Specialties
Explore the world on foot at eye level as you walk part of each morning and afternoon with your truly local, expert guides on the most cinematic footpaths in a region. With our long-term local friendships, we know our regions more personally than anyone else. So, you get thoughtfully handcrafted itineraries whose walks are about so much more than just counting miles. They lead to memorable moments that immerse you in the history, the culture, and most importantly the people of the places you’re exploring.
We believe that travel—and in particular connecting with other people and cultures when you travel—fuels your soul in a way that very few things do. So, through our relationships with well-connected local guides, we introduce you to the most memorable experiences and interesting people—artisans, winemakers, hoteliers, chefs, naturalists, and more. And, with this extended family, we handcraft Cultural Walking Adventures that empower you to see the world, on foot and at eye level. Want to join us?
History
Established in 1995.
In 1995, we began our small-group walking tours in Italy, France, and Europe to offer spontaneous personal travel without logistical hassles. We now explore over 60 regions in 30 countries. Along the way, Classic Journeys has become known as the world’s finest walking tour company.
Travelers choose us because we help them explore iconic places in new, better, and more immersive ways. For instance, we pioneered island-based travel in the Galapagos for those who prefer not to stay on ships.
In 2003, we worked with the Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control to legally bring Americans to Cuba, receiving our license in 2013. We’ve made numerous trips since and are now experts in Cuban travel. Similar stories apply to all our trip regions.
In 2021, on our 26th anniversary, we joined Lindblad Expeditions, blending our boutique high-touch service with the backing of a publicly traded parent company.
Meet the Business Owner: Edward P.
It was a love of all things travel that motivated me to stow my banker’s briefcase and exchange it for a carry-on bag. But that wasn’t the original plan. My career path was finance, right up through the MBA from Northwestern. But banking didn’t fuel my soul. My passion is in connecting with people of different cultures, and immersing myself and others in a region—while still enjoying the creature comforts. It drove my wife and me to start Classic Journeys when we saw an unserved niche—cultural walking adventures.
Along the way, we’ve been honored and humbled that others have seen the merit in what we do. Among other awards, our company has been named World’s Best Tour Operator by Travel + Leisure magazine multiple times. Personally, it’s meant that our sons, Jack and Matthew, now young adults, have explored 34 and 33 countries, respectively.