Private tours assign a vehicle and guide exclusively to your party — no other passengers. You set the pace, can linger or move on, and adjust the route within the agreed itinerary.
Group tours use shared vehicles on fixed schedules. They are professionally managed, reliably timed for all-aboard, and significantly cheaper per person.
Return-to-ship timing is managed in both formats. Private tours may be more flexible on adjustments; group tours follow a fixed schedule that is designed around all-aboard.
Editorial verdict
Private suits families with children, mixed mobility groups, repeat visitors with specific interests and anyone who values flexibility over economy. Group suits solo travellers, couples on a first visit and those who prefer set logistics at lower cost. The value equation often tips towards private for groups of four or more.
| Category | Private tour | Group tour |
|---|---|---|
| Pace flexibility | Your pace — linger or move on | Fixed schedule — shared group timing |
| Cost per person | Higher — fixed vehicle cost divided by your party | Lower — shared across full group |
| Family with children | Best choice — pace and stops adjustable | Workable but less flexible |
| Mixed mobility | Best choice — route adjusted to ability | Less adaptable to individual needs |
| All-aboard management | Operator responsible — flexible routing | Operator responsible — fixed schedule |