A new tour operator has launched its initial offerings of itineraries, all designed in collaboration with experts, enabling travelers to experience a side of destinations not always found.
Passage Journeys, the newest brand within the Certares Management family of travel-focused companies, will debut its inaugural trips next year. The operator is launching five itineraries with plans to expand.
The trips, which will host approximately 24 guests, were designed with experts on the destinations, such as authors, historians, travel writers and chefs. General manager Kristen Cash Dennison said the collaboration "brings an entirely different dimension to the experience."
"Travelers today have access to virtually every destination on earth, yet many are searching for something more meaningful from their experiences," she said. "Passage Journeys was created in response to that shift."
Cash Dennison added that these itineraries are heavily thematic and designed for guests who want to more deeply immerse themselves in a destination and topic.
She said that travel advisors will serve as an important part of Passage Journey's sales strategy, and the company plans to build out training opportunities for them. The targeted demographic is travelers who are at least 55 years old and intellectually and culturally curious.
Passage Journeys' tour offerings
The five programs span the globe, with two in Asia and three in Europe.
A trip to Bhutan was created alongside Eric Weiner, who is known for his philosophical travel books and will accompany participants on one departure date. Inspired by his work, the 13-day itinerary was designed to explore the country's philosophy of happiness. Focusing on daily Bhutanese life, trip highlights include learning about textile traditions, visiting religious landmarks and exploring the famous Tiger's Nest monastery.
Travelers embarking on a 13-day tour of Japan will experience the country like a local, thanks to Pico Iyer, a celebrated writer who has been a longtime resident there. The trip's focus is to encounter Japan's moments of everyday life. Visitors will learn about the country's balance of innovation and heritage, discover more about Zen philosophy and visit landmarks.
Historian, author and educator David Eisenhower helped design a nine-day trip in Normandy, France, infusing his personal perspective as the grandson of President Dwight D. Eisenhower. Passage Journeys praises Eisenhower's "unparalleled insight" into the history that participants will discover on this itinerary, where guests will explore the beaches where troops landed on D-Day, including Omaha Beach.
A nine-day schedule in Provence, France, was created by travel expert and television host Joseph Rosendo to immerse guests in the region's culture, focused on discovering the "heart and soul" of Provence. Visitors can expect trips through the region's countryside, experiencing the commotion of local markets and hunting for truffles.
Lastly, foodies can explore Florence on a journey curated by cookbook author Carla Capalbo, who is widely lauded as an authority on Italian cuisine. Highlights include visiting the Accademia Gallery to see Michelangelo's "David," experiencing a historic Frescobaldi wine estate and exploring the medieval city of Siena.