Skift Take
Harvest festivals come with narrow booking windows that could lead to possible challenges. However, private group tour guides lend themselves well to designing these experiences with a difference.
Tea leaf-picking near Tokyo with views of Japan's Mount Fuji, exploring breadfruit and banana plantations on Cook Islands in the South Pacific, or harvesting grapes in the Douro Valley in Portugal – annual harvests hold a seasonal promise for travelers who want to connect with their destination through a different, sensory experience.
At least that's the premise on which Canada headquartered ToursByLocals runs its private group harvest tours, designed by local tour guides across its networks in 187 countries.
Harvest Tours are about intimate experiences, customization, and privacy, according to tour guide Miguel Ribeiro from Portugal, who has been on the platform since 2012, having led over 800 tours, including many wine harvest tours in the Duoro Valley. Portugal is amongst the top 10 countries for bookings for ToursByLocals right now, including Japan, Spain, France, and the U.S., according to the pl