Connections
Welcome on a journey of discovery as we take you inside some of our favorite destinations, places and unique experiences around the world.
In 1925, before Arthur Tauck Sr. set off on Tauck’s inaugural tour, he put an ad in a local newspaper hoping to garner interest from those wishing to see the country in a new way – guided travel. The message was simple and succinct. He said, “All I want is a congenial party. Ten minutes after leaving Newark, we shall be just one happy party, properly chaperoned, out for a real good time. I want no grouches or pessimists.”
One hundred years later, Arthur Tauck Sr.’s vision of creating enriching, worry-free travel experiences continues to stand strong. Our journeys are each carefully-crafted and continue to promote a spirit of camaraderie and discovery amongst our guests.
We’re so excited and honored to have made this 100-year milestone, and we’re thankful for all of you reading this who have taken a journey – or plan to take a journey – with us for letting us make your travel dreams come true.
So c’mon, hop aboard the metaphorical Studebaker as we reminisce about the years before and look forward to the years ahead.
New Year, New Perspective
Each year, when the clock strikes midnight and the ball drops, a new chapter begins. New Year’s resolutions often spark dreams of change—whether you wish to embrace a healthier lifestyle, pursue a new passion, or venture somewhere entirely new. This is your time to pause, reflect, and consider: What will define your year ahead? Where will you go, and how will you see the world?
Let’s turn those dreams into reality! Whether you’re stepping into a place you’ve never explored or seeing an old favorite through a new lens, these journeys offer opportunities to make this year unforgettable.
New Year, New Adventures
Featured on: A Week In… Mexico City and Oaxaca
This year, venture into the heart of magical Mexico. Discover Mexico’s rich heritage on an immersive journey – delving into the country’s captivating culture, history, and art, as you explore world-renowned museums, savor distinctive local cuisine, and discover the stories behind Mexico’s ancient civilizations. Begin in Mexico City, where ancient Aztec roots intertwine with contemporary creativity. Learn about the artistic legacies of Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo, and the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Teotihuacan before venturing onward toward Oaxaca, a cultural haven of culinary delights, vibrant crafts, and the lively traditions that make Mexico so extraordinary.
New Year, New Destinations
Featured on: Colombia: South America’s Eternal Spring
In 2025, our catalog of countries continues to grow. We’re pleased to welcome Colombia—the land of eternal spring – to our collection of South American destinations. Filled with cultural treasures, breathtaking landscapes, and vibrant cities like Cartagena and Bogotá, it’s the perfect new destination for an unforgettable year of exploration. Learn all about Colombia’s historic transformation throughout the centuries on visits to museums, ancient cathedrals and once infamous neighborhoods now transformed.
New Year, New People
Featured on: A Week In… Puglia
In Italy’s sun-soaked Puglia region, meaningful connections await. On visits to Alberobello, you’ll notice peculiar cone-roofed homes lining its streets. Known as trulli, these buildings are a remarkable example of mortar-less construction, a technique by which carefully selected interlocking stones are used to bind a structure, and one that dates back to prehistoric times! Designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1996, today trulli stand as a symbol of human ingenuity. The New Year is about making connections that stay with you long after you return home and your time in Alberobello is highlighted with locals whose warmth and hospitality bring this enchanting destination to life.
New Year, New Impact
Featured on: Great Migration: Tanzania & Kenya
2025 is about making a difference. For over six decades, we have been committed to making a positive impact – environmentally, socially and economically – in the places we travel to. At Tauck, we center our commitment to creating a thriving world on three key pillars: People, Places, and Planet. By focusing on these areas, we strive to contribute to a more sustainable and prosperous future for all, ensuring a healthy planet – and meaningful connections for travelers and local residents.
On journeys through Tanzania, you’ll support vital conservation efforts like Save the Rain, which promoted the installation of 40 residential rainwater harvesting systems in villages with inadequate services. Over its tenure, Save the Rain has provided more than 1,000 individuals with clean, safe water.
Stories from the road
From a cane’s incredible journey through Europe to a conversation with 70-time tour taker, Sue Werner, these stories shared from the road are a testament to the endless joys of travel in some of the world’s best destinations.
The Incredible Case of the Circulating Cane
“This past August, my wife and I took a wonderful river cruise with Tauck on the ms Esprit down the Danube River from Budapest to Bucharest. I brought along my “Ta Da” Cane Chair with me, because I find at age 79 that I can’t stand for long periods of time while traveling. This cane folds out into a compact tripod seat.
I had my cane with me on our 4-hour bus ride to Transylvania for a tour of Bran Castle, the legendary home of Count Dracula. However, I put it in the overhead bin on our Tauck bus for the trip back to our hotel, and accidentally forgot it there. I didn’t notice my cane was missing until the next day while waiting for our ride to the airport on our way home. I had placed an AirTag on my cane, and discovered by searching on the “Find My” app on my iPhone that my cane was apparently still on the bus some 2 miles away from the hotel. It was too late to retrieve it then, but I checked again on its location when we got home. At that time, it appeared that it was now on its way back to Transylvania on a new tour with the next group of passengers on ms Esprit. A day later, it looked like it had made its way from the bus back onto the ms Esprit, which was still docked on the Danube.
I sent an email to Tauck to see if they could find and return my cane. They were extremely helpful. I was able to give them a link to my AirTag. They searched the ship, but could not find it. Meanwhile, I was able to track my cane while it journeyed up the Danube. After a while, I realized that my cane was not tracking with the ms Esprit, but instead appeared to be on a different ship. How the cane got onto the other ship is a mystery.
Well, through the extraordinary efforts of the wonderful Tauck representatives, they were finally able to track down and retrieve my cane when both ships were in Budapest a few weeks later. I told them I was in no hurry to get the cane back, and would appreciate if they could return it to me when it was most convenient for them to do so. Meanwhile, I had been tracking my cane on an almost a daily basis as it traveled up the Danube and onto the Main River, and then the Rhine, stopping, among other places, in Amsterdam, Brussels, and Antwerp, until ending up in Basel, Switzerland. From there, a Tauck representative returning to the USA brought it back to the Tauck headquarters in Connecticut, where they sent it back to me.
Coincidentally, my cane, which I last saw in Transylvania, arrived back on my front porch on October 31, Halloween Day. My thanks to all the fantastic Tauck people who helped in the return of my cane. What a great travel company. This was our sixth Tauck trip, and we have two more coming up next year. And, again, how fitting that the cane ended its two-month journey from the home of Count Dracula in Transylvania to my home in Virginia on Halloween Day.”
– Tauck Traveler Jon Macks
Funnily enough, the cane had a lot to say when it returned home to Jon…
My Tauck Story – 70-Time Tour Taker Sue Werner
A dedicated solo traveler, Sue Werner has saved 70 group pictures from her Tauck trips, dating from 2019 all the way back to 1987 when she traveled with us on Southern Charms: Savannah, Hilton Head & Charleston. Sue, who likes a good party just as much as we do, has also attended just about all of Tauck’s events, joining us more than once on annual events like the Kentucky Derby, Run for the Roses; our New Year’s Eve gala, A Celebration of Roses in Hollywood and the Jazz Event in New Orleans. While she doesn’t have group photos of those experiences, “you can’t easily fit everyone into one picture,” she has lasting memories of the good times she shared with everyone in attendance.
With so many trips under her belt, we wondered how she chose them and if she had a preference for a mode of travel.
“I like it all. I enjoy the river boats, but I like the land tours too and especially enjoy the comfortable motor coaches Tauck uses. Usually, I just choose a destination, knowing that no matter where Tauck goes or how we travel, Tauck is going to take care of me.”
Wherever she chooses to explore with us, the draw for Sue is a well-rounded mix of culture, scenery and wildlife. South Africa, An Elegant Adventure appeals to her and is on her bucket list as are Essence of South America and Essence of Japan. She also has been dreaming about Grand Australia & New Zealand, something she hopes to do in the future. The Christmas Market cruises are favorites and she has put both the Belgium and France holiday cruises on her wish list.
She is not done traveling with Tauck yet, even though she joked that she will have to live until she is 150 to take all of Tauck tours she is interested in! What keeps her coming back is what Arthur Tauck Sr. had in mind 100 years ago when he founded the company – one happy congenial party.
“The trips are a lot of fun. Tauck does an amazing job. They put a lot of thought and effort into them, and you have nothing to worry about. They take care of things that you wouldn’t even think about, and then you’re just free to experience the destination, free to enjoy it and do what you want. They have a nice even balance of tour time and free time on every trip.”
– Sue Werner
In the news
Learn more about some current events happening around the world this month.
Buckeyes top Ducks 41 – 21
Earlier this month, the underdog Ohio State Buckeyes defeated the top-seeded Oregon Ducks 41 – 21 in the annual Rose Bowl. First played over 100 years ago on January 1st, 1902, the Rose Bowl has become one of the biggest college football games of the year and, in recent years, has become part of the College Football Playoff.
Traditionally played on New Year’s Day, the Rose Bowl is just one part of “America’s New Year Celebration” alongside the historic Rose Parade and has solidified itself as one of, if not the biggest game, in college football. In late December last year, we kicked off our 100th year in style by welcoming back our iconic “A Celebration of Roses” event – combining small group sightseeing, exclusive gala evenings, as well as a premier opportunity to watch the historic Rose Parade (in VIP seats). Our cherished patrons danced the night away, ringing in the New Year at an exclusive “Roaring 20s” themed party!
A Global Icon Reopens
On April 15, 2019, a fire broke out in the roof space of the Notre Dame Cathedral causing the iconic wooden spire as well as most of the wooden roof to collapse.
Thankfully much of the historic building was saved because of its vaulted stone ceiling, preventing the fire from spreading further into the cathedral. Two days after the fire, President Emmanuel Macron set a five-year deadline to restore the cathedral and by September 2021, donors had contributed over £840 million to its restoration.
After five years of reconstruction and restoration work, Notre Dame officially reopened to the public on December 7, 2024. Its reopening was celebrated with the ringing of its cathedral bells for the first time since the incident, followed by the opening of its main doors. The ceremony was attended by President Macron, his wife, Laurent Ulrich – the Archbishop of Paris, as well as the 160 firefighters who responded and the many craftspeople and artisans that aided in the restoration effort.
One of the most iconic cathedrals in Europe, you’ll have an opportunity to view this historic monument on many of our journeys that visit Paris.
In case you missed it
Safari Travel Tip
Tour Architect Jess Petretti suggests that when you go out on safari to bring a universal adapter or a small power cord for all of your gadgets.
insideTauck – Discover Flanders’ cultural treasures
Join us for an insideTauck presentation with Marco Frank of VisitFlanders as he takes us on a journey to explore why this small but culturally significant region deserves a spot on your must-visit list.
insideTauck – Australia – “The Land Down Under”
Join us for an insideTauck presentation with Glen Davis and Chris Allison of Tourism Australia, as they bring you closer to the heart of this bucket-list destination. From the Outback to the Great Barrier Reef, you’ll gain insights into the experiences, history, and culture that make any visit to Australia meaningful and unforgettable.