About Smithsonian

Smithsonian Journeys Travel Adventures, a partnership between Smithsonian Journeys and Collette Vacations, offers the best value-priced learning vacations worldwide. Engage in discussions with field experts as you make your way to worldwide destinations. Experiences like exploring Australia’s aboriginal culture or following an Egyptologist to the Pyramids of Giza are woven into inclusive programs, crafted for individuals seeking the thrill of discovery and learning. Custom-crafted tours are created for adventurous travelers who seek the thrill of discovery and learning, combined with flexibility and great value.

Achieve the Perfect Balance of Learning and Fun

Each itinerary provides the perfect balance between planned activities and unscheduled time, so you can enjoy the tour at your own pace. Use your free time to linger in a favorite museum, wander through a historic district, or people-watch at a sidewalk café.

Experience the Local Flavor

The meals and accommodations featured on our tours reflect the flavor of the region and uphold the quality you expect from Smithsonian Journeys. From a hotel nestled in a historic district to a delicious meal highlighting local specialties, every aspect of your trip should be enriching and unforgettable.

Travel in Good Company

Our tours buzz with energy! It comes from the adventure of traveling with a group of people who share similar interests and a passion for learning about the world. Often the most lasting elements of a Smithsonian journey are the friendships that develop among our travelers. Not only does this sense of camaraderie create harmony on tour, it also brings travelers back to Smithsonian Journeys Travel Adventures time and time again.

Relax and Enjoy the Adventure

From start to finish, your journey will be guided by a knowledgeable and professional tour manager. Our travel experts orchestrate all details of your vacation, from leading you through town to making sure your luggage is delivered on time. They have a wealth of information about your destination and are a great resource for insider tips. So look out the window, get lost in thought, and soak up the moment. They’ll handle the details.

What’s Included? (place in box on right)

As a guest on a Smithsonian Journeys Travel Adventures learning vacation you’ll enjoy:

• Expert guest speakers who enhance your understanding of the destination as they discuss Smithsonian-approved topics.
• The services of a professional tour manager.
• Quality accommodations and many included meals and activities.
• Private transportation on a deluxe, climate-controlled motorcoach.
• Complimentary baggage handling.
• Festive welcome and farewell receptions featuring local cuisine.

Meet the Experts!

High-caliber guest speakers – from archaeologists to historians – are one of the hallmarks of Smithsonian Journeys Travel Adventures. Informative presentations enable you to experience your destination in a more meaningful way. Learn about the forces that created the striking landscapes of Patagonia with an expert in glaciology; delve into the achievements of the ancient Egyptians with an Egyptologist in Cairo; or meet a marine biologist and learn about the ecosystem of the Great Barrier Reef. Wherever you go with Smithsonian Journeys Travel Adventures, fuel your enthusiasm and share your curiosity with experts like these.

Gihan El Tabaei (Gigi) started as a professional guide in 1983. She has a Bachelors Degree in Archaelogy with a minor in Philosophy from American University in Cairo, a degree in Ancient Egyptian History from Egoth Institute, and degrees from Charles University. Besides guiding, she travels throughout the Western world lecturing in Egyptian history and the role of women in Islam. “Egypt is a land of great civilizations and of rich history. It always welcomes its guests with open arms and hospitality.” Gigi welcomes you to Egypt on Journey through Jordan and Egypt .

Amy Ballard acts as Senior Historic Preservation Specialist in the Architectural History and Historic Preservation Division of the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C. She is a member of the Society for Commercial Archaeology and Friends of the Hermitage Museum. At the Smithsonian Institute, she has led various exhibits, including “The Art of Grand Duchess Olga Alexandrovna,” and “Happy Birthday St. Petersburg.” This published and award-winning woman brings her passion for history to the Footsteps of the Patriots tour.

Anayansi Castillo brings our Discover Panama tour to life with her expert insight into environmentalism and tropical biology. She earned a Master of Science Degree in Environmental Assessment and worked as a Panama Canal tour guide in the International Communication and Tourism Division. Since 1993, she has worked as a BCI Tour Guide in the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute. Published for expertise on birds, insects and the tropics, she cultivates her passion with memberships to the National Association of Ecotourism Guides and formerly the Panama Audubon Society.

Enjoy Exclusive Highlights

For 2011, we’ve added even more value to your Smithsonian Journeys Travel Adventure tours, by sprinkling exclusive tour experiences into every itinerary. From an extra lecture to a new special meal, every tour will make you feel like a VIP; every tour features an exclusive experience just for you!

Exclusive Moments like these make your tour EXTRA special:

• Visit a Nubian village with your dedicated Egyptologist on Journey through Ancient Egypt.
• On our Footsteps of Patriots tour, visit the Smithsonian Museums (National Museum of America History and National Museum of the Native American).
• Tour the Royal Shakespeare Company’s Courtyard Theatre on Portrait of Britain.
• Enjoy a day tour of the Barro Colorado on our Discover Panama tour.
• On our Rockies Discovery tour, savor a wildlife dinner in Jasper.
• Enjoy a full day tour to the Barossa Valley with wine tastings, a lesson in wine production and dinner on Australia and New Zealand Adventure.

About The Smithsonian Institution

Dedicated to discovery and lifelong learning, the Smithsonian Institution is known globally for the astonishing breadth of its collections and the depth of its research in science, history, and the arts. Over its 165-year history, the Institution has amassed more than 142 million objects ranging from the tiniest insects to magnificent spacecraft. More than 20 million people visit the famous Smithsonian museums each year to see a dazzling range of artifacts that highlight the natural world and the achievements of humankind. Your participation in Smithsonian Journeys Travel Adventures makes you a part of the mission of Smithsonian’s 19 museums and nine research centers – to help preserve national treasures and shape the future through science, research and exhibitions.

About Collette Vacations

Collette Vacations is a family-owned business headquartered in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, and enjoys the distinction of being the oldest major tour operator in the United States. For over 90 years, our team of travel enthusiasts has fulfilled millions of vacation dreams. With knowledgeable, professional tour managers, an industry-leading cancellation waiver, and round trip Door to Door sedan service from home to the airport with air-inclusive reservations, Collette Vacations makes seeing the world simple and hassle-free.