A wine estate in Stellenbosch where travellers can enjoyed guided tours. Picture: Unsplash
According to The Travel Corporation, when it comes to guided travel, themed tours are becoming an increasingly popular way of creating more meaningful and enriching travel experiences.
The company said that whether you’re mad about wine, history, nature or culture, themed tours allow you to immerse yourself in your passion while exploring a new travel destination.
If you’re a wine enthusiast, for example, a guided tour through renowned winemaking regions like Stellenbosch or Franschhoek means you can visit iconic wine estates while also learning about winemaking and sampling local varietals.
Due to the growing interest in guided tours, travel industry insiders are responding to this increased demand for specialised experiences and tailoring their offerings accordingly.
Ellen Bettridge, President and CEO of Uniworld Boutique River Cruises, said the growing trend of themed guided tours has inspired their new range of themed cruises for 2025.
"From our first-ever cruise exclusively for women to luxurious, all-inclusive golf packages, we’re expanding our portfolio to further cater to a range of interests, passions and communities,” she said
Various travel experts share reasons why themed guided tours are set to gain momentum in 2025.
They’re guided by experts
According to Bettridge, a guided themed tour is usually led by an expert professional guide or local expert with in-depth knowledge and insights on the theme you’re exploring.
“A cooking-themed tour, for example, may be led by a renowned chef familiar with the local cuisine in the region you’re visiting,” she said.
The travel expert added that these tours allow you to immerse yourself in the subject you’re passionate about while an expert local guide travels with you and gives you insider tips and knowledge.
You get a sense of community
Another reason for themed guided tours is that embarking on a guided tour centering on a particular theme means you’ll be travelling with people with shared interests and a common outlook.
Bettridge highlighted that Uniworld’s women-only cruises, for example, allow for generations of women to explore France's Burgundy and Provence regions together while feeling empowered and supported by each other.
“With included excursions such as truffle hunting, on-board workshops with local artisans and a bike ride to the Chartreuse, women are able to form stronger connections than if they were in a mixed group.
“Sharing a trip with like-minded travellers also makes for a more sociable environment than if you were travelling independently,” she said.
The planning is done for you
Another reason why guided tours are set to become popular in 2025 is that embarking on a themed guided tour saves you the time of researching your particular passion in a new destination you may be unfamiliar with.
Trafalgar Tours’ range of active travel tours, for example, take travellers on guided explorations through various US national parks, from Yellowstone to the Grand Canyon to the Grand Tetons.
With hiking routes already organised and guided, travellers can simply enjoy the experience without worrying about mapping routes and organising other hiking logistics such as park entry, travel to and from the park and booking accommodation.
Access to exclusive experiences
The Travel Corporation said that with themed guided tours, travellers are more likely to gain access to insider experiences that may be off-limits to casual visitors, such as a backstage theatre tour, a private viewing of an art collection or a guided hike in a restricted nature reserve.
“Gaining this exclusive access creates memorable, one-of-a-kind moments that can make the holiday feel extraordinary and personal – plus you save money compared to if you were to organise these experiences on your own,” it said.