For people uncomfortable meeting others on their own, tours provide an easy environment in which to make friends right away.
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Guides create meaningful experiences —
Intrepid travelers might be able to do this on their own -- why look down on others for needing help to get there?
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Tours teach you how to travel —
The Louvre is a beautiful place ... for scam artists. Tour guides can help you spot them. Hmm. That guy look kind of sketchy to you?
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They ease worries —
Traveling alone can be a scary proposition, particularly when you haven't done it before or don't speak a local language. A tour provides a support system that allows travelers -- even experienced ones -- to feel comfortable taking a chance on new experiences.
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And get you places you can't get yourself —
While independent travel is great, many places in the world can't be accessed by solo travelers due to license and government restrictions. Many big destinations, such the Galapagos (pictured) and Antarctica, need to be explored as part of organized trips.
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Tours can be cheaper than solo travel —
In places like the Solomon Islands -- where this World War II Japanese patrol boat wreck is located -- lack of infrastructure and travel services make solo travel too expensive for many travelers.
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Tours provide safety —
By traveling with a group, you have safety in numbers and don't have to venture into unknown places without a companion.