top of page
Life Changing Travel Experiences
BOOK NOW: 1-800-658-7128
"The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only one page."
- St. Augustine
Customized Group Tours
2024
Odyssey through Ancient Greece • April 18 - 30, 2024
Tour Code: GVGR24
Solicit the wisdom of the gods as we explore key destinations of ancient Greece. We explore history, mythology, culture and religion as we tour Athens, Olympia, Delphi and the islands. A three night cruise is included in the itinerary, with stops in Mykonos, Crete, Santorini and Ephesus (Turkey). Throughout the tour we have local experts lead our tours, sharing the love of their destinations and imparting a depth of information that can only be received in person. Let the land of the gods delight you with new information and insights.
​
Tour Cost:
$6,479 per person
double occupancy
WWII History Tour • April 27 - May 10, 2024
Tour Code: WWLP24
Calling all WWII history buffs! We've filled this tour with great stops that build a unique understanding of the war and its impact on the people and the entire world. We visit Churchill's birthplace, his war rooms and final residence. We see the white cliffs of Dover and the beaches at Normandy. We learn about the blitzing of London and the occupation of Paris. Throughout it all, there will be lots of lively discussion and informational content.
​
Tour Cost:
$5,799 per person
double occupancy
London & Paris • May 12 - 20, 2024
Tour Code: GVLP24
Springtime in the city! London and Paris will be showing their best with flowers in the gardens and planter boxes, outdoor cafes opening their patios, and museums exhibits in full display. We start in London, with coach and walking tours of the tower of London, Buckingham Palace, the changing of the guards, West End theater and more. There is a free day to delve into the city’s attractions on our own, or an optional tour to Stonehenge and the countryside. Then, we board a train to cross the Chunnel to Paris for the Eiffel Tower, Louvre, and Arc de Triomphe. We enjoy an evening cabaret and a cruise on the Seine. We take a trip out of the city to marvel at Versailles, and sprinkle in free time for shopping or museum visits. This will be a great introduction for new visitors, or a warm return for seasoned travelers.
​
Tour Cost:
$5,139 per person
double occupancy
Discovering Italy • May 29 - June 8, 2024
Tour Code: GVIT24
Italy reveals herself slowly, in layers that peel back century by century. This tour is perfect for a first-time traveler or someone who is an old friend of l’Italia. We start in Venice with visits to the glassblowers on Murano, cruise the Grand Canal and learn about St. Mark’s. Then we head for the Tuscany hills where we visit classic Florence, the charming hillside towns of Siena and San Gimignano, and the leaning tower of Pisa. We’ll have time to enjoy the spa town of Montecatini that is our base, as well as wine-tasting dinner in Chianti. We explore Assisi and Pompeii. Our tour ends in Rome, where millennia of history are present for all to see. We have a guided visit to the Vatican Museums and St. Peter’s, as well a tour to see Roman artifacts of the Forum, Colosseum, and Capitoline Hill. We’ll be hard-pressed to decide which was our favorite stop, as there are so many to choose from!
​
.jpg)
Tour Cost:
$5,429 per person
double occupancy
Rochester - Winona Diocese in Ireland • July 12 - 20, 2024
Tour Code: WDI24
Join members of the Winona Diocese who love to sing on a visit to the verdant island of Ireland. Our group will experience “good craic” (lots of fun!) as we tour Dublin, Killarney, the Ring of Kerry, Cliffs of Mohr, Limerick, Galway and more. We visit some of the most beautiful churches in Ireland, including Sunday Mass in Dublin. We also learn about the Irish emigration to the USA, Guiness Beer making, the wool industry and traditional farm life. We even have an opportunity to hone your gift of gab by kissing the Blarney Stone and to sing a song or two. Throughout, there will be great music and good times in local pubs and restaurants. This popular tour is open to all, but space is limited!
​
.jpg)
Tour Cost:
$4,139 per person
double occupancy
Quebec • July 15 - 24, 2024
Tour Code: JWFT24
Since its founding in 1608, Quebec has reflected its French roots while letting their culture grow in North American soil. We’ll see classic architecture in Montreal’s Old Port, Quebec City and Trois Rivieres. We’ll see the local marine life on our St. Lawrence whale watching cruise. We’ll learn about First Nations traditions at the Huron Village. And, we’ll relive the lifestyles of early settlers at Anton. Bienvenue à Québec!
​
Tour Cost:
$4,689 per person
double occupancy
Baseball Hall of Fame Induction weekend • July 19 - 21 or 22, 2024
Tour Code: Collaboration with Sports Travel & Tours
Minnesota Twins’ Joe Mauer will be inducted to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in July after a first-ballot election! Join us in Cooperstown. We have several packages including hotels, transportation, entrance to the Induction Ceremony, Hall of Fame, Parade of Legends, and/or Legends of the Game Roundtable. Click below to review dates, inclusions and pricing.
​
Tour Cost:
varies by package
double occupancy
Splendors of Egypt • Sept. 2 - 12, 2024
Optional Extension to Jordan • Sept. 11 - 15, 2024
Tour Code: REJ24
Admire some of the best-preserved wonders of the ancient world as we travel from the pyramids to Petra. Our expert Egyptologist/guide explains the sites in relatable ways, bringing to life the stories of the gods and goddesses, pharaohs and workers. We see the pyramids and sphinx of Giza, go even farther back in history to visit the step pyramid on the Sakkara plain, relax on board a three-night Nile Cruise with excursions to several temple complexes. We end our tour with a stay at the Red Sea and sunrise at St. Catherine’s. Then, we have the option to add an extension to Jordan, where we visit Petra, the Dead Sea, the baptismal site of Jesus and Amman. Enjoy stress-free travel to these wonderful sites with us.
Tour Cost:
$3,975 per person
double occupancy
Ireland & Scotland • Sept. 3 - 14, 2024
Tour Code: GVIS24
From the Cliffs of Moher and the Aran Islands in the west to the northern Highlands, this tour shows us the best of Ireland and Scotland. We see spectacular scenery, majestic castles, and impressive cities. We tour the Ring of Kerry, Dublin’s Trinity College and the Titanic Museum in Belfast. Then, we ferry across to Scotland. Here, we visit Mt. Nevis (the highest point in the British Isles), Loch Ness, Glasgow and Edinburgh. There may be a lilt in your voice, a jig in your step, and a tartan in your luggage by the time you end the tour.
​
Tour Cost:
$5,499 per person
double occupancy
Central Europe: Germany, Austria, Switzerland • Sept. 14 -25, 2024
Tour Code: GAS24
Central Europe – Germany, Austria and Switzerland – are filled with little pockets that time seems to have forgotten. This tour takes us to some of those charming little towns, with highlights including the Christmas ornaments in Rothenberg, post-card perfect Lucerne, fresco facades of Oberammergau and the Baroque masterpiece that is Salzburg. The tour culminates in Munich, perfectly timed for a full day at the famous Oktoberfest. Prost!
​
Tour Cost:
$5,899 per person
double occupancy
Rochester sister cities in Germany • Sept. 20 - 29, 2024
Tour Code: KNSG24
Join Rochester Mayor, Kim Norton, as we are wrapped in the warm embrace of “family” as we visit Rochester, MN’s sister cities in Germany. We start in the sister city Moosberg a.d. Isar in Bavaria, one of the oldest towns in Germany. We explore the cultural assets of the area, including an 8th-century cathedral and WWII POW camp. Then, we’re off to the charming, walled city of Rothenburg and and a cruise through the wine country near Rüdeshein. We end our tour in Münster, another sister city, where we visit with local officials and tour the region. We end our tour in historic Amsterdam. Join us in showcasing our hometown Rochester to the world!
​
Tour Cost:
$4,199 per person
double occupancy
Poland • Sept. 26 - Oct. 6, 2024
Tour Code: KNPO24
Explore Poland with KNXR MN 97.5 host Julie Jones. The vibrant colors of the country come alive as we visit Warsaw, Wroclaw, Krakow and more. See Baroque Palaces, Medieval Fortresses, and underground worlds carved into the Salt Mines. Dinners highlight local cuisines and specialties, while brewery visits and a polka dinner provide their own spin on Polish culture. Our curated stops offer a wide education into the depth of Polish history, including a memorial visit to Auschwitz. This corner of Europe needs to be on your list of places to visit!
​
Tour Cost:
$5,399 per person
double occupancy
The Wonders of Wine in Greece • Sept. 26 - Oct. 8, 2024
Tour Code: CCGR24
Join Concordia College as we explore Wines and Faith in Greece. We follow the path of St. Paul in Thessaloniki in northern Greece through Corinth and Athens. Our stops include Lydia’s Baptistery, Kavala, Corinth and Mars Hill – all important sites in Paul’s ministry. Along the way we also sample wines from area wineries and vineyards. We also visit the Meteora monasteries and important sites in Athens. Then, we’re off to the beautiful island of Santorini where we soak up the autumn sun, explore the island wineries, and enjoy the island culture. Opa!
Tour Cost:
$5,999 per person
double occupancy​
Pilgrimage to Lourdes & Fatima • Sept. 30 - Oct. 9, 2024
Tour Code: SJLF24
Fr. Marreddy Pothireddy is hosting a tour offered by St. James Coffee House of some of the most well-known Catholic shrine sites. We start in Portugal, where we see the highlights of Lisbon before visiting the shrine at Fatima. We join the pilgrims there in the moving candlelight procession and evening rosary. Next is a visit to Barcelona, including Gaudi’s La Sagrada Familia. We visit the beautiful, mountaintop monastery at Montserrat and then cross into France for the procession at Lourdes. We will recite the rosary, offer prayers and attend masses as a group throughout the tour. All are invited to participate.
Tour Cost:
$5,499 per person
double occupancy​
Amsterdam to Nantes • Oct. 5 - 19, 2024
Tour Code: JGAN24
Something to see, something to taste, something to learn…We’re going a little off the beaten track on this tour of the Netherlands, Belgium and Northwestern France. We start in Amsterdam, with a canal cruise, the Van Gogh Museum, and more await us. Then, from our base in Brussels we explore charming Bruges and Ghent. In France, we tour WWII sites of Omaha Beach, Arromanches, and the Airborne Museum. We even visit the steam-punk elephant and his friends at the Isle of Machines. Along the way, we stop for tastings at breweries, cheese makers, farms, and more. It’s all “something to remember!”
.jpg)
Tour Cost:
$4,799 per person
double occupancy​
Toast to Tuscany: Italy • Oct. 8 - 19, 2024
Tour Code: TTT24
Are the vine-covered hills of Tuscany calling your name? This tour visits the classic cities of Florence, Venice, and Rome, but also spends time in the smaller villages of the Tuscan region. We see Lucca and the leaning tower of Pisa, gothic Siena, beautiful Assisi and Cinque Terre, where the villages slope down towards centuries-old fishing villages. Great food, good friends and memorable times await you in Italy.
Tour Cost:
$3,999 per person
double occupancy​
Spanish Sendero • October 11 - 20, 2024
Tour Code: KSP24
The art and architecture of Spain reflect the complicated history of the country. From ancient Greek and Roman times, the Iberian Peninsula has been a jewel in the crown of outside forces. Our tour takes us to Moorish castles, gothic cathedrals, roman theaters, renaissance monasteries, and even the on-going work Catalan modernism of Gaudi. Local guides show us highlights and provide context and insight into our stops in Barcelona, Madrid, Granada, Seville, Cordoba and more. Join us as we bring the history of Spain to life!
Tour Cost:
$3,274 per person
double occupancy
Romantic Danube AMA Waterways river cruise •
Pre-tour in Prague • Oct. 17 - 21, 2024
Main Cruise • October 21 -28, 2024
Post Cruise in Budapest • October 28 - 29, 2024
Tour Code: SAMA24
Do it your way! Cruise only, Cruise + Pre-Cruise Tour, Cruise + Post-Cruise Tour, or “the whole enchilada!” Ed-Ventures is partnering with fellow tour operators to bring our clients this AMA Waterways Romantic Danube Cruise. The cruise travels from Visholfen to Budapest, with stops in Passau, Linz, Weissenkirchen, Vienna and Bratislava. Included are a variety of daily excursions, wine/beer/soft drinks with meals, onboard activities and more. The Pre-Cruise adds four days of guided touring in Prague and the surrounding areas, transfers to the ship, and many meals. The Post-Cruise provides transfers from the ship, touring in Budapest with a traditional Hungarian dinner & entertainment, and transfers to the airport. Space is extremely limited. Don’t delay booking!
​
Tour Cost:
varies by room category
St. James Coffee House Holyland Tour • October 28 - November 8, 2024
Tour Code: SJHL24
Join Father Michael Churchill and the St. James Coffeehouse as we explore the highlights of Israel. We tour sights from both the Old and New Testaments. We start in Jaffa and Caesarea, then continue to the Galilee. The stories of the Bible come alive as we explore Nazareth, the multiplication of the bread and fishes at Tabgha, the temple at Capernaum, and Jerusalem. We travel through the desert to the caves where the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered, float on the waters of the Dead Sea, and reflect on the baptism of Jesus in the Jordan River. We spend several nights in Jerusalem, traveling the Via Delarosa, seeing the Garden of Gethsemane, praying at Holy Sepulcher, and more. Masses, visits with local people and cultural experiences are included.
Tour Cost:
$5,899 per person
double occupancy​
bottom of page