Such tours are as diverse as the outfits that sponsor them. Trips with a strong cerebral component are as far-reaching and diverse as the schools, museums, wildlife associations, and tour companies that sponsor them. . . Many scholarly trips attract an older crowd, since seniors have the interest, income, and time. . . You should also ask if the tour operator sends out reading lists or books prior to departure. The credentials of the guides are critical.
Some sponsors employ local guides and resource people to supplement American faculty escorts.
On the other hand, there are those who have traveled around a fair amount and are looking for more than just hitting a new hotel every other day. Not on you life. Well, just about the best vacation I've ever taken, and that's saying something. Part of it was our group, which was very compatible. And part of it was the opportunity to have a university professor put everything in context.