Tauck to launch new journeys in Colombia and Japan next year

WILTON, CT – Tauck has announced its first-ever tour of Colombia, with an in-depth nine-day exploration of the South American country set to launch next year. Also new for 2025 is the company’s first-ever Tauck Bridges family travel adventure in Japan.

Tauck’s new “Colombia: South America’s Eternal Spring” begins with a two-night stay at the Four Seasons in Bogotá, followed by a three-night stay at the Medellín Marriott in Medellín and a subsequent three-night stay at the five-star Sofitel Legend Santa Clara in Cartagena. Guests’ time in Bogotá is highlighted by a visit to the Gold Museum, containing the world’s largest collection of gold artifacts (including many pre-Columbian pieces), and a guided tour of the Botero Museum, dedicated to the work of noted political critic, artist and sculptor Fernando Botero. The following day, guests travel by train to Zipaquirá to visit the Salt Cathedral, a working church carved from subterranean salt some 600 feet underground.

After flying to Medellín, guests will enjoy a tasting of Colombian coffee before visiting the Normandia Equestrian Center to learn about the region’s renowned Paso Fino horses. Guests will also learn about Colombia’s emergence from its troubled past when they visit Comuna 13, a vibrant and colorful community that was once one of Colombia’s most notorious neighborhoods. Tauck’s exploration of Colombia continues in Cartagena with a walking tour of Castillo de San Felipe de Barajas (the largest fortress in South America), a visit to a local music school, and tours of San Pedro Claver Cathedral and the city’s popular Getsmani neighborhood. The itinerary concludes with a sunset cruise and reception along Cartagena Bay, followed by a farewell dinner at a local restaurant. Tauck will operate 12 departures of the new Colombia tour in 2025, and included in the price are two on-tour flights, 20 meals, gratuities to all local guides, hotel staff and restaurant servers, all sightseeing and other activities, airport transfers, luggage handling, taxes and more.

Japan, just for families

Tauck’s new 10-day Tauck Bridges itinerary, “Journey Through Japan… A Family Adventure” has been designed specifically for families, and it begins with a three-night exploration of Tokyo featuring accommodations at the Conrad Tokyo. While in the city, Tauck guests will visit the ancient Asakusa Kannon Temple (circa 645), and enjoy a sightseeing rickshaw ride before learning the ways of the ninja and visiting the Ginza shopping district. Guests will also visit the city’s innovative teamLab Planets TOKYO interactive museum, tour the Tsukiji Outer Market, enjoy a sushi-making lunch and visit the Meiji Shrine.

Guests next travel by high-speed bullet train to Hakone for a pirate boat cruise across Lake Ashi, a visit to the city’s Open Air Museum, and an overnight stay at the Hotel Indigo Hakone Gora. After traveling by bullet train the following day to Hiroshima (where they’ll enjoy two nights at the Hilton Hiroshima), Tauck guests will visit the city’s Peace Memorial Museum and Park, travel by ferry to the island of Miyajima to see the Itsukushima Shrine, and participate in a hands-on okonomiyaki demonstration and dinner, featuring Japan’s traditional crepe-like dish with a variety of meat, seafood and vegetable toppings.

The Tauck Bridges family exploration of Japan concludes with a three-night stay in Kyoto at the Hotel The Mitsui Kyoto, named one of “The Best Hotels and Resorts in the World” in Conde Nast Traveler magazine’s 2024 Gold List. In Kyoto, guests will visit the Kiyomizu-dera Buddhist temple and Nijo Castle (both UNESCO World Heritage Sites), as well as the Kinkaku-ji Golden Pavilion, Nishiki Market and the city’s geisha district. They’ll also enjoy fun cultural immersion as they learn the intricacies of a formal tea ceremony, take a calligraphy lesson, and try their hands at traditional Taiko drumming.

Tauck will operate nine departures of the new Bridges journey, and included in the tour price are three on-tour trips aboard high-speed bullet trains, 22 meals, gratuities to all local guides, hotel staff and restaurant servers, all sightseeing and other activities, airport transfers, luggage handling, taxes and more.

The new Bridges trip joins Tauck’s two other itineraries in Japan, the 13-day “Essence of Japan” land tour and the 14-day “Cruising the Land of the Rising Sun” small ship cruise aboard the Ponant ship, Le Soleal. “Essence of Japan” visits Tokyo, Hakone, Gero Onsen, Kanazawa, Hiroshima and Kyoto. “Cruising the Land of the Rising Sun” begins with an included three-night hotel stay and exploration of Osaka, continues with an eight-day cruise aboard Le Soleal, and concludes in Tokyo with an included two-night hotel stay and Tauck-guided sightseeing in the city. Ports-of-call during the cruise include Uno Ko, Hiroshima, Uwajima, Kagoshima, Nagasaki, Busan (South Korea) and Sakaiminato.

Tauck sees dramatic growth on Japan bookings

The addition of the new Tauck Bridges family itinerary comes as bookings for Tauck’s two other journeys to Japan are experiencing rapid growth. Bookings for “Cruising the Land of the Rising Sun” are up by mid-double digits, percentage-wise, over last year at this time. “Essence of Japan” bookings have experienced even greater growth, and are up nearly triple digits, percentage-wise, this year over pre-pandemic levels.

Tauck’s announcement of the new Japan tour comes during the U.S.-Japan Tourism Year 2024, an initiative designed to promote increased tourism and cultural exchanges between the two countries. It also comes at a time of increased recognition for Japan as a top travel destination. The city of Hokkaido was recently highlighted in Travel + Leisure magazine’s list of “The 50 Best Places to Travel in 2024,” while Morioka and Fukuoka were recommended in a New York Times feature on “52 Places To Go.” In addition, Tokyo and Japan were recognized in Condé Nast Traveler’s 2023 “Reader’s Choice Awards,” while Hokkaido was celebrated as a sustainable destination in Lonely Planet’s “Best in Travel 2024.”

The article Tauck to launch new journeys in Colombia and Japan next year first appeared in TravelDailyNews International.