Difference Between Group and Private Tours?

When planning your vacation to a new and exciting place, you want to make the most of it and ensure you get what you looking for. But just like any foreign, exotic location, it can be daunting. Where to go? What to do? How do I get answers to all my questions?

That’s why most travelers book a tour to get their bearings and visit the top local spots. And, just like the rest of the world, when booking your tour in Morocco, you are confronted with 2 main options. Should I book a group tour or a private tour?

This post compares the difference between booking a group vs a private tour when visiting Morocco.

Private tour

Complete Freedom and flexibility

Personalised private tours give you total freedom and flexibility. The tour itinerary and schedule is entirely focused and planned around you. Everything is catered around your tastes, including places to visit, things to do, types of activities you’ll enjoy and even the menu.

With a personal tour, there are no rigid pre-planned itineraries that you need to accommodate, although we do offer a suggested itinerary to get you started if you don’t already have something in mind.

Explore at your own pace

Have you ever found yourself on a group tour, enjoying a particular spot, but then times up, and you have to move on before you’re ready to accommodate the group’s itinerary? One of the benefits of private tours is that you can go at your own pace.

If you’re not enjoying a particular location or activity, you can skip it and move on to something else. But, on the other hand, if you are thoroughly enjoying a particular place or experience, you don’t need to worry about time limits and getting back to the bus.

In short, if time is important to you, then a private tour is probably what you’re looking for.

More exclusivity

While group tours rely on buses filled with other travellers, private tours allow you to choose who will accompany you on your trip. Whether travelling alone, with family or friends you can enjoy more privacy and comfort.

In addition, this makes private tours ideal for special occasions like honeymoons, wedding anniversaries, birthdays, or just travelling with friends and family on vacation.

Special care and assistance

Having your own personal guide and transportation provides you with that extra special care and attention. This is especially helpful if you are travelling with young children, elderly relatives, disabled travellers, those with medical conditions, special needs or mobility issues.

Your guide will be able to accommodate your dietary needs better and plan around you, while your driver will transport you door to door to make you as comfortable as possible.

Without other travellers to take care of, your guide will solely focus on you and your travel companions’ needs.

Your own personal tap of local knowledge

Having your own personal guide means there is no competing with other travellers to get the attention of your guide or to have your questions answered. Instead, you’ll have access to a tap of local culture and knowledge.

Find out everything you want to know, get recommendations on foods to try, things to do and places to visit. In addition, you can get to know a real Moroccan local who can introduce you to places off the beaten track.

Private Tour Cost

Private tours are usually considered much more expensive due to the luxury, convenience and personal attention they offer. While there is some truth in this, as personal tours can often be more expensive than group tours, this isn’t always the case.

When travelling within a group of family or friends, booking a private tour can be more economical than the per-seat cost of individually booking everyone on a group tour.

Therefore, it is worth comparing the entire cost of a group tour and private tour over the per seat or individual cost of booking one person.

Group tour

Best for those on a tight budget

As one would expect, group tours usually offer the cheapest option for those on a tight budget. Economies of scale are the main factor at play here, where travellers can benefit from the savings associated with sharing resources.

One thing to bear in mind is that this does depend on the number of people in your party. For example, those travelling in a group of friends or family may find that the cost of a private tour can work out the same or even cheaper when compared with the per-person cost of a group tour.

You can meet new people along the way

It’s not always easy to make friends and meet new people while travelling alone. For this reason, group tours can offer you an opportunity to connect with fellow travellers.

Since group tours are not restricted to specific people, they usually comprise a mix of travellers from all over the world who can speak the same language as you. It can also be an excellent way to break the ice and give you a common topic of conversation.

If you are looking to make acquaintances and potentially new friends during your stay, then group tours are probably the better option for you.

You will have to follow a rigid schedule

While group tours operated by quality travel agencies are usually well designed and encompass the experience international visitors seek, they still come with a rigid itinerary that needs to be followed.

This is to ensure the group’s satisfaction is met overall rather than the satisfaction of the individual. Therefore group tours include fixed dates, times, itineraries and stop durations to ensure every activity advertised is ticked off.

You will have to share transportation with other travellers

Group tours usually start by going around and picking up other fellow travellers before the tour starts and then include numerous stops on the way back. In addition, waiting for others to return to the bus at the agreed meeting time can be frustrating for some when you are ready to move on.

If you find yourself frustrated by these small inefficiencies, then a group tour is not for you. It is also one of the significant advantages of booking a private tour, so you may wish to consider that option.

Choose a Group Tour if

Choose a Private Tour if

How to make the most out of a private tour

After booking your private tour on your preferred tour dates, think about what you want to get out of your experience. The more information you can provide us with, the better we can tailor your tour and experiences to your needs and tastes.

Try to answer some of these questions and write down your answers. Then let us know, and discuss them with your private tour guide at the start of your tour:

• Do you already have a few ideas of things you would like to see/do during your trip?
• What kind of experience would you like to have (active, historic, palaces, scenic, food, markets, shopping, city tour, children’s activities)?
• Do you have any specific requirements?
• Are you travelling with the elderly, disabled or any young children?
• Do you wish to attend a specific event?
• The more information you can provide, the better we can tailor your tour around you.

If you have difficulty answering any of the above, do not fret. Your guide can make plenty of suggestions for you. In addition, apart from any pre-made bookings for experiences, your guide can be quite flexible and, in discussion with you, can alter your itinerary on the day based on the weather and what you feel like at the moment.

Customize Your Trip: You can create your own package or edit one of our packages.