Best USA tours for 2018

1. Best for youth travel: Contiki

Contiki is the company for millennials to travel the world with and to have #NOREGRETS adventures. It takes travellers across the US from eastern road trips to quick city weekends and tours catered to adventure or discovery.

• Cost: Low-mid range
• Our favourite itinerary: The Grand Southern tour doesn’t disappoint with all of the must-see stops between Los Angeles and NYC (including a stint along the famous Route 66), scenic nature sites and top cities.
• What we love about Contiki: You can change your departure date for free and tours offer plenty of free time to explore on your own or book an additional activity.

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2. Best for in-depth exploration: Trafalgar

Relish the moments and live “the good life” on an award-winning Trafalgar trip. Opt to explore the Hawaiian Islands, iconic cities, cowboy destinations or national parks.

• Cost: Mid-high range
• Our favourite itinerary: The Tastes and Sounds of the South tour explores the culinary trail of the southern states from Nashville to New Orleans for an entirely new and authentic experience of the South.
• What we love about Trafalgar: Geared to ensure you won’t have to worry about a thing from accommodation to activities once you book, Trafalgar offers expertise and excellent service from day one.

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3. Best for in-depth exploration: Best for adventure seekers: Intrepid

Real life experiences, connecting with locals, a dedication to responsible travel and small groups, Intrepid is one of the world’s leaders when it comes to travel and the company makes adventure available to everyone.

• Cost: Mid-range
• Our favourite itinerary: See some of the USA’s most jaw-dropping natural sites on the USA National Parks Explorer with plenty of optional excursions that include hiking and getting a view from above.
• What we love about Intrepid: Expect dozens of trips across North America that are often discounted when booked early or last-minute. Qantas points can be earned on trips over $1,000.

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4. Best for backpackers: Topdeck

With over 70 tours to choose from in the USA alone, Topdeck brings curious millennial travellers together for unforgettable trips around the country with authentic experiences and tours that just hit the highlights or explore further.

• Cost: Low-mid range
• Our favourite itinerary: Get a good feel for the diversity of the USA on the Southern Charm tour from New York City to Miami that explores the must-see highlights.
• What we love about Topdeck: All tours are geared towards the 18 to 35 age group with a focus on social activities to make friendships that can last a lifetime.

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5. Best for ecotours: G Adventures

G Adventures has paved the way for eco-friendly travel. In small groups, you have the option to choose your adventure: classic, hiking, family, millennials, marine, National Geographic Journeys and more.

• Cost: Mid-range
• Our favourite itinerary: Get to experience the Best of the West if you’re limited for time on this two-week trip of California’s coast and Arizona’s inland desert landscape.
• What we love about G Adventures: Its commitment to small group tours with a focus on ecotourism and local living is exceptional.

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6. Best for small groups and local guides: Trek America

Trek America is the original small group adventure tour company in the USA that is 100% locally run with local tour guides to destinations that get you off the beaten path. With flexibility built into every tour and mainly solo travellers making up the groups, it’s bound to be an adventure.

• Cost: Mid-range
• Our favourite itinerary: The Alaskan Denali tour is perfect just to get a taste of Alaska in nine days without breaking the budget and getting close to nature by camping.
• What we love about Trek America: Specialists in travelling the Americas, Trek America offers 40+ tours across North and South America so you can see and do it all.

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• East coast
• West coast
• USA and Canada

• Over 30s
• Families

• Seniors
• Train

East coast

• Insight Vacations: Luxury travel with holidays that highlight sections of the east coast with tours that focus on national parks, cuisine and more.
• Trafalgar: Affordable travel with destinations across the USA, many exploring the east coast with a focus on VIP experiences with locals.
• Topdeck: Topdeck offers tours all over the USA but with a good amount in the East highlighting the top cities for millennial travellers.

West coast

• Cosmos: Cosmos makes travel down the west coast by tour affordable with a number of tours created to visit the must-see spots.
• Contiki: Contiki has one of the largest selections of tours across the USA with a good amount being along the west coast through cities, national parks and more.
• G Adventures: G Adventures gives travellers the choice to explore the west coast how they like by road trip, camping, hiking and more.

USA and Canada

• Contiki: Contiki has tours for millennials that explore the highlights of each country with many trips crossing into the USA or Canada for a taste of each.
• Trafalgar Tours: Trafalgar offers combined tours of the USA and Canada on the east coast and between Northern Canada and Alaska, as well as to the Rocky Mountains.
• CostSaver: Affordable travel with the option to explore the USA and Canada at a leisurely or moderate pace with tours exploring the natural wonders and scenic cities of both countries.

Over 30s

• Insight Vacations: Insight gives you the bit of luxury you’re craving on tours that cater to over 30s, designed to focus on nature, special interests/events, quick discoveries and more.
• Trafalgar Tours: Trafalgar has one of the largest selections of tours for over 30s whether you’re travelling in a group or on your own.
• CostSaver: Affordable travel with the option to explore the USA and Canada at a leisurely or moderate pace with tours exploring the natural wonders and scenic cities of both countries.

Families

• Grand American Adventures: Specialising in North American destinations, Grand American Adventures offers a number of small group tours specifically for families with active itineraries that are based around camping or hotels.
• Adventures by Disney: Adventures by Disney caters to families with holidays that are not just at Disney resorts but explore natural wonders and city escapes.
• REI Adventures: REI Adventures connects families with nature on active trips for all ages exploring the mountains, canyons and national parks of the USA.

Seniors

• Collette: Collette caters for a senior crowd with tours that include national parks, cities loaded with history, music and more.
• Road Scholar: This tour company is geared towards educational travel for mature adults with tours across all 50 states with varying levels of active activities.
• Senior Tours: The name says it all. Tours designed for seniors that have a relaxed pace with short and long journeys all across the USA.

Train

• Amtrak Vacations: Amtrak is the USA’s largest rail company and offers holiday packages across the country for all ages, lengths of trip and families.
• Vacations by Rail: A company specialising in train travel, Vacations by Rail takes you on a journey across the USA to destinations such as Alaska, national parks, mainland USA and Canada, through historic states.
• America by Rail: With America by Rail you’re spoilt for choice with cross-country trips. Journeys specific to national parks, autumn colours, music regions, you name it, there’s a rail trip for it.

• Western USA
• Sunbelt

• Eastern USA
• Southern USA

• Week-long tour of the East
• Week-long tour of the West

• 2-week tour
• 3- to 4-week tour