Saint John’s Abbey Travel Tours

 

Abbey Travel Tours' primary goal is to give old and new friends of Saint John's Abbey an opportunity to journey around the world to explore faith, experience different cultures, appreciate art and architecture, and learn something of our history and that of the nations we are touring. And do this while strengthening their love of Saint John's and forming some wonderful friendships with fellow travelers.

 
 

Captivating Rhine River Cruise

Including pre-cruise visit to Amsterdam And post-cruise visit to Zurich

May 515, 2025
Itinerary and Online Registration 

 

7- Night Cruise With 2-Nights Amsterdam Pre-Cruise

CRUISE FROM: AMSTERDAM TO BASEL

Contoured by vineyard-clad hills and castles from yesteryear, the legendary Rhine captivates. Experience the allure of France’s Alsace region in its welcoming capital, Strasbourg, and its priceless gem, Riquewihr. Discover Breisach, rising above the vineyards of the Rhine, and Freiburg, one of Germany’s sunniest cities and gateway to the Black Forest. Fabled towns lost in time present you with the chance to taste local flavors—Rüdesheimer coffee and legendary German beer—and to touch history up close with guided hikes and bike rides. From Amsterdam’s colorful canals to the majestic Swiss Alps, journey into the heart of the destinations you visit.

 
 

On this AmaWaterway River Cruise, you will enjoy an extensive lineup of included tours. In many cases, you will have a choice of excursions, such as standard tours, bike tours, hikes and Special Interest Tours. We always include a large variety of activities so that you can choose how you want to explore. No matter your preference, your days will be full of discovery and wonder.

 

COUNTRIES we will visit: 

FRANCE, GERMANY, NETHERLANDS, SWITZERLAND

 
 
 

Galapagos Islands and Machu Picchu

Ecuador and Peru

Good news. The agency has changed the registration deadline. Instead of needing to register the first sixteen passengers by December 29, 2023, the company has been able to renegotiate a registration deadline to June 28, 2024, in order to bring the registration date closer to our tour date in 2025.

August 1630, 2025
Itinerary

FOR MORE INFORMATION AND TO REGISTER, CONTACT:

Marisa at: marisa@southernexplorations.com
Phone: +1 (206)-784 8111
Fr. Geoffrey at: gfecht@csbsju.edu

 

Packed with adventure and outstanding natural beauty, Machu Picchu and the Galapagos Islands will be a lifetime holiday. Your thrilling adventure takes you first to Peru’s beautiful seaside capital of Lima, then off to the bustling colonial town of Cusco high up in the Andes Mountains to begin your Machu Picchu tour through the legendary Sacred Valley, stopping at villages and ancient Inca ruins along the way. A scenic train ride takes you to the magnificent ruins of Machu Picchu, where you’ll spend two days exploring the captivating ruins and the majestic mountains that surround them. Then you’ll fly to the magical country of Ecuador to embark on a Galapagos cruise of the "Enchanted Isles" that inspired Darwin's theory of evolution. The islands' unique ecosystem sustains extraordinary plant and animal diversity, where visitors on Galapagos tours may observe wildlife close-up and take amazing photos. You will encounter an abundance of rare, exotic wildlife found only on the islands of the Galapagos: blue-footed boobies, giant tortoises and found upon the Galapagos’ pristine sandy beaches, and sea turtles, manta rays, and sharks to be seen beneath the islands’ clear, azure waters.

You will also have the opportunity to soak up the vibrant culture, captivating history and passionate energy of some of the continent’s greatest cities, including Quito, Lima, Cusco, Sacred Valley, Moray and Maras, indulging in delectable local fare along the way. One of the greatest highlights of this trip includes the famous and rewarding experience of one of the finest views imaginable, the World Heritage-Listed Machu Picchu – a must-see on many people’s bucket lists. We think that this tour is ideal for nature lovers, adventurers, and cultural enthusiasts, but note aspects of the itinerary are physically challenging, requiring a certain level of fitness. 

While on the Galapagos islands, you will be based at a five-star tented safari camp and making daily visits to the surrounding islands. Snorkeling opportunities will be available for those tempted to take to the water.

This trip combines two of our most popular tours, exploring the mysterious lost city of Machu Picchu and cruising the famed Galapagos Islands.

Highlights

  • Explore the stunning Galapagos Islands, home to a plethora of exotic, rare wildlife

  • Snorkel the incredible marine-filled waters of Kicker Rock, one of the world’s best snorkeling spots with playful sea lions, majestic sea turtles, manta rays and the Galapagos Shark

  • Encounter the near-extinct Galapagos Giant Tortoises from an up-close perspective

  • Scale the Galapagos’ second most active volcano on Isabela Island, home to the world’s largest crater

  • Trek Peru’s iconic Inca Trail, reaching dizzying heights of nearly 15,000 feet above sea level

  • Discover the beautiful sights and architecture of Quito and Lima, two of South America’s most attractive cities

  • Tour the breath-taking, incredibly charming cities of Cusco, Lima, Sacred Valley, Moray and Maras

  • Witness the world-famous sights of Machu Picchu, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the new Seven Wonders of the World

 
 
 

Douro River Cruise with Lisbon & Fátima

April 19May 1, 2026
Itinerary and Online Registration

 

We are thrilled to announce a new 2026 itinerary for Saint John’s Abbey Travel Tours! Please join us on a Douro River Cruise, April 19–May 1, 2026. We anticipate this pilgrimage selling out, so mark your calendars now!

Begin your journey in Lisbon and then Fátima, where pilgrims commemorate the religious events of 1917 when three shepherd children reported several apparitions of the Blessed Virgin Mary. You will then embark on a Douro River cruise with AmaWaterways. Rambling vineyards and charming farms cling to the steep side of the Douro River Valley, creating an incomparable backdrop to one of Europe’s most unspoiled regions. Sail roundtrip from Porto, the beautiful “City of Bridges”; visit Regua, the ‘capital’ of the Douro Valley; and marvel at Salamanca, the UNESCO-designated “Golden City.” Taste wines from historic wineries and so much more!

 
 
 

Travel Protection

Especially during these uncertain times, we highly recommend the purchase of optional travel protection that covers Trip Cancellation, Trip Interruption, or Cancel For Any Reason. You may purchase coverage through any carrier of your choosing.

To view travel protection plans available through our travel company's partner, Travel Insured International, click any of the listed tours and then click “Travel Protection.”

Abbey Travel Tours Information

For more information on the Abbey Travel Tours, contact Fr. Geoffrey Fecht at gfecht@csbsju.edu or 320-363-3818.

Stay tuned as these plans are developed.