Last May, my friends and I went on a girls’ trip to Bhutan.
Before heading to the Asian country, we read that it’s mandatory (and highly encouraged) to be accompanied by an accredited guide when visiting certain areas and monuments in Bhutan.
So, we booked an eight-night organized tour with a professional from a local company. Despite visiting over 50 countries, I’d never actually done an organized tour, as I’ve always preferred to travel independently.
Although I had a mostly great experience, I can’t say I’ll be booking organized tours of other destinations anytime soon.
The tour was convenient, and our guide was an incredible resource throughout the trip
Our guide had been a trekking and cultural guide for more than 30 years, so his understanding of the history, culture, and natural environment of Bhutan was unbelievable.
We hit him with every question imaginable, and he never faltered.
Whether talking about the government philosophy of Gross National Happiness, the history of Tiger’s Nest monastery, or how to find cordyceps (a valuable fungi some locals collect), the man knew his stuff.
Having a human encyclopedia on hand was handy and made each stop far more interesting.
He also translated for us while we were staying with host families in remote locations. This allowed us to connect with the locals on a deeper level, which definitely enriched our experience.
In many ways, he just made our trip easier. It was incredibly convenient having someone else take care of the finer travel details, like where we were staying and how we’d get there.
Doing an organized tour meant I could kick back and relax while someone else was at the helm. By the end of the trip, I definitely felt recharged.
However, the limited flexibility and costs of organized tours aren’t ideal for me
When I travel, I usually don’t follow a detailed itinerary.
I know the main sites I want to see, but I like to leave room for chance encounters — to be seduced by a destination and even derailed from my timetable.
An organized tour, by definition, means everything is set up in advance. Instead of wandering around aimlessly or making last-minute stops, we mostly stuck to our schedule.
Though our guide was accommodating when we wanted to mix up a few activities — for example, when we decided to go white-water rafting, which wasn’t part of the original plan — I didn’t feel like there were heaps of opportunities for spontaneous exploration.
Generally, organized tours also tend to be more expensive than independent travel. Prices widely vary by place and type of trip, but the tour we chose costs thousands of dollars a person.
Booking high-cost tours isn’t always practical, especially when traveling on the cheap has allowed me to go on so many trips in the first place.
When traveling on my own, I can choose where to spend my money and cut back as needed and within my own comfort levels. There are also more opportunities to use credit-card points or loyalty rewards on accommodations or to find budget-friendly options.
Despite the positive experience, I doubt I’ll book another tour anytime soon
Bhutan was a special destination where a tour guide was necessary, and our tour felt like a good value for the money. There’s a lot to be said for having a knowledgeable expert on your team to navigate and translate on your behalf.
However, I probably wouldn’t do an organized tour of another country — at least, not right now while I’m in my 40s. I enjoy travelling independently and leaving plenty of room for spontaneity.
I’d consider doing one again in the future, though. As an older traveler, I’d appreciate having a preplanned schedule and not needing to worry about planning tons of logistics on my own.
Plus, ideally, I’ll be working with a bigger travel budget once I’m retired and have continued growing my savings. Extra cash could certainly make tour costs a little more palatable.
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