With most international and group travel largely on hold during the pandemic, global tour operator G Adventures is testing a new product: domestic day tours.
The company Friday announced a One Day in Boston: Sunrise to Sunset small-group tour that starts with an early morning outdoor yoga session on the Common, includes a guided walk along the Black Heritage Trail, a bike tour into Cambridge, snacks and a history lesson in Chinatown and ends with a sunset sail on a classic schooner.
The company said the $259 day trip, currently scheduled to run Sept. 26 and Oct. 3, is designed to encourage people to explore their own backyards while supporting local businesses.
"These new local experiences give us the chance to see our own city in a new light, and to recapture the feeling of curiosity that comes with traveling," said Steve Lima, director of marketing for G Adventures in the U.S.
"Many of the businesses that we'll visit on this tour have also suffered as a result of this pandemic, so it's the perfect time to support our own while we wait patiently to be able to use our passports again."
G Adventures, whose U.S. offices are in Boston, is also offering day tours in Toronto, where the company is headquartered. Whether the offerings are expanded depends on how popular they are, a spokeswoman said.
Most of G Adventures guided trips are on hold until at least the end of October, although the company said it is running a few tours in Europe for local travelers.