ABOUT OUR TOURS
Classical Pursuits creates unforgettable cultural experiences for travellers passionate about literature and the arts.
Each of our small-group tours has its own theme, from 1920s Paris to Zen arts in Japan to Renaissance masters of Venice.
Our tours are inspired by our own best learning and travel experiences. With Classical Pursuits, engage your mind, emotions, and senses. Consider new possibilities. Be delighted and even changed!
Why travel with Classical Pursuits?
Our specialist guides give you unparalleled context — and make it memorable.
A Classical Pursuits leader also accompanies each tour, working with the local guide to ensure a smooth and safe trip. The Classical Pursuits leader brings deep subject knowledge to the tour and leads the seminar discussions.
Our unique itineraries help you discover a destination like no other tour provider. Each itinerary balances can’t-miss sights with less-known gems to fully develop the tour theme and take you places you might not have found on your own. Custom walks and activities reveal the interplay between past and present.
Our small group size comes with big opportunities. Because our groups are capped at 16, you get lots of face time with your local guide and Classical Pursuits leader. And you’ll stay in hotels, eat in restaurants, and visit places that are full of character — and off-limits to larger tour groups.
What’s a Classical Pursuits tour like?
Our tours go at a human pace. You won’t be changing hotels every night — we spend at least two nights in each place, usually more. We also don’t rush from sight to sight, avoiding an experience where the tour becomes a forgettable blur.
Our tours balance structure and spontaneity. More than ever, smooth travel requires careful planning. We take care of this so that you can focus on your vacation. At the same time, our small groups and local connections give us the flexibility to adapt to the group’s interests. And each day you’ll have time on your own to explore or just relax.
Above all, Classical Pursuits tours are fun! Like you, we never tire of exploring our diverse and complex world. We love bringing together all the pieces that make a place unique — people, history, culture, art, food, drink, landscape — and sharing them with you. We love being part of that wonderful process where a group who started as strangers ends as friends.
Pre-tour readings and seminars
Readings and seminars are an integral part of our tours. All our trips come with books to read ahead of your departure, and a custom guidebook with hand-picked background reading. (These are included in the tour price and are sent to you in advance.)
While on tour, you’ll gather every two or three days with your fellow travellers and tour leader to discuss the readings in a seminar. We understand this might be different from other tours you’ve taken. And that it might even sound a bit like school… but we take a different approach.
Seminars are informal and collaborative. Our goal is to help everyone leave with a deeper understanding of the readings we’ve done and the places these readings connect us to. You don’t need any previous knowledge before a tour, and we strive to make your experience meaningful and enjoyable:
• We don’t load you down. We keep the reading manageable.
• We provide guidance on how to get the most out of what you read.
• We help you prepare with a pre-trip online gathering that includes a mini-discussion, so you can see a seminar in action before you depart.
• We offer further optional recommendations of books, movies, music, websites, lectures, etc. for you to go as deep as you would like into the tour theme.
Past travellers tell us these seminars are one of their favourite parts of a Classical Pursuits tour. They relish the chance to talk with others who value literature and the arts as much as they do. On our tours you’re not just listening to lectures — you’re creating your own understanding of a place through a lively exchange of ideas.
FAQs
01 How are Classical Pursuits tours different from other cultural tours?
02 Who's a typical traveller?
03 Do you have a lot of solo travellers?
Yes! We regularly welcome solo travellers on our tours. Tours are a mix of solo travellers, couples and friends. For almost all independent meals, your leader invites anyone who would like to eat together to meet in a local restaurant.
04 How large are the groups?
Groups range from 12 to 18 travellers.
05 How much free time do we have?
We try keep things flexible and plan an unscheduled morning, afternoon, or evening each day. Participants are free to go off on their own or in small groups at their leisure.
06 Will I feel like I'm in school?
No, and that’s a good thing!
We seek a deeper understanding of the books and art we are studying, and their connection to the place. Discussions are collaborative, and we build on each other’s ideas. The main role of the leader is to ask questions to get you thinking. We do ask you to complete the reading in advance, but this is for your personal enrichment and pleasure. One some trips, seminar discussions include presentations by the leader or local guide to provide richer context.
07 I have never studied literature or art. Am I going to be out of place?
08 Where do I get the book(s) we are going to discuss?
We ship the books and our custom guidebook to you once the trip is confirmed, approximately 3 months before departure.
We also support you with questions that can help you focus your reading, optional materials for greater context, and discussion guides that help both new and returning travellers get the most out of the seminars.
09 Why would I want to spend time in Paris or Venice discussing a book when I could be out exploring?
10 Who organizes the trips?
Classical Pursuits develops the themes, selects the readings, and helps shape the itinerary. All our tours operate under the umbrella of Worldwide Quest, a full-service tour operator that is registered with the Travel Industry Council of Ontario (Reg: #2667946). Worldwide Quest arranges the logistics for each trip to complement our literary theme. They handle all trip bookings and insurance. They are also an accredited agent of the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
11 Who leads the trips?
Most trips have two leaders: The Classical Pursuits trip host and discussion leader, and the local guide (or guides, for some multi-destination trips). We sometimes have specialized museum or walking guides. And we often bring in local members of the community for informal talks and presentations. Each leader is selected for their leadership and travel experience, and collegiality.
12 How are flight arrangements made?
Classical Pursuits has learned through experience that many travelers are not interested in group flights. First, they come from all over North America and do not wish to find their way to designated departure points. Further, many wish to extend their stay, either at the beginning or the end. And, of course, there are the proverbial points or miles people wish to use. For all of these reasons, we do not offer group flights. But Worldwide Quest is happy to help you book your flight from wherever you live for the dates you prefer.
