Group Tours Abroad for Older Teens/Students

[sunandwaterfalls]

Hi, has anyone's elder teen or student done one of those semi-guided tours in S. E Asia or South America?

My two DSs want to do something adventurous and independent this summer. DS2 is still at school, DS1 at uni. I see there are a number of companies offering holidays from 18-35 yrs and I'd feel happier if they went with a group and stayed together.

All advice very much welcomed!

I don't have any recent experience (my DD spent her gap year working at a US summer camp), but back when I had my gap year I worked for part of it and then spent 11 weeks travelling on one of those tours to Kathmandu.

This was back in the late 1980s though and I don't think my experience is very relevant to what modern day conditions will be like.

You will need to check out if the particular tour is a more luxurious one where they will be staying in hotels, guest houses etc or if it's the more traditional type that involves camping in two person tents and helping with the cooking and washing up.

If it's the type where they are staying in local accommodation then I guess it wouldn't really be any different from any other sort of guided tour for a general group except maybe they prioritise activities that would appeal to younger people than to pensioners on a coach trip.

In contrast, if they're travelling in the back of an expedition truck, camping in two-person tents and having to help with the cooking etc then your DCs will need to think about whether that is something they actually want to put up with in a holiday.

Some tours may be somewhere between those two extremes.

The description for each tour should tell you exactly what the accommodation is and what the transport is etc.

As I said, when I was 19, back in the late 1980s, I worked for part of my gap year and then signed up for an 11 week overland trip to Khatmandu, the capital of Nepal.

We travelled down through Europe to Turkey, then through Iran to Pakistan, India and Nepal. We travelled in a bright orange Bedford truck with a trailer that contained all the equipment. The whole time was spent camping and we would stop off and take turns to being involved with buying fresh food and supplies from local markets or doing the cooking etc.

That's clearly one end of the spectrum and I'm sure that there is a very different, much more luxurious end of the market.

I didn't go on a specific 18-30 thing but most people were in their 20s or 30s. At the age of 19 I was the youngest by at least two or three years. It was certainly an experience and I think I grew up a lot over the course of those 11 weeks.

So, all I can say is to read carefully the description of individual tours, the accommodation and travel arrangements, which will give you an idea of what sort of tour it is, a fancy one staying in hotels or a back to basics one where you're sleeping in tents.

Thank you, what an amazing trip you had. Those were the days. Nowadays, from what I see, particularly in S E Asia, the trips involve hostels (quite basic) and homestays for a few days (very basic, hole in the ground toilet style!!) But there seems to be lots of companies around. One friend's son did one but basically got left to his own devices entirely in Cambodia which I'm not really looking for. I'd like some semblance of structure, so wonder which ones might offer a better service for the money. They're young and DS2 particularly is very unstreetwise. I am hoping this will be character building for him. DS1 has inter-railed and travelled to visit friends in the US so is more switched on.

My son did a tour with G adventures last summer to Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand and Laos. Aged just 18. It was absolutely brilliant and so well organised. He’s very young for his age and although I was quite terrified he came back safe and sound and much more ready to head to university

Thank you Hashtag1 , I will look into them now.

As pp suggested, G Adventures are pretty well known and reputable, another company is Intrepid. They often run the same tour at different levels of comfort with the cheapest and most basic level aimed at 18-30s. The more expensive tours will be open to anyone (in fact my parents have booked with them before!) so just something to bear in mind if your sons want to be with others the same age and not a bunch of 50 or 60 year olds. Don't be put off by the "very basic" conditions on some tours/homestays, it will only be for one or two nights and it can be a great way to really experience other cultures.

My brother used to travel on his own with the likes of Contiki and Top Deck which are very much your typical 18-30 holiday. He has ASD and definitely not streetwise so my parents often worried about him going alone, but he never had any problems and always had a great time.

When comparing tours, look closely at the number of excursions and meals included. Some companies may have a bargain headline price, but you then have to pay extra for all your meals and trips. This can be good if they want more freedom to do their own thing, but if they want to stay with the tour group most of the time it may work out more expensive.

My daughter did this one as well a couple of years ago, aged 19. Had a whale of a time.

DDs BF aged 19 is doing one as part of his Gap Ya.
He is a lovely young man but somewhat sheltered so its been a good option for him. He has done quite a few things but within a very safe environment. DD said it sounds all very clinical and boring (they have visited Mcdonalds a few times) but I suspect shes just miffed hes gone and there are GIRLS on the trip with him
He has met a few other like minded people and once the 2 week tour of Thailand ended a group of them have gone to Vietnam for a beach holiday.
To be honest as a parent I would rather one of mine did it like that than just set off alone, another one of DDs friends did it without a tour and lasted about 2 hours in Bangkok before being robbed

there is one company in delhi who offers this group trips......
wandeorn travels