Tours
SMALL GROUP JOURNEYS | KNOWLEDGE & INSPIRATION | EXPERT TOUR LEADERS
Tour Program
Hokkaido and Tohoku:
The road North
Dates: 20 July - 03 August 2025
Tour Leader: Dr Kathleen Olive
Price: $14,500pp twinshare
Status: Limited places available
Discover the path less travelled in northern Japan over its colourful summer, exploring diverse histories, indigenous culture, serene temples and exquisite natural beauty.
the aix-en-provence opera festival
Dates: 10-20 July 2025
Tour Leader: Clive Paget
Price: $12,250pp twinshare
Status: Waitlist
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.
Sculpture, art & landscape in Southern England
Dates: 29 August - 09 September 2025
Tour Leader: Fiona McIntosh
Price: $12,900pp twinshare
Status: Places available
Combine the best of southern England and Cornwall’s modern and contemporary sculpture parks, with the beauty of the English landscape in late summer.
VIA EGNATIA: FROM ALBANIA TO THESSALONIKI
Dates: 05-19 September 2025
Tour Leader: Dr Kristen Mann
Price: $11,950pp twinshare
Status: Limited places available
Journey into history along the Via Egnatia from Albania to Thessaloniki, discovering ancient Roman trade routes and the connected cultures of the Balkans.
FRIULI, TYROL
& THE DOLOMITES
Dates: 09-21 September 2025
Tour Leader: Dr Nick Gordon
Price: $10,750pp twinshare
Status: Limited places available
Take a journey from Innsbruck to Friuli and discover the distinctive histories, cultures and cuisines of the spectacular alpine landscapes where Italy and Austria meet.
JAPAN’S ART ISLANDS & THE SETOUCHI TRIENNALE
Dates: 04-14 October 2025
Tour Leader: Dr Nick Gordon
Price: $12,850pp twinshare
Status: Waitlist
Experience the world-class Setouchi Triennale, admiring the revitalised ‘art islands’ of the Seto Inland Sea as well as the beauty and relaxed charm of Shikoku.
Istanbul To Venice
Dates: 07-22 October 2025
Tour Leader: Dr Louise Marshall
Price: $13,950pp twinshare
Status: Places available
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.
bordeaux, the dordogne & the loire
Dates: 15-28 October 2025
Tour Leader: Dr Kathleen Olive
Price: $11,950pp twinshare
Status: Limited places available
Explore the south-west of France, from Bordeaux’s celebrated viticulture, to the prehistoric art caves of the Dordogne and impressive châteaux and gardens of the Loire Valley.
JAPAN’S ART ISLANDS & THE SETOUCHI TRIENNALE
Dates: 29 October - 08 November 2025
Tour Leader: Dr Nick Gordon
Price: $12,850pp twinshare
Status: Waitlist
Experience the world-class Setouchi Triennale, admiring the revitalised ‘art islands’ of the Seto Inland Sea as well as the beauty and relaxed charm of Shikoku.
FLORENCE
IN DEPTH
Dates: 03-15 November 2025
Tour Leader: Dr Nick Eckstein
Price: $9,995pp twinshare
Status: Places available
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.
Kyoto & Tokyo:
A Tale of Two Cities
Dates: 14-26 November 2025
Tour Leader: Relle Mott
Price: $13,350pp twinshare
Status: Places available
Enjoy 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.
2026
ATHENS
IN DEPTH
Dates: 14-26 January 2026
Tour Leader: Dr Kristen Mann
Price: $9,750pp 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.
CONTEMPORARY ART IN SINGAPORE & BANGKOK
Dates: 20-30 January 2026
Tour Leader: Dr Nick Gordon & Fiona McIntosh
Price: $9,950pp twinshare
Status: Places available
Explore Singapore’s Art SG, one of the largest art fairs in the Asia-Pacific, with Dr Nick Gordon, and dive into the world of contemporary art in Thailand with Fiona McIntosh.
MOZART & THE MOZART FESTIVAL
Dates: 27 January – 07 February 2026
Tour Leader: Clive Paget
Price: $14,250pp twinshare
Status: Places available
Celebrate Mozart’s birthday with special performances at Salzburg’s Mozart Week and then discover his life and times in Vienna, where more performances await.
TUNISIA &
ALGERIA
Dates: 26 January – 11 February 2026
Tour Leader: Dr Helen Pope
Price: $13,750pp twinshare
Status: Places available
Take a journey into two prominent countries of the ancient world, and uncover the stories of Numidian, Phoenician, Carthaginian and Roman societies and their enduring legacy.
HONG KONG
& SHANGHAI
Dates: March 2026
Tour Leader: Dr Nick Gordon
Price: TBC
Status: Register interest
Experience contemporary art in Hong Kong and Shanghai, historic gateways between the Chinese and Western worlds, with their exceptional new galleries and museums.
ESSENTIAL
SICILy
Dates: 15-29 March 2026
Tour Leader: Dr Kathryn Welch
Price: $13,750pp twinshare
Status: Places available
Survey Sicily’s breathtaking heritage with extended stays in two principal cities, exploring Greek temples, glittering medieval mosaics, and magnificent landscapes.
TÜrkiye: crossroads of cultureS
Dates: 27 March – 11 April 2026
Tour Leader: Dr Helen Pope
Price: $13,295pp twinshare
Status: Places available
Explore a vast trove of cultural riches, Byzantine and Ottoman history, remarkable museums and ancient ruins on this comprehensive journey where East and West come together.
BADEN-BADEN
EASTER FESTIVAL
Dates: 28 March – 09 April 2026
Tour Leader: Robert Gay
Price: $14,950pp twinshare
Status: Places available
Engage with this outstanding program of opera, oratorio and symphonic works, several of which feature exciting faces in the new generation of talented musicians at the annual Baden-Baden Easter Festival.
Naples
In DEpth
Dates: 07-16 April 2026
Tour Leader: Dr Mary Jane Cuyler
Price: $9,750pp twinshare
Status: Places available
Unpack your bags to uncover the many-layered history of Naples, one of Italy’s most vibrant cultural capitals and the city of the Greeks, Romans, Caravaggio and a modern resurgence.
ALONG THE APENNINES: Abruzzo, UMBRIA & LAZIO
Dates: 18-30 April 2026
Tour Leader: Dr Kathleen Olive
Price: $11,750pp twinshare
Status: Places available
Explore the heart of Italy, from the spectacular mountains of the less-visited Abruzzo region to the Middle Ages in Umbria and the Etruscans in Lazio.
Charmian Clift’s
Kalymnos
Dates: May 2026
Tour Leader: Nadia Wheatley
Price: TBC
Status: Register interest
Explore the Greek island of Kalymnos through the writing of legendary Australian author Charmian Clift under the guidance of Clift’s award-winning biographer, Nadia Wheatley.
ROMANIA
Dates: 06-21 May 2026
Tour Leader: Dr Nick Gordon
Price: $9,650pp twinshare
Status: Places available
Discover the unexpected beauty of Romania on a road trip exploring its unique art and architecture and complex history from the Ottoman and Austro-Hungarian empires to its recent revival.
MUSICAL CITIES:
PARIS & BERLIN
Dates: 03-13 May 2026
Tour Leader: Robert Gay
Price: $13,850pp twinshare
Status: Places available
Enjoy outstanding performances in the finest venues of Paris and Berlin, including the historic Palais Garnier, Jean Nouvel’s Philharmonie, and the refurbished Staatsoper Unter den Linden.
TURIN, GENOA & THE FRENCH RIVIERA
Dates: 07-22 May 2026
Tour Leader: Dr Kathleen Olive
Price: $13,950pp twinshare
Status: Places available
Discover outstanding art and architecture in Italy and southern France, from the hidden gems of Turin and Genoa and the exuberant modernity of the French Riviera.
Exploring Medieval Burgundy
Dates: 12-21 May 2026
Tour Leader: Dr Louise Marshall
Price: $10,950pp 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.
Shikoku & the Seto Inland Sea
Dates: 13-25 May 2026
Tour Leader: Dr Olivier Krischer
Price: $12,250pp twinshare
Status: Places available
Discover the delights of Shikoku and the Seto Inland Sea, from the dynamic world-class art scene on Naoshima and Teshima to celebrated gardens, serene temples and Hiroshima’s sobering history.
MARSEILLE
& LYON
Dates: 22-30 May 2026
Tour Leader: Dr Kathleen Olive
Price: $9,200pp twinshare
Status: Places available
Discover two of France’s most distinctive regional capitals, both emerging as vibrant cultural destinations, and known for their fascinating histories and proud cuisines.
THE
VENICE BIENNALE
Dates: 01-09 June 2026
Tour Leader: Dr Nick Gordon & Dr Lachlan Warner
Price: $7,750pp twinshare
Status: Places available
Dive into the world of contemporary art, from major retrospectives in Venetian palaces to the global cutting edge in the Giardini and Arsenale, on this 9-day tour.
THE CHAMPAGNE ROUTE: TROYES, Épernay and Reims
Dates: 02-12 June 2026
Tour Leader: Dr Kathleen Olive
Price: $9,950pp twinshare
Status: Places available
Explore the fascinating history, food and wine of the Champagne region, in Troyes, Épernay and Reims, from Knights Templar to outstanding stained glass and prestigious wines.
Handel
In HALLE
Dates: June 2026
Tour Leader: Clive Paget
Price: TBC
Status: Register interest
Discover the birthplace of Handel at Halle’s annual festival, and enjoy a selection of his seminal operas, oratorios and concerts in historic venues.
FESTIVAL
AIX-EN-PROVENCE
Dates: 09-19 July 2026
Tour Leader: Clive Paget
Price: $13,450pp twinshare
Status: Now taking provisional bookings
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.
The
SALZBURG FESTIVAL
Dates: 20-30 August 2026
Tour Leader: Robert Gay
Price: $14,650pp twinshare
Status: Now taking provisional bookings
Experience exceptional performances in the beautiful baroque city of Salzburg, as it becomes a stage to showcase a world-class program of opera and concert performances.
VIENNA TO TRIESTE
Dates: 05-20 September 2026
Tour Leader: Dr Nick Gordon
Price: $12,250pp 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.
emilia-romagna: ART, FOOD & LANDSCAPE
Dates: 20 September – 01 October 2026
Tour Leader: Dr Kathleen Olive
Price: $10,950pp twinshare
Status: Places available
Discover Italy's lesser-known Emilia-Romagna region, from medieval castles to Renaissance masterpieces, as well as its renowned gastronomy in Parma, Cremona, Pavia and Piacenza.
VIA EGNATIA: FROM ALBANIA TO THESSALONIKI
Dates: 18 September - 02 October 2026
Tour Leader: Dr Kristen Mann
Price: TBA
Status: Register interest
Journey into history along the Via Egnatia from Albania to Thessaloniki, discovering ancient Roman trade routes and the connected cultures of the Balkans.
Exploring Corsica
Dates: Late September 2026
Tour Leader: Dominique Millar
Price: TBC
Status: Register interest
Explore 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.
Krakow, Budapest & Zagreb
Dates: 26 September – 10 October 2026
Tour Leader: Dr Nick Gordon
Price: TBC
Status: Register interest
Discover the history, art and architecture of central Europe on this tour from medieval Krakow, across the High Tatras Mountains to Budapest, delightful Pecs and historic Zagreb.
Italy’s ReNaissance Courts
Dates: October 2026
Tour Leader: Dr Louise Marshall
Price: TBC
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.
Exploring Siena & Southern Tuscany
Dates: 10-19 October 2026
Tour Leader: Freya Middleton
Price: TBC
Status: Register interest
Discover centuries of art and history in Siena and southern Tuscany’s quiet centres, while enjoying gentle guided walks through landscapes of outstanding beauty and significance.
Bordeaux, Dordogne & the LOIRE
Dates: October 2026
Tour Leader: Dr Kathleen Olive
Price: TBC
Status: Register interest
Explore the south-west of France, from Bordeaux’s celebrated viticulture, to the prehistoric art caves of the Dordogne and impressive châteaux and gardens of the Loire Valley.
ISTANBUL, RAVENNA & VENICE
Dates: October 2026
Tour Leader: Dr Louise Marshall
Price: TBC
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.
THE Janacek FESTIVAL in BRNO
Dates: 14-25 October 2026
Tour Leader: Clive Paget
Price: TBC
Status: Register interest
Enter the world of Janáček at the Brno Festival dedicated to his music in Czechia, an opportunity to enjoy world-class ensembles performing masterpieces rarely heard in Australia.
ITALIAN WOMEN ARTISTS
Dates: 05-19 November 2026
Tour Leader: Freya Middleton
Price: TBC
Status: Register interest
Discover Italy’s women artists, from historic works in the Brera and Uffizi to contemporary private collectors and world-class restoration projects in Florence and Rome.
Exploring Kyushu
Dates: November 2026
Tour Leader: Dr Kathleen Olive
Price: TBC
Status: Register interest
Explore Japan’s southernmost island and discover six unique regions endowed with natural beauty, historic treasures, temples in verdant forest settings and steaming hot springs.
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.