FAQ
Have questions about how The Nomadic Network runs their tours? Find the answers here! If you have a specific question about a specific tour, each tour page offers a tour-specific FAQ section at the bottom of each tour page. If you don’t see the answer to your questions, email us by using the contact form here.
Tour Groups
While many tour companies take up to 50 or 60 people on each tour, we prefer smaller groups. Our tours require a minimum of 6 participants and have a maximum of 16 participants in order to ensure the best small group tour experience. With such a small group, you’ll be able to enjoy unique, rewarding activities that would not be accessible with more people.
At The Nomadic Network, our trips are supported by both TNN Tour Leaders and Local Expert Guides, with the exact structure varying slightly by destination.
Our Local Expert Guides are fully licensed professionals who know their destinations inside and out. They handle the day-to-day logistics on the ground, help ensure everything runs smoothly, provide cultural and historical insight, and manage any unexpected situations that may arise along the way.
In addition, our TNN Tour Leaders are there throughout the experience to support the group, provide added context and connection, create spontaneous moments and activities, join travelers for non-included meals and experiences, and help ensure the trip feels engaging, seamless, and genuinely fun from start to finish.
Depending on the destination and itinerary, we may also work with additional specialty guides for specific experiences such as walking tours, food tours, hikes, safaris, cooking classes, and other excursions.
You must be at least 18 years old to travel with us. Our tours see people from 22 to 75. They really run the gambit. In the past, the average age on our tours has been about 40. As we’ve found age is only a number, the variety in ages has never been detrimental to the group dynamic — actually it feels like it’s enhanced it.
Note: We have no upper age limit though we remind you that some of our trips can be physically demanding and passengers must ensure that they are suitably fit to allow participation. It is your responsibility to ensure that you obtain proper and detailed medical advice beforehand.
Unfortunately, we’re not set up to allow for the level of accessibility needed to ensure wheelchair users can join our trips. Accessible trips are something we’ll be looking to add in the future.
We want everyone to feel comfortable as they travel with us and we know that some of our travelers are part of the LGBTQIA+ community. Being aware of the local laws and customs in the destinations we visit in crucial as some have discriminatory law in effect. We recommend visiting Equaldex for up-to-date advice and LGBTQIA+ information.
Note: We do not tolerate any form of discrimination, violence, or harassment, between travelers or involving our leaders, partners, or local people. If you feel that someone is behaving inappropriately, please let your tour leader or local guide know as soon as possible.
You will be required to carry your own luggage, sometimes upstairs and on and off transport. Therefore, we recommend you travel with a backpack or something light.
Want to arrive a day or two early to acclimate, or stay longer to stretch out the adventure? This is very common, and we’re always happy to help. We can arrange for any extra hotel nights, local experiences, and/or suggestions for activities before or after the tour.
YES! Many other tour companies target couples and families and while we don’t discourage people from coming with someone they already know, we are aware that many people in our community are solo travelers through and through.
In fact, many of our travelers join because they are traveling solo and want to meet and share experiences with like-minded people. So we cater to the kind of independence and curiosity that solo travelers have become accustomed to on the road.
Out of all the tours we’ve run so far, solo travelers make up a little more than half the group too so it’s very easy to make friends! Don’t worry, you won’t be the odd person out if you’re coming alone!
No, you’ll be responsible for your own airfare. The airports to fly into and out of can be found on that specific tour’s page.
Yes. We make every effort to run all of our scheduled tours, but sometimes, we must cancel a tour for reasons beyond our control. If we must cancel a tour, we will contact you immediately to offer a full refund of all monies (deposit and balance payments) paid to us. If a tour must be canceled, we do so at least 60 days before the start of the tour. Alternatively, you will have the option to move any payments to a different tour date.
By booking a “double occupancy” spot on our tour, you’re booking a shared room. If you are traveling solo, you’ll be paired with someone of the same gender. In the case that your gender identity differs from what is indicated on your passport, please contact us so that we can discuss rooming options with you.
If you would like to be placed with a partner or friend, we can assign you to the same room – just tell us beforehand! If you want to share a bed, let us know at the time of booking. We can’t guarantee a double bed, but we’ll do our best to accommodate you. In some destinations, the option may be two single beds pushed together to form a ‘double’.
If you’d like to get your own private room, you can do so as well. They run on a first-come, first-served basis. At checkout, just specify “single occupancy”.
Absolutely! If you’d like to get your own private room, you can do so as well. They run on a first come, first served basis. At checkout you’ll have the option of choosing single occupancy if it is available.
Daily Activities
You will receive detailed information about your tour as you approach your departure date, at potentially 90, 60, 30, 15, and even 7 days in advance! It will include information on the hotel(s), the country’s currency, general packing ideas, the outlet adapter you may need, WiFi, and phone service during the tour, the WhatsApp group you’ll use, what to pack, and more!
If you would like to opt out of a tour activity, that is okay. You will simply have free time to explore or choose another activity on your own. We provide ideas for additional activities beforehand, and your guide is also a great resource to ask.
Of course! We hate tours that book every minute of your day. While we will be busy, there will also be plenty of time for you to explore on your own (though the amount of time differs from tour to tour). Travel is about adventure and discovery, so we emphasize that on our tours. We want you to see and experience things that interest you specifically.
At The Nomadic Network, we believe in creating a balance between group camaraderie and personal freedom. While we encourage social interaction and shared adventures, we also respect your need for occasional solitude and personal reflection. There’s no pressure to be social all the time—after all, this is your vacation.
Each of our tours includes a “Physical Expectations & Activity Level” section to help you determine whether a trip is the right fit for you.
In general, our tours are active and engaging, with quite a bit of time spent on your feet exploring destinations through walking tours, local experiences, markets, neighborhoods, and cultural sites. Many walking tours last approximately 2–3 hours at a time, often on uneven streets, stairs, cobblestones, or in warm weather.
Most of our tours do not involve strenuous hiking, but you should feel comfortable being active throughout the day and keeping up with the pace of the group. If a more physically demanding activity or hike is included, we’ll clearly note it in the itinerary, and in most cases, participation is optional.
If you have mobility concerns or questions about a specific itinerary, we’re always happy to help. Feel free to reach out before booking so we can talk through the physical expectations of the tour you’re considering.
Our guides will be on hand to give you suggestions, help you decide what to do, and be around. If you want to go off on your own, we get that. We want you to explore and break out of your comfort zone! Our guides are here to help and, after you join the tour, you’ll be emailed a list of potential activities you can do on your own.
We do our very best to follow the published itinerary as closely as possible. However, travel is dynamic, and occasionally adjustments may need to be made due to weather, local conditions, operational considerations, timing, or exciting opportunities that arise along the way.
In some cases, small updates or refinements may have been made to the itinerary after it was originally published as we continue improving and fine-tuning the experience. If changes are necessary before or during the trip, we work hard to communicate them clearly and thoughtfully.
Our goal is always to maintain the overall quality, flow, and spirit of the experience while allowing enough flexibility for travel to feel natural, engaging, and occasionally a little magical. Because if an extraordinary opportunity arises (like, have you ever been invited to sleep under the stars in Petra?), we all want to experience it!
On the individual tour pages, we’ve provided some tipping guidelines for each destination. We work hard to cover daily tips for you wherever possible so you don’t have to worry about it. However, there are scenarios where we want you to decide what your gratuity will be based on the service you’ve received.
At the end of your trip, if you’re happy with the service you received, providing a tip for the tour leader – though not compulsory – is appropriate. While it may not be customary to you, it means a lot to the people who take care of you during your travels, inspires excellent service, and is a longstanding expectation in the tourism industry.
Additionally, your welcome meeting on the first night is a great place to ask your tour leader about the local customs and tipping advice for restaurants, accommodations, and local guides.
We aim to offer as sustainable an experience as we can. Our customers have the option to contribute towards carbon offsets at tour checkout. On our trips trash is recycled whenever possible. We encourage the use of reusable water bottles. We avoid mass tourism activities that cause harm to the environment and/or do not benefit local communities. If our tour does include an animal activity, we use ethical places that have great reputations for handling animals.
Health & Safety
All dietary restrictions can be accommodated with enough prior notice. Let us know prior and we can accommodate you.
Yes. We require all travelers to purchase comprehensive travel insurance for their own safety, protection, and peace of mind while traveling with TNN.
Travel is an incredible experience, but unexpected things can happen… flight delays, lost luggage, illness, injuries, weather disruptions, or changes to plans. Sometimes emergencies occur even before you’ve left home (trust us, it happens!). Having travel insurance helps protect both your well-being while abroad and the investment you’ve made in your trip.
We strongly recommend purchasing your policy shortly after booking your tour, as some benefits are only available within a limited timeframe after your initial trip deposit. Many travelers also choose to purchase a CFAR (“Cancel For Any Reason”) policy for additional flexibility and protection.
While we cannot provide insurance advice or recommend specific policies, we encourage you to carefully review your coverage options and choose a plan that best fits your needs and comfort level.
Possibly. It’s important to look up the vaccine requirements for all the countries you will visit on a tour. Some countries require proof of vaccination to enter the country.
The Nomadic Network does not require any extra vaccinations as a tour operator.
Our tours are currently open to all travelers. We will closely monitor any new policies and comply with any new restrictions or requirements needed. If the rules change, we’ll let you know. Should COVID testing be required as a condition of entry or exit, we will help you find testing locations, though you are responsible for the cost of the COVID test and for booking your own tests.
If you get sick on the tour, we’ll ask that you test for COVID. If you test positive, for the safety of our other participants, tour leaders, guides, and locals, you’ll be required to leave the tour and find accommodation at your own expense.
However, as we require travel insurance, your policy will probably cover any added costs. Please email us if you have any questions about this.
Logistics & Payments
Your passport must be valid for a full 6 months after the end of your tour, otherwise there is a good chance you won’t be allowed into the country. If your passport expires earlier than 6 months after, please renew your passport as soon as possible, and expedite if necessary.
We use your passport to expedite the hotel check-in process and, depending on the tour, book internal flights. It’s common for tour companies to get passport information from guests and, by having the info already on file, the hotel can check you in quicker. We delete these files immediately after the tour.
Look on the specific tour page to find out more about the country you’re visiting. Depending on your country of citizenship, you may require a visa. If you do, you’ll need to get that in advance at your own expense, unless otherwise outlined.
Since this process differs person to person, we do not offer help in this area. You are responsible for obtaining and having in your possession all the required documentation and identification required for entry, departure, and travel to each country or region. This includes a valid passport, all travel documents required by us and/or the relevant governmental authorities including all visas, permits and certificates (including but not limited to vaccination or medical certificates) and insurance policies.
Yes, just like with any tour company, you’ll be required to sign a liability waiver releasing us from any and all liability related to the tour. This will be completed when you register for your tour.
Generally, we recommend using an ATM to take out cash at your destination. This way, you won’t have to carry around large amounts of cash and you’ll receive the best exchange rate possible. However, please check with your home bank as many banks charge foreign transaction fees every time you withdraw money from an ATM overseas.
If using an ATM machine is not an option, the second-best method is to simply bring Euros (where applicable) or U.S. dollars in cash that you can exchange at money exchange booths or banks located all over the country.
Unfortunately, we can’t refund the difference of a trip that is now on sale.
Unfortunately, only one discount or promotional code can be applied to each tour.
To reserve your spot, we typically require a deposit equal to 20-25% of the total trip cost. The remaining balance can then be paid over time through your personalized payment schedule.
We offer flexible payment plans on all tours, making it easier to spread out the cost while securing your place before trips fill up. If you’re booking your tour close to the tour date, the required down payment may differ.
Yes, all prices you see on our website are in US dollars.
Yes! Our standard payment plan splits your tour cost into four payments, making it easier to spread out the cost of your trip over time.
Once you book, you’ll receive access to your traveler account where you can view upcoming payments, update your information, and manage your payment method. Future scheduled payments will automatically process using the card on file unless updated by you in advance.
If you need different payment arrangements, please reach out to us shortly after booking and we’ll be happy to discuss available options with you.
Each tour requires a minimum number of participants to run. We will send a confirmation email as soon as we have met that minimum and the tour is confirmed. You will be notified at least 60 days before the tour’s start date or, in many cases, much earlier.
Except in special circumstances, deposits cannot be transferred to other tours. For details, you can review our full Terms and Conditions.
We understand plans change. See our full Terms and Conditions to view our full refund policy.
If you still have questions, feel free to message us directly using this contact form.