Pick an escorted tour tailored to your client’s interests, says Katie McGonagle
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Saying a destination is ‘diverse’ is about as helpful as saying it has ‘something for everyone’ – if it appeals to anyone, where do you start selling it?
But when a region mixes towering mountains and sweeping deserts, ancient history and frenetic cities, it’s clear it can be tailored to different markets.
That’s where an escorted tour comes in handy: opt for an itinerary that zeroes in on your client’s favourite activities – whether it’s clambering up mountains or delving deep into local history – and the hard part is done for you.
Best for… history
Egyptian pyramids, Greek temples, Roman ruins – North Africa was home to some of the most influential civilisations in human history.
Any introduction to the ancient Egyptians should start in Cairo, giving easy access to the Pyramids and sphinx at Giza, before moving on to the River Nile, the artery of the ancient world.
Cox & Kings’ seven-night Highlights of Egypt tour combines three nights in the capital with a four-night Nile cruise, from £1,145 including flights and excursions, and optional extras such as Abu Simbel from £210. Bales Worldwide likewise pairs three nights in Cairo with four onboard Sanctuary Sun Boat IV on its Sanctuary of Egypt group tour, with Egyptologist-led excursions en route.
Egypt isn’t the only historical destination: Tunisia might be best-known for beaches these days, but Carthage was the centre of an ancient empire, birthplace of Hannibal, and a Roman stronghold in North Africa.
Riviera Travel’s Carthage, Roman Africa & Moorish Tunisia tour spans several centuries of history in just six days, visiting six World Heritage Sites and staying in the city of Kairouan, a centre of Islamic culture (from £699 with flights).
Best for… family
Trying to get kids interested in history may be tricky – but telling them Tunisia is the real-life home of Luke Skywalker, Indiana Jones and even a few gladiators should pique their interest.
The Family Adventure Company includes those highlights and more on its Tunisian Voyager tour, staying in the Matmata cave dwellings featured in Star Wars, visiting amphitheatre El Jem, riding camels through the desert and sleeping under the stars – plus an option of beach time in Sousse. Prices start at £701 per child and £779 per adult for the eight-day tour, including flights.
The varied landscapes of Morocco offer a similar adventure playground for families to explore, with camel rides in the Sahara, camping in the dunes, and snake charmers and souks in Marrakech.
Explore’s best-selling family tour, Rock the Kasbah, combines these stops with a trip to Ouarzazate, setting for Gladiator and Lawrence of Arabia, and touring a Berber village by mule and bike (from £799 including flights).
Best for… adventure
Exodus customers can view Marrakech from a different angle at the top of Mount Toubkal. Choose from the five-day Mount Toubkal Long Weekend, with three days on the mountain and a visit to a Berber village (from £579 with flights), or eight-day Mount Toubkal Climb, with five days’ trekking (from £669, with a winter version from £779).
Tunisia is less of an adventure destination, though Cosmos Tours & Cruises’ Tunisian Adventure crams in a visit to hilltop town Tamezret, a night in the desert outpost of Douz, and a trip on-board the Red Lizard Train through the Gorges of Selja (from £827).
Combining a sense of adventure with an appreciation for history is Orbital Travel, which has introduced three overland tours of Egypt – ideal for those who don’t fancy a Nile cruise – visiting the Dendera Temple Complex, Tombs of the Nobles, and the Osireion at Abydos. A seven-night Luxor and Aswan overland trip starts at £679 with B&B accommodation and an Egyptologist, excluding flights.
Best for… culture
One of the advantages of an escorted tour is the chance to meet locals and learn about traditional ways of life, whether through food and drink, handicrafts or religious heritage.
These all come into play on Insight Vacations’ nine-day Best of Morocco tour, visiting the country’s largest mosque in Casablanca; enjoying a Moroccan feast with traditional music and belly dancing in Fes; and meeting the artisans who continue age-old traditions of leather tanning and carpet-making (from £1,675 with flights and B&B accommodation).
Getting under the skin of Morocco is a focus for other tours too. Tailor-made Adventures has a new Morocco Discovery tour featuring less-visited places such as Moulay Idriss, the birthplace of Islam in Morocco, and mud-walled kasbah of Skoura (two weeks, from £1,650 excluding flights).
For an active alternative, On The Go Tours’ Migration of the Berbers traces the traditional route of the nomadic Berber people leading their livestock from the high to the low Atlas Mountains, over the course of an 11-day trek.
Meanwhile G Adventures’ comprehensive Absolute Egypt tour includes dinner with a Nubian family in Aswan, a felucca cruise, and a chance to camp overnight amid the unusual rocks of the White Desert.
