Why Good Operators Limit Group Size to 12 (Even Though Bigger Groups Are More Profitable)
Here’s a business reality that most tour operators won’t explain to you:
A 20-person cycling tour is significantly more profitable than a 10-person tour. Not twice as profitable—more than twice as profitable. The math is brutal and obvious.
Fixed costs stay roughly the same: one lead guide, one support vehicle, one route, one set of hotel bookings to manage. Variable costs increase only marginally—a few more lunches, slightly larger room blocks. But revenue doubles.
So when you see an operator capping groups at 10-12 riders instead of 20-24, you’re watching them leave money on the table. Deliberately. Repeatedly. Tour after tour.
Why would anyone do that?