Travel-Learn Program

A mysterious island nation of unsurpassed natural beauty, Japan is the centerpiece of this incredible land and sea program. Visit iconic sites from the ethereal temples, jewel box pagodas and shogun castles of Kyoto to the merchant houses of Hagi’s samurai district. Enjoy an 8-night cruise on the expedition small ship Heritage Adventurer. Author and visionary Pico Iyer will join us as guest speaker.

From the breathtaking Amalfi Coast to eternal Rome, through the gentle Umbrian and Tuscan countryside to treasured Venice, this wide-ranging 16-day small group tour showcases ancient sites, contemporary life, priceless art, and unique accommodations. Experience the storied Amalfi Coast by sea and land, visit Pompeii’s exquisite ruins, and encounter Rome’s most cherished sights. In Umbria, Italy’s “green heart,” enjoy a cooking demonstration and visit beloved Assisi. Journeying to alluring Tuscany, tour Siena, splendid Florence, and San Gimignano. Sample a local winery’s offerings before concluding your tour in wondrous Venice.

Towering basalt peaks, bubbling hot springs, emerald-green farmlands, fascinating seafaring history, world-class wine and cheese and captivating fado music—this is just some of the beauty and vitality you’ll discover as we explore the dramatically beautiful Portuguese archipelago of the Azores.

Cruise from Lisbon to London aboard a deluxe small ship and explore Portugal, Spain and France. Visit three UNESCO World Heritage sites: Porto, Santiago de Compostela and Mont-Saint-Michel. Tour Normandy’s D-Day sites with guest speaker Dwight David Eisenhower II. Tailor your journey with Traveler’s Choice excursions: medieval monuments or a port wine tasting in Porto and the Guggenheim Museum or a Basque cooking demonstration in Bilbao.

Bask in the glorious Amalfi Coast, Sicily and Malta on an exclusively chartered, 7-night, deluxe cruise brimming with picture-perfect vistas, intriguing history and tantalizing cuisine! Tour the UNESCO-inscribed ruins of Pompeii and Syracuse, plus savor the splendor of the Isle of Capri. Enjoy enriching excursions in Palermo, Taormina, Ortigia and Malta’s majestic capital city of Valletta, complemented by the expertise of local guides and lecturers. Choose to extend your stay with the Rome Pre-Tour and/or the Valletta Post-Tour extensions.

Journey along the storied Main, Rhine and Moselle rivers on a nine-night, first-class cruise that reveals the historic riches of Old-World cities and towns. Unpack once and revel in enchanting scenery, hilltop castles, and picturesque canals. Plus, choose from a variety of included personalize your journey excursions, featuring culinary tours and cultural experiences, in Nuremberg, Bamberg and Würzburg. No single supplement! words

Discover the Scottish Highlands — with their mist-shrouded peaks, verdant glens and velvet moors — from the perspective of the Caledonian Canal aboard the stylish and cozy Lord of the Glens. Immerse yourself in breathtaking scenery as your expedition ship cruises the canal and navigates passages inaccessible to larger boats. On this unforgettable voyage, step inside ancient sacred abbeys and legendary castles; experience warm, welcoming cities, and glide alongside an untamable coastline.

Join PONANT and Smithsonian Journeys for an extraordinary 8-day Baltic Sea voyage aboard the luxury small ship Le Champlain. A highlight of this journey is an exclusive onboard discussion with former Polish President and Nobel laureate Lech Wałęsa in Gdansk, offering profound insight into Poland’s path to independence. Begin in Helsinki, then sail to Tallinn’s UNESCO-listed Old Town, Stockholm’s Gamla Stan, and medieval Visby on Gotland. Explore the UNESCO-listed Curonian Peninsula from Klaipeda, experience Bornholm’s medieval charm, and conclude in Copenhagen, home to Christiansborg Palace.

Experience a total solar eclipse at sea during this exceptional 8-night tour! Stay for one night in mountain-flanked Reykjavík, then embark on a 7-night, round-trip cruise aboard the deluxe World Voyager. Encounter Greenland’s vast landscapes and dramatic Scoresby Sound. While at sea, cruise in the path of totality, an unforgettable celestial event. Then explore Iceland’s many wonders, from Vigur Island to stunning Isafjordur and the magical Snaefellsnes Peninsula. Choose to extend your stay with the Reyjavvik Pre-Tour extension.

Astonishing beauty and consummate adventure await on this wonderfully diverse 18-day Southern Africa small group journey. Explore Johannesburg’s renowned Soweto district. Staying near Zimbabwe’s spectacular Victoria Falls, embark on a “Sundowner” Zambezi cruise and a rhino safari. Enjoy a full-day safari in Botswana’s exceptional Chobe National Park. In Namibia, encounter Sossusvlei’s immense dunes and cruise along the storied Namibian coast. With four final nights in beautiful Cape Town, tour the city, the Winelands, and the Cape of Good Hope.