Next Generation Travel provides both fully guided and self-guided history tours to various destinations, from the UK, France, and Belgium, to Krakow, Amsterdam, and New York.
We have two brands that provide an excellent selection of history tours. WST provides self-guided history trips, while Anglia Tours provides comprehensive fully guided history tours. If you are unsure of the difference between the tour types, read our article here, and then keep reading to discover which type of tour is right for you.
The benefits of fully guided history trips with Anglia Tours
Pre-tour support
On our fully guided history tours, you will get support before and during your trip. Whether it’s a school visit to discuss educational objectives and to agree a programme which delivers these, or delivering a pre-tour presentation to parents to provide reassurance and for them to see what they are getting for their money.
All our fully guided trips are designed to support a range of study themes, and many have been endorsed by the Pearson Edexcel exam board. If you want a tailor-made tour that has been designed to meet your specific educational and curricular objectives, our fully guided tours are the perfect way to achieve this.
Safety assurance
Our guides are with your group throughout, not just to educate and engage your students, but to ensure the group's safety from start to finish. Our guides have backgrounds in teaching, the police, and the military, and are experienced in dealing with any issues that arise, so you will be assured that you and your students are in safe hands.
If you are worried or stressed about group safety on tour, or just think you’d benefit from additional support, our guides are there throughout to take some of the pressure off and deal with any problems that may arise.
Expert insights
If you are looking for a more personalised experience, guides will share their expert in-depth knowledge on tour to bring history to life. They will answer your pupil's questions, providing a rich understanding of the sites visited.
Our guides are also selected for their ability to engage with students, not just simply talk at them. Using a range of real stories, images, and period equipment, they are experts at tailoring their delivery style to meet the learning needs of your students. If you think that your group would benefit from personalised interaction and engagement with a guide, then our fully guided tours are a great option.
Personalised research
If you know of former pupils who were involved in either World War or your students have relatives they would like to know more about, tell us in advance and our guides can research these individuals or the units in which they served.
On our fully guided history tours, your guide will tell their stories on the ground where they trod, so that students experience an even greater understanding of historical events. These connections can really help them relate to the people, places, and events being discussed and apply this to their classroom learning.
The benefits of self-guided history tours with WST
Cost-effective
Self-guided history tours can be significantly lower cost than fully guided tours, mostly because there is no cost for a guide to accompany you throughout your tour. You will be responsible for navigating your trip independently when booking a self-guided tour, however this may be suitable for groups on a lower budget, or for various other reasons listed below.
Flexibility and independence
Self-guided tours can provide more opportunities to explore areas of interest without following a schedule and can even encourage you to do your own research ahead of your tour.
This flexibility and independence can be appealing to group leaders that may have run their trip multiple times before, already have ample knowledge of the destination, or simply feel more comfortable or confident leading and navigating their group.
For group leaders that prefer taking the lead, a self-guided tour can be ideal. You can follow a simple itinerary and choose to spend more or less time at sites as you wish.
Time to pause and reflect
Many group leaders will see an expert guide leading and engaging their students as beneficial, whereas others may prefer a more solitary experience.
Although our fully guided tours offer ample opportunities to pause, reflect, and take time for independent thought and reflection, self-guided tours can offer even more flexibility to do this.
For example, a self-guided tour may be more appropriate for smaller intimate groups that may want to prioritise quiet introspection, without the input of a guide.
Summary
There are many factors to consider when choosing between a self-guided or fully guided history tour.
Our fully guided tours offer expert insights, engaging storytelling, interactive experiences, and peace of mind for group leaders who are concerned about navigating or group safety.
On the other hand, self-guided tours are an excellent option for groups that are already familiar with the destination, prefer more flexibility and independence, or have a smaller budget.
Choosing which is right for you is entirely your decision, however, we’re here to help if you’re still feeling unsure about your options. Whether you’re starting from scratch, or already have a destination in mind, get in touch with our friendly team to get started.
Start planning your next history trip:
