Throw a dart at a calendar, and chances are, you’ll hit a date that sees a group of eager travelers departing on one of our small group tours. With thousands of guests joining us on 45+ itineraries around the world, the Odysseys Unlimited travel schedule is a year-round affair, from wintertime departures to places like Egypt, Costa Rica, and Southeast Asia to summertime escapes to Iceland, Norway, and the Canadian Rockies.
As we begin to gear up for the busy fall travel season, let’s take a moment to look back at the many highlights from our year to date: the places that our guests have been, the relationships they’ve formed, and the memories that they’ve made along the way. This is the story of 2026 so far at Odysseys Unlimited.
Odysseys guest Linda Katauskas enjoys her first overseas trip
Linda enjoying her first trip abroad!
We always love hearing your stories from the road, but this message from first-time Odysseys guest Linda Katauskas after her January Treasures of India small group tour was particularly special:
"This trip was my first ever out of the United States! Every moment was beyond perfect!"
We’re thrilled to have had a part in creating this lifelong memory. To see more photos from Linda’s trip, click here.
"Magnificence with the volume knob removed"
Brooks and Karen Clark came face to face with iconic wildlife in Tanzania
Multi-time Odysseys traveler Brooks Clark and his wife Karen joined our Tanzania Adventure tour in early February, and to say they enjoyed their time in Africa would be an understatement.
Brooks penned a review of his trip for his local publication in Knoxville, Tennessee. Among the evocative descriptions of his trip, this scene stood out:
At one point in the Serengeti, we came upon a sated pride of lions—aging patriarch surrounded by females, with younger males at a distance—sleeping lazily together near a half-creek after gorging themselves on a fresh kill.
Read Brooks’s full breakdown of their trip here.
"A true bonanza"
A tiger stalks through India’s Ranthambore National Park
Speaking of guest-produced tour writeups, first-time Odysseys traveler Peggy Bendel provided a thoughtful recap of her Treasures of India tour. Her undisputed highlight: multiple tiger sightings during the two days spent in Ranthambore National Park:
Staying at a lovely lodge just outside of Ranthambore for two nights, our group embarked on three game drives. On every one, we spotted TIGERS, a total of 10! I had hoped for at least one sighting, so this was a true bonanza.
Visiting Costa Rica's Escuela Cerro Alegre (Happy Hill School)
Odysseys guests at the Escuela Cerro Alegre
On a February training trip on 𝘊𝘰𝘴𝘵𝘢 𝘙𝘪𝘤𝘢'𝘴 𝘕𝘢𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘢𝘭 𝘏𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘢𝘨𝘦, Odysseys employee Lindsay A. (back row, far right) enjoyed a visit to Costa Rica’s Escuela Cerro Alegre (Happy Hill School) to spend some time with students and learn about life in Costa Rica. Though often overshadowed by its biodiversity, Costa Rica’s huge investment in education makes it unique among Central American nations, and its 95+% literacy rate ranks first in the region.
We asked her about the experience when she got back – click here to read Lindsay’s description of this uplifting small group highlight.
Fostering sustainable travel
Odysseys employees Hayley, Jillian, and Angelina at April’s Tourism Cares summit
Earlier this year, Odysseys sent four employees to the 2026 North American Meaningful Travel Summit, hosted by Tourism Cares in Asheville, North Carolina. This year’s event focused on improving sustainability in today’s travel industry.
Jillian’s report from the ground: “We heard from speakers from all over the industry, learned how climate change is impacting tourism, enjoyed a free walking tour around Asheville’s River Arts District, and so much more!”
See more from our visit to this conference here.
Wonder Down Under
Aoraki (Mount Cook) in New Zealand, as photographed by Dr. Carol Mahlstedt
Two-time Odysseys guest Dr. Carol Mahlstedt joined our Exploring Australia & New Zealand tour in April, and returned with a camera roll brimming with magnificent shots like the one above.
Enjoy the rest of her excellent photography here.
Tranquility in Venice
A lone gondola sits quietly in Venice. Photo: five-time Odysseys traveler Janet Blum, on Northern Italy
Marvelous Morocco
Odysseys guests smile amid the windswept sands of the Sahara. Photo: Gary Head
11-time Odysseys traveler Gary Head always travels with his camera at the ready. And during his Moroccan Discovery tour in May, he captured an array of breathtaking shots of the country’s diverse scenery and captivating local residents – as well as his fair share of group shots, like the one above.
Gary’s view as his group looks over Fez with a local guide
To see the full collection of Gary’s on-tour photos, click here.
"Well-curated and delightful"
Odysseys guests on the May 11 Insider’s Japan tour
In mid-May, Odysseys employees Melissa N. and Angus B. (behind the first and second columns from the left at the Fushimi Inari Shrine, above) captured these fun-filled photos on their Insider’s Japan training trip. Mary Hammett, one of their traveling companions, had this to say about her trip: “I so appreciate Odysseys’ quality tours! Such a wonderful, well-curated trip experience with a delightful combination of cultural, artistic, historical, and fun activities!”
See the highlights of this group’s tour here.
"Energy, warmth, and complete dedication"
Odysseys tour director Gil Selby and a group of guests
After returning from her first Odysseys trip, a May 11 departure on Journey through Britain, guest Suzanne Kremp submitted this glowing review about tour director Gil Selby:
“Gil was truly exceptional. His knowledge of UK history and culture added tremendous richness to every location we visited, but what made him stand out even more was the way he cared for our group. This was a fast-moving itinerary with a lot to see and do, and Gil somehow made it feel manageable, enjoyable, and seamless. He guided us with kindness, patience, and a calm confidence that kept everyone on track without ever feeling rushed. He has a wonderful sense of humor and brought true warmth and lightness to each day with his gentle personality, sweet laugh, and well-timed humor.
“One additional detail that made Gil's leadership even more impressive was that this was a back-to-back tour for him. At the last minute, our original guide became unavailable due to personal reasons, and Gil graciously stepped in immediately after completing another full tour. You never would have known. From the very beginning, he showed up with energy, warmth, and complete dedication to our group. Despite stepping into the role on short notice, he made every traveler feel seen, valued, and included. Gil created an atmosphere that felt welcoming and personal while expertly managing all of the moving pieces behind the scenes. His professionalism, kindness, and ability to make what could have been a challenging transition feel effortless truly elevated our experience and speaks volumes about both Gil and Odyssey Unlimited.”
From Peru to Botswana to Alaska and beyond, June saw Odysseys travelers crisscross the globe. A sampling of reviews upon their returns home:
– Mrs. Lynn D Marsden-Atlass, five-time Odysseys guest, Treasures of Peru, June 1
– Mrs. Shannon Ames, five-time Odysseys guest, Africa’s Wildlife, June 7
– Mrs. Karilyn Graham, Alaska’s Untamed Wilderness, June 9
– Mrs. Susan Weaver, Machu Picchu to the Galapagos, June 30
Cooking on Lake Como
Guests enjoying a cooking class on our Majestic Switzerland tour.
A new tour for 2026, Majestic Switzerland provides a comprehensive experience in this beautiful Alpine nation. But before traveling from northern Italy into Switzerland, guests have the opportunity to prepare authentic, handmade pasta dishes during a cooking class along the shores of Lake Como. In the above photo, we see two Odysseys guests plying their culinary trade on our July 12 tour – see more photos of this experience here.
As you can see, it’s been a year to remember so far – and we still have so much to see and do! To make your own memories on one of our small group tours, simply submit an online reservation request or give us a call at 1-888-370-6765 and one of our Travel Counselors will be happy to assist you.
Share your great adventures with us on social media. Tag your pictures with #myodyssey and they may be featured on our website!
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