As you know my blog is filled with travel itineraries as well as posts that hone in on a specific destination. I try and ensure that each post has practical tips and ideas to help you create your own amazing travels.
I also host tours for my readers where I work with local travel agents and we plan each day, line by line, to ensure it covers all the great sights, tastes, free time, etc and is located in the best parts of the city. But I realise hosted tours aren’t for everyone.
So here’s a tip for how to create an itinerary to suit you or your family without exhausting yourself for days on end trying to work out where everything you to want to see is, and which days they should be on, or hoping you don’t miss a hidden gem.
Check out some organised tours to the places you want to go!
Use a prompt like “tour of China” and see what pops up in Google, then as you look at the many operators and tours that are out there you’ll see things you want to do, and which order is going to be best to see them, based on geography. Then armed with this info, you can pop into your travel agent and they can likely create one for you, cutting down hours of work.
I have been hosting tours for my readers since 2017 and work closely with several travel agents to create a day-by-day itineraries. Most often I publish those in full, day-by-day so prospective guests can decide if it’s what they’re looking for before they conact me.
But they are also a great resource for you to plan your own self-drive itinerary, fly, cruise, whatever it is you’re looking for, while barely lifting a finger.
For example, I am thinking about hosting an Africa Tour sometime (probably in 2027), and it’s super hard to decide where I should go as the entire continent offers different, yet amazing experiences. So part of my research is to find tours that are already out there, and have a good read through them!
I’ve listed below several links to itineraries of my tours, and posts I’ve written as day-by-day guides, that you can just pilfer for ideas, as well some of the major tour companies based here in New Zealand that you can have a scroll through too.
New Zealand itineraries
A week in the Bay of Islands, up to Cape Reinga and the Hokianga itinerary.
We did this West Coast of the South Island itinerary in about 10 days from Nelson to Hokitika then across to Christchurch on the Trans Alpine train.
This Queenstown, Wanaka and Central Otago road trip is about 5 days, which I did in a campervan with my husband. But this is the 10-day Central Otago tour itinerary I hosted in 2022.
My 4-day MacKenzie Country roadtrip from Christchurch staying in Tekapo and Mt Cook.
USA itineraries
This Pacific Coast Highway drive from Los Angeles to San Francisco took 4 days (although you could do it in a day!) and is a fabulous road trip.
Our Music road trip from Nashville to Memphis to New Orleans
Our 4-day Nevada roadtrip out of Las Vegas staying in the most haunted hotel in the US and visiting Area 51.
Florida Keys drive from Miami to Key West is one I’d love to do again. And stay longer next time.
How to spend one day in Key West if you’re there on a cruise maybe.
Our 7-day Utah roadtrip in summer starts in Salt Lake City, then Park City, Zion National Park and Bryce Canyon was another awesome roadie.
I also have a smaller blog called Day Tripping USA where you’ll find lots of day trip ideas for what to do in various cities, beach destinations and national parks in the United States.
Europe itineraries
Italy: How to spend 3 days in Venice
Italy: This Italian tour I took in 2023 covers Rome, Naples, Amalfi Coast, Positano, Florence, Sienna, Venice.
Greece: One day in Santorini covers the best things to do if you’re there on a cruise and only have a day – and don’t want to join the cruise ship throng!
Ireland: My 5-day roadtrip from Dublin around southern Ireland to Galway is actually one of the most popular posts on this blog. It’s easy to drive around Ireland, so you might like to start here for some ideas. It includes Waterford, Cork, Dingle Peninsula, Limerick, the Cliffs of Moher and Galway.
Oh how I loved this Christmas Markets river cruise along the Danube on Avalon with added nights in Prague and Paris for Christmas Day.
Mexico itinerary
My Mexico itinerary starts in Cancun, then Mexico City, then across to Cabo and ends in Palm Springs California. This one is happening in March 2025. You’ll see how many days we’ve allowed in each place and what we’re going to do on those days.
Asia itineraries
This is my China tour itinerary I took in 2019. It includes Beijing, Xian, Chengdu, Yangtze River cruise and Shanghai.
I will host this Thailand tour in July 2025, covering 4 nights in Bangkok and 4 nights in Koh Samui.
Australia itineraries
This Tasmania itinerary covers the state in 10 days from Hobart return.
This was a fun road trip, spending 5 days in the Marget River region out of Perth.
Other Tour Companies to Check Out
Of course, after looking through all these tours, you might decide you can’t be bothered organising it all yourself and still want to join one, but if not, here are some great places to start to plan your own.
Happy travels!
