How Much Does a Custom Tour Actually Cost in 2026?

"How much does a custom tour cost?" is the most-asked question on our chat. Here's an honest answer with real numbers.

What a custom tour includes (and what it doesn't)

Included in our base pricing per person:

• Accommodation (usually 4-star, upgradable to 5-star)
• Private guide and driver for included days
• Main meals per itinerary (usually breakfast daily + 2–3 dinners)
• Entry tickets to main sites
• Intra-destination transport (trains, domestic flights, transfers)

Usually not included:

• International flights to/from the destination
• Travel insurance
• Alcohol beyond wine pairings at included dinners
• Shopping and personal expenses
• Tipping (we give suggested amounts)

Real pricing by destination

Bali Honeymoon — 10 days

• Mid-range (4-star villas, mix of Ubud + beach): €1,800–€2,500 per person
• Premium (Four Seasons, private villas with pool): €4,500–€6,500 per person
• Ultra-luxe (Amandari, COMO Shambhala, private chef): €8,000–€12,000+ per person

Biggest cost swings: private villa vs resort room (2–3×), beach region (Uluwatu premium vs Seminyak standard), and whether you include Gili Islands or Nusa Penida boat days (+€800–€1,500).

Kenya Safari — 7 days

• Classic Mara lodge + 1 game park: €3,800–€5,500 per person
• Premium (Bateleur Camp + Amboseli under Kilimanjaro): €6,500–€9,000 per person
• Migration peak (Aug–Oct) premium camps: €8,000–€14,000+ per person

Key variables: season (migration season +30–50%), camp tier (the difference between €500/night and €2,500/night camps is substantial), and private concession vs public Maasai Mara reserve (private +40% but no crowds).

Japan — 14 days (Tokyo + Kyoto + Hokkaido)

• Mid-range (3–4 star hotels, bullet trains): €3,200–€4,500 per person
• Premium (ryokan stays, Park Hyatt Tokyo): €6,500–€9,500 per person
• Ultra-luxe (Aman Tokyo, Amanemu, private tea ceremony): €12,000–€22,000 per person

Japan pricing is dollar-stable but JR Pass prices nearly doubled in 2023 — factor roughly €900 for a 21-day pass now. Tokyo hotels are less of a cost driver than Kyoto ryokans (traditional inns can easily run €600–€1,500/night for two).

Italy — 10 days (Rome + Tuscany + Amalfi)

• Mid-range (4-star Rome + Tuscan farmhouse): €2,400–€3,500 per person
• Premium (JK Roma, Villa D'Este Lake Como optional): €5,000–€8,000 per person
• Ultra-luxe (Passalacqua, Splendido Portofino): €12,000–€20,000+ per person

Italy cost peaks late May to mid-September. Shoulder season (April, October) saves 25–35% and avoids the heat + crowds.

European Christmas Markets — 10 days, 5 cities

• Mid-range (4-star, train connections): €2,100–€3,200 per person
• Premium (Sacher Vienna + Adlon Berlin): €4,500–€6,500 per person

Not much luxe upside here; these are city-walking trips and the joy is in the markets, not the hotels.

USA Multi-City — 14 days (NYC + LA + Miami)

• Mid-range (boutique hotels, domestic flights): €3,400–€5,000 per person
• Premium (Four Seasons, Aman NY): €8,000–€14,000+ per person

US pricing is driven more by hotel tier than by activities. Michelin dinners in NYC and LA can add €300–€800/person/night to food budgets.

What drives the biggest cost differences

1. Hotel tier (largest single lever)

4-star to 5-star = usually +60–100%. 5-star to ultra-luxe = another +80–150%.

2. Season

Peak vs shoulder is 20–40% in most destinations. 40–60% for beach destinations in winter high season (Caribbean December-March, Maldives December-February).

3. Private vs semi-private

Private guide (just you) vs small-group (4–8 people) is roughly 2× cost. Semi-private is the best value for couples who don't need fully custom.

4. Flights

Not included in base pricing because they vary wildly. Factor:

• Europe → Bali: €650–€1,400 economy, €3,500–€6,000 business
• Europe → Kenya: €550–€900 economy
• Europe → Japan: €750–€1,500 economy, €3,000–€5,500 business
• Europe → US: €400–€900 economy, €2,500–€4,500 business

5. Luxury experiences

Single experiences that add big to cost:

• Private balloon over Serengeti: €500–€750 per person
• Helicopter over Monaco / Grand Canyon: €350–€800
• Michelin-starred tasting menu: €200–€500 per person
• Private concert in Vienna palace: €800–€1,500 for 2
• Yacht day charter in Greece/Croatia: €1,500–€4,000 for full day

How to get more for less

1. Shoulder season. If your dates are flexible, moving 2–3 weeks earlier or later can save 25%.

2. Length matters. A 14-day trip is only ~60% more expensive per person than 10 days — the hotel and guide ramp-up are fixed. Longer trips are better value per day.

3. Luxury on selected nights, not all. Spend one night at a €1,200 ryokan in Kyoto instead of the whole week at Park Hyatt Tokyo. One extraordinary experience is more memorable than uniformly expensive hotels.

4. Fly economy long-haul, premium short-haul. Saves money; you'll recover from the long flight anyway.

5. Custom doesn't have to mean luxury. A "custom" trip just means private and tailored. You can absolutely have a 4-star custom itinerary.

Want to see real numbers for your specific trip? Tell our AI concierge where you're going, when, and how many people — we'll quote within 24 hours with a range.