Trekking the Inca Trail, cycling around Cuba, chillin’ with giant tortoises in Ecuador, driving 4x4s across deserts in Jordan, pitching a tent in Bhutan, or summiting peaks in Pakistan…
That all sounds pretty epic, right?
If you’re itching to do something a little different, to break out of your comfort zone, embrace new cultures and just a go a little bit wild – it’s time to take the first step to make it make it happen!
One of the best ways to get out there and actually do it is to embark on an adventure with others who share your passion. G Adventures is a top tour company for backpackers who organise tours that bring together like-minded travellers. Their tours offer a unique way of connecting with both the places you visit and the people who call it home.
They have a TON of adventure tours that they offer but there are a few that really stand out to me. In this article, I’ve carefully selected the BEST G Adventures Tours for 2025 and given you a brief rundown of what each is all about.
So, let’s get into it.
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Quick Links:
- Pakistan: Hike the Karakoram Mountains
- Active Galápagos & Machu Picchu
- Uncover Jordan: Deserts, Petra & The Dead Sea
- Biking in Cuba
- Camping the Trans Bhutan Trail
Pakistan: Hike the Karakoram Mountains
- Price > $2124 USD
- Trip length > 9 days
- Start/End > Islamabad/ Islamabad
- Accommodation > Hotels and Campsites
- Highlights > 5-day Trek in the Karakoram Mountains, foodie tour at Melody Food Street, community visits at ancient settlements, Thosqi Khar Upper Fort, Khaplu Palace Visit, The Shigar Fort.
Active Galápagos & Machu Picchu
- Price > $5349 USD
- Trip length > 17 days
- Start/End > Quito/ Cusco
- Accommodation > Hotels and Guesthouses
- Highlights > Encounter the wildlife of the Galapagos Island, cycle on Isabela Island, hike the Sierra Negro Volcano, sample seafood in Lima, visit the Sacred Valley, 4-day Inca Trail Trek to the famous Machu Picchu.
Uncover Jordan: Deserts, Petra & The Dead Sea
- Price > $949 USD
- Trip length > 7 days
- Start/End > Amman/ Madaba
- Accommodation > Budget hotels and hostels
- Highlights > Visit the Roman archaeological site of Jerah, hike from Little Petra to (big) Petra, stay in a private tented desert camp in Wadi Rum, and float gracefully in the Dead Sea.
Biking in Cuba
- Price > $1199 USD
- Trip length > 8 days
- Start/End > Havana/ Havana
- Accommodation > Hotels and Guesthouses
- Highlights > Bike through limestone pincushion hills in Vinales, check out a tobacco farm, cycle along Zapata Peninsula, have lunch on the Playa Ancon, visit women-operated traditional textiles centre, see the Mausoleum of Che Guevara.
Camp the Trans Bhutan Trail
- Price > $5507 USD
- Trip length > 11 days
- Start/End > Paro/ Paro
- Accommodation > Camping/ homestays
- Highlights > Camping and farm stays in remote areas, a 5-day hike on a section of the ancient Trans Bhutan Trail, local farm and picnic lunches, and hiking up to Taktsang Monastery (Tiger’s Nest).
Why THESE Adventure Tours?
After going through ALL of the G Adventure tours with my fine-toothed, highly diligent comb, I’ve decided on five tours that are topping my list for the BEST G Adventure Tours for 2025.
So, how did they make the cut? What were my selection criteria?
Well, considering you have come to The Broke Backpacker as your source of truth, one can only assume that you are either on a low budget, a solo traveller or just love a bit off-the-beaten-path adventure travel. This round-up includes it all – from hiking in Pakistan to driving 4x4s through the desert in Jordan.
All of the G Adventure Tours are designed for smaller groups with 10-12 travellers across a mix of ages which means you can get a lot cosier and build better connections. Naww!
The Top 5 G Adventure Tours for 2025
From the multi-day treks to hanging out on tobacco farms, I’ve got a mix of adventures in here to tickle a variety of traveller’s fancy. I bet you’re dying to know which tours have made the cut, so let’s not drag this out any longer…
Here we go!
1. Pakistan: Hike the Karakoram Mountains
Photo: @willhatton__
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- Price: $2124 USD
- Trip length: 9 days
- Start/End: Islamabad/ Islamabad
- Accommodation: Hotels and Campsites
- Highlights: 5-day Trek in the Karakoram Mountains, foodie tour at Melody Food Street, community visits at ancient settlements, Thosqi Khar Upper Fort, Khaplu Palace Visit, The Shigar Fort.
I’ve been on many hikes in my life but there is absolutely nothing that compares to the Karakoram Mountain Range in Pakistan. If you consider yourself a bit of a mountain goat, then I’d recommend adding this little, undiscovered part of the world to your bucket list.
Undiscovered is the keyword here.
This is one of the most beautiful places in the world, yet it sees only a few hundred visitors per year. Which, in my opinion, just adds to its allure.
This G Adventures Tour was an easy top pick for me. There are some parts of this world that are just better explored with a local guide, to unpack more about the magic of the place and get involved in authentic, raw experiences that you otherwise, may never get the chance to. Travelling in Pakistan is one of those places.
This nine-day active tour will take you on a journey through the mesmerising Baltistan mountains, you’ll feel like you’ve stepped back in time as you adventure into remote villages and chat with locals who have called this place home for generations.
Starting in Islamabad, you’ll then jump on a plane and embark on one of the most scenic flights in the world (!!) before landing in Skardu in the north of Pakistan. From there you’ll drive over the cultural hub of Khaplu, after exploring the area, your guide will debrief you on what to expect from the five-day hike.
With the support of friendly, local porters on your 5-day trek in the Karakoram Mountains taking in the famous Karakoram Highway. You’ll trek past gigantic glaciers and get the opportunity to dive into crystal-clear waters. As you arise from your tent each morning, you’ll be blessed with the sight of the towering Karakoram peaks around you and most likely the sound of grazing yak and goats too!
This is one of those one-in-a-lifetime trips that I can assure you will help you open your mind, change your perspective and grow in ways you’d never expect.
2. Active Galápagos & Machu Picchu
Photo: @willhatton__
- Price: $5349 USD
- Trip length: 17 days
- Start/End: Quito/ Cusco
- Accommodation: Hotels and Guesthouses
- Highlights: Encounter the wildlife of the Galapagos Island, cycle on Isabela Island, hike the Sierra Negro Volcano, sample seafood in Lima, visit the Sacred Valley, 4-day Inca Trail Trek to the famous Machu Picchu.
This G Adventures tour kicks off on a high. Literally. The trip begins at a mighty 2850m above sea level in Ecuador’s capital of Quito before taking you on a journey to the Galapagos Islands & Machu Picchu (you know… just a couple of the most spectacular places on the planet).
This tour has been designed for those with a solid level of fitness. So much so, that they have called this tour the Active Galapagos & Machu Picchu Tour.
Spend your days kayaking, snorkelling, swimming and keeping an eye out for the island’s iconic locals – the tortoise! Day six is one of my favourite days, as you’ll travel to an island called Isabela Island and hike to Sierra Negra Volcano to see the second-largest crater in the world. On the way back, you can enjoy a downhill bike adventure. Yep… told you this one is for the active!
But don’t get too comfortable with the island life, as you’ll soon be heading to Peru to embark on the iconic four-day, Inca Trail hike to Machu Picchu! It gives me goosebumps just thinking about this trek. Surrounded by mountains, jungle views and rich history, there aren’t many travellers who haven’t got Machu Picchu engraved onto their bucket list.
If you are looking for an action-packed trip with a hugely diverse itinerary, you should definitely consider this 17-day Active Galapagos & Machu Picchu Tour.
3. Uncover Jordan: Deserts, Petra & The Dead Sea
Photo: Ralph Cope
- Price: $949 USD
- Trip length: 7 days
- Start/End: Amman/ Madaba
- Accommodation: Budget hotels and hostels
- Highlights: Visit the Roman archaeological site of Jerah, hike from Little Petra to (big) Petra, stay in a private tented desert camp in Wadi Rum, and float gracefully in the Dead Sea.
This one is for the youngins (AKA those aged between 18 and 39). The tour has been designed with a budget traveller in mind. So, be prepared to crash in hostels and budget hotels and embrace the local public transport as you journey around Jordan!
This 7-day G Adventurers Uncover Jordan: Deserts, Petra & The Dead Sea tour is one of the most affordable trips that they offer AND it’s also made it onto my top 5 list… so you know the bang for buck is going to be real.
Although you won’t be checking in at the Ritz while travelling in Jordan, you will be having the time of your young explorer life! From driving 4x4s and camping in the rolling dunes of Wadi Rum, marvelling at the ancient stone of Petra and embracing the buoyancy as you blissfully float in the Dead Sea. This tour packs a punch and will leave you with some truly insane lifelong memories.
This is not an overly active trip but there is plenty of action, if you feel me? Like riding on 4x4s through the desert or going on moderate day hikes in Petra, there are also super chilled activities like floating in the Dead Sea and plenty of “free time” scattered throughout the day.
To help make this trip more affordable, there are optional activities that you can choose to add on during the trip. However, you can use this time (as well as your free time) to do activities that are more within your budget.
We’ve tested countless backpacks over the years, but there’s one that has always been the best and remains the best buy for adventurers: the broke backpacker-approved Osprey Aether and Ariel series.
Want more deetz on why these packs are so damn perfect? Then read our comprehensive review for the inside scoop!
View on Osprey View on REI4. Biking in Cuba
Photo: Chris Lininger
- Price: $1199 USD
- Trip length: 8 days
- Start/End: Havana/ Havana
- Accommodation: Hotels and Guesthouses
- Highlights: Bike through limestone pincushion hills in Vinales, check out a tobacco farm, cycle along Zapata Peninsula, have lunch on the Playa Ancon, visit women-operated traditional textiles centre, see the Mausoleum of Che Guevara.
If you’re into biking and you’re into travelling in Cuba, then this Biking in Cuba G Adventures Tour is your match made in heaven <3
During your trip, you’ll journey from Havana to Vinales, Playa Larga, Trinidad, Santa Clara and end up back where it all started, in Havana. Don’t worry – you won’t be biking this entire way. There are shuttles to take you between each major location, where you’ll pick up a bike to explore the local areas.
As you can imagine, you’re going to need a relatively good level of fitness to bike around Cuba for 8 days! However, don’t expect to traverse across treacherous terrains or take on any crazy downhill tracks. Instead, you can imagine yourself cycling along, wind in your hair, not a care in the world as you take in the epic landscapes of Cuba.
The first cycling track is a circular route in Vinales, where you’ll journey past the famous mogotes (limestone pincushion hills) of the region. This first ride is 26km with an elevation gain of 276m – just easing you into what’s to come. The distances that you’ll bike range between 25-46km with varying degrees of elevation.
Although this tour is centred around cycling, it offers so much more. Between cycles, you’ll get to visit museums, join Spanish lessons, enjoy the beaches, join an underground cave disco, visit tobacco farms – and more!
5. Camp the Trans Bhutan Trail
- Price: $5507 USD
- Trip length: 11 days
- Start/End: Paro/ Paro
- Accommodation: Camping/ homestays
- Highlights: Camping and farm stays in remote areas, a 5-day hike on a section of the ancient Trans Bhutan Trail, local farm and picnic lunches, and hiking up to Taktsang Monastery (Tiger’s Nest).
This G Adventure tour will take you on a journey through some of the most remote and well-preserved places in the world. Bhutan is strict when it comes to its tourism and although they will allow you to visit, it comes at a daily cost – literally, they charge you per day you stay. Hence why the country sees very few tourists compared to its neighbours (Nepal, India, Bangladesh and China).
This 11-day Trans Bhutan Trial tour is one of the best ways to experience this undiscovered part of the planet. The tour begins in Paros, where you will be picked up and taken to Thimphu. Thimphu is the fifth-highest city in the world sitting at over 2,228m above sea level. You’ll be able to sample a taste of Bhutanese cuisine and take in the city’s blend of modern-world and Bhutanese traditions.
Day two is when you’ll begin the hike from Pelela which sits 3,400m above sea level. You will hike for five days along the ancient trail – the views are absolutely breathtaking, the yaks are ridiculously cute and the villages will make you feel like you’ve turned back in time.
The trail itself takes you on a hike that was used for millenniums by monks, pilgrims, armies, royals and traders. Not only will you get to take in absolutely incredible views but your guide will take you on a journey through the history of the trail and you hike past villages, temples, fortresses and more.
During the tour, you’ll stay in a mix of camping spots and local homestays designed to give you an insight into the authentic rural and spiritual ways of life in Bhutan. Due to the higher altitudes and the multi-day treks, this trip to Bhutan is demanding on the body and one for travellers with a higher level of fitness.
Why G Adventures?
G Adventures is a tour company that seems to just get us backpackers. They operate in small groups of about 10-12 travellers which allows for a more intimate experience (cute!) and to forge close connections with the people & places you travel.
On all of the tours offered by G Adventures, the guides are always locally based experts. They know the places you’re heading like the back of their hand. Plus, they usually speak the local language can be a HUGE help. The guide criteria is to be a local expert but also just an absolute legend. They are there to make your trip 12/10.
I love that these guys opt to support local businesses wherever possible. The goal is to give back to the communities that are visited, but also to allow for a deeper connection to be made between you and the places that you visit.
They also have an initiative called G for Good. They prioritise all the important things like animal welfare, child welfare, fighting plastic pollution, LGBTQ+ inclusivity and respecting local culture. They are a tour company that you can feel good about using, ya know?
Travel Insurance
ALWAYS sort out your backpacker insurance before your trip. There’s plenty to choose from in that department, but a good place to start is Safety Wing.
They offer month-to-month payments, no lock-in contracts, and require absolutely no itineraries: that’s the exact kind of insurance long-term travellers and digital nomads need.
SafetyWing is cheap, easy, and admin-free: just sign up lickety-split so you can get back to it!
Click the button below to learn more about SafetyWing’s setup or read our insider review for the full tasty scoop.
Final Thoughts on the BEST G Adventure Tours
Man, collating this list has made me SO inspired to get out there are travel to these places. Some of these spots are super underrated – places like Pakistan, Bhutan and Jordan don’t see half the number of visitors they deserve.
These places are home to some of the most impressive landscapes in the world, but right now, you might be some of the only people there. I can’t imagine they are going to stay that way for long – so 2025 is the year, baby. Book that tour!
Other places like Cuba, Peru and the Galapagos Islands aren’t exactly hidden gems anymore but they are places that are bucket list places to visit. Especially with a local tour guide who can show you the parts that are still “hidden” from the average traveller.
If these five tours haven’t quite tickled your fancy, don’t worry – you can head to the G Adventures website to see all of the tours offered. There are loads so I have no doubt you’ll find one that suits you and your travel dreams for 2025 🙂
Photo: @willhatton__
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