Hand-picked tours, curated by travellers

Rome: Vatican Museums and Gardens Private Tour - Pick up included

A four-hour private tour collecting you from your central Rome hotel to explore the Vatican's artistic treasures. You'll walk the Pope's Gardens with a Blue Badge guide, spotting Renaissance fountains and period architecture, then move through the Vatican Museums to stand before Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel ceiling—arguably the most celebrated paint job in history. The sheer scale of what one person accomplished on that vault becomes visceral when you're actually standing underneath it.

4 hoursfrom AUD $1225

3 hours – 4 hoursfrom AUD $99

United Kingdom

The Fading Light London Ghost Walk

When Lily from our BugBitten team did this walk through London's darker corners, she got the full treatment: a proper City guide paired with someone who's actually spent nights hunting ghosts and writes horror fiction. Two hours tracing murderous royals, demon dogs, and quieter hauntings across one of Europe's supposedly most haunted capitals. The guide's lived experience (15+ overnight hunts under their belt) gives it teeth beyond the usual tourist spiel. You're walking through real London history, just with the creepier bits highlighted.

Dubai Shared Morning Desert Safari With Quad Bike

When Sarah from our BugBitten team booked this shared morning safari, we got the full throttle desert experience: camel rides, self-drive quad biking, dune bashing in a 4x4, and sandboarding, all wrapped up in 3–4 hours. It's a classic Dubai setup — you're sharing the experience with other travellers, but the pace keeps things moving. The Arabian Desert here is relentless dunes and golden sand stretching endlessly; the air's crisp in the morning, and the light's golden. Crowds are lighter than evening safaris, which is the whole point of the morning slot.

Best of Ubud Tours with Jungle Swing ( All Inclusive )

9 hours – 10 hoursfrom AUD $121

Bali · Indonesia

Best of Ubud Tours with Jungle Swing ( All Inclusive )

A private driver collects you from your accommodation and steers you through Ubud's most-visited spots in a single day. Start at the Monkey Forest, where macaques roam freely among temple ruins, then move on to the emerald rice terraces at Tegalalang. Swing from a jungle perch with forest views, grab lunch, visit the spring-fed Tirta Empul Temple, and finish at Tegenungan Waterfall's 15-metre drop. Your guide doubles as photographer and cultural translator throughout.

🌿 Nature & Wildlife

Canada

The Glacier Helicopter Sightseeing Tour

When Em from our team booked the Glacier Helicopter Tour out of Whistler, we were after a quick hit of alpine scenery without committing a full day. It's a 29-minute experience — about 14 minutes airborne — that swings you over glacier terrain and peaks you'd struggle to reach on foot. The heliport sits right in Whistler, so it's convenient for visitors mixing it with other activities. The vibe is straightforward: strap in, put on headsets, take photos, and come back down. No frills, but the altitude and views make up for it.

Fort Lauderdale Historic District Food Tour Experience

When Em from our team ran this three-hour food tour through Fort Lauderdale's Historic District, we found ourselves hopping between four thoughtfully chosen spots in what locals call Old Town. The area pulses with character—a mix of restored heritage buildings, independent restaurants, and the kind of vibe that makes you feel like you've discovered something beyond the usual tourist strip. The guide weaves the city's evolution into each tasting, and the dish progression is deliberate: you're not just eating, you're moving through a narrative. It's compact enough to do in an afternoon, substantial enough to feel like you've actually eaten.

3 hoursfrom AUD $177

Seattle City Tour 3-Hours (Private Tour)

4 hours – 8 hoursfrom AUD $192

Seattle City Tour 3-Hours (Private Tour)

When Mia from our BugBitten team ran this private three-hour tour, it nailed the essentials of Seattle in one hit. You'll roll through Pioneer Square—the city's oldest neighbourhood with proper character, old buildings, and decent photo ops—then swing by the Ballard Locks to watch fishing boats and freighters jostle between the sound and the inland lakes. The finale is a viewpoint overlooking downtown and the Space Needle, the kind of vista that actually justifies the hype. Small group, private transport, guide included. It's a solid half-day intro if you're in town and don't want to faff about with buses.

Noon Calligraphy Class

When Lily from our BugBitten team booked into this calligraphy class in China, she showed up expecting a tourist box-tick and found herself genuinely focused for an hour. You're working one-on-one with an art teacher who walks you through brush technique, ink consistency, and the philosophy baked into each stroke. The studio is quiet and intimate — just your group, which means you can ask daft questions without feeling rushed. It's the kind of experience that shifts how you see those characters on street signs afterwards. Sessions run from 30 minutes to 90 minutes, so you can pick your commitment level.

Nagasaki Top Sites Tour

Walk through Nagasaki's layered history with a guide who knows the city inside out. This 4–8 hour semi-private tour threads together war memorial sites, colonial landmarks, and harbour views. You'll visit Mt. Inasa for city vistas, the Atomic Bomb Museum and Peace Park to understand 1945's impact, then shift to Dejima's Dutch trading post past, Chinatown's bustle, Oura Cathedral, and Glover Garden's Victorian mansions. All entry fees and public transport included; routes adjust for weather.

Private Half Day Tour in Dominican Republic with Local Guide

3 hours – 4 hoursfrom AUD $141

Dominican Republic

Private Half Day Tour in Dominican Republic with Local Guide

When Jake from our team ran this half-day tour out of Punta Cana, we got a genuine look at how Higüey actually works — not the resort-bubble version. You'll roll through a working tobacco factory to see hand-rolling techniques that haven't changed much in generations, then hit the Basilica-Cathedral of Our Lady of La Altagracia, a striking modern sanctuary that's genuinely important to Dominican culture. The Higüey Market shows you the produce locals actually buy, and there's a stop at a typical Dominican home and visits to coffee and cocoa plantations. It's a compact 3–4 hours, with air-conditioned transport and a local guide who knows the place.

Hue's Vegetarian Cooking Class in Ancient Garden

🍜 Food & Cooking

Hue's Vegetarian Cooking Class in Ancient Garden

Learn to cook Hue's vegetarian specialities at An Nhien Garden, set within a 460-year-old family compound. Over three hours, you'll tour the ancestral Nguyen Mau home, wander through 50+ outdoor sculptures, then prepare dishes under the chef's direction before sitting down to a five-course meal. It's less about following recipes and more about understanding the culture and craft behind each plate.

Polaris 570cc (4x4 )Quad Bike Ride +Sand Boarding- Red Dunes

When Mia from our BugBitten team ran this quad bike experience in Dubai's red dunes, she found a solid full-throttle afternoon that ticks several boxes at once. You get your own Polaris 570cc to pilot for a full hour across the desert with a convoy leader keeping tabs, then a break at their lounge for Arabic coffee and dates before trying sand boarding and a camel trek. It's four hours all up, and the outfit handles transfers from Dubai, Sharjah, and Ras Al Khaimah. Fair-dinkum desert mucking about, not a guided sightseeing stroll.

Private (Phone) Photography Class in Park & Old Town

Learn to shoot properly with your phone while exploring [Barcelona](/places/barcelona)'s most photogenic corners. This two-hour guided session pairs practical mobile photography instruction with a curated walk through Ciutadella Park and the Born quarter's winding medieval streets. Your photographer-guide will share camera settings tricks, composition fundamentals, and posing tips—then capture portraits of you and your companions against authentic backdrops. Ideal for families wanting to move beyond snapshots.

Samurai Experience Mugai Ryu Iaido in Tokyo

Learn Mugai Ryu iaido, a traditional Japanese sword discipline emphasizing mental focus and precise movement, from Master Takeda Hougyoku in Tokyo. This one-hour session introduces you to the fundamentals of drawing and cutting techniques using a practice katana, hakama, and guidance from an English-speaking instructor. You'll train in the method practised by the International Iaido Organization, building awareness and control rather than raw power.

Great Big Game Show Pigeon Forge Immersive Experience and Set

When Tom from our team stepped into the Great Big Game Show in Pigeon Forge, it was exactly what it promised — a live game show where your group competes in five rounds of mini-games tailored to how you're playing. The venue's slick, the energy's high, and you're genuinely competing against other groups in real time. It's 75 minutes of trivia, drawing, guessing, and spinning a wheel, with over 17 different mini-games in rotation. The crowd's mixed — families, friends groups, couples — all there to feel like they're on telly for an afternoon.

1h 15mfrom AUD $59

45 min – 1h 30mfrom AUD $106

New York City Private Tour

When Jake from our BugBitten team tried this NYC pedicab tour, he found it a genuinely relaxed way to clock the big-ticket sights without burning out on footwork. You roll through Times Square, Rockefeller Center, Fifth Avenue and beyond at a human pace, stopping for photos that actually work because someone's not rushing you along. The ride's about 45 minutes to 90 minutes depending on what you book, and it suits everyone from kids in prams to people who'd rather not hoof it all day. The vibe is low-key, the legwork is someone else's job, and you get proper coverage of central Manhattan without the chaos of a coach full of tourists.

Private Walking Tour through the Historical City of Herculaneum

Private Walking Tour through the Historical City of Herculaneum

Walk through Herculaneum with an archaeology specialist who reveals how volcanic ash froze this Roman city in time. Over two hours, you'll navigate the excavated streets of this remarkably preserved settlement near Naples, spotting intact wooden beams, household goods and the skeletal remains of residents caught by Vesuvius's eruption. The guide leads you through domestic quarters, commercial spaces and down to the ancient shoreline where the final tragedy unfolded. A compact alternative to Pompeii, ideal for those wanting substance without the sprawl.

Queenstown: Guide-Driven Off-Road Buggy Tour with Wakatipu Views

When Noah from our BugBitten team did this Queenstown buggy tour, we climbed into a purpose-built off-road rig while our guide handled the rough stuff — steep grades, creek beds, forest tracks — across a private 650-acre property minutes from town. No licence needed, no driving skills required. The payoff was a summit stop with proper views across Lake Wakatipu, Coronet Peak, and the ranges beyond. It's a solid 1.5-hour outing (plus 30 mins for check-in and transfers) that works for families with kids from age 4 up, or anyone after some scenery without the steering-wheel stress.

History and Highlights Walking Tour in San Sebastian

A two-hour walking tour through San Sebastián's old town led by a long-time resident who untangles the city's layered past through storytelling rather than dates. You'll trace the streets where Basque identity took shape, learn how key moments reshaped neighbourhoods, and pick up the quirks and characters that distinguish this place. The guide uses photographs, vintage postcards, and local anecdotes to make history stick—designed for visitors wanting genuine understanding, not just a checklist.

2 hoursfrom AUD $48

Tour Wicklow Mountains National Park in a limo with private guide

Ireland

Tour Wicklow Mountains National Park in a limo with private guide

When Sarah from our team booked this private limo tour through Wicklow Mountains National Park, we got a genuinely flexible day shaped around what we actually wanted to see. Your guide—a local with 14 years under their belt—drives you through dramatic mountain scenery, past monastic ruins and round towers in Glendalough, and can swing by Powerscourt Gardens, Russborough House, or quiet villages depending on your mood. It's just you, the guide, and an air-conditioned car for eight hours, which means no rushing between coach stops and no waiting for stragglers. The mix of history, lakes, forests, and pub stops feels less like a tick-box tour and more like a mate showing you around.

8 hoursfrom AUD $984

Austin Private Tours – Landmarks & Local Highlights

2 hours – 3 hoursfrom AUD $113

Austin Private Tours – Landmarks & Local Highlights

When Mia from our BugBitten team booked this private Bronco tour, we got exactly what Austin's hype is actually about—minus the coach-bus chaos. You're riding in an open-top Ford with just your crew, hitting Mount Bonnell for real views, East Austin's street art, South Congress energy, and Lady Bird Lake without any generic script. The two to three hours moves at your pace, your guide knows the town, and you walk away with a rewards pass that unlocks genuine local deals rather than tourist traps. It's the kind of thing that actually justifies the splurge.

Bali · Indonesia

Balinese Village Experience

Spend a morning in a Balinese village where families open their homes to visitors. This small-group experience moves at a pace set by the villagers themselves—no rushing, no scripts. You'll share breakfast with locals, learn how daily traditions shape the community, and eat lunch at a neighbourhood warung. The tour respects both Hindu customs and the villagers' comfort with visitors, making it genuinely different from the standard circuit.

A Day in Sants Feasting Off the Grid

Spend five hours prowling Sants, a working-class [Barcelona](/places/barcelona) neighbourhood that's quietly become a serious eating destination. You'll navigate vintage vermuth bars, family-run bakeries, neighbourhood markets and a mix of traditional and experimental kitchens alongside a local guide. This isn't the polished tourist circuit—expect graffitied streets, proper locals and food that reflects how the barrio actually eats.

Tate Modern Museum London Guided Tour Semi-Private 8ppl Max

When Ben from our team ran this 2-hour guided tour at Tate Modern, he found it a solid way to crack open the museum's collection without needing an art history degree. The Tate sits in a converted 1920s power station on the South Bank, and it draws everyone from school groups to serious collectors. With a maximum of 8 people per group, you get genuine access to the big installations and sculptures without fighting through crowds. The guide walks you through the building's layout and explains what's actually happening in each room — which matters, because modern art can feel deliberately opaque if you're going in cold.

Uji and Wazuka Matcha Farm Half Day Private Guided Tour

Spend four hours in Wazuka, the epicentre of Kyoto's matcha production, on this private guided tour led by a local tea farmer. Walk through terraced tea plantations that have flourished for eight centuries, taste at least three distinct matcha varieties in a traditional house, and enjoy a farm-to-table lunch. Your guide sources directly from community growers, ensuring your visit supports their livelihoods. Transport from central locations available on request.

4 hoursfrom AUD $511

Amalfi Coast private tour from Naples Hotels or Sea Port

Amalfi Coast private tour from Naples Hotels or Sea Port

A private eight-and-a-half-hour drive along the [Amalfi Coast](/places/amalfi-coast), departing from Naples at 7:30 AM in a chauffeured Mercedes. You'll move through three distinct stops—Ravello's hilltop gardens and cathedral, Amalfi's seafront piazza and historic church, and Positano's vertical village with lunch included. Your English-speaking driver handles all navigation whilst you absorb the dramatic clifftop scenery, pastel-painted villages, and Mediterranean views. Return to your hotel or port by 4:30 PM.

8h 30mfrom AUD $588

Private Full-Day Tour to Halong Bay from Hanoi

9 hours – 12 hoursfrom AUD $313

Private Full-Day Tour to Halong Bay from Hanoi

This private full-day excursion takes you from Hanoi directly into Halong Bay's limestone landscape, sidestepping the tour-boat crowds entirely. Over 9–12 hours, you'll explore three standout spots: Sung Sot Cave's cathedral-like chambers, paddle or drift through Luon Cave's narrow passages, and swim off Ti Top Island. Your own guide, driver and boat mean the pace and route bend to what interests you most.

5 hours – 10 hoursfrom AUD $578

Turkey

Private Ephesus Tour from Izmir

When Lily from our team ran this private Ephesus tour from Izmir, she got a proper sense of what made this ancient city tick — wandering through the Agora, up Curetes Street, past Hadrian's Temple, and into the showstopping Celsus Library. The tour spans 5 to 10 hours depending on your pace, with a guide who's got the entrance sorted so you're not queuing with tour groups. You'll hit the Terrace Houses (where the wealthy once lived), catch views from Bülbül Mountain at the House of the Virgin Mary, and move at your own rhythm rather than someone else's schedule. It's Izmir-based, so you're picked up and dropped at your hotel, and the guide handles logistics while you soak in layers of Greek and Roman history.

🐠 Water Activities

The Ultimate Private Adventure

When Jake from our team booked Kona Ocean Adventures' private charter, he got a boat to himself and up to five mates for the full four hours. Based off Kona's coast on Hawaii's Big Island, this is genuinely customisable — you can chase wild dolphins, anchor at reefs most tourists never see, dive Kealakekua Bay, or just float and snorkel depending on what your group fancies. The crew (a captain and snorkel or dive guide) handles all the gear, meals come with it, and you're never fighting crowds or sticking to someone else's itinerary.

4 hoursfrom AUD $2684

Exclusive 3 Hour Caldera Private Tour for Cruise Ship Travelers

9 hours – 10 hoursfrom AUD $351

Greece

Exclusive 3 Hour Caldera Private Tour for Cruise Ship Travelers

When Jake from our BugBitten team ran this private Santorini caldera tour, it ticked the boxes for cruise passengers after a polished three-and-a-half-hour hit of the island's standout sights. You're picked up straight from the ship, bundled into an air-con car with a guide, and steered through Fira's bustle, the volcanic viewpoint at Imerovigli, and Oia's famous three-bell photo spot before wandering the marble lanes and cave houses. It's the sort of tour that works when you've got limited time ashore and don't fancy herding yourself onto a tour bus with forty others.

Rock Climbing with a Guide in Chania Therisos Gorge

When Charlie from our BugBitten team tackled Therisos Gorge near Chania, we found ourselves on proper limestone walls with routes suited to climbers from rank beginner through to solid intermediate grades. The gorge sits deep in Crete's rocky landscape—quiet, dramatic, and genuinely striking in person. The 6-hour session felt unhurried, and safety kit met UIAA standards throughout. It's the kind of half-day that leaves you genuinely tired and genuinely stoked, with decent photo ops baked in.

Cooking class with market visit

Learn to cook Hanoian dishes through hands-on preparation in a local home, starting with a market visit to select ingredients alongside your instructor. This four-hour class moves beyond demonstration-style teaching to reveal the reasoning and techniques passed down through generations. You'll prepare a full meal, then sit down to eat what you've made in a quiet garden setting, giving real insight into how food connects to daily life in Hanoi.

Milos & Poliegos Catamaran Cruise Homemade Full menu BBQ & Drinks

When Alex from our BugBitten team ran this catamaran cruise around Milos and the uninhabited island of Poliegos, we found a genuinely polished day on the water. The Lagoon 46 catamaran hits those sweet spots: spacious enough to avoid feeling cramped, new enough to feel reliable, and crewed with folks who actually know the islands. You're anchoring at spots — Kleftiko, the Blue Lagoon, Gerakas — that are only reachable by boat, with time to swim, snorkel, and paddle board between them. Food comes steady: homemade breakfast, full lunch cooked aboard, a boat BBQ, and pudding. Wine and beer are in the deal. The whole thing runs 9–10 hours, and the vibe is more relaxed than rushed.

🏔 Adventure & Sports

Germany

Canyoning Starzlachklamm

When Jake from our team tackled the Starzlachklamm canyoning route in Bavaria, it was immediately clear why Germans reckon this is the country's premier canyon experience. You're wading, scrambling, and abseiling through a limestone gorge with walls that squeeze tight enough to feel properly remote — despite sitting just inside Germany's southern border. The 4-hour outing suits confident swimmers with decent fitness; the water stays cold year-round, and there's genuine exposure in sections. It's a proper adventure, not a gentle splash about, and the whole setup (guide, kit, photos included) feels genuinely professional.

Sawanobori River Trekking Tour

Trek through Takayama's volcanic mountain streams with certified guides, scrambling over rocks and wading through pristine water channels. This five-hour outing traces geological formations shaped by ancient eruptions while connecting you to local mountain traditions. A barista prepares hand-dripped coffee using fresh spring water collected during the trek, paired with locally made sandwiches and soup. The experience balances physical challenge with cultural insight, best suited for those comfortable getting thoroughly wet and moving over uneven terrain.

5 hoursfrom AUD $199

Explore Da Nang: Marble Mountain & Monkey Mountain

2 hours – 5 hoursfrom AUD $233

Explore Da Nang: Marble Mountain & Monkey Mountain

A five-hour circuit through Da Nang's limestone landmarks and coastal culture. Start at Marble Mountain, where you'll navigate cave systems honeycombed with Buddhist shrines dating back centuries, then ascend to Monkey Mountain for views of Vietnam's tallest Lady Buddha statue at Linh Ung Pagoda. Finish at a fishing village to watch craftspeople build traditional basket boats, then settle into a local café for coconut or egg coffee—a regional speciality.

From Milan/Como/Varenna: Panoramic Hiking Tours near Lake Como

Trade the lakeside promenades for high-altitude trails that reveal Lake Como from angles most visitors miss. These guided hikes depart from Milan, Como, Varenna, and Lecco across 2–5 hour routes tailored to your fitness level. Navigate mountain paths with a local companion, absorbing panoramic stretches across the water, neighbouring villages, and Alpine ridgelines. Private and small-group options let you set the rhythm; optional picnics with regional fare add breathing space to your day.

🧖 Wellness & Spa

Blue Gift Package 3

Blue Gift's therapists work through your entire body over two and a half hours, targeting tension from head to feet. You'll emerge restored, then sit down with ginger tea and fresh fruit before heading out. It's the kind of reset that leaves you genuinely lighter rather than just temporarily relaxed.

2h 30mfrom AUD $57