Small Group Travel Active Itineraries | Discovery Tours by Gate 1

Tap into the soul of local culture in our small groups

Thanks to our small group size, we can get around more easily than large groups, so we spend a lot of time outdoors and exploring on foot. We can also take you where the culture expresses itself in its purest forms. Share a meal around a family's table, meet children in their schools, peruse outdoor markets, and witness artisans at work. We've arranged opportunities for you to jump right in!

Get to Know the Locals

Culture is defined by the people who live it. And we'll have ample opportunities to meet them. Learn to play Mahjong from the pros in a Chinese game parlor. Visit a Namibian village near the banks of the Chobe River. Chat with monks at a Nepalese school for lamas. And in many destinations, we stop by local schools to meet the children. What's more, our Tour Managers call your destination home, so you'll gain invaluable insight from their personal stories.

Connect to the Great Outdoors

Natural beauty surrounds us on all our itineraries, and we'll explore it up close. We hike to the summit of Turkey's Mt. Nemrut and hike among the Annapurna range in Nepal. For the more contemplative, we'll join locals for tai chi in China, morning exercises in Bangkok's Lumpini Park, and yoga in Nepal.

Attend Exclusive Talks

The world is your classroom with our private talks by local experts. Learn about Zimbabwe's endangered wild dog, Cambodia's unique cultural history, and Turkey's fragile Lake Egridir. We'll also meet a Nepalese woman who has climbed Mt. Everest - twice!

Celebrate the Culture!

Music and performance open doors into the spirit of a place. We'll be regaled by talented performers who sing and dance their country's stories. Celebrate the bicentennial of Giuseppe Verdi's birth. Witness the soulful Gnawa Khamila in Morocco. Wonder at the delicate Rui noc water puppets in Vietnam. Marvel at the Whirling Dervishes of Turkey and the dance of Cambodia's apsaras. And tap your feet to the festive music in an Irish pub.