Home > Travel Styles > Self Guided Tours
Self Guided Tours
Whether you want to trek, cycle or sightsee, on a self-guided trip you are your own guide. You can explore each destination at your own leisure and each self-guided itinerary has all of the logistics taken care of including accommodation and in many cases local guides and included activities.
Top Selling Self Guided Trips View all
7 Days Porthmadog to Caernarfon
Operator: Exodus Adventure Travels
From 2,302
Save 57
7 Days St Ives to Mousehole
Operator: Exodus Adventure Travels
From 2,233
Save 51
6 Days Greenhead to Corbridge
Operator: Exodus Adventure Travels
From 1,616
Save 38
8 Days Blois to Blois
Operator: Exodus Adventure Travels
From 3,115
Save 71
Popular Regions View all
Discover Popular experiences you can enjoy on one of our self-guided trips
Camp in the Amazon
Take a canoe trip along Tambopata River to Collpa de Guacamayos, in the rainforest, to camp, hike and spot wildlife with naturalists and support crew.
Walk the Camino
With your welcome pack and Camino passport in hand, step out to walk the last 100 kilometres (60 mi) of the Camino de Santiago over eight days.
Trek the Kathmandu Valley
With a guide to help you along the way, trek the lower altitudes of the Kathmandu Valley to tick a Nepalese hiking experience off your list.
Take South Africa’s Blue Train
Board the prestigious Blue Train for two luxurious nights journey from Cape Town to Johannesburg on your way to find the Big 5 in Kruger National Park. An iconic South African rail experience.
Travel Europe’s Fast Trains
Travel on Europe’s fast train network, including the Eurostar between London and Paris. Set off to explore the highlights and iconic attractions of classic European cities assisted by your local guide in each.
Recent Reviews What our clients are saying about their self guided Independent holidays
This was a self guided tour based in Kandersteg in the Bernese Oberland region of Switzerland. This was my first self guided walking trip so I wasn’t too sure what to expect, but the operators (Exodus with Headwater) made it as hassle free as possible. Great hiking route notes and a GPS map for each hike we’re provided before departure. On the evening ...read more of arrival in Kandersteg, the hotel operator gave an overview of the week and provided additional hard copy maps and ideas of how we might like to tailor the week to suit our preferences, weather conditions etc.
The accommodation and meals were good, with buffet breakfast, dinner and a lunch station set up each morning to enable us to make a sandwich and grab a piece of fruit to take for lunch. The walks were varied, with a mix of walking from the town and taking a chairlift, mini-bus or local train up to the start of the hike. The instructions were great, paths are well signed and the GPS map helped if you still weren’t sure of which direction to head. Overall a great way to walk in the Swiss Alps - the prep work is done and you just have to decide which walk you want to do on which day. Kandersteg is also a beautiful spot, a small resort village in a stunning setting.
The accommodation and meals were good, with buffet breakfast, dinner and a lunch station set up each morning to enable us to make a sandwich and grab a piece of fruit to take for lunch. The walks were varied, with a mix of walking from the town and taking a chairlift, mini-bus or local train up to the start of the hike. The instructions were great, paths are well signed and the GPS map helped if you still weren’t sure of which direction to head. Overall a great way to walk in the Swiss Alps - the prep work is done and you just have to decide which walk you want to do on which day. Kandersteg is also a beautiful spot, a small resort village in a stunning setting.
I would not do this trip again. The nature and style of the trip is not what I look for. There was way too much off-road riding. The brochure says 14% off road. This might be true in distance (although I doubt it) but certainly not in time. Slow, grinding, tedious dirt trails are not my thing. The start hotel was a poor choice for a cyclist being several ...read more kilometres out of town.
Day 1 from Moncao to Camenah on a paved rail trail was really good. Hotel Porta do Sol in Caminah was very good. Day 2 first half was great along the Atlantic coast down to Viana do Castelo. The second half to Ponte de Lima was not enjoyable on disused goat tracks. The hotel in Ponte de Lima (2 nights) was really good. The town of Ponte de Lima was a highlight. Day 3 loop ride to Arcos de Valdevez was both pretty and tedious on the goat trails. I abandoned the route guide on the return trip and simply rode on the paved roads. This way I could actually look around at the scenery while I rode instead of staring at the track to avoid rocks, roots, puddles and other obstacles. Day 4 to Barcelos was an utter drudgery; no more need be said. Hotel (Art ‘Otel) in Barcelos was barely adequate. This was, by far, the worst day of the trip. Day 5 to Vila do Conde was a good day on quite roads and paved rail trail. Vila C Hotel was probably the best hotel of the trip. Day 6 to Foz (Porto) was a very nice relaxing ride along the shore. The Hotel Boa Vista was good but nothing special.
The trip says it ends in Porto, which is technically true, but the actual end was in Foz which is a seaside suburb of Porto. The centre of Porto is some distance upstream. In summary, Day 1, 5, 6 and half of day 2 were good. Day 3, 4 and half of day 2 were not good. Most of the hotels were good. Some were not good. The bike I rented was good. The tool kit was incomplete (as I found when I had a flat). The GPS route mapping was excellent: Accurate and complete. All in all, not value for money and I would not use this company again. There were some good aspects but the negatives combined with the cost outweigh the good.
Day 1 from Moncao to Camenah on a paved rail trail was really good. Hotel Porta do Sol in Caminah was very good. Day 2 first half was great along the Atlantic coast down to Viana do Castelo. The second half to Ponte de Lima was not enjoyable on disused goat tracks. The hotel in Ponte de Lima (2 nights) was really good. The town of Ponte de Lima was a highlight. Day 3 loop ride to Arcos de Valdevez was both pretty and tedious on the goat trails. I abandoned the route guide on the return trip and simply rode on the paved roads. This way I could actually look around at the scenery while I rode instead of staring at the track to avoid rocks, roots, puddles and other obstacles. Day 4 to Barcelos was an utter drudgery; no more need be said. Hotel (Art ‘Otel) in Barcelos was barely adequate. This was, by far, the worst day of the trip. Day 5 to Vila do Conde was a good day on quite roads and paved rail trail. Vila C Hotel was probably the best hotel of the trip. Day 6 to Foz (Porto) was a very nice relaxing ride along the shore. The Hotel Boa Vista was good but nothing special.
The trip says it ends in Porto, which is technically true, but the actual end was in Foz which is a seaside suburb of Porto. The centre of Porto is some distance upstream. In summary, Day 1, 5, 6 and half of day 2 were good. Day 3, 4 and half of day 2 were not good. Most of the hotels were good. Some were not good. The bike I rented was good. The tool kit was incomplete (as I found when I had a flat). The GPS route mapping was excellent: Accurate and complete. All in all, not value for money and I would not use this company again. There were some good aspects but the negatives combined with the cost outweigh the good.
Great trip, very nice view from motel. Tour guide was great and very nice. He went the extra mile for us. Would recommend G Adventures any time.
3 day G Adventures' tour to Varanasi was very well organised. Amit, the tour guide for 3 days, was wonderful and so helpful to me. I had an excellent spot to watch the evening Hindu ceremony on the Ganges. Due to high river levels unfortunately the boats were not going on the river that evening or the next morning. Very disappointing.
The Hotel ...read more Meadows was of poor standard, rooms dirty, noisy, poor quality linens etc. the food in the dining room was very basic and I had to leave the hotel for my meals and seek out better restaurants. The Surya Hotel was very close and much better hotel and I ate my meals there mostly. I did not get the rickshaw ride which I see now was meant to be included.
Driver was excellent and friendly. Amit the tour guide made my trip with his friendliness and helpfulness. He also arranged extra transport for me and took me to a great archaeological museum which was brilliant.
The Hotel ...read more Meadows was of poor standard, rooms dirty, noisy, poor quality linens etc. the food in the dining room was very basic and I had to leave the hotel for my meals and seek out better restaurants. The Surya Hotel was very close and much better hotel and I ate my meals there mostly. I did not get the rickshaw ride which I see now was meant to be included.
Driver was excellent and friendly. Amit the tour guide made my trip with his friendliness and helpfulness. He also arranged extra transport for me and took me to a great archaeological museum which was brilliant.
Explore More Your guide to independent touring
18 July, 2019
Self-Guided vs Guided ToursThere are plenty of choices to make when you are planning your cycling trip or walking holiday. You will have to weigh up where you want to go, how long you want to spend in the saddle or laced into your boots, and how much you want to challenge yourself. One of the biggest decisions, however,...
Common Questions Common Questions about Self Guided Tours
What is a self-guided tour?
On a self-guided tour, everything is pre-arranged and booked for you, including accommodation and the trip's essential inclusions, and you'll be provided with a detailed itinerary to assist you on your journey. However, the ultimate decision as to how each day will play out is yours. You might be a morning person...read more and want to set off at sunrise, taking in every opportunity available as you make your way from one destination to the next. Or, you might enjoy a leisurely, long brunch followed by an in-depth exploration of one particular attraction or landmark before heading to your next stopping point. A self-guided tour will give you that freedom with the support of the tour company should you need it. They will also deal with the logistics of getting your luggage from one point to the next. When is a self-guided a good option?
Self-guided tours are a great option for those destinations where there is already a popular or established way of exploring the region, such as a common hiking or cycling routes. Self-guided tours are also good for experienced travellers who want to make day to day decisions about what to see and do, but who...read more may not want the task of planning the logistics of such a tour themselves. Self-guided tours can also be good for groups who love to travel together and want the freedom to do different activities during the day.How does a self guided tour differ from a guided tour?
A guided tour follows a specific daily itinerary with planned excursions and activities. From start to finish, you are accompanied by a guide who will be knowledgeable about local destinations and tourist attractions. Your daily timetable is likely to be mapped out well in advance from excursions to activities...read more and meals.Self-guided tours give you the freedom to manage your own day whilst still providing the inside knowledge and back up of a tour operator. Both touring styles offer a wonderful way to holiday but read our article on self-guided v guided tours if you are having trouble deciding which would best suit you.
