There are certainly some cases where a degree of help from a tour company can make life easier; for example, travel to a country like Russia with its complex visa system can be made much simpler with the help of some pre-booked accommodation or even a tour. If you’re unsure about traveling independently, try arranging part of your trip as a tour and a relatively simple part – for example, three or four days in a well-touristed capital city – where you’ll do your own thing.