Small Group Adventure Tours
Adventure travel is much richer when it’s shared with a handful of like-minded companions versus a bus full of strangers. Since 1969, MT Sobek has specialized in small group adventure tours that bring together curious travelers for active, immersive journeys in some of the world’s most spectacular destinations. With an average sweet spot of 8 to 10 guests per trip, our small group adventures create a more personal, tailored experience. With expert local guides leading the way, you’ll spend less time waiting, more time exploring, and foster meaningful connections with the people and places that make each MT Sobek journey unforgettable.
Small group travel also opens doors that larger tours simply can’t fit through. Smaller groups can stay in boutique lodges, dine family-run restaurants, and access trails, villages, and wilderness areas where large coaches and oversized groups aren’t permitted or aren’t practical. Whether you’re traveling solo, with a partner, with family or alongside friends, our small group adventures combine the camaraderie of shared experiences with the freedom to fully immerse yourself in every destination.
“The small group size is definitely a must for me, and MT Sobek delivers. We went to the Galapagos and had a group of 15 plus our guide. When we were on a few locations, we watched the other ships unload 100’s. That is not how I want to experience wildlife tours.” – Sharyn B., MT Sobek Guest
Featured Small Group Adventures
Small Group Adventure Tours
Explore by Region
From the mountains of South America and the great national parks of North America to the classic trails of Europe, Africa, Asia, and beyond, MT Sobek offers expertly crafted small group adventures across every continent. Explore each region to discover hiking, trekking, rafting, wildlife, and cultural journeys led by expert local guides, with meticulously crafted itineraries and small group sizes that create life-long memories.
Small Group Adventure Tours
Explore by Activity
Benefits of Small Group Adventure Travel
Access to Exceptional, Local Guides
With an average of just 8–10 guests, you’ll spend more time learning from your guide and have more opportunities to ask questions, develop new skills, and connect with the local culture.
Meaningful Connections
Whether you’re traveling solo, with friends, or as a couple, small groups make it easier to get to know like-minded travelers, and many MT Sobek guests return home with lasting friendships forged on the trail.
Unexpected Experiences
Small groups can make spontaneous, inspired decisions—like lingering for a dramatic sunset, staying at a boutique lodge or taking time to connect with locals—opportunities that are often impractical for larger groups.
A Lighter Footprint
Since 1969, MT Sobek has specialized in small-group adventures that help minimize impact while allowing for more thoughtful interactions with local communities, wildlife, and fragile environments.
What Makes MT Sobek’s Small Group Tours so Exceptional
For more than 55 years, MT Sobek has believed that the best adventures happen in small groups. Traveling with fewer people creates opportunities that simply aren’t possible on large tours—from lingering a little longer at a spectacular viewpoint to sharing meals in family-owned restaurants, staying in boutique lodges, and exploring remote places where large groups aren’t permitted.
Just as importantly, small groups foster the types of connections that transform a great vacation into a truly unforgettable one. Our travelers come together from around the world with a shared passion for active exploration, often creating lasting friendships while benefiting from the expertise of truly outstanding guides.
Why Small Group Travel with MT Sobek
- Always Small Groups – With most tours capped at 12-16 guests (Middle Fork of the Salmon River trips at 22), you will enjoy a more personalized experience that allows for greater flexibility, meaningful interaction with the guides, and easier access to spectacular places.
- Expert Local Guides – Travel with experienced regional guides who passionately share their local knowledge, cultural perspectives, and a deep understanding of the landscapes you explore.
- Authentic Exploration – Hike remote trails, explore secluded wilderness areas, enjoy family-run lodges, and get to know authentic local communities.
- A Shared Spirit of Adventure – Join a small group of fellow MT Sobek guests who value exploration, curiosity, and genuine adventure experiences.
- Maximize Your Time – Our small group tours move with efficiency, making transitions smoother and making the most of your time on the trail, river, or adventure cruise.
- Meticulously Designed Adventures – Every itinerary is the product of more than five decades of designing active journeys for small groups.
FAQs
The typical group size on MT Sobek trips is 8 to 10 guests. Some adventure travel companies consider 16 to 24 customers to be “small groups,” but not at MT Sobek. We cap our tours at 12 to 16 or fewer travelers. The only exception is our Middle Fork of the Salmon Rafting Trips, which are capped at 22.
The maximum group size varies by trip. The highest maximum group size on any tour is 12 to 16 travelers. The only exception is our Middle Fork of the Salmon Rafting Trips, which are capped at 22.
The minimum group size varies by trip. Typically, a trip is confirmed with four guests. You’re welcome to sign up with a companion or as a solo traveler, and once a trip is confirmed you will be informed right away.
Each company has their own definition of what defines a small group tour. At MT Sobek, our definition is a maximum group size of 12 to 16 or fewer guests, and a sweet spot average of 8 to 10 guests.
Many trips run with 2 guides. Some tours with 8 or fewer guests may have just 1 guide.
It depends on the kind of experience you’re looking for. Small group tours are ideal if you enjoy meeting like-minded travelers, want the value of sharing trip costs, and appreciate the camaraderie that naturally develops on an active adventure. They’re also a great choice for solo travelers and couples who want to join a professionally guided itinerary without organizing the logistics themselves.
A custom or private trip is the better option if you’re traveling with family, friends, or an organization (like a club) and want more flexibility. MT Sobek can customize departure dates, activity levels, accommodations, pacing, and even the itinerary itself, allowing your group to enjoy the same expert guiding and seamless planning with an experience tailored specifically to your interests.
It depends on the trip. Most MT Sobek adventures are lodge-based, which provides time for yourself in between activities and meals. Select meals on some itineraries are on your own, so you have the option to join other guests or break away. On expedition-style trips like Galapagos adventure cruises, or Middle Fork of the Salmon River rafting trips, you will be with the group the entire time other than when you are in your room or tent. On some itineraries, if you would like to skip a day’s activity, that’s a possibility.
At MT Sobek, we believe that small group travel is the best option for every destination. Some of the most popular destinations for small group travel include Patagonia, the Alps, the Galapagos Islands, North America’s national parks, Iceland, Kilimanjaro, African safaris, and the Peruvian Andes.
Ask an Expert
We want you to have the best adventure, so don’t hesitate to call our expert team of adventure specialists at 800-974-0300 to learn more. Or click the button to use our online contact form.