Tours
SMALL GROUP JOURNEYS | KNOWLEDGE & INSPIRATION | EXPERT TOUR LEADERS
Tour Program
SOUTH KOREA: Classic to Contemporary
Dates: 28 April - 06 May 2024
Tour Leader: Dr Nick Gordon
Price: $8,800pp twinshare
Status: Places available
Get to know South Korea, from its stunning UNESCO World Heritage-listed palaces and temples, to its vibrant contemporary art and architecture.
South Korea
& Japan
Dates: 28 April - 14 May 2024
Tour Leader: Dr Nick Gordon
Price: $17,500pp twinshare
Status: Limited places available
Discover contemporary art and architecture in South Korea & Japan on this 17-day tour combining South Korea: Classic to Contemporary and Fukuoka, Naoshima and Tokyo tours.
Fukuoka, Naoshima
& Tokyo
Dates: 05-14 May 2024
Tour Leader: Dr Nick Gordon
Price: $9,600pp twinshare
Status: Limited places available
Discover the different sides of Japan, from the preservation of ancient traditions in Kyushu, to the art islands of the Inland Sea and the stunning contemporary art and architecture of Tokyo.
Secret
Sicily
Dates: 08 - 22 May 2024
Tour Leader: Dr Estelle Lazer & Dr Kathryn Welch
Price: $11,750pp twinshare
Status: Limited places available
Discover the delights of Sicily beyond the big cities and tourist crowds. Explore less-visited archaeological and artistic sites while based in beautiful coastal and rural locations.
Exploring Medieval Burgundy
Dates: 09-18 May 2024
Tour Leader: Dr Kathleen Olive
Price: $7,990pp twinshare
Status: Waitlist
Explore Burgundy’s cultural heritage, from outstanding medieval art and architecture to prestigious food and wine, complemented by a program of scenic walks in historic districts.
turin, genoa & the french riviera
Dates: 21 May - 05 June 2024
Tour Leader: Dr Louise Marshall & Dr Kathleen Olive
Price: $12,450pp twinshare
Status: Limited places available
Discover outstanding art and architecture in Italy and southern France, from the hidden gems of Turin and Genoa to the exuberant modernity of the French Riviera.
The Prague
Spring Festival
Dates: 23 May - 05 June 2024
Tour Leader: Clive Paget
Price: $11,750pp twinshare
Status: Places available
Enjoy fine orchestral and chamber performances at the Prague Spring Festival and explore Czechia in depth, with performing arts writer and specialist Jansson Antmann.
COPENHAGEN, HAMBURG & BERLIN
Dates: 31 May - 15 June 2024
Tour Leader: Robert Gay
Price: $13,650pp twinshare
Status: Limited places available
Enjoy outstanding performances in fine venues in Denmark and Germany, including Copenhagen’s stunning opera house, Berlin’s Staatsoper Unter den Linden and the Elbphilharmonie in Hamburg.
the
venice biennale
Dates: 4-12 June 2024
Tour Leader: Dr Nick Gordon
Price: $6,250pp twinshare
Status: Waitlist
Dive into the world of contemporary art, from major retrospectives to the global cutting edge, on the 2024 offering of our 9-day tour.
The Aix-en-Provence Opera Festival
Dates: 11-21 July 2024
Tour Leader: Robert Gay
Price: $11,700pp twinshare
Status: Limited places available
Participate in France’s premiere music festival, enjoying operas and vocal recitals from the Baroque to contemporary premieres in outdoor venues and historic theatres.
Hokkaido and Tohoku:
The road North
Dates: 22 July – 07 August 2024
Tour Leader: Dr Kathleen Olive
Price: $13,950pp twinshare
Status: Waitlist
Discover the path less travelled in northern Japan over its moderate summer, exploring diverse histories, indigenous culture, serene temples and exquisite natural beauty.
The Venice Biennale
& Film Festival
Dates: 29 August - 06 September 2024
Tour Leader: Dr Nick Gordon
Price: $7,500pp twinshare
Status: Places available
Experience two of the most prestigious art festivals in the world – the Venice Biennale and International Film Festival – on this 9-day tour.
STOCKHOLM TO HELSINKI:
A BALTIC JOURNEY
Dates: 26 August - 10 September 2024
Tour Leader: Dr Matthew Laing
Price: $12,850pp twinshare
Status: Places available
Discover a shared history of Vikings, Teutonic knights, Hanseatic traders and empire, on this Baltic journey.
VIENNA
TO TRIESTE
Dates: 14-29 September 2024
Tour Leader: Dr Nick Gordon
Price: $11,500pp twinshare
Status: Places available
Take a journey from Vienna, through Slovenia and Friuli to Trieste, and discover another side of Europe’s history and culture, on this 16-day tour.
Music
IN CENTRAL EUROPE
Dates: 23 September – 07 October 2024
Tour Leader: Robert Gay
Prices: $12,300pp twinshare
Status: Places available
Enjoy 9 performances in Prague, Bratislava, Vienna and Linz, including the Dvořák Festival and the celebrations of Bruckner’s 200th anniversary.
MUSIC
IN VENICE
Dates: 18-30 September 2024
Tour Leader: Royna McNamara
Price: $11,950pp twinshare
Status: Places available
Enjoy live performances and explore Venice’s magnificent 500-year musical heritage, from the city’s art and history to the lagoon and towns of the terraferma.
ESSENTIAL SICILY:
3,000 YEARS OF HISTORY
Dates: 27 October - 10 November 2024
Tour Leader: Dr Kathryn Welch
Price: $10,950pp twinshare
Status: Places available
Survey Sicily’s breathtaking heritage and culture, exploring Greek temples, glittering medieval mosaics, exuberant baroque architecture and magnificent landscapes.
MILAN & THE VERDI FESTIVAL IN PARMA
Dates: 29 September – 08 October 2024
Tour Leader: Clive Paget
Price: $13,550pp twinshare
Status: Limited places available
Discover the world of Giuseppe Verdi in Milan, Parma and surrounds at the 24th edition of Festival Verdi, together with Limelight Editor-at-Large Clive Paget.
exploring siena
& southern tuscany
Dates: 12-21 October 2024
Tour Leader: Freya Middleton
Price: $8,900pp twinshare
Status: Places available
Discover centuries of art and history in southern Tuscany’s quiet centres, while enjoying gentle guided walks through landscapes of beauty and significance.
ISTANBUL TO VENICE:
THE BYZANTINE LEGACY
Dates: 09-24 October 2024
Tour Leader: Dr Kathleen Olive
Price: $11,500pp twinshare
Status: Waitlist
Explore the wealth of the Byzantine Empire, from its eastern capital at present-day Istanbul to its apotheosis in Ravenna and enduring influence on Venice.
autumn in new york:
music, dance & art
Dates: November 2024
Tour Leader: Clive Paget
Price: $18,900pp twinshare
Status: Places available
Travel with Limelight Editor-at-Large Clive Paget to glittering New York for a curated program of superlative performances, celebrated galleries and acclaimed museums.
Kyoto & tokyo:
a tale of two cities
Dates: 11-23 November 2024
Tour Leader: Dr Kathleen Olive
Price: $11,450pp twinshare
Status: Places available
Unpack your bags for long stays in two of Japan’s most emblematic cities on our popular tour, in the capital of traditional culture in Kyoto and the fast-paced contemporary metropolis of Tokyo.
2025
ATHENS
IN DEPTH
Dates: January 2025
Tour Leader: Dr Estelle Lazer
Price: $8,750pp twinshare
Status: Places available
Enjoy a long-stay tour in Athens in the low season, and explore its 3,000-year patrimony of ancient Greek, Byzantine and Ottoman sites.
Winter
in Japan
Dates: January 2025
Tour Leader: Dr Kathleen Olive
Status: Register interest
Encounter a different facet of Japan during winter, exploring its small mountain towns, historic villas and gardens, exceptional regional galleries and the overwhelming beauty of Mount Fuji.
ANCIENT ROME
IN DEPTH
Dates: 05-18 January 2025
Tour Leader: Dr Kathryn Welch
Price: $9,850pp twinshare
Status: Places available
Uncover an unparalleled wealth of history, art, architecture and archaeology in Rome and surrounds, on this low season, residential-style tour with Roman historian Dr Kathryn Welch.
Vienna & THE Salzkammergut
Dates: March 2025
Tour Leader: Dr Nick Gordon
Status: Register interest
Explore Vienna’s exceptional art, history and architecture and enjoy the spectacular alpine scenery and arts and crafts of the Salzkammergut.
exploring UMBRIA
Dates: 06-16 April 2025
Tour Leader: Dr Louise Marshall
Price: $10,350pp twinshare
Status: Places available
Encounter Umbria, an Italian region known for outstanding art and fascinating medieval history, sampling distinctive local cuisine and traversing tranquil landscapes.
exploring corsica
Dates: April 2025
Tour Leader: Dr Estelle Lazer
Status: Register interest
Discover a lesser-known Mediterranean island, proud of its prehistoric sites and ancient Roman, medieval and Napoleonic histories, with guided walks from its spectacular coasts to cool forests.
Secret Sicily
Dates: April 2025
Tour Leader: Dr Kathryn Welch
Status: Register interest
Discover the less-visited delights of Sicily, exploring archaeological and artistic sites in stunning coastal locations and the island’s dramatic interior.
ROMANIA
Dates: May 2025
Tour Leader: Dr Nick Gordon
Status: Register interest
Discover Romania, from the ancient Dacians to a complex history between the Ottoman and Austro-Hungarian empires, as well as its revival after the fall of Communism
exploring medieval burgundy
Dates: 19-28 May 2025
Tour Leader: Dr Kathleen Olive
Price: $9,350pp twinshare
Status: Places available
Explore Burgundy’s cultural heritage, from outstanding medieval art and architecture to prestigious food and wine, complemented by a program of scenic walks in historic districts.
PARIS
TO BARCELONA
Dates: May 2025
Tour Leader: Robert Gay
Status: Register interest
Get more out of fine performances in modern and historic venues, in Paris, Bilbao, Madrid and Barcelona, together with expert music educator Robert Gay.
JAPAN’S ART ISLANDS & THE SETOUCHI TRIENNAlE
Dates: May 2025
Tour Leader: Dr Nick Gordon
Status: Register interest
Experience the world-class Setouchi Triennale, Japan’s largest contemporary art festival, admiring the revitalised ‘art islands’ of the Seto Inland Sea as well as the beauty and relaxed charm of Shikoku.
SHOSTAKOVICH FESTIVAL
IN LEIPZIG
Dates: 14-29 May 2025
Tour Leader: Clive Paget
Status: Register interest
Experience the Shostakovich Festival in Leipzig, honouring the life of a modern musical giant on the 50th anniversary of his death, including 13 performances.
turin, genoa & the french riviera
Dates: 01-16 May 2025
Tour Leader: Dr Kathleen Olive
Price: $12,450pp twinshare
Status: Places available
Discover outstanding art and architecture in Italy and southern France, from the hidden gems of Turin and Genoa to the exuberant modernity of the French Riviera.
THE APPIAN WAY, BARI & ABRUZZO
Dates: 05-20 May 2025
Tour Leader: Dr Kathryn Welch
Price: $11,950pp twinshare
Status: Places available
Take the road less travelled in southern Italy, following ancient roads and discovering Roman archaeology, rock churches, medieval frescoes, and Abruzzo’s outstanding scenery.
the aix-en-provence opera festival
Dates: July 2025
Tour Leader: Clive Paget
Status: Register interest
Our annual tour to France’s premiere music festival returns, enjoying baroque operas and vocal recitals as well as contemporary premieres in outdoor venues and historic theatres.
Hokkaido and Tohoku:
The road North
Dates: July 2025
Tour Leader: Dr Kathleen Olive
Status: Register interest
Discover the path less travelled in northern Japan over its moderate summer, exploring diverse histories, indigenous culture, serene temples and exquisite natural beauty.
SOUTH KOREA
Dates: September 2025
Tour Leader: Jackie Menzies OAM
Status: Register interest
Discover South Korea, from its UNESCO-listed temples and palaces to traditional ceramics and its thriving contemporary art scene.
FRIULI, TYROL
& THE DOLOMITES
Dates: 09-21 September 2025
Tour Leader: Dr Nick Gordon
Status: Register interest
Get to know Friuli, South Tyrol and the Dolomites and discover their distinctive history, culture and cuisines, and spectacular alpine scenery.
italy’s
renaissance courts
Dates: October 2025
Tour Leader: TBA
Status: Register interest
Get to know northern Italy’s smaller Renaissance centres that still punch above their weight, from courtly Ferrara and Mantua to Giotto’s Padua and magical Urbino.
Istanbul
To Venice
Dates: October 2025
Tour Leader: Dr Nick Gordon
Status: Register interest
Explore the wealth of the Byzantine Empire, from its eastern capital at present-day Istanbul to its apotheosis in Ravenna and enduring influence on Venice.
Essential
Sicily
Dates: October 2025
Tour Leader: TBA
Status: Register interest
Survey Sicily’s breathtaking heritage and culture, exploring Greek temples, glittering medieval mosaics, exuberant baroque architecture and magnificent landscapes.
FLORENCE
IN DEPTH
Dates: November 2025
Tour Leader: Dr Nick Eckstein
Status: Register interest
Unpack your bags to explore the superlative art, architecture and culture of Florence, on this residential-style tour timed to take advantage of off-season travel.
SMALL GROUP JOURNEYS
Our tours are designed for travellers with a strong interest in history, art, music and culture and have a maximum of 20 people in a group
GAIN KNOWLEDGE AND INSPIRATION
Our tour leaders combine genuine scholarly insight with enthusiasm and finely-honed leadership skills
SLOW DOWN AND SEE MORE
Long stays and a balance between group activities and independent exploration are a feature of our journeys
Fitness on Tour
Travel always requires a degree of physical fitness and mental stamina. To help you decide if a tour is right for you, we’ve given them fitness ratings:
MODERATE
ACTIVE
CHALLENGING
You can view our fitness ratings here in our FAQ. Should you have any concerns, please get in touch with us.
Responsible Tourism
Travel is an intensive activity, but it also provides a livelihood for almost 1 in 10 people globally. Our short term goal is to make our Australian operations carbon neutral by 2025. At the same time, we will undertake the first stages of reducing the footprint of our tours and the Scope 3 emissions they entail.
We’ll keep you informed of our roadmap to achieving these goals and the challenges on the way in a dedicated blog in Limelight Arts Traveller.
Our Travel Partner
Limelight Arts Travel is pleased to partner with Mary Rossi Travel, one of Australia’s most recognised luxury travel agents.
You can read more about these arrangements here.