In our view, immersion is the key to a unique travel experience; that’s why you’ll often find yourself participating in cultural events and witnessing natural wonders while on an Odysseys tour. We believe personally engaging with your surroundings is one of the best ways to truly absorb your destination and create lifelong memories.
Though all Odysseys tours include small group highlights, several feature select departure dates that offer you the opportunity to participate in local annual celebrations and marvel at natural phenomena unique to the region. See what special events you can experience on tour in 2026 with the below list.
Photo credit: Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (CC BY 2.0)
The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo is an annual three-week-long celebration of Scottish culture. Over 220,000 visitors from around the world are drawn to Edinburgh, Scotland, every year to enjoy traditional pipe band performances and international cultural showcases.
The first Edinburgh Tattoo took place at Edinburgh Castle in 1950 and was inspired by the 1949 performance of “Something About a Soldier” – Edinburgh’s first-ever public military tattoo. The Tattoo has never been called off due to inclement weather and aside from the canceled 2020 and 2021 performances, which were canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the festival has been going strong ever since its inception.
Experience the pomp and circumstance of the 2026 Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo for yourself. Our select festival departures on Scotland: Highlands and Islands (8/1, 8/3, 8/8, 8/13, 8/15, 8/19) and Journey through Britain (8/4, 8/6, 8/8, 8/12, 8/15, 8/19) include reserved seating at an evening performance.
Keukenhof Gardens
Nothing says “spring has sprung” quite like strolling through a sprawling garden while breathing the sweet scents of fresh flowers – and there’s no better garden to stroll through than Keukenhof in the Dutch town of Lisse. Known as the “Garden of Europe,” Keukenhof is one of the world’s largest flower gardens. It’s also home to over 7,000,000 tulips, daffodils, and hyacinths, all of which are in full bloom at the height of spring.
Our March 26 and 28, and all April and May 2026 European Tapestry departures include a tour of Keukenhof while the flowers are in bloom. But make your reservation soon – space is selling out fast!
Cherry trees in bloom along the Meguro River in Nakameguro, Tokyo.
Japan treasures the season of cherry blossoms, or sakura season. From roughly February to May, cherry trees across the country burst with blooms, creating a spectacle of color. You’ll find dozens of cherry tree varieties around Japan, and while most produce light pink or white flowers, some cherry trees have dark pink, yellow, or even green blossoms. Many cities celebrate sakura season with romantic festivals while families and friends gather to picnic beneath canopies of flowers.
Guests who are interested in traveling to Japan during sakura season are encouraged to reserve a late March to early May departure on Insider’s Japan for the best chance at seeing this lovely spectacle at the locations on tour. However, as it is one of our most popular tours for 2026, be aware that space on Insider’s Japan is currently extremely limited; see the “Dates & Prices” section on the tour webpage or give us a call to see what dates still have availability.
If you’re after a traditional yet epic spectacle in 2026, then India’s premier annual Hindu festivals – the Nagaur Camel Fair and Pushkar Camel Fair – are for you. This coming January and November, respectively, locals will gather in the Indian state of Rajasthan to trade cows, camels, horses, and goats – and tourists from all over the world will flock to join time-honored games, savor local cuisine, enjoy traditional entertainment, and so much more.
Experience the 2026 Pushkar Camel Fair on the 11/13 or 11/17 departures of our Mystical India small group tour. Or, put your name on the waitlist for our sold-out 1/20 and 1/21 departures for the 2026 Nagaur Camel Fair.
Every year, millions of wildebeest, zebra, and gazelle embark on the Great Migration, traveling in a continuous loop from Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park to Kenya’s Masai Mara in search of food and water. The treacherous journey covers some 1,200 miles, crossing crocodile-infested rivers and plains patrolled by prides of hungry lions along the way.
East Africa’s dry season typically kicks off the Great Migration, making July an optimal time for migration game viewing, though it occurs throughout the dry season from June through October. Our Classic Safari: Kenya & Tanzania and Tanzania Adventure tours offer ample safari time in both the Serengeti and Masai Mara; click the linked tour names for full lists of available departure dates.
Aurora borealis at Skogafoss waterfall, Iceland
According to Icelandic folklore, many early Icelanders believed the aurora borealis to be the spirits of the deceased searching for their final resting place, while others saw it as a sign of good fortune on the horizon. One thing is certain, though – no one who sees the phenomenon firsthand ever forgets the experience.
An aurora occurs when charged particles from the sun collide with gases in Earth’s upper atmosphere, producing little flashes that fill the sky with vibrant light. Generally, you’re most likely to see the aurora borealis above a latitude of 60° north – which means Iceland’s position at a latitude of approximately 64° north makes it one of the best places in the world to view the northern lights.
While many factors may impact your chances of seeing the aurora borealis in Iceland, you’ll likely find the most favorable viewing conditions on a September or October departure of our Exploring Iceland small group tour.
If you’re anything like us, you likely spend much of the winter counting down the seconds until the days start getting longer – and nowhere in the Northern Hemisphere are summer days longer than in the Arctic Circle, a.k.a. “The Land of the Midnight Sun.” Occurring when the sun is visible at midnight local time, the “midnight sun” appears in the sky above parts of Canada, Alaska, and Northern Europe during the summer months, and it gets brighter the farther north you go.
The summer solstice – which falls between June 20th and June 22nd in the Northern Hemisphere – represents peak “midnight sun” season, making May–July the best time to catch the phenomenon for yourself on our Norwegian Splendor, Alaska's Untamed Wildnerness, and Exploring Iceland small group tours.
As the birthplace of prolific composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Salzburg, Austria, has had a close relationship with music and art for hundreds of years. Throw in the ornate Baroque architecture for which the city is known and the fact that the first opera was likely performed in Salzburg, and it becomes clear: This city serves as the perfect backdrop for the world’s premier classical music and performing arts festival, aptly named the Salzburg Festival. The best conductors, orchestras, singers, actors, and solo instrumentalists from all over the world gather in Salzburg every summer to present a wide array of operas, concerts, and dramatic performances.
Several of our 2026 Alpine Splendor: Switzerland and Austria departures (7/6, 7/13, 7/20, 7/30, 8/10) will put you in Salzburg during this iconic music and performing arts festival.
Looking to include a little something extra on your next Odysseys tour? Reserve your special departure date on any of these tours today to secure your spot and create lasting travel memories. Just submit an online reservation request or give us a call to get started.
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