10 Guides Who Could Transform Your Trip
ByNorie Quintos
April 29, 2011
2 min readDuncan in Scotland, Mauricio in Patagonia, Heath in Tasmania, Jay in Wyoming, Ibrahim in Iran, George in Kenya. As we were planning this year’s “Tours of a Lifetime” feature, knowledgeable and yes, good-looking guides from my own past trips kept coming to mind.
I realized that the people whose job it is to show us their corners of the world and keep us safe are as integral to a great trip as the place itself. And yet we rarely consider guide quality when we choose a tour, so busy are we examining the itinerary to ensure it hits everything on the bucket list and looking up the hotels on TripAdvisor. But a World Heritage site or plush pillows don’t make a trip sublime. The guide is the X factor.
Here’s to the men and women who showed me how to tell wombat scat from wallaby poo; who explained the complex workings of an African termite colony; who told true tales of love and conquest in fifth-century B.C. Persia so that I was hanging on to every word; who taught my sons how to shoot an Amazonian blowgun; who literally stood between me and a hippo contemplating a charge. And who demonstrated time and again the ties that bind us all.
Our sixth annual “Tours of a Lifetime” highlights the world’s best guided trips– from India to Italy– that emphasize community and human interaction. Plus we profile 10 expert guides.
Visit our website to find the entire list of tours, a photo gallery of a few of our favorites, and planning tips to help you choose the best tour for you and your family.
Related Topics
Go Further
Animals
- How can we protect grizzlies from their biggest threat—trains?How can we protect grizzlies from their biggest threat—trains?
- This ‘saber-toothed’ salmon wasn’t quite what we thoughtThis ‘saber-toothed’ salmon wasn’t quite what we thought
- Why this rhino-zebra friendship makes perfect senseWhy this rhino-zebra friendship makes perfect sense
- When did bioluminescence evolve? It’s older than we thought.When did bioluminescence evolve? It’s older than we thought.
- Soy, skim … spider. Are any of these technically milk?Soy, skim … spider. Are any of these technically milk?
Environment
- Are the Great Lakes the key to solving America’s emissions conundrum?Are the Great Lakes the key to solving America’s emissions conundrum?
- The world’s historic sites face climate change. Can Petra lead the way?The world’s historic sites face climate change. Can Petra lead the way?
- This pristine piece of the Amazon shows nature’s resilienceThis pristine piece of the Amazon shows nature’s resilience
- Listen to 30 years of climate change transformed into haunting musicListen to 30 years of climate change transformed into haunting music
History & Culture
- Meet the original members of the tortured poets departmentMeet the original members of the tortured poets department
- Séances at the White House? Why these first ladies turned to the occultSéances at the White House? Why these first ladies turned to the occult
- Gambling is everywhere now. When is that a problem?Gambling is everywhere now. When is that a problem?
- Beauty is pain—at least it was in 17th-century SpainBeauty is pain—at least it was in 17th-century Spain
Science
- Here's how astronomers found one of the rarest phenomenons in spaceHere's how astronomers found one of the rarest phenomenons in space
- Not an extrovert or introvert? There’s a word for that.Not an extrovert or introvert? There’s a word for that.
- NASA has a plan to clean up space junk—but is going green enough?NASA has a plan to clean up space junk—but is going green enough?
- Soy, skim … spider. Are any of these technically milk?Soy, skim … spider. Are any of these technically milk?
Travel
- Could Mexico's Chepe Express be the ultimate slow rail adventure?Could Mexico's Chepe Express be the ultimate slow rail adventure?
- What it's like to hike the Camino del Mayab in MexicoWhat it's like to hike the Camino del Mayab in Mexico
