Special Travel International | Special Interest Tours | Customized Experiences
Designing Lifestyle Travel Experiences
With Respect and Honour
In 1897 Rudyard Kipling (d. 1936) composed a poem entitled “Recessional,” where he reminds readers not to forget what is not to be obliterated. In the poem, he underscores the phrase “lest we forget”:
God of our fathers, known of old, Lord of our far-flung battle-line,
Beneath whose awful Hand we hold Dominion over palm and pine—
Lord God of Hosts, be with us yet, Lest we forget—lest we forget!
The phrase is then adopted to capture the significance of remembering the soldiers fallen in war, and it has become widely known for the occasion of Remembrance Day, also called “Armistice Day” until 1930, particularly in the Commonwealth countries and states. Equally outstanding in this respect is the poem entitled “For The Fallen” by Laurence Binyon (d. 1943), the fourth stanza of which is known to us as the “Act of Remembrance,” where it chants:
They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old; Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn. At the going down of the sun and in the morning We will remember them.
80th Anniversary tour with the Regiment
April 24th - May 7th, 2025 (14 Days)
Paris - Arras - Ypres - Arnhem - Putten - Otterloo - Amsterdam
Join the Royal Westminster Regiment as they commemorate the 80th anniversary of the liberation of The Netherlands. This milestone anniversary will be one of the most incredible experiences, especially with the Regiment. The tour will be focused on the Royal Westminster Regiment's involvement in the war in Northwest Europe.
Highlights: Itinerary HERE
• 80th-anniversary Liberation of the Netherlands Tour
• See many of the great historical locations of two world wars, and follow in the footsteps of our Canadian veterans through France, Belgium and Holland, accompanied by a Military Historian.
• Visit the war cemeteries of Essex Farm, Adanac, Tyne Cot, Pozieres, Villers Station, Holten, Givenchy Road, Groesbeek, and Nine Elms.
• Explore the beautiful cities of Arras, Ypres, Bruges, Arnhem and Amsterdam. Ask about pre and post-tours. Please contact me!
Classical Munich & Vienna 2025 Exclusive - Limited to 30 Guests!
April 18th - 30th, 2025
12 Days / 11 Nights
Join Kai Gleusteen and Catherine Ordronneau on this unforgettable Munich and Vienna musical tour.
Highlights: Itinerary Details & Registration
11 nights accommodations and while in Vienna - stay at the iconic Hotel Bristol. Enjoy 23 meals, and 7 wonderful Classical Music performances at fantastic concert houses & venues, including 2 private concerts with our hosts. Explore two of the world's finest cultural capitals.
Exclusive - Group size is limited to 30 guests
Vienna - The city of Mozart and Strauss
Many great composers were attracted to the city – they came, stayed, and wrote immortal music.
Munich - Extraordinary soloists from all over the world are an everyday event in Munich. Musical luxury is a very familiar and much-loved feature of the state capital.
South Africa - Victoria Falls & Botswana
Depart Canada January 31st - Feb 14th, 2025
From $7999 CAD p/p double occupancy
Includes: Escorted by Special Travel / Western Canada
Park fees and domestic flights - Victoria Falls & Botswana
5 Star accommodations, 29 meals, vineyard tasting
Victoria Falls, Chobe National Park, Pilanesberg National Park, 8 game drives, Cape Winelands, Cape Town and Table Mountain. (International flights not included)
Get ready for an unparalleled journey through southern Africa's cultural diversity and abundant wildlife. Seek out the “Big 5” on 8 different safari game drives. Get a taste of South African culture at local wineries. Witness the natural beauty of Victoria Falls and learn about its people during a township visit and home-hosted lunch. Greet African elephants and spend time learning about them. Search for animals along the winding Chobe River. Epic scenery and winding coastlines come together in an incredible adventure.
Exclusive Concerts onboard and ashore - 10 days - Italy, Croatia, Montenegro, Greece & Turkey
We have also designed the musical program in such a way that it will make the hearts of true music connoisseurs beat faster. Probably the best chamber orchestra in the world, the
Kammerorchester Wien-Berlin, consisting of members of the Vienna and Berlin Philharmonic Orchestras, conducted by Rainer Honeck, the concertmaster of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra will accompany this journey. They will be joined by two singers who wow audiences and critics worldwide and need no further introduction: Diana Damrau and Fatma Said.
We start in Venice, "the Most Serene", with a comprehensive program including an exclusive concert in the Scuola
Grande San Rocco. We visit Rovinj, probably the most beautiful town in Croatia, experience a concert on land at the Teatro
delle Muse in Ancona, and experience other destinations such as Kotor (Montenegro), Marmaris (Turkey), Chania (Crete/Greece)
before our journey. Detailed Itinerary Click HERE
Irish Tour & Luxury Castle Stay
Private Tour: July 3rd - 12th, 2025
8 Nights / 10 Days - 15 Meals, Castles, Music, & Tours
$5588 CAD per person based on double
Single: $6488 Triple: $5488 (Including all taxes)
Return flight to Dublin approximately: $1500 per person
Tour Highlights
Live like royalty during overnight stays on the grounds of a castle. From history-filled Dublin to the rolling green hills and dramatic coast, experience Ireland’s charms on a journey through the Emerald Isle. Choose how you explore the city of Dublin. Kiss the Blarney Stone at historic Blarney Castle. See Killarney from an Irish jaunting car. Please pick from the best restaurants with our Diner’s Choice program. Experience the world-famous beauty of the Ring of Kerry. See border collies in action during a traditional sheepdog demonstration. Stand in awe at the top of the stunning 700-foot Cliffs of Moher. Experience the famous Guinness Storehouse and learn how to pour a perfect pint. A vibrant blend of captivating culture and breathtaking nature, this is the Ireland you’ve always imagined. Please get in touch with me!
17-Night Kenya Safari & Indian Ocean Experience
Join Special Travel's Rick MacSwain as he returns for the 5th time to Kenya on safari.
Please NOTE: This is NOT an off-the-shelf, pre-packaged tour. Our unique safari is designed to provide the greatest opportunity to experience the Big 5 in comfort and safety.
January 10th - 27th, 2025 -- $12,399 CAD p/p based on double
Highlights (Limited to 24 Guests)
2 Nights to rest after a long flight, 2 Nights in Samburu, 2 Nights in the Ol Pejeta Conservancy, 1 Night Lake Nakuru, 3 Nights Masai Mara, 1 Night Lake Naivasha, 2 Nights Amboseli National Park with Mt. Kilimanjaro as the backdrop and 4 Nights post safari on the Indian Ocean at an all-inclusive beachfront resort.
• Luxury Lodges / Hotels (6 Nights in tented lodges)
• Private Land Cruisers with open hatch roofs, onboard fresh drinking water, binoculars & coolers
• Safety & Comfort - Only 4 guests per Land Cruiser with a private English-speaking driver guide
• Daily morning & afternoon game drives
• Visit the Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage and Giraffe Centre including lunch. Please contact me!
Antarctica Luxury Cruise
January 29th - February 8th, 2026
10 Nights Antarctica Ushuaia - Ushuaia
Superior Stateroom $12,635 USD p/p based on double
Ponant Cruise Line "Explore to Inspire"
The most common reaction upon reaching the 7th Continent is a sense of reverence and awe. The experience is beyond words since few places are as untouched and enduring as Antarctica. You will begin to appreciate why this region has long captivated the attention of explorers and travelers alike.
Includes: (Small ship experience - only 200 guests)
• All meals while on board the ship
• Standard Open Bar Package • Gratuities
• Port charges ($560 per person) • Airport charges
• Flight Package 1 Night in Buenos Aires + flight Buenos Aires/Ushuaia + visit + flight Ushuaia/Buenos Aires
• Captain’s welcome cocktail and gala dinner
• Unlimited Wi-Fi • Onboard credit ($100 per person)
• Evening entertainment and events
• Room service 24h (special selection)
• Highly qualified expedition team
• Zodiac landings and park entry fees into protected areas
• Complimentary boot rental & a Polar Parka to keep
Circle Japan & Southern Islands
17-Day Cruise departing June 14th, 2025 on Diamond Princess
Roundtrip from Tokyo (Yokohama), Japan
Inside: $2992 - Oceanview $4072 - Balcony $4747 (per person)
9 Ports: Tokyo (Yokohama), Japan Nagasaki, Japan Busan, South Korea Sakaiminato, Japan Aomori, Japan Tokyo (Yokohama), Japan Taipei (Keelung)Hualien, Taiwan Ishigaki, Japan Okinawa, Japan Tokyo (Taxes included / Flights are extra)
We can arrange your flights and pre or post-stays
On this incredible journey, you will enjoy the most astonishing city on earth; the city of Tokyo. In Nagasaki visit: (Peace Memorial Park, Atomic Bomb Museum, Shimabara Castle & Village, Mt. Inasa) Enjoy Busan, the second largest city in South Korea from modern high-rise towers to ancient Buddhist temples. You will visit the small fishing port of Sakaiminato in Japan, esteemed for centuries for its superb seafood. In Northern Japan, you will enjoy the city of Aomori, known for its beauty from apple orchards and cherry blossoms. In Taiwan, you will visit the bustling city of Taipei and other interesting areas on this fascinating island in the East China Sea. Please contact me!
14-Night Australia & New Zealand
March 2nd - 16th, 2025 (14 nights / 15 Days)
Holland America Cruise Line on the Westerdam
Outside Stateroom: From $5339 CAD p/p
Balcony Stateroom: From $6249 CAD p/p
Signature Suite: From $7719 CAD p/p (**Call for Single Rates)
Includes:
Drink package, gratuities, $200 USD Shore excursion credit,
2 nights specialty dining, Wifi, taxes, port charges, & transfers
Departs: Sydney, Australia to Melbourne & Tasmania
New Zealand -Milford Sound, Fiordland National Park, Port Chalmers (Dunedin), Timaru, Picton, Wellington, Napier, Tauranga, Disembark in Auckland
Highlights:
Departing Sydney Australia with a stop in Melbourne and then on to Tasmania known for its unique wildlife and World Heritage area.
New Zealand is one of the most unique destinations on Earth, where scenes of sweeping, verdant landscapes and pristine wilderness abound. New Zealand is also known for its rich culture, friendly people & excellent food & wine.
We manage all modes of travel but Groups are our specialty!
Group Travel, Our Expertise!
Join one of our customized experiences, or let us create a group for you! At Special Travel we specialize in crafting unforgettable group travel experiences. Whether you are planning a family reunion, a friend's getaway, or a corporate retreat, we are dedicated to making every journey seamless and enjoyable.
* Tailored Itineraries (to any destination)
We design custom travel plans, unique to your group's interest
* Expert Coordination
From transportation to accommodation, our team handles all logistics, ensuring a stress-free adventure
* Shared Memories
We create opportunities for bonding and shared experiences that you'll cherish for a lifetime
* Cost Efficiency
Benefit from group discounts and shared expenses, making your dream trip more affordable.
Travel together, laugh together, and explore together with Special Travel. Let us take care of the details so you can focus on creating memories.