There’s just something so lovely about travelling in a way that’s not rushed, not crowded, and not packaged to the hilt – it’s the kind of trip where someone meets you at the airport, gives you refreshments, knows which hotel you’re staying in because it’s all been arranged and double checked, and so on… And private tours paired with boutique accommodation is exactly that kind of trip.
Instead of the usual big buses and enormous lobbies, you’ll get to stay in places with real characters, and extras like private rooftop pools and freshly cooked breakfasts, for example. With that in mind, here is a list of some of the best private tour companies around the world that specialise in boutique stays and curated experiences.
Scandinavia Private Tours
Scandinavia Private Tours has completely mastered (and then some) the art of pairing VIP experiences with intimate, beautifully designed accommodation. This female-led company creates fully customisable journeys across Norway, Sweden, Denmark, and Finland, using executive-class vehicles and handpicked boutique hotels, lakeside lodges, luxury cabins, and stunning Nordic retreats.
In fact, their entire way of doing things is an elegant one, with small private fjord cruises, curated restaurant reservations, exclusive cultural visits, and itineraries that adjust to you rather than the other way around. You’ll get to meet local experts, you’ll experience meticulous planning, and the consistent five-star reviews for this company really tell you all you need to know.
Black Tomato
Black Tomato is the true trailblazer of high-end private travel that really does feel personal and isn’t just showing off. Their team specialises in off-beat luxury trips, like desert camps in Jordan, remote Arctic lodges, tropical hideaways, and so on, and all with the added benefit of staff who make the effort to get to know you right away.
Every itinerary is tailor-made, and the accommodation is certainly boutique, with jungle villas, heritage riads, intimate mountain lodges, and tiny island retreats. They’re just perfect for travellers who are looking for an expert private touring adventure but with something really special to go home to every night.
Abercrombie & Kent
Abercrombie & Kent is already well-known, but their private, tailor-made division still feels like a boutique service – and why not? It’s got all the right ingredients. Their tours pair expert guides with the most wonderful boutique accommodation, like heritage farmhouses, luxury tented camps, hilltop estates, and small hotels, for example.
Every detail is taken care of in a way that means everything just runs smoothly all the time, and their local guides are excellent, with plenty of knowledge that never turns boring. If you want comfort, privacy, and that feeling of being really well looked after, this is the company that delivers.
Jacada Travel
Jacada Travel is famous for its personal approach, which includes destination specialists who plan around your interests, gentle pace, and, of course, small hotels that they’ve chosen because of their atmosphere and boutique nature rather than because they’re big and impressive. Their trips can be all over the place, including Africa, Asia, South America, and Europe, and they do love a boutique lodge, an owner-run guesthouse, or an eco-luxury retreat.
Guests really love the relaxed feel of the trips they design, which means it feels like travelling with a bit of help rather than being led from pillar to post, so if you want something that feels soft and gentle but doesn’t let you miss out on what you want to see, this could be the choice for you.
Scott Dunn
Scott Dunn creates bespoke high-end tours that really have a big emphasis on privacy and the little details that other companies ignore and gloss over. So that means including things like private drivers, expert guides, curated lounges, and, of course, boutique hotels that are totally unique and one hundred percent for you.
Whether you want a vineyard estate in Italy, a small Japanese ryokan, or a safari lodge with just a handful of suites, they’ll find you the right match, and you’re sure to love it.
Wilderness
Wilderness is basically known for its safari camps, and the name suggests and you might have guessed, but they also offer private trips that take that experience and boost it to new heights. They’ll include luxury camps, villas overlooking real wildlife, and guides who know the land and the creatures you’ll see there like no one else.
And their accommodation is designed to be boutique, meaning it’s small and beautifully crafted with loads of personal touches and the real world just moments away.
Experience Travel Group
For Southeast Asia, Experience Travel Group has to be the right choice, with its private, slow-paced journeys that are all about the boutique hotel experience and owner-run retreats rather than anything that’s part of a chain at all.
And they’ve got a great style about them too – relaxed, thoughtful, friendly… and that shows in their private cooking classes, cultural experiences with locals, the quiet mountain lodges they’ll take you to, and the beach hideaways with just a handful of rooms. Their tours basically feel like a friend showing you around and getting just as excited as you do.
Blue Parallel
Blue Parallel specialises in luxury private tours across Latin America and the Mediterranean, and their itineraries are very adventurous, with private hikes, boating, and cultural encounters, but the accommodation is always boutique – you’ll have restored colonial mansions, exclusive villas, charming countryside estates, and boutique eco-lodges to really make things extra special.
And their service is extremely high-end and very professional, so it’s perfect for anyone who wants beautiful places paired with warm, friendly, attentive care.
Walk Japan
For travellers who are looking for a slower, calmer type of adventure (which does exist), Walk Japan offers private guided walking tours paired with traditional inns, boutique guesthouses, and heritage buildings to stay in that really help you understand the country from the inside, and totally immerse yourself in it.
The accommodation tends to be small, full of character, and often quite quirky (in a good way), with tatami rooms, wooden baths, and tiny countryside lodges. Their guides are patient and love to tell a good story, and you can set the pace to be as slow or challenging as you want.
