Tauck Boosts Small Group Land Departures in 2023

Tour operator Tauck is boosting the number of small group land departures in 2023 by 35% over pre-pandemic levels.

Tauck will operate 75 total land journeys in North America, South America, Europe, Africa, Asia, the Middle East, Australia, and New Zealand this year, most with an average of 24 passengers and some with as few as 18.

According to Tauck CEO Dan Mahar, the lean-in to small group itineraries is just the natural evolution of the Tauck product and something that would have happened even without the pandemic.

“Our guests understand and appreciate that they’re able to immerse themselves in the destination in a more interactive and authentic way and enjoy a more engaging and enriching experience when they travel in a smaller, more intimate group setting. The onset of Covid boosted the appeal of small group travel for very different reasons,” said Mahar, “but even before the pandemic, Tauck was already moving firmly in that direction.”

Those small group trips include Tauck’s small ship ocean cruises and European river cruises—Tauck partners with French line Ponant to put together the departures with ships carrying fewer than 200 guests, including four vessels that carry 100 passengers or less.