ON FOOT · SMALL-GROUP HIKES

The 15 Best Small-Group Hikes Worldwide

39 hikes  ·  from $35 a head

Eight walkers instead of forty changes the pace and the number of stops. These 15 state the real group cap, what it adds to the price and which routes need it for safety.

Small Group Waterfall and Rainforest Hiking Adventure on Maui - Riding the Hana Highway from Kahului
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Small Group Waterfall and Rainforest Hiking Adventure on Maui

1.Small Group Waterfall and Rainforest Hiking Adventure on Maui

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,417 reviews · 5 hours (approx.) · from $187Our pick

Meet at Kahului Park & Ride at 9:30 a.m. for a small-group trip along the Hana Highway, then hike through East Maui rainforest with a local naturalist. Expect muddy trails, stream crossings, waterfall pools, optional rock jumps, tropical fruit tastings, snacks, and lunch. Guides such as Des, Michael, Joel, and Abby bring local stories and plant knowledge.

“My favorite part was definitely seeing the waterfalls. I did expect to see more wildlife… definitely more birds. But our guide couldn’t have done a better job. She made it fun and informative!”

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Glacier Hike and South Coast Small-Group Tour from Reykjavik - Skógafoss brings the big waterfall moment
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Glacier Hike and South Coast Small-Group Tour from Reykjavik

2.Glacier Hike and South Coast Small-Group Tour from Reykjavik

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 827 reviews · 12 hours (approx.) · from $205

Spend about 12 hours with Troll Expeditions visiting Seljalandsfoss, Skógafoss, Reynisfjara, and Sólheimajökull. Your English-speaking driver handles the route, while a glacier guide such as Philip or Malek fits crampons, helmet, harness, and ice axe. The minibus holds no more than 18 people, with WiFi and Reykjavik pickup included.

“A good way to get a quick look at the South Coast. The tour moves along quickly...not a lot of extra time at any one place, though in fairness enough to see and enjoy. Our tour guide shared history of Iceland and his only personal history. The glacier hike a definite workout, though great experience!”

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Sólheimajökull Glacier Hike – Adventure in a Small Group - The approach walk before you reach the ice
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Sólheimajökull Glacier Hike – Adventure in a Small Group

3.Sólheimajökull Glacier Hike – Adventure in a Small Group

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 799 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $115

Walk onto Sólheimajökull with a certified Icelandic Mountain Guides leader, using crampons and an ice axe to explore blue ice, crevasses, and small ice tunnels. The three-hour outing includes equipment, basecamp coffee, and several daily departure times. Guides such as Sam, Sofia, Oskar, and Heini are praised for clear safety briefings and friendly instruction.

“Everything was amazing. our guide was very kind and professional. We full y recomend this experience.”

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Guided Hike through Peek-a-Boo Slot Canyon (Small Group) - The off-road ride is part of the attraction
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Guided Hike through Peek-a-Boo Slot Canyon (Small Group)

4.Guided Hike through Peek-a-Boo Slot Canyon (Small Group)

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 708 reviews · 2 to 3 hours (approx.) · from $69

Meet in Kanab for a small-group trip to Peek-a-Boo Slot Canyon, about 10 miles north of town. A guide such as Kyle, Raymond, Sherwin, or Quinn drives you over rough roads, then leads an easy 1.5-mile walk through cool, twisting Navajo Sandstone walls. Expect geology, local stories, photo help, and bottled water.

“This tour will exceed your expectations! Raymond, our tour guide, was knowledgeable and helped us take the most breathtaking pictures throughout the canyon. This is definitely a must do when in Kanab!”

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From Beijing: Small Group Hike at Jinshanling Great Wall - The 8 a.m. meeting and long ride north
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From Beijing: Small Group Hike at Jinshanling Great Wall

5.Small Group Hike at Jinshanling Great Wall

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 667 reviews · 9 hours · from $52

Travel from Beijing to Jinshanling for a three-hour hike across restored and original wall sections, with more than 15 watchtowers and wide mountain views. You may hike with an English-speaking guide or independently, depending on your booking. Drivers such as Zhang Feng, Charlie, and Cheney have earned praise for safe driving, clear directions, water, and helpful support.

“we were only 3 so they sent a car for us. Our driver was soooo nice, he waited for us an extra hour and had some hot water ready for the ride back. Choosing this section of the wall was a stroke of genius, it was almost empty, for about and hour we had the wall all for ourselves”

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Skaftafell Glacier Hike 3-Hour Small Group Tour - The short drive and the walk to the glacier
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Skaftafell Glacier Hike 3-Hour Small Group Tour

6.Skaftafell Glacier Hike 3-Hour Small Group Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 580 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $117

Walk on Vatnajökull with a certified guide from Troll Expeditions. Expect a short transfer, equipment fitting, a walk to the glacier, and time among ice formations and moulins. Guides such as Maria, Martin, Paula, and Atilla have led highly praised outings. The full activity takes about three hours, but only part of that time is spent on the ice.

“Our guide was Anna and she was amazing! This is probably the coolest and most adventurous tour we have ever been on as a couple. Highly recommend this tour to anyone! The views up on the glacier are absolutely breathtaking.”

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Rio: Tijuca Forest Small Group Hike to Caves and Waterfalls - The route from Taunay Waterfall to Mayrink Chapel
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Rio: Tijuca Forest Small Group Hike to Caves and Waterfalls

7.Rio: Tijuca Forest Small Group Hike to Caves and Waterfalls

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 536 reviews · 6 hours · from $69

Spend six hours exploring Tijuca Forest with an English or Portuguese speaking guide such as Vini, Riccardo, Tito, or Luiza. The moderate 6.2 km route visits Taunay Waterfall, Mayrink Chapel, a suspension bridge, coffee-era ruins, Bat Grotto, and Baronesa Cascade, with time for a waterfall shower.

“our guide Richie was great and made the trip very fun and interesting. the trip itself was also very nice. Highly recommendable.”

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Chiang Mai: Gibbons, Trekking & Mae Kampong Small Group Tour - The morning drive from Chiang Mai to Mae Kampong
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Chiang Mai: Gibbons, Trekking & Mae Kampong Small Group Tour

8.Gibbons, Trekking & Mae Kampong Small Group Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 504 reviews · from $77

Travel from Chiang Mai to Mae Kampong with an English-speaking guide such as TK or Nee. Walk forest trails, learn about edible plants, visit a waterfall, stop for coffee, eat local food, and look for free-roaming gibbons. Sightings are not guaranteed, and some steep, uneven walking is involved.

“We really enjoyed our trip today to Mae Kampong. Nee and Golf were great guides and hosts and made us feel very welcome! We saw the gibbons and enjoyed learning about different plants. When our son did not feel so well they kindly adjusted the programme a bit so he could still participate. It was great to get out of the city and be in nature with a bit cooler temperatures!”

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Skaftafell: Extra-Small Group Glacier Hike - Meeting at Melrakki Adventures in Skaftafell
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Skaftafell: Extra-Small Group Glacier Hike

9.Extra-Small Group Glacier Hike

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 501 reviews · 3 hours · from $162

Meet Melrakki Adventures in Skaftafell for a three-hour glacier hike on Falljökull, an outlet of Vatnajökull. A modified 4x4 carries you close to the ice, leaving up to two hours for crampon walking, blue pools, crevasses, moulins, and glacier stories. Groups cap at eight, with guides such as Javi, Ásta, José, and Kate leading in English.

“Great tour with Jose! We were a group of 5 and were the first to arrive to the glacier in the morning, which was great for the pictures! Jose was very friendly and his explanations were clear. He also took some photos for us! We really enjoyed it!”

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Solheimajokull Glacier 3-Hour Small-Group Hike - Guides Who Make the Difference
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Solheimajokull Glacier 3-Hour Small-Group Hike

10.Solheimajokull Glacier 3-Hour Small-Group Hike

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 501 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $125

Meet your certified guide at Sólheimajökull parking lot near Vík for a three-hour glacier walk. After gearing up with crampons, helmet, harness, and ice axe, you’ll cross compacted blue ice, hear how the glacier formed and is shrinking, and may see Eyjafjallajökull. Guides such as Edgar, Anna, Lilly, and Filip are praised for patient safety instruction.

“Be prepared to hike. It is a beautiful and informative hike. Our guide was great. The advertising photo shows an ice cave, nope, no cave.”

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Sólheimajökull Glacier Hike - Small Group Blue Ice Adventure - The meeting point at Sólheimajökull Base
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Sólheimajökull Glacier Hike – Small Group Blue Ice Adventure

11.Sólheimajökull Glacier Hike – Small Group Blue Ice Adventure

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 497 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $117

Meet your certified Arctic Adventures guide at Sólheimajökull’s parking area, gear up, and walk across the glacier with crampons, helmet, harness, and ice axe. Expect about three hours, roughly 3 km over uneven ground, blue ice formations, glacier stories, and a small group of up to 15 people. Hiking boots and waterproof gear can be rented.

“The staff were extremely knowledgeable and friendly. They explained the entire process of glaciers, stopped for breaks and pictures, and helped when needed. It was beautiful, a good workout, run by great people.”

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Meteora Small Group Hiking tour with Transfer and Monastery Visit - Great Meteoron, the main monastery visit
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Meteora Small Group Hiking tour with Transfer and Monastery Visit

12.Meteora Small Group Hiking tour with Transfer and Monastery Visit

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 484 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) · from $36Cheapest way up

Start with pickup in Kalambaka or Kastraki, then follow local trails through Meteora’s giant rock pillars. Guides such as Chris, Christos, Evan, and Dimitris explain the area’s geology, plants, monks, and monasteries. You visit Great Meteoron and hidden Ypapanti, with a small group of up to 12 people.

“We had a great experience on this tour. It was supposed to be a hiking tour but got switched to a bus tour because of bad weather. Had it not been for the rain, we wouldn’t of been able to see all the great monasteries we saw. I’d highly recommend a bus tour, specifically this one. Both the driver the tour guides were very knowledgeable and nice.”

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Glacier Hike from Skaftafell - Extra Small Group - The approach is steeper than the word easy suggests
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Glacier Hike from Skaftafell – Extra Small Group

13.Glacier Hike from Skaftafell – Extra Small Group

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 473 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $156

Hike Falljökull in Vatnajökull National Park with a certified guide and no more than eight people. Melrakki Adventures drives you close to the glacier by 4x4, supplies crampons, helmets, harnesses, and ice axes, then gives you about 90 minutes on the ice. Guides such as Javi, Kate, Kallia, and Havi are praised for clear instruction and personal attention.

“What an amazing experience we had! Our guide, Javi, was a wonderful guide. He made sure that we feel safe, was knowledgeable, engaging, passionate, fun and kind. What a great tour we had! Thank you, Melrakki Adventures!”

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From Prague: Bohemian & Saxon Switzerland Small-Group Hike - Pravčická Gate and Sokolí hnízdo
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From Prague: Bohemian & Saxon Switzerland Small-Group Hike

14.Bohemian & Saxon Switzerland Small-Group Hike

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 354 reviews · 12 hours (approx.) · from $142

Spend about 12 hours crossing the Czech-German border from Prague in a small group of up to seven. Walk across Bastei Bridge, hike to Pravčická Gate, explore Tisa Rock Labyrinth, enjoy Czech lunch, and take a boat ride. Guides such as Adam, Alice, Joseph, and Andrea lead the day, with hotel pickup and drop-off included.

“Stunning rock formations that left us all in awe. Our driver was incredibly skilled, navigating the terrain with ease and ensuring a smooth and enjoyable ride. The highlight, however, was our knowledgeable guide who enriched the experience with fascinating insights and stories about the area. Overall, it was an unforgettable adventure, and I highly recommend this tour to anyone looking to explore the wonders of nature with expert guidance.”

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Small Group 6km hiking Jinshanling Great Wall EN speaking driver - The early Beijing pickup and long road to the wall
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Small Group 6km hiking Jinshanling Great Wall EN speaking driver

15.Small Group 6km hiking Jinshanling Great Wall EN speaking driver

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 347 reviews · from $75

Travel from central Beijing to Jinshanling in a small group, then spend about three hours hiking a scenic 6km section of the Ming-era Great Wall at your own pace. Your English-speaking driver handles transport, tickets, and meeting instructions. Jackie, Iris, and Zachary have led recent departures. Bring sturdy shoes, food, sunscreen, and extra water.

“Jinshanling part of the Great Wall was so quiet. Had the wall to ourselves for a killometers. Also the wall winds across so many hills, ridges, crests and was so picturesque. Jackie the driver and car were great too.”

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Other ways to spend the day on foot

Guided Day Hikes93Private Hiking Tours75Hikes with Lunch49Hikes with Hotel Pickup6Nature Walks6
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