According to a new announcement released by Smithsonian Journeys, the luxury tour company is planning a new slate of 2024 itineraries, including a cruise in partnership with Ponant.

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Although it may seem that we are only a few days away from the beginning of 2023, we are already starting to plan vacations for 2024 in order to make the most of our time off, especially with the announcement of Smithsonian Journeys' new itineraries for the coming year.

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There is already a wide range of trips offered by the tour operator, which include everything from land excursions to small-ship cruises and even private jet trips around the world, covering a broad range of interests, such as astronomy, history, and culture. Additionally, in 2024, there will be a number of new additions to the roster that will be showcased pretty impressively.

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Among the highlights of the itineraries for 2024 is the eight-day Cultural and Natural Treasures of Japan by Sea journey, which is a collaboration between the luxury small cruise line Ponant and the Japanese government; it is one of the most exciting journeys on offer.

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A UNESCO World Heritage site Shirakawa-go and Gokayama, which are mountain villages situated in the mountains of Japan, are the destinations that this voyage explores rather than some of the more popular destinations in Japan. 

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In addition, the Adachi Museum of Art in Yasugi is also visited, as is the iconic Kenroku-en garden in Kanazawa, one of the Three Great Gardens of Japan. In addition to this itinerary, there is also a day dedicated to visiting the Gyeongju Historic Areas, another UNESCO World Heritage Site in South Korea, which is included in the itinerary. May 21, 2024 will be the date of the departure of the trip.

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According to Rich Report, aside from the new tour itineraries announced by Smithsonian Journeys, Smithsonian Journeys is also offering a new seven-day land tour, The Life and Work of Van Gogh in France, that will depart throughout the year, and is even scheduled to debut beginning in October 2023.

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In addition to stops in Paris and Auvers-Sur-Oise in the north of France, as well as Avignon, Arles, and St.-Rémy-de-Provence in the south of France, the itinerary includes a visit to all the Van Gogh sites in those regions. There are a number of museums in the area where you can see the artist's works, but you can also visit the places where the artist lived, such as the asylum of Saint Paul de Mausole where he painted The Starry Night.

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This is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the number of trips we have taken. Besides sailings to New Zealand's South Island and the Mediterranean, there are also new land-based itineraries to Sicily, Spain, and England and Ireland, as well as sailings to the Mediterranean, and Israel, Egypt, Greece, Cyprus, and Turkey can all be found on these new sailings.