When I started backpacking, I travelled on a budget. Meaning I do almost everything as a DIY trip and spend as little money as possible. While I highly recommend this to young travellers and those on a tight budget, it’s a challenging setup if you have a limited time for a trip.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Being on a budget means you will be taking the bus instead of a plane or train because it’s more affordable. On the other hand, you will sacrifice your time and end up seeing fewer places and spending more time transporting yourself from one place to another.
When I outgrew my backpacking phase, I got into tour packages, which go between booking a day trip to taking an entire itinerary planned by someone, a tour agent or a tour company.
Signing up for a 2-week vacation package means you don’t have to think about transportation, tour activities, tour guides, museum tickets, and even sometimes food and accommodation. All of these can be handled by a tour operator and the only thing you have to do is pack and don’t miss your flight.
We usually create DIY itineraries on this blog, but in this article, I want to show you a list of 2-week vacation packages that you can book to avoid hassle and make sure that you take full advantage of your well-deserved holiday.
THINGS TO CONSIDER WHEN BOOKING A 2-WEEK VACATION PACKAGES
But before you hurry up and just book random tours, take some time to weigh in the pros and cons of a vacation. In this way, you can make an informed decision and figure out what’s best for you.
Destinations
This is vital information when deciding where to go. Since you have 14 days, it’s kind of plenty of time, but at the same time, it can be limited. The distance from home is one big thing to consider.
You don’t have to go on a holiday where the flight will take 3 days with 2-3 connections. When picking where to spend your holiday, choose one that is no more than a day’s worth of trip. Perhaps a flight where you only need to make one connection, two at maximum.
On the other hand, you can pick one where you can drive for no more than 6 to 10 hours and have a place to leave your car safely.
If you’re coming from New Zealand and heading to Latin America, I can see how this can be done, but challenging. But for those living in Europe and going towards Asia, that can easily be done.
Budget
Next on the list is your budget. Joining a package tour doesn’t have to be expensive. Just because it’s an all-inclusive or itinerary planned, you’ll have to use up all your savings.
A 2-week vacation package in Southeast Asia is quite affordable. I booked a 14-day trip around Vietnam for $800 including most things except food. My 12-day hike to the Everest Base Camp was only $1,200, including everything (except my flight to Nepal).
In comparison, a 2-week trip around New Zealand, Australia, Canada, and Europe can be costly. It could range between $2,000 to $5,000, depending on how comfortable you want it to be and the season.
Transportation
One thing that I love about a package tour is that I don’t have to think about logistics. I’m now been travelling for over 10 years, and transportation is still the most time-consuming part of my planning, especially in rural or less popular destinations.
Even in Europe, a very busy destination, it can still be hard to get from point A to point B. I recently planned a month trip in Europe where I want to get from Milan (Italy) to Ljubljana (Slovenia), and my choices were 7 to 8 hours on a bus or 6 hours combo of train and a bus.
I could fly, but I needed to make a connection somewhere, which would take about 4-5 hours anyway. Not to mention that I had to wait for Trenitalia to release the schedule before I could book anything.
Mind you, I was going to travel during peak season (summer). And 2 months before I leave for that trip, the schedule is yet to be released.
But when you book a package tour, 90% of the time, the tour company arrange the transportation, including picking you up and dropping you off at the airport. The ease of transportation alone can easily outweigh the cons of a package tour.
Currency
Now, if you’re booking a package tour that covers more than one destination, you probably have to think about what currency to carry. This is normal in Southeast Asia, while in Europe, carrying euros is pretty much enough.
Regardless of where you’re going, though, having any of the major currencies (USD, EURO, AUD, and CAD) is helpful since these are easy to convert in most countries in the world. Make sure to always bring a debit and/or credit card.
Inclusions and Exclusions
You also want to check what things are included and excluded in a package tour. The common things that are included:
- transportation
- tour guide
- entry tickets
- accommodation
- airport pick up and drop off
- gifts – tour hat, fanny pack, or dry bags with tour company logo
The items or services that are often excluded:
- food and drinks – sometimes food is included, but not the drinks or not the alcoholic drinks
- gratuity/tips – for porters or tour guides
- visa – or other travel documents
- travel insurance
- major flight – to the main destination adn back home
Visa
One thing that most tour operators don’t include is the visa. On the other hand, after you book a tour, the welcome email you will get usually has information on how and where to get a visa.
Some companies might even offer to do it for you, such as in Vietnam and Cambodia. But for Europe, North America, and Oceania – you will have to do it on your own.
Regardless, it’s important to book a tour that has flexible cancellation, which I will explain in the next part below.
Cancellations and Payments
Let’s say you’re a traveller from Asia and booking a package tour for Europe. There’s a big chance that you will need to get a Schengen visa.
So, when you book a tour, you want one that can be cancelled either for free or for a small fee in case your visa is denied.
I booked my Everest Base Camp tour 8 months before I planned to go. That tour has a free cancellation 24 hours before the tour starts (that’s quite amazing). I liked this booking because I don’t know if I’ll get hurt before my trip from training or perhaps there will be another pandemic and close the border.
Payment is another thing to consider. If the tour is going to cost $5,000, I might want to book from an operator or website that offers a payment plan or doesn’t charge me until a week before the trip.
Having flexible cancellations and payments can surely help you decide if you should book a package tour or not.
Cons of a package tour
When I started backpacking, one thing I didn’t enjoy about package tours was that it’s usually a big group, making it hard to feel the personal connection between the place I’m visiting and my experience.
Another thing is the loss of freedom of my own time since I have to follow the itinerary that’s already set. Sometimes, the tour operator will give you a “day off or free time to roam”, which allows you to do things on your own.
Here are a few downsides of a package tour:
- waiting for other participants – if it’s a hike, the tour guide usually wants the group to go together at the same pace
- visiting places you don’t care about – this is common when a tour company includes “souveneir shopping or museum visits”
- not visiting places you care about – people like different things, so it’s unavoidable for a tour itinerary to include places to visit that other people might not find interesting
- busy itinerary – usually, a pre-planned itinerary always includes the top attractions, which leads to a super busy and almost “always in a hurry” plan
- suitable for first-time visitors – most 2-week vacation packages are ideal for those visiting a country or destination for the first time and want to see everything all at once, if you’re only interested in visiting a specific place, a DIY trip might be better for you, then you can plan day trips or arrange a smaller tour
- age range – when on a tour group, you can’t tell what the age range could be, some people don’t want to travel with young children participants, while others prefer to stick with their own age group – this is when booking with Contiki (18y/o to 35 y/o) or GAdventure (family-friendly) might be better
Travel arrangement tips
2-WEEK VACATION PACKAGES
Now that you have some ideas about the pros and cons of a package tour, it’s time to show you which ones you can book. This list is categorised by continent but also includes which ones are affordable, suitable for family, and other tips on how to choose.
You don’t have to book your entire 14 days as a tour. You can make a 10 or 12-day trip and leave yourself with 2 days to spare and use it however you want. Perhaps you want to catch up with sleep after you arrive before the tour begins or spend your last day doing souvenir shopping.
Africa
Getting around Africa can be confusing and challenging. If there’s a destination I recommend doing a package tour to, it would be here. Plus, if you’re concerned about safety, but at the same time, you have these locations on your bucket list.
Check our archive of Africa 2-week itineraries.
Cape, Safari, and Falls for 11 days
- 3 countries: South Africa, Zimbabwe, Botswana
- starts in: Cape Town, South Africa
- ends in: Chobe National Park, Botswana
- cost: mid-range
- age range: 18 to 35
- inclusion: tour guide, meals, accommodation, transportation
East Africa for 11 days
- 2 countries
- starts in: Nairobi, Kenya
- ends in: Arusha, Tanzania
- cost: mid-high
- age range: 18 to 35
- inclusion: tour guide, meals, accommodation, transportation
Egypt & Nile River
Maybe – only 8 days – https://www.contiki.com/en-us/tours/egypt-and-the-nile
- 2 countries
- starts in: Nairobi, Kenya
- ends in: Arusha, Tanzania
- cost: mid-high
- age range: 18-35
- inclusion: tour guide, meals, accommodation, transportation
Morocco for 10 days
- starts and ends in: Marrakesh
- cost: mid-range
- age range: 18 to 35 or 35 to 45
- inclusion: tour guide, meals, accommodation, transportation
Southern Africa for 12 days
This one covers two countries in Africa; Zimbabwe and South Africa. It features incredible destinations such as Cape Town. Johannesburg, Kruger National Park, Karongwe Game Reserve, and Victoria Falls.
Here’s a highlight:
- 2 countries
- starts in: Cape Town, South Africa
- ends in: Victoria Waterfalls, Zimbabwe
- cost: mid-high
- age range: 12+
- inclusion: tour guide, meals, accommodation, transportation
Southeast Africa for 11 days
- starts in: Kasane, Bostwana
- ends in: Windhoek, Namibia
- cost: mid-range
- age range: 18 to 35
- inclusion: tour guide, meals, accommodation, transportation
Southeast Africa for 11 days (double check from above)
- 3 countries: Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda
- starts in: Nairobi, Kenya
- ends in: Windhoek, Namibia
- cost: mid-high
- age range: 15+
- inclusion: tour guide, meals, accommodation, transportation
- demanding physical level
Asia
Asia is a fun place to do a DIY trip because it’s exciting to get around on your own. But if you only have 2 weeks, it might be better to book a package tour instead of wasting your time waiting at a bus station or getting in line for an admission ticket.
Below are some fun 2-week package tours for Asia, but if you decided on doing a DIY Asia, here’s our 2-week Asia compilation.
Southeast Asia
- 13 days covering Thailand, Cambodia, and Laos (18 to 35 years old)
- 12 days covering Cambodia, Vietnam, and Thailand (18 to 35 years old)
- 16 days covering Vietnam and Cambodia (7+ years old, family friendly)
Cambodia
- 10 days covering Cambodia ( 12+ years old)
- 10 days covering Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam (18 to 39 years old)
Bali and Lombok for 14 days (Indonesia)
- starts in and ends in Bali
- cost: mid-low
- age range: 12+ years old
- inclusion: tour guide, meals, accommodation, transportation
- light physical level
India for (or India and Maldives)
- 15 days covering India (18 to 39 years old)
- 14 days covering India and Maldives
- 15 days covering India (12+ years old)
Nepal for 10 days (double check on below)
- starts in and ends in: Kathmandu
- age group: 12+ years old
- cost: mid-average
- inclusion: tour guide, meals, accommodation, transportation
- average physical level
Nepal’s Everest Base Camp (or India and Nepal)
- 15 days featuring Everest Base Camp trek (18+ years old) – physically demanding
- 15 days covering Nepal and India (18 to 39 years old)
- 12 days in Nepal, featuring Annapurna hiking and Chitwan National Park wild safari
Thailand
- 15 days 18 to 39 years old: Affordable
- 12 days 6+ years old: Family-friendly
- 14 days 18 to 35 years old: On the higher cost
Japan
- 13 days (18 to 35 years old) with skiing
- 14 days (12+ years old): Family-friendly, amazing reviews
Mongolia for 14 days
- starts in and ends in: Ulaanbaatar
- cost: mid-high
- age range: 12+ years old
- inclusion: tour guide, meals (breakfast), accommodation, transportation
Philippines for 13 days
- starts in: Manila
- ends in: Coron
- cost: mid-low
- age range: 18 to 35 years old
- inclusion: tour guide, meals (breakfast), accommodation, transportation
Sri Lanka for 14 days
- starts in: Colombo
- ends in: Mirissa
- age range: 12+ years old
- cost: mid-average
- inclusion: tour guide, some meals, accommodation, transportation
Vietnam for 10 to 12 days
- 12 days covering Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi (18 to 39 years old) – super affordable
- 10 days covering Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City (12+ years old) – family-friendly, good priced
- 10 days from HCMC to Hanoi (12+ years old) – cost is mid-high with great reviews
Europe
Europe is a smaller continent, but with 40 countries, you know that there’s so much to do. While 14 days sounds like not enough time, you can maximise your time by booking a 2-week vacation package instead.
Let’s say your goal is to see as many countries as possible. With that idea, it already means lots of arranging transportation and accommodation, which can easily give you a headache. You can skip all those organising tasks by letting a tour organiser do the work for you.
There are a lot of options for Europe, as you can see in our extensive list of free itineraries for 2 weeks in Europe. So, below, you will find a few choices.
Multi-countries (18 to 35 Years Old)
- starts in or end: usually in London, Rome, or Italy
- cost: affordable to mid-high
- inclusion: tour guide, some meals, accommodation, transportation
Solo Countries
You can travel a bit slower by visiting just one country. This also means that you can see more than just the capital city. Instead, you can really enjoy and learn each destination’s culture, history, traditions, and enjoy what it has to offer.
Multi-countries (Family-Friendly)
I recommend you book a tour where the countries are near one another or a tour that focuses in one region. For example, first time visitors in Europe might want to focus either in Western or Central Europe (the UK, Ireland, Netherlands, France, Belgium, Germany, Czechia, Switzerland, and Austria.
Some people would go to Southern Europe (Spain, Italy, Greece, Croatia, and Southern France). But those who have been to Europe before might go to Eastern Europe (the Baltics or Balkans), or Northern Europe (Scandinavia or the Nordics).
North America
2 weeks in North America is challenging, but if you have a local tour organiser who knows the ground and the best way to get around – this plan is doable. Still, you should focus on a specific state or region.
So let’s say West Coast USA, book a 2-week package tour covering California, Nevada, and Arizona, where you can go hiking, visit cities, and explore the food culture. This can be done in East Coast USA too covering Florida, New York, and Washington D.C.
USA (18-35 Years Old)
USA (Family-Friendly)
Canadian Rockies for 12 days
- starts in: Vancouver
- ends in: Calgary
- age range: 12+ years old
- cost: high, but reasonable for its location
- inclusion: tour guide, meals (some), accommodation, transportation
Latin America
Travelling around Latin America (all countries below the US border) is almost similar to travelling in Europe. There are lots of countries to visit, meaning you have the option to explore either just one country or do a multi-destination trip.
Multi-countries
You can make the most of your time by visiting 2 countries. Most of these tours are focused either on doing both the Amazon and the Andes, the Patagonia hiking trail, or exploring the fantastic Galapagos Islands (which is part of Ecuador).
Solo Countries
If you prefer to visit one country this time, that works too. Colombia, Peru, Mexico, Costa Rica, and even Cuba are great destinations for a 2-week vacation package since the top attractions to see are near one another.
Here are some tours I recommend:
Oceania
Oceania might be a great continent to travel by land, but it depends on where you’re going. Australia is too big for just a 2-week road trip. But if you focus just on the East Coast or a specific region, it can be done.
On the other hand, a package tour can make your trip easier. The same goes for New Zealand, which is mainly divided into two major islands (North Island and South Island).
Australia for 14 days
- starts in: Cairns
- ends in: Sydney
- cost: mid-high
- age range: 12+ years old
- inclusion: tour guide, meals (some), accommodation, transportation
New Zealand for 15 days
- starts in: Auckland
- ends in: Christchurch
- cost: mid-high
- age range: 12+ years old
- inclusion: tour guide, some meals, accommodation, transportation
SUMMARY OF 2-WEEK VACATION PACKAGES
There is a balance between a DIY trip and booking a package tour. If you don’t have a lot of time during your vacation, such as 14 days, it’s often better to book a 2-week vacation package tour so you can sit back and relax.
If you have more than 20 days, sure you can plan a DIY trip. But for 14 days or less, I recommend paying a little more and making your vacation as little hassle as possible.
If you’re a great planner and arranging a holiday for a bigger group, I can see why it would work and might be the better route. But don’t be afraid to hand over the planning and logistics to experts so you can enjoy your travel more.