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Splendours of Japan

9 Locations

13 Day Japan Tour from Tokyo to Osaka via Hiroshima

Save up to $865

East Coast USA and Canada

11 Locations

2 Countries

14 Day USA and Canada Tour starting and ending in New York

Save up to $600

Bohemian Highlights

10 Locations

5 Countries

14 Day European Tour of Germany, Poland, Hungary, Austria and Czech Republic

Save up to $400

Best of Turkey

18 Locations

14 Day Turkey Tour of Istanbul, Gallipoli, Pamukkale and Cappadocia

Save up to $704

Best of France

13 Day France and Monaco Sightseeing Tour from Paris

Save up to $749

Best of Italy

15 Locations

13-Day Italy Sightseeing Tour of Rome, Lake Como and Sorrento

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Arts & culture tours inspiration

Cultural wonders, ancient traditions & local artisans

Delve into the unique cultures of the world and get a deeper insight with your Local Specialists on our art and cultural experiences. Meet with local artisans, learn how they keep their traditions alive, and witness moving cultural performances.

Stays with incredible stories

Our cultural vacations continue on well into the night, with our unique Stays with Stories. Step back in time with a stay in the lavish 17th-century Château de Beauvois in France, sleep in a room hewn out of the surrounding ancient rock in Turkey, experience genuine Japanese hospitality at a traditional ryokan in a mountain hot springs village, or stay in an old Franciscan convent in Santa Maria degli Angeli in Italy.

Witness powerful cultural rituals

Immerse yourself in ceremonies and traditions around the world with our cultural experiences. Witness the soulful ritual of Aarti on the River Ganges in India, take part in a private blessing ceremony at Wat Damnak in Cambodia, meet a Shaman who will perform an ancient Pago a la Tierra ceremony to welcome you to Peru, or watch the Grand Entrance Dance Performance at a Black Hills Pow Wow in the USA.

Connect with locals

Our cultural trips connect you with locals who share their unique customs. Witness the revival of Khmer crafts by young artisans in Siem Reap, see the delicate craft of Venetian glassblowing on Giudecca Island, learn the art of haggling at Istanbul's Grand Bazaar, discover the spiritual connections the local Anangu caretakers have with the land at Uluru, or learn how local artisans make Japanese washi paper in Gokayama. 

The best local culture unlocked for you

Enjoy one-of-a-kind experiences and uncover local secrets when our friends across the country open their doors to you. Here’s just a sample of the rich experiences you can expect.

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Want to learn about Black Forest craft?

Want to discover folk italian weaving, want to see lusitano horses in portugal, all you need to know about arts & culture tours, what is culture heritage tourism.

Culture heritage tourism is traveling to experience authentic food, music, clothing, stories, artifacts and activities of different countries and cultures around the world. Our arts and culture tours include cultural heritage experiences like listening to Fado music in Portugal, learning how to wear a kimono in Japan, and witnessing the flamenco in Spain.

What is the art capital of the world?

Looking for the best cities in the world for art? You can’t miss the art mecca of Paris, with over 1,000 galleries including The Louvre. You also have to visit New York for its MoMa and Guggenheim, London for its Tate Modern and National Gallery, Florence for Renaissance art, Barcelona for the works of Gaudi, Amsterdam for its iconic Dutch artists, and Singapore for its futuristic exhibitions.

Which destinations are popular for arts and cultural trips?

If you’re keen on arts tours or cultural vacations, you can’t go past destinations like Kyoto in Japan, Shanghai in China, Siem Reap in Cambodia, Chiang Mai in Thailand, Hoi An in Vietnam, Wellington in New Zealand, the Northern Territory in Australia, the east coast of the USA, and European cities like Paris and Rome.

What are the top cultural trip destinations in Europe?

Our cultural tours take you to some of the top destinations in Europe where you can experience arts and cultures, including Istanbul, Vienna, Prague, Porto, Seville and of course, the cultural heavyweights like Venice, Florence and Rome of Italy and Paris and Bordeaux of France.

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Want to discover more about traditional Black Forest craftmanship?

Want to unlock the secrets of traditional Italian weaving?

Want to meet Lusitano horses in Portugal?

Our Art Vacations

Jeannette and Suzy set a new high standard of travel. I joined an ArtWalk Greece with 3 girlfriends. We left Greece with a whole new appreciation of seeing the world by traveling “at the speed of you.” They are fabulous tour leaders. They have a depth of knowledge of the local towns and sites that I have never before experienced. We always felt so well taken care of. We did a lot of walking and art-making. I am looking forward to another Blue Walk in the future!

Prescott, AZ

Travel Journal Art Vacations

Create an experience to remember.

You’ve daydreamed of this: a vacation with time each day to simply create. The destinations are beautiful. The accommodations are welcoming. All the details are taken care of. In the company of like-minded travelers you savor the wonder of the present moment. And you capture it all through your art.

Create as You Travel

Our Art Walk art vacations are the perfect tours for artists of all levels. Talented and engaging teaching artists offer daily classes inspired by stunning locations. Equal parts journey and learning, our art vacations are based on a travel journal format. Art classes are mostly on site. Some programs have “studio” time at our hotels. Space is almost always limited, so you will learn to work with what is available, being able to create wherever and however you may find yourself. Sketchbook, watercolor, collage, and multimedia workshops are all represented in our schedule.

Everyone is Welcome

Join us. Solo travelers love the easy camaraderie our tours provide. First time European travelers and budding artists love the safe, supportive, and welcoming atmosphere. The main requirements are a desire for adventure and gratitude for the opportunity to pursue it. 

Travel at the speed of you.

Stretch your legs and expand your experience.

Find a community. Receive and share inspiration.

Return home renewed, accomplished, and feeling better than ever.

Keeping an illustrated travel journal enhances your trip and opens your mind. Everything around me is fresh and beautiful because I’m drawing it, seeing it truly for the first time.    

Once you return from your trip, your mind remains full of wonder. A quick flip through your journal’s pages keeps those memories alive.  

Danny Gregory

The Art of Keeping a Travel Sketchbook

Explore Our Art Workshops & Retreats

Sketchbook Travel Journal Vacation in Greece with Koosje Koene

Sep 24-Oct 6, 2024 join Koosje Koene’s island-hopping sketchbook journal vacation in Greece.

Art Journal Workshop in Paris, France with Betsy Beier

Sep 16-23, 2024 join Betsy Beier’s art journal workshop in Paris, France. Fill your sketchbook as we walk the neighborhoods of Paris!

Watercolor Sketchbook Art Workshop in Italy

Ohn Mar Win teaches a 7-night watercolor sketchbook art workshop in Italy. We will tour the Italian Riviera and stunning Lake Como. Join us October 2024.

Art and Creativity Workshop in Italy

Join Jill Badonsky for an art and creativity workshop on the Italian Riviera in October 2024. Write, paint, and sketch for an inspired week.

Art workshop in Venice, Padua, and Parma, Italy

Oct 21-27, 2024 Anne Leuck teaches her art workshop in Venice, Padua and Parma, Italy. See Venice like a local! Taste the best of Parma!

Watercolor Workshop in Greece with Angela Fehr

April 22 – May 4, 2025

Mixed Media Art Workshop in Portugal with Tammy Gilley

March 30-April 5, 2025

Mixed Media Art Workshop in Portugal with Mary Beth Shaw

April 6-12, 2025

Art Workshop Vacation in Paris, France with Tammy Gilley

April 12-19 , 2025

Watercolor Workshop in Italy with Angela Fehr

May 5-11, 2025

Mixed Media Art Workshop in Italy with Tiffany Goff-Smith

May 11-18, 2025

Collage Travel Journal Workshop in Greece with Karen Stamper

May 20-June 1, 2025

Sketchbook Art Workshop in Portugal with Anne Leuck

June 9-15, 2025

Watercolor Journal Workshop in Spain with Ohn Mar Win

June 30 – July 6, 2025

Travel Journal Art Workshop in Spain with Julie Snidle

Sep 8-14, 2025

Sketchbook Art Workshop in Spain with Koosje Koene

Sep 14-20, 2025

Mixed Media Art Workshop in Sicily, Italy with Mary Beth Shaw

Oct 19-Nov 1, 2025 (Coming Soon)

Art Workshop in Spain: Barcelona and Costa Brava

Join artist Mary Beth Shaw for a mixed media art workshop in Spain September 2024. Get inspired and renewed in Barcelona and Costa Brava.

Mixed Media Art Workshop Vacation in Nice, France

Join Tammy Gilley for a mixed media art workshop in Nice, France June 2-8, 2024. Follow in the footsteps of the Matisse, Monet, and Van Gogh.

Mixed Media Art Workshop in Switzerland

Join Mary Beth Shaw on her mixed media art workshop in Switzerland June 2024.

Art Vacations Schedule

This is a list of our public art vacations. The Blue Walk offers private and custom small group tours in addition to our advertised tours. 

There is a separate Blue Walk schedule for our walking vacations. 

2024 Art Vacation Workshops

• April 14-21: Collage journal with Karen Stamper on the Italian Riviera and Lake Como, Italy (7 nights) from $3795 (1 space available)
• May 14-26: Watercolor with Angela Fehr in Greece (12 nights) from $4595 SOLD OUT (waiting list available)
• Jun 2-8: Mixed media with Tammy Gilley on the French Riviera (6 nights) from $3495 SOLD OUT (waiting list available)
• Jun 9-16: Mixed media with Mary Beth Shaw in Switzerland (7 nights) from $4845  (1 space available)
• September 7-14: Mixed media with Mary Beth Shaw in Spain (7 nights) from $3695 SOLD OUT (waiting list available)
• September 16-23: Sketchbook journal with Betsy Beier in Paris, France (7 nights) from $4295
• September 24-October 6: Sketchbook journal with Koosje Koene in Greece (12 nights) SOLD OUT (waiting list available)
• October 7-14: Sketchbook journal with Ohn Mar Win on the Italian Riviera and Lake Como (7 nights) from $3795 SOLD OUT (waiting list available)
• October 14-20: Art and Creativity workshop with Jill Badonsky on the Italian Riviera (6 nights) from $3595 SOLD OUT (waiting list available)
• October 21-27: Sketchbook journal with Anne Leuck in Venice and Parma, Italy (6 nights) from ($3745)

2025 Art Vacation Workshops

• March 30-April 5: Mixed Media Workshop Vacation in Portugal with Tammy Gilley (6 nights) from $3495
• April 6-12: Mixed Media Art Workshop in Portugal with Mary Beth Shaw (6 nights) from $3395
• April 12-19: Art Workshop Vacation in Paris, France with Tammy Gilley (7 nights) from $3995
• April 22 - May 4: Watercolor workshop with Angela Fehr in Greece (12 nights) from $4745
• May 5-11: Watercolor workshop in Italy with Angela Fehr (6 nights) from $3445
• May 11-18: Mixed media art workshop in Italy with Tiffany Goff-Smith (7 nights) from $3795
• May 20 - June 1: Collage Travel Journal Workshop in Greece with Karen Stamper (12 nights) from $4745
• June 9 - 15: S ketchbook Workshop in Portugal with Anne Leuck (6 nights) from $3495
• June 30 - July 6: Watercolor journal workshop in Spain with Ohn Mar Win (6 nights) from $3595
• September 8-14: Travel Journal Art Workshop in Spain with Julie Snidle (6 nights) from $3445 
• September 14-20: sketchbook workshop in Spain with Koosje Koene (6 nights) from $3445
• Oct 21 - Nov 1: Mixed Media Art Workshop in Sicily, Italy with Mary Beth Shaw (11 nights) Details coming soon. Join interest list.

Book a Private Walking Tour or Art Vacation

Travel with your own tribe! Friends, family or colleagues with groups from 8-20 can reserve private tours. Special pricing or tour leader rates availble. We will work with you to reserve the best itinerary and dates for your own amazing tour.

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Art Lover's Tour of Europe - Italy, Switzerland, France, Netherlands

Grand history tour of europe - france, germany, czech republic, scientific marvels of europe - italy, switzerland, france, england.

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Day 1: Welcome to Rome

Welcome to Rome! On arrival you are met by your Travel Director and transferred to your accommodation. (D)

Day 2: Rome Sightseeing

This morning, visit the Vatican Museum with a Local Expert. Admire the papal art collection and enter the Sistine Chapel and admire Michelangelo’s masterpiece on its ceiling. Next door, in St Peter’s Basilica, see one of Michelangelo’s early works, the Pieta, and the splendid dome, completed after his death. Afterwards, visit the Colosseum, where the gladiators prepared for battle. (B, RD)

Day 3: Tuscan Hills onto Florence

Journey through the picturesque Tuscan Hills towards Florence. On arrival, join a local art historian to see Michelangelo’s David in the Accademia Museum. (B, D)

Day 4: Renaissance Florence

This morning, see the multi-coloured marble cathedral, bell tower and baptistery, adorned by Ghiberti’s ‘Gates of Paradise’. Then join a Local Expert for a visit to the Uffizi Galleries, one of the oldest and most famous art museums in Europe. You'll also enjoy works by Michelangelo, Botticelli and Raphael, among other masterpieces. (B, RD)

Day 5: Leaning Tower of Pisa & Milan

Stop first in Pisa to see the incredible Leaning Tower, as well as its splendid cathedral and baptistery. Continue north to the financial and fashion capital Milan. (B, D)

Day 6: Experience Milan

This morning, visit the Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie with a Local Expert. It is an outstanding work of architecture and an emblem within the Catholic tradition, and is perhaps even more famous for its connection to Leonardo Da Vinci’s fresco of ‘The Last Supper’, which is preserved inside its refectory (dining hall). The Church is one of Renaissance art’s most important testimonies and has therefore been included as a UNESCO World Heritage Site (tickets to the Last Supper are subject to availability).  Later, for a change of pace, we embark on an alternative visit to Milan to see urban graffiti, murals and street art scattered around the city. Get a glimpse of an alternative Milan, meet colourful characters, learn about modern-day Milan and be inspired by the vibrancy of city life.  (B, D)

Day 7: Milan to Basel

Travel across the border into Switzerland. En route, we stop for a cheese or chocolate tasting before heading to Basel. (B, D)

Day 8: Basel Sightseeing

Explore Basel, with a Local Expert, concluding with a visit to Foundation Beyeler In 1997, the famous collection of Ernst and Hildy Beyeler in Riehen. The collection contains around 200 pictures and sculptures, including works by Cézanne, Picasso, Rousseau, Mondrian, Klee, Ernst, Matisse and Newman.  Famous around the world, the astounding temporary exhibitions are highlights of your visit. (B, D)

Day 9: Basel to Paris

Travel through the French countryside to Paris. (B, D)

Day 10: Best of Paris

After an orientation tour, visit one of the world's best-known art collections at the Louvre Museum. A specialist art historian guides you through the galleries to see the Venus de Milo, Winged Victory, Mona Lisa and more (Louvre visit subject to availability). Continue on a visit to the Notre Dame Cathedral, famously protected by its roof-top gargoyles, to learn about over-arching Parisian history. This evening, embark on an illuminations journey in Paris to see iconic sights at night. (B, HD)

Day 11: Musee De L’orangerie & Giverney

This morning, visit the Musée de l'Orangerie, an art gallery of impressionist and post-impressionist paintings. Though most famous for being the permanent home of eight Water Lilies murals by Claude Monet, the museum also contains works by Paul Cézanne, Henri Matisse, Amedeo Modigliani, Pablo Picasso, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Henri Rousseau, Alfred Sisley, Chaim Soutine, and Maurice Utrillo, among others. Afterwards, we head to Monet’s garden in Giverney to see the inspiration of some of his most famous works before heading back to Paris. (BB, D)

Day 12: Paris to Amsterdam

Travel through northern France and Belgium en route to Amsterdam. (BB, D)

Day 13: Amsterdam Galleries – Rijksmuseum & Vincent van Gogh Museum

Admire world-famous masterpieces in the Rijksmuseum, which has on display 8,000 objects of art and history. There is a total collection of 1 million objects, spanning the years 1200–2000AD, among which are masterpieces by Rembrandt, Frans Hals, and Johannes Vermeer. Then onto the Vincent van Gogh Museum, which is dedicated to the works of Vincent van Gogh and his contemporaries in Amsterdam. The museum is home to the largest collection of Vincent van Gogh's paintings and drawings in the world.  This evening, enjoy a canal cruise dinner to bid farewell to our time in Europe. (B, FD)

Day 14: Farewell Amsterdam

Your tour concludes after breakfast with a transfer to the airport for your onward flight. (B)

Day 1: Welcome to Paris

Welcome to Paris! On arrival at Charles De Gaulle airport you will be met by your Travel Director and transferred to your hotel.

Day 2: Paris From a History Perspective

Learn about the significance of the French Revolution and visit key sites such as Place de la Bastille, Les Invalides War Museum, the Conciergerie and Place de la Concorde. In the evening enjoy a walk along the Champs-Elysees, followed by a cruise along the River Seine. (BB)

Day 3: Disneyland in Paris

Spend the day at Disneyland Paris. Included in your tour is a full-day, one-park pass to either Disneyland Park or Disney Studio Park. (BB)

Day 4: Versailles & D-Day Memorial

Travel this morning to Versailles and visit the Palace of Versailles to see its opulent rooms and gardens. Experience the extraordinary Hall of Mirrors where the historic Treaty of Versailles was signed, ending World War I.  Continue to Arromanches and visit the D-Day Memorial. It’s then onto Bayeux for our overnight stay. (BB, D)

Day 5: Battle of the Somme

Today we visit Amiens and the nearby Somme Battlefields, where some of the most intense fighting took place during World War I. More than 3 million men fought in this battle with1 million wounded or killed. We visit some of the many interesting memorials and museums dedicated to the fallen. Our overnight stay is in Amiens.  (BB, D)

Day 6: The Lost Territories - Strasbourg

We travel to Verdum where you will visit the Verdum Battlefields and War Memorial.  Our journey continues to Strasbourg, on the border of Germany, for our overnight stay. (BB)

Day 7: Strasbourg to Colmar

In the morning travel to Colmar where you will enjoy a boat tour in the canal quarter, followed by a walking tour around Petite Venise and the historic centre. From Colmar, continue to Riquewihr for a walking tour in the town.  We then visit Chateau du Haut-Koenigsbourg for a visit to the castle, before arriving back in Strasbourg for our overnight stay. (BB)

Day 8: Europa Park & Friedrichshafen

Spend the day at the Europa Park, one of the best theme parks in Europe. This evening we overnight in Friedrichshafen. (BB, D)

Day 9: Meersburg Castle onto Munich

Begin your morning with a walk up to Meersburg Castle. We then make our way to the well-known Neuschwanstein for a tour to the castle and a horse-carriage ride down the mountain. Then it’s onto Munich where a Local Expert will take you on a walking tour in the city centre, including key sites related to Hitler’s time in Munich and the Third Reich. Finally we visit the Nazi Documentation Centre. (BB)

Day 10: Eagle’s Nest & Obersalzburg

A short drive out of Munich, visit Hitler’s former retreat, known as the Eagle’s Nest. Afterwards, stop for lunch at Obersalzburg (own expense) and continue to the Konigsee for a boat tour on the Lake and a chance to swim in Lake Chiemsee. Return to Munich for your overnight stay. (BB)

Day 11: Dachau & Rothenburg

We start the day with a tour to the Munich Residenz Museum. It is then onto Dachau for a sobering visit to the concentration camp. Our overnight stay is in Rothenburg ob der Tauber. (BB)

Day 12: Explore Medieval Rothenburg

Rothenburg was regarded by the Nazis as the most “German” of German towns. Visit the Museum of Torture, explore the medieval city and battlements, and join a Nightwatchman tour. (BB)

Day 13: Nazi History in Nuremberg

We depart Rothenburg and continue to Nuremburg in the morning. On arrival, join a Local Expert for a tour to city centre. Walk up to the Kaiserburg Castle, visit the Nazi parade grounds and the Albert Speer Documentation Centre to bring to life the history of Hitler’s rise to power. In the afternoon, visit the Palace of Justice and Courtroom 600, the location of the Nuremburg Nazi trials. (BB)

Day 14: Onto Magical Prague

This morning travel to Prague, the capital of the Czech Republic. On arrival, join your Travel Director for an orientation tour of the old town centre, including the town square, St Nicholas Church and Tyn Church. Afterwards visit Prague Castle and walk to Charles Bridge. (BB)

Day 15: Museum visits in Prague

Visit The Prague Communism Museum, Jewish Museum and the Kepler Museum today. (BB)

Day 16: Military History in Dresden

In the morning we travel to Dresden where we join a Local Expert for a tour of the Dresden’s Zwinger Palace, the Bundeswehr Military History Museum, the Dresden Armoury and Frauenkirche. (BB)

Day 17: Tropical Islands Water Park

Depart Dresden and spend the day at the Tropical Islands Water theme park. (BB)

Day 18: Berlin Sightseeing

Tour to Berlin starts with a visit to the ‘Story of Berlin’ Museum to provide an overview of the city’s tumultuous history. Your journey with a Local Expert includes the Brandenburg Gate, the Reichstag, Checkpoint Charlie, sections of the Berlin Wall and Alexanderplatz. Visit also the Zeppelin Field and the Jewish Museum, the German Resistance Memorial Centre and the Holocaust Memorial. (BB)

Day 19: Farewell Berlin

On our final morning we visit the Wansee Haus Museum and Documentation Centre of the “Final Solution”. Later, explore the DDR Museum to learn about life under communist rule after the end of World War II. We bid farewell to Berlin and make our way to the airport for flights home. (BB)

Day 1: Welcome to Florence

Welcome to Italy! On arrival at Bologna airport, you will be met by your Travel Director and driver. We continue to our hotel in Florence where you’ll have time to settle in, before enjoying a welcome dinner at the hotel. (WD)

Day 2: Discover Florence

After a restful night’s sleep and breakfast at the hotel, we visit the Basilica di Santa Croce and Museo Galileo, home to the only surviving instruments designed and built by Galileo himself. The remainder of the day is free for you to explore Florence. (BB)

Day 3: Florence at your Leisure

Enjoy a day at leisure. Explore captivating Florence at your own pace or join your Travel Director for a day tour to Vallombrosa to see the Monastery where Galileo studied. (Guided tours only available in July & August). (BB)

Day 4: Bologna to Padua

After breakfast at your hotel, spend the morning at leisure. In the afternoon, we drive through Bologna to Padua where you’ll enjoy a local 3-course dinner alongside a guest lecturer from the Padua University. (Lecturer organised by MTG.)  (BB, HD)

Day 5: Padua to Venice

Today we visit the Il Bo University, the second oldest university in Italy, for a guided tour. The afternoon is free for you to visit the Botanical gardens and St Anthony Basilica. Later in the afternoon, we continue to our hotel, situated in Mestre Venice, where we will stay for 2 nights. (BB)

Day 6: Romantic Venice at your Leisure

After breakfast, the rest of the day is yours to explore romantic Venice at leisure. (BB)

Day 7: Onto Swiss Geneva

Les Nations Hotel After a restful night’s sleep, we cross the border to Switzerland. On arrival into Geneva enjoy a late afternoon cruise on Lake Geneva.   Afterwards we check into our hotel. (BB)

Day 8: Nuclear Science in Cern & Geneva Exploration

After breakfast we travel to CERN (subject to availability) to visit the European Organisation for Nuclear Research and see the Large Hadron Collider, the world’s largest and most powerful particle accelerator. The remainder of the day is free to explore the city of Geneva. (BB)

Day 9: Geneva to Paris

Enjoy a delightful drive through the French countryside, as we make our way to Paris. On arrival you are free to relax or explore the city of love on your own. Gather for dinner at the hotel, during which you’ll enjoy the company of a guest speaker from the Marie Curie Museum. (Lecturer organised by MTG.) (BB, D)

Day 10: Gardens of Paris

Visit the Botanical Gardens in the morning. Here you will discover the Alpine Gardens, which contain 2000 mountain plants from all over the world. Wander through the rose garden, the iris garden and the Botany School's Garden, where 4500 species are labelled and regrouped by families. (BB)

Day 11: Arts & Metier Museum in Paris

Take time to visit the Arts and Metier Museum and spend the rest of the day at leisure to explore the wonderful city of Paris. (BB)

Day 12: Science in Paris

After breakfast in the morning, visit the Marie Curie Museum. Completely re-designed, the Museum reveals the life and times of a family of unusual physicists and their huge contribution to science. The rest of the day is at leisure. (BB)

Day 13: Paris at your Leisure

Enjoy a day at leisure to explore the city of Paris. (BB)

Day 14: Eurostar to London

Bid farewell to Paris today, as we travel by Eurostar to London. On arrival we will be met and transferred to a local pub for lunch. We’ll then check into our hotel and you’ll have the rest of the day to enjoy at leisure. (BB, L)

Day 15: Day Tour to Kent

Today we travel to Kent to visit the Down House, the home of Charles Darwin, before returning to our London hotel. (BB)

Day 16: Scientific Marvels of London

Enjoy a full day of sightseeing, including a visit to the Royal Observatory, Flamsteed, Meridian Courtyard and Maritime Museum, and a cruise on the River Thames. The remainder of the day is at leisure. (BB)

Day 17: Royal Society & Faraday Museum in London

This morning we visit the Royal Society followed by a visit to the Faraday Museum at the Royal Institution.  Lunch is served at a local restaurant. (BB, L)

Day 18: Westminster & Science Museum in London

We spend the morning visiting Westminster Abbey and the afternoon exploring the Science Museum in Kensington. (BB)

Day 19: Discover Cambridge

After breakfast, we continue to the university town of Cambridge for a 2-night stop. Enjoy a private walking exploration of the town including a visit to Trinity College – the largest of the Cambridge Colleges. (BB)

Day 20: Cambridge at your Leisure

Today is yours to explore at leisure.  We meet again in the evening to celebrate the end of our tour with a farewell dinner at our hotel. (BB, D)

Day 21: Farewell from London

Our science tour has come to an end. Transfer from Cambridge to the London Heathrow Airport for your flight home. (BB)

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Luxury art travel experiences

Travel the world on intimate journeys curated through the lens of art

Experience an insider's view through artists' studios, museums, galleries, and collectors' homes 

Build your art collection with the help of a skilled team

Make a difference by supporting art's impact on the world

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Bespoke or Museum Trip

Artful fog design+art, la frieze prequel, santa fe: indigenous to contemporary, a pilgrimage to marfa, the home of american art, the center of the art world, america's museum redefined, contemporary art in london, contemporary art in paris, art in the hamptons, art in the hudson valley, land art in the american west, art basel in miami beach, unlock a world of art experiences, featured jaunt: washington d.c..

Spend a day experiencing magical Glenstone, one of the most exciting new private museums in the world. Located in Potomac, Maryland, 15 miles from downtown Washington, D.C. and set on 230 acres, Glenstone, designed by architect Charles Gwathmey, is renowned for its idyllic architectural spaces and important collection— 1,300 works by some of the most significant postwar artists from around the world. Developed and financed by billionaire American businessman Mitchell Rales and curated by his wife Emily Wei Rales, Glenstone—which collects artists in-depth and will only purchase work after an artist has been exhibiting for 15 years—has been compared to historic U.S. private museums such as the Frick Collection and the Phillips Collection. During your time in D.C., you will also visit major museum exhibitions of the moment, as well as new galleries and collectors' homes.

Space is extremely limited (8-10 people).

A unique blend of art, travel, and philanthropy

Unique itineraries

Enriching experiences

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Artful impact.

Now more than ever, art matters. Artful Impact was established to help amplify art's philanthropic influence on our communities. Our charitable efforts directly support artists, museums, public installations, art education, as well as social justice and sustainability issues. We donate a third of the revenue generated from art purchased on a jaunt to the Artful Impact Fund. Please take a moment to learn about some meaningful charities. We think you will agree they are making a significant difference.

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The long-awaited fifth edition of the triennial, delayed by the pandemic and a hurricane, finds artists reflecting on the nation’s past while coping with current-day catastrophes.

Mariane Ibrahim on Her New Paris Gallery and Why the City is the Next Cultural Capital

The French-Somali art dealer, whose space in Chicago has been an influential showcase for artists from the African diaspora, has just opened a new branch in a rising Paris art district.

Ei Arakawa on Post-Pandemic “Performance Anxiety” and Artists’ Mental Health

The influential performance artist speaks to Artful about his new show at Artists Space in New York, inspired by the advocacy of the tennis player Naomi Osaka and the architecture of New York City’s outdoor dining structures.

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10 Great Travel Destinations for Art Lovers

From a japanese art island to a creative colony among ancient olive groves in israel, these are the global art towns, big and small, we’d happily visit..

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Art meets nature at Brazil’s Instituto Inhotim, home to one of the largest collections of contemporary art in the country.

Photo by Brendon Campos

New York, London, Paris, Berlin, Los Angeles, Florence, Miami Beach, Hong Kong, São Paulo—these cities are all home to blockbuster art markets, creative superstars, and museums as famous as the works they house. We love these places, but we also love art destinations outside of the art-world orbit: places with an air of mystery, a whiff of a pilgrimage, a winking nonconformity, a love of experimentation, and a tight-knit sense of community.

Read on for 10 great destinations, big and small, art lovers should bookmark for their next vacation.

‘Your Rainbow Panorama’ tops the AroS Art Museum in Aarhus, Denmark.

Photo by Shutterstock

Aarhus, Denmark

In the heart of Aarhus, Denmark’s second-largest city and one of its oldest (dating to the 8th century), a colossal rainbow ring rises above the city. This is artist Olafur Eliasson’s installation, Your Rainbow Panorama, a walkway circling and capping the ARoS Art Museum, itself a jewel among Aarhus’s many cultural institutions. The museum is home to another art colossus, the crouching Boy sculpture by Australian artist Ron Mueck, and it hosts collections of Danish art from the 18 th century to today, as well as the work of international artists. Art lovers can wander among pieces by London-based, British-Palestinian Mona Hatoum, known for her probing and glowing installations; Japanese photographer Miwa Yanagi; and New York–based Tony Oursler, who has been innovating video and installation art since the 1970s.

In Aarhus, self-dubbed “Smilets By” (Danish for “City of Smiles”) and the “World’s Smallest Big City,” ARoS is just a jumping-off point for a smørrebrød (smorgasbord) of art destinations and happenings. Spiral out from the museum and see the city’s famous modern architecture, such as The Iceberg , a seaside apartment building that lives up to its name, and the grass-covered Moesgaard Museum . We love Charlotte Fogh Gallery , a Danish and international contemporary art gallery; the Højkant art collective and design shop full of cheeky creations; and the intimate PS Art Gallery and studio in a green, half-timbered, 17th-century home in the city’s Latin Quarter.

Juxtapose all this contemporary art and design with Den Gamle By (The Old Town), an open-air folk museum comprised of 75 historic buildings relocated from across Denmark, cobbled streets, and Danes dressed in period clothing baking bread and chopping wood. You can eat an actual smørrebrød here, as well as fried fish and frikadeller (Danish meatballs).

Chris Burden’s ‘Beam Drop’ (2008) was re-created at Inhotim; the original work was on display in New York in 1984.

Brumadinho, Brazil

Brumadinho is home to the Xanadu of the art world: the Instituto Inhotim , a contemporary art museum and sculpture park in a 346-acre private botanical garden founded by mining magnate and art patron Bernardo de Mello Paz.

Celebrating 15 years in 2021, the institute is one of the largest outdoor art spaces in the world, placing hundreds of giants of the art world alongside thousands of giants of the plant world, from octopus agave to ponytail palm and swamp cypress. The garden hosts more than 700 works by 60 artists, including Brazil’s own beloved boundary-defying Hélio Oiticica. As Oiticica intended, visitors can walk through his Magic Square #5 (1977), a colorful abstracted “public plaza” built of cement, glass, and stone. You could spend weeks wandering the grounds, a crash course in modern and contemporary large-scale art, studying the likes of Elisa Bracher’s eucalyptus and cedar wood Embrionário , going tête-à-tête with Paul McCarthy’s Pinocchio Block Head , gazing through Olafur Eliasson’s mirrored Viewing Machine, and falling in love with your own reflection at Yayoi Kusama’s Narcissus Garden Inhotim, 750 stainless steel orbs bobbing in a reflecting pool.

While the garden is the main draw, Instituto Inhotim has many noteworthy pieces in its indoor gallery as well, such as the blue-and-white tile room Celacanto provoca maremoto by Adriana Varejão , the sci-fi-inspired plant and mirror maze structure Vegetation Room Inhotim by Cristina Iglesias , and the enforested glass geodesic dome by Matthew Barney .

There are several places to eat across the sculpture park and the institute has many recommendations for nearby lodging, including Villa Rica , decorated with local art, or Villa Domaso , surrounded by lush nature.

Zeitz MOCAA has become a destination unto itself in Cape Town, South Africa.

Photo by Kiev.Victor/Shutterstock

Cape Town, South Africa

Rising from the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront, with Table Mountain as a backdrop, is the world’s largest museum devoted to contemporary African art: the Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa , commonly known as Zeitz MOCAA. First things first, the museum itself is a marvel , a towering structure revamped from the historic Grain Silo Complex with an interior that looks like an abstracted concrete-and-glass honeycomb.

Zeitz MOCAA is home to works by some of the continent’s leading artists such as Athi-Patra Ruga and Mary Sibande of South Africa, Njideka Akunyili Crosby of Nigeria, Ghada Amer of Egypt, and Nandipha Mntambo of Swaziland. The permanent collection also includes works by artists of the African Diaspora, like Kehinde Wiley and Frohawk Two Feathers, both of the U.S.

But Cape Town was an artist’s haven long before the arrival of MOCAA in 2017. The Woodstock neighborhood alone, with its pink town hall, is home to several renowned galleries dedicated to contemporary African artists including SMAC , Goodman Gallery , Stevenson Gallery (all of which have sister galleries in another top South African art destination, Johannesburg).

Cape Town is also delightfully crowded with public art, such as Es Devlin’s installation Zoetrope at the Waterfront and Arch for Arch, a woven wooden structure next to St. George’s Cathedral that honors Archbishop Desmond Tutu. The organization Baz Art hosts the annual International Public Art Festival , which in 2021 focused on painting murals in the Salt River neighborhood . There are also several art road trips worth taking from the Cape. Drive inland through mountainous wine country (many of the vineyards you’ll pass have their own fantastic art collections) to Stellenbosch, an oak-lined university town packed with art studios and the awe-inspiring Dylan Lewis Sculpture Garden .

Mismatched pastel buildings that look like scoops of gelato along the water in Collioure, France.

Photo by Pani Garmyder/Shutterstock

Collioure, France

Legend has it that Henri Matisse said the quality of light is just different— magical —in Collioure, a laidback and ancient fishing town on the French Mediterranean 15 miles from Spain. Matisse and André Derain would summer here and become the first fauves (French for “wild beasts”), leaders of fauvism, the early 19th-century art movement known for its bold colors and brushstrokes, an unruly descendent of Impressionism. Matisse’s famous Open Window (1905) and Derain’s Fishing Boats (1905) were painted here, among many more fauvist works.

Collioure’s very petit harbor still captures the brilliant sunlight, bouncing off a 13 th -century castle and fortress and layers of mismatched pastel buildings that look like scoops of gelato along the water. Visitors can see the town through the artists’ perspectives along the Chemin du Fauvism, which features both empty bronze frames that outline the views of their most famous canvases, as well as reproductions. The Maison du Fauvism offers guided tours.

Keep cool with an actual scoop of gelato—countless gelaterias line the streets and try a bite of Catalan fare at Le Neptune overlooking the bay or the Templiers restaurant and hotel, a cozy spot with a bar made from a ship hull and walls lined salon-style with paintings.

Bronze sculptures by the residents of Ein Hod, Israel, dot the surrounding landscape.

Photo by Leonid Radashkovsky/Shutterstock

Ein Hod, Israel

Within hilly olive groves, tucked between the Mediterranean sea and Mount Carmel, is Ein Hod , a small artist colony established in 1953 by artist Marcel Janco , one of the founders of the avant-garde dada movement, which formed in reaction to World War I. Legend has it that Janco toured Israel, sketchbook in hand, and stumbled across the then-abandoned village and found it could be the perfect refuge for artists.

Today Ein Hod , 12 miles south of Haifa, has about 650 residents—mostly painters, sculptors, jewelers, architects, and artisans—and the landscape is dotted with their handiwork: outdoor bronze sculptures (look for Couple in a Sardine Can by Ben Levy), murals, studios, galleries, and workshops that offer classes for visitors. See the abstract colorations of Miriam-Ruth Sernoff Frohlich at the Sernoff-Frohlich Gallery Of Fine Art , the soulful book art of Nechama Levendel at the Karoyan Gallery , and the work of many locals under one roof at the Artists Gallery Ein Hod .

This tiny bohemian enclave is also home to two museums, the Nisco Museum of Mechanical Music and the Janco-Dada Museum , created in 1983 to honor the work and vision of the colony’s founder. This museum features the restored stone-arch studio of Janco and the DadaLab , where museumgoers can try their own hand at creating the absurdist, convention-defying art that defined this movement. Since 1990, Ein Hod has hosted an international Sculpture Biennale , inviting artists to install large-scale works outside amid ancient olive trees.

You can eat with the locals in one of the village’s classic stone buildings at Café Ein Hold. While larger hotels are available in nearby Haifa, Ein Hod itself offers a handful of quaint and eclectic apartments for rent, many with views of the Mediterranean.

Hobart’s Museum of Old and New Art is

Photo by C. de la Cruz/Shutterstock

Hobart, Tasmania

Looking out from the Berriedale peninsula onto the River Derwent is the Museum of Old and New Art (MONA), or as founder—businessman, art collector, and high-stakes gambler David Walsh—calls it: a subversive adult Disneyland.

MONA is as irreverent as its benefactor, its website describing the museum’s everchanging identity as a “really elaborate marketing stunt” and “somewhere people can come to say ‘not sure about the art but the architecture is amazing.’”

And many are not sure about the art : MONA has the work of some of the biggest shock jocks of the art world: Hermann Nitsch’s bloody 6-Day-Play videos and Wim Delvoye’s stinking waste machine that is Cloaca Professional, to name a few.

Regardless of your take, the museum has helped put Hobart’s art scene on the map, bringing deserved attention to other art spaces like the Art Mob , which specializes in Tasmanian and Australian aboriginal art by the likes of Queenie McKenzie and Dennis Nona. Across the harbor are the contemporary fine art Despard and Handmark galleries, the latter of which is part of the bustling Salamanca Arts Centre , a transformed warehouse space home to several galleries and exhibition spaces, a theater, and the jewelry and metal collective Hammer & Hand , as well as public art such as We Are Made of Stardust by Michaela Gleave and Escape Pod by Colin Langridge. Stay in the neighborhood at the Henry Jones Art Hotel , which features contemporary art by Tasmanian artists in its rooms.

Kilns have been firing in this hilly city of Jingdezhen, China, known as the “Porcelain Capital of the World.”

Photo by CYSUN/Shutterstock

Jingdezhen, China

Leading ceramics artists and students worldwide travel to Jingdezhen, China, the “Porcelain Capital of the World,” where the ruins of ancient kilns meet contemporary factories and galleries. For more than 1,700 years and many imperial reigns, kilns have been firing in this hilly city of Jiangxi province along the Chang River, where ceramic masters have innovated technologies to produce the most coveted china, such as the emblematic blue and white pottery developed during the Ming Dynasty.

The stunning Jingdezhen Imperial Kiln Museum —shaped like ancient kilns in red brick, and the Jingdezhen Ceramic Industry Heritage Museum , help put the expansive history of this art industry in context. The industry, however, is alive and well today, cultivating the next generation of ceramicists at the renowned Jingdezhen Ceramic Institute and employing 30,000 people at outfits like the Porcelain Sculpture Factory in the Eastern suburbs or in the nearby Sanbao International Porcelain Art Village filled with artist studios and workshops. The Pottery Workshop , run by artist and curator Caroline Cheng , is an education center and hub for young artists in Jingdezhen, known as jingpiao . Every Saturday morning, the jingpiao sell their wares—traditional pottery, jewelry, contemporary art—at the Pottery Workshop Creative Market .

Countless ceramic artists and designers have their practices in the city such as Cheng herself, plus Wan Liya , Juz Kitson , Lin Wang , Robin Best , and Ryan LaBar . Walk down the Taoxichuan, known as the Ceramic Art Avenue, to peak into studios, galleries, and markets, and try some classic Jiangxi fare such as Lushan San Shi and fish banquets. The Fairfield by Marriot Jingdezhen hotel is near many of these attractions, and there are a handful of gorgeous Airbnb options .

An art lover’s trip to Japan has to include Naoshima in the Seto Inland Sea.

Photo by N_FUJITA/Shutterstock

Naoshima, Japan

There is a string of tiny flecks of land in the Seto Inland Sea that are teaming with museums, architectural marvels, and art installations. Naoshima, commonly referred to as Japan’s art island, home of the Benesse Art Site , leads the pack. Here, massive sculptures such as Lee Ufan’s Porte vers l’infini (2019) and Beatriz Millhaze’s Yellow Flower Dream (2018) dot the landscape creating a fine art playground. (Until recently, one of Yayoi Kusama’s massive pumpkin sculptures sat on a pier before a typhoon swept it out to sea . Benesse Art Site is in the process of restoring it.)

Then there are the museums and galleries: the mind-bending subterranean Chichu Art Museum designed by architect Tadao Ando housing works by Claude Monet and James Turrell; the Benesse House Museum , which melds a hotel and exhibition space with nature (with a restaurant serving kaiseki meals that rival the art for presentation); the kooky art facility Naoshima Bath where—you guessed it—visitors can take a bath surrounded by the artwork of Shinro Ohtake; and the Miyanoura Gallery 6 in the site of a former pachinko parlor once popular with islanders.

If you’re willing to island hop, head to Teshima to see large-format paintings in the Teshima Yokoo House (named for artist Tadanori Yokoo) and Inujima for an art museum housed in a old copper refinery .

You could spend a full day just exploring Georgia O’Keeffe’s artwork in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

Photo by Fred Mays/Shutterstock

Santa Fe, New Mexico

One of the oldest cities in the U.S. (older than the country itself, with a founding date of 1607) Santa Fe and its iconic pueblo architecture encompass many art scenes and histories, from the vast indigenous collections of the Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA) to the electro-pop experiences of Meow Wolf to the storied career of Georgia O’Keeffe who was so deeply influenced by the New Mexico landscape.

Housed in a historic Peublo Revival-style post office downtown, the IAIA’s Museum of Contemporary Native Arts stewards the National Collection of Contemporary Native Art, featuring 9,000 artworks created since 1962 including pieces by legends such as George Morrison, Helen Hardin, and Fritz Scholder. From here, walk past the Santa Fe Plaza to the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum to see up-close and personal Black Hollyhock Blue Larkspur (1930), Pelvis IV (1944), and Spring (1948), among others. O’Keeffe fans can stay at the Abiquiú Inn , next to the The O’Keeffe Welcome Center housed in the artist’s former home and residence.

Around Canyon Road, you’ll find 80-plus galleries including Turner Caroll Gallery —whose international roster of artists includes Judy Chicago, Wanxin Zhang, and Swoon; Nedra Matteucci Galleries with its renowned sculpture garden; and the art collective and gallery Cielo Handcrafted , with goods including stoneware ceramics, leather totes, and silver jewelry.

Down Cerrillos Road, follow the neon glow of Meow Wolf’s House of Eternal Return , an “explorable art experience,” a sort of dayglo haunted house with more than 70 immersive rooms.

The streets of tiny Todos Santos are full of galleries and shops stacked with handmade ceramics, metal work, and beautiful textiles.

Photo by Arturo Verea/Shutterstock

Todos Santos, Mexico

About 50 miles northwest of Cabo San Lucas on the Baja California peninsula lies the bohemian Todos Santos, oft-compared to a young Taos and one of Mexico’s “ Pueblos Mágicos ” (magical villages), a designation given to places that have preserved their original architecture, traditions, history, and culture. Surrounded by Mexican cardon, the tallest cacti in the world, and azure water where whale sharks pass, Todos Sontos is also home to a thriving artist enclave. February is a prime month to engage the local art scene with the annual weeklong Festival del Art and Todos Santos Open Studio Tour . However, visitors can stroll the old-town cobblestone blocks fluttering with papel picado year-round to see what artists are up to.

A great place to start is La Sonrisa de la Meurta , an international gallery and workshop (with a sister location in Belgium) featuring graphic arts—from limited-edition prints to card decks to handkerchiefs—printed by young and emerging Mexican artists. Nearby (everything is nearby in Todos Santos) are the Galería Arturo with Mexican artist Arturo Mendoza Elfeo ’s whimsical impasto and textured canvases, and Galería Logan , featuring American expat Jill Logan’s dreamy swirling canvases in sunbaked colors. For a historical perspective, stop by the Centro Cultural , housed in a red-brick former school with revolutionary murals dating back nearly a century.

The Hotel San Cristóbal makes for a chic home base in town, while Paradero Todos Santos could be your cultural retreat at the intersection of desert, mountains, and Pacific coast. At the hotel, and beyond, order any fish dish: Todos Santos began as a fishing town and fisherman still take their little panga boats out daily.

>>Next: 10 UNESCO World Heritage Sites That Mix Nature and Culture

Art Workshops, Classes & Retreats

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Join us as we return to La Serranía nestled in the foothills of the Serra de Tramuntana Mountains near Pollensa. This is our seventh trip to Mallorca and we are looking forward to painting and drawing the trees and plants of the Mediterranean as well as the sea, sky and rocky coastline. We have been traveling to Spain since 2000 and the history and culture of the island are shared over a glass of Tempranillo wine each evening!   Location: Pollensa, Mallorca, Spain Instructor: Meredith Nemirov Cost: $2850.00 Sponsor: Ridgway Gallery Workshops,LLC Website , email , 970-318-8444

Picture yourself sitting in an outdoor cafe in one of the piazzas, sketchbook in hand, immersed in capturing the life around you while enjoying a cappuccino. Let me share the techniques I use in my work using a very portable means of sketching - pen and ink and watercolor – to record the beautiful, sensitive lines of an old building or the bold strokes of a street scene. Learn to zoom in on the important elements when working in the field to create interesting compositions and lasting memories with texture and rich washes of color! This class covers pen and ink and watercolor wash techniques, composition and simple perspective.   Location: Cortona, Italy Instructor: Ann Thomas Cost: From $3850.00 per person Sponsor: Toscana Americana Workshops Website , email , 978-407-7127

Experience magical Sicily, enjoy breathtaking vistas, tiny villages, amazing Sicilian gastronomy and local wine. For those lovers of watercolour painting, the process of quickly developing comfortable relationship with methods and materials Subject of workshop effectiveness, the state of painting and community over local cuisine and wine at the villa. . Sound good? Come to paint en plein air or just to enjoy the company of fellow artists.   Location: Marsala, Sicily, Italy Instructor: Stewart White Cost: From 2050 $ Sponsor: Salinara - Art Farm | Retreat Centre Website , email

Don't miss this dynamic and focused mini workshop designed to simplify the process of outdoor painting and bring a fresh perspective to your artwork. Workshop features: Learn how to choose subjects for a painterly style, and gain a deeper understanding of the subject to capture its essence. Discover techniques for identifying and highlighting focal areas in your composition, allowing you to convey your intended message with clarity and impact. Explore the art of rearranging elements within your painting to achieve a sense of harmony and balance. Discover Vlad's "Train Method," a valuable approach that encourages a painterly style by keeping brushwork loose and spontaneous. Benefit from individual attention and feedback to address your specific needs and challenges.   Location: Saint Simons Island, Georgia Instructor: Vladislav Yeliseyev Cost: $180 Sponsor: Renaissance School of Art Website , email , 941-330-6865

This watercolor painting workshop in Provence is open to both beginners and more advanced painters. There will be classes both in basic watercolor techniques as well as specific travel journaling methods. Travel journaling is the complete opposite of how many of us travel these days: taking photos after photos with our phones. Travel Journaling gives us a chance to slow down, to sketch scenes around us, and to add color to our travel journals. Provence is the artist's dream destination. During the days, we will explore Luberon, and its spectacular countryside of vineyards and orchards, fascinating "perched" hill-top villages, outstanding natural produce and the light of Van Gogh and Cezanne. You will see why artists of all calibers are drawn to this alluring area.   Location: Bonnieux, Provence, France Instructor: John Keeling and Lo Peyron Mathews Cost: $3,590 Sponsor: Alpine Creative Tours Website , email , 970-846-9000

Join Alyssa for a week of immersing yourself in the sights, sounds, and local color of the Tuscan landscape. Based in Beautiful Cortona, experience all the wonders Tuscany has to offer – the rolling countryside, picturesque hill towns, and breathtaking vistas through the eyes of the artist! With Alyssa’s guidance as a veteran plein-air painter and teaching artist who has spent the past two decades sharing her passion for travel and landscape painting throughout the US and Europe, this will be a week like no other! Get ready to improve your artistic knowledge, expand your creativity, build connections, and embed your experiences and memories of your Italian adventure in the beautiful artworks you create!   Location: Cortona, Italy Instructor: Alyssa DeLaBruere Cost: From $3850.00 per person, all inclusive Sponsor: Toscana Americana Workshops Website , email , 978-407-7127

Come join Andrew Lattimore, as you explore the exciting and varied history of Sicily’s diverse architecture, stunning landscape, fabulous food and rich culture! We’ll be staying in Marsala at Salinara, an 18th-century villa owned by our gracious hosts, Yumi and Adriano. It is surrounded by vineyards and olive groves and is only a 10-minute walk to the Mediterranean sea. Each day we’ll enjoy an early morning breakfast following a full day of painting, exploring the sights and sounds of Sicily. We’ll paint the captivating landscape at the villa but we will also take day excursions to the city of Marsala, the Marsala Salt Pans, Erice, and the Park of Selinunte.   Location: Marsala, Sicily, Italy Instructor: Andrew Lattimore Cost: From € 2175 Sponsor: Salinara - Art Farm | Retreat Centre Website , email

Come join me for an amazing week of plein air painting in Costa Brava, Spain! We will have gorgeous views to paint of secluded rocky coves, cute medieval villages, stunning rugged landscapes, and incredible turquoise waters. It is also a place to enjoy delicious food and vibrant culture. Students can work in gouache or oil in this workshop. I will be doing daily demos and assisting you with your paintings. I enjoy teaching and will be there with you to help strengthen your painting skills and artistic voice. We will focus on design, color mixing, and capturing the mood of the day by understanding atmospheric perspective. This workshop is open to beginner and intermediate students.   Location: Costa Brava/Barcelona, Spain Instructor: Ellen Howard Cost: $3,790 Sponsor: French Escapade Website , email , 510-483-5713

Umbria, the Green Heart of Italy. Draw inspiration from the magnificent countryside, the fragrant flora, the beautiful food and drink or the charm of the Agriturismo La Malvarina using soft pastel. Learn the basics or improve your pastel painting skills in the morning and in the afternoon, explore this gorgeous region steeped in history, art and culture. Each morning will begin with a demonstration of tips and techniques for pastel application as well as instruction about various surfaces and types of pastels. After the demo, each student will receive individual instruction at the easel. Students will take their art pieces home in clear bags suitable for travel. Are you ready to express your vision of Italy?   Location: Assisi, Italy Instructor: Joycelyn Schedler Cost: 2600 € Sponsor: Schola Artis Pro Vobis Website , email

Join David on a Watercolor Journey, in the beautiful Provence. You will be learning the most valuable watercolor concepts and techniques. This workshop will save you countless hours of trial & error by demonstrating approaches in an easily understood manner that will open new doors of discovery and creativity. David will discuss outdoor equipment options, considerations when choosing a composition, value study options to help prepare for the painting process, and provide numerous demonstrations and individual attention. Regardless of your level of experience, you’re almost guaranteed to leave with a handsome work of art, and the skills, concepts, and confidence to take your paintings to a higher level.   Location: Provence, France Instructor: David R. Smith Cost: $3,990 Sponsor: French Escapade Website , email , 510-483-5713

Join us for this weeklong plein air workshop in beautiful Tuscany and Umbria. Create vignette sketches and paintings of the dramatic vistas, colorful architecture, bustling people and more during your time on this magical trip to Cortona, Italy. Morning and afternoon sessions, followed by individual instruction, will cover the basic concepts of atmospheric and linear perspective, capturing people, architecture, and dramatic lighting. With pen and paper in hand, you’ll quickly document the sites. Add a touch of watercolor to enhance your sketches. Your art supplies are light and easy to tote making this ideal for all levels of artists. The traveler’s sketchbook is a wonderful way to document your trip in a carefree way.   Location: Cortona, Italy Instructor: Jo Ellen Reinhardt Cost: From $3850.00 per person, all inclusive Sponsor: Toscana Americana Workshops Website , email , 978-407-7127

Join us in 2024, as Kathleen Lanzoni takes a group of watercolor painters on this trip to Provence. We will be painting the fascinating towns and beautiful scenery. You will receive personal painting instruction each day. Whether you are a novice or experienced painter, this trip will be fun and an educational experience for all! We will stay in Bonnieux, and we will visit many of the scenic towns in the Luberon area: Roussillon, Lourmarin, l’Isle sur la Sorgue, and Gordes. Spectacular countryside of vineyards and orchards, fascinating “perched” hill-top villages, outstanding natural produce and the light of Van Gogh and Cezanne. You will soon see why we love this area and are excited to take groups to enjoy Provence.   Location: Bonnieux, Provence, France Instructor: Kathleen Lanzoni Cost: $3,790 Sponsor: Alpine Creative Tours Website , email , 970-846-9000

Indulge in the inspiration of narrow limestone streets, unique baroque buildings, and the mesmerizing Adriatic shimmer. Join Vlad for an artistic sojourn in Croatia, blending creativity with leisure. Whether seasoned or aspiring, all artists and non-painters are welcome! Workshop is optional. You are welcome to paint independently. Workshop features: daily demonstrations and lectures for workshop participants on composition, color mixing and painting techniques. Ideal for all skill levels, this workshop offers small groups and individual guidance. You will discover Croatia's charm as our itinerary unfolds, exploring old towns, shimmering marinas, and vibrant gardens. A breathtaking boat ride and a guided tour of Dubrovnik await. Plus, indulge in the local culinary delights, savoring the essence of the region.   Location: Dubrovnik, Croatia Instructor: Vladislav Yeliseyev Cost: $3490 Sponsor: Renaissance School of Art Website , email , 941-330-6865

Lori will be your guide on painting excursions. She will lead happy hour critiques and lessons on most evenings. Mark will be your cooking instructor and guide to visit local markets and wineries. This is a flexible retreat. You will be able to decide in which activities you want to indulge yourself, all, some, or none! For example, you may be coming just to paint and learn and none of the other options interests you. Or, perhaps you decide to skip a day of painting and join the cooking group instead. Only for a small group of Artist Friends.   Location: Marsala, Sicily, Italy Instructor: Lori Putnam & Mark Putnam Sponsor: Salinara - Art Farm | Retreat Centre Website , email

“One of the greatest things in the world is to train ourselves to see beauty in the commonplace.” - Charles Hawthorne. Sarah Sedwick is an oil painter whose still lifes celebrate the beauty of the everyday, inspired by color combinations and dynamic composition. Her paintings explore the undercurrents of meaning we impart to the objects around us - whether through a system of personal emotional symbolism or a buildup of familiarity over time.   Location: Cortona, Italy Instructor: Sarah Sedwick Cost: From $3850.00 per person, all inclusive Sponsor: Toscana Americana Workshops Website , email , 978-407-7127

Join Katie for an artistic sojourn in Croatia, blending creativity with leisure. Whether seasoned or aspiring, all artists and non-painters are welcome! Workshop is optional. You are welcome to paint independently. Workshop features: daily demonstrations and lectures for workshop participants on creativity and composition, covering fundamentals to advanced techniques. Work directly from observation, learning to simplify for impact. Ideal for all skill levels, this workshop offers small groups and individual guidance. You will discover Croatia's charm as our itinerary unfolds, exploring old towns, shimmering marinas, and vibrant gardens. A breathtaking boat ride and a guided tour of Dubrovnik await. Plus, indulge in the local culinary delights, savoring the essence of the region.   Location: Dubrovnik, Croatia Instructor: Katie Dobson-Cundiff Cost: $3490 Sponsor: Renaissance School of Art Website , email , 941-330-6865

Join us for another amazing painting adventure with Lori Putnam and Kevin Macpherson in Sicily. Western Sicily's splendid atmosphere offers you the opportunity to discover hundreds of picturesque painting spots. Together with Kevin's and Lori's charm and inspiration, we are certain you will have a wonderful time. At the end of the week, you will leave this adventure excited, ready to experiment more on your own; and, above all, pointed toward meaningful, personal artistic growth. Plein air experience strongly recommended. Only for a small group of Artist Friends.   Location: Marsala, Sicily, Italy Instructor: Lori Putnam & Kevin Macpherson Sponsor: Salinara - Art Farm | Retreat Centre Website , email

A Sketchbook Journaling Workshop with Karen Ramsay. Come join us and capture Lake Como in watercolor! As we fill our art travel journals with sketching and watercolors, Karen will give us tips and tricks for improving this special skill. Sketching on location, while traveling, is an art form that you can take with you on every future trip and the sketches that you create will become a treasured visual diary of your travel. During the week, we will guide you to the finest spots along the shores of the picturesque Lake Como with its charming lakeside towns, its Renaissance architecture, Italian villas and terraced gardens. Lake Como has a timeless beauty where you will find endless inspiration to create art!   Location: Bellagio, Lake Como, Italy Instructor: Karen Ramsay Cost: $3,890 Sponsor: Alpine Creative Tours Website , email , 970-846-9000

This retreat will take you to where Van Gogh and Cézanne painted many masterpieces. You will be inspired by the rich locations of Arles, Saint Remi, and Aix-en-Provence. Your Hosts Tali Farchi (NL) and Shay Avivi (IL) are accomplished painters and teachers, providing art instruction to enrich your creative process. They’ll share information about these master's lives and how they worked. The ArtisTTable has hosted hundreds of artists of all levels and backgrounds. During this retreat, we will stay in the center of Arles giving easy access to this historic city. This all-inclusive art retreat boasts delicious meals, exclusive day trips, and lots of art-making. It will be a trip you won't forget.   Location: Arles, France Instructor: Tali Farchi and Shay Avivi Cost: 3,100$ Sponsor: Artist Table Website , email , +31624903316

Come and paint in beautiful Provence with Carol Carter. Carol will share her unique watercolor technique, painting from background to foreground, using dynamic and inventive color. Each day in the studio, Carol will share her watercolor techniques while teaching site specific tutorials. The workshop will provide templates, reference photos and materials information. Painting workshop from 9 am to noon followed by conclusion and small critique till about 1pm. In the afternoon, we will visit some villages in Provence that will be the topic of our next day painting: time for photography and sketching. Relax, enjoy, learn a new watercolor technique or two among the camaraderie of other artists while savoring gourmet food and French wines.   Location: Provence, France Instructor: Carol Carter Cost: $3,990 Sponsor: French Escapade Website , email , 510-483-5713

Join acclaimed watercolorist and instructor, Margie Samuels, for a magical week painting in the breathtaking French Alps! Each morning will start with a brief review of the watercolor skills that you will be using in that day’s plein air landscape. These lessons, focusing on various techniques, will take your watercolor painting to the next level. Each day participants will be given a “painting challenge,” where you can carry these new skills into the plein air landscape that you are creating. With a maximum size of just 15 students, there will be plenty of opportunity for individual instruction. Each location will include an on-site demonstration by Margie where you will get to see the steps it takes to bring your painting to life.   Location: Haute-Savoie, France Instructor: Margie Samuels Cost: $3,990 Sponsor: French Escapade Website , email , 510-483-5713

A thought-provoking and inspirational art workshop open to artists of all levels and media (oils, acrylics, watercolors). Nine full days of plein air painting, art history/theory lectures, touring, and gastronomy in the most beautiful area of Tuscany. Our teaching approach and groups limited to eight participants allow us to offer personalized instruction and a stimulating learning environment. Cost of CAD 3975 (around US$ 3000) includes instruction, 9-night accommodation in single and double rooms (limited single rooms available at no extra cost), all breakfasts, 7 lunches, 9 gourmet dinners including wine, transportation from and to the Arezzo train station, transportation to all painting sites (Montepulciano, Cortona, Pienza, etc.), train ticket to Florence, and a tour to the Uffizi Museum.   Location: Lucignano, Tuscany, Italy Instructor: Prof. Yves M. Larocque Cost: US$ 3000 Sponsor: Walk the Arts Website , email , 800-611-4789

Picture yourself sitting in an outdoor cafe in one of the piazzas, sketchbook in hand, immersed in capturing the life around you while enjoying a cappuccino. Let me share the techniques I use in my work using a very portable means of sketching - pen and ink and watercolor – to record the beautiful, sensitive lines of an old building or the bold strokes of a street scene. Learn to zoom in on the important elements when working in the field to create interesting compositions and lasting memories with texture and rich washes of color! This class covers pen and ink and watercolor wash techniques, composition and simple perspective.   Location: Cortona, Italy Instructor: Ann Thomas Cost: From $3,850.00 per person all-inclusive Sponsor: Toscana Americana Workshops Website , email , 978-407-7127

An exploratory course in the art of casting and mold-making. Learn to cast a relief of your face, torso, feet or hands in plaster gauze with various finishes to create a memorable self-portrait. Fabricate one or more reusable molds in latex rubber, silicone, and polyurethane rubber with mother-molds. Experiment with various materials to cast your forms from the fabricated molds. Assemble cast forms into a cohesive sculpture or a repetitive compositional design. Materials will be supplied. Take home all artwork made. This is a wonderful opportunity to create art in a beautiful setting with gorgeous views, delicious cuisine, accommodating lodging and enjoy the magical atmosphere that is truly special of the Umbria region of Italy. Course taught in English.   Location: Assisi, Italy Instructor: Sandra Wascher Cost: 2500 € Sponsor: Schola Artis Pro Vobis Website , email

There’s a bookshelf in my studio that holds more than 30 travel sketchbooks. Every time I browse through them, memories of a specific place come flooding back — and not just the sights. Sounds, scents and flavours, snippets of conversations with a farmer, the taste of my morning coffee and brioche — it’s all still there, fresh in my mind, the moment I crack open a sketchbook. That’s what I love best about travel sketching. How the act of putting pencil and paint to paper enriches the total experience, and preserves it forever. Come sketch with me in Provence, where we’ll capture this historic region’s beauty and character in our sketchbooks.   Location: Provence, France Instructor: Shari Blaukopf Cost: $3,990 Sponsor: French Escapade Website , email , 510-483-5713

Many of the Dutch painters were influenced by the light in the flat countries. In June we will meet in Zwolle, the Netherlands and the surrounding which is in the area of the Overijssel north-east province. Not only painting and sketching are in the program, but also stone carving, Monotype and print workshops, and exciting local stuff that a regular tourist won't be able to see or do, as Tali Lives here. She is very involved in the "Arty" scene and will introduce you to artists, places, landscapes, private gardens, and local homes. This all-inclusive art retreat boasts delicious meals, exclusive day trips, and lots of artmaking and Plein air painting. It will be a trip you won't forget.   Location: Zwolle, The Netherlands Instructor: Tali Farchi Cost: 3,100$ Website , email , +31624903316

A unique art workshop/art tour open to artists of all levels and media (oils, acrylics, watercolors, etc.). Seven days of plein-air painting, art history/theory lectures, and gastronomy in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence followed by four days visiting Barcelona’s top art sites and enjoying Catalan cuisine. The price of CAD 4475 per person (around US$ 3350) includes instruction,11-night double accommodation, 11 breakfasts, 6 healthy lunches, 6 gourmet dinners including wine, transportation from the Manosque train station to our lodge, transportation to all painting sites, TGV train ticket Avignon-Barcelona, transportation and entrance fees to all sites on schedule (Cézanne’s studio, La Sagrada Familia, Picasso Museum, Miró Museum, etc.). Limited single rooms for a supplement of CAD 850 around US$ 650.   Location: Barcelona, Spain Instructor: Prof. Yves M. Larocque Cost: US$ 3350 Sponsor: Walk the Arts Website , email , 800-611-4789

A unique art workshop/art tour open to artists of all levels and media (oils, acrylics, watercolors, etc.). Seven days of plein-air painting, art history/theory lectures, and gastronomy in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence followed by four days visiting Barcelona’s top art sites and enjoying Catalan cuisine. The price of CAD 4475 per person (around US$ 3350) includes instruction,11-night double accommodation, 11 breakfasts, 6 healthy lunches, 6 gourmet dinners including wine, transportation from the Manosque train station to our lodge, transportation to all painting sites, TGV train ticket Avignon-Barcelona, transportation and entrance fees to all sites on schedule (Cézanne’s studio, La Sagrada Familia, Picasso Museum, Miró Museum, etc.). Limited single rooms for a supplement of CAD 850 around US$ 650.   Location: Alpes de Haute-Provence, France Instructor: Prof. Yves M. Larocque Cost: US$ 3350 Sponsor: Walk the Arts Website , email , 800-611-4789

Join us for a 10-night French village art immersion experience in the beautiful and diverse Occitanie region in the South of France. Cristina Metelli and Catherine Mackenzie will provide instructions and guidance, inviting you to explore realistic and expressive drawing and oil painting techniques in-studio and outdoors. We will start with a one-day in-studio workshop, followed by sketching and painting in beautiful nearby locations. Our en plein air sites will include Mediterranean fishing ports, rustic villages, the Canal du Midi and the stunning Haute Languedoc. For fun and inspiration, we will visit local artists, galleries, wineries and produce markets, and include some free time for relaxation, exploring the local village, or continuing your own painting in-studio or by the pool.   Location: Roujan, France Instructor: Cristina Metelli Cost: 2550 Euros Sponsor: Cerulean Studio Website , email , +61408858320

Join us for a week of landscape watercolor painting in the Sicilian seaside with Prafull B. Sawant. Prafull Sawant is an Indian contemporary artist, he has long been considered one of the foremost Realistic artists in the world. He is best known for his Plain Air atmospheric landscapes that captures the light to create the mood and space of the scene. We are so proud that he’s coming to SALINARA for the first time. Daily painting excursions to surrounding salt pans, local markets, vineyards, villages such as the medieval town Erice, and Archeological Park of Selinunte, one of the most flourishing classical civilizations of the Mediterranean area. Limited single rooms for a supplement.   Location: Marsala, Sicily, Italy Instructor: Prafull B. Sawant Cost: From € 2050 Sponsor: Salinara - Art Farm | Retreat Centre Website , email

Embark on a captivating artistic journey in this hands-on five-day workshop where you’ll learn to create a stunning figure painting from the initial concept to the final brushstroke. Through comprehensive instruction, personalized guidance, and collaborative discussions, you’ll experience the exhilarating process of bringing a figure painting to life using the expressive medium of oil.   Location: Assisi, Italy Instructor: Trisha Lambi Cost: € 2600 Sponsor: Schola Artis Pro Vobis Website , email

Urban sketching is a skill anybody can learn! It will change the way you perceive the world. Whether you are a novice or a sketcher who feels they can do better, this workshop is for you. The focus is on black and white. It is the foundation of all sketching styles. Build confidence and practice urban sketching to capture the essence of the place by learning: What to look for, How to start the sketch, How to simplify the busy surroundings. Your Facilitator: Cristiana Mar is an experienced artist, architect, and educator, teaching adults, leading workshops in US and Mexico since 1989. Our location is Guanajuato, World Heritage city, the capital of Guanajuato state.   Location: Guanajuato, Mexico Instructor: Cristiana Mar Cost: $500.00 Sponsor: Cristi Fer Art Website , email , 322-153-1906

Join Cindy Briggs and Theresa Goesling in Giverny and have a creative life experience. You’ll enjoy inspiring locations such as Monet’s garden, daily painting demonstrations, personalized instruction, and encouraging support from Cindy and Theresa. We show you how to simplify and design your subject, draw confidently, jazz up your colors, paint with serendipity and experiment with new techniques. Create colorful paintings en Plein Air with an emphasis on celebrating your own unique point of view.   Location: Watercolor Painting Workshop, France Instructor: Cindy Briggs & Theresa Goesling Cost: $3,990 Sponsor: French Escapade Website , email , 510-483-5713

Special Interest 9 day Plein Air Painting/Sketching Workshop in Grand Canyon National Park *Painting White Water, Side Canyons and Botany * Managing artwork in the wilderness, Setting up quick compositions *Talks on Art History in Grand Canyon *Workshops on sketching, limiting colors and quick composition   Location: Grand Canyon, Arizona Instructor: Ani Eastwood with Grand Canyon Expeditions Sponsor: Grand Canyon Expeditions Company Website , email , 1-800-544-2691

The wonderful views and landscapes of the French Alps seem to be just made for watercolor. All the incredible villages, lakes and mountains are just begging to be caught on the tip of your brush. Moving from place to place, we will find the best locations to create vibrant and sunny watercolors. Every day will be a discovery for you—and a new opportunity for painting in watercolor. In addition to traditional watercolor techniques, I will introduce you to my personal methods and secrets. Join us for relaxation and enjoyment of the French Alps with a very rich and informative workshop in the open air.   Location: Haute-Savoie, France Instructor: Michael Solovyev Cost: $3,990 Sponsor: French Escapade Website , email , 510-483-5713

Join Alison for a week of joyful exploration of Place, in the beautiful city of Cortona. Sitting in ancient squares, by fountains, or in cafes, I’ll show you some simple ways to capture buildings. In markets we’ll talk about how to include figures in your sketches. Overlooking vistas of vineyards and far off hills, we’ll explore how to simplify the scene to focus on important elements and create depth. Drawing and painting on loose pages rather than in a watercolour journal, allows us to loosen up and have fun with experimental techniques and a variety of media. We’ll work with watercolour, pen, ink, marker, on different papers, to create images, which we will curate into a concertina book.   Location: Cortona, Italy Instructor: Alison Watt Cost: From $3,790.00 per person all-inclusive Sponsor: Toscana Americana Workshops Website , email , 978-407-7127

While learning the importance of oil painting techniques and principles (values, edges, composition, etc.), enjoy the joy of actually painting Spain en plein air! The enthusiasm for painting the beaches, cliffs and boats will be contagious! Kathie will walk through her process of narrowing down the choices of subject matter and then demo before it’s time for you to get your brushes wet too… and she will be right alongside cheering you on with personal instruction and encouragement! There is a reason why you want to paint. Kathie will work to help you tap that desire by throwing herself into the entire experience and beauty of the Costa Brava!   Location: Costa Brava/Barcelona, Spain Instructor: Kathie Odom Cost: $3,390 Sponsor: French Escapade Website , email , 510-483-5713

Painting in Belgium – a dream come true! From quaint little buildings, to beaches, mossy canals and windmills. We get the chance to paint them all! You will be learning some of the most valuable skills in watercolor, such as working wet-on-wet, learning to recognize the moisture content of the paper and why the thickness of your paint mixture is so important. Watercolor is so much easier once you learn these little fundamentals. Our days are relaxed and informative (with lots of good food and laughter in the mix). If you are a first-time plein air painter (and afraid), you’ll find it painless! We will also be working in the studio with lots of demos, handouts and personal attention.   Location: Bruges, Belgium Instructor: Kathie George Cost: $3,890 Sponsor: French Escapade Website , email , 510-483-5713

Just imagine….200 year old olive trees, charming hilltop villages, bustling outdoor cafés and window boxes overflowing with colorful flowers. Now, put yourself in the picture, sitting at a little café with your sketchbook and paints, sketching a window across the way, with its lace curtains, blue shutters, and red geraniums. Can you see it? Can you feel it? Well, why not experience it? Join me for an unforgettable painting holiday in Provence, a region famous for its stunning scenery and clear light which has captivated artists through the centuries. In this week-long workshop, we’ll relax and enjoy long autumn days sketching in this stunningly beautiful part of France. Capture once-in-a-lifetime experiences on the pages of your watercolor journals!   Location: Fontaine de Vaucluse, France Instructor: Leslie Fehling Cost: $3,990 Sponsor: French Escapade Website , email , 510-483-5713

Mariette Egreteau Martelli was born in France but now lives in Arezzo, where she has been a teacher for more than thirty years. She has a scientific background and has always been interested in the link between science and art, with her curiosity fully satisfied in the spectacle offered by nature. Light playing on ordinary objects, and the transparency of sky and water are her favourite subjects. She mostly uses watercolour to express herself, for its immediacy and union between water and light. She is bilingual in French and Italian and fluent in English.   Location: Assisi, Italy Instructor: Mariette Egreteau Martelli Cost: 2600 € Sponsor: Schola Artis Pro Vobis Website , email

This pastel workshop is designed for the beginning and intermediate pastelist and will cover materials, basic design, color, and application. Some materials will be supplied. We will be painting from life and photographs taken on-site or in the surrounding areas of Umbria, the Green Heart of Italy. This is a great opportunity to learn the fundamentals of pastel painting as well as providing a challenge to those who already have a basic understanding of pastel technique. Expect plenty of encouragement and actionable advice. Enjoy a beautiful location with magnificent views and a special atmosphere that only Umbria can offer.   Location: Assisi, Italy Instructor: Neva Rossi Smoll Cost: 2600 € Sponsor: Schola Artis Pro Vobis Website , email

Sicily – It's on everyone's bucket list, with colorful sunsets, olive groves, vineyards, and picturesque villages with narrow streets, a never ending range of restaurants and cafés, blue skies and beautiful nature, it’s a painters paradise… And it will be our home for 7 days. The workshop is hosted by the retreat center Salinara. Our daily watercolor routine will include daily demonstrations by Gary, along with time for individual instruction. Afternoons will vary between painting time, exploring the region on your own, or possible one of the many activities offered through Salinara – on designated days Gary will conduct group critique over cocktails before the evening meal.   Location: Marsala, Sicily, Italy Instructor: Gary Tucker Cost: From 2300 $ Sponsor: Salinara - Art Farm | Retreat Centre Website , email

We will be a lovely small group where I can work with you individually to ensure that every aspect of the experience meets your expectations. There will be plenty of opportunity to have your questions answered and have fun along the way. I will show you how to make fast improvements by sharing my most successful tips for watercolour sketching. You will receive plenty of demonstrations and examples to support you along the way. Learn how to sketch confidently, understand paint consistency and application and mix wonderful glowing colours! The subjects covered will be truly inspirational – including beautiful beaches, cliffs, boats, botanical garden, local scenes and sketching the everyday such as your lunch.   Location: Costa Brava/Barcelona, Spain Instructor: Judy Salleh Cost: $3,390 Sponsor: French Escapade Website , email , 510-483-5713

Workshop focuses on the handmade - work you make, and the beautiful art & handicrafts made in Oaxaca. In the art class, we'll work in watercolor, adding locally sourced natural pigments to our palette. We'll also create pieces with mixed media & collage, using paper scraps, old magazines, maps & newspaper, bits of ephemera. We'll paint our own little wooden mask with instruction from a master mask maker. Includes field trips to a Sunday market, studio visits with an accomplished Oaxacan painter/printmaker, a papermaking studio, a master painter & mask maker, an art center housed in a renovated textile factory, and a guided street art walk - all mixed in with art instruction and creative play time.   Location: Oaxaca, Mexico Instructor: Pedro Cruz Pacheco + Corrie McCluskey Cost: $2475 (includes lodging + field trips) Sponsor: Oaxaca Dreams / Talismán Oaxaca Website , email , 707-327-2747

Keiko Tanabe is a Japanese contemporary artist who has won multiple awards. We are so proud that she’s coming to SALINARA for the fourth time. Come to enjoy a masterful tuition by Keiko Tanabe. Subject matters will be landscape, Mediterranean seascape, old historic city scape, and indoor locations in the authentic 18th century farmhouse where the participants will stay. Sicily is like a dream, colorful sunset, olive groves, lined vineyards, picturesque villages with narrow streets, churches, a never ending range of restaurants and cafés, blue skies and beautiful nature, jovial, kind and friendly people, traditional foods and great local wine. Art, mixture of history and culture, nature create a unique atmosphere and stimulate your creativity. Limited single rooms for a supplement.   Location: Marsala, Sicily, Italy Instructor: Keiko Tanabe Cost: From € 2050 Sponsor: Salinara - Art Farm | Retreat Centre Website , email

A Sketchbook Journaling Workshop with Karen Ramsay. Come join us and capture Mallorca in watercolor! As we fill our art travel journals with sketching and watercolors, Karen will give us tips and tricks for improving this special skill. Sketching on location, while traveling, is an art form that you can take with you on every future trip. The daily sketches that you create will become a treasured visual diary of your travel. During this week in Mallorca, we will explore the island, its many scenic areas - from the gorgeous views over the Mediterranean Sea to the small towns in the Tramuntana mountain range: the artist town of Deia, the scenic towns of Fornalutx and Valldemossa and the capital Palma.   Location: Valldemossa, Mallorca, Spain Instructor: Karen Ramsay Cost: $3,890 Sponsor: Alpine Creative Tours Website , email , 970-846-9000

5-star Painting and Cultural Cruise - Italian Riviera and France! 9 nights: from Barcelona to Rome. All Mediums | All Levels | Non-Painters | Independent Painters. Welcome to our exciting painting cruise across three countries! Embark on an extraordinary 5-star Mediterranean cruise, an artistic journey that unfolds from Barcelona to Rome. This luxurious voyage includes enchanting stops along the picturesque Italian Riviera and captivating destinations in France. As you sail through azure waters and experience the opulence of a 5-star cruise, immerse yourself in unique painting adventures at each port of call. Ports of Call: Barcelona, Marseille (Provence), Nice, Santa Margherita (Portofino), La Spezia (Cinque Terre, Florence, Pisa), Naples and Rome.   Location: Mediterranean Cruise, France Instructor: Vladislav Yeliseyev Cost: see website Sponsor: Renaissance School of Art Website , email , 941-330-6865

5-star Painting and Cultural Cruise - Italian Riviera and France! 9 nights: from Barcelona to Rome. All Mediums | All Levels | Non-Painters | Independent Painters. Welcome to our exciting painting cruise across three countries! Embark on an extraordinary 5-star Mediterranean cruise, an artistic journey that unfolds from Barcelona to Rome. This luxurious voyage includes enchanting stops along the picturesque Italian Riviera and captivating destinations in France. As you sail through azure waters and experience the opulence of a 5-star cruise, immerse yourself in unique painting adventures at each port of call. Ports of Call: Barcelona, Marseille (Provence), Nice, Santa Margherita (Portofino), La Spezia (Cinque Terre, Florence, Pisa), Naples and Rome.   Location: Mediterranean Cruise, Spain Instructor: Vladislav Yeliseyev Cost: see website Sponsor: Renaissance School of Art Website , email , 941-330-6865

5-star Painting and Cultural Cruise - Italian Riviera and France! 9 nights: from Barcelona to Rome. All Mediums | All Levels | Non-Painters | Independent Painters. Welcome to our exciting painting cruise across three countries! Embark on an extraordinary 5-star Mediterranean cruise, an artistic journey that unfolds from Barcelona to Rome. This luxurious voyage includes enchanting stops along the picturesque Italian Riviera and captivating destinations in France. As you sail through azure waters and experience the opulence of a 5-star cruise, immerse yourself in unique painting adventures at each port of call. Ports of Call: Barcelona, Marseille (Provence), Nice, Santa Margherita (Portofino), La Spezia (Cinque Terre, Florence, Pisa), Naples and Rome.   Location: Mediterranean Cruise, Italy Instructor: Vladislav Yeliseyev Cost: see website Sponsor: Renaissance School of Art Website , email , 941-330-6865

Discover the sun-drenched landscape of Sicily on this painting holiday that takes you on an artistic journey through the island's vibrant culture, stunning cathedrals, and picturesque fishing villages. From the baroque architecture to the surrounding olive groves and white sandy beaches, there is no shortage of inspiration for any artist. Your stay will be at an authentic yet modern villa in the south-east of the island, surrounded by almond, olive, and pomegranate trees. Your painting supplies, sketchbook, pencils, boards, and easels are provided in a spacious studio where you'll enjoy daily painting classes and excursions to some of the island's most stunning destinations.   Location: Sicily, Italy Instructor: Sandra Iafrate, sandraiafrate.com Cost: 1899 GBP Website , email

Join us for a plein air watercolour painting retreat in delightful and peaceful West-Sicily with Polish watercolorist Michal Jasiewicz. We are so proud that he’s coming to SALINARA for the second time. Michal will be your tutor during your stay at the stunning Salinara Art Farm, in the Trapani region. Daily painting excursions to surrounding salt pans, local markets, vineyards, villages such as the medieval town Erice, and Archeological Park of Selinunte, one of the most flourishing classical civilizations of the Mediterranean area. The workshop will take you through selecting a dramatic composition and simplifying it, tone, light, color theory, effects and how to build up a watercolour painting in a structured, demonstration-led setting. Limited single rooms for a supplement.   Location: Marsala, Sicily, Italy Instructor: Michal Jasiewicz Cost: From € 1750 Sponsor: Salinara - Art Farm | Retreat Centre Website , email

Join the 2024 Venice Biennale and Istanbul Biennial Art Tour, a unique 9-night art history trip in Italy and Turkey open to everyone, from artists and art lovers to students and lifelong learners. The cost of CAD $ 4 570 (around US$ 3420) includes 9-night double accommodation in well-rated and centrally located hotels in Venice and Istanbul; daily breakfast, group transportation to the sites on schedule (vaporetto, taxi, bus, ferry), flight from Venice to Istanbul, daily discovery walks in Venice and Istanbul, two-day entrance to the Venice Biennale and the Istanbul Biennial, entrances to the Hagia Sophia, the Topkapi Palace, and the Blue Mosque, and the constant service of an art historian guide and a logistics responsible.   Location: Venice, Italy Instructor: Prof. Yves M. Larocque Cost: US$ 3420 Sponsor: Walk the Arts Website , email , 800-611-4789

Join the 2024 Venice Biennale and Istanbul Biennial Art Tour, a unique 9-night art history trip in Italy and Turkey open to everyone, from artists and art lovers to students and lifelong learners. The cost of CAD $ 4 570 (around US$ 3420) includes 9-night double accommodation in well-rated and centrally located hotels in Venice and Istanbul; daily breakfast, group transportation to the sites on schedule (vaporetto, taxi, bus, ferry), flight from Venice to Istanbul, daily discovery walks in Venice and Istanbul, two-day entrance to the Venice Biennale and the Istanbul Biennial, entrances to the Hagia Sophia, the Topkapi Palace, and the Blue Mosque, and the constant service of an art historian guide and a logistics responsible.   Location: Istanbul, Turkey Instructor: Prof. Yves M. Larocque Cost: US$ 3420 Sponsor: Walk the Arts Website , email , 800-611-4789

Introducing history of art in Umbria – journey among the wonder. Day 1 Assisi – before and after Giotto: Cimabue and Pietro Cavallini. Investigation around art changings through the XIII century. Day 2 Spoleto – Alberto Sotio: unique XII century school of art in remote Umbria, how byzantine influences have produced masterpieces. Day 3 Montefalco – Benozzo Gozzoli: a piece of Florence in Umbria. Spello – Pinturicchio: artist of the most reach XVth century courts of Italian Renaissance. Day 4 Orvieto – From ‘300 to ‘500: three centuries in a single masterpiece, the Duomo of Orvieto and the ‘Fabrica’. Day 5 Perugia – briefing up: Galleria Nazionale dell’Umbria, eight centuries of History of Art in Umbria in one place.   Location: Assisi, Italy Instructor: Irene Maturi Cost: € 2600 Sponsor: Schola Artis Pro Vobis Website , email

Granada in the south of Spain is one of the most exciting, different, and welcoming cities I know. So much is going on there in the culture historically and present. We will work mostly in our sketchbooks and Journals during our week in Granada. Moving around with only a backpack and light stools will be easier. We’ll be sketching alleys and mountains, the old casbah, and the famous Alhambra from inside and its surroundings—Flamenco performances in local bars, also gardens, and urban views. We will stay in beautiful accommodation in the heart of the old city, and from there we will have access to our sketching adventure.   Location: Granada, Spain Instructor: Tali Farchi Cost: €2900 Sponsor: Artist Table Website , email , +31 6 24903316

Experience a hands-on, deep dive into the authentic traditions of Day of the Dead. Start with a visit to a local mercado for altar decorations & offerings. Then spend your days painting imagery & symbolic representations of loved ones in watercolor to honor their memories, assemble a beautiful group altar, construct & decorate a traditional sand tapestry. Visit two cemeteries where Oaxaqueños lovingly adorn the graves of their ancestors & bring offerings to share with their spirits. Participate in a comparsa - the traditional Muertos parade. Field trips include artisan studio visits: tapetes (woven wool rugs), alebrijes (carved wooden objects), and women's red clay collective (who will invite us to see their own gorgeous Muertos altar).   Location: Oaxaca, Mexico Instructor: Pedro Cruz Pacheco + Corrie McCluskey Cost: $2200 (lodging included) Sponsor: Oaxaca Dreams / Talismán Oaxaca Website , email , 707-327-2747

We invite you to join us in this relaxed, beautiful, historic place. Give yourself this time and space to joyfully become a better painter! The setting of Salinara, with its rustic beauty, farm fresh meals, and interesting excursions provides the perfect environment for our “Spirit,Mind,Body” experience. Your artistic SPIRIT will be recognized, encouraged, and celebrated as you work with other creative participants. Your MIND will be engaged by discussions of Art within the group, and your problem solving skills will be challenged as you are improving your painting ability. Your BODY will be nourished with fresh food, walks, biking, and yoga sessions. The emphasis on this workshop is to help promote skill-building with your painting, regardless of your level.   Location: Marsala, Sicily, Italy Instructor: Qiang Huang and Suzanne Enriquez Dougher Cost: From 2000 $ Sponsor: Salinara - Art Farm | Retreat Centre Website , email

Amit Kapoor is a leading master of watercolor in India. Join us for a unique and exceptional watercolor painting workshop in Sicily with the Indian artist Amit Kapoor. It’s a beautiful opportunity for you to live and paint with a master artist in an authentic Sicilian farmhouse located just 500 m from the Mediterranean sea. Participants will learn Amit’s techniques and process to paint Plein-Air and in studio, how to be expressive with bold brush strokes and colourful palette. Limited single rooms for a supplement.   Location: Marsala, Sicily, Italy Instructor: Amit Kapoor Cost: From € 2150 Sponsor: Salinara - Art Farm | Retreat Centre Website , email

Join me in Carmel and Pacific Grove, where we’ll experience the wild beauty of rugged Pacific shores, the enchanting fairy-tale cottages, and historic Mission architecture that make this place so unique. I’ve designed this workshop to give you confidence sketching wherever you happen to be. I’ll show you how to keep your watercolour sketches loose, fresh and vibrant. And I’ll share my techniques for capturing the beauty that surrounds us, so you can savour it for years to come.   Location: Provence, France Instructor: David Daniels Cost: $3,790 before Nov 30th Sponsor: French Escapade Website , email , 510-483-5713

I am so excited to teach you in this inspiring place while working outdoors in Plein Air as the Impressionist masters did! Paint the crystal blue Mediterranean waters with breathtaking vistas of the Catalonia coast, a hidden gem fishing village, botanical gardens, and medieval villages. As a painter and colorist, I have learned that the best way to achieve the feeling of light and color in your paintings is to paint outdoors. I will be your guide and teacher for an incredible week of painting, sightseeing, dining, and artistic community while we all learn and grow our artistry during the week. The experience of painting with other artists will be a treasure you carry with you for a lifetime.   Location: Costa Brava, Spain Instructor: Rose Irelan Cost: $3,790 before Nov 30th Sponsor: French Escapade Website , email , 510-483-5713

Join me for an amazing week of plein air painting in magnificent Provence, France! This is ‘Red poppy season’ and we’ll explore and paint the exciting spring colors of glorious Provence. I’m super excited to teach you painting in such an inspiring place! We’ll paint flower fields, countryside villages, waterways and hillside castle towns, quaint, flower-filled alleyways, medieval churches, fountains and ancient archways. We’ll paint our impressions, dine exquisitely, share gorgeous sights and creative companionship, all while learning and growing our craft. I will share my methods for creating successful paintings with loose brushwork and exciting color harmonies. I will demo in oil primarily, but am proficient and happy to help with watercolor, acrylics and pastels as well.   Location: Provence, France Instructor: Maggie Hellmann Cost: $3,940 before Nov 30th Sponsor: French Escapade Website , email , 510-483-5713

You probably fell in love with making art before a painting holiday occurred to you. Classroom lessons, online sessions, or time in the studio are typically safe environments in which to learn. But once we venture outdoors to paint, the light can be dramatic, the air is filled with sights, sounds, and smells of nature. While this can all be new, it enriches the painting experience even more. When we arrive on the Costa Brava, my job is to help you capture the nuances of our surroundings with confidence. Even before departure I’ll provide practical pointers on what to bring, what to leave behind. My plein-air workshops are jam-packed with helpful tips to help you make powerful statements through your art.   Location: Costa Brava, Spain Instructor: Randy Hale Cost: $3,790 before Nov 30th Sponsor: French Escapade Website , email , 510-483-5713

Join me for one week of sketching with watercolor in beautiful Provence! Drawing while traveling is the best way to experience and remember a new place. Traveling is also a perfect opportunity to learn or hone your drawing skills. When we see new sights everything strikes us as unusual, memorable and inspiring. We have a natural desire to admire new vistas, taste new flavors, inhale unusual aromas and record these sensations through taking photos, but also through drawing and writing. For me, drawing while traveling is instinctual, and I am eager to share my passion to fully immerse yourself in a new place through the practice of travel sketching.   Location: Provence, France Instructor: Rita Sabler Cost: $3,940 before Nov 30th Sponsor: French Escapade Website , email , 510-483-5713

The wonderful views and landscapes of the French Alps seem to be just made for watercolor. All the incredible villages, lakes and mountains are just begging to be caught on the tip of your brush. Moving from place to place, we will find the best locations to create vibrant and sunny watercolors. Every day will be a discovery for you—and a new opportunity for painting in watercolor. In addition to traditional watercolor techniques, I will introduce you to my personal methods and secrets. Join us for relaxation and enjoyment of the French Alps with a very rich and informative workshop in the open air.   Location: Haute-Savoie, France Instructor: Shari Blaukopf Cost: $3,840 before Nov 30 Sponsor: French Escapade Website , email , 510-483-5713

While learning the importance of oil painting techniques (values, edges, composition, etc.), the joy of actually painting France en plein air won’t get lost on Kathie! The enthusiasm for painting the mountains, lakes and chalets with you will be contagious! Kathie will walk through her process of narrowing down the choices of subject matter and then demo before it’s time for you to get your brushes wet too… and she will be right alongside cheering you on with personal instruction and encouragement! There is a reason why you want to paint. Kathie will work to help you tap that desire by throwing herself into the entire experience and beauty of the French Alps!   Location: Haute-Savoie, France Instructor: Kathie Odom Cost: $3,840 before Nov 30 Sponsor: French Escapade Website , email , 510-483-5713

In this watercolor workshop, I will help you discover new approaches to your works. Values and Color are the two main elements I will focus on and a dramatic sense of design. My personal style is basically a loose and carefree approach. Leaving a lot of the white of the paper, for me, is paramount in my watercolor work. We will work mostly from our own reference photos, in a relaxed studio environment. You can choose which genres best suit your personality - florals, landscapes, structures, etc. Critiques of the work and one-on-one directions will also be a part of this workshop. I hope you will join me in Bruges for this fantastic painting experience.   Location: Bruges, Belgium Instructor: Rae Andrews Cost: $3,840 before Nov 30th Sponsor: French Escapade Website , email , 510-483-5713

While learning the importance of oil painting techniques (values, edges, composition, etc.), the joy of actually painting Belgium en plein air won’t get lost on Kathie! The enthusiasm for painting medieval architecture and windmills with you will be contagious! Kathie will walk through her process of narrowing down the choices of subject matter and then demo before it’s time for you to get your brushes wet too… and she be right alongside cheering you on with personal instruction and encouragement! There is a reason why you want to paint. Kathie will work to help you tap that desire by throwing herself into the entire experience and beauty of this amazing city of Bruges!   Location: Bruges, Belgium Instructor: Kathie Odom Cost: $3,840 before Nov 30th Sponsor: French Escapade Website , email , 510-483-5713

Join Cindy Briggs and Theresa Goesling for their 2nd workshop at the stunning Salinara Art Farm on the west coast of Sicily. Sicily is a unique island that has been shaped by many cultures over many thousands of years. Excursions and painting to surrounding salt pans with colorful sunset, fisherman boats, local markets, picturesque villages with narrow streets, churches, a never ending range of restaurants and cafés, blue skies and beautiful nature, jovial, kind and friendly people, traditional foods and great local wine, medieval hill town of Erice, Archeological Park of Selinunte with Greek temples. And many beaches where we can swim in the blue water of the Mediterranean Sea. Limited single rooms for a supplement.   Location: Marsala, Sicily, Italy Instructor: Theresa Goesling and Cindy Briggs Cost: From € 3100 Sponsor: Salinara - Art Farm | Retreat Centre Website , email

Sicily – It's on everyone's bucket list, with colorful sunsets, olive groves, vineyards, and picturesque villages with narrow streets, a never ending range of restaurants and cafés, blue skies and beautiful nature, it’s a painters paradise… And it will be our home for 7 days. The workshop is hosted by the retreat center Salinara. Our daily watercolor routine will include daily demonstrations by Gary, along with time for individual instruction. Afternoons will vary between painting time, exploring the region on your own, or possible one of the many activities offered through Salinara – on designated days Gary will conduct group critique over cocktails before the evening meal. Limited single rooms for a supplement.   Location: Marsala, Sicily, Italy Instructor: Gary Tucker Cost: From $2300 Sponsor: Salinara - Art Farm | Retreat Centre Website , email

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All of our tours are private, not public. So the tour is arranged just for you and yours.

• We recommend using our online booking tool for up-to-date availability.
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• Private tours for 1 - 4 people in your group booked online* are $225 per hour (a $5 discount over tours booked via email or phone).
• All tours have a two-hour minimum.
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* For those who need a bit more service via email and phone, our pricing is $225 per hour for 1 – 4 people. Larger groups are $50 per adult, $25 per child.

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ART SMART's art guides are primarily graduate-level professional art historians from top universities who have their fingers on the pulse of the art world.

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Personal Art Travel Itineraries Crafted for You and Yours

Art Smart Travels plans and leads private art tours through a broad range of locations in the United States and Europe. Our elite, personalized travel programs cater to your specific interests and needs so that you spend your time with personally satisfying treasures that will mean the most to you. Our travel advisory services include:

• Itinerary planning for self-guided tours An Art Smart consultant will work with you to develop a detailed itinerary featuring the perfect mix of experiences for your destination. We’ll assemble a portfolio of cultural resources, design a workable schedule, and arrange luxury travel programs that will make your experience insightful, delightful, and stress-free. Thanks to our extensive network of contacts, we can assist you in the selection of a local art expert to guide you in most locales.
• Escorted travel For a luxury experience, an Art Smart art historian can travel with you to provide the personalized guidance through art museums and cultural monuments. Along the way, you will receive expedited and VIP-level access to art venues.

Are You Traveling as a Family with Kids in Tow?

Art Smart knows how to make the most of your family’s travels around the world. We’ll start by building a custom list of recommended books and resources that are great for introducing your family to the area that you’ll be visiting. Then we’ll send you on your way with a custom guide to the can’t-miss masterpieces at your destination.

From the New York City Tri-State Area

We can use local art collections to familiarize your family with what you should look for while you are traveling. For a truly unforgettable experience, an Art Smart expert can travel with your family to provide the highest possible level of on-site expertise and guidance.

Let Art Smart Travels Assist with Your Next Cultural Trip

Give us a call at (212) 595-4444 or email . Tell us when and where you will be traveling, what you hope to see, and a little bit about your interests. With that, we’ll create the perfect experience for you.

ADVENTURES IN ART

with Karen Stone Talwar

Adventures in Art curates luxury travel experiences focused on art, jewelry and fashion for museum patrons and art collectors from around the world. Founded in 2011 by Karen Stone Talwar, Adventures in Art is unique in its endeavor, providing customized itineraries and insider’s access to the art capitals around the world timed around art fairs, jewelry shows as well as exhibitions at major museums. Collectors open the way to their private homes, archives and ateliers, ratifying Adventures in Art's mission to enjoy, educate and enlighten.

SIGNATURE TOURS

Aerial view of Crystal Bridges; photography by Adair Creative. Courtesy of Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, Bentonville, Arkansas.

Our private tours appeal to the art connoisseur who is seeking a one-of-a kind experience. Each meticulously planned itinerary includes luxurious accommodations and world-class food and wine combined with visits to private collections and access to major museums, galleries, curator-led tours and historical locations.

MUSEUM TOURS

Our collaboration tours with leading art museums are open exclusively to the patrons of the museum and tailored around the museum’s vision and goal, complemented and hands on experience.

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“twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. so throw off the bowlines. sail away from the safe harbor. catch the trade winds in your sails. explore. dream. discover.”, "the eye has to travel".

Diana Vreeland

KAREN STONE TALWAR

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Drawing Tours: Art Travel & Tourism

Explore Your Creative Side & Discover Your Inner Artist Today!

Embark on art filled journeys with Drawing Tours. Explore breathtaking destinations and unleash your creativity. Our mission is to provide unique and immersive experiences for art enthusiasts of all ages from all over the world.

We specialize in creating custom itineraries for drawing, sketching, and painting that cater to your individual preferences. We take you on creative journeys through the world’s most iconic museums, galleries, and cultural landmarks. Whether you are a seasoned collector or a curious beginner, our Drawing Tours are designed to inspire and educate. Join us today and discover the beauty and wonder of the art world.

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If you dig creative tours and travels, then you’ll dig our unpackaged holidays. We line up dozens of Choice Optional Experiences for each trip, so you can choose the art tours, artisan workshops, and creative travel options.

INTERACTIVE WORKSHOPS WITH LOCAL ARTISIANS

The only thing better than watching local artisans weaving rugs or spinning a potter’s wheel is getting involved yourself. Get your hands dirty, learn new skills, and bring home a unique souvenir with our creative tours.

RELAXED ATMOSPHERE WITH YOUR TRAVEL BUDDIES

With free time included in every itinerary, there will be plenty of chances to sit and watch the world go by. Bring your sketchbook (and a spare) and get out there taking in the world.

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Creative tours & art travel, your way.

MOSAIC MAKING CLASS IN BARCELONA

After visiting Park Guell and seeing Gaudi’s incredible architecture and vision brought to life you’ll no doubt be feeling inspired. Channel your creativity into your own mosaic and craft a one-of-a-kind souvenir.

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PAINTING AND WINE IN PRAGUE

With some liquid courage (hello wine!) in one hand and a paintbrush in the other you’ll whip your own Prague masterpiece on canvas. Never painted canvas before? No stress. This class will teach you how.

798 ART ZONE IN BEIJING

This art tour will throw you into the lesser-known art world of Beijing. Wander through this gallery space set in a decommissioned military factory where you’ll meet artists in their studios and explore changing exhibitions.

WANT MORE INSPIRATION?

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TIPS & TRICKS FOR CREATIVE TOURS & ART TRAVEL

How can travel boost creativity?

What are the best destinations for art lovers?

Where are the best museums in the world?

Creativity feeds on inspiration and what’s more inspiring than experiencing somewhere new? Soak in different styles of architecture, try new local dishes, and see famous artworks up close...After all that there’s no doubt you’ll return home feeling inspired.

Art is everywhere – from the streets to gallery walls. Keep it traditional and gallery hop through NYC or London, or take to the streets where Gaudi has left a mark on Barcelona, Lima is full of street art and Lisbon’s tiles reflect the morning light.

Paris for the Louvre, New York for The Met, Florence for the Ufitzi, Madrid for the Prado, and London for the Tate… some destinations have world-famous galleries worth traveling for. Others are just waiting to be explored by the more adventurous.

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Art & culture tours

Whether you’re learning about glassblowing in Venice or sipping mint tea on the ground of a Bedouin tent, you’re bound to have a life-changing experience with us.

Each of our tours will help you uncover the art and culture of a destination, but if you’re looking for a more in-depth experience, check out the tours below.

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What our travelers say about their art & culture tours

Faqs about our art and culture tours.

Great art comes from all over the globe, but here are a few hot spots we'd recommend:

• Italy for the birthplace of the Renaissance
• Paris for some of the richest art collections in the world
• Rome for sculptures of all kinds
• Morocco for artisan markets and performances

Whether you're into painting, sculptures, theatre, music, architecture, or nature, you'll see it up close—in museums, parks, performance halls, and even city bus tours. View any of our trips for the full itineraries.

Italy is home to some of the greatest artists in history—and not just Michelangelo and Leonardo Da Vinci. Italy has incredible glass-blowers, playwrights, and crafters. It also has some of the most notable sites from famous works of art, like Shakespeare’s fair Verona, the Amalfi coast, and the Sicilian backdrops for Francis Ford Coppola’s iconic movie The Godfather. Check out our The Art-Lovers Guide to Italy . 

When you travel with us, you get a full educational and cultural experience with knowledgeable guides, free time to explore, and all the benefits of traditional group travel, too. Learn more about the Go Ahead Tours difference .

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Luxury Art & Design Tours

Decorative Arts & Gardens of England (9 Days) London, Cotswolds

Art Tour of France (10 Days) Paris & Versailles, Provence, Cote d’Azur

Art & Design Tour of Berlin (5 Days) Berlin & Potsdam

Art & Temples of India (18 Days) Delhi, Varanasi, Khajuraho & Panna National Park, Agra, Jaipur, Udaipur, Ajanta & Ellora Caves, Mumbai

Culture, Crafts & Cuisine of Ireland (13 days) Dublin, Ballyfin, Ballymaloe, Killarney, Adare, Ashford Castle

Italy for Art Lovers (13 Days) Rome, Florence & Assisi, Bologna & Ravenna, Venice & Padua, Milan

Contemporary Art & Architecture of Japan (14 Days) Tokyo, Kanazawa, Kyoto & Miho Museum, Naoshima, Tokyo

Art, Crafts & Design of Mexico (9 Days) Mexico City, Oaxaca

Arts & Crafts of Morocco (13 Days) Casablanca, Fez, Rabat, Atlas Mountains, Essaouira, Marrakesh

Arts & Crafts of Myanmar (9 Days) Yangon & Twante, Bagan & Mount Popa, Mandalay

Design, Architecture & Nature of Norway (9 Days) Oslo, Alesund & Atlantic Road, Norangsfjord, Geirangerfjord, Storfjord

Art & Design of Portugal (8 Days) Lisbon & Sintra, Porto

Contemporary Art & Design in Seoul & Jeju Island (8 Days) Seoul, Jeju Island

Swedish Design Tour (5 Days) Stockholm & environs

Art Tour of Switzerland (6 Days) Geneva, Basel & Weil am Rhein, Zurich with St. Gallen & Winterthur

Design & Gardens Tour of Sicily (8 Days) Palermo & Monreale, Taormina with Noto, Syracuse & Villa Romana del Casale

Decorative Arts & Gardens Tour of Paris (8 Days) Paris & environs

Traditional Crafts of Japan (15 Days) Tokyo, Kurashiki, Kyoto, Yamanaka Onsen, Kanazawa

Exclusive Japan: Amans, Art & Onsen (15 Days) Tokyo, Naoshima, Kyoto, Ise-Shima region

MULTI-COUNTRY TOURS

Food, Design & Culture of Copenhagen & Sweden (12 Days) Stockholm, Kingdom of Crystal, Wanas, Malmo, Copenhagen

Dutch & Flemish Art Tour (10 days) Bruges & Ghent, Brussels & Antwerp, Amsterdam with The Hague, Delft & Kroller-Muller Museum

Art Tour of France

(10 Days - Departs Daily on a Private Basis ) Paris & Versailles, Provence, Cote d’Azur

France is a wonderful destination for culture lovers, and this private art tour of France is the best way to experience some of the most memorable masterpieces of French art and architecture. It combines the sophistication of Paris with the inspiring light, landscapes and lifestyle of the South of France.

Begin in Paris , one of the great art cities of the world. During flexible private touring with your expert art guide, visit the most interesting museums and cultural sites according to your interests. Suggested options include the Louvre, Musee d’Orsay, L'Orangerie, Rodin Museum, Musee Marmottan Monet, Centre Pompidou, Guimet Museum, Institut du Monde Arabe, Fondation Louis Vuitton, Notre Dame, Sainte-Chapelle, the Eiffel Tower, the former artist colony of Montmartre, and the Luxembourg and Tuileries gardens. Other private touring options include visiting specialty chocolate shops, cheese shops and bakeries; walking through the exclusive residential streets on Ile St-Louis, the old Jewish quarter in the Marais, or the medieval streets of the Latin Quarter; visiting hidden gardens and parks; and shopping for antiques in flea markets or haute couture in fashionable boutiques.

One day, enjoy a private excursion to Versailles . Tour Louis XIV’s opulent palace, extensive gardens, the town's historic covered market and other highlights such as Le Petit Trianon, and Hameau de la Reine, the mock hamlet created for Marie-Antoinette.

Continue to Chateau La Coste , a beautiful vineyard and winery in the Provence countryside with outstanding contemporary architecture by Jean Nouvel, Tadao Ando and Frank Gehry, and a renowned collection of art by Louise Bourgeois, Andy Goldsworthy and other artists. Stay at Villa La Coste, a luxury hotel and spa among the vineyards. Also enjoy regional touring to see art and architecture highlights in Arles or Aix-en-Provence .

Conclude on the beautiful Cote d’Azur with a stay at a luxurious resort overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. During private touring, visit the art highlights of the region, such as the Chapelle du Rosaire de Vence (Matisse Chapel), Fondation Maeght (including a dining reservation at legendary La Colombe d'Or), the Prince’s Palace, and villas in Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat such as Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild.  Also explore interesting towns along the waterfront and in the hills of the French Riviera and Monaco, such as Nice, Cannes, Eze, Saint-Paul de Vence, Antibes and Monte-Carlo. Also stroll along waterside promenades, sample local culinary specialties, and browse markets such as the flower and antiques markets in Nice. Another option is a full-day excursion to Fondation Carmignac, a private art collection on a bucolic island in the Mediterranean. We can also arrange special interest activities such as learning to make your own perfume at a workshop in Grasse, chartered boat excursions, wine tasting, biking and more. During leisure time, enjoy your luxury resort and its beach club.

Booking Information >

All Artisans of Leisure tours are private and depart daily.

Please Contact Us for more information regarding the above tour, or to begin customizing your own itinerary.

The Artisans of Leisure Style of Travel:

Testimonials

Our guide in Japan arranged one-on-one conversations with some amazing artisans… lots of credit to Artisans for arranging things so well, understanding our interests and making sure they were communicated to Japan. ~ J.R., Raleigh, NC

The art scene in Mexico City was even better than we could have imagined. Thank you for organizing such a great guide. We never would have been able to experience the city in the same way without him. We really appreciated all of the Artisans of Leisure touches and special connections. ~ L.S., New York, NY

Our recent Vietnam trip was excellent…Thank you for arranging for us to visit the home and studio of the renowned art dealer in Hanoi. ~ A.R., Easton, MD

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Departures Conde Nast Traveler The New York Times Wall Street Journal Travel + Leisure Town & Country

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Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild on the Cote d’Azur in France

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The Landscape Murals and Beautiful Interiors of the Bergl Rooms in Schonbrunn Palace, Vienna, Austria

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First Look: The New Grand Egyptian Museum in Cairo, Egypt

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Gaudi & More: The Top Architecture Highlights of Barcelona, Spain

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Just Back: Art, Wine, History & Interiors in Florence, Tuscany & Rome, Italy

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Basalt Columns in Iceland: Architecture Inspired by Remarkable Landscapes

Must Visit: Naoshima, Japan’s Art Island

Interiors & Architecture: A Private Tour of Bayt al-Suhaymi in Cairo, Egypt

Architecture and Design Touring in Vienna

Museum Van Loon, a Historic House-Museum and Garden in Amsterdam

Visiting an Ancient Stepwell in Jaipur, Rajasthan

Jeju Island in South Korea: Contemporary Architecture, Tea Plantations, Volcanic Landscapes & More

The Iconic Chapel Bridge in Lucerne

Just Back: French Art, History, Interiors & Fine Dining in Paris & Versailles

Behind-the-Scenes Culinary and Crafts Touring in Japan

Must Experience: James Turrell’s  Gathered Sky  in Beijing

Ceramics in Japan: Robert Yellin’s Yakimono Gallery in Kyoto

Helsinki: Top 10 Architecture & Design Sites

Luis Barragan: Modern Architecture in Mexico City

Exclusive Tours of the Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg, Russia

Blue-and-white Ceramics and Azulejo Tiles in Portugal

A Conversation with Renowned Art Curator David Elliott

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• Luxury Tours

Artful Travels

Art workshops & retreats curated art & small cultural group tours, upcoming 2024 tours.

Painting & Sailing in Croatia with Robert Masla

June 16 - June 23, 2024 - From Dubrovnik to Split. Experience the beauty of Croatia and plein air painting with Robert Masla on a small group sailing tour through the breathtaking islands of Croatia with artist Robert Masla. In addition to the islands, we’ll tour ancient cities and UNESCO World Heritage sites with captivating coastlines for inspiration - all from the comfort of our private, luxury 41 Meter yacht. This tour has one place left!

Painting & Sailing in Croatia  with   David Dunlop

June 23 – 30, 2024 – Travel and paint with landscape artist David Dunlop, the engaging host and writer of two seasons of the Emmy Award winning national PBS television series, Landscapes Through Time with David Dunlop.

Join David Dunlop, modern day, old master whose luminous landscapes draw from both renaissance techniques and contemporary science on an exciting small group plein air painting and sailing tour through the breathtaking islands of Croatia. From the comfort of our 41 meter (134.5’) yacht MS Barbara.  David Dunlop will lead plein air painting sessions capturing the unique landscapes and seascapes of these Adriatic islands.

Paradores & Pousadas

March 18-April 1, 2024 - Discover the best of the Iberian Peninsula while traveling overland from Lisbon to Madrid. Enjoy captivating sites, excellent cuisine and the magic of Iberia's rich Roman and Moorish past. Along the way, we'll stay in historic paradores and pousadas lodgings - historic fortresses, stately palaces and medieval monasteries in Portugal & Spain.

Exploring Iceland

September 19-29, 2024

Experience the natural beauty and diverse landscapes on an 11-day, small group journey through Iceland. 

The journey is everything.

Explore the world while traveling in the comfort of a well appointed barge or motor sail yacht.  Stay in historical architectural treasures. 

Artful Travels works with dedicated artists and experienced travel partners.

Jeanne Fontaine

Founder/Travel Director

A passion for travel, love of the arts and a deep appreciation for the teaching artist is the inspiration for Artful Travels. Jeanne has led small group cultural tours nationally and internationally since 2003.  For nearly 30 years, Jeanne was the Courses Curator for the Museum School at the Springfield Museums overseeing the scheduling and implementation of studio art, art history and science classes for adults and children. In 2003, Jeanne took on the responsibility of coordinating the travel as well as the museum school classes. In this capacity, Jeanne had the privilege of working with amazing artists and teachers while coordinating and escorting international and local trips.  

Artist & Teacher Robert Masla

Robert is an award winning, internationally exhibited artist whose canvases, murals and portraits can be found in galleries, private residencies, corporations and film. With extensive teaching experience in all media, Robert conducts workshops from his home/studio in rural Ashfield, Massachusetts, where he lives with his family, and from their home/studio South – Casa de los Artistas, in Boca de Tomatlan, Mexico. 

In April 2022, Robert led a painting and barging tour in Holland. 

http://www.maslafineart.com

Artist & Teacher David Dunlop

David Dunlop is a modern day, old master whose luminous landscapes draw from both renaissance techniques and contemporary science.  A popular teaching artist with decades of experience, David teaches from his private studio, various museums, and art institutions with followers from around the globe. 

His paintings have been shown internationally and are held in the collections of major corporations. 

In addition to his success as a landscape artist and teacher, David is well known as the host and writer of the popular national PBS television series, “Landscapes Through Time with David Dunlop,” for which he won an Emmy and a CINE Golden Eagle Award.

In September 2015, David led a Painting & Barging in France

In September 2016, David led a  week of Painting in Toledo Spain 

http://www.daviddunlop.com

Where we're going in 2025

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Join Amy Boyce Osaki on one of her art-focused trips and walk softly into the world of art, history and architecture. Immerse yourself in a rich diversity of museums, and explore art “in situ” for a deeper insight into its role within a living culture.

These carefully crafted “art feasts” occur only once or twice a year. sign up to receive the e-newsletter to learn about upcoming trips. comment on this site, or send an email, to suggest the next destination., read more about amy’s story at the about us page on this site..

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Travel with The Met

Travel with The Met connects the Museum's wide and diverse audience to art, inspiration, and historical perspective. Our trips offer travelers the unique opportunity to see the world and humanity's highest artistic achievements with the guidance of The Met's renowned curators and educators. Itineraries focus on educational, enriching activities that will allow you to experience firsthand how art can bridge history and the present day to reveal our shared cultural heritage.

Trips are offered year-round to a variety of exciting destinations. More than just a vacation, a Travel with The Met international exploration combines curatorial expertise and behind-the-scenes viewing arrangements with spectacular itineraries and interesting companionship. The following list is updated regularly to include new itineraries as soon as they become available.

Set Sail with The Met!

Travel with The Met invites you to join our art-filled cultural cruises on one of our distinctive, privately chartered small ships and boutique riverboats. This summer, sail Homer’s “wine-dark sea” on our spectacular Aegean adventure into antiquity, cruising from Athens to Istanbul aboard the elegant Sea Cloud II . Travel with Met lecturer Frank Dabell , an acclaimed art historian whose passion and depth of knowledge about Greek and Roman art and architecture will inspire you.  In October, experience a unique journey by land and sea in the enchanting gem of Mediterranean Spain: Catalonia, the autonomous region with its own unique cultural identity, language, and ancient heritage. Join highly regarded museum educator Rika Burnham sharing her insights on historic Catalan art as your lecturer. Spend three nights in medieval Girona, venturing to Roman ruins, Salvador Dalí’s birthplace, and exceptional museums, and four nights sailing Sea Cloud II to art treasures in Valencia, Ibiza, and Mallorca.

Please contact a Met Travel consultant at Arrangements Abroad by phone 844-TRVLMET (844-878-5638); outside New York: 800-221-1944), or via email for more information or to reserve your place on any journey.

April 27–May 7, 2024

Aboard the brand-new small ship Ocean Albatros , embark on a captivating North Sea voyage to explore the influential Hanseatic League, a confederation of merchant guilds and market towns from the 12th to the 15th centuries, which generated unprecedented wealth along Europe’s northern coasts and laid the foundation for the Renaissance. Sail from the south of England to Denmark and discover the extravagant legacy of this prosperity, going behind the scenes of magnificent public buildings, lavish private houses, and richly furnished museums. Transfer from London to Portsmouth, where you will embark the recently christened Ocean Albatros . From England, sail to French Normandy for inside looks at marvelous châteaux, medieval cathedrals, and World War II history. In the Bayeux Cathedral, enjoy a private look at the sprawling Bayeux Tapestry, a landmark achievement of medieval art. Behold jewel-like medieval architecture in charming Bruges, Belgium. During Holland’s tulip season, discover millions of flowering bulbs at Keukenhof Gardens; experience Groningen, a hidden gem of a town; and enjoy exclusive private tours of museums such as Amsterdam’s Van Gogh Museum. Arrive in Germany for a day in Hamburg, with its massive UNESCO-listed district of brick warehouses, or delve into Hanseatic history at the European Hansemuseum in elegant Lübeck. Then navigate the picturesque, 61-mile-long Kiel Canal connecting the North Sea to the Baltic. Call in sparkling Rostock, the “Gateway to Scandinavia,” and spend a day in Copenhagen, where you’ll have a special tour of the Louisiana Museum of Modern Art. Traveling with You: Rika Burnham is a leading theorist and practitioner of art museum gallery teaching. Author of Teaching in the Art Museum: Interpretation as Experience , and lecturer at Columbia University, she has served as Head of Education at the Frick Collection, Museum Educator at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Project Director for TIME/Teaching Institute in Museum Education at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, and was appointed Getty Research Institute Museum Scholar in 2002 and 2018.

Cruise Rates: From $6,999 per person, double rate.

Activity Level:  Intermediate / Moderato

Download the brochure ( PDF ).

May 12–21 2024

In May 2024, embark on an enchanting cruise aboard the boutique riverboat Magnifique III , traversing the Low Countries from Amsterdam to Bruges. Journey along meandering rivers and canals, encountering majestic cathedrals, picturesque gardens, iconic windmills, and charming medieval villages. Immerse yourself in these cities’ medieval architectural splendor, from Amsterdam’s historic Begijnhof to Bruges’ serene béguinage . Travel with the guidance of seasoned museum educator Rika Burnham and enjoy private viewings of extraordinary masterpieces in churches and museums. From the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam to Antwerp’s Royal Museum of Fine Arts, Dutch and Flemish masters like Vermeer, Rembrandt, Bosch, and Bruegel will captivate you. Marvel at the meticulously restored Adoration of the Mystic Lamb in Ghent’s St. Bavo’s Cathedral. In Rotterdam, discover the city’s experimental 21st-century architecture, including the awe-inspiring Markthal, which combines residential apartments with a grand market, and access to the newly opened Depot Boijmans Van Beuningen, the world’s first public art storage facility.

Traveling with You: Rika Burnham is a leading theorist and practitioner of art museum gallery teaching. Author of Teaching in the Art Museum: Interpretation as Experience , and lecturer at Columbia University, she has served as Head of Education at the Frick Collection, Museum Educator at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Project Director for TIME/Teaching Institute in Museum Education at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, and was appointed Getty Research Institute Museum Scholar in 2002 and 2018.

Land/Cruise Rates: From $8,999 per person (for select single-occupancy-only cabins); from $9,999 per person, double rate.

Download the brochure (PDF).

July 8-17, 2024

Venture to the ancient cradle of Western Civilization on an Aegean Sea voyage from Athens to Istanbul. First, enjoy overnight hotel accommodations in the Greek capital, where a private, after-hours tour and reception at the Acropolis Museum—with views of the Parthenon—will be rare pleasures. Then embark on your seven-night Aegean cruise aboard the elegant Sea Cloud II , discovering timeless villages, whitewashed houses, natural splendors, and treasures of antiquity. Step ashore on stunning Greek islands of myth and legend, including Santorini and sacred Patmos. Sail onward to the Graeco-Roman sites of Asia Minor, now in modern-day Turkey. Enjoy a special excursion to Troy, immortalized in Homer’s Iliad . Discover the region’s fascinating history over several millennia, from Bronze Age archaeological wonders to Byzantine monasteries.

Traveling with You: Frank Dabell was educated at Oxford University and is a former Fellow of The Metropolitan Museum of Art. He has led tours for major museums on journeys throughout Europe, North Africa, the Mediterranean, and Russia and has been celebrated for his work as a travel program lecturer and guide by Travel + Leisure. Most recently, he led Travel with The Met’s 2023 program through the Aegean.

Land/Cruise Rates: From $8,999 per person, double rate

September 19–27, 2024

Embark the elegant Sea Cloud II in Venice for an unforgettable Adriatic Sea journey between the Italian and Croatian coastlines, stepping ashore to admire timeless towns and archaeological sites. Savor a rare and exclusive inside look at the landmark achievements in art of the many cultures—from ancient Greeks and Romans to Byzantines and Venetians—who have made the Adriatic region their home. Starting in the lustrous canals of Venice, journey to Ravenna, former capital of the Western Roman Empire, to admire the fifth- and sixth-century mosaics of its early Christian churches. Traverse the Adriatic to Dubrovnik, one of Europe’s best-preserved medieval cities and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, which Lord Byron called “the pearl of the Adriatic.” Discover nearby Hvar, a fertile island of green mountains, Venetian fortifications, and pale stone houses surrounded by rosemary, lavender, and laurel. Step ashore in Zadar, home to historic Roman ruins, medieval churches, cosmopolitan cafés, and quality museums. Further highlights include the seafront city of Pula, whose foundations go back to the fifth century B.C. Experience these cities as they were centuries ago by Roman magistrates and Venetian merchant princes—by sea.

Traveling with You: Keith Christiansen is Curator Emeritus, formerly the John Pope-Hennessy Chairman of the Department of European Paintings at The Metropolitan Museum of Art. He began work at The Met in 1977, and, during his 44 years there, organized numerous exhibitions on Renaissance and Baroque painting. He has written widely on Italian art and is the recipient of several awards.

Cruise Rates: From $7,999 per person, double rate

October 13–22, 2024

On this Mediterranean Sea adventure touching two continents, cruise to the temples and cities left behind by waves of civilizations, including prehistoric peoples and the ancient Greeks, Carthaginians, and Romans. Sail aboard Sea Cloud II as it travels from Malta to rugged yet beautiful Sicily, Tunisia, and Spain’s Balearic Islands. In Sicily, visit the magnificent Greek ruins of Agrigento and Segesta. In the North African country of Tunisia, experience Tunis and the ancient city of Carthage. In Sardinia, wander through Su Nuraxi di Barumini to see nuraghi , imposing Bronze Age structures only found on this island, and tour Cagliari, Sardinia’s ancient capital. Sail to the island of Menorca and its picturesque capital Mahón. After a memorable day at sea, disembark in Tarragona.

Traveling with You: Page Knox is Lecturer and Educator at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, where she offers her expertise on special exhibitions and the permanent collection, and also teaches membership classes. She is an adjunct professor of art history at Columbia University, where she received her Ph.D. in 2012.

Cruise Rates: From $9,999 per person, double rate

October 18–26, 2024

On this Balearic Sea adventure that combines a land program and an elegant cruise aboard Sea Cloud II , take an in-depth journey into the culture, history, and cuisine of cities along the Catalan coast and the Balearic islands of Ibiza and Mallorca. Experience the gems of Catalonia, starting with Girona, Northern Catalonia’s largest city. Over three nights with accommodations at an elegant hotel, discover Girona’s museums, galleries, and fine Romanesque and Gothic buildings, and visit the Museu d’Història dels Jueus, which highlights the contributions of Girona’s once-flourishing Jewish community. Continue to Figueres, the birthplace of Salvador Dalí and now home to his flamboyant theater-museum. Embark Sea Cloud II in Tarragona, formerly Tarraco, and explore its Roman ruins, the Iberian Peninsula’s oldest Roman settlement. On the Catalan coast, visit Valencia, where architectural styles abound, including architect Santiago Calatrava’s modern masterpieces. Stop on the glamorous island of Ibiza to explore its Phoenician history dating back 3,000 years, then head for the Balearic island of Mallorca. In its capital, Palma de Mallorca, tour La Seu, a spectacular sandstone cathedral that took 600 years to build, before returning to Tarragona for disembarkation.

Land/Cruise Rates: From $6,999 per person, double rate

Download the brochure ( PDF ). 

December 29,  2024–January 9, 2025

Embark on an extraordinary New Year’s journey into the heart of ancient Egypt. This exclusive program offers a unique blend of private plane travel, a four-night Nile River cruise aboard the elegant Sanctuary Nile Adventurer , and unparalleled access to Egypt’s legendary sites. The adventure begins in Cairo, where you’ll explore the Great Pyramids. Then see the Great Sphinx up close, bypassing the usual crowds. Visit the new National Museum of Egyptian Civilization, with a special look behind the scenes at its restoration center. Delve into the recently opened underground chambers of King Djoser’s Step Pyramid in Sakkara, and explore the tomb of Wahtye, adorned with statues, paintings, and hieroglyphs. A private flight to Luxor leads to visits to the UNESCO-listed necropolis in Thebes and rare access to Queen Nefertari’s tomb, known for its vivid wall paintings. Embark Sanctuary Nile Adventurer for your Nile River voyage, which takes you to sublime tombs and temples in Luxor, Edfu, Kom Ombo, and Aswan, with a private plane journey to the awe-inspiring temples of Abu Simbel. Conclude your journey in Cairo. You may choose to take part in an optional postlude in Jordan featuring the resplendent ancient wonders of Amman and Petra.

Traveling with You: Christopher Noey is an art historian, author, and an Emmy award-winning producer of films on art and culture who has been traveling to Egypt for 40 years. An expert in Asian and Islamic art, Mr. Noey has taught at Williams College and the City College of New York.

Land/Cruise Rates: From $13,999 per person, double rate

For more information, contact us by phone (212-570-3755), fax (212-396-5040), or email .

Stay informed: Sign up for our e-newsletter .

To reach our tour operator directly, please contact a Met Travel consultant at Arrangements Abroad by phone 844-TRVLMET (844-878-5638); outside New York: 800-221-1944),  email , or write to:

Arrangements Abroad 260 West 39th Street, 17th Floor New York, NY 10018-4424

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Welcome to Martin Randall Travel, the leading specialist in cultural holidays

We operate in around forty countries including the UK, continental Europe, North Africa, the Middle East, Central Asia, India, Japan, Vietnam and the Americas.

We offer an unequalled range of tours and events focusing on art, architecture, music, archaeology, history, gardens or gastronomy.

Tours for small groups are our ‘bread and butter’, but we also offer Martin Randall Festivals, short Music & History events and Culture Days.

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Our speakers are selected with great care. Their scholarship is unimpeachable but their ability to communicate their learning is equally important.

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Interesting choices of topic and location, excellent lecturers and faultless organisation of both travel and accommodation. Martin Randall Travel holidays are absolutely top of the range! Thank you! 

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• Preplanned tours
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Moscow Metro

The Moscow Metro Tour is included in most guided tours’ itineraries. Opened in 1935, under Stalin’s regime, the metro was not only meant to solve transport problems, but also was hailed as “a people’s palace”. Every station you will see during your Moscow metro tour looks like a palace room. There are bright paintings, mosaics, stained glass, bronze statues… Our Moscow metro tour includes the most impressive stations best architects and designers worked at - Ploshchad Revolutsii, Mayakovskaya, Komsomolskaya, Kievskaya, Novoslobodskaya and some others.

What is the kremlin in russia?

The guide will not only help you navigate the metro, but will also provide you with fascinating background tales for the images you see and a history of each station.

And there some stories to be told during the Moscow metro tour! The deepest station - Park Pobedy - is 84 metres under the ground with the world longest escalator of 140 meters. Parts of the so-called Metro-2, a secret strategic system of underground tunnels, was used for its construction.

During the Second World War the metro itself became a strategic asset: it was turned into the city's biggest bomb-shelter and one of the stations even became a library. 217 children were born here in 1941-1942! The metro is the most effective means of transport in the capital.

There are almost 200 stations 196 at the moment and trains run every 90 seconds! The guide of your Moscow metro tour can explain to you how to buy tickets and find your way if you plan to get around by yourself.

The Best Things to Do in Curaçao

W elcome to Curaçao-or, as local residents say, Bon Bini. On this Southern Caribbean island, sunny skies and blue waters abound , and as one of the western-most islands of the Leeward Antilles, Curaçao offers balmy temperatures year-round (between the mid-70s and mid-80s Fahrenheit) and has very few hurricanes .

It's a beach lover's dream, with some 38 beaches to choose from. At these sandy spots, visitors can couple a lazy few hours with a range of other activities, including snorkeling, cliff jumping, and cave swimming. But there's more to experience in Curaçao than warm weather and beaches-taking a deeper dive into history rooted in the trans-Atlantic slave trade, for example, or sampling local food while roaming the captivating capital city, Willemstad. Here are the best things to do in Curaçao, including art, culture, and outdoor activities.

1. Take a stroll on Queen Emma Bridge, overlooking Handelskade

Named in 1888 after a Dutch queen and affectionately called the "Swinging Old Lady," the floating Queen Emma Bridge swings open to let ships into the St. Anna Bay and connects Willemstad's two districts, Punda and Otrobanda ("other side"). On the Punda side, you are greeted by Handelskade , a row of historic buildings on the waterfront painted in vibrant colors.

2. See how Afro Curaçaoan people once lived, and break bread at Kas di Pal'I Maishi

Curaçao is a multi-ethnic Dutch colony with a population of about 150,000 people who speak Papiamento, a Creole language that blends Portuguese, Spanish, Dutch, and English, as well as dialects from Africa and the Arawak Indigenous people. Most Curaçaoans, however, are the descendants of enslaved Africans, and that oft-overlooked legacy is preserved at Kas di Pal'I Maishi , a traditional adobe house that typifies how Black people lived in rural Curaçao until 1950.

This arid, cacti-lined area is especially hot, so wear sunscreen and protective clothing. A guide explains how slavery shaped the island and gives a tour of the small house, transformed into a museum displaying common household artifacts such as dolls, clothing, and cooking utensils. For an even more immersive experience, sign up for a workshop to make Pan Será, a round bread that Afro Curaçaoans have baked for generations in an outdoor stone oven, long before there was a bakery on the island.

3. Discover street art with Art Now Tours

Take an urban art-filled excursion in Willemstad with Art Now Tours , founded by local artist Avantia Damberg. On the popular two-hour Punda Art Walk tour ($15 per adult), you will meet local artists and designers, get the inside scoop on the neighborhood's eye-catching street art-the Punda Wings mural is popular-and peruse the haggle-friendly shops for jewelry, crafts, and other locally made products. Additional tours explore the art scene in Otrobanda and Scharloo.

4. Get a history lesson at Kurá Hulanda Museum

This anthropological museum sits on the site of a former slave yard and merchant's home-and boasts the largest collection of African artifacts in the Caribbean. At Kurá Hulanda Museum , you'll get a comprehensive overview of the proud legacy of West African kingdoms, the harrowing Middle Passage, and the brutality of the trans-Altantic slave trade in the African Diaspora, which included the Americas and the Caribbean. Take a reflective walk through the outdoor sculpture garden, home to friendly island cats and a breathtaking bronze sculpture that from one side shows a woman's face and from the other the continent of Africa.

5. Salute to a hometown hero at the Tula Monument

In August of 1795, a Black man named Tula led a rebellion with his fellow enslaved people on the island. In response to their inhumane treatment by Dutch slave owners, Tula declared, "We have been tortured enough. We don't want to harm anybody. We do want our freedom." The bloody revolt lasted for more than a month, and thousands of enslaved people were liberated. After his capture, however, Tula was executed on October 3, 1795 on the south coast of the island in Otrobanda. That historic quarter of Willemstad is where you'll find a monument honoring this freedom fighter.

6. Find natural remedies at Dinah Veeris Herb Garden

Dinah Veeris is Curaçao's herb lady, and locals and tourists flock to her shop for holistic health advice and immunity-boosting teas and tonics. Guests are invited to explore her tranquil garden grounds , which have more than 300 species of plants. Veeris calls her garden Den Paradera ("the place where you feel at home"), after the Paraguiri Indians, who at one time grew healing herbs on the east side of the island.

7. Eat like a local at Marshe Bieu

Known as the Old Market, this enclosed open-air food court in Punda houses several vendors serving authentic and affordable Curaçaoan cuisine . Sharing plates of freshly prepared fish, chicken, and vegetables served family style with heaping sides of rice, salad, and plantains at tidy communal picnic tables is part of the charm, but you can also take the flavorful grub to go.

You can eat well across Curaçao, whether you're in the mood for grilled chicken, red snapper, or green rum. Other dishes not to miss include goat burger, keshi yena (stuffed cheese), and frites canard (fried cornmeal with duck confit).

8. Pick up a parting gift at Serena's Art Factory

In Papiamento, "chichi" is a nickname for an older sister, and the curvy and colorful figurine of the same name represents Caribbean queens well. The first Chichi sculpture was created by German artist Serena Israel, owner of Serena's Art Factory . For a memorable souvenir, pick up a handmade Chichi in the size and pattern of your choice, hand-painted by one of Serena's artists, or take a workshop and design your own cheeky Chichi.

9. Explore Christoffel National Park

Curaçao's largest national park is home to 263 bird species, nine species of reptiles, and a host of mammals including deer, rabbits, and bats. You'll also find the Savonet Museum , on the site of a 19th-century plantation house, which tells the story of the period of slavery, its abolishment, and the country's independence in 2010.

This article originally appeared in July 2021 and was updated in February 2024 with new information.