The power of shared interests – making friends on small group tours
4 MINUTE READ
At GeoCultura, we believe that one of the easiest and most rewarding ways to meet like-minded people is on small group tour packages.
The blend of intimacy and shared experiences you’ll find on our tours, through the power of shared interests, is the perfect setting for forging meaningful connections. And the cornerstone of this very human bonding process is the common interests you’ll likely share with your fellow tour guests, whether you’re travelling solo, as a couple or with friends.
Shared interests are the foundation
Our small group tours are often curated around specific themes or activities, such as the life and times of Charles Darwin, Alberta’s dinosaur discoveries, Irish landscapes, Scottish history or fossil hunting on England’s Jurassic Coast.
We can offer you a choice of two small group tours of Ireland, one of which is led by a professor of Geology at University College, Dublin. We are thrilled he is able to lead two tours from Dublin in 2026, including visits to Newgrange, The Burren GeoPark, the Cliffs of Moher, and the Aran Islands.
Our small group tours of Scotland include plenty of island-hopping, so if the Isle of Skye is on your ‘bucket’ list, three of our upcoming tours include two nights in Portree, so you’ll be well-placed to see the highlights of Skye in good company. No large coaches for our tours, but a small minibus, for a small group with plenty of room for your luggage.
As well as bringing together people who tend to be curious and keen to connect with others, our tours often have a theme. This almost guarantees that everyone on the tour has at least one significant interest in common. That’s important because shared interests are a powerful catalyst for connection.
Having a shared interest brings people together, quickly and easily breaking down social barriers and creating a sense of camaraderie. It’s easier to chat with people when you’ve got something in common. From that starting point, you may well find you have other shared interests or a similar outlook on life.
Small group tours means more interactions
The intimate size of our small group tours – usually no more than 12 guests – is another reason why our small group tour packages are an easy way to meet people. On larger group tours, it can be difficult to get to know everyone, and interactions often remain superficial. Our typical groups of eight to ten guests allow for group dinners in authentic local pubs and restaurants, which has proved really popular with our guests.
On the other hand, our small group tours create a more personal and relaxed environment where you can interact more frequently. You’ll see familiar faces every day, and quickly get to know more about your fellow travellers’ backgrounds, stories and perspectives. These frequent, deeper interactions further strengthen the initial bonds created by those shared interests.
Tour guides encourage a sense of camaraderie
Our tour guides are known for going above and beyond for our guests, and that includes doing everything they can to nurture a sense of belonging and community. A little-talked about part of a tour guide’s role is to smooth the way for guests socially.
On our small group tour packages, you embark on a journey together, sharing not just minibuses, hotels and restaurants but also experiences and learnings along the way.
Whether it’s enjoying a wee dram after dinner in Scotland, sampling the best Pyrenean cuisine in Spain, or spontaneously deciding to follow the advice of a local and explore a hidden gem in Alberta, these shared moments become collective memories that knit the group together.
As Seren Welch, one of our tour leaders, says, “When you take groups off the beaten track, the tour becomes more like a day out with friends.”
Lean into collaborative learning
Thanks to the active encouragement of curiosity, questions and conversation, GeoCultura’s small group tours are an excellent platform for collaborative learning and personal growth. It doesn’t matter how well acquainted you are with the subject matter, our tour leaders tailor the information to meet your level of understanding. And everyone’s invited to share their knowledge, skills and insights around the tour’s theme. You might have gardening tips to share as you tour Tresco Abbey gardens on the Isles of Scilly, for example.
This conversational style enriches the experience for everyone and helps to foster even deeper connections between you and your fellow guests. You’ll learn from your tour leader, from other guests on the tour, and from your own curiosity. It’s a great way to broaden your horizons and gain new perspectives – at the same time as making new friends.
Find a choice of small group tour packages to match your interests, and meet like-minded people. All our scheduled tours will have 12 or fewer guests!