G Adventures has partnered with Hostelworld to ‘change the face of youth travel’ with a new travel brand offering 38 tours in 15 countries, with accommodation in hostels.
Called Roamies, the brand combines the social experience of hostelling with small group adventure travel. Tours depart from 8 May 2022 and are bookable now, via travel agents.
G Adventures Founder Bruce Poon Tip said Roamies has been designed out of the desire to create something entirely new for younger travellers, many of whom have been deprived of the opportunity to travel over the past 20 months.
He said: “Together we’re creating a new style of travel for our customers that will allow them to have a better travel experience and support our model of community tourism, which is based on investing in as many local and small businesses as possible. There is no better representation of that than in the hostel market, of which many are family-run businesses.”
He added hostels have changed hugely over the years, with many increasing their offering to include swim-up bars and other facilities to attract today’s clientele.
Hostelworld CEO Gary Morrison said: “Our mission is to help hostellers meet other travellers they want to hang out with while travelling, so partnering with G Adventures to offer a combination of hostelling and adventure travel made absolute sense.
“When young people travel, they want to do more than just see places – they want to make meaningful connections and have new experiences that positively change their perspective on themselves and the world.”
Example itineraries include:
Peruvian coast tour
Heading out from Lima, guests stop at a small coastal town for seafood, sandboarding and zooming around on dune buggies at sunset. Two nights is spent at a couple of nights by a desert oasis with lots of time for optional activities nearby or at the hostel. Then, catch a boat to the Ballestas Islands before settling into a hostel in the bohemian neighbourhood of Barranco that’s jam-packed with trendy bars, restaurants, and art galleries.
From £499pp for five days.
Vietnam, Cambodia and Bangkok tour
Guests can take a street food crawl through bustling Ho Chi Minh City then hop on the back of a motorbike to explore the Mekong delta. Relax on a beach-bed with a cool drink on remote Koh Rong Samloem Island before zipping around Phnom Penh on a cyclo tour. The Siem Reap night market and the Skun Market are highlights, as is the Khao San Road for a goodbye party.
From £699 for an 11-day Roamies tour which includes a stay at the Lub D Siem Reap, which has a swim-up bar.
Central Mexico and Yucatan tour
Discover hidden corners of Mexico City before visiting the cities of Puebla and Oaxaca for more culture and cuisine. Spend a couple of days at the beach, then fly up to Mérida for jungle bikes and cenote swims, before visiting Chichen Itzá and the beach town of Tulum.
From £1,249 for a 13-day Roamies tour, including the stylish Che Tulum Hostel & Bar (main picture).
Europe tour
The tour takes in Germany, Austria and Italy, including visits to Berlin, Prague, Innsbruk and Vienna as well as Europe’s highest natural rock bridge at the Pravčická Gate and the scenic mountain lake on the way to Salzburg.
From £2,099 for a 17-day Roamies tour staying in hostels such as the Czech Inn, Prague.
Tour prices do not include flights. More information here.
