Insight Vacations has announced more than 100 definite departures on trips across Europe and the Eastern Mediterranean.
As more and more countries begin to open their borders, many Insight Vacations guided tours can take your clients there. Insight’s definite departures are scheduled now through the end of October. Keep in mind to book your clients ahead before the most desirable departure dates are sold out.
“With the announcement of the European Union and other countries re-open to U.S. travelers, we are very excited to travel again with our guests on these definite departures, offering the utmost service, wellbeing, and unforgettable immersive experiences,” says Guy Young, president of Insight Vacations, in a press statement. “We want to make sure our guests feel confident in booking their next journey with us, and our wide range of definite departures provides plenty of options for when, how and where they want to travel.”
If more destinations reopen, Insight Vacations will add more departures to its list, which already include destinations such as Italy, Spain, Croatia, France, Ireland, Iceland and Germany.
Insight’s definite departures include Small Groups with a maximum of 24 guests and an industry-first Well-being Director on trips with 22 or more guests, who will provide assistance during guests’ travels; plus new well-being protocols and hygiene standards developed with the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) and the World Health Organization (WHO).
Several Insight journeys on these definite departures include new MAKE TRAVEL MATTER Experiences with not-for-profit partner, TreadRight, that are designed to uplift local communities while supporting the United Nations’ Global Goals.
Here are some of the definite departures for European and Eastern Mediterranean tours that Americans can book in 2021:
Best of Italy – 11 Days
This tour starts in Rome, where guests get special VIP access into the Vatican Museums and the famous Bramante Staircase. They’ll also visit the Sistine Chapel and view the dome of St. Peter’s Basilica. For an authentic dining experience in Tuscany, guests will indulge in a private picnic of seasonal produce on the grounds of the estate Italian Renaissance diplomat and writer, Niccolo Machiavelli. As special MAKE TRAVEL MATTER experience in Venice, guests will witness the ancient skill of glassblowing, now practiced by few masters, and watch artisans create delicate works of art using rare traditional practices dating back to the 15th century. Along the way, they’ll also see Italy’s iconic landmarks with local experts, such as Doge’s Palace, the Colosseum, the leaning tower of Pisa, the cobbled streets on Pompeii, and the Isle of Capri. Definite Departures take place on Sep. 04, Sep. 11, Sep. 18, Oct. 09, and Oct. 21.
Best of Spain and Portugal – 15 Days
On this journey guests will follow the fortunes of the Spanish, Portuguese and Moorish Kingdoms. In Madrid, guests will witness the world’s finest collection of Spanish paintings, plus an impressive foreign collection, as they tour the Prado Museum with an art historian. In Grenada, they’ll visit the famous Alhambra Palace and Generalife Gardensm but while others wait in line, your clients will be exploring alongside a fascinating Local Expert keen to share insights into this Moorish landmark. A MAKE TRAVEL MATTER Experience in Seville, they’ll visit The Cristina Heeren Foundation, which aims to promote the teaching and conservation of flamenco and is a beneficiary of a TreadRight Foundation grant. They will meet the students of the foundation, learn some basic flamenco steps, and then enjoy a show performed by the students. Guests will also enjoy dining experiences of Spanish cuisine, and in Torremolinos, guests will hear the stories of local life as they are invited into the home of a local family to join them for a freshly prepared, traditional lunch, with wine. Food lovers will enjoy a special dining experience in Valencia, where they will learn the authentic recipe of paella by joining a local chef for a cooking demonstration. Definite Departures are scheduled for Sep. 03 , Sep. 12 , Sep. 17 , Sep. 24 , Sep. 26 , Oct. 01 , Oct. 02 , Oct. 09 , and Oct. 15.
Natural Wonders of Iceland – 9 Days
Clients will experience waterfalls, volcanoes and landscapes. In Hellisheidi, guests will visit Iceland’s newest geothermal heat and electric power station, Hellisheidavirkjun, the second largest of its kind in the world. On a new MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience, they’ll learn why Hellisheidavirkjun is a world leader in the utilization of geothermal energy. Guests can explore Reykjavik with Insight Choice, choosing between visiting the mineral-rich waters of the Blue lagoon, or discovering Reykjavik’s top sights on a walking tour with a Local Expert. At Lake Jokulsarlon, clients will see its blue icebergs and the setting for the James Bond film ‘Die Another Day’, and in Skaftafell, they’ll visit the amazing alpine setting of the National Park and experience the Vatnajokull—Europe’s largest glacier. Clients will explore many other natural wonders such as Gullfoss’s two-tiered waterfall, the hot springs at Geysir, Saefellsjokull National Park’s most famous volcano, and the scenic mountain passes of Almannaskard and the Modrudal Desert. Definite Departures take place on July 11, Aug. 01, Aug. 08 , Aug. 22 , and Aug. 29.
For more information, visit insightvacations.com.
