oat trips to greece

The Scoop: What to Know About Overseas Adventure Tours (OAT)

This small-group specialist runs tours to all continents..

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• Looking at an Overseas Adventure Travel (OAT) tour, but want to know more about this small-group tour company?
• Here’s everything you need to know about the tour company, all updated for 2024.

Overseas Adventure Travel —more commonly referred to as OAT (saying the letters as opposed to naming the grain)—is a small-group tour specialist with tours on all continents. As its name suggests, tours with Overseas Adventure Travel tend to be fairly active, so participants should be comfortable with six to eight hours of activity each day, including walking distances ranging from three to six miles.

OAT has a great reputation for its solo guest focus (more on that below), and offers a generous number of no-additional-cost single spots on its tours. It also has women-exclusive departures on many itineraries.

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On OAT tours, accommodations tend to be less about amenities and more about authenticity. Another thing to note is that airfare is often bundled into the up-front price of the tour (unless you specify that you want to book your own travel). OAT is one of the family of Grand Circle Corp. companies, also including Grand Circle Travel and Grand Circle Cruise Line.

TourScoop Takeaways

• Countries: OAT has tours on every continent 
• Tour Size Average: OAT specializes in small-group trips of no more than 16 people. Its small-ship tours are aboard 50- to 98-passenger ships max out at 25 travelers. 
• Tour Type: Coach, van, small ship, rail, and air

Credibility Check

Overseas Adventure Travel is BBB accredited with a rating of A+. It’s an active member of the United States Tour Operators Association (USTOA). The OAT website posts verified guest reviews on each tour page (sometimes with hundreds of reviews) so it’s easy to see what past travelers think of each tour. 

Tour Destinations

For 2024, OAT has 80 itineraries that include tours on every continent. Some of the most popular tours are to destinations in Italy, Egypt, and multi-country tours in Africa and around the Adriatic. 

Overseas Adventure Travel gives all its tours an Activity Level Rating that ranks tours from one (easy) to five (strenuous) to help travelers find the right fit. It has both women-only departures and many no-additional-cost single traveler spots on tours. 

There are multi-country and single country tours. On many tours, OAT creates spaces for discussion and learning with its Controversial Topics program that covers topics such as Scottish independence on its Scotland Revealed itinerary and female genital mutilation on its Safari Serengeti: Tanzania Lodge & Tented Safari tour. 

Tour Guides

OAT’s tour guides are called Trip Experience Leaders. All are fluent in English and have a range of skills, certifications, and experience specific to the tour destination and experience. Trip Experience Leaders focus on both the logistical and the experiential, and help connect travelers with destinations by sharing firsthand insight that brings a destination to life. 

Inclusions/Extras

Inclusions are tour-specific (there’s a “What’s Included” section on each tour’s page), but generally include round-trip flights, many (but not all) meals, transportation, accommodations, activities, and gratuities for local guides, porters, etc. As with most tour companies, gratuities for trip experience leaders is separate. 

Typical Travelers

OAT’s guests are mostly American travelers aged 50 and older. In the last few years, Overseas Adventure Travel has seen a major jump in the number of solo travelers—more than half of all OAT guests are now solo travelers, and 80% of these solo travelers are women.

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OAT does right by its strong solo traveler base —in 2024, the company is offering 25,620 single spaces—91% of which are free (the remaining 9% of single spots have what OAT says is the lowest single supplement in the industry). And a number of itineraries also have women-exclusive departures. 

Communication

After booking, travelers have access to all trip details through the “My Planner” section on the website. The section includes details like flight information, destination weather, and itinerary information.

Then, two weeks before departure, travelers receive all their final documents, and are also contacted by their Trip Experience Leader. Any additional questions can be directed to OAT’s customer service email or phone number.

Loyalty Program

OAT’s loyalty program is the Sir Edmund Hillary Club . Membership benefits kick in when travelers reserve their third trip, and increase after traveling with OAT five and ten times. Benefits include credits to use on future trips, travel credits, exclusive gifts, and priority luggage service. 

Private Options

OAT offers Personalized Private Adventures for groups of five to 10 people. These private departures are available using existing itineraries, and include a dedicated Trip Experience Leader. The private group premium amount depends on the number of travelers in a group. Some of the most popular private tours include Ultimate Africa , Sicily’s Ancient Landscapes , and Japan’s Cultural Treasures . 

Sustainability Efforts

OAT is part of Grand Circle, and participates in the Grand Circle Foundation , which supports projects around the world focused on water and sanitation, education, community development, renewable energy, the protection of indigenous cultures, conservation, historic preservation, and disaster relief.

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Health and Safety Practices

On OAT tours that include time onboard a ship, additional precautions include crew trained on best health and hygiene practices to prevent onboard spread of illnesses, nightly electrostatic disinfection of public areas, and disinfection of high-efficiency air filtration systems before each sailing. The OAT website is the place to go to read more about the current health and safety practices for land and ship tours.  

Family Companies

The Grand Circle family of companies includes Overseas Adventure Travel , Grand Circle Cruise Line , and Grand Circle Travel .

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Adventure Tours & Trips in Greece

48 adventure tour packages in greece with 1,147 reviews.

Active Family Historical Christmas & New Year +1

7 Day Christian Tour in Greece, Ancient Corinth, Veroia, Philippoi, Thessaloniki

• 10% deposit on some dates

Active Family Hiking & Trekking In-depth Cultural +2

Wild Mountains & Rivers Adventure

"Loved going off the beaten track and see Greece away from the tourist masses. Loved the traditional village accommodation." I'an, traveled in April 2019

Active Boat Beach

Cyclades Island Hopping: Athens, Mykonos and Paros

Active In-depth Cultural

Athens, Santorini and Folegandros

"Our family trip to Greece was a spectacular outdoor adventure of culture and cuisine." MelodyEaton, traveled in July 2021

In-depth Cultural Active Family +1

Tracing the Steps of Hercules in the Peloponnese and Delphi 10 days

"Excellent service and friendly guildes." Cuong, traveled in March 2024

Active Sailing Hiking & Trekking +1

Aegean Sea Sail and Hike Tour

In-depth Cultural Active Explorer +1

Three Days Classical Tour from Athens: Epidaurus, Mycenae, Olympia, Delphi

"The first and last lunch options were overpriced, the plates were not so big, especially the first lunch, and since there was no other restaurants close by, it felt like a trap." Nadia, traveled in July 2019

Hiking & Trekking Active Explorer +1

Hiking Crete: Gorges & Coastal Walks

"A great trip. I underestimated the difficulty of the rocky terrain." Kate, traveled in September 2022

Hiking & Trekking Active Walking Adventure Mountain Hikes Coastal Walks +3

Walking in Crete

"The walks were amazing, particularly walking through the gauges and along the coastline." Michele, traveled in September 2023

In-depth Cultural Active Family Historical +2

Mykonos Explorer Tour

Canyoning Portitsa

Sailing Boat Active Beach Family +1

Family Greek Coast Caique Cruise

"Swimming off the boat and the views when sailing were absolutely amazing. Evia is a beautiful, untouched island." Katherine, traveled in August 2023

Sailing Active Explorer

Greece Sailing Adventure: Corfu to Kefalonia

Highlights of Ancient Greece

"This was a wonderful tour! It covers a great variety of sites, across Greek history. We also enjoyed beach time!" Brooke, traveled in April 2022

Sailing Active

Greece Sailing Tour

"Wonderful sailing vacation in Greece. The organization was great, we experienced and saw new things every day." Lucas, traveled in August 2023

What people love about Active Tours in Greece

I was in Greece for 3 weeks and I would say this tour would be one of the highlights of my trip. Loved going off the beaten track and see Greece away from the tourist masses. I liked the small group tour setting as well giving you a more personalised attention from our amazing tour guide Stavros. Loved the traditional village accommodation we stayed at as well as the yummy Greek food. Thanks Trails Beyond for showing me this beautiful part of Greece. I highly recommend for those who enjoy the outdoors with a little bit of adventure ie. horseback riding and white water rafting :-)

Aegean Amazing. Our family trip to Greece was a spectacular outdoor adventure of culture and cuisine. It evolved perfectly from the bustle of Athens to the thrill of Santorini to the quiet and calm of Folegandros. Our guide, Archelaos “Archie” Biehler, was so kind, knowledgeable and helpful. He maintained the perfect balance of leading us during our journey while allowing us to enjoy our time together as a family. His skill as an outdoor guide was evident, along with his ability to work alongside families. He even brought some games for the children, and adults, to play during transitions. He was the perfect match for us. - - - - - Athens and the Acropolis were magnificent as you would expect from the ancient city. And while it was a change in the itinerary from a trip to the Temple of Poseidon, our Athens e-bike tour was a fun and wonderful way to see the classic sites around the historical city. - - - - - The island of Santorini was thrilling for the whole family and a great escape from the city experience. Our hike along the caldera from Fira to Oia was the perfect introduction to the volcanic island. After a swim in the pool, our sunset dinner was a remarkable way to end our first day. The sea kayaking tour was unforgettable. We were overjoyed by snorkeling in the beautiful waters and paddling along the coast to the beaches. The cooking class turned out to be one of the most delightful experiences. We were skeptical of how it would go over with our children, and it was one of the highlights of our trip. Our children remade the entire meal for their grandparents when we came home. - - - - - Folegandros was rugged, secluded and enchanting with its wild and raw beauty. We loved the shady town squares, white-lined green cobblestone streets of Chora and the white-washed homes draped in bougainvillea. Ano Meria had rustic charm with its lemon tree houses and ancient stone cropped farming terraces. On the island, we loved the amazing snorkeling, fresh seafood, dazzling stars, deep sapphire blue seas, cool breezes and stunning steep cliffs. Our stay at the Anemi Hotel was lovely and the food was delicious. The hotel reminded us of a spa, while still being family friendly. - - - - Life-long memories full of Greek culture, lifestyle and local cuisine were made on this trip. Our family discovered a lasting love of Greece. Here is a link to a short video that we made for family and friends. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zel0uX2k3yQ

Excellent service and friendly guildes

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Overseas Adventure Travel (O.A.T. Tours)

18 Trips match your criteria (1 - 18 shown)

Real Affordable Peru

Cusco, Lima, Machu Picchu, Sacred Valley, Urubamba

• Visit Lima’s historic city center, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
• Visit Lima’s National Museum of Archaeology, Anthropology, and History at Bolivar Square
• Enjoyable way to experience the enchanting Andean landscape.
• Enjiy Rafting excursion
• Visit this mysterious sanctuary

Cultural, Local Immersion & Homestays

Japan's Cultural Treasures

Hakone, Kanazawa, Kyoto, Tokyo

• Visit the seventh-century Asakusa Kannon Temple
• The trip to Hakone, located about 50 miles west of Tokyo.
• Hakone is beloved by the Japanese for its hot-spring resorts, mountains, lakes, and historical sites
• Visit Hamamatsuya, a workshop specializing in wooden handcrafts.
• Visit one of the many houses of Kanazawa where the samurai—Japan's famed class of noble warriors—once lived

Cultural, Local Immersion & Homestays, National Parks, Nature & Wildlife, Train & Rail Journeys, Religious

Mongolia & the Gobi Desert

Gobi Desert, Ulaanbaatar

• Explore the Mongolia city
• Visit to Gorkhi-Terelj National Park
• Explore the Zanabazar Museum of Fine Arts
• Explore the western shore of Lake Khovsgol
• Experience camel riding in Gobi Desert

Cultural, Local Immersion & Homestays, Transformative

Untamed Iceland

Blue Lagoon, Lake Myvatn, Reykjavík, Snaefellsnes Peninsula

• Visit a local horse farm to meet affable Icelandic horses first brought to the country by Viking settlers
• Discover some of Iceland's Saga-like history at the Settlement Center in Borgarnes.
• Enjoy views of colorful mountain cliffs, pristine fjords, and fertile valleys where horses graze.
• Visit a museum dedicated to this once-thriving industry before returning to Akureyri.
• Visit the stunning Gullfoss waterfall

Cultural, Rafting, Kayaking, Canoeing

Heart of India

Agra, Agra Fort, Amber Fort, Delhi, Jaipur, Jama Masjid, Khajuraho, Qutab Minar, Ranthambore Tiger Reserve, Red Fort, Taj Mahal

• Visit Raj Ghat, a beautifully serene monument.
• Visiting the Jama Masjid, the largest mosque in India
• Enjoy short ride by rickshaw through the crowded lanes of the Chandni Chowk bazaar.
• Visiting Qutab Minar, a spectacular example of Indo-Islamic architecture topped by a 234-foot-high tower.
• Enjoy a bird's-eye view of Jaipur and its surroundings

Cultural, Local Immersion & Homestays, National Parks, Nature & Wildlife, Photography, Festivals & Special Events, Religious

Northern Greece, Albania & Macedonia: Ancient Lands of Alexander the Great

Gjirokaster, Meteora , Skopje, Thessaloniki

• Explore the picturesque hillside city set along the shores of Lake Ohrid in the Republic of Macedonia
• Visit the National History Museum
• Visit the small village of Dhoksat
• Visit a traditional Albanian village
• Explore the stunning ruins of Butrint, a UNESCO World Heritage Site

Cultural, Local Immersion & Homestays, National Parks, Nature & Wildlife

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From Siam to Saigon: Thailand & Vietnam Revealed

Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Ha Long Bay, Ho Chi Minh, Hoi An

• See the floral market at Pakklong Talad
• Visit the Royal Barge Museum
• Enjoy a tour of Bangkok
• Visit to Bangkok's oldest temple, Wat Pho
• See the colossal statue of the reclining Buddha.

Cultural, Local Immersion & Homestays, National Parks, Nature & Wildlife, Religious

Southern Africa: South Africa, Zimbabwe, Namibia and Botswana

Chobe National Park, Hwange National Park, Kruger National Park, Victoria Falls

• Travel to South Africa with experienced Trip Leaders and driver-guides
• Visit Kruger National Park for wildlife viewing
• Explore the beautiful Victoria Falls
• Stay in cozy lodges and tents, enjoying campfire by night

Local Immersion & Homestays, National Parks, Nature & Wildlife, Safari

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Overseas adventure travel (o.a.t. tours) reviews & ratings.

Policy over practical customer service. zero customer service

don't expect humanity or common sense

This letter is effectively what was communicated no less than 8 times in writing and conversation to OAT representatives up the chain, beginning 19 days before the t...

Trip of a Lifetime

Our recent Tanzanian Safari was indeed the trip of a lifetime. Saw the big 5, met the wonderful locals and spent 5 days in the Serengeti. Saw many lions, zebras, gi...

Booked for July and gave them $12,000. They talked us into early arrival and then come back to us a two months later saying we can't offer. We have to keep our airli...

My favorite OAT adventure

I went to this adventure with my sister-in-law and we had the absolute best time! Our guide were all amazing and our trip leader Martin was exceptional! My sister-i-...

We visited Panama on this trip with OAT

We visited Panama on this trip with OAT including walking through El Chorrillo neighborhood and listening to the stories of the survivors of the US invasion. We woul...

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