Frequently Asked Questions
Travelling with Calder & Lawson means being part of a small group of like-minded people who enjoy shared and immersive experiences. We design and curate each tour, drawing on over 40 years of travel experience. Our annual programme is carefully developed with our guests in mind, and we’re constantly refining and improving based on feedback and what we know works well.
From the outset, we take the time to understand what you’re looking for and can assist with any additional travel before or after your tour. On tour, you’re supported by an experienced Calder & Lawson tour manager, along with knowledgeable local guides who add depth and context along the way.
We take care of the details so you can focus on enjoying the experience. If something unexpected comes up, we’re here to sort it out as quickly and efficiently as possible. Think of us as your ground crew, working behind the scenes to ensure everything runs smoothly and that your journey is special and memorable.
Our tours are designed for New Zealanders who enjoy being active and engaged when they travel, but also value the comfort, convenience, and reassurance of a well-organised small group experience.
Most of our guests are aged 60 and over. They’re curious, open-minded, and enjoy travelling with others who share similar interests. They tend to appreciate the care and thought that goes into our tours—the variety across our programme, the attention to detail, and the opportunity to see and do things that aren’t always part of a standard itinerary.
Our tours suit people who enjoy travel, are curious about the world, and want to see and experience more than they might on their own. At the same time, they value the comfort, organisation, and reassurance that comes with a small group, guided experience.
Each tour has its own pace and physical requirements, so we recommend reading the itinerary carefully to understand what’s involved. If you’re unsure, we’re very happy to talk it through with you and help you decide whether a particular tour is the right fit based on your fitness, mobility, and travel style.
We offer a range of tour styles to give you variety and choice, so you can select the experience that best matches your interests, preferred pace, and level of activity.
Across all of our tours, you can expect small groups, thoughtful planning, and the reassurance of travelling with an experienced tour manager. The difference lies in the style of travel and how each day is structured.
Discovery Tours
These are classic small group tours that focus on exploring a destination in depth. Days usually include guided sightseeing, cultural highlights, and a mix of well-known and lesser-known places. The pace is moderate, with regular activity but also time to travel comfortably between locations.
Activity level: Moderately active
Journeys
Journeys are similar in style to our Discover tours, with a strong focus on exploring a destination in depth. What sets them apart is the inclusion of a memorable travel experience—typically a train journey or small ship cruise—which becomes a highlight of the tour. These elements offer a different and often more relaxed way to see a destination, adding variety and a sense of occasion to the journey.
Activity level: Moderately active
Walking Tours
Our walking tours are designed for those who enjoy being active and exploring on foot. These tours include sustained periods of walking, often over varied terrain such as city streets, countryside paths, or trails. They are less about distance and more about spending meaningful time out and about each day.
Activity level: Quite active
Biking Tours
Biking tours offer a different way to experience a destination, travelling by bike—often e-bike—through scenic landscapes and local areas. These tours require confidence handling a bike as well as a reasonable level of stamina, with multiple days of riding at a steady pace.
Activity level: Quite active
Escapes
Escapes are our slower style of travel, centred around staying in one special place for 7–10 nights and exploring the region from there. We handpick distinctive accommodation—such as a château, boutique hotel, retreat, Spanish Parador, or even a small yacht—that becomes a key part of the experience.
Days are spent getting to know the destination through a series of thoughtfully planned excursions, balanced with time to relax and enjoy your surroundings. It’s a more settled way of travelling, with fewer hotel changes and a stronger sense of connection to the place.
Activity level: Moderately active
New Zealand Tours
Our New Zealand tours follow a similar style to our Discovery tours, with a focus on showcasing the highlights and hidden gems closer to home. They are well-paced and accessible, with a balance of sightseeing and comfortable travel.
Activity level: Moderately active
Our tours are operated with small groups, typically with a maximum of 18 travellers. This allows for a more personal experience, smoother logistics, and access to places and experiences not suited to larger groups.
Your Calder & Lawson tour manager travels with the group and is responsible for the overall coordination of the tour. They take care of the day-to-day logistics so everything runs smoothly and to plan. They are there to support the group as a whole—keeping things organised, communicating what’s happening each day, and working alongside local guides who provide in-depth knowledge of each destination.
Just as importantly, they are there for reassurance. If something unexpected comes up, they will step in to manage it and keep the tour on track. In many ways, they are the steady presence behind the scenes—making sure the details are taken care of so you can relax and focus on enjoying the experience.
Travel days are thoughtfully planned to balance movement with meaningful stops. You can expect regular breaks, interesting points of interest along the way, and a comfortable pace that avoids unnecessary rush.
Most of our tours are best suited to travellers who identify as moderately active although some tours, especially biking and walking, requiring a higher level of fitness. To help you assess your fitness level, it can be useful to think about your day-to-day routines. As a guide:
Not active
I spend most of my time relaxing – reading, watching TV, or sitting for long periods. I don’t usually go for walks or take part in regular physical activity.
Low level of activity
My days are generally relaxed. I might go out for a coffee, visit a café, or do a bit of browsing in shops, but I don’t tend to walk long distances or stay on my feet for extended periods.
Moderately active
I’m comfortable being out and about most days. I might go for regular walks, run errands on foot, or spend time sightseeing. I can be on my feet for a couple of hours at a time.
Quite active
I lead an active lifestyle and enjoy being out and moving. I’m comfortable walking for several hours in a day, handling hills, steps, and uneven surfaces, and I generally feel steady and capable.
Very active
I’m very fit and active, often exercising or walking most days. I am comfortable with longer, more physically demanding days, including sustained walking, hills, and varied terrain.
For our walking tours, it helps to think about how comfortable you are being on your feet for extended periods over varied terrain. These tours are best suited to travellers who identify as walking fit. Most of our guests fall into the quite active to very active range as per the above guide.
Key considerations for a walking tour
Walking tours are one of our more active styles of travel and typically require a higher level of fitness than our general tours.
These tours often involve:
- Spending several hours a day on your feet
- Walking on uneven surfaces such as cobblestones, gravel paths, or trails
- Managing hills, stairs, and variable terrain
- Consecutive active days with limited recovery time
You don’t need to be fast, but you do need to be comfortable walking consistently and confidently over a sustained period.
For our biking tours, fitness is only one part of the picture. Just as important is how comfortable you feel handling a bike—particularly an e-bike—safely and confidently in a variety of situations.
Not suitable at this stage
I am not confident riding a bike, or I haven’t ridden in many years. I would feel uncomfortable balancing, starting, stopping, or controlling a bike in a group setting.
Low confidence / limited experience
I can ride a bike in simple situations, but I may feel unsteady starting and stopping, unsure on turns, or hesitant in busier or unfamiliar environments. I would find it difficult to manage a heavier e-bike.
Moderately confident
I am comfortable riding a bike on cycle paths or quiet roads. I can start and stop reliably, maintain balance at low speeds, and manage gentle turns. I may have limited experience with e-bikes but feel capable of learning with guidance.
Confident and capable
I ride occasionally or regularly and feel steady and in control. I can:
- Get on and off a bike comfortably (including stepping over or through the frame)
- Maintain balance when starting, stopping, or riding slowly
- Handle wider turns and gentle hills
- Manage a heavier bike without difficulty
Very confident / experienced
I am a regular rider and feel completely at ease on a bike. I am comfortable:
- Riding for several hours in a day
- Handling an e-bike’s weight and power
- Making controlled turns, braking smoothly, and riding in varied conditions
- Adjusting quickly to an unfamiliar bike or setup
Key skills needed for a biking tours
Before joining a biking tour, you should feel confident that you can:
- Mount and dismount safely
(Step-through bikes make this easier, but some bikes may still require lifting your leg over the frame) - Balance at low speeds
(especially when starting, stopping, or riding slowly in a group) - Handle a heavier bike
(e-bikes are significantly heavier than standard bikes, affecting stability and turning) - Control speed and braking
(e-bikes accelerate more quickly and require more controlled stopping) - Manage turning and positioning
(including allowing for slightly wider turns due to weight and momentum)
Yes. Travel insurance is mandatory and must be in place before final payment.
You will be asked to complete a medical questionnaire prior to travel. If you have a pre-existing condition, you should ensure you are fit to travel and that your insurance provides appropriate cover.
Travellers must be able to travel independently or with a companion who can assist them. Tour managers are not able to provide individual physical assistance.
If you become unwell during the tour, your tour manager will support you and work to ensure the wellbeing of both you and the wider group.
If you have a cold or other respiratory illness, you may be asked to take some simple precautions, such as wearing a mask and keeping a reasonable distance from others where possible.
In most cases, you will be able to continue on the tour with the group. However, if we believe it is unsafe for you to do so, or if you require medical attention, we will help arrange the appropriate care.
We understand that managing illness in a group setting can be challenging, and decisions will always be made with the health of both the individual and the group in mind. Your cooperation and consideration for others is appreciated.
We work with local tour operators, and use our own experiences where possible, to select comfortable, well-located accommodation. Generally, we use accommodation rated at a 4- to 4.5-star standard, suited to the character of each destination.
Tour pricing is based on twin share, which means two people sharing a room.
If you prefer to have your own room, you can request a single room for an additional cost. This is known as the single supplement.
Because hotels, ships, and trains have a limited number of rooms available for single occupancy, single supplements are always subject to availability. If you are travelling on your own and are open to sharing, we can try to match you with another traveller, although this can’t be guaranteed.
If we’re unable to match you with another traveller by the final payment date, the single supplement will apply so that you have your own room. In some cases, if no single rooms are available, we may not be able to confirm your place on the tour. While we do our best to match travellers who are happy to share, this can’t be guaranteed, so it’s important to be aware of this when booking.
We will ask you to provide information about your food allergies and dietary requirements at the time of booking, and we take note of these as part of your tour arrangements.
In most cases, these can be catered for according to the information you provide. We work closely with our suppliers and restaurants and inform them of your requirements. That said, catering can vary depending on the destination and the type of venues we visit, particularly in smaller towns or more remote locations. While we do our best, we ask for your flexibility and understanding where options may be more limited. Your tour manager and/or local guide will do their best to assist with finding appropriate alternatives, if needed.
Yes, occasionally changes to the itinerary are necessary. Travel can be affected by factors such as weather, local conditions, operational issues, or safety considerations. If a change is required, we will always aim to provide a suitable alternative that maintains the overall intent and quality of the experience. Your tour manager will keep you informed and make any necessary adjustments along the way. Our approach is to manage any changes as smoothly as possible, with minimal disruption to the tour, so you can continue to enjoy the experience with confidence.
View our full terms and conditions.
Our terms & conditions cover these main points. We strongly recommend you read the terms & conditions in full. Click on the above link to go to the terms & conditions page.
Terms & Conditions – At a Glance
- $1,000 deposit required to secure your place
- Final payment due ~3–4 months before departure
- All payments are non-refundable once confirmed
- Travel insurance is mandatory
- Tours operate subject to minimum numbers
- Itineraries can change if needed for safety or local conditions
- You must be fit for the physical requirements of your tour
- Medical information is required before departure
- Pricing is based on twin share
- Single supplement applies if no share partner is available