Friendly Planet

Founded over 30 years ago, Friendly Planet is a small, family owned tour operator based in the United States. While they might be a small operation, they offer a wide range of affordable journeys to six continents. Their trips span across three categories: small group tours, value vacations, and independent packages.  

What Makes Friendly Planet Stand Out?

Friendly Planet was one of the first tour operators to offer online bookings. While their trips will immerse you in local culture, they don't do so at the expense of comfort. On top of that, their tour price basically includes everything -- flight as well on most trips! It’s rare to find an operator that does so, meaning that’s one less thing for you to worry about.

They also have 24/7 customer service support, which gives peace of mind while traveling to far-flung destinations. If something isn’t up to standards while on your trip, they’ll get in contact with the guide and fix it promptly.

Who Will Enjoy Traveling with Friendly Planet?

Friendly Planet is ideal for active travelers, interested in culture, history, food, and nature. Their small group trips attract a wide age range, while their value vacations tends to draw a younger, more budget-minded crowd.

Whether you’re a couple, small friend group, or solo traveler, you’ll find these trips to create the perfect setting for meeting new people. Groups sit between 11-24 people, striking the perfect balance between too many names to remember and “I have no one to talk to”.

Trips can vary from everything between daily casual strolls to strenuous hikes up snow-capped mountains. If you’re looking for a trip where you can put your physical limits to the test, Friendly Planet does have tours for trekking, mountain biking, and/or kayaking.

Top Destinations

They offer trips in various parts of Africa, Asia, Caribbean, Middle East, Mediterranean, Central America, and South America. Any trip you choose will have a mixture of classic sights and off-the-beaten path experiences.

If you’re the type that enjoys sightseeing and scenic views as much as bread-making lessons and local village visits, they’ll you’ll surely enjoy the tours that Friendly Planet has to offer.

While they do offer trips around the world, Asia, Europe, and Nepal tend to be popular with their customers. Their service, accommodations,organization, itinerary, and guides have the most quality consistency.

Friendly Planet Travel Style

Cultural immersion is a signature feature for Friendly Planet. On top of some sightseeing, they believe it’s about activities and meeting locals that elevate your trip. This could mean a visit to a local artisan village in India, or a walking tour through Old Havana on a tour to Cuba with Friendly Planet. Or a day of leisurely walking through the countryside - where you are surrounded by mountains, lakes, and a castle on a tour to Italy.

You’re always greeted in the morning with a buffet breakfast - so no need to worry about what to order when you’re still half asleep. Accommodations are always centrally located hotels that sit in the 3 or 4-star range.

While it may not always be the fanciest or upscale hotel, they’ll do for some relaxation time and a good night’s sleep. Expect to be using transportation such as private air-conditioned motor coaches, ferries, and coach buses.

They have 4 travel programs:

Small Group Tours: This is what is popular and what they’re most well-known for. With 11-24 people, you’ll get enough time to know everyone in your group and make new friendships. Small group tours are good for young travelers that want some days to be organized, and other days to be free and do as they please.

Value Vacation: For those on an ultra low budget, value vacations offers you the same great experiences, but with a larger number of people. There’s never more than 37, and tours are operated by tour partners. Note that their tours may also be shared with other passengers that weren’t arranged with Friendly Planet.

Independent Packages: If you’re the type that would rather not have a set itinerary, or would rather pick how much you want to do depending on your mood, then independent packages would be right for you. You have full flexibility, no schedule, and no tour guides - so you can make a pit stop at that hole-in-the-wall cafe you spotted while strolling through Santorini.

Crown Collections: For those who want to indulge, have more intimate groups, or luxurious experiences, Crown Collections is for you. Groups are maxed at 6, meaning you don’t have to wait an extra 20 minutes for your fellow travelers to finish up breakfast everyday. You’ll travel using the most upscale local transportation - such as the high-end Rovos Rail Train to venture from Pretoria to Cape Town. Spend the night in boutique hotels, and dine in restaurants where regional wines pair with every dish.

Custom Travel: Those wanting to book a trip exclusively with their friends, by themselves, a couple, or a large group - this is for you. Request a proposal and tell them what you want to do and where you want to go. It’s like having your own personal trip planner, so you can focus on spending quality time.

Why Choose a Tour with Friendly Planet?

If you thought you couldn’t go on tours because it’s cheaper to do it yourself - think again! Friendly Planet is the tour operator for those that are budget-focused, without sacrificing the experiences, good service, organization, and overall quality.

Once you’re on your trip, you have a dedicated emergency line that connects you to their managers in America (no matter what time of day/night it is). Additionally, they give back to the community and actively contribute to projects that promote education, clean water, human rights, wildlife protection, and more.

It should be noted however, that not everything is always guided by Friendly Planet tour guides because they outsource some of their trips. This means there are some potential issues that are out of their control. Depending on the destination, some partners are better organized than others. Not all of them are detail-oriented - they might miss small requests or change without notice.