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Celebrating 34 years of service! Exciting international cultural tours for citizen diplomats and peacemakers. Featuring home and school visits, Embassy visits, cultural exchanges, as well as highlights and pretrip study material.
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"The only things I own which are still worth what they cost me are my travel memories, the mind pictures of places which I have seen which I have been hoarding like a happy miser for more than a half a century."
---Burton Holmes, a 19th and 20th century adventurer
Contributed by Jo Weiss, veteran of over 40 of our tours!
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Iranian Film Festival
San Francisco, CA
September 23-24, 2017
NEW TOURS ADDED FOR 2020: Click here to see our updated listing. (updated 5/19/2019)
THIRD IRAN TOUR ADDED FOR 2019: The Treasures of Iran with Bahman Zenhari is now scheduled for November 2 - 19, 2019. Click here to view the itinerary. (updated 9/12/2018)
As of 9/9/2018 News from Iran
Our guide, Bahman sends greetings from Iran and several pictures. Find more that we've posted on our Facebook page here.
The Wild Europe to the East - The Balkans brochure is now complete. Click here to view the itinerary. (updated 8/27/18)
The April Treasures of Iran with Bahman Zenhari brochure is now complete. Click here to view the itinerary. (updated 7/30/18)
SECOND IRAN TOUR ADDED FOR 2019: The Treasures of Iran with Bahman Zenhari is now scheduled for April 4 - 17, 2019. Click here to view the itinerary. (updated 7/23/2018)
The Wild Europe to the East: Serbia, Kosovo, Albania & Macedonia brochure is now complete. Click here to view the itinerary. (updated 7/11/18)
The Experiences and Encounters in Bulgaria brochure is now complete. Click here to view the itinerary. (updated 6/21/18)
The Treasures of Iran with Bahman Zenhari brochure is now complete. Click here to view the itinerary. (updated 5/23/18)
The Adventures in Central Asia - Kyrgyzstan & Kazakhstan brochure is now complete. Click here to view the itinerary. (updated 5/9/18)
The Ethiopia's Timkat & Sebaratmu Giorgis Festivals and Omo Valley Extension brochure is now complete. Click here to view the itinerary. (updated 4/25/18)
The Crafts & Culture of Ecuador brochure is now complete. Click here to view the itinerary. (updated 4/18/18)
As of 4/14/18 News from Serious Traveler
Travel keeps you young! I enjoyed the wonderful party Jo's Weiss's family put on for her this past weekend in Tacoma WA. Jo has traveled with us to Brazil 90, Bangkok 91,New Zealand 92,Costa Rica 92, Trans Siberian Railway 93, Korea 94, Russia Golden Ring 94, Nepal 95, River 95, Morocco 95, Vietnam 96, Prague 96, Winter Russia 96, Indonesia 97, Uzbekistan 97, Russia Winter 97,Ireland 98, Iceland 98, Russia Winter 98, Spain 99, Iran 99, Iceland 99, Bhutan 00, China Silk Road 00, Provence 01, South China 01, Russian River 02, Prague 03, Cuba 03, Cuba 04, Cuba3/04, Libya 04, Phi Mu France 05, Jordan 06, Romania 07, Emirates 07, Bulgaria 08, Romania 08, Phi Mu Germany 08, Syria 11, Lebanon 11, Russia 14. Happy Birthday, dear Jo! (photo by Fran)
The Wild Europe to the East - The Balkans brochure is now complete. Click here to view the itinerary. (updated 4/5/18)
NEW TOUR ADDED: The Experiences & Encounters in Bulgaria is now scheduled for April 20 - May 2, 2019. Click here to view the itinerary. Many new highlights added! (updated 6/7/2018)
The Ethiopia's Meskel Festival and Omo Valley Extension brochure is now complete. Click here to view the itinerary. (updated 3/28/18)
As of 3/24/18 News from Kyrgyzstan & Kazakhstan
Gwen sends greetings home from Kyrgyzstan and several pictures. Find more that we've posted on our Facebook page here.
Tea at the home of a local teacher named Galina with Yuri in Bishkek
Our local guide in Bishkek wearing traditional hat
Gwen and Yuri with local "reciter of poetry"
Our comfortable village of yurts in the Tien Shan Mountains
NEW TOUR ADDED: The Northwest & Caspian combined with Treasures of Iran led by Mr. Bahman Zenhari is now scheduled for September 1 - 18, 2018. Click here to view the itinerary. (updated 2/19/2018)
As of 1/24/18 News from Ethiopia
Gwen sends greetings home from Ethiopia and several pictures. Find more that we've posted on our Facebook page here.
Gwen with Yohannes at Timkat
Group on the road to Simien National Park
Yohannes and Laurene at Timkat
Mike at Blue Nile Falls
An Ethiopian girl at a wedding near Gondar
Handicrafts for sale
Carol at Jewish Temple
Group inside Gondar
See the full Ethiopia itinerary here http://www.serioustraveler.com/Ethiopia1.html#Jan18
As of 12/23/17
As of 11/15/17 News from Iran
Here's what our travelers said upon their return from Iran yesterday:
This was a wonderful and unique travel experience that I will treasure. Great itinerary, fabulous guide who treated us like family and incredible shopping.
Barbara
The meals Bahman ordered or recommended were always good choices and everyone seemed to find their favorite(s). Needless to say we all pretty much got addicted to the saffron ice cream.
I am so glad that a friend gave me your company information so many years ago (before she stopped traveling due to health issues) as I don't think we could have had a better Iranian experience with another company and with anyone except Bahman. He really made the trip.
The Treasures of Iran with Bahman Zenhari brochure is now complete. Click here to view the itinerary. (updated 11/30/2017)
The India's Far North - Ladakh, Punjab & Srinagar brochure is now complete. Click here to view the itinerary. (updated 11/21/2017)
As of 11/15/17 News from Iran
Here's what our travelers said upon their return from Iran yesterday:
This was a wonderful and unique travel experience that I will treasure. Great itinerary, fabulous guide who treated us like family and incredible shopping.
Barbara
The meals Bahman ordered or recommended were always good choices and everyone seemed to find their favorite(s). Needless to say we all pretty much got addicted to the saffron ice cream.
I am so glad that a friend gave me your company information so many years ago (before she stopped traveling due to health issues) as I don't think we could have had a better Iranian experience with another company and with anyone except Bahman. He really made the trip.
The Iceland Circumnavigation brochure is now complete. Click here to view the itinerary. (updated 10/24/2017)
The brochure India's Spring Festivals & Tea in the Himalayas is now complete. Click here to view the itinerary. (updated 10/18/2017)
As of 10/17/17 News from France
"We’ve had beautiful scenery, good food and camaraderie. Yesterday we rode along the canal by bike. Each morning the river and canals are covered by fog which lifts about 10. The weather has been amazingly beautiful as you [see] from the pictures." -Gwen
The Baltic Capitals brochure is now complete. Click here to view the itinerary. (updated 10/16/2017)
The Albania with a Taste of Macedonia & Northern Greece brochure is now complete. Click here to view the itinerary. (updated 8/14/2017)
As of 6/29/17 News from India
"Arrived Delhi, flew to Dharamsala and visited Amritsar. We stayed in a houseboat in Srinagar and now head to Ladakh on Saturday." -Gwen
Gwen & Ethan arrive Delhi
Chonor House, our Hotel in Dharamsala
Walking through Kangra Fort
View over Srinagar
See the itinerary of their journey here
Or, follow us on Facebook to see all the photos from the trip. Click here
The Mashad & Northwest Iran brochure is now complete. Click here to view the itinerary. (updated 5/26/2017)
The Persian Classics brochure is now complete. Click here to view the itinerary. (updated 5/26/2017)
The Treasures of Iran brochure is now complete. Click here to view the itinerary. (updated 5/26/2017)
As of 5/16/17 News from France
"We’ve had a good start and are sending pictures to Phi Mu. We’ve had two beautiful days of sunshine and now a rainy morning. Two days of rain to come and then sunshine again on Saturday onward we think. Barge and crew are very good. Excellent food of course." -Gwen
Our Phi Mu Foundation group on the MS Jeannine in the Champagne region of France.
The Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan - Jewels of the Silk Road brochure is now complete. Click here to view the itinerary. (updated 4/3/2017)
The Adventures in Central Asia - Kyrgyzstan & Kazakhstan brochure is now complete. Click here to view the itinerary. (updated 3/20/2017)
As of 2/20/2017 News from Serious Traveler
IMPORTANT
We have postponed our Spring 2017 tours to Iran until a visit is once again favorable. Let us use this time to learn more about welcoming each other. (See this recent article from the NY Times)
As of 1/31/2017 News from Ethiopia
Our travelers bring back good memories and some pictures of their adventure today.
Our guide, Yohannes with traveler Bill by Robin O'Bryan
Our group by Marcia Toder
In the Simien Mountains by Robin O'Bryan
Click for larger view
Travel with us on our next trip to Ethiopia. Click Here
"News from the Serious Traveler"
Posted 11/21/2016
Look for our latest ad in the December 2016 issue of Travel + Leisure Magazine
"News from the Serious Traveler"
Posted 10/23/2016
Look for our latest ad in the November 2016 issue of Travel + Leisure Magazine
"News from the Serious Traveler"
Posted 10/17/2016
Look for our latest ad in the November 2016 issue of The AtlanticMagazine
"News from the Serious Traveler"
Posted 9/23/2016
Look for our latest ad in the October 2016 issue of Travel + Leisure Magazine
Download our NEW Spring 2016 Serious TravelerClick Here. (updated 5/23/2016)
"News from the Serious Traveler"
Posted 5/16/2016
Look for our latest ad in the June 2016 issue of Travel + Leisure Magazine
"News from the Serious Traveler"
Posted 3/21/2016
Welcoming Spring Around the World and New Year in Iran
From ancient times March 20 or 21 has been recognized as the spring equinox, when the sun crosses the celestial equator and equalizes night and day, or when the Sun leaves the zodiac of Pisces and enters the zodiacal sign of Aries. In Iran, the exact astronomical moment, to the second, is called “Saal Tahvil”. The beginning of the spring ushers in the start of the Iranian New Year, No-Rooz, which means “New Day”.
Nowruz has been celebrated by people from diverse ethnic communities and religious backgrounds for thousands of years. It is a secular holiday that originated in Persia but is also celebrated by cultural regions that came under Iranian influence or had migrations by Persians including Azerbaijan, the North Caucasus, Kurdish inhabited regions of eastern Turkey and Northern Iraq, Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan and other scattered populations in Central Asia.
Nowruz is partly rooted in the religious tradition of Zoroastrianism, the first monotheistic religion, which holds a belief in the struggle between good and evil in the world, and the connection of humans to nature. Good thoughts, good words, good deeds! Zoroastrian practices were dominant for much of the history of ancient Persia (centered in what is now Iran). Nowruz is also a holy day for Sufi Muslims, Bektashis, Ismailis, Alawites, Alevis, Babis and adherents of the Bahá'í Faith.
One of the traditions is spreading a serving table with specific foods associated with Nowruz: noodles for untying life’s complications, fresh herbs for rebirth, eggs for fertility, and fish for life. Most people used to place Qoran on their Sofreh (spread) in order to bless the New Year. But some people found another alternative to Qoran and replaced it by the Divan-e Hafez (poetry book of Hafez), and during "Saal Tahvil" reading some verses from it was popular. Nowadays, a great number of Iranians are placing the Shahnameh (the Epic of Kings) of Ferdowsi on their spread as an Iranian national book. They believe that Shahnameh has more Iranian identity values and spirits, and is much more suitable for this ancient celebration.
The UN's General Assembly in 2010 recognized the International Day of Nowruz, describing it as a spring festival of Persian origin, which has been celebrated for over 3,000 years.
Partly from the Iran Gazette…
"News from the Serious Traveler"
Posted 3/14/2016
In case you forgot to congratulate your friends on March 8th, here's a
belated International Women's Day greeting from Moscow. Maslenitsa is the End of Winter (Butter) Festival. Do you recognize our guide and dear friend Ludmila?
"News from the Serious Traveler"
Posted 2/29/2016
Look for our latest ad in the March 2016 and April 2016 issues of Smithsonian Magazine
"News from the Serious Traveler"
As of 2/14/2016 News from Ethiopia
Greetings from Ethiopia!
Below are a couple pictures from our arrival day in Addis Ababa and visits to museums. Also, here is a youtube video of Lake Tana in Bahirdar http://youtu.be/qFNillGimX0. - Gwen
Click for larger view
"News from the Serious Traveler"
Posted 1/18/2016
Look for our latest ad in the February 2016 issue of Travel + Leisure Magazine
"News from the Serious Traveler"
As of 12/4/2015 News from Cuba
"It was a good trip and a nice group (size and personality wise) and we really lucked out with our local guide, Israel (in the photo with Oscar)." - Claire S.
Click for larger view
Dear Friends,
Happy Thanksgiving Day! We wish you health, happiness and positive vibes! Be grateful to all the good people you meet in your life and generous to all those in need. Share kindness to strangers and love to friends and family. Explore, travel and find the meaning behind. And let us not forget - if we have plenty, let us not build higher fences, but bigger tables.
Look for our latest ad in the November 2015 issue of Travel + Leisure Magazine
"News from the Serious Traveler"
Posted 9/23/2015
Look for our latest ad in the October 2015 issue of Smithsonian Magazine
"News from the Serious Traveler"
Posted 7/23/2015 News from Iran
"[They are] very happy and will be even happier after visiting Isfahan and going to north part of Iran. Yersterday snd today were great days and you were very much missed." - Bahman
Click for larger view
"News from the Serious Traveler"
Posted 7/16/2015 News from France
"Gwen, Thanks for another amazing trip." - Liza
2015 Phi Mu Foundation group photo by Liza S. aboard the Princesse on the Loire River
Click for larger view
"News from the Serious Traveler"
Posted 5/23/2015
Look for our latest ad in the June 2015 issue of The Atlantic Magazine
"News from the Serious Traveler"
Posted 2/17/2015
Look for our latest ad in the March 2015 issue of Travel + Leisure Magazine
"News from the Serious Traveler"
Posted 12/22/2014
News from Cuba
“Just returned from Cuba in November 2014” - Linda B.
Images from Linda (click for larger view):
Hello Gwen,
I've been meaning to write you and what better time than this historic day! Don't you wish you were there now to hear the church bells ringing? I had a wonderful time on the tour. I was glad to stay again at the Parque Centro as it is efficient and so nicely situated in Habana. Our guides Oscar and Lazaro were accommodating in every way, from the moment we met until our farewell at the airport. I enjoyed the architectural focus to this tour as well as the memorable people-people exchanges. The presenters and lectures were fascinating, and always piqued curiosity and further interest in this beautiful country and its people. As for our meals, we had delicious cuisine in friendly places. (My top favorite was the Vinales farm-table restaurant ). I want to thank Serious Traveler team for accommodating my dietary preferences. I tried to be low-key about it and Oscar was most helpful in communicating to the restaurant staff on my behalf. I had very good meals and found that the restaurants were more than happy to create and prepare a plant-based/ non-dairy entree.
I was able to make some music connections from colleagues in the States. I'm attaching a video of Cato, a well-known and respected Tres player in Havana. Aimee and I ventured down to the Cohiba Hotel one night to hear a jazz group recommended by another Cuban musician that I connected with in Havana.
I took almost 900 photos and 4 little videos. I am now in the process of sorting through them. Unfortunately, I brought a new camera with me and when I returned home, found that it was not the quality I had expected. But I have photos, even if they're not too sharp, and great memories of Cuba 2014!
Plus new dates added for 2014 Passage Through Persia
November 4 - 19, 2014Click here to preview itinerary
"News from the Serious Traveler"
Posted 8/19/2013
"Many of those who have traveled to Egypt through the years have had the
pleasure of meeting my dear friend Khadiga. I received this message from her" Click here
"News from the Serious Traveler"
Posted 5/10/2013 News from Austria, the Czech Republic and Germany
"The people here are just delightful! When they ask me where I am from and I say, 'America, USA', they reply, 'We love America!' If only everyone was able to travel as I do! Just getting to know people makes you understand what a small world it is. Bahman is doing well with us, and we have a great driver. It is really a delux trip having such a small group. Cheers, Carol"
"Long time accordion player and former Avon executive, Frank Stanitski, jams with Cuban musicians during the March People to People trip to Havana." - Gwen Erwood
"News from the Serious Traveler"
Posted 3/12/2012 Picture from Paula Cornyn of our group in South India, January 2012
South India - Experience the Extraordinary, January 7 - 20, 2013 Click Here
"News from the Serious Traveler"
Posted 1/30/2012 Picture from Elaine Isbell of Gwen Erwood and friend in Cuba
"Just back from Cuba - a fabulous People-to-People trip. The March trip is sold out, but we're scheduling for January and March 2013 now. Let us know if you're interested." - Gwen Erwood
"News from the Serious Traveler"
Posted 11/4/2011 Pictures from Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan by Paulette Lewis
See the itinerary as they travel through Bulgaria Click here
Travel with us on this tour in 2012 Click here
"News from the Serious Traveler"
April 20, 2011
Greetings from Lebanon! We arrived from Syria yesterday afternoon after crossing the border, visiting Baalbek (a huge and amazing Roman city), stopping for lunch of famous Lebanese mezze and more, a taste of wine and tour through caves dating from the Roman period and then crossing the mountains, out of the clouds down to Beirut on the coast of a shimmering Mediterranean Sea. We just completed our first day of sightseeing that took us to the National Museum where we learned about the Phoenicians who had the first phonetic alphabet (get it -- Phoenicians-phonetic?); then to a mountain riddled with subterranean caves. Jetta is vying with a couple dozen other natural sites for the new 7 natural wonders of the world, and all agreed it should be included (along with the Grand Canyon and Halong Bay.) A stop at Byblos was amazing too. The site dates back to the third millennium BC, as do many other sites in what we know as the Cradle of Civilization along the Fertile Crescent. This area is the fabled birthplace of the Greek god Adonis. A city tour revealed stunning new buildings with the most exclusive shops side by side with excavations from Roman times. The city is also riddled with reminders of devastating wars. No one here wants another, and the neighboring Syrians don't either.
Every day has been a delight and we wish everyone who had intended to go with us, was actually here. It is close to midnight, and we head north to the Cedars of Lebanon tomorrow morning. The group is most congenial and we lingered over dinner, while Paulette and others regaled us with amusing travel stories. Even the national basketball team who was sharing the lovely dining room at the Radisson couldn?t ignore our laughter. Our travelers are the best. I must turn in, but will try to write more later. The same Paulette has taken hundreds of pictures and Ann had volunteered to edit them, so eventually we will put our experiences in writing and into a slideshow. Right now we are drinking up all the wonderful sensations of travel to new places.
Gwen
Photo by Paulette Lewis. View all the photos by Paulette in Syria Click Here or in Lebanon Click Here
See the itinerary as they travel through Syria and Lebanon Click here
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Travel keeps you young! I enjoyed the wonderful party Jo's Weiss's family put on for her this past weekend in Tacoma WA. Jo has traveled with us to Brazil 90, Bangkok 91,New Zealand 92,Costa Rica 92, Trans Siberian Railway 93, Korea 94, Russia Golden Ring 94, Nepal 95, River 95, Morocco 95, Vietnam 96, Prague 96, Winter Russia 96, Indonesia 97, Uzbekistan 97, Russia Winter 97,Ireland 98, Iceland 98, Russia Winter 98, Spain 99, Iran 99, Iceland 99, Bhutan 00, China Silk Road 00, Provence 01, South China 01, Russian River 02, Prague 03, Cuba 03, Cuba 04, Cuba3/04, Libya 04, Phi Mu France 05, Jordan 06, Romania 07, Emirates 07, Bulgaria 08, Romania 08, Phi Mu Germany 08, Syria 11, Lebanon 11, Russia 14. Happy Birthday, dear Jo! (photo by Fran)
Tribute to France
