Small Group Travel Blog: Expert Travel Tips, Destination Guides & Tour Advice

Welcome to the Small Group Tours by The Traveling Professor travel blog, featuring expert travel tips, destination guides, cruise advice, packing suggestions, airfare strategies, and first-hand insights from more than 17 years of planning small group tours.

Our articles are written for travelers who want more than ordinary sightseeing. Whether you are planning a trip to Europe, Canada, South America, Iceland, Scotland, Ireland, Italy, France, Peru, or a luxury river cruise, our goal is to help you travel smarter, more comfortably, and with greater confidence.

Since 2009, Small Group Tours by The Traveling Professor has helped solo travelers, couples, and friends enjoy carefully planned, adults-only small group tours with quality hotels, expert local guides, thoughtful pacing, and personal service from real travel professionals who know our destinations inside and out.

Latest Travel Tips & Destination Guides

Archive by category: Norway and Iceland Destination GuideReturn

26Mar

How to Travel Europe Without Looking Like an Amateur

26 Mar, 2026 | Travel Tips, No big bus, travel smart | Austria & Bavaria Travel Guide, Norway and Iceland Destination Guide, Italy Travel Destination Guide, General Travel Tips & Advice | View Counts (119)

Traveling Europe on a big bus, eating bad food, and standing in long lines? That’s not a vacation—that’s a group project. Learn how smart travelers avoid the crowds, skip the nonsense, and actually enjoy Europe.

05Jan

Oslo on a Plate: Where We Love to Eat on Our Norway Small Group Tours

05 Jan, 2026 | Norway, Food, Oslo | Norway and Iceland Destination Guide | View Counts (347)

After years of leading Norway small group tours, we share our favorite places to eat in Oslo—from casual food halls and local street food to scenic restaurants and elegant brunch spots loved by travelers.

11Dec

2026 Will Be The Best Year to See the Northern Lights in Iceland

11 Dec, 2025 | Iceland, Northern Lights, Aurora | Norway and Iceland Destination Guide | View Counts (2269)

Learn why 2026 is the best year to see the Northern Lights in Iceland. Understand how solar maximum increases aurora activity and why small group tours offer the highest chance of witnessing this unforgettable natural phenomenon.

08Nov

7 Street Foods from Around the World

08 Nov, 2025 | street food | Austria & Bavaria Travel Guide, Canada Destination Guide, Norway and Iceland Destination Guide, Peru, Machu Picchu and the Amazon Travel Guide, Paris and France Travel Guide, Italy Travel Destination Guide, General Travel Tips & Advice | View Counts (527)

Discover the best street foods from around the world with The Traveling Professor. From hot dogs in Oslo to gelato in Rome, these culinary adventures make each small group tour even more unforgettable.

03Nov

The Perfect 3-Day Extension to a Norway Tour

03 Nov, 2025 | Norway, Alesund | Norway and Iceland Destination Guide | View Counts (503)

Discover how to spend 3 unforgettable days in Ålesund, Norway. Explore its Art Nouveau architecture, climb to Aksla viewpoint, visit the Atlantic Sea-Park, and cruise the stunning Geirangerfjord — a perfect extension to The Traveling Professor’s Norway tour.

27Oct

Best Things to Do in Oslo Norway

27 Oct, 2025 | Oslo, Norway, Oslo tour | Norway and Iceland Destination Guide | View Counts (508)

Discover the best things to do in Oslo, Norway with The Traveling Professor. Visit the Oslo Opera House, Munch Museum, Vigeland Park, and more on our Norway and the Fjords by Scenic Rail small group tour.

07Oct

4 Must-Do Scenic Norway Rail Journeys

07 Oct, 2025 | Norway, train travel, Rauma, Flamsbana, Dovre Railway | Norway and Iceland Destination Guide | View Counts (910)

See Norway like never before on scenic train journeys with The Traveling Professor. From the iconic Bergen Line to the thrilling Flåmsbana Railway, our small group tours take you through majestic mountains, fjords, and valleys—offering breathtaking views and unforgettable adventures far from the tourist crowds.

28Sep

Dates to Avoid When Planning a European Trip

28 Sep, 2025 | Public Holidays | Austria & Bavaria Travel Guide, Ireland Travel Guide, Norway and Iceland Destination Guide, Scotland Travel Guide, Paris and France Travel Guide, Italy Travel Destination Guide | View Counts (3087)

Plan your 2026 Europe trip smarter by avoiding major public holidays in Iceland, Scotland, Norway, Austria, Italy, France, and Ireland. Skip crowds, closures, and high prices with our complete holiday calendar and travel tips.

20Sep

Solar Eclipse in Iceland Itinerary

20 Sep, 2025 | Iceland, Solar Eclipse | Norway and Iceland Destination Guide | View Counts (719)

Join The Traveling Professor’s exclusive 6-day Iceland tour for the August 12, 2026 total solar eclipse. Experience Reykjavik, Thingvellir, geysers, waterfalls, the South Coast, and the Blue Lagoon—all while witnessing this rare astronomical event from the path of totality.

28Aug

3 Favorite Ferries in Norway and Denmark

28 Aug, 2025 | Norway, Ferry, Bergen, Bygdoy, Copenhagen, Oslo | Norway and Iceland Destination Guide | View Counts (2017)

Sail through Scandinavia’s stunning waterways on three unforgettable routes: Oslo’s Bygdøy ferry to top museums, the overnight Copenhagen–Oslo cruise, and Norway’s breathtaking Flåm–Bergen fjord journey. Scenic views, cultural highlights, and travel tips included.

About the Author

Professor Steve Solosky, The Traveling Professor, is the founder of Small Group Tours by The Traveling Professor, operating since 2009. A former college professor and author of The Traveling Professor’s Guide to Paris, Steve has planned and led small group tours throughout Europe, Canada, South America, and beyond. His travel expertise has been featured in The Wall Street Journal, WCBS Radio, and The New York Times Travel Show.

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