Tours and Attractions

Organising the timing and location of tours and attractions

– Group attractions (and also tour areas) together and tackle the city by breaking up into areas / districts per day or timeframe.
o Saves transport time and costs
o Then can look at the city one area at a time

Attraction / Sights / Activities Planning Portals

 

Google – Tourism in each city or Country search – Google Search – ‘tourism in’ (Insert City or Country)

Google – Local guides scheme and place reviews – https://www.google.com/local/guides/
– contribute to maps and write reviews

– Meetups – https://www.google.com//local/guides/community-and-events/index.html

Google Maps – Save location function (Ability to star a location for future reference – good for planning visits/locations visually).

– Google – World street art portal – https://streetart.withgoogle.com/en-gb/world-collection

Just Gola (Trip planner by city) – https://www.justgola.com/
Just Gola – Suggested itineraries – https://www.justgola.com/plan/

Themed entertainment association – http://www.teaconnect.org/

Visitacity – http://www.visitacity.com/

Wikipedia – List of attractions in (By country)- https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?search=List+of+tourist+attractions+in

Wikipedia – Lists of amusement parks by region – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Lists_of_amusement_parks

Wikipedia – Archaeological sites by country – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Archaeological_sites_by_country
Wikipedia – List of Archaeological sites by country – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_archaeological_sites_by_country

– Wikipedia – List of museums – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_museums
– Wikipedia – Art museums by country –
– Wikipedia – List of the largest art museums in the world – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_largest_art_museums_in_the_world
Wikipedia – List of the most visited art museum in the world –
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_most_visited_art_museums_in_the_world

Wikipedia – Street art – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Street_art
Wikipedia – List of street artists – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_street_artists

Wikipedia – Theme park by country –
– Wikipedia – Museum – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Museum

and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Table_of_World_Heritage_Sites_by_country and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Lists_of_World_Heritage_Sites

Wikipedia – UNESCO Intangible cultural heritage lists -https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UNESCO_Intangible_Cultural_Heritage_Lists
Wikipedia – Table of world heritage sites by country – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Table_of_World_Heritage_Sites_by_country

Wikipedia – Rainforests -https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rainforest

Wikipedia – Theatre by country – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Theatre_by_country

Wikipedia – List of deserts – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_deserts

Attraction genres:
Architecture
Art
Shopping
Entertainment
Food and Wine
Local hand makers
Markets
Outdoors
Transport
Villages
Festive seasonal (Eg Easter or Christmas)

Attractions – Rankings / awards
World Luxury Spa Awards

City Districts genres

Attractions
Design
Entertainment
Ethnic / Cultural neighbourhoods eg Chinatown, little Italy
Festival
Financial
Food
Garden
Market
Old architectural areas
Shopping
Sport
Street art
Warehouse / Industrial transformed precincts

Types of Attractions

Adventure parks
Agricultural farm or village

Ancient Ruins / Relics/ Structures

Animal migrations / habitats
Animal rescue centres
Animal sledding
Archaeological site
Architecture – Hotels / accommodation
Architecture – Bars / cafes / retail spaces

Art creation centre
Artisan / creator village
Art complexes
Art galleries – private
Art installations – Examples: Silo paintings in Australia
Art Parks and outdoor galleries

Art school or college
Art works – Public large
Artist / designer showcases and events

Astronomy – Observatories, National parks, deserts and dark sky parks
Attraction – After hours attraction viewing
Attraction – Sunrise / sunset attraction visit
Auction houses

Bath house (Including Japanese style)
Beach and Jungle bars
Beaches (Hidden or secluded – including only accessible by boat or kayak)
– Wikipedia – List of beaches – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_beaches

Biosphere reserve
Boat houses (Boat hire, events, parks, eateries)

Brewery (Beer / Cider / other similar)
Bridge / Lookout (Scenic)

Cable car / Funicular
Car boot / trash and treasure / flea market
Casino
Chillout areas – waterside, parks

Chocolate factory
Church / temple / religious site
Circus arts
City speciality fairs
Community centres / hubs– amenities and developments
Conservation / nature reserve / park
Convention & Exhibition Centre
Coworking spaces / Entrepreneur incubators or offices
Cultural or arts centre
consulate / embassy
Dam / Reservoir – manmade water holding site
Dance performance centres
Dance school – includes international visiting dancers
Dock areas
Dress up

Education – International schools of —
Education locations – eg Universities (eg Harvard)

Entertainment complex or precinct
Ethnic villages
Events / conference centres
Film and TV locations – EG Amazing Race, Survivor and other Sitcoms / Tv shows
Film and TV studios / production sets
Fine arts schools
Fitness areas – Public
Floating barge pool (Separate clorinated water)
Floating club / lounge / recreational area
Floating restaurant
Flower and plant displays
Food Trucks
Fountains / Water features – light and sound

Friends of attractions or location groups – Includes gardens, museums etc.

Garden

Gardens – Community
Geisers
Genocide / places of crimes against humanity
Government business or cultural development hubs – suburbs or satellite towns
Glaciers
Golf driving range

Hand made or gown items – Source Regions or locations of Speciality handmade/grown items (Such as Perfumery in Southern France, Limoncello in the Amalfi Coast, Coffee in Central / South America)

Haunted attractions

Historically significant place / landmark / memorial
Horse riding / horse and cart
Hotel / Pubs – Dining, eating, music and clubs
Hotel bars / Lounges
Hotel – Luxury
Hotels – Architecture and art
Hot springs / Geothermal pools
Icerink
Indoor Ski Park
Indigenous cultural place or territory
International arts and performance centres / training – notable
International organisation headquarters
Jungle lodge
Kid amusement centres

Lagoons / Natural swimming pools / Centoes / lakes
Libraries / Community centres (Free wifi and local resources)

Local Indigenous / Cultural Tribes
– Local fixers to meet local tribes

Lookouts / observation decks
Manufacturer- Food
Manufacturer – Product

Market / Bazaar / Souk
Markets – Local hand craft markets
Markets – Farmers / Wholesale produce (Seafood, Flowers, fruit and vegetables etc)
Markets – Wholesale goods markets or wholesale shop precincts – such as kitchenware, electronics, cultural goods, fabrics, herbs and spices, food etc.
Microbrewery
Military – Former barracks / military base
Motorsport / motorcycle experience centres
Mountain
Mountain summits (Hikes, trails and walks)
Museums (and Museum shops)
Music institution

National institutes (Education, Arts, University based and other genres)
National Park

Natural Seasonal wonders (Including: Flower Blossoms and Autumn leaves – Jackarandas in Summer in Australia, Cherry Blossoms in Japan, Autumn leaves in Japan / Australia / USA)

Natural springs (water drinking)
Observation deck / Tower
Offices – New commercial offices and buildings – Design
On location (Film and TV) tour
Photography location / effects – Illusion, observation deck photos, attraction, vintage style, Costume dress up, Photobooth
Photo booth – Attraction set up
Photo shoot – old fashioned

Picnic areas

Pools (Man made)
Press clubs (Foreign correspondent centres) –
Reception centres / wedding venues
Restaurant – design, architecture and interior decor

Retail – New mixed retail / food centres or precincts
Rooftop bars
Running tracks / fitness areas
Sand dunes
Schools – Amenities and developments
Schools of art – city and suburban
Shopping mall / Centre
Shrines / memorial (Event)
Shrines / Religious structure

Ski village

Space travel facilities
Sporting Venues / Stadiums / Arenas
Sporting clubs
Stadiums – University grounds based
Cocktail / Specialty drink bar or lounge
Tea house
Traditional dress (local country or region culture) / costume dress up session – eg Maiko in Japan,
Exotic dancer centre
Coffee house / roaster
Food – Speciality food
Food – Grocer (Cultural, produce and other)
Health club
Dive bars

War memorials, shrines or sites of war / conflict remembrance
War sites or relics – Treks, bridges, barracks, walls, forts etc
Steam railway

Universities / educational / library / polytechnic places – Architecture and facilities

Vending machine locations / stores

Walking trails (City, Suburban, jungle, mountain ranges, pilgrimage walks, religious walks)

Secret swimming locations
Highest peaks per country
Snow alpine areas
Desert areas

Wikipedia – List of stadiums by capacity – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_stadiums_by_capacity
Wikipedia – Lists of Stadiums https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lists_of_stadiums
List of indoor venues – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Lists_of_indoor_arenas

Wikipedia – Sports venues by country – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Sports_venues_by_country

Lists of Sports venues in Australia – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_sports_venues_in_Australia

Wikipedia – Sports venues in the United States – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Sports_venues_in_the_United_States

Wikipedia – Stadiums under construction in the United States – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Stadiums_under_construction_in_the_United_States

World trade centre
Star gazing / Astronomy
State forests

Theme Parks
– Wikipedia – Lists of Amusement parks (By region) – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_amusement_parks

Trains – Scenic and cog railway
Tunnels / caves / grottos(Including mines, precious metals and stones, Underground rock formations, glowing)

Unusual Accommodation – (Such as Ice hotels in Europe, Plane hotels)

University redevelopments / architecture –
Urban developments – Open spaces, Community squares

Urban parklands – regenerated industrial or train lines
War relics / museums

Waterfall

Wikipedia – List of Waterfalls – Worldwide – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_waterfalls

Wikipedia – List of waterfalls – Australia –
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_waterfalls_of_Australia

Water locks / Canal / Dykes system – Includes Panama and Suez Canal
Waterpark
Water slide (Slide into the water)
Waterslide (mat type)
Wetlands
Wildflower displays
Winery (Grape / Fruit)
Wineyard – accomodation and spa
Zipline
Zoo / wildlife sanctuary

Live music and gigs
Street art or art hot spots
Bakeries
Breakfast spots
Specialty coffee and roasters
Local publications
Markets
Architecture

Academies – Arts, Music or Performance.
Airports
Ancient relics and sites –eg Walls, castles etc.
Archaeological site
Botanic gardens / notable gardens – private and public
Cathedrals / churches
Cemetery / Memorials / Mausoleums
City meeting place/ Crossing / Square
City square
Concert, opera music hall
Dance performance centres
Dams
Design studio / Creative spaces
Ferry terminal
Financial district
Food – Bakery
Food – Bistro
Food – Cooking schools
Food – Delicatessens
Food – Factory / Manufacturing
Food – Picnic
Food – Speciality food shop
Food – Tea room
Gospel service
Heliport
International organisations eg UN
Jazz club
Memorial
Mountains
Museum – Art Galleries
Museum – Historical / Cultural
Museum – Niche genres
Musical composers – residences and places of significance
National buildings (Government, Parliament)
National mint (Money)
Neighbourhood architecture
Observation wheel
Opera houses / Performing art facilities
Palaces
People and traditions (culture)
Public libraries
Restaurants – Causes
Shopping centres / malls
Shops – Designer fashion streets
Shops – Speciality
Shops – Thrift
Statues / Monuments
Stores – Vintage
Theatre dinner
Town Hall
Train Stations (Main concourse)
TV Centre / Broadcast centre
Universities (Grounds and Buildings)
Urban garden / Park
Villages

Other
Sites of significance – historical or cultural
Natural lakes or rivers – swim

– Cultural villages
– Private gardens and plant collections
– Nurseries
– Botanic gardens
– Fruit and vegetable produce garden (especially tropical and unusual fruiting plants, medicinal plants).
– Art foundations
– Nightclub
– Bar
– Observation deck
– Speciality makers – eg perfume, wood craft
– Natural
o Volcano –

 

o National park
o Glaciers

Places of excellence and specialty
– Includes: Career specific area / centres of excellence

Architectural hubs
Design and Art precincts
Educational hubs
Innovation hubs or locations / co-working spaces
International relations and international organisations
Music hubs
Tech and innovation hubs
Universities (Worldwide) with world famous career specific areas of learning or study

Attraction and sights considerations

– Access by transport
– Best times of the year or day to visit
– Events within the attraction

– Guided tours
– Attraction passes (One attraction – multiple days, Multiple attractions, City pass with attraction inclusion)
– If covered or discounted through a city or transport pass.
– Location

– Opening times
– Pre booking needed or recommended?
– Proximity to other nearby attractions
– Ticketing and costs

– Time taken required to enjoy the attraction
– Weather

Free Attractions or opening times

Google: “free things to do in (Insert city / country) “

Tour companies

If you’re travelling overseas and fancy someone else doing all the work for your (as in arranging transport and itinerary), tour companies can be a good way to go. I find for regions such as South East Asia, North America, Europe, Australia and other western or considered developed countries, DIY works best as the infrastructure for independent travel is there.

For Europe if you’re short on time, then tours may be good as you get an overall favour, but there are several tradeoffs such as independence, communal living and also time to explore.

For regions which have compromised safety (or are considered not safe to DIY travel) such as Central America, Africa, parts of South America, etc – its good to join a tour.

The trade-off to save money in these regions is not worth it, as with a tour you’ll have the peace of mind of your safety being in a group and also being in developing countries have all reliable transportation prearranged. Plus most often these tours take you to places, where doing DIY travel won’t be effective to travel alone.

I stress that DIY works where safety is not a major issue and where transportation is reliable and readily available.. Your life VS dollars – take your pick.

Many tour operators offer guaranteed travel, meaning that when you book your tour, the tour is guaranteed to run. If you are interested in a tour that has no guarantee, then it is wise to question the supplier on past rates of cancellations (as the past predicts the future occurrences).It’s best to err for guaranteed departure tours, but if not at least you should be asking questions and making an informed decision.

Nomadic Matts’ blog has great tips on what to look for when selecting a tour provider: http://www.nomadicmatt.com/travel-tips/choosing-the-right-tour-company/

divide

Organised Group Tour Providers

– For tours specific/catered to a certain city, country or region, please refer to the ‘Regional International Reference‘ page. The providers below service multiple worldwide regions.

Guaranteed Departures: It’s also important to take note of whether your tour has ‘guaranteed departure’ or not. Usually this is specified in the tour details – if not ask in writing. Some tour companies have a uniform policy on guaranteed departure (as in all the tours they offer), whilst some other operators may identify specific tours which have the guarantee.

If a tour doesn’t have guaranteed departure, then it is subject to confirmation which relies on minimum numbers and scheduling for the tour to go ahead – confirmation usually provided within a certain time frame prior to the departure date. This is why travel insurance is so important to have!

Organised tour – Considerations / Factors

Group tour categories / genres / types (Special interest):
Active
Community
Culinary and Gourmet food
Cultural
Family friendly
Industry group area / study tours / business envoy tours
Island survival
Jungle lodge
Language immersion tours
Nature and Wildlife
Photography
Polar expeditions
Road Tripping / 4 wheel drive
Self drive
Special Interest (Eg food, Wildlife, Event, Cycle)
Sports training
Sport – Cycling
Tailored
Treks and adventure
Volunteer
Wellness and relaxation / fitness retreats / escapes / tours
– Participating or learning (Includes Yoga)
– eg Australian local, International (eg Bali)

Educational providers (Eg Universities or educational institutions)- International tours (Study tours), organisation visits

Single Supplement?
Add on side trips (before, during or after main trip) with same or different provider
Length of Trip
Active level (Fitness level and physcial demands required
Tour Focus Audience (Under 30’s, Mature aged)
Inclusions of Tour – and limits (Food, Accomodation, Activities)
Safety
Reliability of tour operator
Guaranteed departures
Modes of Transport used
Other people on the tour
Frequency of tour (how often the same tour runs each month / year)
Experience of tour operator

Travel agency –  tour portals

Tour companies – List / portals of providers

Peak Australian Tour industry Authority – Council of Australian tour operators – http://www.cato.asn.au/members-list

Tour companies (Selected):

– Tour companies have travel inspiration and travel blog pages.
– Note: Many of the tour group brochures are available on:

  •  ‘Issuu’ (Online electronic publication portal – http://www.issuu.com) for viewing and download
  • Tour providers website direct
  • Available on 3rd party travel brochure request websites.

– Deals / Promotions –

  • APT Touring  – http://www.aptouring.com.au/
    – Tour regions:
    – Styles: Worldwide luxury tours and cruising tours – Based in Australia
  • Back Roads Touring Co  – http://backroadstouring.com/

– Tour regions: Europe
– Styles: Small group and tailored tours in the U.K. and Europe

    • Bamba Experiences  – http://www.bambaexperience.com/
      – Tour regions: Europe, Africa / Middle east, Australia / New Zealand, Asia, North America, Central America, South America
      – Styles: Worldwide Backpacker, youth and budget travel independent style tours / Voluntour, Adventure trips and treks, independent, hop on hop off, tailor made

– Deals / Promotions –

– Deals / Promotions –

    • Bus about (Tours and Major Events)– http://www.busabout.com
      – Tour regions: Europe (Notably Summer / Winter), Asia, North America, North Africa, UK and Ireland.
      – Styles: Budget youth / under 35’s – Hop on / off, Organised adventures, Sailing, Festivals, Tran-siberia

– Deals / Promotions –

    • Contiki (Tours and Major Events)- http://www.contiki.com/
      – Tour regions: in Europe (Summer and Winter), Asia, Latin America, USA and Canada, Australia, New Zealand
      – Styles: Budget youth / under 35’s – Freestyle Camping, Sailing and Crusing, Easy Pace, In depth explorer, High energy, Discover plus

– Deals / Promotions –

– Deals / Promotions –

  • Evergreen Tours Worldwide  – http://www.evergreentours.com.au/
    – Tour regions: Europe – River cruising and touring, Canada and Alaska, United States, South east asia, South america and Antarctica, Africa, New Zealand, Australia
    – Styles: Comfort and Comfortable adventure.
    • Exodus Travels – by Adventure world ( – https://www.exodustravels.com/au
      – Tour regions: Africa, Antarctica, Arctic, Asia, Central America, Europe, Middle East, North America, Oceania, South America
      – Styles:

– Deals / Promotions –

– Deals / Promotions –

– Includes National Geographic journeys tours, River cruises.
– Tour regions:
– Destinations – https://www.gadventures.com.au/destinations/
Polar – https://www.gadventures.com.au/destinations/polar/
South America – https://www.gadventures.com.au/destinations/south-america/
North America – https://www.gadventures.com.au/destinations/north-america/
North Africa and Middle East – https://www.gadventures.com.au/destinations/north-africa-middle-east/
Europe – https://www.gadventures.com.au/destinations/europe/
Central america and caribbean – https://www.gadventures.com.au/destinations/central-america/
Australia and New Zealand – https://www.gadventures.com.au/destinations/oceania/
Asia – https://www.gadventures.com.au/destinations/asia/
Africa – https://www.gadventures.com.au/destinations/africa/

– Styles: https://www.gadventures.com.au/travel-styles/

Yolo (Under 39) – https://www.gadventures.com.au/travel-styles/18-to-30somethings/
Family – https://www.gadventures.com.au/travel-styles/family/
National geographic journeys – https://www.gadventures.com.au/travel-styles/national-geographic-journeys/
Active – https://www.gadventures.com.au/travel-styles/active/
Local living (Europe, Asia, South america) – https://www.gadventures.com.au/travel-styles/local-living/
Private groups – https://www.gadventures.com.au/travel-styles/private-groups/
Classic – https://www.gadventures.com.au/travel-styles/classic/
Rail – https://www.gadventures.com.au/travel-styles/rail/
Marine – https://www.gadventures.com.au/travel-styles/cruising/
– Expedition cruising, River crusing (Amazon, ganges, Mekong, Burgundy), Sailing, Galapagos cruises.

– Deals / Promotions –

– Brochures – https://www.globus.com.au/view-or-order-brochure

-Tour regions:
– Styles: Fully escorted Worldwide tours – semi luxury

– Deals / Promotions –

– Tour regions:
– Styles:

– Deals / Promotions –

    • Insight Vacations – https://www.insightvacations.com/au
      – Tour regions: Europe, USA & Canada, North Africa & Eastern Mediterranean, South America, India & Asia, Australia and New Zealand.
      – Styles: Luxury worldwide tours

– Deals / Promotions –

Themes: Sailing, Family, Food, Polar, Wildlife, Overland, Festicals, Cycling, Short breaks, Walking and trekking, Cultural holidays, Explorer (Grassroots travel), Expeditions, Astronomy

Digital detox tours – http://www.intrepidtravel.com/au/digital-detox

Urban Adventures (Day tours)- http://www.intrepidtravel.com/au/theme/urban-adventures
– Urban adventures – Destinations – http://www.urbanadventures.com/destinations

– Deals / Promotions – http://www.intrepidtravel.com/latest-deals

  • Life before work – based in Canada (Offices in USA, Canada and Australia) – https://lbwtravel.com/

– Tour regions:

– Asia – Thailand, Bali – Indonesia, Vietnam
– Central America – Panama, Costa Rica, Nicaragua
– South America – Peru and Brazil
– Europe – Spain and various European city stops

– Styles: Budget / Under 30

– Deals / Promotions –

    • On the go Tours (Worldwide tours – printed brochures only – none online) – http://www.onthegotours.com/
      – Tour regions:
      – Styles:

– Deals / Promotions –

  • Sherpa Expeditions (Part of World Expeditions group) – http://www.sherpaexpeditions.com/
    – Tour regions: Europe
    – Styles: Active holidays (Activities and walking)
    • Topdeck (Tours and Major Events) – http://www.topdeck.travel
      – Tour regions:
      – Styles: Budget youth / under 35’s –

– Deals / Promotions –

    • Tempo Holidays (Main Speciality for Europe – also South America, Asia and Middle east) – http://www.tempoholidays.com/
      – Tour regions:
      – Styles:

– Deals / Promotions –

    • Trafalgar  – Includes Costsaver tours (Brochures viewable online – not downloadable) – https://www.trafalgar.com/
      – Tour regions:
      – Styles:

– Deals / Promotions –

    • Trek America (By Adventure World – USA, Canada, Alaska and Central America) – http://www.trekamerica.com/
      – Tour regions:
      – Styles:

– Deals / Promotions –

– Deals / Promotions –

    • Utracks (Part of World Expeditions group) – http://www.utracks.com/
      – Tour regions: Europe
      – Styles: Active holidays (Activities and walking)

– Deals / Promotions –

– Deals / Promotions –

Other tour companies 

Adventure alternative – Ethical and adventure tours –
https://www.adventurealternative.com/

    • Artisans of leisure

Atlas obscura – Organised travel trips – https://www.atlasobscura.com/unusual-trips

  • Aurora expeditions – ant
  • Back track adventures
  • Bench international
  • Beyond Travel

Clean Travel – Ethical and environmentally mindful travel – https://www.cleantravel.org/

    • Collette

Constellation journeys – private luxury travel – http://www.constellationjourneys.com.au

    • Contours travel

Crooked compass -Adventure tours in not often travelled locations – https://www.crooked-compass.com/

    • Driveaway holidays
    • Driving New Zealand
    • Eastern European travel and Russian travel centre
    • Eclipse travel

– http://www.eclipsetravel.com.au

    • Forward travel – ant

Geographic expeditions – http://www.geoex.com/

Four elements adventure – Australian based, Bali adventure tours – http://www.fourelementsadventure.com

    • Greece and Mediterranean travel centre

Inca tours (Guided tours – South America, Antractica, Africa, Middle east, Central asia, Central America) – http://www.incatours.net/

  • Insider journeys

 

  • Selective tours
  • Small ship cruises ( World small boat tours)
  • Southern sea adventures (Kayaking)

 

Stoke travel (UK based Europe adventure / party tours) – http://stoketravel.com/

  • Sundowners overland
  • Swagman tours
  • The mooring (Yacht charter company)
  • Travel masters
    • Travel projects

Twos a crowd – Solo traveller tours – http://www.twosacrowd.com.au

– Specialise in Asian tours –
https://www.wendywutours.com.au/

    • Western and Oriental

World Journeys (Custom tours) – http://worldjourneys.com.au/

Specialist / Interest Group –  Tour Operators

Genres include:
Gardening
Sports

Specific providers:
Asa Cultural tours (Including gardens)– http://www.asaculturaltours.com.au
Australian sports tours – http://www.astsports.com.au

Butterfield and robertson – Cycling and walking tours –
http://www.butterfield.com/
Carex tours (Garden tours) –
Country farm perennials – World garden tours – http://www.countryfarmperennials.com.a

Ker & Downey

On foot holidays (UK) – http://www.onfootholidays.co.uk/
Opulent journeys (Garden tours)

Raw travel – Walking adventures on famous trails https://rawtravel.com/
– Kumanokudo Japan – http://kumanokodo.com.au/

Raw wildlife encounter tours – http://www.rawildlife.com.au
Renaissance tours (Including gardens) – http://www.renaissancetours.com.au

Social cycles – World cycling tours – http://www.social-cycles.com

Trailbrazers Travel – Small world group tours – https://www.trailblazerstravel.com.au/group-tours

Publications / Corporation promoted or organised tours

Fairfax media Australia – Traveller tours – http://www.traveller.com.au/traveller-tours

Fundraiser / Charity adventure tours

Genres include:

Specific providers:

Alana and Madeleine foundation – Events – Cambodia Challenge – https://www.everydayhero.com.au/events/event_has_finished/11830
Cycle of Cambodia –
Great tuk tuk rally of Cambodia – by Bee keeper
parade – http://beekeeperparade.com/the-great-tuk-tuk-rally/

Huma Charity challenge – by World expeditions – http://www.humacharitychallenge.com/

Inspired adventures – Adventure fundraising & charity challenges worldwide – https://inspiredadventures.com.au/
– Calendar – https://inspiredadventures.com.au/calendar/

divide

World wide – Attraction, City tour and General Experiences / passes- portals

For attractions and city tours specific to a certain city, country or region, please refer to the ‘Regional International Reference‘ page.

Adrenaline tours and experiences portals(Australian based)- http://www.adrenalin.com.au/
Adventure Link – Activity list – http://www.adventurelink.com/Gallery/ActivityList
Airbnb – Experiences / activities – https://www.airbnb.com.au/experiences/
– Host experiences – https://www.airbnb.com.au/host/experiences

 

  • Canary hop (Worldwide experiences) – http://canaryhop.com/
  • * City Discovery (Worldwide booking portal of activities, attractions and tours in each city) – http://www.city-discovery.com/
  • * Get Your Guide (Worldwide booking portal of activities, attractions and tours in each city) – http://www.getyourguide.com/

Guiding Architects (World Architectural tours) – http://www.guiding-architects.net

Explorer (By Big bus company) – Australian city bus hop on off bus tours – Sydney and Bondi, Blue mountains, Darwin, Hobart, Brisbane, Perth – http://theaustralianexplorer.com.au/

Get your guide (Worldwide Local city tours hosted by locals) – https://www.getyourguide.com/

    • ** Hop on Hop off World wide city bus tours (Portal of worldwide city explorer bus route providers – also includes some selected ‘city sightseeing worldwide’ company bus tour listings – not all) – http://www.hop-on-hop-off-bus.com/

I Like Local (Local tours) – https://www.i-likelocal.com/

Just gola (Attractions and day tours in Asia) – https://www.justgola.com/place

Klook – Activities and attractions booking portal – https://www.klook.com/
Lasttix (Worldwide events and activities booking) – http://lasttix.com.au/

New arrival guides – Activities – https://new.arrivalguides.com/en/Activities

 

Touriocity – Local tours – https://www.touriocity.com/

and http://www.urbanadventures.com/new-tours

– Urban artisans tours –
https://www.urbanadventures.com/urban-artisans
– In focus tours – tours run with local NGOs, non-profits, and social enterprises – http://www.urbanadventures.com/in-focus
– Urban adventures – Destinations – http://www.urbanadventures.com/destinations
– Urban adventures – power adventures – https://www.urbanadventures.com/stopover-adventures

Africa – Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Morocco, South Africa
Asia – Cambodia, China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Myanmar (Burma), Nepal, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand, Vietnam
Europe – Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Lithuania. Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Slovenia. Spain, Turkey.
South America – Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, Panama, Peru
North America – Canada, USA
Oceania – Australia, Fiji
Middle East – United Arab Emirates

Viruoso – Tour portal – https://www.virtuoso.com/tours

– Click for your relevant country and then city. In the city screen, click ‘Tours and Sightseeing’ on the left toolbar to bring up various city tours available. Also have a look at the other things to do in the city.

– Summary of locations – http://www.city-sightseeing.com/city-sightseeing-tours.htm

Wotif – Things to do – https://www.wotif.com/things-to-do/
divide

World wide – Free (Or at little expense) City Tours / Volunteer city guides

– For city tours within a certain city, country or region, please refer to the ‘Regional International Reference‘ page.

Note: City tourist offices and agencies often have free tours and city guides (volunteers)

World wide – City Meetups and social gatherings

Google – Meetups – https://www.google.com//local/guides/community-and-events/index.html
Google Maps – Local meetups – https://maps.google.com/localguides/meetup/?hl=en-GB
*** Internations (Expat world meetings and also country resources for expats in each country) – http://www.internations.org/

Urban Adventures – City Meetups- Locals on Tap –
http://www.urbanadventures.com/locals-on-tap

World wide – Local Food Experiences / Hosting

Foodikted – Meal sharing – http://www.foodikted.com/
Feastly – Food – https://eatfeastly.com/
Foodby us – food – https://www.foodbyus.com.au/

Urban Forage Food tours – http://www.urbanforage.co/

divide

World wide – Sports, Adrenaline, Recreation and Active adventure Activities

General Activity and Tour portals

– Includes Kayaking, Canoeing, Mountain Biking, Canyoning, Tandem Paragliding, Trekking, Walking and more.

divide

World wide – Leisure and Relaxation Escape Hotspots and activities (Ideas)

General

  • Go Learn to (Global learning holidays) – https://www.golearnto.com/
    • Includes: Cookery and wine, photography, painting, arts and craft, dance, music, language, sports, yoga, perfume, pilates, fitness.

Food / Cooking / Fresh Produce
– Includes cheese regions.

Tours / Experiences:

Intrepid Travel – Food tours – http://www.intrepidtravel.com/au/theme/food

Regions / Areas:

– Vietnam
– Thailand – Chiang Mai
– Japan – Kyoto
– Spain – Valencia / Basque Regions

– France – Wine regions, countryside
– Italy – Amalfi Coast, Perugia Region, Florence, Bologna

– Australia – Queensland – Atherton Tablelands, Mission Beach and Cairns Region (Tropical Fruit and produce).
– Australia – New South Wales – Coffs Harbour (Tropical Fruit and Produce)
– Australia – Victoria – Mornington Peninsula, Yarra Valley Regions

Wine Producing regions

Tours / Experiences:

Regions / Areas:

Wikipedia – Wine producing regions – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_wine-producing_regions

Argentina – Mendoza
Australia – Adelaide Hills (Barossa Valley), Clare Valley, Margaret River, Mornington Peninsula, Rutherglen, Tamar Valley, Yarra Valley,

Canada – Niagara

Chile – Colchagua

England – South Downs

France – Alsace, Burgundy, Jura, Languedoc, Loire, Rhone

Georgia – Kakheti

Germany – Mosel

Greece – Naoussa

Hungary / Slovakia – Tokaji

Italy – Alto Adige, Fruili, Piedmont, Puglia, Sardinia, Tuscany, Veneto

Lebanon – Batroun

Morocco – Meknes

New Zealand – Central Otago, Hawkes bay, Marlborough.

Portugal – Douro

Slovenia – Brda

South Africa – Franschhoek and Stellenbosch, Tulbagh

Spain – Jerez, Mallorca, Priorat, Riaz Biaxes, Ribera del Duero, Rioja

Turkey – Thrace

United States – Central Coast, Columbia Valley, Finger Lakes, Napa Valley, Santa Barbara, Sonoma, Willamette valley

Yoga / Relaxation / Massage / Spa Retreats or centres

Tours / Experiences:

Regions / Areas:
– Cambodia – Siem Reap, Sihanoukville and Cambodian Islands.
– India – Goa
– Indonesia – Bali, Lombok
– Italy – Puglia
– Thailand – Phuket, Krabi, Thai Islands (East), Thai Islands (West)

Animal Conservation

Tours / Experiences:

Regions / Areas:
– Thailand – Chiang Mai (Elephants)
– Malaysia – Borneo region (Orangtuan)
– Uganda – (Gorillas)

Jungle / Rain forest Retreats

Tours / Experiences:

Regions / Areas:

– Peru – Amazon Rainforest Stay
– Malaysia – Borneo Region – Danum Valley Stay
– Australia – Queensland – Tropical North Queensland Region

Music and Dance

Tours / Experiences:

Regions / Areas:
– Spain – Granada – Flamenco
– Argentina – Buenos Aires – Tango

Party / Music hot spots

Tours / Experiences:

Regions / Areas:

divide

Activities and Experiences ideas summary

Active and Adventure style activities

4wd driving – dune bashing
Abseiling
Airshows
Amazing race style events
Animal tour – Night
Animal transport – eg camel, horse., dog sled
Animal watching
Aqua Bikes
Art activities – Painting
Art prizes / spaces
Attraction – Site tours and audio tours
Augmented reality tours
Beach fire and music
Bird watching
Bird watching
Boat / Yacht Shows
Boating regattas / festival / races
Bungee Jumping

Camping

Canoe
Canyoning
Car rental / Roadtrips
Cave rafting
Caving
Cliff jumping
Culture – Music
Culture – Performing arts
Cycling (Motorised and manual)

Dance classes
Daytrips from city
Dolphin / whale shark / other marine animal Swimming
Fishing
Flight simulator
Food tours – Produce makers / Sourcers
Food walking tour (Visting eateries and markets)
Funicular
Giant Swing drop
Go Karting
Gondolas / Themed boating
Guide / historian
Hang gliding

Helicopter tour

Hiking / Trekking (DIY or with an experienced guide)
Horseriding
Hot Air Balloon
Indigenous culture
Jet ski ing / Jet boating
Jungle safari
Kayak

Kite surfing
Knee Boarding
Land Yachts
Limousine / Hummer
Local Arts
– Local theatre
– Local comedy
– Local famous performing companies

Luge (Ice)
Luge / Toboggan
Microflights

Motorbike / Vespa /Motor scooter rental

Mountain biking
Mountiain Climbing (Natural and Artificial)
Mountain trekking
Mountain lodges
Movie screening sessions / Premieres
Music – Live music
Paddle boarding

Para sailing
Paragliding
Paragliding Motorised Powered (Paramotoring)

Photo tour
Photo walking tours – workshops or events held by photographic companies

Plane – Small plane
Plane – Glider plane
Protests or marches or gatherings (Peaceful) – Various topics
Relaxation therapies

River tubing / floating
River (Calm) / white water (fast) Rafting
Rock climbing
Ropes course

Rowing (Gondola, boat on lake etc)
Safari (Nature)

Sanctuaries (Animals)
Sanctuaries (Wellbeing)
Sand surfing / Sand dune boarding
Scooter tours / riding
Scuba diving – (PADI) http://www.padi.com
Sea Plane

Segway riding
Skiing / Snow activities
Skydiving
Skydiving – Indoor Simulation centres
Snorkelling
Sporting performance / displays – Spectator
Sports and activities – Participation
Stand up paddle board
Sunset / sunrise scenery
Surfing
Surfing – Indoor simulation
Surfboard yoga
Trampolining / Trampoline centre
Trekking and mountaineering
Trekking routes / walks

Trekking tours
Tube riding – open ocean behind a speed boat
Walking tours – Misc City
Water skiing
Wave Pool
Whale / bird and other animal watching
Whitewater rafting

Whitewater rafting
Windsurfing
Zipline

OTHER TO SORT:
Boat hire
Circus acts
Gymnastics
Novelty photos
Photobooth
Round the world yachting
Sailing
Scenic flights
Trampolining
Yachting
Music festivals
Cultural festivals
Local traditional beauty and massage treatments – places of relaxation
Local transport methods eg donkey, wheeled cart, horse
Rafting (Relax)
Desert treks
Wineyard tours
Book launch
Community dancing
Open mic music session
Album launch

Tour types
– Bar tours
– TV show locations
– Food
– Architecture
– City precincts
– City locations
– Hidden hot spots – cafes, bars, eateries
– History
– International themed tours

Retreat Style Activities

Animal retreat
Botanic gardens
Day Spas / Spa retreat centres

Food retreat
Garden retreat
Health retreat

Massage (Foot, Reflexology, Aromatherapy, Hands, Body, Cultural (Such as Thai, Swedish, Ayurevda, Cambodian), Deep tissue

Mineral Bathing Springs (Natural and Man made) / Onsen or Bathhouse
Yoga retreat and other relaxation retreats

Other cultural activities

Ancient ruins tours
Art and craft Classes (Making and/or appreciation)
Cooking classes

Food plantation
Guided tour (walking)
Jungle / forest walk

Medicinal gardens and plant tours

Music Classes
Music tours
Overseas language schools / learning
Reefs
Sports events

Volunteer and Philanthropic type activities

Conservation
Construction
Language teaching

Links last checked : / /2015

Important Disclaimer

Any advice and recommendations given on this website are as a general and informal guide only, taken from practical experience of the owner of this website.

Any hyperlinks on this website that take you to third-party websites are provided for your reference and convenience only, and do not imply an endorsement of the material on the third-party sites or any association with the owners or operators of those sites.This website does not control any of these third-party sites and is not responsible for their content. You access and use the third-party websites at your own risk.

Copyright Information

© Anthony Warren and ‘Life Through the Lens’ 2015. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Anthony Warren and the ‘Life Through the Lens’ Blog with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

Creative Commons Licence

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License.