Frequently Asked Questions

It's easy—you can reserve online at any time or call at 855-330-1542 (M-F: 9 AM-6 PM EST) for calls from outside of the United States, please call 989-702-2515. You can pay with most major credit cards. Our programs typically require a deposit, with final payment due later.

Yes, there are several opportunities to apply a group discount. Apart from travel agent or Tailor-Made bookings, Smithsonian Journeys is pleased to offer a discount of $250 per person based on eight (8) or more people booking at the same time and traveling together. If the group falls below eight (8), the price will reflect the original price. In addition to your initial per-person deposit that becomes nonrefundable after seven days from booking, a second deposit of $1,000 per person will be due and become nonrefundable at six months prior to departure. Please call 855-330-1542 to learn whether a group discount is available for a given tour.

For the convenience of our travelers, Smithsonian Journeys includes a basic medical expense and evacuation plan through Trip Mate, a Generali Global Assistance & Insurance Services brand at no additional charge.

In addition, we recommend that you purchase the Travel Protection Plan to help protect your travel investment from unforeseen events such as cancellation due to illness, flight delays due to adverse weather, baggage loss, and more. Visit https://www.generalipartner.com/smithsonianjourneys or call the administrator, Trip Mate, a Generali Global Assistance & Insurance Services brand at (866) 501-3252 to learn more about travel insurance options.

Airfare varies on a tour-by-tour basis. While many of our small group, land tours offer airfare inclusive packages, other trips may not. Should airfare not be included, some of our partner tour operators are able to assist you in arranging your flights. Please note that when purchasing airfare independently, it is important to pay special attention to cancellation policies before you do so as international flight times and departures may change. You may search for all of our Airfare Inclusive tours in the Trip Finder.

Smithsonian Journeys is the travel program of the Smithsonian Institution and a recognized leader in enriching, small-group exploration. Like the Institution, our trips offer enrichment opportunities and satisfy travelers’ curiosity about the world around them. When you travel with Smithsonian Journeys, your participation benefits the work of the Smithsonian's 21 museums, National Zoological Park, education centers, research facilities, cultural centers, and libraries, helping to preserve our national treasures and shape the future through science, research, and exhibitions. Your trip cost is not tax deductible.

On most journeys, we include experts, trip leaders and guides, enrichment, most meals, excursions, excellent accommodations, transfers, most gratuities, and even airfare inclusive pricing on many tours. You will find that many of our trips offer exceptional value. Please call us with any qeustions. You can also find the full list of inclusions in our General Terms & Conditions.

And, for the convenience of our travelers, Smithsonian Journeys includes a basic medical expense and evacuation plan through Trip Mate, a Generali Global Assistance & Insurance Services brand at no additional charge. In addition, we recommend that you purchase the Travel Protection Plan to help protect your travel investment from unforeseen events such as cancellation due to illness, flight delays due to adverse weather, baggage loss, and more. Visit https://www.generalipartner.com/smithsonianjourneys or call the administrator, Trip Mate, a Generali Global Assistance & Insurance Services brand at (866) 501-3252 to learn more about travel insurance options.

All of our journeys are featured on our website, and we also print catalogs to support most of our programing. To receive our FREE catalog, submit a request online or call 855-330-1542. To keep up-to-date on new tours, interesting travel content, and special offers, or to receive invitations to our free webinars, sign up today for our newsletter. 

We offer a variety of options to fit a range of tastes and travel interests -  land journeys (many including airfare), small-ship ocean cruising, river cruising, cultural stays, special interest tours, active journeys, and private jet journeys. And if the group options aren’t right for you, we offer Smithsonian Tailor-Made Journeys where you can customize your itinerary with the help of a Country Specialist.

You can use our Trip Finder to search by destination, tour style, departure date, duration, and even by a particular interest to find your perfect journey!

Built upon the important mission of the Smithsonian, our journeys are designed with the same quest to increase and diffuse knowledge. You will engage with the world through the Smithsonian lens and enjoy an immersive and transformative experience that you will never forget. And, when you travel with us, your participation benefits the work of the Smithsonian Institution, supporting our educational mission to preserve our heritage, discover new knowledge, and share our resources with the world.

In addition to an experienced trip leader and local guides, on most trips a Smithsonian Journeys Expert will join you on your journey. Among the experts who accompany you are scholars from around the world—with an in-depth understanding of history, science, culture, art, or the natural world—who have been selected for their knowledge and ability to connect with people. Our travelers tell us that our experts, and overall educational emphasis, are why they choose Smithsonian Journeys again and again.

Because we offer a wide range of travel options, our age range is quite broad. More active itineraries attract travelers from 40-70 years of age, while special interest tours, including performing arts, typically attract guests from 50-80 years of age. So, while there is no typical age profile, the average age of our guests is 50+. For all of our journeys, we ask that travelers be physically able to participate in all planned activities so that they may enjoy every aspect of the journey. Please ask our reservation specialists about the activity on specific tours.

Specific activity expectations can be found at the “Tour Details” tab on every tour page. These describe the ease or rigors of trip activities, as well as altitude, internal flights, train travel, and length of walks, hikes, and treks.

Because of the educational nature of our trips and the inquisitive nature of our travelers, our itineraries are full and active. As a general guide, to enjoy your travel experience, we recommend that your level of fitness, stamina, and overall ability match the activity requirements for the trip selected. All trips feature varied activities that require a related level of physical fitness and ability.

Detailed information regarding specific activity expectations can be found at the “Tour Details” tab on every tour page and should be reviewed carefully to ensure you have chosen a trip appropriate to your capabilities. These describe the ease or rigors of trip activities, as well as altitude, internal flights, train travel, and length of walks, hikes, and treks.

Yes, simply notify us in advance of your trip’s departure so that we can arrange for your special dietary needs. Please  note this information in your pre-trip Personal Information Form that you will receive with your confirmation packet.

Group size varies depending on the trip type. Almost all of our land trips feature guaranteed small groups of 12-24 travelers, and cruises range from 102 - 265 travelers (with a few slightly larger), depending on the ship’s size. Please ask our reservation specialists about specific trip sizes.

Smithsonian Journeys offers tours perfectly suited for solo travelers! You will share your experience with people with similar interests and a love of exploring the world. If you prefer a single room, you may reserve one by paying the single supplement (which reflects the additional costs charged by hotels and cruise lines). Please note that availability may be limited for solo travelers. Learn more about our solo traveler special offers here!

Travel is a wonderful way for the younger generation to learn about the world and for families to spend time together. Past travelers report that these are among the best travel experiences they have ever enjoyed. Please note that trips are designed with adults in mind although some may be suitable for older children. Please check with us before booking. Regardless of age, children must pay full price unless otherwise noted, and a parent or guardian must accompany those under 18. View our family journeys.

The U.S. Department of State no longer adds visa pages into U.S. passports. Applicants in need of additional pages in their valid passports must obtain a new passport. For more information on how or where to apply, please visit Travel.State.Gov/ApplyEarly or call the National Passport Information Center toll-free at 1-877-487-2778/1-888-874-7793 (TTY/TTD).

Travelers should also be aware that starting in October 2025 the European Union will be rolling out an Entry/Exit System (EES), which will replace traditional passport stamping with a secure process that records biometric data, entry dates, and exit dates, making border checks more accurate and efficient for travelers.

Additionally, the rules of domestic air travel have changed. This is because of the REAL ID Act, a federal law that compels states to update the security of the ID cards and driver’s licenses that they issue. Your government-issued photo identification must be REAL ID compliant (or you can present an acceptable alternate form of ID, such as a passport) to board a domestic flight in the U.S. The Department of Homeland Security offers an easy-to-use website that shows your state’s compliance status. Click on your state to learn more.