2024-2025 Exclusive Member Journeys
Dear Connoisseurs Travelers,
Who you travel with is as important as the destination. Registration on Exclusive Member Journeys is by invitation only to Connoisseurs, priority access members, past travelers, and their guests. We have limited the number of unique private programs we offer each year. This way, we ensure the highest quality experience for our travelers.
Exclusive Member Journeys are profound experiences. Connoisseurs members are travelers seeking a more profound sense of place, not tourists passing through. With five decades of experience, we have built strong relationships with luxurious hotels and resorts, small intimate ships, and outstanding guides. We take you behind doors others can’t pass, bypass long lines of tourists, and gain private access to places not open to the general public.
Congeniality is the key! Who you travel with is as important as the destination. You are invited to experience the magic of traveling with fellow Connoisseurs members. Participants on Exclusive Member Journeys have made connections, renewed old friendships, and become lifelong friends sharing remarkable experiences.
We invite you to join one of our Exclusive Member Journeys.
With great appreciation,
Kathryn J. Waller
President & CEO
Connoisseurs Tours
Your participation benefits the mission of historic preservation.
Connoisseurs Tours makes financial contributions to organizations advancing the mission of historic preservation and promoting appreciation for the people, places, and events that led to the formation and development of our country.
Journeys fill quickly! Most will fill from the First Access List. Please note many 2024 journeys have limited availability or are currently accepting waitlist requests.
In-depth Iceland, the Arctic, and Norway’s Breathtaking Fjords
June 7 to 21, 2024
Experience the wild and fantastic landscapes of Iceland and mystical fjords of Norway with their intriguing history and mysterious sites as we explore the most striking places on our planet. We begin in Iceland and travel the Golden Circle through the breathtaking Gullfoss waterfall, the bubbling pools, the Strokkur waterspout at Geysir, and the incredible tectonic rift at Thingvellir National Park. From Reykjavik, we sail aboard the graceful five-star S.H. Diana, a luxurious boutique expedition ship holding only 196 passengers, as we discover the world’s most beautiful fjord system, glaciers, spectacular waterfalls and the never-ending allure of the Arctic. We will explore the must see sites of Iceland including the Westfjords and Eastfjords, cross into the Arctic Circle, savor unspoiled landscapes and dramatic cliffs, and explore Norway's remote and breathtaking fjords each dotted with fairytale villages. Join us as we witness this world awakening from winter slumber, to a land of the midnight sun.
In the wake of the Odyssey: Athens to Istanbul
Sailing through Stunning and Remote Greek Islands
September 3 to 17, 2024
This phenomenal journey begins with two nights and three days with exquisite sightseeing and time for personal exploration in Athens. We’ll then sail through the beautiful must-see Greek islands and the remote gems that only small ships and yachts can reach. We again have selected the brand new S.H. Diana, an elegant and spacious 5-star accommodation for 192 guests in 96 spacious staterooms and suites. Our luxurious adventures will take a leaf from The Odyssey and Homer’s crusades on the islands. Stepping back in time, we will lose ourselves in the incredibly varied Greek islands, which harmoniously unite earth and sea, and provide every landscape to reflect this beautiful land’s history. We end with time to explore the great city of Constantinople, now known as Istanbul.
Sumptuous Malta, Private Villas of Sicily, and the Sea Cloud II
October 5 to 14, 2024
On this idyllic journey, you will experience the unparalleled millennia-old history and sumptuous beauty of Malta and the elegantly-appointed Sea Cloud II. Our journey begins with two nights at The Phoenicia, Malta’s most iconic hotel. We will explore Malta’s capital – Valletta – a golden-hued, 16th Century city that UNESCO describes as “one of the most concentrated historic areas in the world.” We will then spend seven nights aboard the luxurious Sea Cloud II, sailing through turquoise waters, slipping into rugged green harbors, and spending our days in ancient towns once centers of the Greco-Roman, Carthaginian, and Byzantine worlds. As we call at Trapani, Palermo Lipari, Taormina, and Syracuse, we'll explore key historical and archeological sites with expert guides and have privileged access to historic villas and private residences that are irresistibly grand, wildly baroque, and outrageously extravagant. We will meet with the families who have preserved these magnificent estates for generations. Our visits include Villa Tasca, the Palazzo Lanza Tomasi with the Duke and Duchess of Palma, and the Casa del Biviere with Virginia and Giangiacomo Borghese, among others.
The Rich History of Egypt and The Nile: The True Story of Lawrence of Arabia
October 25 to November 6, 2024
A visit to Egypt is a lifelong dream for many, and this luxurious journey includes unparalleled behind-the-scenes and privileged access to many of Egypt’s most legendary sites. Joined by Dr. Julian Brown and expert Egyptologists, we will explore Cairo and sail the Nile - aboard the incredible S.S. Sphinx - in a manner once reserved for queens and pharaohs. During our cruise we will learn about the lives of luminaries like T.E. Lawrence, Gertrude Bell, and of course Agatha Christie.
The Rich History of Egypt and The Nile
January 31 to February 12, 2025
A visit to Egypt is a lifelong dream for many, and this luxurious journey includes unparalleled behind-the-scenes and privileged access to many of Egypt’s most legendary sites. Joined by Dr. Julian Brown and expert Egyptologists, we will explore Cairo and sail the Nile - aboard the opulent, all-suite River Tosca - in a manner once reserved for queens and pharaohs. During our cruise we will learn about the lives of luminaries like T.E. Lawrence, Gertrude Bell, and of course Agatha Christie.
The Isle of Devils / Isle of Saints: Private Visit to Bermuda with Dr. Michael Jarvis
Most people today know Bermuda for its pink sand beaches and clear blue waters, plenty of sunshine, blue skies, and the gentle trade winds you can count on any time of year. However, the island has an even richer history as it is the oldest colony in the British Empire having celebrating its 400th anniversary in July 2012. At only 22 square miles, the island is packed with four centuries of dynamic history – a wonderful laboratory for studying the blending of European, African, and American cultures that characterize the Atlantic World. St. George’s was founded in 1612 and boasts dozens of houses built in the 17th and 18th centuries. Some of the sites we have special access to on Smith's Island are even older, dating to 1610. Dr. Michal Jarvis has invited us to join him for behind the scenes access to the most critical sites and excavations - shipwrecks and homes - many of which are not available to the public. We will spend five nights and six days exploring the rich history of Bermuda, balancing our time for personal pursuits such as sailing, golf, tennis, diving, shopping, or simply enjoying this sun-soaked isle, one of the most dynamic places on earth to relax and recharge.
You are invited to indicate your interest and be among the first to receive details when this Exclusive Member Journey opens for reservations.