avoids the disappointment of having to move to another date or destination just because the number of participants is not viable to run the tour.

Solo Travelers

Group tours are perfect for those that are itching to get away but can’t find a travel buddy. As tour prices are based on a solo rate , you needn’t factor-in expensive single supplements, as you’ll often have the option to upgrade to a private room if you choose. You’ll find that adventure tours attract like-minded individuals, and many G Adventurers have made life-long friends on their trips.

Although socializing is not compulsory on a tour, it does help if you enjoy the company of others. You could be spending weeks with the same people on your tour bus, group trips, and activities, so if you hate being around strangers, then this type of tour probably isn’t for you.

Hot Tip:  If you’re thinking about the iconic sights you might want to explore on a tour, check out these virtual tours of popular tourist attractions around the world , including Angkor Wat and the Great Wall of China. 

Friends or Groups

Friends often book onto tours as no 1 person needs to be responsible for arranging or coordinating the itinerary or managing payments. 1-on-1 travel can be an intense experience, especially if you’re not used to spending that much time together, so joining a tour can alleviate the pressure.

Just because you start a family, doesn’t mean that you can’t explore new and exotic destinations. If your children are 12 years or older, they are welcome on most standard tours when accompanied by an adult, and dedicated family tours are suitable for families with children aged 7-17. A family tour can broaden horizons for many children and educate them in different cultures and languages.

Touring Skeptics

You may have embarked on many solo trips and love the thrill of independent travel, but it doesn’t necessarily mean that a small group tour isn’t for you. There are a few destinations, such as some southern African countries, where public transport isn’t the most reliable. The prospect of being driven the vast distances while getting some shut-eye along the way can be quite appealing.

With a small group tour, you’ll have a permanent tour guide that will be an expert in the destination and will be able to answer any questions you have along the way. With tried and tested itineraries , you can rest assured that you’re exploring the highlights of that destination and can often immerse yourself more in the local culture and communities due to the connections the tour company has established.

G Adventures recognizes that not everyone likes the same kind of travel, so it offers various styles of tours that cater to most.

18-to-Thirtysomethings Tours

These tours are a little larger in capacity (up to 22) to allow you to meet more people , and let’s face it, if you’re on an 18-to-Thirtysomethings Tour, you’re likely open to the opportunity of meeting some new pals. Tours have a good balance of culture and free time, so you can be exploring temples by day and the local bars and restaurants by night.

Active Tours

Active Tours allow you to explore new destinations through hiking, biking, and other activity sports, such as kayaking and rafting. Each tour has an activity rating to let you know how physically demanding a tour is, and they have a maximum of 16 people (but an average of 10).

Hot Tip:  G Adventures recommends bringing a backpack on your tour rather than a suitcase, as it’s easier to transport than a suitcase. Check out the best hiking and backpacking backpacks for your trip and don’t forget your other adventure travel essentials .

Classic Tours

Classic Tours offer the perfect blend of cultural experiences, must-see highlights, and free time . If you discover something amazing and unscheduled along the way, the G Adventures Chief Experience Officers (CEOs) can adjust the itinerary accordingly to ensure you don’t miss out on those spontaneous, once-in-a-lifetime experiences.

Family Tours

Organizing a family holiday can be stressful, but with a G Adventures Family Tour, you have the comfort and security of your knowledgeable guide, family-friendly accommodations, and specially-designed itineraries. Family tours usually include 3 or 4 families from all over the world with children around the same age. To ensure everyone has a great time, all family tours have a recommended age ranking indicating how suitable the activities are for children.

Hot Tip:  Traveling with the kids can be a little overwhelming at times, especially to an unknown destination. Read these tips for amazing family travel with your kids .

Local Living Tours

If you’re not a fan of moving from hotel to hotel on a busy tour, but you’re keen to experience a local’s way of life, then a Local Living Tour could be just the ticket. Most tours involve unpacking only once at your home-from-home , including a Tuscan farmhouse or remote village in the Amazon. Live like the locals and do as little or as much as you like with flexible itineraries.

Marine Tours

From river cruises to ocean expeditions, traveling by water can provide a unique way of exploring some of the world’s most magnificent aquatic destinations. Traveling onboard smaller ships than cruise liners allows you to get closer to extraordinary marine wildlife and enjoy more meaningful encounters with local people and communities.

National Geographic Journeys

National Geographic Journeys with G Adventures offers a range of unique tours that delve deeper into the communities and habitats than on a Classic Tour. Your CEO will have specialized National Geographic training for more in-depth, local knowledge on your destination, and tours feature more inclusions and hands-on exploration than standard tours.

It’s as much about the journey as it is about the destination with a Rail Tour. Cruise through some of the world’s most remote areas while enjoying a window view and a glass of wine. Not only is rail travel an authentic and exciting mode of transport, but it also leaves a smaller carbon footprint compared to coaches and airplanes , if responsible travel is important to you.

Hot Tip:  There are many ways that you can become a greener traveler, from taking reusable water bottles to being selective with your toiletries. To do your bit for the environment, take a look at our green travel tips . 

With a G Adventures Wellness Tour, you’ve got the perfect combination of rejuvenating practices such as yoga or mediation and an incredible location. Experience ancient restorative practices and ceremonies and explore cultural sights and awe-inspiring scenery. Most tours include wellness moments such as a daily yoga session or spa treatment, and tours focus on healthy food experiences to nourish the mind and body.

Destinations

G Adventures operates tours to over 100 destinations across the following continents, countries, and areas:

• Australia and New Zealand
• Central America and the Caribbean
• North Africa and the Middle East
• North America
• Polar regions
• South America

G Adventures Antarctica

The Antarctic is a destination that many adventurers dream of visiting. Colossal icebergs, gigantic glaciers, and jagged mountains make up the beautiful but barren landscape, and it’s a wonder how the brutally cold conditions create a home for such a variety of wildlife.

You’ll be on board the G Expedition that can sleep up to 134 passengers and has many communal areas such as the Penguin Library and Polar Bear Pub. All rooms are  en suite with either a porthole or a window view so that you can spot humpback and minke whales breaching in the surrounding waters.

• Includes accommodation, most meals, Zodiac excursions, educational programs, waterproof boots, and parka

Hot Tip:  There are a couple of optional extras available on the G Expedition that are worth considering. Sleep out under the stars with a camping experience or upgrade from the Zodiac excursions to kayaking to get the closest you can be to your surroundings.

G Adventures Cuba

Go beyond the beach with a G Adventures tour to Cuba. This vibrant Caribbean island has only recently opened up to non-traditional travel, so you can explore more than just the beautiful beaches. Stay in a local homestay for an immersive Cuban experience , tour a tobacco plantation, or see the sights of bustling Havana from the comfort of a classic car.

G Adventures offers Classic, Active, Marine, and 18-to-Thirtysomethings tours to Cuba.

• Includes transfers, excursions, accommodation, and breakfast

G Adventures Costa Rica

Costa Rica is a tropical paradise with one of the highest densities of biodiversity of any country. Magnificent volcanoes emerge from the lush landscapes, and mysterious cloud forests are home to exotic flora and fauna, including the red-eyed tree frog and the white-faced Capuchin monkey . You’ll need your camera on hand at every moment exploring Costa Rica’s incredible scenery.

G Adventures offers Classic, Active, National Geographic Journeys, Family, Wellness, and 18-to-Thirtysomethings tours to Costa Rica.

• Includes transportation and accommodation

G Adventures Galápagos

Located 600 miles off the coast of Ecuador, the Galápagos Islands are accessible by flying in to either 2 of the larger islands of Santa Cruz or San Cristóbal . You’ll then spend your trip sailing through the archipelago, spotting whales and dolphins, and snorkeling amongst sea lions. It’s nature’s paradise! You can choose between a small ship adventure where you’ll sleep on board, or if you prefer to spend your nights on dry land, you can opt for a tour with land-based accommodation.

G Adventures offers Classic, Marine, Active, and 18-to-Thirtysomethings tours to Galápagos.

• Includes basic accommodation, some meals, transportation, and some excursions

Hot Tip:  If you combine a Peru tour with a Galápagos tour, G Adventures will pay for your flight between Peru and Ecuador. 

G Adventures India

India can be chaotic, mesmerizing, and an intense sensory experience with so many colorful sights, sounds, and smells to absorb. Taking a tour with G Adventures can offer a more organized travel experience. You can spend more time savoring the sights without worrying about the sometimes confusing logistics of navigating this vibrant country. Marvel at the majestic Taj Mahal, cruise along the Kerala backwaters, or relax on the wild beaches of Goa.

G Adventures offers Classic, Wellness, Rail, National Geographic Journeys, and 18-to-Thirtysomethings tours to India.

• Includes transportation, accommodation, excursions, and some meals

G Adventures Japan

Japan is a captivating city with a charming blend of ancient traditions and cutting-edge technology. One minute you’ll be wandering around a sacred Buddhist temple, and the next, whizzing between cities on the high-speed Shinkansen bullet train. Visit in spring to see the famous cherry blossom trees , relax in a traditional onsen, or learn about samurai culture. Nothing about Japan disappoints.

G Adventures offers Classic, Active, Rail, National Geographic Journeys, and 18-to-Thirtysomethings tours to Japan.

Hot Tip:  For a limited stay trip, Americans do not currently need a visa to enter Japan, so that’s 1 thing less to worry about. 

G Adventures Morocco

From stunning beaches to bustling cities and rolling sand dunes to mountainous Berber villages, if you’re looking for a diverse destination, Morocco ticks all the boxes. If you’re a little unsure about exploring the bustling medinas and labyrinthine alleyways independently, a G Adventures tour can give you confidence and security, while still allowing an authentic experience .

G Adventures offers Classic, Active, National Geographic Journeys, and 18-to-Thirtysomethings tours to Morocco.

G Adventures Peru

Peru is an active adventurer’s paradise , with the wild and rugged landscapes providing endless hiking opportunities and enormous sand dunes begging to be boarded down. Many hike the famous Inca Trail to Machu  Picchu , while others opt for a less strenuous journey to marvel at the magnificent ancient ruins. Kayak on Lake Titicaca or visit the floating island communities of Uros.

G Adventures offers Classic, Active, National Geographic Journeys, Marine, Wellness, and 18-to-Thirtysomethings tours to Peru.

• Includes transportation, accommodation, excursions, and most meals

G Adventures Thailand

Foodies will love sampling the culinary delights of the charming market stalls and seafood beach shacks, while others will enjoy tasty home-cooked meals while spending the night with a hill tribe family. With scenery so spectacular, it’s no wonder Thailand has featured in many blockbuster movies, with limestone rocks protruding from crystal-clear waters. Gleaming temples, a vibrant capital, and spectacular beaches make Thailand a well-rounded destination that offers something for everyone .

G Adventures offers Classic, Active, National Geographic Journeys, Marine, Family, and 18-to-Thirtysomethings tours to Thailand.

• Includes transportation, accommodation, excursions, and breakfast

G Adventures is a highly reviewed tour company with the following overall ratings:

• Trustpilot : 4.4 out of 5
• Facebook : 4.5 out of 5
• TourRadar : 4.6 out of 5

To give you a flavor of the feedback G Adventures receives, these are some testimonials from some of its most popular trips.

Antarctica Classic Tour “This was the MOST amazing trip of my life (and I have traveled a lot). The experience of seeing this vastly untouched continent is something I won’t ever forget. The penguins were adorable, and the staff was excellent in giving the passengers a full and knowledgeable trip. Highly recommended!” — Stacie C, United States

Cuba Libre Tour “I had a fabulous time. I visited towns and sites that I would not have found on my own. I also enjoyed meeting other tour participants from various European countries who appreciate traveling just as much as I do.” — Sondra W, Canada

Costa Rica Quest Tour “Our guide was exceptional. Her knowledge of each area and unwavering commitment to ensure that we all had the most positive experience did not go unnoticed. This was the best trip I have ever taken, and I would not hesitate to travel with her again. There were plenty of activities to choose from, so we could take advantage of as little or as much as we liked. The drivers were friendly and accommodating.” — P. Victoria Anne W, Canada

Comfort Galápagos 10 Day Tour “I had an amazing experience like no other. Never have I been so much in contact with wildlife. The trip was very memorable and gave me a very good impression of the place and its people. I have to admire the people at G Adventures in Ecuador, in which they made my travel experience as smooth as possible without any hassle. My trip there was not a luxury trip, but I felt I was treated with first-class service. I was delighted and enjoyed myself a lot. Even though I traveled alone, I felt very comfortable and had one of the best times in travel adventures.” —  Lemuel D, United States

Rajasthan Adventure “This was an impressive tour. We saw a lot of sights and experienced a vast range of Indian cultures. Our tour guide, Narendra Pal Singh, was excellent. A great character to be around. Thank you. The accommodations were incredible; the most impressive for me was the hotel in Ranakpur, that was surrounded by lush vegetation.” — Jamahl M, United Kingdom

Discover Japan Tour “Where else in the world, except Japan, can you go to experience the traditional mixed with the modern, and while not speaking the language and still feel completely at home. Mix in a group of people with different backgrounds, traveling together to places they have never seen and who realize at the end they could not have imagined or understood these places without being there, and you receive 15 perceptions of a place which absorbs you. The tour brought you the opportunities to explore on your own and as a group and the confidence to step out of what you thought was your comfort zone. A great experience which went by way too fast, as they say, time flies when you’re having fun.” — Janelle A, Australia

Highlights of Morocco Tour “This is my 2nd G Adventures tour, so I knew that everything would be well organized and planned. It really showed the diversity of Morocco from cities, mountains, and desert. The local guides were really informative. The level of accommodation was very good.” — Janet C, Australia

Inca Empire Tour “The G Adventures tour far exceeded my expectations, and I would recommend G Adventures to anyone when considering a tour group option. Everything was taken care of, and a special mention to our tour leader Caroline who did a tremendous job from chasing down lost luggage, to taking us to the best restaurants every night! The high point of the trip was when our group made it first to the Sun Gate at Machu Picchu and watched an awesome sunrise over the Inca City. A big mention also to G Adventures for outsourcing their treks to tremendous companies.” — David T, Australia

Northern Thailand: Hilltribes & Villages “The tour was excellent! I was a little apprehensive about embarking on a tour, but this type of tour enabled lots of freedom to do what I wanted, but with the convenience of a guide to helpfully offer advice and make arrangements.” — Sandra F, Canada

Contiki is a tour company that caters to travelers that are 18 to 35 years old only  and quite often has larger group sizes than G Adventures . Some destinations can have up to 50 people — quite a lot compared to G Adventures’ more intimate tour groups of up to 16. If you’re looking to meet lots of people, then you might like the idea of a larger tour group. G Adventures offer young person tours with a permitted age bracket of 18 to 39 but also caters to families and travelers of any age.

Contiki’s range of tour types offers volunteering trips, ski and snowboarding, and festivals , whereas G Adventures has a slightly more mature offering of local living, wellness, and rail tours. G Adventures offers a wider choice of destinations , while Contiki focuses on those typically popular with younger travelers. When it comes to cost, Contiki can be slightly cheaper than G Adventures, but this can depend on the accommodation included and the quality of excursions included in the tour.

G Adventures and Intrepid both offer the same levels of trip styles for their tours, including basic, standard, and comfort (upgraded), so you have the choice depending on your budget and requirements . The group sizes are also very similar for both companies, including 12-16 people on most tours. You won’t be charged a single supplement with either company as you’ll be paired up with a traveler of the same gender to room-share.

All G Adventures tours offer guaranteed departures, as do the majority of Intrepid tours, although these are marked with a “guaranteed departure” flag on the tour page so you can be sure. G Adventures offers around 700 itineraries, whereas Intrepid has over 1,000 , so if you’re looking for the company with the most variety, Intrepid could be your answer.

G Adventures provides responsible, sustainable tours and supports local communities, so you can take comfort knowing that you’re giving back as much as you’re taking away from the experience. Overall, its booking process and customer service are very good, but it’s the ground CEOs (Chief Experience Officers) that are the shining stars. These passionate and knowledgeable guides are with you every step of the way and are there to introduce you to the amazing destination.

G Adventures has completely revolutionized group touring. Instead of following a standard itinerary, you can now choose how you want to discover a new destination, whether that’s exploring by bicycle on an active tour or in the company of like-minded families.

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North America

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G adventures sailing & cruises, g adventures private travel.

Whether it’s a family retreat or a girls trip, you can surround yourself with a hand-picked crew and customize a tour that fits you all perfectly.

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National Geographic Journeys

Go deeper into the cultures and habitats of the places we explore. More is included and you’ll enjoy greater hands-on exploration, interactions with local experts, and freedom to roam.

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Are you an adventure-loving family in search of meaningful ways to discover the world together? These tours are specially designed for travellers seven and up and their inquisitive families.

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Step deeper into the animal kingdom while respecting all of its inhabitants. Our incredible collection of wildlife-focused tours is endorsed by the world-renowned ethologist.

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The thrill of adventure. The awesomeness of hostels. Get ‘em both on these immersive small group trips for 18 to 35-year-old travellers.

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Change the world just by having the time of your life. When you travel with us, you become a force for good by acting responsibly and creating positive impact.

Together with our non-profit partner, Planeterra, we ensure local communities touched by our tours benefit from our visits in as many ways possible.

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Leave your destination even greener than you found it! For every day on tour, we’ll plant a tree in your honour and ensure that our forests get to live their best lives.

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Trip Reviews

Still deciding if a G Adventure is for you? Many of our travellers have experienced the adventure of a lifetime and are now more than happy to share their stories with you. Check out these adventure travel trip reviews or search for feedback by region, country or trip.

Have you been on a G Adventures trip before? Fill out an evaluation , and let us and other travelers hear about it!

Peru Uncovered

This trip was quite memorable. It was our first "group trip". We never thought we would meet such amazing people and get to share such extraordinary experiences with them. The tour was well organized, flexible and our tour leader was always on top of things and very knowledgeable. Machu Picchu was simply the cherry on top of a mountain of ice cream...everything we saw and experienced was great up until the last minute! Peru is a beautiful country and the people there are incredibly nice! Kyle L  

Bolivia Discovery

I had a fantastic trip to Bolivia - a wonderfully interesting and beautiful country - and was delighted that I chose to travel there, albeit for a very brief time. I was very impressed indeed with our guide, who was knowlewdgeable, lively and good humoured. Many thanks. Ewan T  

Peru Panorama

The tour was really good, I felt safe and still, also, able to experience something real of peru life, which was really important to me. Katherine B

Greek Islands Sailing Adventure (Athens to Mykonos)

Really enjoyed the islands we probalby did more hours sailing then we had anticipated. Joseph H  

Classic Vietnam: Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City

Greatly exceeded expectations Excellent restaurant selections, fabulous food Hotels all very good Frank C  

Southern Highlights

I felt the tour was in general good and well prepared. Richard H  

Essence Of Peru

Great overall experience, everything was engaging and interesting -- contained a good amount of personal time to explore the places on your own Linda D  

Quest of the Gods

I loved my first experience with my G Adventures trip! I was never big on traveling with a group before this trip, but all that has changed. Our group of 16 people meshed so well as far as our ages, personalities, and interests. I have made some great friends for life! Muchos Gracias G Adventures!! Laura K  

Fantastic Trip!! Everything was well organized and the tour leader/guides were excellent. Carolyn M  

India Encompassed

India Encompassed really did include everything that I wanted on my first adventure to India. The combination of the north and south truly allowed an excellent opportunity to experience different aspects of India. The north was hectic, intense but stunningly beautiful. The south was the perfect antidote to the north. A much needed change of pace. What an experience. Thank you! Amy W  

A Review Of G Adventures’ Costa Rica 16-Day Tour

Written by BELLA FALK

Contents (click to view)

I’m rocking in a hammock in my hotel in Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica, on the penultimate day of my 16-day tour of Costa Rica with G Adventures . There’s a light rain pattering on the corrugated plastic roof and dripping fatly over the top of a leaky gutter, and a breeze is tickling the leaves of the plants in the courtyard garden.

I can hear chatter and the occasional laugh from one of the other rooms, where some of the girls from my group are hanging out, and just to my left the black-and-white hotel cat snoozes under a rattan garden chair. We have an hour till we meet for dinner, so what better time to start writing my G Adventures review than right now?

During my years of solo travel, I’ve done quite a few small group adventure holidays. From Tanzania to Cuba (also with G Adventures), and from Myanmar to Morocco , I’ve experienced a range of different companies, destinations, and group dynamics, so I’m pretty clued up on what works and what doesn’t, what companies should be aiming for and what makes a good (or bad) group tour.

So if you’re thinking of visiting Costa Rica with G Adventures, or doing any of their other group holidays, read on for my expert review of G Adventures in general and their Costa Rica tour in particular.   

Note: I travelled in the off-peak (rainy season) month of July and received an additional 10% discount on top of the 20% off they were already offering for last-minute bookings. I’ve never been asked to write any G Adventures reviews in exchange for discounts or freebies. All prices are given in US Dollars and are correct at the time of writing.

Why Costa Rica?

If you’re reading this review, chances are you’ve already decided you want to go to Costa Rica, and you probably already know that Costa Rica is considered one of the safest and most rewarding countries to visit in Central America. With abundant wildlife, from curious toucans and noisy macaws to mischievous monkeys and the lovable sloth, Costa Rica is a nature enthusiast’s dream.

And that’s just the start of the country’s attractions. There are also stunning landscapes to explore, volcanoes to hike, coastlines on both the Pacific Ocean and Caribbean with miles of palm-fringed sandy beaches, huge swathes of jungle where you can do adventure activities like zip-lining and white-water rafting , plus buzzing towns with colourful bars, restaurants and shops.

So if you’re here because you’re wondering if you should go to Costa Rica, then no need to read further. The answer is yes, you should!

Why take a group tour?

Of course, you don’t need to do a group tour. Plenty of people get around Costa Rica just fine using public buses, tourist shuttles, or by hiring a car.

However, for solo travellers, those who like the safety and community vibe of a group, or people who don’t want or have time to plan every detail of a trip, a group tour is a great option.

For me, group travel is an excellent way to pack in as many highlights as possible in a short amount of time. Tour companies like G Adventures do all the work so you don’t have to, planning the best routes and activities so you can make the most of your holiday without having to spend days researching hotels and reading travel blogs (though of course you should still read this one!).

What’s more, not only do you get a gang of like-minded travel buddies to hang out with, you also get an experienced guide, who’ll show you round, shower you with interesting information, and look after you should anything go wrong.

If you’d like to know more about why I think group tours are one of the best ways to travel, head to my separate blog post: 10 Great Reasons To Do Group Holidays .

What you get on a G Adventures Tour

The specifics of each tour will vary, but all G Adventures tours follow a similar format.

• The duration can be anything from a few days to several weeks, and you’ll be travelling with a group of up to 16 people, who could be families, couples or solo travellers.  Typically G Adventures customers are in their 20s-50s, but you might get a few older people or families travelling with kids as young as 12.
• The price of your ticket will include all your transport and accommodation for the duration of the tour, apart from airport transfers. If you’re a solo traveller, you’ll be expected to share a room with another solo traveller of the same gender, though if you want your own room, you can usually pay an additional fee to get one.
• The cost also includes the guide, or Chief Experience Officer (CEO) – he or she will be your tour guide, event planner, history and politics teacher, fixer, problem solver and friend for the next few days or weeks.
• Meals are not normally included , though a few breakfasts or dinners may be, depending on the itinerary.
• Some activities may be included, but in general G Adventures make most of their day trips and excursions optional, to give people more choice and to keep the price down. It’s important to check this as you may find that adding on activities can significantly increase the final cost of your holiday, but if you don’t participate, you may start to feel left out of the group.

I’ll talk about how much the whole G Adventures Costa Rica trip cost me at the end of this post.

Every trip also usually includes the following:

• ‘Discover’ Moment – there is always at least one included activity, usually something simple such as a walking tour or cultural experience. You may have to pay a little extra for transport to the location.
• ‘G for Good’ Moment – as part of G Adventures’ commitment to giving back to local communities, 5% of your ticket price goes to help grassroots projects in the country you’re visiting, and this is your chance to see one of them in action.
• Foodie Moment – a food tour, tasting event, or local cookery experience.

Types of G Adventures Tour

G Adventures also have different types of tour. They are:

• Classic tours – the original style of G Adventures tours, these trips include a variety of different activities but are not especially challenging. Accommodation is normally in mid-range hotels.
• National Geographic Journeys – more expensive (but with more activities included), these trips focus more on culture and wildlife and may go a little more off the beaten track.
• 18-to-thirtysomethings tours – does what it says on the tin: adventures for younger travellers. They tend to be a bit more budget, the accommodation a bit more basic, and with more time for partying.
• Wellness trips – as the name suggests, these trips are more focussed on health and wellbeing.
• Active trips – tours for the more adventurous, with a greater focus on activities like hiking, cycling and other outdoor sports.
• Marine tours – boat based, including sailing, river and polar expedition cruises .
• Rail tours – while other G Adventures trips may include a train journey, these tours put train travel front and centre of the itinerary.
• Family trips – aimed at parents who still want to travel and have adventures, but want to bring the kids.
• Roamies trips – these are more for backpackers and the accommodation is mostly in hostels.
• The Jane Goodall collection – wildlife tours

The G Adventures Costa Rica adventure is one of their Classic Tours, meaning you get a good balance of activities while still travelling in relative comfort.

You can read more about the different types of tours here .

G Adventures Review: The Costa Rica Itinerary

So what did the Costa Rica 16-day adventure actually involve?

You can see the planned itinerary here , but sometimes things can change a little due to unforeseen circumstances, so here is what we actually did.

Costa Rica Tour Day 1 – Arrive in San José

The first day of any G Adventures tour is a free day for your arrival – you just need to get yourself to the first hotel at some point on that day. I had already been in Costa Rica for a week, so I booked myself a tourist shuttle from my hostel in the beachside town of Tamarindo to the group hotel in San Jose. Most people flew in that day and got transfers from the airport, which cost about US$35 (though an Uber is much cheaper, at around $10).

At 6.30 pm there was a welcome meeting – a chance to meet the guide/CEO, get a bit of basic information about Costa Rica and the tour, and check out your new travel buddies. After the meeting, everyone went for dinner together and then had an early night, ready to leave San Jose early the next morning.

Some people had arrived a day or two earlier to explore San José. The feedback I’ve had from people who’ve spent time in the city is that there’s not that much to see, so if you want to extend your Costa Rica trip by a few days, I strongly recommend getting out of San José and heading to the beach or the highlands instead.

Where we stayed: Boutique Hotel Casa Las Orquideas . This was a clean but fairly basic hotel on a main road on the edge of central San José. It was conveniently located a short walk from a supermarket, a Starbucks and some bars and restaurants, so it was ideal as a rendezvous point at the start and end of the trip, but I wouldn’t recommend it for longer stays.

G Adventures Costa Rica Tour Day 2 – San José to Quepos

Next day we left at 7 am and drove a few hours to Quepos, the gateway to Manuel Antonio National Park. En route, we stopped off at the Tarcoles river crossing to look for crocodiles.

Quepos is a small town on Costa Rica’s Pacific Coast. The town itself has a beachfront and a few shops, hotels, bars and restaurants, but the main reason to go there is to use it as a base for visiting Manuel Antonio National Park, about 20 minutes away by local bus.

After dropping our stuff at the hotel, we headed over there to get our bearings. At Manuel Antonio there’s another, prettier beach, plus more touristy restaurants, a few shops, and the entrance to the park. We had free time to swim, relax, grab a frozen daiquiri, and look for monkeys playing in the trees by the side of the road. There are also options to do a sunset catamaran cruise, take a surfing lesson, or go parasailing.

Where we stayed: Villa Romantica Quepos. Another reasonable but basic hotel, with air-conditioned rooms set around a jungle garden where we saw frogs and monkeys. The German owner was extremely welcoming after being closed due to Covid. Unfortunately, the swimming pool was still out of action.

Costa Rica Tour Day 3 – Quepos / Manuel Antonio National Park

In the official itinerary this is listed as a ‘free day to explore and relax’. In the morning some of our group opted to do a catamaran cruise along the coast to enjoy the scenery and look for dolphins. The rest of us had wanted to make an early start in the National Park but as it was a bank holiday weekend, morning tickets were sold out. Instead, we had more free time (some people went for brunch in Quepos and I found my way to a gym), and then at lunchtime we hopped back on the public bus to the Manuel Antonio.

Manuel Antonio National Park is Costa Rica’s smallest National Park, with clearly marked trails for hiking or bird and animal watching. With the help of our guide, Tito, we got our first taste of Costa Rican wildlife – spotting two sloths, deer, iguanas, bats and lizards, before heading down to one of the pristine protected National Park beaches to dip our toes in the warm waters of the Pacific.

I would have liked to spend more time here, but the park closed at 4 pm. If you do this tour, I recommend going to in the morning if you can.

G Adventures Costa Rica Tour Day 4 – Quepos to Monteverde

After two nights by the sea, we headed into Costa Rica’s central highlands, to the mountain town of Monteverde. Monteverde is another small, quite touristy place, the gateway to Costa Rica’s cloud forests and several parks offering hiking, animal-watching, and adventure activities.

In the afternoon we visited the Monteverde cloud forest reserve and spent about two hours hiking through the damp jungle. Sadly the ‘cloud’ forest lived up to its name and we weren’t able to see any views, but we did spot this gorgeous quetzal bird waiting out the rain.

Later we did our included ‘Discover’ moment – a torchlit guided Guided Cloud Forest Night Walk. We saw frogs, a green viper, a sleeping howler monkey, a tarantula, and even a sloth, though it was very high up in a tree and hard to see.

Where we stayed: Hotel Holistico Monteverde . A quiet retreat hotel with comfortable rooms and decent breakfast. The hotel was nice but located about 25 minutes’ walk outside the town centre up a steep hill, making it a bit of a hassle if you wanted to explore by yourself.

G Adventures Review Day 5 – Monteverde

Day 5 is a full day in Monteverde, during which you have a choice of many things do including more hiking and wildlife-spotting, walking suspension bridges through the jungle, visiting a butterfly garden, horseback riding, or zip-lining.

Our entire group opted to do the canopy bridge walk followed by the ziplining. We went to 100% Aventura who have a series of ziplines through the cloud forest, including the longest zipline in Costa Rica at over 1.5 km! You can choose to do it on your front, flying superman-style, which literally took my breath away!

You can pre-book the ziplining as part of G Adventures’ Costa Rica Adrenaline Bundle which saves you a bit of money. There’s more information about how much this all cost coming up later in the post.

G Adventures Costa Rica Tour Day 6 – Monteverde to La Fortuna

It was time to move on again, this time to La Fortuna, close to lake Arenal and the majestic Arenal volcano. The journey was about three hours by bus and then a very pleasant hour spent crossing Lake Arenal, with the volcano looming ever closer.

La Fortuna is another touristy town with plenty of restaurants, shops, and tour agencies, so after our fairly long travel day we had free time to relax and explore before heading for dinner.

Where we stayed: Hotel Las Colinas . Rooms here were clean and comfortable with working air-con, hot showers and views of the volcano. The hotel has a terrace bar which could get quite noisy, but calmed down after 10 pm.

G Adventures Review Day 7 – La Fortuna

The next two days were devoted to adventures around La Fortuna . There are dozens of different tours you can book, from whitewater rafting, waterfall rappelling, mountain biking and ATV excursions to calmer activities like hiking, boat trips or SUP on the lake, or a visit to the Caño Negro Wildlife Refuge.

On the morning of Day 7 most of the group opted to go canyoning and waterfall rappelling, and in the afternoon we went to see Arenal volcano. It’s active so you can’t climb it, but there are several scenic hiking trails around the base where you can learn more about it and see lava from previous eruptions.

On the way back we stopped at the Paradise Hot Springs which was one of my favourite places on the trip: a gorgeous resort with eight thermal pools in a leafy jungle setting. At night they were lit up in different colours and one of the pools has a swim up bar, making for a fabulous place to relax after another busy day.

G Adventures Costa Rica Tour Day 8 – La Fortuna

Another day in La Fortuna: we were offered the chance to book more adventure excursions through a recommended adventure tour company, but everyone decided to have a more chilled day, visiting the La Fortuna waterfall for a swim and then taking the afternoon off to enjoy the town’s many cafes, shops and bars, or getting a massage.

I had a quiet lunch in an organic restaurant, ate gelato, and browsed for souvenirs.

Costa Rica Tour Day 9 – La Fortuna to Sarapiquí Rainforest

Another travel morning – several hours by bus heading east from La Fortuna to Sarapiquí.

En route, we stopped at the Mi Cafecito Coffee Cooperative for our ‘G For Good’ moment, visiting one of the local organisations supported by the G Adventures and the Planeterra Foundation. We had a tour of the site, learned about how Costa Rican coffee is produced and why it’s considered some of the best in the world, and ate a delicious Costa Rican lunch of fresh fish with rice, beans and plantain.

Once we arrived at Sarapiquí we headed straight out for a short hike to another waterfall where we were able to swim in the cool water and relax after another sweaty bus journey.

Later the hotel staff took us on a short night walk to see tree frogs, and then fed us a traditional dinner.

Where we stayed: Pozo Azul. This was one of my favourite places that we stayed on the trip: very rustic safari tents with no air con or hot water, but what they lacked in luxury they more than made up for in the location, right in the heart of the rainforest so we fell asleep listening to the rain and the sounds of frogs and crickets chirruping.

G Adventures Costa Rica Tour Day 10 – Sarapiquí Rainforest

Some of us got up before dawn to do a sunrise birdwatching hike around the property, where we saw hummingbirds, toucans and a colourful trogon, before heading back for a delicious included breakfast (I especially loved the sweet fried plantains).

Then it was time for more adventure: whitewater rafting on the Sarapiquí river. The rapids here are Grades 2-4, so not too scary but still exciting enough to give you a thrill and get you pretty wet!

In the afternoon we had more free time to relax in our jungle oasis, and we also had our included ‘Foodie Moment’ – learning how to make traditional empanadas (and then eating them!).

G Adventures Tour Day 11 – Sarapiquí to Tortuguero

Time to move on again on our whistlestop tour of Costa Rica – this time to Tortuguero, on the Caribbean coast.

Tortuguero is a unique village: a small cluster of shops, simple houses and bars built on a very narrow strip of land between the Tortuguero River and the Caribbean Sea. It’s only accessible by boat and feels like the sort of place you need to visit soon before rising sea levels wash it away completely.

Getting there was another adventure – a few hours on the bus and then an hour’s boat ride downriver, looking out for wildlife as we chugged along between overhanging jungle fronds guarded by beady-eyed herons and noisy howler monkeys.

Tortuguero gets its name from the green and leatherback sea turtles (tortugas) that come here to nest on the beaches, and as we were lucky enough to visit at the start of nesting season, late in the evening we had the chance to go and see them.

The experience is closely regulated: visitor numbers and time spent on the beach are strictly limited and you can’t take phones or cameras, but it’s still a unique chance to see these rare endangered creatures up close.

Where we stayed: La Baula Lodge . Another of my favourites, a riverfront lodge featuring comfortable rooms (though without air con) arranged around a gorgeous garden filled with colourful flowers, with monkeys and toucans playing in the trees and a small pool for cooling off after the sweaty day. Breakfast and dinner were included.

G Adventures Costa Rica Tour Day 12 – Tortuguero

A full day to explore the delights of Tortuguero National Park. In the morning we did a peaceful kayak excursion downriver, paddling gently along spotting monkeys, herons, bright green basilisks and other birds.

In the afternoon we were supposed to hike up to a viewpoint to look for more wildlife and admire the landscape, but the heavens opened and it was cancelled, so we hung out in the hotel, relaxed to the sound of the rain, and enjoyed the 2-for-$10 cocktail deal!

Read more: Nature Vacations: 25 Amazing Places For An Outdoors Adventure

G Adventures Review Day 13 – Tortuguero to Puerto Viejo de Talamanca

I would have liked to spend a bit longer wildlife-spotting in Tortuguero but it was time to move on again, back along the river by boat and then a few hours by bus down the coast to Puerto Viejo.

Puerto Viejo is one of Costa Rica’s popular Caribbean beach villages, a small, friendly, walkable place with a few streets jammed with cafes, bars and souvenir shops, a sandy, palm-fringed beach, and a relaxed Caribbean vibe.

The plan for the afternoon was to relax on the beach, but again the weather was not on our side (the perils of travelling in rainy season!) so people either relaxed in the hotel or went to find a bar to hang out in.

Where we stayed: Cabinas Jacaranda Hotel . Located just a short walk from the beach and shops, this cute hotel had comfortable rooms with air-con and hot showers arranged around a leafy courtyard with hammocks for relaxing in.

Costa Rica Tour Day 14 – Puerto Viejo

Puerto Viejo is known for its miles of sandy beaches, some black, some white, so in the morning we were given bicycles so we could explore. Most people cycled along the main road to a quiet and pretty beach where we relaxed and enjoyed a dip in the Caribbean before heading back to the town to explore the shops and buy all those important last-minute souvenirs and gifts.

G Adventures Costa Rica Tour Day 15 – Puerto Viejo de Talamanca to San José

And before we knew it, it was the last full day of the tour. We had a lazy morning, a relaxed breakfast, the chance for another quick dip in the sea, and then an 11 am start for the long drive back to San Jose.

We got back at about 5 pm, giving us enough time to grab a coffee, pack for the plane, or pick up essentials for the journey home, before heading out for a final group dinner to say goodbye.

G Adventures Costa Rica Tour Day 16 – Departure

The final day of any G Adventures tour is just departure day. Some people had early flights, others were staying on in Costa Rica for a few days, and my flight was at lunchtime so I had breakfast, said goodbye to the group and our excellent guide, and then hopped in an Uber to the airport for my journey back to London.

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G Adventures Review: The Guide (CEO)

G Adventures call their tour guides CEOs – or Chief Experience Officers. Ours was Tito, a 45-year-old Costa Rican with 20 years of guiding experience, boundless enthusiasm and energy and endless patience when it came to our many questions.

He was extremely knowledgeable too, full of information sometimes to the point of excess, like when he would continually point at things from the bus even when we were trying to sleep, or being so thorough at the evening briefings that we would start to get confused from the information overload. But he was always likeable and smiling, ready with a joke or a few words of encouragement, a man who clearly loves his job and his country and enjoys sharing it with visitors.

Of course there’s no guarantee you’ll get Tito if you do the Costa Rica G Adventures tour, but in my experience of group travel in general and G Adventures in particular, I’ve found all the guides to be of a similar level of enthusiasm and knowledge that really helps to bring the tour to life.

G Adventures Review: The Food

Costa Rican typical food usually involves rice, beans, fried plantain, and some sort of grilled or fried protein, alongside Mexican-style dishes like tacos and burritos and deliciously sweet local pineapples, mangos and bananas.

Mostly you’ll be eating in touristy restaurants which typically serve up crowd-pleasers like pizza, pasta, or burgers.  

Food and drink were not usually included in our Costa Rica tour. The exceptions were a couple of the hotels that provided breakfast, or the remote jungle lodges where there were no restaurants nearby, so dinner was also part of the service. In total only 4 breakfasts, lunches and dinners were included.

When choosing restaurants for us to visit, Tito always tried to pick a mid-range place where there were enough options to suit all tastes – though the vegetarians in our group did struggle a little.

Invariably we ended up in very average places that always offered the same food, most of which was fine and some of which was terrible, though there were a few excellent meals tucked in there too.

That, unfortunately, is one of the downsides of traveling with a group where everyone has different price points and expectations around food. Let’s just say this is not a foodie tour, and if culinary adventures are a priority for you, you might want to research your own restaurant options online and not eat with the group every night.

G Adventures Review: Accommodation

The Costa Rica Adventure is one of G Adventures Classic trips, which means travelling in a little more comfort than some of their more basic tours, while still sticking to a budget.

Hotels in general were clean and comfortable but basic. We usually had wifi, air-conditioning and hot water, but not always. Sometimes the rooms were quite small and dark, and only one of the hotels had a swimming pool.

This is not a luxury trip – the focus is much more on adventure and seeing this wonderful country on a fairly limited budget. So if room service and a pillow menu are important, this probably isn’t the trip for you.

But if like me you’re not planning to spend much time in the room anyway, and you don’t much care about the accommodation as long as you have a clean bed and a shower, then you’ve come to the right place!

G Adventures Review: Transport

Transport for our tour was in an air-conditioned private bus, with the occasional public bus, taxi or boat ride. Unlike other tours I’ve done, we didn’t always have the same bus and driver; instead we used local companies and drivers where necessary, so the buses varied in size and comfort but they were always big enough and had air-conditioning. Very occasionally we had to share with other travellers but usually we had the transport to ourselves.

We were told that pre-pandemic more of the journeys involved using public transport, but that switched to private buses due to Covid. By the time you travel, this may have changed back, so it’s worth checking if this is important to you.

None of the buses had toilets, but we made regular bathroom stops. The longest bus ride was about 5 hours and I usually passed the time by listening to music, reading a book, or watching Netflix downloads on my phone. Some of the roads are windy, so make sure you bring travel sickness pills if you’re a sufferer.

G Adventures Review: The group

G Adventures market themselves to a wide range of travellers from teenagers all the way up to pensioners. As long as you have a love of travel and a sense of adventure, then G Adventures is for you.

However, in general I have found most of my fellow travellers on these sorts of trips to be in their 20s to 50s. The maximum group size is 16, and at the moment most of their tours seem to be operating at near capacity.

We had 14 in our group, consisting of two middle-aged couples with children in their late teens; one middle-aged single man, and five solo women in their 20s and 30s. Plus me.

I found this was a good mix of ages and interests, and while people did tend to make friends and form little sub-groups, overall we got along well. Our guide told us that sometimes he’s had tours where people split off or seriously clash, but we had no problems.

Of course you can’t predict who you will get, but I think G Adventures does tend to attract the same sort of adventurous, outgoing people, so even if you don’t bond with everyone, you stand a good chance of at least finding a few people in your group that you get along with.

G Adventures Review: Sustainability and ethics

More than ever we need to be thinking about the ethics and sustainability of our travel choices. So if that’s important to you (and I hope it is), you’ll be pleased to hear that G Adventures take it seriously too.

All G Adventures trips have a focus on community tourism. That means making sure that all trips directly benefit the people and places they visit. This includes working with the Planeterra Foundation to help develop local communities, and 5% of your trip fee goes to the foundation.

All trips now also have a ‘Ripple Score’, which is a measure out of 100 of how often the trip uses local businesses and services. The Ripple Score for the Costa Rica Adventure is 100, meaning you can be confident your money is helping to support small businesses in the communities you’re visiting.

There’s loads more information about the different ways G Adventures take their ethical responsibilities seriously on their website here .

G Adventures Costa Rica Adventure: How much did it cost?

So after all that, what was the final cost of the trip?

The list price for this tour at the time of writing is £1279 in off-peak season and £1429 in peak season. However G Adventures quite often do discounts of up to 20%, so if you travel in rainy season (as I did) and book during a discount window you could pay as little as £1087.

This price does not include flights, most meals, or most of the activities.

You can make savings on some activities by pre-booking, for example:

• Catamaran tour in Manuel Antonio – in advance for $75
• Adrenaline Bundle (includes canyoning in La Fortuna and zip-lining in Monteverde): $135. If you pay separately during the tour the price would be $96 + $54 = $150.

Other optional extra costs were as follows (all prices in US$ and sometimes estimated or rounded to the nearest $10):

Add all this up and what it means is that if you do all the activities, eat every meal in the restaurants recommended by the guide, drink the tap water and only do laundry once, you’re looking at roughly an extra $1260 on top of the baseline cost of the trip.

So your total for the whole trip, not including flights, will be somewhere around $2900 or £2300 per person, assuming you travel in off-peak season and are happy to share a room with a fellow traveller (if not, you’ll pay around $680 / £570 extra to have your own room).

When is the best time to do the G Adventures Costa Rica tour?

The best time to visit Costa Rica is during the dry season, November to March. However, this is also peak season and everything will be more expensive. I visited in rainy season and although it did rain a fair bit and a couple of things did get cancelled, we also had some good weather and managed to do almost everything as planned on the itinerary.

If you visit during rainy season, you will save money but you will also have to be prepared to put up with some bad weather. So if money is not an issue, I recommend paying a bit more and travelling during the UK/US winter (when you’ll also get to escape the cold back home!)

G Adventures Review: My verdict

Before I joined the tour, I spent a week in Costa Rica by myself. During that week, I spent about $630 on private rooms in mid-range hotels, and $100 on transport. So $730 just for transport and accommodation in a single week, travelling by myself.

On that basis, the G Adventures Costa Rica tour is very good value. For less money than I would have spent travelling by myself, I got my whole trip organised for me, all my accommodation, an expert guide, some meals and activities, and a group of like-minded people to hang out with.

It did cost a lot more to do all the activities, but Costa Rica is not a cheap destination, and the activities we did do were varied, exciting, well-managed, and worth paying for.

Cost aside, I thought this was an excellent tour. It was well planned, with a good balance between activities and free time. There was an excellent choice of activities and a good balance between wildlife spotting and hiking and other adventure sports.

Bus journeys were no longer than about four hours each and we always spent at least two nights in each destination, so while the itinerary did feel packed, we weren’t overwhelmed and rushed.

While group travel may not be for everyone , I do think that if you want to explore Costa Rica with the comfort and safety of a group and the convenience of having your trip planned for you, then the G Adventures Costa Rica Adventure Tour could be just the thing you’re looking for.

But don’t just take my word for it! Click here and then scroll down to read hundreds more reviews from previous customers.

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Where to next?

If you enjoyed this post, why not try some of my other group holidays posts?

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• An Ideal Morocco Itinerary in 2 Weeks
• The Beautiful Leg-Rowing Inle Lake Fishermen, Myanmar
• The Best Wheeled Backpack: Osprey Farpoint Wheels 65 Review
• How To Climb Kilimanjaro In 10 Easy Steps

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Physical requriments : Most trips are moderate. You will be required to carry your own luggage and use public transportation so pack light!

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G adventures reviews & ratings.

15d National Geographic Inca Explorer

Fantastic exploration of Peru

The tour had an excellent itinerary and activities, giving a broad overview of Peru - we loved it. Accommodations (with one exception) were great, and all had an inc...

AWFUL G ADVENTURES NATIONAL GEOGRAHIC EXPERIENCE

After having one fantastic overseas trip with Nat. Geo. several years ago, we decided on a US trip. When I had to cancel due to a medical issue, I found out what you...

One of the Best Trips Taken to Europe!

We spent two wonderful weeks touring several of the best destinations in Portugal & Spain with a group of 16 people. Our guide (Fredy) was from Spain and intimat...

Great itinerary filled with variety of experiences & wonderful guide

Trip exceeded my expectations - not only did we have an excellent guide who was very personable, fun, and put extra attention to everyone's needs, but the country an...

Rip-off. Very different from the description advertised

The feeling of having been ripped off ruined a good part of the holiday. Several things were different from advertised, which makes a big difference when you think y...

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Editoral Review of G Adventures

Specializing in small-group, multi-day adventure tours and expeditions, Toronto-based G Adventures has been a pioneer in the field since 1990.

Founded by entrepreneur Bruce Poon Tip after a backpacking trip to Asia, the company fosters sustainable and environmentally sound tourism practices -- giving back to the communities they visit -- and considers its business “changing people’s lives,” not just offering a vacation.

It’s since grown to become the world’s largest independent adventure travel company, with more than 2,000+ employees, many of them professionally trained guides.

What Makes G Adventures Stand Out?

• Small group size
• Well-balanced, all encompassing, and adventurous trips
• Strong engagement with local cultures
• Emphasis on being a responsible traveler and giving back to the community
• Trips that are made to be life-changing

G Adventures strives to create unique experiences for its travelers that start even before the trip itself. The company provides trip inspiration through their Looptail blog and you can connect with fellow travelers via the ‘Departure Lounge’, which is part of G’s ‘Watering Hole’ travel forum.

Once on your trip, you will meet your ‘CEO’ or ‘Chief Experience Officer’ who is “responsible for enriching your journey, offering local insight, and pursuing great experiences as they happen.” Most groups average around 12 travelers, with a maximum of 16 on most trips.

G Adventures has made a concerted effort to expand their offering beyond youth focused adventures, though this remains a core theme. Your Europe River Cruise will be imbued with the same culturally immersive and adventurous touch as your trekking trip through the Himalayas.

Who Will Enjoy Traveling With G Adventures?

• Adventurous-minded and culturally curious people
• Moderately active people
• Ages 18-39 (but all ages are welcome)
• Solo travelers (no single supplement charge!)
• Those who favor authentic experiences over luxury   

If you are the kind of traveler who packs running shoes before dress shoes, hiking attire before dinner attire, and a sense of adventure before playing it safe, then G Adventures is the perfect fit for you. You love engaging with locals, meeting new people, and being spontaneous. 

Most G Adventures tours have an active focus - expect to be on the move, packing a lot in. That said they do allot generous free time to explore on your own.  There’s a chance you may not see every major tourist attraction in the interest of a more “real” experience. But the nice thing is if a particular site is not on the itinerary, you can use your free time to visit.

If you are interested in a tour that plans every part of the itinerary down to the minute, G Adventures will probably not be the best fit for you. 

Groups are geographically diverse, with a higher proportion of North Americans than some other operators. 

Top Destinations

You can find G Adventures trips to most parts of the globe, including  32 countries in Europe , 25 countries in sub-Saharan Africa, 21 countries in Asia, 10 countries in South America, 12 countries in Central America and the Caribbean, five countries in North Africa and the Mideast, plus the U.S., and Canada .

A number of destinations are well off the beaten track, from Sao Tome and Principe in West Africa to Borneo in east Asia to the Maldives in the Indian Ocean and both polar regions.

Itineraries often focus on more off the beaten path locations; small towns, remote and rural villages, less touristy districts and sites.

G Adventures Travel Style

Pricing is competitive (cheaper), largely by using “grassroots” approaches: local transport and a mix of privately-owned accommodations, perhaps including homestays and camping. Efforts are made to focus on authenticity with both culinary choices (locally-owned restaurants) as well as transportation methods.

G Adventures truly offers something for everyone. Trip styles include Classic, Active, Rail, YOLO (You Only Live Once - for 18-39’s), National Geographic Journeys, Marine, Family, Local Living, and Private Groups.

Classic - Classic trips with G Adventures are designed for independent minded travelers who don’t want to miss anything. This is the perfect choice if you want a balanced mix of classic tourist sights and local cultural experiences.

Active - Throwing it back to one of the things G Adventures does best. Kayak, walk, hike, trek; experience your destination through the outdoors. These multi-sport trips are great if you hate standing still and enjoy being out in nature. G Adventures Active tours are ideal for those who are relatively physically fit and like a challenge.

Rail - A rail journey is a great way to dial it back. Take it slow and really savor the feeling of the journey. Take iconic routes and enjoy the ride.

YOLO - “You only live once” is the acronym, and while G Adventures provides adventurous experiences for all, these trips are specifically designed for 18-39 year olds. Get cheeky, get wild, experience life unfettered, as you explore the culture and the local nightlife. If you have the stamina, these trips are once in a lifetime. Kind of like the age range.

National Geographic Journeys - A more premium travel experience, these G Adventures trips, as part of a partnership with National Geographic Expeditions, involve the same culturally immersive approach and knowledgeable guides with an elevated level of accommodations and service.

Marine - Love to be out on the water? Let G Adventures cruises take you to the far reaches of the globe via river and ocean. Experience incredible sights above and below the surface. Unpack once and enjoy the escape of being a part of the crew and passengers.

Family - Adventure tours aren’t always especially friendly to younger travelers. G Adventures Family Friendly tours make adventure activities accessible for you and your youngsters! Trips often have an educational element, and are designed with multiple ages in mind.

Local Living - Get to the heart of it with a homestay. These tours are designed to make you really feel at home and appreciate the feel and rhythm of living like a local.

Private Groups - If you and your family, or a group of friends want the fun all to yourself, G Adventures can plan a private group trip just for you.

Note: part of the culturally immersive experience when traveling with G Adventures is the use of public transportation. This means carrying your own luggage on buses, trains, etc - sometimes during commute hours! So pack light for your own comfort and the comfort of those around you.

Why Choose a Tour With G Adventures?

For those travelers seeking an exciting, professionally guided, and culturally immersive travel experience G Adventures is the perfect tour company to consider. Their trips are designed to be as authentic as possible - and they place much emphasis on responsible travel and giving back to local communities - so you’ll know your tourism dollars are going toward meaningful causes.

Trips with G Adventures are not luxury by any means. But if unique experiences and active days appeal to you over a fluffy pillow then you’re in the right place.

Departures are guaranteed once you’ve paid (barring significant weather or safety issues). And they don’t charge single supplements. In short, G Adventures wants you out there with them.

You can find something for everyone at G Adventures; whether that’s sailing down the Danube with a glass of wine in hand, or traipsing through the rainforests of Costa Rica.

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About the company.

G Adventures is an adventure travel pioneer offering the planet's most awe-inspiring selection of affordable small-group tours, safaris and expeditions. Our award-winning trips embrace authentic accommodation, exotic cuisine and local transport to put travellers on a first-name basis with the planet’s people, cultures, landscapes and wildlife.

Adventure travel is more than a vacation. It’s a chance to get to know your world better by putting yourself on a first-name basis with the people, places, and things that make it worth exploring. This is your planet. Come and get it.

All G Adventures tours share a common love of adventure, but life-altering experiences come in a variety of flavors. Here are some of the Travel Styles we offer:

"Comfort": “Adventure travel” doesn’t have to mean “roughing it.” Comfort tours offer the genuine experiences you want with more extras, frills, and upgrades.

"Classic": An unbeatable mix of uncommon experiences, insider access, cultural contact, and all the must-sees and -dos, Classic is adventure perfected.

"Active":  Why just see the world when you could bike, hike, kayak, and multi-sport it? Why, indeed. Active tours keep travellers who like to move on the move.

"Yolo":  You’re only young once. Make the most of it with Yolo tours, fun-filled and fast-moving adventures designed just for travellers aged 18 to 39.

"Family":  Just because you settled down and had kids doesn’t mean your adventuring days are through. Family makes our big planet small enough for all.

"Local Living":  Want to get under the skin of some of the most gorgeous and out-there places? Local Living tours grant access that even locals don't have.

"Private Groups":  Got a group of eight or more and want to keep the fun to yourselves? Try a Private Group tour. You pick the who and where, we’ll handle the what.

No matter what kind of traveller you are, we’ve got a tour (or a dozen) that’ll fit you just right.

• 100% Guaranteed Departures
• Lifetime Deposits
• 24/7 Service
• Awards include one of National Geographic Traveler's Tours of a Lifetime and one of National Geographic Adventure's "Best Adventure Tour Outfitters." Several times named Canada's Favorite Adventure Tour Operator.

To speak with G Adventure Travel Specialist  call 1-855-667-9514  

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G Adventures Trips & Specials

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Classic Belize & Tikal

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Save up to 30% on trips worldwide when booked by 4/30/2019

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Your trip, your way, planned by an expert:.

• You choose budget, destinations, activities, transport & lodging type
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Do I need Travel Insurance?

Yes! Travel insurance is required for all travelers on G Adventures trips. If you don’t have your own insurance already, you can purchase a plan for the time you’ll be traveling when you book your G Adventures tour. This is an easy and budget friendly option. If you’re interested in browsing more plans, check out  the top travel insurance options »

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We have gone on 4 G Adventure's tours…

We have gone on 4 G Adventures tours and every trip has been a positive experience. Our CEOs have all been outstanding because they all had an in-depth knowledge of the countries we visited. Our latest trip involved participants leaving and joining the core group, and thanks to our wonderful CEO, Kami, the integration was seamless. We highly recommend G Adventures for their professionalism and we are looking forward to our next adventure.

Date of experience : May 11, 2024

Recently I took G Adventures National…

I just returned from a G Adventures National Geographic trip to Nepal. Our trip included a night at a monestery, visits to cultural sites where I learned a little of the history of Nepal and Tibet, and was overwhelmed by the beauty of the countryside, and saddened by the problems and history of these countries. Our CEO/tour guide (B.K.) made for a once in a life experience (including a safari where we caught some rhinos at a watering hole). I suffered a minor incident of dehydration and the CEO took me to a nearby clinic, stayed with me, and was extremely kind and competent. I've since picked up some books on Buddhism and the history of Nepal and Tibet--tragic, fascinating and complicated.

Date of experience : August 07, 2023

Great Chief Experience Offer Hugo on…

Great Chief Experience Offer Hugo on Colombia Express. They should recommend much higher tips for him they only suggest 30-40 USD for a week's tour.Should be double hasn't changed since 2018. Their business model depends totally on his role and if you had a weak one it would be a disaster. This is my second tour with them and overall I've found them good.

Date of experience : November 18, 2023

Classic Mayan Tour great for archeological sites

We did the 15 day classic Mayan discovery tour with G Adventures. Our guide was Ingrid M. Our group was eight people. We liked the pacing, the locally situated hotels, and the range of public and private travel options. The selection of activities was great. The small group meant we could get into places the big groups can’t. Ingrid was fantastic. It’s like she was a member of our group. She sat with us and ate with us. She translated menus, made recommendations, and ordered for us. There were lots of optionals for our tour but she would ask what we were interested in and book things that weren't even on the list. We created an archeological tour for ourselves (11 sites in total) whereas other group members created water activity tours for themselves. G Adventures is now my preferred travel company.

Date of experience : March 04, 2023

Both G tours were great!

I have been on two G-adventures tours. Peru (Machu Picchu) and Tenerife (Canary Islands). Both trips were great! The CEO's and drivers were all very professional. Hikes, tours, and activities were all well planned out and enjoyable. The groups of travelers on both tours were all good people and interesting to talk to. I would not hesitate to use G-adventures for my next trip.

Date of experience : December 18, 2023

I’ve just returned from a wonderful trip to Oman with g adventures. Zuhair our tour guide and jaja(?spelling!) our driver went out of their way to make this a memorable fun trip. The Omani people were very kind and welcoming everywhere we went. The itinerary provided a great overview of the country with plenty of time to swim shop and explore! Thankyou gadventures!

Date of experience : December 17, 2023

Went on a 1 month trip around south…

Went on a 1 month trip around south east Asia with g adventures. Wow, best trip ever. Very professional and amazing guide Ratha Van. The trip is planned to perfection with time for culture exploring and fun. I wish I could go back and relive it! They also help and donate a lot to small communities, and help the family and kids in need. I can only recommend!!!

Date of experience : January 11, 2024

Mayan Encounter Nov 2023

Mayan Encounter Nov 2023: Our guide Cristian, a Belizean by birth, made our tour through Guatemala,Belize and Mexico very special: his enthusiasm, local knowledge (through all countries) and good humour were invaluable! The poor weather (rain) meant some planned activities were cancelled, so maybe early November wasn't a good choice? but Christian kept things upbeat.

Date of experience : November 08, 2023

Have been travelling all over the world…

Have been travelling all over the world with those guys. Always satisfied. For those who like us don’t want the logistics worries and want some free time, it’s your best bet.

Date of experience : May 23, 2024

Cruising with Reina Silva Voyager in Galápagos incredible good

Cruising with Reina Silva Voyager in Galápagos archipelago, Tower route, was an amazing and wonderful experience. The vessel, crew and CEO Omar was fantastic and I will deeply recommend this tour with G. Again, thank you Omar, you made my tour really special. Keep it up, G!!

Date of experience : August 25, 2023

Classic Bali, Lombok & Gili islands 2 week tour

Me & my partner recently went on a 2 week Gadventures tour (Classic Bali, Lombok & Gili islands) It was the holiday of a life time! Our guide for 2 weeks was called Budi, he was so friendly, smiley, helpful, knowledgeable, if anyone needed help with sorting something he knew where to go. The whole holiday was full of activities, some optional, but we chose to do everything we could each day to make the most out of it. I would recommend doing a tour with Gadventures if you want great adventures, activities & experiences and unique hotels that are different from your general high street travel agents, they are really good value for money too. There was a lot of solo travellers in our group which makes it great if you don’t have anyone to go with but also want some company, all our group was so friendly too.

Date of experience : April 20, 2024

~Alber Samuel treats his guests Fairly

~Alber Samuel treats his guests Fairly, friendly ,and perfectly. He is keen to make the tour is organized. He is organized, and very punctual. The tour program was was scheduled well, was on time. We didn't miss anything during the tour program. He is very informative about Egypt —We met him in the first time, and we felt we knew him for long time.

Date of experience : February 09, 2024

Japan - September 2023

We had the most incredible G Adventures tour of Japan, with the amazing guide Takae. Everything was organised brilliantly, and nothing was too much trouble for her. She went above and beyond what was expected, and really enhanced our experience of Japan. We have recommended G Adventures to family and friends, and would absolutely use them again.

Date of experience : September 10, 2023

Sicily tour with G Adventures

We paid for a 14 day tour of Sicily. Salvo, the tour guide was awesome and deserves a 5*. The group we had was also awesome and got along great. G Adventures failed to provide appropriate hotel accommodations and transportation. They tried to blame 3rd party providers for sub par transportation but the reality is we all paid G Adventures, not the 3rd party. Some hotels were ridiculously poor. We checked cost of these and figured they were 4x less expensive than what we were paying G Adventures for. When touring Sicily, choose someone else.

Date of experience : October 08, 2023

Amazing trip to India

Amazing trip to India. Varied between city and village. I travelled alone but group were great. Guide or CEO Shakti was just brilliant. Great knowledge, funny and passionate about his country. He helped make a special trip an amazing experience. Heather

Date of experience : March 26, 2023

The best 20 days in Rajasthan and Varanasi

I just finished 20 days in Rajasthan and Varanasi, India with G Adventures. This was my first group tour and it was the best experience. Our guide Siddhraj was amazing, incredibly knowledgeable and passionate about his work and his country. It was a Basic trip so accommodation was basic but always clean enough. We used public transport, buses, trains, and sleeper trains. These were always basic but adequate. Siddhraj made sure we were all safe on the sleeper trains and made sure we were all ready to leave even when we were spread across numerous coaches on the train which can’t have been easy as we were a group of almost 20. We were in Agra for Holi Festival and Siddhraj made sure we had somewhere safe to experience the festivities, going above and beyond to secure hotel rooms for us to shower in before our sleeper train. Everything on the tour was well-organised and ran smoothly. I would definitely recommend this trip to anyone considering it.

Date of experience : March 11, 2024

This was our first trip with G Adventures. We took the 8 day trip around Galapagos on their ship Yolita II. The guide, Adrienne, was knowledgeable and very pleasant. Each day had a variety of activities to choose from so you could fill your day or pick and choose what you wanted to do. The guide knew where to look for various animals so we saw an abundance of wildlife - lots of different sea birds, sea lions, a few kinds of iguanas, and many kinds of fishes. The only negative, and it's not G Adventures fault, is that the little ship rocks and rolls and night which can make sleeping challenging.

Date of experience : January 01, 2023

Had a great trip thanks to G adventures and the Guide Tony will travel again with thema fantastic trip to Vietnam…

Had a fantastic trip to Vietnam Cambodia and Thailand with G adventures. Our guide Tony was phenomenal and looked after all of us individually and collectively. He brought us to fantastic restaurants and even a local hous in hoi an where we tasted several starters and 2 main courses . Tony negotiated all the border crossings of the various countries visited and the transfer of our luggage which would have been very difficult without his skills. He was also great craic an Irish euphemism for good fun not the drug. G adventures did well to have such a great Guide and we wish Tony well for the future

Date of experience : March 19, 2023

Great Galapagos itinerary including…

Great Galapagos itinerary including multiple penguin encounters, hundreds of boobie birds, and close encounters with the adorable albatroses. Adrian, our certified guide, began each day with relevant insights on the land and marine animals we would enounter, and even properly cautioned us about the sweet smelling but dangerous Manzinilla/Poison apple tree, whose sap can cause blindness and whose apples can be deadly. The only negative was the cramped quarters and rough seas. The crew on the Eden were friendly and helpful and made the voyage more personable and enjoyable.

Date of experience : July 12, 2023

Essential Vietnam & Cambodia 2023

Recently returned from a Classic tour - Essential Vietnam & Cambodia. We had the absolutely best time and thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it. Our guide was local to Vietnam and gave us great tips for how to get around, what to see in our spare time, places to eat and everything else in between. Even the recommendations for Cambodia & Thailand were spot on and helped us navigate our holiday within our free-time. I would highly suggest G Adventures to anyone who wants a good mix of small group touring with the ability to do your own thing, all whilst having your accommodation and transport taken care of. Thank you Rocky for being an awesome tour guide, will be back to Vietnam!

Date of experience : October 10, 2023

One Week in Morocco with G Adventures [Tour Review]

Posted on Last updated: September 13, 2023

The first time I got introduced to the adventure travel company  G Adventures was when I worked in a hostel in Sydney , where I was also the in-house travel agent. One of the tour guides came to promote their product, as they all do, except for the fact that this time we didn’t so much have a sales talk, as just a great conversation about travel in general.

While I never got to try their products and write a G Adventures review for you, this moment stuck with me and I was reminded of them again when I got the invitation to the Future of Tourism event that was held at the Royal Geographical Society in London in the beginning of April 2014. G Adventures was the host, together with the Planeterra Foundation .

Besides an evening of discussion about whether tourism can be a force for growth, change and global good, there was also the UK launch of the first book of G Adventures’ founder Bruce Poon Tip: “ Looptail : How One Company Changed the World by Reinventing Business “. If you’re interested in learning more about the remarkable history of G Adventures and the life of Bruce Poon Tip, I can highly recommend reading this book!

On the evening, Bruce talked about how technology has taken away the element of surprise for travel these days, how travel has become an emotional purchase and how, luckily, the consumer is changing how they book trips. People want their vacation choices to match the way they live (responsible travel not package holidays) and they want to give back and do good, they no longer spend randomly on their travels.

The evening really made me think about just how travel can make a difference to this world and how the travel industry has the responsibility to provide their customers with products that benefits everyone.

“Travel can be a force for good. It can transform lives and communities, but it has to be done right. The core issue for sustainable tourism is consumer awareness. We need to educate consumers on the power of their purchasing decisions and the change that it can bring.”

For example, did you know that of $100 spent on vacation in developing countries, only $5 stays in local hands? (source: UNEP). Tourism really has the opportunity to distribute more wealth across the world, but besides creating better products, they need the consumer to help by making more considerate choices when they book their travels. Like Bruce said: “As a consumer your buying power will change the world. You need to be willing to pay a premium for sustainability.”

All this came full-circle when a few months ago, Nick and I had the chance to join a G Adventures tour group for one week in Morocco , where we travelled for a week from Casablanca to Marrakech  via Fez . Curious to find out what we did on this trip? Keep reading!

ONE WEEK IN MOROCCO – CASABLANCA TO MARRAKESH

G Adventures Tour of Morocco

We chose for the “ Morocco Kasbahs & Desert ” Tour by G Adventures, which is a guided, 8-day tour from Casablanca to Marrakech .

You’ll get to wander through old medina’s, taste local food, ride a camel to stay in the desert overnight and visit natural gorges and Roman ruins. It’s a nice mix of everything Morocco has to offer and a great choice for people that have never visited the country and have limited time.

The pace of this short trip is very fast, since you’re covering a lot of ground, so expect to be in the car about 4-10 hours each day with early departures and not a lot of free time! Groups are about 10-14 people.

This G Adventures group trip is accompanied by a driver and a group leader, otherwise known as a Chief Experience Officer (CEO). He (in our case), makes sure you’ll have the best experience by taking away all the hassle, explaining about the historical, cultural, religious and social aspects of the country and giving you tips on what to see and do in each location. Apart from the main guide, there will be certified local city guides where more specific knowledge is required.

If you’re a solo traveler, you’ll be pleased to know that there is no single supplement on accommodation, but do note that if you aren’t paying extra for your own private room, you will be paired with someone of the same sex in a room.

What to do in Casablanca?

The tour itself doesn’t spend any time in Casablanca, so we can recommend what we did and arrive a day early to explore on your own.

Casablanca is an easy city to navigate and has a nice mix of architecture, restaurants, a beachfront and an old medina for you to explore. Something you definitely don’t want to skip is a visit to the  Hassan II Mosque .

To see all our recommendations on things to do in Casablanca, make sure to read our entire guide to Casablanca:

One Day in Casablanca, Morocco? Complete City Break Guide

What to do in Meknès?

After our welcome meeting and a dinner in Casablanca the night before departure, we head off in a minibus to our first stop of the tour: a traditional lunch in Meknès. G Adventures supports projects all over the world and in Morocco they arrange a lunch that benefits rural Moroccan women and children.

This G Adventures lunch program provides access to education opportunities and healthcare services, so these women can support their families and children. The home-cooked Moroccan meal is lovely and you’ll even get the chance to practice a bit of  Arabic when meeting the women. We thought this was a great first stop along the way!

After our meal, some of us on the tour wandered around the little market for a bit and especially the butcher area was a bit of a shocker, so be aware of the pictures below if you are a sensitive person!

What to do in Volubilis?

From Meknès, we drive to the ancient Roman ruins of Volubilis , where we get a guided tour and see some of the most incredible mosaics! This site has some of the best-preserved Roman ruins in this part of Northern Africa, so you can imagine why this is a UNESCO World Heritage Site!

We wander around the old bathhouses, see all the incredibly detailed mosaic floors and gaze up at towering marble pillars. We even walk over the same road that people walked over thousands of years ago! It’s hard not to be impressed here.

What to do in Fez?

After Volubilis, it’s on the bus again as we continue to Fez / Fès, which turned out to be our favourite city on this tour. We stayed overnight in the New City of Fez, which wasn’t really that interesting, but at night we decided to go to the old city to soak up a bit more atmosphere, which was a good idea.

The following morning, we got a guided tour of the old medina (with over 9000 streets!) that featured buildings that date back to the 9th century. There are also 350 mosques in the medina that are still in use today, which was super impressive.

We also saw lots of handicrafts such as pottery and tanneries and wished we had more space in our backpacks already, haha! Some people in our group arranged a hammam at the hotel, which is not really something for us, but they loved it.

You can read our entire guide to Fez here and find out what else we did in this amazing city:

One Day in Fez, Morocco? Complete City Break Guide

What to do in Merzouga?

From Fez, we drove through the Middle Atlas Mountains to Merzouga , which was a 10 hour journey and really quite a long sit for everyone. We saw the landscape change from green to red as we reached the edge of the Sahara Desert, where we ‘boarded’ a camel to take us to a traditional Berber desert camp.

Unfortunately for us, we had a bit of rain on the way over to the desert (yes, apparently we really were this ‘lucky’), so we only had grey skies and what was supposed to be the highlight of this tour was a bit disappointing for us, as we didn’t even see any stars and couldn’t sleep outside. We still liked the experience though and were happy we got to see the camp, but yeah, bit of a bummer for our group!

What to do in Tinejdad?

On our way to Todra Gorge, our next overnight stay, we made a few stops along the way. Here, we saw a factory where they produce products out of fossilized stone from the area, and we also visited Ksar El Khorbat Oujdid, a “ksar” (fortified village) completely built out of rammed earth near the town of Tinejdad, that was built in 1860 and is still inhabited. The houses here are built over the alleys below, so the alleys are dark and cool, which is of course nice if you pretty much live in the desert.

Here, you can visit a museum or have a nice lunch, like we did.

What to do in Todra Gorge?

After some more driving, we finally arrive at Todra Gorge which is a gorge wedged between massive cliff walls. Around it, there is a green oasis filled with palm trees and we took some time to walk through the local village farmlands and explore the area a bit, before going for a quick (rather chilly) swim and dinner in our accommodation.

What to do in Ouarzazate?

After a good night’s sleep, we depart Todra Gorge again and head onwards to the Aït Ben Haddou Kasbah, a UNESCO World Heritage site. But before we get there, we travel along the “Route of 1000 Kasbahs” to make a quick lunch stop at the thriving town of Ouarzazate.

This town is home to the Atlas Film Studios, where many films have been shot over the years, including Lawrence of Arabia and Gladiator.

What to do in Ait Benhaddou?

As I said, Ait Benhaddou is a UNESCO World Heritage site and as soon as you arrive, you can see why. Of all the remaining Kasbahs (a type of medina or fortress) in Morocco, the walls and interior of this area are the most intact. The Kasbah still houses a few families, but many now live in the adjacent village.

Like many of the earthen built fortresses in Ouarzazate, Aït Ben Haddou has been used in many film and television productions like Gladiator, Babel, and my favourite: Game of Thrones! (see more GOTR film locations I visited in Malta and Northern-Ireland )

In Ait Benhaddou, you can opt for a cooking class, but Nick and I just walk around town for a bit an relax the afternoon. We do go with our guide on a little walk up the hill, so we can get a stunning view over the area.

What to do in The Atlas Mountains?

On our final day of the tour, we again drive through the Atlas Mountains and are this time treated with some a-ma-zing views into the distance.

We make a quick stop at a shop that sells argan oil, before we drive into our last stop of the tour: Marrakech!

What to do in Marrakech?

In Marrakech, we get a guided walk from a local guide with G Adventures to see the Saadien’s Tombs, Bahia Palace, before we head in to the maze of tiny streets and alleyways of the ancient medina surrounding the famous Djemaa el Fna market square.

We say farewell to our group and group leader and spend one more day on our own in Marrakech, to visit the lovely Jardin Majorelle, The Yves Saint Laurent Museum and to go on the incredible Marrakech Food Tour , which you can read more about (and should definitely do as well!) below:

Curious on what else to see and do in Marrakech? Make sure to read our complete guide:

One Day in Marrakech, Morocco? Complete City Break Guide

For our review on the Marrakech Food Tour, click below:

Marrakech Food Tours: Taste the Best Traditional Moroccan Food With a Local [Tour Review]

In one week’s time, we saw so much of Morocco, that we would have never been able to see on our own. We loved having a local guide with us on the trip, so we got to understand much more about Moroccan culture!

Read more about this tour on the G Adventures website >>>

Yes, this tour is super fast paced and it would probably be better if you had more time (G Adventures offers many more tours, some of which cover the same are, but a bit more relaxed), but if you’re like us and just don’t have many days to travel because of Nick’s limited holidays, this was a great option.

We had a nice mix of people on our trip, but I did have the feeling that not everyone had a good sense of the type of trip they’d booked, or it just wasn’t the type of trip suited for them. They had problems with not being able to buy alcohol or having no fridges on their hotel rooms and limited food options, for example, which of course is a bit silly if you know that you’re travelling to a Muslim country and will be staying in the desert and small rural villages most of the time!

What we didn’t expect was to spend quite a lot of money on things like food, activities and tips (there are just 7 breakfasts, 1 lunch and 1 dinner included in the trip), so make sure to calculate some extra money for this. We were happy to have brought a few granola bars and other snacks/sweets as well, and we can recommend you do the same BEFORE you depart (there is a chance to get things in the supermarket in Casablanca), because there are limited to no options to get anything like that along the way.

That said, we had a great time and this tour definitely provided a nice introduction to a country we’d never been to and felt a bit hesitant to visit alone, as we just had no clue what to expect. Morocco turned out to be a fantastic destination to visit, with super friendly people, amazing architecture and a rich history. We would love to come back one day and see more of the country in the future.

Thank you  G Adventures  for helping us create some amazing memories!

Plan your Morocco Trip

Time Zone in Morocco?  GMT +1

Currency in Morocco? Moroccan Dirham.  Check the latest exchange rate here .

Languages Spoken in Morocco?  Moroccan Arabic (Darija), Arabic & Berber +  French . We had no trouble getting around with just English and our G Adventure guide helped us everywhere, as he was a local and spoke all the languages needed.

Best time to visit Morocco & Marrakech Travel?  Spring (March-May) or Autumn (September-October). Summer can be nice on the coast, but will definitely be too warm more inland. Make sure to also take the date of Ramadan, the month of daytime fasting, in account when planning your trip!

Insurance for Morocco?  Make sure to get travel insurance!  We recommend checking out worldnomads.com

Flights to Morocco:

• Find the best flights to Marrakech
• Find the best flights to Casablanca
• Find the best flights to Fez

Hotels in Morocco:

• Find the best hotels in Marrakech
• Find the best hotels in Casablanca
• Find the best hotels in Fez

Tours in Morocco: 

• The most popular tours & activities around Morocco

I hope you enjoyed all the suggestions for Marrakech Morocco things to do!

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Make sure to check out our other Morocco articles:

• One Day in Casablanca
• One Day in Fez
• One Day in Marrakech
• Marrakech Food Tour Review

Here are some other great Morocco articles written by our fellow blogging friends and colleagues:

• Maroc Mama [Entire Website: marocmama.com ]
• One Week In Morocco – Morocco Itinerary For Marrakech And Essaouira [ wonderfulwanderings.com ]
• Hiking In The Atlas Mountains , Morocco [ insidethetravellab.com ]
• Mysterious Chefchaouen : The Blue Pearl Of Morocco [ expertvagabond.com ]
• Taroudant, Morocco : So how many camels are you worth? [ adventurousmiriam.com ]
• A Guide To Essaouira | Morocco’s Windy City [ alongdustyroads.com ]

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Disclaimer:  We were hosted on our tour through Morocco by G Adventures. All photos and opinions in this article are, as always, 100% our own. This post contains affiliate links. 

Khalil Bouhajra

Friday 17th of January 2020

Great Post and beautiful pictures, next time try Erg Chigaga dunes the biggest in Morocco

Thursday 27th of June 2019

I found the article by accident, it's nice and interesting to read the adventures of others in Morocco. There is nothing better when, like me, you are planning a trip. Congratulations on the article, I take this opportunity to ask you something. At Christmas and New Year I will travel with my family, my wife and our two children aged 9 and 10 in Morocco. We are customizing our trip with excursions

Monday 27th of May 2019

Rue Soukarno, Rue Djakarta and Rue Bandung the name of the street in Morocco, precisely in the city of Rabat, ... where 3 street names were taken from Indonesia

Ryan K Biddulph

Monday 4th of February 2019

Excellent breakdown Nienke. Fabulous job. Bruce speaks great wisdom too. Travel can be a force for good if you circle the globe with compassion and mindfulness.

Monday 21st of January 2019

Morocco got a lot of places to visit .but in my opinion its not about the place its a cultural visit (another culture and ways of living ) you should meet locals see them work maybe talk to them

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Basic Costa Rica Tour with G Adventures – Review & My Experience

• July 17, 2021

There is a good chance that this post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase through them, I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you! As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. As ever, all opinions are my own.

I was so fed up with my friends committing to travelling with me and then backing out at the last minute. So fed up, in fact, that I decided to just go and travel by myself!

This is how I first became a solo traveller, and I gotta admit, it was daunting! I knew I wanted to go to Costa Rica, but I just didn’t have the confidence at that point to go completely solo.

That’s when I came across the G Adventures Basic Costa Rica trip . It was the perfect way to dip my toe into solo travelling, without it being terrifying. Plus, with an epic itinerary that ticked every single one of my boxes, and really reasonable prices, I knew it was the perfect match. 

I want to share my opinions and experiences with you in this review of the G Adventures Basic Costa Rica tour I took, because there was barely any information available from people who had been on the tour before I booked, and I would always prefer to hear from someone who has been there and done it!

I paid for the whole of this trip by myself. This review isn’t sponsored by G Adventures and all opinions are well and truly my own!

I had an incredible time in Costa Rica with G Adventures, and it was the trip that really got me obsessed with travel, and solo travel. It boosted my confidence beyond belief, and since my G Adventures Costa Rica tour, I travelled in Vietnam with them, before realising I had the confidence to travel to 10 other countries totally solo!

Here’s what we’ll cover in this G Adventures Costa Rica review :

• Reasons you should travel with G Adventures
• The good and the not so good parts of travelling with G Adventures

Why I chose G Adventures

• Accommodation
• Group Sizes
• Average Age on G Adventures Tours
• What you’ll need to budget for on a G Adventures tour.
• My experience.

Click Here to see the full Basic Costa Rica Itinerary with G Adventures

Table of Contents

G Adventures Review

Why should i travel with g adventures.

There are 1000 different reasons people travel on a group tour. For me, it was because I didn’t have the confidence to travel completely by myself at that point. I was also worried that I would get lonely if I travelled totally solo. 

For others, it’s safety. If you’re heading to a country where you don’t speak the language, solo travel can feel pretty intimidating. Especially in countries like Costa Rica which, whilst not particularly dangerous, don’t have a great reputation for safety either.

I really appreciated that our guide knew where it was fine to walk alone at night and where we should take a taxi, and always gave us up to date safety advice.

I’m so glad I took a group tour in Costa Rica as it took all the overwhelming parts of taking my first big trip out of the picture. I didn’t have to do any research to create an itinerary, there were no worries about how to get from A to B, and I had a built-in group of friends to travel with! 

Nowadays, whilst I have so much more confidence and love solo travel, you really can’t beat the convenience of a group tour. I work A LOT, and not having to spend like, 100 hours planning my trip is always appealing. If you’re short on free time, getting G Adventures to do all the planning and logistics is well worth the price.

What are the advantages of travelling with G Adventures?

• Safety . Your knowledgeable guide will always make sure you keep safe and will let you know of any safety recommendations they would like to share for certain destinations. This kind of stuff can be hard to find without speaking to locals, so the guide’s knowledge can be invaluable.
• Ready-made friends . You won’t need to worry about eating alone or spending every day by yourself, as G Adventures puts a lot of time into helping the group to bond. This includes group dinners, group nights out and also different tours for specific age groups, so you’re likely to meet travellers who have the same travel style as you. 
• Ideal for solo travellers . I was worried that I would be the only person on my tour who was travelling by myself. To my relief, about 85% of our tour group were solo travellers! This means you’ll never be the odd one out, and everybody is super open to making new friends. The tour also had a couple and a pair of friends on the tour too, who also were really open to making friends within the group. So there’s just no way you’ll feel isolated.
• Convenience . With everything already booked and organised for you, the only thing you’ll have to arrange will be your flights. This takes so much headache and worrying off your trip planning, and will save you so much time. Trip planning can be a headache, and choosing your itinerary can take forever. G Adventures makes all of those decisions for you. It’s ideal if you want to relax on your trip, as all you’ll have to do is turn up at the time your tour leader tells you to and they’ll sort the rest. That mean no navigating unfamiliar bus stations trying to work out where you’re supposed to go!
• Information . Guides for G Adventures are almost always locals themselves, and they love nothing more than teaching you about local culture, history and traditions! They’ll also be super familiar with the locations you visit and will have priceless information such as which tours are worth your time, where to find the best cocktails and will also take you to their favourite local hangouts. For example, our awesome tour guide told us not to bother paying for hot springs entry in Monteverde and instead took us to some free hot springs that only locals knew about!

What are the disadvantages of travelling with G Adventures?

• There’s a risk with tour groups that you won’t really like anybody on the tour. This is rare, especially with G Adventures, who create separate tours for different age groups, so you’ll be surrounded by people who want to travel in the same style as you. I’d try not to worry about this. I met one of my best friends on the G Adventures Costa Rica trip, and we’ve since travelled to 3 other countries together! Even if you don’t make friends for life, it’ll still be better than travelling completely solo.
• Whilst it’s great to have your itinerary planned out for you, the tour doesn’t offer any flexibility, for example if you fall in love with a spot and would prefer to spend a few extra days there. However, nothing is stopping you from returning once the tour ends or making another trip! For example, during my G Adventures Costa Rica tour a few people headed to Tamarindo once it had ended. I had never heard of Tamarindo, but now I really want to go! You’ve just got to accept that you’ll never be able to see an entire country in one trip. 
• Tours are not usually as cheap as going completely independently. That said, the Basic Costa Rica tour with G Adventures is really affordable and definitely good value for money. The amount of convenience it offers is more than worth the extra cost.

G Adventures’ biggest competitor is probably Intrepid Travel, who also offer group tours around the world. However, when it came to comparing the two for my trip to Costa Rica, G Adventures won the competition hands down. Here’s why:

• G Adventures have 5 of 18-39 tours in Costa Rica, which was the type of tour I wanted to book onto since I was 19 at the time and wanted to travel with people my age. In comparison, Intrepid only have 2 – and both were far too long for me. I could only take two weeks off work, and Intrepid’s tours were 17 and 32 days, which were both too long for me.
• G Adventures have a great cancellation policy. Most tour companies will keep your money if you back out from a tour. G Adventures, on the other hand, has a kick-ass cancellation policy that allows you to swap your trip dates, or swap your trip entirely for one of the same value. Check out their cancellation policy here .
• You can secure your trip with just a small deposit, giving you more time to save up. This really was a game-changer for me, as at the time I just didn’t have the full amount ready to spend when I booked. You only have to pay 30% of the tour price on booking, and the balance is due a few weeks before the trip. If you cancel, or can’t pay for the rest of the trip, your deposit will be a Lifetime deposit. This means you can use that deposit money to book another tour, with no expiration date. G Adventures really do look after their customers! You can find out more about their lifetime deposit here .
• G Adventures has a huge emphasis on responsible travel. To show this, they give every one of their tours a ‘ripple score’ based on how much they give back to the community. Most tours also include a ‘G for Good’ stop on the itinerary, where you’ll get the opportunity to volunteer or join a local charitable initiative for a few hours. To find out more about G Adventures’ approach to responsible travel, click here .

Click here to check out G Adventures’ current sale.

What to expect on a G Adventures Tour

G adventures accommodation..

This varies depending on the type of tour you book, but the tour description will always list the standard of accommodation on the trip. The accommodation on my Basic Costa Rica tour was, unsurprisingly, basic. This is because it’s a tour targeted at young, adventurous travellers, and G Adventures understand that hostel dorms are totally fine with that group as it means travellers will save money. 

G Adventures usually plans for travellers to share rooms to keep the tour costs down. They’ll always keep you with other travellers of your gender, though, You can also usually opt to pay a single supplement if you don’t want to share a room.

G Adventures Food

Some meals are included on your G Adventures tour but the majority aren’t. It’s best to check the tour itinerary to find out what’s included. If you’re camping, more meals are normally included. In my basic Costa Rica tour, just one breakfast and one dinner were included. For this reason, food will be one of the main things you’ll need to budget for on your trip. G Adventures provides a recommendation of how much extra to budget for food, but I find you can get by with much less than they recommend.

G Adventure Activities

If you’re travelling on an 18-35 tour such as the Basic Costa Rica tour, chances are not many activities will be included in the tour price.

I actually like this approach, though, as it keeps the cost of the tour down and means you’re only paying for activities you actually want to do. It’s a good idea to look over the tour itinerary to find out which activities are included, and which are optional extras (although there are usually a few more on offer than what’s listed online).

Then, you’ll be able to work out how much you’ll need to budget for extra activities based on the ones you want to do.

Who else will be on my G Adventures tour?

G adventures group sizes.

I love that G Adventures keep their group sizes small so that you can get to know everybody. The maximum is usually 16.

There were 16 people on the tour I went on , but the average is probably more like 10. When we came across another group from a different company that had an unbelievable 40 people on the tour, I was really relieved we had such a small group! 

Having a small group also means that you’re always able to speak to your tour guide one on one. This is so convenient as you can get their bespoke advice on what activities you want to do.

What Is the Average Age on a G Adventures Trip?

The average age of the group depends on what type of G Adventures trip you’re going on. If you’re on a classic tour , I’d say it’s probably 45 or so. But that’s just a guess, and varies every time!

On the G Adventures 18-35 tours, like the Basic Costa Rica tour, chances are you’ll have a good mixture of people of all ages within those brackets. The youngest person on my tour was 18, and the oldest was 33. Everybody was part of the group though, and I didn’t feel any divisions between people. I’d say the average age was 24 . 

Regardless of how old you are, I’m sure you’ll find it really won’t be an issue for you. Everybody on the tour will be excited to travel and keen to make new friends, so you already have things in common to talk about!

Budgeting for a G Adventures Tour

The cost of your tour includes your accommodation, transport, and some food and activities. So it makes it easy to budget since you know you’ll only have to pay for food and drink and activities once you’re there. On the tour itinerary you’ll find a breakdown of the cost of all optional activities and also a suggestion for how much extra you should bring for food and drink.

It’s also worth noting that flights aren’t included, so you’ll have to factor that into your budget too. The flights can be even more expensive than the tour itself, so it’s worth looking up your journey on the G Adventures flight finder or Skyscanner before you book so you know how much you’ll need to budget.

You’ll also need to consider how much your pre-travel vaccinations will cost, and how much you’d like to spend on souvenirs. If your flight is arriving the day before the tour or departing the day after, you’ll also need to find extra accommodation.

Don’t forget travel insurance! With all the activities included on G Adventures tours you should definitely have it. I recommend World Nomads for Costa Rica as they’re great at covering adventure activities and are very affordable.

Click here to check out my comprehensive packing list of everything I took on the tour so you don’t forget anything!

Basic Costa Rica G Adventures Review

My Experience on the G Adventures Basic Costa Rica Tour

The G Adventures Basic Costa Rica trip starts in San Jose. I arrived late at night and the G Adventures airport transfer was there to pick me up and take me to the starting hostel. There had been a welcome dinner for people on the tour that night but, since I was arriving later, I unfortunately missed it! This didn’t end up being an issue though, as I wasn’t the only one arriving late and I got to meet everybody early the next morning. 

Some people arrived in San Jose a few days early to do some sightseeing, but anybody who’s been to San Jose before will tell you there’s not much to do there, and there are a million nicer places to spend some extra time in Costa Rica.

Puerto Viejo

The next morning we caught a bus to the surf town of Puerto Viejo de Talamanca, on the Caribbean coast, and I instantly fell in love! We had a few days to explore the beach here, and our guide took us on a cycling tour to the nearby national park, which was an incredible day (and super cheap!)

From Puerto Viejo, we took another bus to La Fortuna, a lovely town right next to the Arenal volcano. From here, there were a ton of awesome activities, including hiking the Arenal Volcano and stand-up-paddleboarding on Lake Arenal. La Fortuna was far more touristy than Puerto Viejo, but it still had its own charm. 

Next was into the cloud forest at Monteverde, where the air got suddenly cooler and the humidity gave us a welcome break! Although Monteverde is pretty small and sleepy, there are a ton of activities you can do in the nearby area. I joined a canopy zipline tour, went hiking at the hanging bridges , and went horseback riding for the first time in my life! It was a magical experience, and one of the highlights of my Costa Rica adventure. 

The itinerary said we’d head to Santa Teresa next, but instead, we ended up in the small beachside town of Samara. I’m really glad we visited here, as the surf was amazing and I had a great time at our beachside hostel! 

One of the best things to do in Samara is hanging out at the beach and taking surf lessons. Even if you’re not interested in surfing, there’s a ton of other activities in Samara that the guide will help you to arrange. To find out more about this awesome destination and how awesome it is, be sure to read my huge guide to Samara here!

Returning to San Jose

You’ll round off the trip with a bus journey back to San Jose, where you’ll enjoy a final group dinner before the majority of people fly out the following day.

If your tour is anything like mine, a few people will have stayed in Samara to catch the bus to Tamarindo. So, if you’re looking to extend your stay in Costa Rica after the Basic Costa Rica tour has finished, this seems to be a popular option! 

Click here to check out the G Adventures Sale and browse the bargains!

So, what do I think of the Basic Costa Rica G Adventures tour?

If you haven’t already realised, I freaking loved the Basic Costa Rica trip with G Adventures, and I highly recommend it!

I was freaking out before I flew to Costa Rica, because I was just so, so nervous to travel by myself, but travelling in a group with G Adventures doesn’t actually feel like you’re ever travelling alone. 

If you had any hesitations, I hope this review has calmed them – G Adventures are an awesome company, and this trip really is the trip of a lifetime!

Click Here to book your place on the Basic Costa Rica tour!

Ella Moore is the founder of Many More Maps. Growing up just 45 minutes away from Liverpool, Ella has spent years exploring the city inside out. In her teenage years, she was introduced to the music of The Beatles, and the rest, they say, is history! Today, she stands as a leading authority on Beatles tourism in Liverpool, helping over 40,000 people a month to plan their dream trip to the city.

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Great info! I’m about to book my 9 Day Natural Highlights of Costa Rica now with G Adventures. I noticed a TON of activities are listed on the full itinerary. But when I go to book, only 2 are offered to pre-book (neither one appeals to me). Will I be able to book the activities I saw on G Adventures itinerary once I arrive in Costa Rica? Will the CEO book these for us and accept US cash or Visa? I really want to do ziplining, hanging bridges, horseback riding…none of which were listed when I went to book the tour.

Hi Melissa – thanks for your lovely comment! That’s right, you’ll be able to book the optional activities with the CEO on the tour. Usually the CEO will go over all the optional tours for the day ahead and you just book whatever you like then and pay the CEO in cash! Let me know if you have any other questions!

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G Adventures Review 2024 + Best of Iceland Tour

Let me start this review by prefacing that I had never considered taking a group tour (fun fact, I now host group tours!) before this trip. I didn’t like the idea of being cooped up with the same people (what if they suck?) or following an itinerary that could be sup-par.

So, if you’re not only interested in a review of G Adventures but are also on the fence about taking a group tour in general, this review is for you!

After years of being adamant about never taking a group tour, I considered it for Iceland because my time was limited, and I didn’t want to drive. It seemed like the smartest option to cover both of those items and get a good overview of the country from a local (all of G Adventures guides are local) — which was important to me.

I’ll admit right up until we left for Iceland, I was worried we had made a mistake booking this — if the booking hadn’t been last minute, I might have even canceled it.

Ultimately, I am glad I didn’t have the opportunity to back out. 

This trip broke all of my preconceived ideas about small group tours. It will always be one of the most memorable — not just because Iceland is a pretty unique country but because G Adventures did a great job with the itinerary, and we got to share it with some really lovely people. 

Iceland definitely won’t be my last tour! Keep reading for a full review of my G Adventures experience, including the Iceland adventure.

This article contains affiliate links (paid links) and Veggies Abroad is a member of Amazon Services LLC Associated Program. A t no cost to you, I may earn a small commission if you make a purchase — this helps keep Veggies Abroad churning out free content! For an explanation of our advertising partnerships, please review our privacy policy.

Table of Contents

G Adventures Review: Company Overview

G Adventures is a small group (most tours are less than 16 people, mine had 12) tour company that specializes in adventure travel, but I think what sets them apart is their commitment to the community. They share on their website that they are a “social enterprise as much a small group travel company.”

To be honest, this is what drew me to G Adventures in the first place. All of their itineraries are created to impact the community positively — most people assume that if they spend $1 in a town, all of it stays there, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. A recent report from the World Tourism Organization showed that only $5 of $100 actually remains in a community. All of the G Adventures itineraries come with a Ripple Score to show on a scale from 1 to 100 how much of your money is staying in the destination. 

In addition to that, all of their itineraries have high standards for animal and child welfare practices and respect local cultures. Some itineraries also support the non-profit Planetterra , which ensures that local communities can benefit from tourism through economic opportunities.  

Travel has the power to do great things, but as we’ve seen repeatedly, it can also be really destructive. As a traveler, blogger, and travel agent, I always want to support companies working to find ways to be better and care about how their business impacts others. 

The G Adventures Booking Process & Customer Service

You can book a G Adventures tour in two ways — directly on their website or through a travel advisor (I’m one of those, in case you didn’t know). 

Whichever way you choose, the process is straightforward (honestly, if you book through an advisor, you don’t have to worry about anything). If you book on your own, G Adventures offers a live chat feature on their website, which can be helpful if you have any questions or concerns. 

Regarding customer service, I found G Adventures to be very responsive and helpful. I had a few questions after I booked the Iceland tour, and they responded (via email) to each question in less than 24 hours. They have a 24/7 customer service line you can call if you need assistance while on your trip. 

What Does a G Adventures Tour Include? 

Exactly what is included in each tour varies, but it is always clearly described in the tour description. All tours will include your accommodations (the type of accommodations varies by tour), a guide, some activities, and transportation during the tour. 

Things that aren’t included are optional extra activities, airfare, airport ground transportation, travel insurance (which is required), meals (some might be included), and gratuity.

At the bottom of every tour, there is always a section that’s titled “What’s included,” and if you click on the “tour details” link, it will take you to a massive breakdown of the entire trip that covers things like emergency contacts, packing lists, visa requirements, etc.  

Does G Adventures Have Sustainability Initiatives?

G Adventures launched the Plastics Partnership Project to reduce its plastic footprint. Through the project, G Adventures works with its suppliers to reduce plastic consumption on its tours and encourages travelers to bring reusable water bottles, forgo sample-size personal care products, ditch straws, and more.

In addition to the Plastic Partnership, all tours are created to support the local community; this means supporting local businesses through activities, dining, accommodations, and more. They also work with the non-profit Planeterra to support sustainable tourism options. Planeterra works in collaboration with local communities, NGOs, and partners to support projects that support local communities, preserve cultural heritage, protect the environment, and improve livelihoods through tourism.

The organization provides funding, capacity-building support, and expertise to help develop and sustain community tourism initiatives. This includes initiatives such as homestays, cooperative-run guesthouses, women’s weaving and handicraft projects, and other community-led enterprises. Some of Planeterra’s projects have been integrated into G Adventures’ itineraries, allowing travelers to contribute to the local communities they visit directly.

To further bring all of these points together, G Adventures was involved in the production of the documentary, The Last Tourist. The film looks are the impact tourism has on the environment and local communities and begins the discussion for what’s next.

Would I Book a G Adventures Tour Again?

The bottom line for this review is that I would highly recommend G Adventures to anyone seeking a unique and immersive travel experience. The company’s commitment to responsible tourism and the support of local communities is terrific. I would suggest researching the specific tour you are interested in to ensure it aligns with your interests and abilities.

Best of Iceland G Adventures Tour Review

If you’re interested in exploring a large portion of Iceland but are short on time, this itinerary is for you! Word of warning, the itinerary is jam-packed, so if you don’t enjoy early mornings and being on the go, then you’ll want to scroll down to the final section of this review, “Other Iceland itineraries to consider.” 

Best of Iceland Itinerary

This 7-day itinerary covers many of the highlights of Iceland’s famous Ring Road (Route 1), starting in the capital, Reykjavik. The itinerary is broken down as follows:

Day 1 : Reykjavik 

Day 2 : Akureyri

Day 3 : Akureyri to Bakagerdi

Day 4 : Bakkagerdi/Hofn

Day 5 : Hofn/Vik

Day 6: Vik/The Golden Circle/ Reykjavik

Day 7: You can depart anytime from Reykjavik (or extend the trip if you have more time).

Included Activities

The itinerary included many popular stops along the way, with a few extras. One of the bonuses of traveling with a small group and with a local guide is that you can make detours if time allows. Our group really wanted to see puffins, so our guide added an extra stop just for us (also, probably to get us all to shut up about the puffins)! In addition to the puffins, we also saw:

• Dimmuborgir, and Námaskarð stops
• Mývatn Lake visit
• Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon visit (the boat tour was extra but well worth it)
• Diamond Beach
• Reynisfjara Beach
• The Golden Circle 

Plenty of waterfall visits, including:

• Goðafoss Waterfall 
• Dettifoss Waterfall visit (plus an additional hidden waterfall nearby)
• Seljalandsfoss Waterfall
• Gullfoss Waterfall

The price is dependent upon the time of year that you visit. The high season in Iceland is June, July, and August, and the low season is early fall through late spring. The average tour price ranges from approximately $2,800 – $3,000 per person, but G often has deals ! If your travel is even a little flexible, join their mailing list or follow them on social media for special deals.

Tour Complaints (From Other Travelers)

Overall, the Best of Iceland itinerary is highly rated and comes in with 4.5/5 stars. While scanning the reviews, the biggest complaint I saw was that the tour was too busy — to be honest, that’s not G Adventures fault; that’s the traveler’s fault. It is abundantly clear that it is a jam-packed itinerary with an average physical rating.

Another complaint is that the trip’s price didn’t reflect the overall comfort, specifically with hotels. The hotels included in the itinerary are basic for US or even European standards. Before booking, I encourage you to look up the hotels but keep in mind that you are visiting some rural areas, so you shouldn’t expect the Four Seasons.

In regards to the price, Iceland is an expensive country. I actually did the math before booking the tour, and what I would’ve paid if I had booked almost everything on my own was a little less but didn’t include a guide for the entire trip or all of the local information — to me, that’s an essential part of the trip.  

What I Loved About the Tour

There are quite a few things I loved about traveling with G Adventures, some things I expected to enjoy, and some were a surprise to me!

The Itinerary

I loved that there were opportunities to add on an activity or go and do your own thing. Since this itinerary was so busy, there weren’t too many opportunities for this, and that’s ok; we were well aware of what we were getting ourselves into.

It was fantastic to have a local with us the entire time. We could ask questions, and as we got to know him better, we could have deeper conversations — that’s not an opportunity you get on every trip.

I thought I would hate traveling with strangers, but our group was fabulous! I think the ethos of G Adventures draws fairly like-minded and flexible people (you must be flexible to travel this way). By the end of the trip, we had definitely made new friends. 

What I Didn’t Love About The Tour

There were only a few things that I didn’t love — did they majorly hamper our trip? Nope. Are they things I would cause a stink about? Nope. But because I want to provide a complete and honest review of my G Adventures experience, I’ll share them with you.

Not knowing if a human actually read my vegan/gluten-free special request

When you book, they ask if there are any dietary things that should be considered, so I wrote that my husband is vegan, and I am vegan and gluten-free. After that, I didn’t hear anything. We’re both flexible (in the way that we’re ok if we have to eat fruit, protein bars, or French fries), but it would’ve been nice to know that someone did see this and was sharing it with the hotels or guide ahead of time. I did share it with the guide on the first day, and honestly, he kind of blew it off as, of course, you’ll have options (I think that honestly made me worry more — overconfidence is generally a red flag). Some of the hotels had better choices than others, but that was to be expected, and there was only once when my meal consisted of French fries and tortilla chips!

The Hotel in Reykjavik

Before leaving, I read the reviews about Hotel Cabin, which weren’t stellar. Most people disliked the accommodations, which Matt and I found absolutely fine. Others had issues with the staff, which is my complaint as well. When we first arrived, the front desk wasn’t staffed (it’s supposed to be 24 hours); once I found a person, she snapped at me that we couldn’t check in yet, which I knew, but requested to drop off our bags. The next morning, the hotel had a sign in the breakfast room that said something along the lines of, “Have special dietary needs? Let us know, and we can check the ingredients.” So, I asked which cereals were gluten-free, and the staff person threw the bag at me which was in Icelandic. Needless to say, I stuck to coffee and oatmeal that morning.

Visiting the Golden Circle

I know the Golden Circle is one of the most popular things to do in Iceland, but after you’ve been able to explore non-touristy parts of the country, it really just feels like Iceland’s Disney Land (our group had a running joke about this for the entire day). Instead of visiting the Golden Circle, I wish we would have started with a visit to the Snæfellsnes Peninsula and then headed north. You probably would need an extra day, but it would be worth it (there is a Best of Iceland option that adds on the Snæfellsnes Peninsula, but you still visit the Golden Circle).

These things were annoying but nothing to make me think twice about booking again. 

Other Iceland Itineraries to Consider 

If you’re thinking you can’t wait to go to Iceland, but this itinerary doesn’t sound up your alley, or you’re curious about the other options, you’ve currently got 12 others to check out ! Some of the tours include: 

Best of Iceland: Golden Circle & Snæfellsnes Peninsula

Classic 9-day tour Available late April – beginning of October

Hiking Southern Iceland

Active 6-day tour (this is a strenuous tour) Available June – September

Iceland Family Journey: Geysers, Glaciers, and Fjords

National Geographic Family Journey 8-day tour Available late June – August

Wellness Iceland

Wellness-focused 7-day tour Available May – September  

Iceland Northern Lights & Golden Circle

Classic 5-day tour Available October – the beginning of April

Iceland Adventure: Northern Lights & Snæfellsnes Peninsula

Classic 7-day tour Available October – the beginning of April

Wrap Up G Adventures Review: More Iceland Travel Help

Now that you’ve read this review you might be considering a G Adventures tour or still thinking about going at it alone. No matter what you choose, I have more to help you plan! Check out these other guides and articles to help plan your adventure.

The Best Day Trips from Reykjavik to Explore Iceland Is the Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon Worth Visiting? The Best Iceland Vegan Guide: Where to Eat & Stay Ultimate Vegan Reykjavik Vegan Guide: Restaurants, Hotels, & More The Best Hotels on Iceland’s Ring Road

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10 Best G Adventures Tours to Take in 2024

These g adventures trips have especially amazing itineraries..

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Founded in 1990, G Adventures has been offering exceptional adventure-focused small group tours to bucket-list destinations around the world for more than 30 years. The travel company’s trips are a great fit for younger travelers, families, and active people of any age who want to learn about their destination in an immersive and hands-on way. 

Something I love about G Adventures is that in addition to its own tours, the company also partners with National Geographic for special different tour types: National Geographic Journeys with G Adventures and National Geographic Family Journey’s with G Adventures . It also partners with Dr. Jane Goodall’s institute (for Jane Goodall Collection tours) to showcase locations and experiences that bring people together with the natural world. 

The Best G Adventures Tours to Take in 2024

Group tours with G Adventures include all of the essentials like accommodations, local guides, activities, meals, and transfers between places. Each trip accommodates up to 15 people, but the average group size is 10. For solo travelers , there’s often no single supplement fee on G Adventures tours, though you may share a room with another traveler. While G Adventures tours number in the hundreds, these 10 stand out for 2024 with especially amazing itineraries in some of the most dazzling destinations around the world.

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1. Vietnam: Historic Cities and Halong Bay Cruising with G Adventures

G Adventures takes small groups deep into the culture and nature of Vietnam with its Vietnam: Historic Cities & Halong Bay Cruising tour. This standout 12-day trip starts in Ho Chi Minh City, where you’ll meet the group before wandering Pham Gnu Lao Street and its exciting nightlife scene. The trip continues with plenty of free time in Nha Trang, a coastal city known for its beaches, temples, and food. 

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This G Adventures tour then spends two nights in Hot An, where you can try your hand at a cooking class, walk the old town streets, or take a cruise down the Thu Bon River. If you’re an adventure seeker, you’ll love day nine of the trip when the group visits the caves of Phong Nha-Kẻ Bàng National Park. The guided tour ends in Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam, where you will see Halong Bay, explore more caves, and take a tour of the city’s old quarter. 

• Length: 12 days
• Starting price: $699
• Average group size: 14 people 
• How to book: Book online through  G Adventures ,  TourRadar , or Tourhub ; or through a travel agent such as  AAA .

2. France Family Journey: From Paris to Normandy and Beyond

Take the kids to France on the G Adventures-led France Family Journey: From Paris to Normandy and Beyond , which is a family tour in partnership with National Geographic. The tour starts in Paris, where you can see everything from the sparkling Eiffel Tower to walking through the galleries at the Louvre. Day three takes the group to the home of Claude Monet to see his impressive gardens and quaint home. 

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The highlight for many people will be the day in Bayeux, where you’ll board military vehicles to ride out to the Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial. Other highlights of this immersive France tour include a day in the Loire Valley and canoeing the Cher River past castles. At the end, you’ll spend some time in the Palace of Versailles before heading back to Paris for the evening and a next day departure.

• Length: 9 days 
• Starting price: $3,899
• Average group Size: 18 people 
• How to book: Book online through  G Adventures or  TourRadar ; or through a travel agent such as  AAA .

3. Iconic Ireland with G Adventures

Another great National Geographic partner tour from G Adventures is Iconic Ireland . The nine-day tour starts and ends in Dublin, where you’ll get to wander the Medieval Quarter including St. Patrick’s Cathedral and Dublin Castle. The tour continues to Cork, where you’ll spend the morning on a walking tour and then check out the city on your own. 

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If you’re looking to kiss the iconic Blarney Stone, you’ll get your chance on day four, then the group continues on for a day each in Killarney and Galway. The trip comes to a close after seeing the Cliffs of Moher on a coastal cruise and spending one last day in Dublin to check out the pubs or take a tour of the Guinness Factory. 

• Length: 9 days
• Starting price: $3,499
• Average group size: 12 people 
• How to book: Book online through  G Adventures , TourRadar , or Travelstride ; or through a travel agent such as  AAA .

4. Peru: Ancient Cities and the Andes with G Adventures

For an active and incredible way to see Machu Picchu and some of Peru’s other natural wonders, G Adventures’ Peru: Ancient Cities and the Andes tour is the way to go. This guided trip starts in Lima, where you’ll arrive and immediately hit the nightlife scene in the city. Then the tour group heads to Arequipa, where you’ll see the Santa Catalina Monastery and taste some of the local cuisine. 

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In Cusco, you can explore on your own before the group heads to the indigenous Ccaccaccollo community for a weaving demonstration and overnight homestay. The highlight of the tour starts on day 10, when begin your three-day Inca Trail trek before reaching Machu Picchu for a guided site tour. The trip ends back in Cusco.

• Length: 14 days
• Starting price: $1,759
• Average group size: Average 14 people
• How to book: Book online through  G Adventures or TourRadar ; or through a travel agent such as  AAA .

5. Mt Kilimanjaro Trek – Machame Route

If you’ve ever dreamed of climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro, this G Adventures guided trek is for you. The eight-day Mt Kilimanjaro Trek – Machame Route tour is intensely physical and worth every step. It starts in Moshi, Tanzania, where you’ll spend the afternoon and evening meeting your trek leaders and fellow hikers. Each day you’ll hike to a different camp, passing by beautiful landscapes and stunning scenic views. 

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On day five, you’ll pass the postcard-perfect Helm Glacier. On day six, the hike takes place at night to the summit so you can see the sunrise over Stella Point before starting your descent. The trip ends with a climbing ceremony by the Moshi Women’s Cooperative to celebrate your achievement. 

• Length: 8 days 
• Starting price: $2,647
• Average group size: 10 people

6. Mexico City to Oaxaca: Pottery and Aztec Pyramids with G Adventures

Traveling through Mexico is a feast for the mind and the belly, especially on the Mexico City to Oaxaca: Pottery & Aztec Pyramids tour. This weeklong trip starts in Mexico City, where you’ll spend two and a half days seeing the sights, sampling food, and checking out artifacts. Then the trip ventures to Puebla, where you’ll visit a ceramics workshop and see pyramids before watching a Mexican wrestling match. 

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The tour ends with two full days in Oaxaca. Here you’ll visit markets, see the Alebrijes Artisan Community , and have plenty of free time to wander on your own. During your free time, consider taking a cooking class or visiting a local distillery to try tequila or mezcal. 

• Length: 7 days
• Starting price: $804
• Average group size: 12 people

7. Alaska Kenai and Denali Adventure with G Adventures

Alaska is a bucket-list destination many travelers, and G Adventures’ Alaska Kenai and Denali Adventure tour hits many of the state’s most incredible sights. The eight-day trip begins in Anchorage, though you won’t be spending much time there before venturing south towards Seward to hike through Kenai Fjords National Park . The trip then takes everyone north to Talkeetna for a visit to the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Museum and an afternoon of free time for activities. 

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Once you reach Denali National Park , you can take a hike through the rugged landscape or see a sled dog demonstration. You’ll spend an additional day in Denali when you can do everything from taking nature tours to hiking on your own on the trails. The trip ends back in Anchorage. 

• Length: 8 days
• Starting price: $2,564
• Average group size: 9 people

8. Spirit of Shackleton

If you’ve ever wanted to make landfall in Antarctica, G Adventures is giving you the chance with its absolutely epic Spirit of Shackleton expedition cruise . The 21-day sailing starts in Ushuaia, Argentina, which is the gateway to sailing to Antarctica. The first few days are spent traversing the Drake Passage, which can be an adventure because you never know if you’re going to get what travelers call the “Drake Shake” or the “Drake Lake.” On day five you’ll finally arrive in Antarctica, where you can see the continent’s incredible wildlife and attempt to make landfall daily. 

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The second half of the trip takes you to the Scotia Sea and South Georgia to see former whaling stations and a colony of king penguins. Then cruise to the Falkland Islands to see more penguins before heading back to Ushuaia to go home. 

• Length: 21 days
• Starting price: $16,899
• Average group Size: Up to 134 people per cruise

9. Highlights of New Zealand with G Adventures

New Zealand is a gorgeous country with a unique culture that you can learn about on the newly updated for 2024 Highlights of New Zealand tour. The 15-day tour starts in Auckland, but you’ll quickly be shuttled off to the see the Waitomo Glowworm Caves and lakeside town of Rotorua. On day five, you’ll visit the lively city of Wellington to take a guided walking tour before being let out on your own to go where your interests take you.

Wine lovers will enjoy day six, when the group visits a local winery before stopping for the night in Kaikoura. Here, you can swim with dolphins or just enjoy the laidback atmosphere before going to Hanmer Springs for a dip in the natural hot springs. The trip ends with a few days in Queenstown where you can do everything from mountain biking to skydiving, before heading to Christchurch to depart New Zealand and begin the journey home. 

• Length: 15 days
• Starting price: $3,779
• How to Book: Book online through  G Adventures or  Tourhub ; or through a travel agent such as  AAA .

10. The Best of Morocco

On the nine-day Best of Morocco tour, your small group will explore the African country from Casablanca to Marrakech. The tour begins in Casablanca, where you’ll tour the medieval ruins and Roman ruins of Meknès and Volubilis, respectively. Then the group moves to Fez for a walking tour of the Medina. The trip continues into the Sahara desert to Merzouga, where you’ll spend the night on the edge of the sand dunes and take tours on a 4×4 vehicle. 

Ending in Marrakech, you’ll have time to explore on your own before taking a cooking class to learn how to use all of the spices and flavors of Morocco. Your local guide will suggest things to do while on your own, including activities and dining options. 

• Starting price: $2,049
• How to Book: Book online through  G Adventures or through a travel agent such as  AAA .

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Discover Japan

Best price guarantee Learn More

Earn travel credits Learn More

• In-depth Cultural
• Fully Guided
• Sightseeing
• Christmas & New Year

Traveled in October 2022

Places You’ll See

• Meet your group in Tokyo
• Ride the bullet train to Kanazawa
• Visit Kenrokuen Garden and samurai district
• Explore traditional Takayama and folk village
• See Hiroshima Peace Park and Miyajima Island
• Introduction
• Day 1 Tokyo
• Day 2 Tokyo/Kanazawa
• Day 3 Kanazawa
• Day 4 Kanazawa/Takayama
• Day 5 Takayama
• Day 6 Takayama/Hiroshima
• Day 7 Hiroshima
• Day 8 Hiroshima/Kyoto
• Day 9 Kyoto
• Day 10 Kyoto
• Day 11 Kyoto/Fujikawaguchiko (1D)
• Day 12 Fujikawaguchiko/Tokyo (1B)
• Day 13 Tokyo
• Day 14 Tokyo

Want to read it later?

Download this tour’s PDF brochure and start tour planning offline

What's Included

• Accommodation
• Additional Services

Where You'll Stay

Shinjuku Washington Hotel

Garden Hotel Kanazawa

Minshuku Iwatakan

Toyoko Inn Hiroshima-eki Shinkansen-guchi No.2

Hearton Hotel Kyoto

Royal Hotel Kawaguchiko

Customer Photos

Operated by

G Adventures

Number of tours

12 to 90 years old

Response time

Response rate

G Adventures gives you the opportunity to explore interesting and unusual places at a great price. The G Adventures reviews show high ratings from satisfied customers for all aspects of the trip, so you can be assured that you will be in good hands. If you have any questions at any time during...

Sustainability Initiatives

Animal Welfare

Supporting Destinations

Sustainability Programs

Your Peace of Mind Options

Cancellation policy.

A transparent overview of applicable fees.

Customer Reviews

• Overall Rating Excellent 4.5
• Itinerary Excellent 4.4
• Guide Excellent 4.6
• Transport Excellent 4.2
• Accommodation Good 4.0
• Food Excellent 4.1
• Tour Operator G Adventures 4.7
• Most Recent
• Most Popular
• Highest First
• Lowest First

Dates & Availability

Why book with tourradar.

• Flexible payment options
• Trusted and vetted operators
• Rated excellent on
• Best price guarantee
• 24/7 customer support
• Earn €50 in travel credits

To protect your payment and ensure your booking will be processed in Austria, never transfer or communicate outside of the TourRadar website or app.

• Upcoming departures
• September 2024
• October 2024
• November 2024
• December 2024
• January 2025
• February 2025
• August 2025
• September 2025
• October 2025
• November 2025
• December 2025
• January 2026
• February 2026
• August 2026
• September 2026
• October 2026
• November 2026
• December 2026
• Sunday 22 Sep, 2024 Saturday 5 Oct, 2024 English Sold Out €5,138 See Similar Tours For These Dates
• Sunday 29 Sep, 2024 Saturday 12 Oct, 2024 English Sold Out €5,138 See Similar Tours For These Dates
• Friday 4 Oct, 2024 Thursday 17 Oct, 2024 English Sold Out €5,138 See Similar Tours For These Dates
• Sunday 6 Oct, 2024 Saturday 19 Oct, 2024 English Sold Out €5,138 See Similar Tours For These Dates
• 3 Other Unavailable Departures
• Get Instant Confirmation Sunday 13 Oct, 2024 Saturday 26 Oct, 2024 English Almost Sold Out Multiple Room Types €5,138 Confirm Dates Hold space for 48h
• Friday 18 Oct, 2024 Thursday 31 Oct, 2024 English Sold Out €5,348 See Similar Tours For These Dates
• Sunday 20 Oct, 2024 Saturday 2 Nov, 2024 English Sold Out €5,348 See Similar Tours For These Dates
• Friday 25 Oct, 2024 Thursday 7 Nov, 2024 English Sold Out €5,348 See Similar Tours For These Dates
• Sunday 27 Oct, 2024 Saturday 9 Nov, 2024 English Sold Out €5,348 See Similar Tours For These Dates
• Sunday 3 Nov, 2024 Saturday 16 Nov, 2024 English Sold Out €5,238 See Similar Tours For These Dates
• 4 Other Unavailable Departures
• Get Instant Confirmation Sunday 10 Nov, 2024 Saturday 23 Nov, 2024 English Almost Sold Out Multiple Room Types €5,238 Confirm Dates Hold space for 48h
• -20% Get Instant Confirmation Sunday 17 Nov, 2024 Saturday 30 Nov, 2024 English Almost Sold Out Multiple Room Types €5,238 €4,210 Confirm Dates Hold space for 48h
• Get Instant Confirmation Sunday 24 Nov, 2024 Saturday 7 Dec, 2024 English Multiple Room Types €5,238 0% Interest Instalments Confirm Dates Hold space for 48h
• Sunday 15 Dec, 2024 Saturday 28 Dec, 2024 English Sold Out €4,548 See Similar Tours For These Dates
• -20% Get Instant Confirmation Sunday 22 Dec, 2024 Saturday 4 Jan, 2025 English Almost Sold Out Multiple Room Types €4,548 €3,658 0% Interest Instalments Confirm Dates Hold space for 48h

What our customers ask about this tour

If the traveler prefers to have their own room, we can arrange this for an additional $599.00 USD.

Travelers can take a train from Narita International Airport Terminal 2.3 station, Keisei Line Limited Express Keisei Skyliner to Keisei-Nippori Station, then transfer to JR Yamanote Line and get off at JR Shinjuku Station. Alternatively, the Airport Limousine Bus is available.

Our tours are Twin Share, so the traveler will be automatically placed in a room with another traveler of the same gender.

Good to Know

• Currency ¥ Yen Japan

As a traveller from England, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa you will need an adaptor for types A, B.

• These are only indications, so please visit your doctor before you travel to be 100% sure.
• Hepatitis A - Recommended for Japan. Ideally 2 weeks before travel.
• Hepatitis B - Recommended for Japan. Ideally 2 months before travel.
• Japanese B encephalitis - Recommended for Japan. Ideally 1 month before travel.
• Unfortunately we cannot offer you a visa application service. Whether you need a visa or not depends on your nationality and where you wish to travel. Assuming your home country does not have a visa agreement with the country you're planning to visit, you will need to apply for a visa in advance of your scheduled departure.
• Here is an indication for which countries you might need a visa. Please contact the local embassy for help applying for visas to these places.
• For any tour departing before 23rd October 2024 a full payment is necessary. For tours departing after 23rd October 2024, a minimum payment of 20% is required to confirm your booking with G Adventures. The final payment will be automatically charged to your credit card on the designated due date. The final payment of the remaining balance is required at least 45 days prior to the departure date of your tour. TourRadar never charges you a booking fee and will charge you in the stated currency.
• Some departure dates and prices may vary and G Adventures will contact you with any discrepancies before your booking is confirmed.
• The following cards are accepted for "G Adventures" tours: Visa, Maestro, Mastercard, American Express or PayPal. TourRadar does NOT charge you an extra fee for using any of these payment methods.
• Your money is safe with TourRadar, as we only pay the tour operator after your tour has departed.
• TourRadar is an authorised Agent of G Adventures. Please familiarise yourself with the G Adventures payment, cancellation and refund conditions .
• Insurance Unless otherwise mentioned, TourRadar does not provide travel insurance. We do however recommend purchasing it through our tried and trusted partner, World Travel Nomads .
• Accessibility Some tours are not suitable for mobility-restricted traveller, however, some operators may be able to accommodate special requests. For any enquiries, you can contact our customer support team , who are ready and waiting to help you.
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