From solar eclipses to Mississippi cruises, Smithsonian Journeys unveils new trips
The tour operator is expanding its tour collection, including to the Balkans and Greece. Smithsonian Journeys is also leaning into the astrotourism trend with itineraries dedicated to observing the skies and will offer a river cruise in the U.S.
The brand will debut "Baltics Past and Present: A Journey to Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia," an 18-day itinerary launching in May that takes travelers to Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia. There, travelers will explore historic sites, visit castles and see World Heritage-listed towns.
The "Greek Odyssey: Athens to Corfu" itinerary will bring travelers across Greece in 14 days, where they will visit the birthplace of democracy, the island of Corfu and places like Delphi, known for being an ancient sanctuary in Greece.
Other new itineraries are to Switzerland and the American West.
Tapping into the astrotourism trend, Smithsonian Journeys will offer two itineraries next year dedicated to celestial wonders after seeing a spike in interest in solar eclipse tours.
The brand will offer "Solar Eclipse Over Spain -- Basque Country to León," an eight-day itinerary with one departure date beginning Aug. 8, where travelers will witness the total solar eclipse in northern Spain. Visitors will also explore Madrid and World Heritage sites. This itinerary is already proving to be one of the most popular with travelers, the tour operator said.
"Chile Earth and Sky: A Stargazing Journey from Santiago to the Atacama Desert" will offer two departure dates next year and one departure date in 2027. The 12-day itinerary dives into astronomy in northern Chile, including trips to observatories.
Smithsonian Journeys will launch two new small-ship cruises, one next year and one in 2027.
Smithsonian Journeys and Ponant will offer a joint expedition cruise to the Baja Peninsula next year. Photo Credit: Smithsonian Journeys
"Cruising the Mississippi: A Springtime Voyage from Memphis to New Orleans" will take passengers on a nine-day trip of the Mississippi River on the American Splendor paddlewheeler. Passengers will visit Southern cities, battlefields and plantations.
The "Baja and the Sea of Cortez" itinerary is a joint offering between Smithsonian Journeys and Ponant Exploration. The 2027 expedition cruise on Pnant's Le Bellot will last 11 days, bringing passengers to the Baja Peninsula, where they will watch grey whales, snorkel with sea lions and hike dunes.
The tour operator also revealed its top 10 journeys for 2026, which "reflect an appetite for discovery," the brand said. These popular itineraries are to Japan, Italy, Egypt, Central Asia, Spain, Turkiye, Switzerland, Greece and France.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
TechCrunch
11 minutes ago
- TechCrunch
Google pushes AI into flight deals as antitrust scrutiny, competition heat up
Google on Thursday announced a new AI-powered search tool to help travelers find flight deals — even as regulators continue to question whether the search giant's dominance in travel discovery stifles competition. Called Flight Deals, the new tool is available within Google Flights and is designed to help 'flexible travelers' find cheaper fares. Users can type natural language queries into a search bar — describing how and when they want to travel — and the AI surfaces matching options. These queries can be like 'week-long trip this winter to a city with great food, nonstop only' or '10-day ski trip to a world-class resort with fresh powder,' Google said in a blog post. The tool uses its AI models to understand the nuances of what users are looking for and then goes through live Google Flights data to show relevant results, the company said. Regulators, including the European Commission, are currently investigating how Google may be favoring its own search products — including Google Flights — in ways that harm competition. EU regulators are eyeing Google for enforcement under the Digital Markets Act, aiming to rein in the power of major tech platforms. In response, the Alphabet-owned unit is reportedly planning to propose changes to appease regulators, including the addition of a price-comparison box in search results. Initially, Google has brought Flight Deals in beta, with plans to roll it out in the U.S., Canada, and India over the next week. The company said the goal of the beta release is 'to gather feedback and explore how AI can improve travel planning.' Google did not immediately respond to questions about which Gemini models power the tool, what data sources are used, or what privacy safeguards are in place. The move is part of a broader experiment as Google looks to compete with OpenAI, Anthropic, Perplexity, and other major AI players by integrating generative AI into travel search. Competitors like Expedia, and Indian travel aggregator MakeMyTrip have already rolled out their own AI integrations to streamline trip planning. In that sense, Google is arriving a bit late. But with its scale and reach, the company could still pose a serious challenge — if the tool proves effective and gains traction. Nonetheless, the classic Google Flights interface will continue to exist. The original flight search tool, launched in 2011, is even getting an update with an option to exclude basic economy fares for trips within the U.S. and Canada.
Entrepreneur
11 minutes ago
- Entrepreneur
Airbnb Offering 'Reserve Now, Pay Later' Payment Plan
Guests can take advantage of the company's new "Reserve Now, Pay Later" policy. Airbnb guests in the U.S. can now book their stays without paying up front using the company's new "Reserve Now, Pay Later" policy. Traditionally, Airbnb guests had to pay when booking or through a payment plan, which can lead to headaches when it comes to canceling trips. Now, guests can book and pay later, giving them more time to work out finances with others in their group or finalize travel plans. Related: Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky Says Customer Service Is the Company's 'Hardest Problem.' Here's How They're Using AI to Fix It. But don't worry, hosts: Airbnb isn't going to turn into the Wild West of cancellations. Guests still pay the full amount, it just happens a little later, before the end of the listing's free cancellation period, which you set yourself (and guests are reminded of before the deadline). Airbnb The program is for U.S. guests (on listings in the States) with "moderate or flexible" cancellation policies. Can hosts decide how guests pay? Yes, if you're a host, your preferred cancellation policy remains unchanged. Airbnb notes that hosts who are hesitant to try the new "Reserve Now, Pay Later" policy have some built-in security to help motivate them. Guests using "Reserve Now, Pay Later" still must pay before the free cancellation period ends, so that gives hosts time to secure another booking. Related: 'I Can't Get Everyone to Move Here': Why Airbnb's CEO Is Sticking With a Once-a-Month Hybrid Schedule Why is Airbnb introducing Reserve Now, Pay Later? Airbnb conducted a customer experience survey to get a better understanding of what guests want when booking a stay. According to the report, 60% of respondents noted that having a flexible payment option was important when making a reservation, and more than half of respondents (55%) said they use flexible payment options for travel. Related: This Couple Started Renting Rooms in Their House As a Side Hustle. Now They Run 11 Airbnb Units Full Time. Join top CEOs, founders and operators at the Level Up conference to unlock strategies for scaling your business, boosting revenue and building sustainable success.
Yahoo
28 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Flying to Portugal in August? Airport strikes could derail your summer holiday plans
Travellers heading to Portugal this summer are being warned to expect weekend delays and cancellations as airport staff strike across the country throughout August. Aircraft servicing, baggage handling and check-in teams are walking out every weekend this month over low pay, unpaid night shifts and parking disputes following British-owned Menzies Aviation's takeover of Groundforce operations. Airports in Lisbon, Faro and Porto, as well as Madeira, Porto Santo and the Azores, are all affected, with disruptions impacting flights during the height of the summer season. Travellers advised to check before flying The UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) has cautioned that the collective action over weekends in August could lead to significant delays. Portugal's airports managing company ANA has issued similar advice, warning that several airlines – including state-owned carrier TAP – are likely to be affected. Passengers should be ready for more weekend disruption as soon as tomorrow, with the third of the five planned strikes set to begin: 15 to 18 August 22 to 25 August 29 August to 1 September Flights have already been delayed and cancelled The strikes have caused chaos at Portugal's busiest airports. On the first weekend, Lisbon's Humberto Delgado Airport scrapped more than 70 flights. The second wave from 8 to 11 August brought more headaches with eight flights to Lisbon cancelled. Long delays also held up departures. According to union sources cited by Lusa News Agency, around 25 flights left without passengers' checked bags, too. The standoff has sparked a bitter public feud between Menzies and the Metallurgical and Related Industries Union (SIMA), which represents the striking employees. Related Self-service bag drops and electronic tags: Why airlines are now less likely to lose your luggage EU to ban airlines from charging extra for hand luggage: What does this mean for passengers? 'We were forced into this situation by the intransigence of the current management, represented by its vice-president Rui Gomes, who opted for confrontation instead of dialogue, refusing solutions that respected workers' rights and the interests of the country,' SIMA leader Carlos Araújo said in a statement earlier in August. 'In the middle of the high tourist season, Menzies and TAP have chosen to turn their backs on their professionals, customers and all those who visit Portugal, with an arrogant, irresponsible and calculated attitude.' Meanwhile, Menzies said plans were in place to keep operations running and insisted the company respects the law and workers' rights. A spokesperson for Menzies told Lusa that the union '[insists] on promoting a distorted narrative based on unfounded allegations.' Chaos reigns across European airports Portugal's strikes are just one part of a summer of disruption across Europe. Italy endured a four-hour nationwide airport strike on 26 July, after earlier walkouts forced 73 flight cancellations in one day across Milan, Venice and Naples. Spain has already seen disruption from Volotea's crew and pilots, who staged a strike on 26 July, affecting flights to more than 100 destinations. Now, from 15-17 August, airports across Spain expect more delays, as more than 3,000 workers at Azul Handling – part of the Ryanair group – have planned a walk-out at 12 airports. The strikes are expected to continue weekly through December. But few strikes have had the impact of those in France. Air staff strikes in July forced airlines to cancel thousands of flights, affecting more than 1 million passengers. Ryanair CEO Michael O'Leary slammed the strikes as 'holding European families to ransom' and called for EU action to protect travellers. Related Ryanair baggage handlers call strikes at Spanish airports from August: How will it affect my flight? Ranked: These are the best airports in Europe for punctuality and passenger experience Holidaymakers heading to Portugal or elsewhere in Europe are advised to leave extra time at airports, monitor announcements from airlines and expect delays at major hubs. With strikes coinciding with peak-season travel, this summer's ongoing disruptions serve as a reminder of how quickly holiday plans can be blown off course.
