To some the idea of a group tour is deeply troubling… far too impersonal, with limited ability to interact with anything local, they would not consider this the right kind of travel at all and at Wild Frontiers we’d agree.

Starting our business in the mountains of northern Pakistan, we knew a very different approach to group travel was needed if our clients were going to see and experience the kind of travel we wanted them to. Visiting isolated peoples like the Kalash – the last of the pagan tribes to inhabit the Hindu Kush – going on short walks on picturesque mountain trails, staying at small boutique hotels and local guesthouses, and using interesting transport, we knew first and foremost the group size had to be small…

We also knew we wanted to give our clients the very best experience the region could offer in the time frame they had available. Without wanting the price to dictate the type of trips we ran, we set about designing itineraries that combined introducing our clients to the most interesting people with the best activities, the most interesting and characterful accommodation, and the most practical, comfortable – and in some cases – unusual transport. We recruited exceptional tour leaders to pull the trips together and make sure they run smoothly and employed local guides to give that extra level of understanding of the country in which our clients were travelling. And we decided we’d only run each tour a limited number of times a year so as to keep the journey fresh for each group and the travel experience authentic.

We think of them this way… Our small group tours are really a collection of bespoke itineraries that depart on a fixed date that individuals can book onto and as such they appeal to likeminded travellers interested in learning more about the world.

Here in Pakistan on a recent tour I asked some of our clients what they thought about travelling as part of a in a group.

INTERVIEWS – Use Tracey as the main voice – she is much more eloquent than the rest – but cut in others if you want. Simon in the England cricket cap and Jo – the pretty but wholly monosyllabic one – would be good to get snippet from.

The great advantages of travelling on a small group tour are that we do all the work in organising the best things to do and most interesting people to meet. There will be a group of fellow, like-minded travellers with which you can share and enjoy the experience. We can get you to places you’d struggle to reach on your own. And you can relax safe in the knowledge that everything is being taken care of, both on the ground and behind the scenes, by those that know how.

So although the idea of group trips might not be instantly appealing, when it comes to Wild Frontiers way of doing things here are a few keys points to remember: (Please type out on the screen)

• On all but a handful of tours, the maximum group size is 12
• Most tours are conducted on a full board basis (including drinking water and some soft drinks) – thus negating the need to split each meal bill
• On all our tours we try to use the most fitting accommodation and transport
• We always have a tour leader and local guide
• And to make sure you are well looked after before, during and after the trip we have a dedicated team in London and Delhi on call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

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