How to Take a Tour that Traces Your Family Roots

Do you have a passion for genealogy? Have you been spending your spare time discovering lost ancestors amid the branches of your family tree? Genealogy is one of the fastest growing hobbies in the western world! And once you’ve done your research at home, many people are choosing to get out into the field and travel to the places their ancestors once lived.

Out in the world, you really get an idea of what life may have been like for past generations of your family. You can go to the towns where they lived (often still very small and rural, and far off the tourist track), look at old maps to discover where their homesteads were (and sometimes discover they are still there), visit the cemeteries where they and their immediate relatives are buried, and maybe discover old documents they signed. As we search, many of us uncover distant living relatives, and in our journeys, we can meet them too.

Many of the guides on ToursByLocals also love the thrill of the ancestor hunt! They offer customized tours to help you connect in concrete ways with long lost branches of your family tree, and can serve as translators if you meet distant relatives who speak a different language. Today we’re answering the most common questions we get on how to put together your own private genealogy tour on ToursByLocals.

How can I find the best guide for my request?

After you’ve arrived at the page with guides in your chosen destination, have a read of the guides’ detailed bios for their skills and areas of expertise, and then look at their reviews. Past travellers aren’t shy about sharing their experiences, and reading testimonials, like these ones for local guide Michael in Aalborg is a great way to get a sense of a guide’s suitability for you.

What if I don’t see a genealogy tour featured in the area I’m visiting?

These unique tours aren’t always advertised. Ask the guide of your choice to create a customised tour by clicking the orange ‘message guide’ button and writing them a request. You’ll get their response via email, along with a link to book the tour if they can deliver it.

How much notice will a guide need?

There’s no ‘set’ time but the longer the better, to allow the guide to do their own research on your ancestors in the area. You should ask your chosen guide to block the tour date in their calendar, to prevent them getting another booking request, and then the guide can unblock it when you’re ready to book. Don’t wait too long though; dates are already filling up fast this spring and summer.

How much does a genealogy tour cost?

Each guide sets their own prices, so it will vary, but be aware guides will likely factor in the time spent on researching your family in their area, not just the time spent with you on tour.

What kind of information does the guide need to research family history?

As much as possible! Names (including maiden names/alternate spellings), dates of birth, marriage, death or graduation, religious background of the family (if any) and any other relevant information you’ve uncovered in your own research. Many guides, like Renata and Christopher in Krakow will have access to ancestry databases in their country, and can gather extra information based on what you already know.

What if the guide can’t find any specific info on my family?

Since the guides on ToursByLocals are local experts, they can still offer an insightful, historical tour of the local area, like this tour by Dawn in Kent, England, covering many places that past relatives are likely to have visited. Guides like Dawn often bring along old photos of the area from days gone by, so you will still get to walk in your family’s footsteps and visualise what their lives may have been like, years ago.

Are there any ways to discover family history without visiting the location?

Yes, some guides offer Live Virtual Tours dedicated to genealogy, like this tour with Pavel in Ukraine. Check out the virtual tours page or ask customer support for assistance. They may be able to find a guide who does not always offer this service but who may be able to create one on request. Many guides find these tours extremely rewarding, offering a chance to help people forge stronger connections with their past. As Michael in Denmark says: "I get enormous joy and satisfaction from this type of tour. The happiness and emotion shown by grateful clients standing, looking, and walking in the footsteps of their forebears give me great satisfaction. To know my research on their behalf has made their journey all the more worthwhile is a wonderful reward."