So you’ve decided to start planning a group travel experience.
Maybe you’re a teacher planning a student trip, a school administrator organizing experiential learning abroad, or someone trying to coordinate travel for a large family or friend group. As you start researching, you’ll notice the big travel companies are everywhere — flashy ads, polished itineraries, and promises of effortless logistics. Some even offer bonuses or commissions for group leaders.
But before you book with a major tour company, I’d like to offer a perspective on why traveling with a smaller, more intentional company — especially one with deep roots in the country you’re visiting — might be the better fit. Here’s what we’ve seen over the years and what we hear most from our travelers.
Throughout the booking process, you will be dealing with human beings instead of company policies and automation.
“Please dial 1 if you would like to make a booking, dial 2 to change your booking, dial 3 if you’ve already wasted 30 minutes and just want your money back.”
We’ve all been there — and it’s frustrating.
With a smaller company, you’re working directly with the people organizing your trip. In our case, that might be the same person who designed the itinerary or even lived in the region you’re visiting. We take time to understand your group’s needs, goals, and questions — not just because it’s good business, but because it’s how we’d want to be treated too.
As one teacher recently told us:
“The level of personal attention from Human Nature Expeditions made all the difference. I never felt like a number — they listened, adapted, and made everything feel seamless.”
Local companies have personal relationships with the communities and providers of the country they are working in.
At Human Nature Expeditions, we’ve spent years building relationships with the local communities we visit. These aren’t just business connections — they’re friendships. We know the names of our hosts’ kids, we’ve been to their family celebrations, and we’ve weathered hard times together. These are people we care about, and that care flows both ways.
That sense of connection changes everything.
You won’t just “visit a local community” because it’s on the itinerary. You’ll sit down for a meal, learn stories firsthand, and engage in real conversation. You might find that the people you meet stay with you long after the trip ends — and that your presence has had a meaningful, positive impact.
You run the show, not the tour company.
Flexibility is one of the biggest advantages of going small.
With big companies, you’re offered a pre-set package. Maybe you can tack on an extra activity or choose from two hotel options. But what if your group wants to explore a less-touristed area, or you’re hoping to add a cultural exchange day that ties into your curriculum? You’re often out of luck.
With smaller companies, you’re usually working with people who know the region intimately. They’re used to creating custom itineraries and responding to real-time ideas — “Is there a waterfall nearby we can swim in?” or “Can we eat lunch somewhere more local tomorrow?”
If you’re looking for a rigid, check-the-box kind of trip, maybe the big guys are a fit. But if you want room for spontaneity, curiosity, and unexpected adventures — we’ll say yes to that every time.
Customization
Let’s say your students are studying ecology and you want to focus on biodiversity and sustainability. Or maybe you’re passionate about art and want to explore muralism in Latin America. You’re not going to find those kinds of niche interests baked into a generic group tour.
But with a smaller company, your passions become the foundation for the itinerary.
We’ve crafted trips around field research, conservation, human rights, art, history, language immersion, and everything in between. And if we don’t know how to make your vision happen yet? We probably know someone who does. That’s the benefit of building trips in collaboration with educators, students, and local experts — not just for them.
You will walk away with true friendships.
Some of our favorite moments come after the trip — a message on WhatsApp with photos from a shared hike, a holiday card from a student’s family, or a call just to say hi. We’ve gone rock climbing with former travelers, visited them when they studied abroad, and stayed in touch for years.
When you travel with a small company, you’re not just a client. You’re part of the community. We get to know each other — sometimes over long drives or unexpected weather or unforgettable meals — and that connection sticks.
Traveling with a small, community-rooted company offers something bigger than convenience: it offers meaning. At Human Nature Expeditions, we believe travel should open doors — to new perspectives, deeper relationships, and a greater understanding of our shared humanity. That’s what keeps us going, and that’s what our travelers carry home.
Ready to plan your next group trip with us? We’d love to be part of your journey.
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