Best Premium Adventure Tour Company

If you're searching for a premium tour, you've probably noticed that the big adventure travel operators have all launched their own take on premium small-group travel in the last few years. G Adventures has Geluxe. Intrepid has Premium. Explore has Explore Upgraded. All three promise more comfort, better stays and a slightly more elevated pace — but they don't all mean the same thing by "premium."

We sell trips across all three ranges, so we're in a good position to explain what each one actually includes, how they differ, and how to work out which is right for you. And because we compare prices across every operator we work with, you'll always get our Best Price Promise on top — so whichever tour you book, you know you're getting the best value on the market.

What does "premium" actually mean on a small-group tour?

Premium, in this context, isn't about five-star luxury or private butlers. It's a step up from a standard small-group tour, built around a handful of consistent upgrades:

• Better accommodation — think boutique hotels, heritage properties or distinctive lodges instead of simple guesthouses, usually 4-star or the local equivalent.
• More experienced guides — often the operator's most senior local leaders, chosen for their depth of knowledge as much as their people skills.
• Smaller groups — fewer travellers per departure, so you get more from your guide and a closer, more personal trip.
• Extra inclusions — a standout meal, a signature experience, or private transport that wouldn't feature on the standard version of the same itinerary.
• A more considered pace — itineraries designed with a little more breathing room, so you're not racing from place to place.

What premium isn't, on any of these ranges, is a completely different kind of holiday. You'll still be travelling in a small group, still getting under the skin of a destination, and still led by a local expert. Premium simply removes a bit of friction and adds a bit of comfort along the way — it's the same authentic adventure, with the edges softened.

G Adventures Geluxe

Geluxe is G Adventures' premium collection, covering dozens of active adventures across dozens of destinations worldwide. The idea is straightforward: keep everything that makes a G Adventures trip work — expert local guides, small groups, genuine community interaction — and layer on a noticeably higher standard of comfort throughout.

What sets Geluxe apart:

• Standout stays. Every Geluxe trip includes at least one exceptional property chosen specifically for what makes it memorable, whether that's its history, its design or its setting — from riverside lodges to characterful boutique hotels.
• A choice of experiences. Geluxe trips build in a day where you get to pick between two different activities, so you can tailor part of the trip to your own interests rather than following a fixed itinerary.
• Senior local leaders. Guides on Geluxe trips are selected for their depth of local knowledge and years of experience, giving you a genuinely well-connected guide for the whole trip.
• A well-paced itinerary. Days are structured to leave room to enjoy where you are, rather than packing in as much as possible.

Geluxe suits travellers who want their comfort upgrades to come with a strong sense of occasion — a really special hotel or two, and the chance to shape part of the itinerary around their own interests.

Intrepid Premium

Intrepid's Premium range sits at the top of its four travel styles (Basic, Original, Comfort and Premium), and is built around consistently elevated accommodation, smaller groups and its most experienced leaders.

What sets Intrepid Premium apart:

• A signature "Feature Stay." Every Premium trip includes at least one night in a standout property of real historic or cultural significance — a heritage home, a former palace, or a distinctive locally run lodge.
• Handcrafted experiences. Premium trips build in more elaborate, curated moments than the standard itinerary — private dinners with local families, exclusive access, or one-off encounters that aren't available on Intrepid's other trip styles.
• Smoother travel. Premium trips lean on private vehicles wherever possible, along with faster or more comfortable transport options in destinations where that makes a real difference — a first-class train, a 4WD, or a short internal flight instead of a long overland transfer.
• Premium Family trips. A dedicated family-friendly version of the range adds extras like included airport transfers and more inclusive meals, aimed at families wanting a smoother, more supported trip.

Intrepid Premium suits travellers who want their upgrade to come with genuine substance — properties with real character and history, and experiences that go beyond what a standard small-group trip would include.

Explore Upgraded

Explore Upgraded is the newest of the three ranges, and takes a slightly different approach: rather than being a wholesale reinvention, it's designed as a straightforward comfort upgrade on trips you'll recognise from Explore's standard collection.

What sets Explore Upgraded apart:

• A consistent accommodation upgrade. Upgraded trips typically swap Explore's usual 3-star properties for 4-star hotels, while still prioritising locally owned stays and central locations. On the rare occasion a more characterful option makes more sense — a converted Rajasthani palace, or a houseboat on the Okavango Delta — that takes priority over star rating.
• A welcome meal. Most Upgraded trips include a hosted meal early in the trip, designed to help the group settle in and get to know each other.
• One stand-out experience. Every itinerary includes at least one memorable activity or experience built in specifically to elevate the trip beyond its standard version.
• The same trip, elevated. Because Upgraded trips mirror existing Explore itineraries, they're a good option if you already like the sound of a specific Explore trip and simply want a more comfortable version of it.

Explore Upgraded suits travellers who want a familiar, well-tested itinerary with a clear, no-fuss comfort upgrade, rather than a completely reworked premium product.

G Adventures National Geographic Expeditions — premium, with something extra

Alongside Geluxe, G Adventures also runs a separate collection developed with National Geographic, and it's worth knowing about even though it sits a notch above the other premium ranges here. This partnership brings together G Adventures' small-group operations with National Geographic's expertise in science, conservation and storytelling — so the "extra" isn't just about nicer hotels, it's about who's teaching you along the way and where your money goes.

The collection is split into three styles:

• Signature — the most elevated tier, with five-star stays, exclusive access and the most polished level of service. Groups are capped at around 22 travellers.
• Journeys — a more hands-on, immersive style focused on storytelling and cultural depth, still with upgraded accommodation and private transport, in groups of around 16 or fewer.
• Family Journeys — built for families travelling with children aged 7 and up, led by two expedition leaders, balancing adventure, learning and downtime.

What makes this range distinct from Geluxe or the other operators' premium tiers:

• National Geographic Expedition Experts. Many departures include access to scientists, photographers, archaeologists or conservationists alongside your usual local leader — genuinely rare access on a small-group tour.
• A share of your trip cost supports National Geographic Society. Every booking contributes to the non-profit's ongoing science, conservation and education work.
• Signature Moments and workshops. Interactive experiences designed specifically around National Geographic's storytelling legacy, not just sightseeing with better logistics.
• Smaller, more considered groups. Capped lower than most standard small-group tours, particularly on Signature departures.

If you love the idea of a premium small-group trip but want the extra layer of expert-led storytelling and a more direct link to conservation impact, this collection is worth putting on your shortlist alongside Geluxe, Intrepid Premium and Explore Upgraded — it's simply aimed at travellers who want to go one step further again.

So, which one is the best premium adventure tour company?

Honestly, there isn't a single right answer — it depends what matters most to you:

• Want a real showstopper hotel and the flexibility to choose your own activities? Geluxe is worth a close look.
• Want handcrafted experiences and meaningful cultural access alongside your upgraded stays? Intrepid Premium tends to go further here.
• Already have your eye on a specific Explore trip and just want more comfortable accommodation along the way? Explore Upgraded is the simplest route to that.
• Want the highest level of expert access, storytelling and conservation impact, and are happy to pay a bit more for it? G Adventures National Geographic Expeditions goes furthest here.

The good news is that you don't have to compare these three ranges on your own, or take our word for it. As an independent seller of small-group adventure travel, we sell trips across all of them — so we can talk you through the right fit for your destination, your dates and your budget.

Book your premium adventure with our Best Price Promise

Whichever premium range suits you best, book it through us and you'll always have our Best Price Promise behind you — we check prices across the operators we work with, so you can be confident you're getting the best value available on your premium tour, not just the first price you find.

Ready to compare premium trips for yourself? Browse our premium tour collection to see current departures, or get in touch and one of our travel experts will help you find the right fit.