illuminated tours

Experience Pilgrimage

Take travel to another level, welcome to illuminated journeys.

We are in our 24th season of designing and leading pilgrimage experiences that we affectionately call Illuminated Journey s. In 2025 we will celebrate our 25th and final season. These years have been filled with surprising transformations, incredible people and deeply satisfying adventures. We invite you to join us in this meaningful and reflective world of pilgrimage travel. If you’ve been thinking of traveling with us, now is the time. 

Illuminated

Our lives are filled with moments of brilliance often overlooked. Meaningful travel illuminates those moments.

An affirmation that our life is a journey both inside and out.

Outer Action - Inner Meaning

Through the exploration of outer landscapes we uncover deep and soulful inner meanings. With intention the outer action of our journey can be filled with inner meaning.

What is Pilgrimage?

“A pilgrimage is a ritual journey with a hallowed purpose. Every step along the way has meaning. The pilgrim knows that life giving challenges will emerge. A pilgrimage is not a vacation; it is a transformational journey during which significant change takes place. New insights are given. Deeper understanding is attained. New and old places in the heart are visited. Blessings are received and healing takes place. On return from the pilgrimage, life is seen with different eyes. Nothing will ever be quite the same again.”

– Macrina Wiederkehr, Behold Your Life , p. 11

You Are Invited to Join Us

Don’t worry, we’ll fully prepare you to enjoy this unique, sacred travel experience. Our  pilgrimage  ‘tours’ take us to fabulous places such as Ireland, Scotland, The Republic of Georgia, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, and France. The difference is that we prepare our groups to listen deeply to the experience and we carefully choose where we go and where we stay to build an itinerary that lets us discover the magic of ‘Thin Places.’ We also resist the temptation to heap experience upon experience before we have time to process, through journaling and group reflection, the themes that bring it all home to us.

We provide people the opportunity to step deeper inside themselves by stepping out in Pilgrimage.

Experience the inner contemplative awareness of the outer sacred journey.

“Illuminated Journeys takes the time to ensure that each pilgrim understands and experiences the inner contemplative awareness of the outer sacred journey. Brad’s passion for pilgrimage is contagious.”

– Wally, Middle School Teacher, Denver CO

Illuminated Rome Panoramic Guided Tour

Starting time -

Duration 2 hours

Multi-language Tour guide

Tour highlights

Guide languages:

Meeting point:

8.00pm in Via Giovanni Amendola, 32 Termini Station (Metro A e B stop Termini)

Tour description

Discover some of the main monuments of the Eternal City with its lights, where the romantic atmosphere reigns in illuminated Rome .

After a short ride by our bus, crossing Republic Square and driving along the ancient Aurelian wall , you will reach the first place where you can get off, to enjoy a nice walk through the streets of the city center in order to reach the most famous fountain of Rome, the Trevi Fountain . Actually being the facade of a building ( Poli Palace ) it’s considered a perfect fusion of architecture and sculpture. Here you can keep up the tradition of throwing coins into the fountain.

Coming back to the bus, we continue driving through the city admiring some of the most famous monuments of Rome, such as the Colosseum , the Circus Maximus , the Justice Palace , the Synagogue , having even a chance to take a beautiful picture of the illuminated St. Peter’s Basilica , to reach finally the second and last stop of this tour, along the river Tiber, from where you can reach in a few minutes one of the squares symbol of Rome, Piazza Navona . Here you can admire the beautiful Fountain of the Four Rivers by Bernini, the facade of the St. Agnese in Agone Church by Borromini, and the Moro fountain and Neptune fountain adorning the square.

The tour ends in Piazza Navona.

What's included in the price?

Things to know.

Departures are guaranteed with a minimum group of 6 participants .

Days of the week : Tuesday – Thursday – Saturday – Sunday (evening).

This tour will not take place on 24 and 31 december . 

Duration : About 2 hours

Bulky luggage is not allowed.

Cancellation policy

• Preplanned tours
• Daytrips out of Moscow
• Themed tours
• Customized tours
• St. Petersburg

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.

• Moscow Tours
• Customized tours
• Moscow for kids
• Evening activities
• Moscow evening activities
• St Petersburg evening activities
• Day trips out of Moscow
• Golden Ring tours
• St Petersburg tours
• Russian tour destinations
• Package tours
• Moscow highlights
• Travel Tips
• Upcoming group tours
• Moscow events

The wonders of Moscow metro

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Things to do in Des Moines this weekend for April 11-14, including Lil Wayne, Monster Jam

If you want to stay on top of all the fun things to do in Des Moines, sign up for Off Hours, your  free weekly newsletter  from the Des Moines Register that showcases all things fun you can do in central Iowa. Recently, we've written about  pizza farms ,  karaoke bars ,  where to go thrifting ,  where to buy crafts ,  vegan restaurants ,  gluten-free options ,  things to do in Iowa this winter , the  Amana Colonies  and  where to buy plants . If you  sign up for our newsletter , you get a whole list of fun places to go, things to do, what to eat, and more early Thursday morning in your inbox.

Alicia Roth Weigel

Thursday night: Get to know Alicia Roth Weigel, a change agent who is working to improve the political and social landscape for marginalized populations in the South and around the world. She raises and invests capital to grow LGBTQIA-led companies. She appears at a 6 p.m. talk at the Temple Theater, 1011 Locust St., Des Moines. The event is free but participants do need to register online at capitalcitypride.org .

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Thursday night: “I have no stress, because I am the best.” Rapper Lil Wayne plays Wells Fargo Arena, 233 Center St. in Des Moines, during a 7:30 p.m. show with special guest rapper Cordae opening. Some of Lil Wayne’s most recognizable hits include “A Milli,” “How To Love,” “Lollipop” and “6 Foot 7 Foot.” For tickets, from $51 to $252, head to hyveetix.com .

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Wild Lights Festival

Thursday night:  The lights go on for  Blank Park Zoo’s Wild Lights Festival  starting at 7:30 p.m. Through May 27 on Wednesday through Sunday nights, the zoo at 7401 S.W. Ninth St., Des Moines, showcases nearly 50 handcrafted, larger-than-life, illuminated Asian lanterns shaped like animals and mythical creatures. Zoo officials suggest that visitors should arrive around sunset and plan 60 to 90 minutes for the best viewing experience. Tickets for peak times start at $25 for nonmembers and $21 for members. Head  online  to reserve a ticket.

’Beautiful: The Carole King Musical‘

Thursday night:  "I Feel the Earth Move." Before Carole King wrote 118 pop hits, she was a young songwriter from Brooklyn.  “Beautiful: The Carole King Musical”  takes you back to her start and through her hits such as “You’ve Got a Friend” and “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman.” This jukebox musical plays at the  Des Moines Community Playhouse , 831 42nd St., Des Moines, at 7:30 p.m. and runs Wednesdays through Sundays through April 21.  Tickets  start at $29.

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Martha Redbone

Thursday night: Native and African-American vocalist/songwriter/composer/educator Martha Redbone brings her brand of American roots music to the Temple Theater, 1011 Locust St., Des Moines at a 7:30 p.m. show. Her songs and storytelling explore her life experiences as a Native and Black woman, spanning social justice issues while bridging traditions from past to present and connecting cultures. Tickets are $20 to $50.

Middle of the Map Tattoo Convention

Friday afternoon: Catch nearly 300 of the best tattoo artists from around the country including alum from the reality show “Ink Master” for the fourth annual Middle of the Map Tattoo Convention at the Iowa Events Center , 730 Third St., Des Moines. The weekend features live tattooing, live music, fire dancing, and prizes for more than 25 tattoo competitions, along with a pinup competition. The convention runs on Friday from 2 p.m. to midnight, Saturday from 11 a.m. to midnight and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tickets range from $10 to $40.

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Friday night: It's an epic battle of sommeliers. Watch two-time champion Rae Doyle from the Surety Hotel take on Sam Tuttle of Oak Park during Iron Somm from Winefest Des Moines at the Krause Gateway Center, 1423 Grand Ave., Des Moines. The 6 p.m. event includes a five-course meal from Aaron Holt of Doolittle Farms, Jacob Schroeder of Crafted Food Services, chefs Emila Zenkovic and Matti Suttter of Allora, and chef Alix Brower of Dore Bakery. Your votes for best pairing with each course determines the winner. Tickets are $175.

Mason Ramsey

Friday night: Mason Ramsey was discovered singing in an aisle at his local Walmart. Now he brings his country hits “Before I Knew It” and “Twang” to Wooly’s, 504 E. Locust St., Des Moines, for a 7 p.m. show. Halle Kearns opens. Tickets start at $18.

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Jay Pharoah

Friday night: Jay Pharoah spent six seasons on “Saturday Night Live” before leaving in 2020. His stash of impressions includes President Barack Obama; hip-hop stars Jay Z, Kanye West, and Kendrick Lamar; and even comedians Katt Williams and Kevin Hart. Now he brings his comedy show to the Funny Bone, 560 S. Prairie View Drive, West Des Moines, for a 7:30 and 10 p.m. show for $30 to $40 . He returns Saturday night at 7 and 9:30 p.m.

Vintage market

Saturday morning: Stop by a vintage clothing market from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at The Picker Knows, 1208 Grand Ave., West Des Moines. Clothing at the market ranges from the 1950s to Y2K. Shoppers can also grab drinks at a full cash bar, food, giveaways, and more.

Monster Jam

Saturday afternoon: Watch as giant, 12,000-pound monster trucks perform stunts, battle and tear up dirt when Monster Jam comes to town. Some of the world’s most popular trucks like Grave Digger, Max-D, Megalodon and more compete in freestyle, skills and racing competitions at Wells Fargo Arena, 233 Center St. in Des Moines. Doors open an hour early for a Monster Jam Pit Party to see the massive trucks up close, meet drivers and crews, get autographs, and take pictures. Shows take place at 1 and 7 p.m. Saturday and 1 p.m. Sunday. Tickets start at $30.

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Gina Gedler

Saturday night: “Let's break out the booze and have a ball if that's all there is,” Peggy Lee sings. Local singer Gina Gedler takes on the hits of Lee, known for songs such as “Is That All There Is?” and “Fever.” Gedler takes the stage at Noce , 1326 Walnut St., Des Moines, at 7 p.m. with tickets starting at $25.

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Architecture tour

Sunday afternoon: The Iowa Architectural Foundation hosts a pub crawl and guided architectural tour of downtown Des Moines starting at 1 p.m. from Hessen Haus , the Iowa Taproom , Royal Mile , or El Bait Shop . The $50 tour includes food and adult beverages, while the walk between each venue includes a docent pointing out notable buildings in the East Village, downtown, Court Avenue District, and the Market District. Find tickets on EventBrite .

Susan Stapleton is the entertainment editor and dining reporter at The Des Moines Register. You can reach out to her on  Facebook ,  Twitter , or  Instagram , or drop her a line at  [email protected] .