Peek Inside the Homes of Britain's Literary Heroes, by Historian Alice Loxton
The 5 Tours Our Travel Directors Would Pick (and Why) in our Black Friday sale
When you’ve spent a lifetime on the road, guiding guests through the world’s most extraordinary places, you develop a special instinct for where the truly unforgettable journeys are. So for this year’s Black Friday sale, we asked a handful of our most experienced Travel Directors to reveal the one tour they would choose. Not as guides, but as travelers themselves. These are the 5 tours they say are worth grabbing now.
1. Best of Eastern Canada & USA
We asked Travel Director Miriam Bourin for her top pick tour. She chose this epic journey along the iconic east coast of North America.
“Explore two nations, four centuries of history, and some of North America’s most iconic cities—Toronto, Montréal, Québec City, Boston, New York, Philadelphia, and Washington, D.C.—on one well-paced journey.
From the mist of Niagara Falls to tasting maple syrup, wander the cobblestoned streets of Old Québec, walking through history on Boston’s Freedom Trail to feeling the energetic pulse of Times Square—this trip is where the elegance of Eastern Canada meets the classic charm of New England.”
Few tours capture the spirit of two nations quite like this one. Crossing borders and centuries, you’ll explore the east coast’s most iconic cities with heaps of small-town charm along the way.
Get two places on this tour on week 5 of our huge ‘Buy One Get One 50% Off’ deal. It’s our biggest sale yet, letting you bring a travel companion for 50% off their ticket. This tour goes on sale on the week commencing 27 November, so save the date if you’re looking for a blockbuster city-to-city adventure and want the biggest Black Friday saving.
2. Battlefields of WWI & WWII
Travel Director John Bromage leads this tour and for him, it’s a deeply personal mission. For many of his guests this isn’t just a tour, it’s a pilgrimage.
“Leading tours through the battlefields and memorials of the First and Second World Wars is more than just a job for me – it is a calling to bring history to life and an honour and a privilege. As Travel Director, I see and share the powerful emotions experienced by travellers as they uncover the personal stories of courage, loss and resilience that shaped our world. Whether standing on the Normandy beaches, in the trenches at Beaumont Hamel on the Somme or at the top of Vimy ridge, the sense of awe and wonder at what was endured by those who served is truly remarkable.
For me personally, the most special and poignant experience is attending the ceremony at the Menin Gate where we remember the sacrifices made by those who served in the Great War before toasting them with the best Belgian beer in the world.”
A memorial at Normandy’s Arromanches D-Day Garden
This moving, meticulously researched journey through the turning points of modern history is in our Black Friday sale for up to 15% off. Whether you have family history embroiled in this somber period in time, or you just have a natural curiosity for one of history’s most devastating wars, be sure to save your place before dates for this popular tour sell out.
3. Elegance of Great Britain
If you’re dreaming of stately homes, literary greats, dramatic countryside and a bit of British magic—this is the tour. And for seasoned Travel Director Zach Bromberg-McCarthy, it captures the very best of home.
Blenheim Palace
“The Elegance of Great Britain is a tour that truly lives up to its name, showcasing the very best the country has to offer – from the stately grandeur of Edinburgh to the breathtaking beauty of the Lakes, 2000 years of history in York, brushing shoulders with the Bard in Stratford and the Georgian majesty of Bath. These are undoubtably all bucket list highlights.
But what makes this tour truly unique and the once in a lifetime visit to GB are all the small, intimate and exclusive experiences that traveling with Insight Vacations opens up. Being welcomed into the private home of Sir Ludwig Stewart Shaw, whose family was granted their 1000-acre coastal estate by Robert the Bruce 750 years ago. Or enjoying a personal introduction to the world of the Bronte sisters at their family home, or a private guided tour of Blenheim Palace, one of the country’s grandest stately homes and home of the Spencer – Churchills family, before it opens to the public.
As a Brit and an experienced Travel Director, I never cease to be inspired all filled with awe at these moments. They’re a reminder of just what a magical place the UK is.”
This beautifully curated, deeply personal journey through Britain’s story can be found at up to 15% off in our Black Friday sale. Remember, if you’ve traveled with us or any other TTC Touring brand, you can combine this sale with your Past Guest discount for a total of up to 20% off.
4. Treasures of Spain, Portugal & Morocco
For Travel Director Daniel Mailhiot, the number one tour he’d pick is this three-country epic blending adventure, romance, and Iberian charm with the mystique of North Africa.
The best part of running the Treasures of Spain, Portugal & Morocco is the sense of adventure our Guests feel by leaving Europe behind and ferrying to the Maghreb. It’s thrilling to see the coast of North Africa approaching across the sparkling sea, with all the romance, mystique, and unforgettable moments that I know await them.
Travel Director Daniel Mailhiot
From Seville’s orange-lined streets to Fez’s ancient medina and Lisbon’s melodic hills, this is a journey full of color, spice and soul, and you can save up to 15% off the magic with our Black Friday sale.
Save up to $3,000* per couple on your first Premium Tour
Plus receive latest offers, travel inspiration, and discover how your travels will make a positive impact. Together, WE MAKE TRAVEL MATTER®. Subscribe Now5. Heart of Patagonia
If there’s one destination that feels like the edge of the world—in the most soul-stirring way possible—it’s Patagonia. Wild, remote, and shaped by wind, ice and time, the region is a living postcard of towering granite peaks, turquoise lakes, and glaciers that crack like thunder. Our Heart of Patagonia tour offers one of the most immersive ways to experience this extraordinary landscape, and it’s Senior Travel Experience Manager for the Americas, Maritza Lopez’s top pick for our Black Friday Sale
“There’s nothing quite like cruising alongside the towering ice walls of Perito Moreno or waking up inside Torres del Paine National Park – those moments feel almost unreal. Heart of Patagonia is built around experiences like these: sharing a traditional Patagonian asado on a remote estancia, crossing deep-blue lakes by boat, and horseback riding through sweeping landscapes with panoramic views. They’re the kind of moments that make you stop, breathe, and fall completely in love with your surroundings. Even after all my years in travel, Patagonia is a region that still leaves me awe-struck.”
Where will our Black Friday sale take you in 2026?
About Jason Brasier
I'm Jay – born in Italy, raised in South London. Having French sisters and Hungarian ancestors, I've always been fascinated with the world and its cultures, and I carry this curiosity into my writing for Insightful. My favourite destinations I've traveled to so far have been Italy, Peru, France and Brazil.
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