Cosmos vs Trafalgar

Compare Cosmos' and Trafalgar's tours, including their travel styles, inclusions, destinations, pricing, accommodation and popularity with past travellers, to see which operator is the better fit for your next journey.

Why should we travel with Cosmos?

We asked Cosmos why you should travel with them, here's what they said...

At Cosmos, we like to think of ourselves as experts in ‘thrillology’ – the art of bringing you an experience, time and time again. With over 50 years of ‘wow’ under our belts and no sign of slowing down, we know how to curate value touring holidays that you’ll never forget; creating the experiences you’ve always dreamed of and showing you the ones, you never thought of. Our job is to take care of the planning and logistics, so that all you have to focus on is living your dreams!

What types of trips do Cosmos offer?

Coach Tours

Where can you travel to?

Africa Asia Canada & Alaska Europe Middle East South America UK & Ireland USA More...

Cosmos snapshot

Total No. ToursTotal No. Tours
126
DeparturesDepartures
1,909
Average tour lengthAverage tour length
13 days
Average price per dayAverage price per day
$429

Our thoughts...

The low down on Cosmos from our expert team of advisors at Global Journeys...

A lot of our clients aren't too fussed about their accommodation (as long as it's clean and comfortable) and are more interested in the destination. Over 1,200 past client reviews with an average 4.5 out 5 star rating, is impressive. Why? Great value and interesting itineraries. Part of the Globus Family, there are further great discounts to be had.

Accommodation is 3 to 3/12 star, but a lot of our clients are pleasantly surprised at the quality. Hotels are often located out of the city centre, so prepare your trip budget to allow for transfers or taxis if you want to explore the cities on your own. Allow extra funds for some meals and excursions read more not included in more premium inclusive itineraries. Like our past clients, we feel very comfortable recommending Cosmos.

Who travels with Cosmos?

Value-conscious travellers looking for an escorted holiday with included sightseeing and plenty of free time. Guests span a broad adult age range, with couples, solo travellers, friends and families all represented.

What's the age range on a Cosmos tour?

Generally a mature audience, with many travellers aged 45 and over.

How many people will we be travelling with?

Cosmos coach tours average around 36 guests and can carry up to 50 guests depending on the destination. African trips operate with considerably smaller groups of 24, while and Asia and Latin America max out at 40 travellers and Europe at 47 travellers.

I'm a solo-traveller, will your tours suit me?

Yes. Guided touring works well for solo travellers who want the independence of travelling alone while still having a Tour Director, organised transport and a group to travel with.

Do you offer single rooms?

Yes. A single supplement applies and single-room pricing and availability is shown for each departure.

Do you offer room-sharing with other solo travellers?

No.

How would you describe the accommodation on your trips?

Comfortable, good-value hotels are included throughout the tour, with properties selected to provide suitable guestrooms, service and facilities for the price.

Are there any extras to pay on top of the price shown?

Meals not listed as included, optional excursions, beverages, gratuities and airport transfers.

Do you have the same guide throughout the trip?

Yes. Escorted tours are accompanied by a Cosmos Tour Director who manages the journey, provides commentary and assists guests throughout the trip.

Do you use local guides?

Yes. Knowledgeable Local Guides are used for sightseeing in selected cities and attractions, providing local history and destination insight.

How much free time will we have on a Cosmos trip?

Cosmos deliberately builds free time into its tours, balancing included sightseeing with time to eat, shop and explore independently or choose optional excursions.

How fit do we need to be?

Travellers should generally be comfortable walking during sightseeing, navigating stairs and uneven surfaces and getting on and off coaches without individual assistance.

Recent Cosmos reviews

Great Cosmos Tour 0
, QLD, Australia, Oct 2026
Another great trip booked with Global Journeys on Cosmos. Right from the first enquiry with Georgie the process was so easy. The pace of the trip was great, never felt rushed and plenty of time to explore the locations. Loved the towns we stayed in, lots of activities or able to relax if you wanted. Highlight was the trip between San Francisco and Los read more Angeles along Big Sur. Solvang was a wonderful overnight stay, loverly Danish themed town. Grand Canyon never disappoints. Sonora was another fantastic overnight stay, local markets and great restaurants. Our driver Tony did a fantastic job, always felt safe, big smile and lots of laughs.
A wonderful sampler of Italy and Greece 0
, VIC, Australia, Sep 2026
This tour provided a good taste of two countries and packed in alot without being too intensive and there was plenty to taste and experience. Travelling end of Sep/early October provided great weather and less crowds. The flights and tour was well organised by Tracey.
Irish tour 0
, VIC, Australia, Sep 2026
Overall the trip was great. The tour guide was excellent and also the driver. We did have a couple of hiccups along the way, which have already been pointed out previously. The number of people on the bus tour were too many though.
Canadian Rockies Tour September 2026 0
, VIC, Australia, Sep 2026
The tour guide Doug Briegel was friendly, knowledgeable and where possible accommodating to our needs. The driver, Neil supplied us with lollies which was an extra touch we did not expect. The tour itself took us to the touristy parts of the Rockies and I realised that we would not see hoped for wildlife - however, we did see a Moose and her calf, read more and an Elk. While we did not see any bears, others on the bus did! Our whale watching trip was very successful with humpback whales and Orcas.
I was disappointed that there was no meal plan for breakfast. Most of the hotels had a restaurant but sometimes it was difficult to access breakfast due to the schedule of the tour. It was difficult to connect with the others on the tour as we did not have name badges but over time this became easier.
Trans-America trip crossing from New York to LA 0
, QLD, Australia, Sep 2026
This trip was a panoramic trip across Northern America , from coast-to-coast. It covered 8 major cities, 5 National Parks, 18 States and many smaller towns. It was 24 days & 8000 km. The route was well thought out & the scenery was spectacular mostly. A great way to see the USA for tourists & citizens with many highlights.

Cosmos' most popular trips this month...

24 Day Trans-American Adventure (Cosmos)
Trans-American Adventure

24 Days New York to Los Angeles

From
8,031pp
23 Day The British Isles in Depth (Cosmos)
The British Isles in Depth

23 Days London to London

From
8,386pp
9 Day Irish Discovery (Cosmos)
Irish Discovery

9 Days Dublin to Dublin

From
2,566pp
15 Day Central Europe (Cosmos)
Central Europe

15 Days Frankfurt to Frankfurt

From
4,237pp
15 Day Eastern Us & Canada Grand Vacation (Cosmos)
Eastern Us & Canada Grand Vacation

15 Days New York to Philadelphia

From
5,043pp
Trafalgar

Trafalgar

1,674 Reviews

Why should we travel with Trafalgar?

We asked Trafalgar why you should travel with them, here's what they said...

We are one of the world’ smost-loved and trusted travel companies and the world's leading and most awarded travel brand, spanning all seven continents. Our brand spans four travel categories - tours, small groups, river cruises and rail journeys, organised across three value tiers - Saver, Classic and Premium. With more than 600 itineraries across 75 countries, we make it easy for travellers to find the right experience at the right price.

From the iconic to the unexpected, our guests connect to the real depth of the places we go. You'll break read more bread with locals at our exclusive Be My Guest experiences and unlock local secrets with our Travel Directors and Local Specialists. Whether by land, river or rail, we create memorable journeys filled with authentic local experiences and expert guidance. We handle the details, so your are free to discover the heart of every destination and enjoy those unexpected travel moments.

We consider how we can positively impact the communities we engage with. Through our JoinTrafalgar initiatives powered by TreadRight, our guests don't just leave footprints on the ground but leave a lasting legacy for the betterment of locals and the future of their communities. Backed by nearly 80 years of trusted experience, feedback from over 5 million happy guests and more than 150,000 five-star reviews, we continue to innovate and deliver memorable holidays with responsible travel practices at their heart.

What types of trips do Trafalgar offer?

Coach Tours River Cruises Small Group Tours Rail Journeys

Where can you travel to?

Africa Asia Australia & NZ Canada & Alaska Egypt & Jordan Europe South America UK & Ireland More...

Trafalgar snapshot

Total No. ToursTotal No. Tours
491
DeparturesDepartures
11,217
Average tour lengthAverage tour length
11 days
Average price per dayAverage price per day
$555

Our thoughts...

The low down on Trafalgar from our expert team of advisors at Global Journeys...

Over 250 coach tours around the world, and one of our clients most popular touring companies, Trafalgar is part of the Travel Corporation, which includes under its umbrella the sister brands of Insight Vacations, AAT Kings, Uniworld, Luxury Gold, Contiki & Costsaver. With a worldwide presence, Trafalgar welcomes guests from around the world so you'll enjoy the company of many nationalities aboard your coach. Sitting between Insight and Costsaver, Trafalgar pride themselves in touring innovation, introducing 'Insider Experiences' (where you get to know and dine with the locals) and travel styles to suit those that prefer smaller groups or those read more that prefer a more leisurely itineraries. Look out for Trafalgar's 'Early Payment Savings' where you can enjoy significant savings on your trip if you book and pay early, as well as further savings if you're a past passenger on any of their aforementioned sister brands.

Who travels with Trafalgar?

A broad international mix of couples, friends, families and solo travellers. Trafalgar welcomes guests from around the world

What's the age range on a Trafalgar tour?

Trafalgar attracts a broad mix of ages, with tours particularly well suited to mature and senior travellers.

How many people will we be travelling with?

Group sizes vary considerably by destination. Europe averages around 40 to 45 guests with a maximum of 53; North America has up to 52, Australia and New Zealand up to 50, Asia generally up to 32, Africa up to 36 and Latin America around 40 to 45.

I'm a solo-traveller, will your tours suit me?

Yes. Trafalgar is well suited to solo travellers, with guided sightseeing, shared experiences and options to either share a room or book single accommodation.

Do you offer single rooms?

Yes. A single supplement applies and single-room pricing and availability is shown for each departure.

Do you offer room-sharing with other solo travellers?

Yes. On many itineraries solo travellers can pay the twin-share rate and be matched with another solo traveller of the same gender.

How would you describe the accommodation on your trips?

Quality 3 and 4-star hotels together with distinctive Stays with Stories and other destination-specific accommodation.

Are there any extras to pay on top of the price shown?

Optional experiences, some meals and drinks, additional transfers and gratuities.

Do you have the same guide throughout the trip?

Yes. A dedicated Trafalgar Travel Director accompanies the group throughout the tour and manages sightseeing, logistics and day-to-day arrangements.

Do you use local guides?

Yes. Local Specialists are used in many destinations to provide more detailed expert sightseeing alongside the Travel Director.

How much free time will we have on a Trafalgar trip?

Tours combine organised sightseeing with independent time. Some itineraries include several hours or full days to relax and explore independently, with optional experiences available during some free periods.

How fit do we need to be?

Travellers should be medically and physically fit enough to participate independently. Requirements vary by itinerary and can include significant walking, steps and uneven surfaces; Trafalgar's Travel Directors and Drivers cannot provide individual physical assistance.

Recent Trafalgar reviews

Awesome adventure 0
, CA, United States, Oct 2026
I booked this trip last year with the hope of seeing the Northern Lights, and it turned out to be an amazing adventure! One thing I think people should understand before booking is that while you can see the Northern Lights with the naked eye, they are not always visible or as vibrant as the photos you see online. We were fortunate enough to see faint read more green colors, and our smartphones captured much more than our eyes could see. Even without a spectacular display, experiencing the Northern Lights was still special.

There were plenty of optional excursions, and we chose to do all of them. They were 100% worth it! The reindeer farm was a great experience, and the husky sledding adventure was so much fun, even though there was no snow. We also visited the Icehotel, and what an amazing and fun experience that was! Seeing the incredible ice sculptures and the creativity that goes into creating the hotel was fascinating. We learned that the outdoor ice hotel is being built later and later in the year. I can only wonder if climate change and warming temperatures are contributing to that. The permanent Icehotel was awesome and well worth seeing!

We also toured the Vasa Museum and the Nobel Prize Museum in Stockholm. The Vasa Museum literally took my breath away! Seeing the Vasa ship in person was incredible and definitely a highlight of the trip. I highly recommend allowing extra time in Stockholm to explore these attractions and enjoy the city.

A little advice for future travelers: Consider arriving a day or two early to adjust to the time difference. The 10-hour time change (from California) was much harder to adjust to than I expected! I would also recommend staying an extra day or two after the tour to give yourself enough time to truly explore Stockholm.

Another important tip: Pack for the Arctic weather! We traveled in October, and it was COLD. If you're traveling to Finnish and Swedish Lapland, make sure you bring proper cold-weather clothing, including a warm winter jacket, insulated pants, gloves, a hat, and appropriate footwear. Some people in our group had to purchase additional clothing because they weren't adequately prepared. You don't want to spend your time being cold when you should be enjoying the experience!

Our tour guide, Mike, was awesome! He was personable, funny, knowledgeable, and made everyone feel comfortable throughout the trip. He also did a great job managing a group of 27 people, which is no easy task. Our driver, Kristoff, got us everywhere safely, and our two local experts, Lucas (Northern lights hunting) and Adi Nobel and Vasa Museum** (I hope I spelled their names correctly!), were great as well. I really enjoyed Adi's tours he was so enthusiastic and knowledgeable. You could just tell how passionate he was.

Our group of 27 people was the perfect size. Everyone got along really well and, best of all, everyone was ready on time, which helped keep everything running smoothly. The first couple of days involve quite a bit of travel, but once you settle into the pace, the trip is fantastic.

If you're looking for an unforgettable adventure with great guides, beautiful scenery, fun excursions, and a wonderful group experience, I highly recommend this trip! The Northern Lights are a bonus, but there is so much more to see and experience along the way. I would absolutely consider traveling with Trafalgar again!
Spanish Experience 0
, NSW, Australia, Oct 2026
We had a fabulous trip, very well organised, participating in all options easy to do, tour director and bus driver very experienced and knowledgeable. Our travel consultant Grace has been excellent organising and answering our queries in a very timely manner we have many more trips on the go!
Canadian Maritimes 0
, NSW, Australia, Sep 2026
Excellent time to travel for changing leaf colours- beautiful kaleidoscope everywhere. Insight coaches very comfortable & spacious, but seat rotation somewhat inconsistent!! Accommodation hotels very comfortable with large rooms though Digby Pines Resort had smaller rooms & needs upgrading. Itinerary good & local guides very knowledgeable & entertaining read more even in very adverse weather conditions at times. Found some “lessons” on local products too detailed. Included meals good.
Best of Spain 2026 0
, ON, Canada, Sep 2026
Everything about our trip went very smoothly. The pick up from the airport was on time and our tour director, Lydia, was considerate, helpful and very knowledgeable. The hotels were mainly well situated and comfortable. Morning breakfasts were as expected, with only 1 hotel having no hot food at the buffet available for almost 45 minutes. All guided read more tours were well planned with excellent guides who were very pleasant. There was a good balance of tours and free times. We were unable to tour the Sagrada Familia but Trafalgar replaced with another interesting tour.
Excellent tour through Türkiye. 0
, WA, Australia, Sep 2026
Great tour. First full day in Istanbul was full on. Maybe an extra day would be good as a visit to the Basilica Cistern was not covered. Our TD was excellent. She was very knowledgeable and provide great insights into the history and culture of Turkey. Meals were good and we had plenty of opportunities to experience local cuisine. The "Be My Guest" read more experience was one of the highlights. Accommodation overall was good , ranging from average accommodation in Istanbul to experiencing the rock / cave rooms in Cappadocia. Only 23 people on tour so plenty of room on the bus to stretch out. Our 6th tour with Trafalgar / Insight. Highly recommended. Thanks to Tracey at Global Journeys for her usual excellent service and advice. Look forward to dealing with Global Journeys for our next adventure.

Trafalgar's most popular trips this month...

12 Day European Whirl (Trafalgar)
European Whirl

12 Days London to Paris

From
5,282pp
14 Day East Coast USA and Canada (Trafalgar)
East Coast USA and Canada

14 Days New York to New York

From
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20 Day Grand Scandinavia (Trafalgar)
Grand Scandinavia

20 Days Copenhagen to Oslo

From
10,411pp
8 Day Britain and Ireland Highlights (Trafalgar)
Britain and Ireland Highlights

8 Days London to London

From
3,950pp
15 Day Best of Spain & Portugal (Trafalgar)
Best of Spain & Portugal

15 Days Madrid to Barcelona

From
7,224pp