Accommodation, transport, many meals and some sightseeing are usually included. Escorted tours suit customers who want everything organised, solo travellers and people visiting complex or long-haul destinations. They are normally sold as packages by specialist operators, with the operator as organiser.

An example

A ten-day coach tour of the Italian lakes, where a tour manager handles hotel check-ins, timings and guided visits throughout.

Watch out for

• There is no legal definition, and operators use the words differently. Some mean a tour manager who stays with the group from start to finish, while others mean travelling as a group with local guides along the way.

• Group size and escort level are separate questions: a small group tour can be fully escorted. Private tours with a driver-guide and self-guided tours are different products again. Check what is included, such as meals, tips and excursions.

• A tour manager, who runs the trip, is not the same as a local guide, who guides at a site or in a city, although tour managers may also guide.