What We Do
Scholarly Sojourns takes special pride in offering a boutique collection of uniquely crafted educational tours (we call them “sojourns”) for life-long learners of all ages. Focusing on fascinating subjects and keeping our groups small, we are able to take you off the beaten path, beyond the throngs of tourists, and allow you to experience a side of the world that few others ever get to see. Led by respected scholars, noted experts, and gifted teachers, each sojourn is an opportunity to explore a fascinating subject while traveling under the guidance of a genuine expert. If you enjoyed studying abroad in college, or if you never got the chance to, here’s another opportunity!
A Message from our founder
Dear Fellow Traveler,
Thank you for visiting the Scholarly Sojourns website. I hope to have the pleasure of welcoming you on one of our sojourns soon. If you take a few moments to explore the diverse collection of tours, I’m sure you’ll agree we offer a most fascinating combination of distinctive vacations for intellectually engaged travelers.
Most likely you found this site because traveling is a passion for you and you possess a devotion to life-long learning. Perhaps like me, you’ve discovered the rewarding sense of accomplishment that travel can afford—particularly when you return from a vacation feeling that you’ve grown a bit, that you’ve learned something on the journey, that, in fact, you’ve been educated in a new way.
That is exactly why I created Scholarly Sojourns—to offer you the opportunity to explore our world with fantastic teachers and other intellectually engaged travelers. Working with a select group of respected scholars and noted experts, the Scholarly Sojourns team designs distinctive travel opportunities for passionate life-long learners like you. We specialize in tours that provide in-depth examination of the places, people, and events that have shaped our world. Created for those who understand the value of life-long learning and who believe that every journey is also an opportunity to engage the mind, our sojourns offer a variety of intriguing destinations and subjects to explore.
When you join us on a Scholarly Sojourn, I guarantee you won’t just be going on another tour. Better yet, I promise you’ll be returning with a richer understanding of our world.
Hope to see you soon,
How We Started
Scholarly Sojourns was founded by John J. Alexander, the developer of the award-winning Modern Scholar Series. After spending years in the audio publishing industry producing life-long learning and self-enrichment programs for adults, John assembled a team of passionate travel professionals and renowned professors, noted experts, and award-winning teachers, many of whom he had worked with in the publishing world. Together they designed unparalleled travel opportunities for discriminating travelers – those who understand the value of life-long learning and who believe that every journey is also an opportunity to engage the mind.
Our Core Beliefs
We offer a number of program types to suit different tastes and travel preferences, but all Scholarly Sojourns are designed around our core beliefs:
- Every journey should engage the mind
- An inspiring scholar is the best guide
- Small, intellectually-engaged groups
- Foster a mentally stimulating atmosphere
- Combine relaxation and thoughtful inquiry
- Make it the experience of a lifetime
Never straying from these beliefs we craft unparalleled travel opportunities for travelers who want to come home with more than merely souvenirs.
Our Marks of Distinction
Scholarly Sojourns has earned wide-spread recognition for the imaginative itineraries we develop and the variety of timeless subjects we offer to explore. While each sojourn is unique not only in subject matter, but also in atmosphere and style, there are key elements you are certain to encounter on every Scholarly Sojourn:
Explore with Renowned Experts
Each sojourn is led by a renowned scholar or genuine expert in their field. Most often this means a sitting professor from a noted college or university. Many are widely published authors whose expertise is frequently sought by major media organizations such as The History Channel, CNN, and The New York Times.
Travel in Small Groups
Individual attention is one of our primary concerns, so each sojourn is limited to a small number of participants. These intimate groups provide everyone time to interact with the sojourn leader as well as get to know fellow tour members who share their intellectual curiosity.
Distinctive Destinations and Itineraries
Each itinerary is specifically created to take you away from the tourist traps, off the beaten path, and make sure you experience an authentic side of the world most tourists never get to see.
Experience Insider Access
Because our tour leaders are such respected scholars and experts, they open doors which gain you behind-the-scenes, insider access to sites others never get to see.
Local Expertise
We utilize a vast network of local guides and guest speakers who are specially selected to supplement the material presented by sojourn leaders and to provide detailed information on specific landmarks, museums, and local history. These local experts provide insiders knowledge at museums, historic sites, and on walking tours.
Remarkable Lodging and Cuisine
One-of-a-kind, boutique hotels and intimate and award-winning restaurants create the ideal backdrop for each sojourn. From breathtaking chateaus and charming country inns to former Ottoman palaces, our lodging is specially selected for its unique character and exceptional attention to service and detail.