I had a terrific experience with Scholarly Sojourns on their Scotch Whisky tour! Things went very smoothly and it was just the right balance of time with the group and time alone! Lead by the incomparable Ronnie Berrie, we got to visit and learn about the best distilleries, with many a dram along the way. Thoroughly enjoyable trip and lodgings were superb as well. Shoutout to Barry from Customer Service, what a helpful guy! :) read more

I have been an independent traveler for years, but signed up for Scholarly Sojourn's guided tour Anglo-Saxon England because of my interest in the topic, and because it was led by Mike Drout, whose Modern Scholar lecture series I had listened to, on the same topic. It was everything I had hoped for. We visited special sites associated with the Anglo-Saxon period of history, beginning with a magical night on Holy Island. Prof. Drout presents the history of the sites and the people who lived there, and was able to connect together all of the locations that we visited. The hotels were small and individual, and very much the type I would choose if I were traveling on my own. The trip was well organized, and the other participants interesting to get to know. While I will continue traveling independently, I hope to be able to take another Scholarly Sojourns tour. read more

Excellent tour company! Just returned from their Uncovering Camelot tour and it was extremely good and well organized, so good that I'm already working on booking another tour with Scholarly Sojourns. Every hotel was memorable, some in historic buildings, some over the top elegant, all fun, and all selected to fit in with the theme of the tour. We went far "off the beaten path" to historic sites that other tours would never take you to, but were important parts of the Arthurian legend. The tour leader and scholar were great company, very knowledgeable and friendly, and made the trip extremely interesting. Everyone on the tour became friends and that added to the enjoyment of the tour. read more

Make sure no one close to you dies within 90 days of your departure because there will be no refund! We had to change tours at SS request because of insufficient participants. We selected a tour that was going to depart a few weeks earlier and our funds were transferred. Unfortunately a family member went into hospice just before departure date and died soon thereafter. SS absolutely refused to transfer any percentage of our $3400 to another trip. Truly disappointed in this callous response. read more

My wife and I enjoy an occasional Scotch and we really enjoy Scottish history. We decided to tour the nations distilleries and found a wonderful tour with Scholarly Sojourns. Our Guide was Ronnie Berri who also guides independently. Our tour was 11 days by motor coach. We had perhaps another dozen folks on our tour. Every arrangement was made for all of us, from tolls, to meals, to hotels, to tour entrances and of course, to distilleries. The coaches were spotless, modern and very comfortable. Ronnie is not a Scot by blood, but he is a scholar of Scotland, of Scotch and of distilleries. He is also high energy, funny enough to do Stand Up, and also sensitive enough to know how to impart his knowledge so we are able to absorb it. He peaked our interest in the drink, the process, the people and the land of Scotland. The accomodations were in keeping with the spirit of the tour, some for thier age and antiquity, others for their wonderful food, and still others were simply very near one of our destinations but in each case Scolarly Sojourns had vetted them. In 11 days, we toured 22 distilleries, visited 15 restaurants. We actually ate on the bus a few times and we had plenty of time to do some exploring on our own. This was a most remarkable trip. We will return to Scotland we are certain and if we are lucky enough, we will get to visit with Ronni Berri again, and we will tour again with Scholarly Sojourns in another part of the world, we know that as well. read more

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I recently returned from my first (and certainly not last) Scholarly Sojourn excursion. I was just about ready to register for one of their many trips, the Castles of Great Britain, when COVID hit, and all traveling ceased. After COVID, I signed up for the Anglo Saxon Sojourn, which was all done on-line. All the people I dealt with to help plan the trip went out of their way to be courteous, friendly, and helpful, and the trip ended up being the most amazing one I have ever taken. We were lucky to have John, the owner, take the tour with us, and Professor Drout led the group with his infinite knowledge of all areas that we visited. The accommodations throughout the trip were outstanding, the dinners with the group were well planned out, the small group made it so much more personable, and Johnn and Horace (John's apprentice who was absolutely wonderful) made sure that we were comfortable and had everything we needed. This trip went beyond my expectations in all areas, and I felt John's Scholarly Sojourn far surpasses what other tours offer. I can't wait to choose another of the many sojourns available and have had fun sharing my travel experience with others. read more

I have been on three scotch whisky tours with Scholarly Sojourns. The first, "Scotch Whisky in Depth," was back in September of 2015. I had such a postive experience on that trip that I joined their "advanced" scotch tour, "Scotch Whisky Connoisseur," in March of 2017. It was sensational, so sensational in fact that I went on that tour again a year later, in March of 2018. Needless to say I thoroughly enjoy the Scholarly Sojourn experience. All three trips delivered exactly what they promised and then some. Common to all three was the whisky expert, Ronnie Berri, who is extremely well-versed in all aspects of the scotch whisky industry and in the history and traditions of Scotland. When time permitted we stopped at monuments and scenic overlooks and Ronnie would share his knowledge of what had transpired at each place. He was patient when we asked questions (I am a retired university professor so I ask a great many questions) and flexible when we wanted to see or do something reasonable "off agenda." He's even answered my questions via email long after our trip had concluded. Also common to all three trips was John, the owner of Scholarly Sojourns, who assumed the role of Director/Coordinator on each of the three tours I attended. John made sure that all of our needs were addressed (for example, at my request he stocked Diet Coke for me on our coach) and that the effects of unforeseen events (they happen on all tours) did not significantly disrupt our time in Scotland. He handled issues resulting from bad weather (it is Scotland after all and weather can be a challenge), accommodation preferences/requirements of the tour participants at our hotels (for example, I have some trouble negotiating stairs and requested and received ground floor rooms when available), health issues of one or more participants, and just about everything else you can imagine with a calm and reassuring professionalism. Finally, our drivers were always friendly (some were even entertaining) and professional. They loaded our luggage and stood watch over our valuables when we ventured away from the coach. All of my experiences with Scholarly Sojourns have been very positive and worth every pound/dollar I have spent with them. I have told John that when his "Whisky on Water" tour has its inaugral voyage that my wife and I will be there. If you are a novice to the the world of scotch then "Scotch Whisky in Depth" will be perfect for you. If you are a bit more advanced and want to taste some truly superb whiskies -- some at distilleries not open to the public (thank you Ronnie), then I recommend the "Scotch Whisky Commoisseur" tour for you. Please note, while the accommodations on the "Scotch in Depth" tour were nice -- clean, comfortable, and often quaint or stately, they did not compare to the accommodations of the "Connoisseur" trips. For those two trips we stayed in castles, castle hotels. or magnificent inns/hotels with spectacular views. I cannot speak to the non-scotch tours run by Scholarly Sojourns; however, from my expereinces with Scholarly Sojourns I can say with confidence that their scotch tours will not disappoint. Bob K. read more

Scholarly Sojourns - Signature picnic at Dalwhinnie - Historical Tours Near Me - Ann Arbor, Michigan

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I too wish there was a ten star rating since Scholarly Sojourners, in my opinion, deserves it! Never before had I experienced an organized tour prior to my very informative Castles of Scotland tour in 2017 and my wonderful trip to Italy in 2018. The attention to detail and first class choice of accommodations, restaurants, guides, etc., etc., etc. was extraordinarily appreciated. Our lunches on the bus (scheduled, I'm positive, for time conservation) were over the top and thoroughly enjoyed by all and above expectations. Since l'm in my golden years, l've resolved never to travel with any another tour- - - two for two excellent trips - - - why change! I'v found a winner! Joyce R read more

Best vacation EVER! If you enjoy whisky and are considering the Scotch Whisky in Depth tour, you will not be disappointed; and if you enjoy history, beautiful landscapes, and interesting settings, you definitely will not be disappointed. I participated in the September 2018 Scotch Whisky in Depth tour and from the moment it began, in the Wee Pub (Scotland's Smallest Pub) in Edinburgh, I was captivated by everything the tour offered and provided. Our guide, Ronnie Berri, is not only an expert in all things whisky, but is also an accredited Blue-badge tour guide whose extensive knowledge of Scotland and Scottish history made for a very memorable time. The range and number of distilleries we visited was impressive; from the Lowlands to the Highlands, to Speyside, to the beautiful island of Islay, and everywhere in between, every experience was unparalleled and tremendously enjoyable. The tour was fully booked and our group was so much fun it's hard to imagine it could have been better. In between distillery visits we made stops at various historical sites, castles, stunning lochs, and some quaint villages. The whisky pairing dinners were delicious and entertaining, and the other meals provided on the tour were ample and tasty. The tour manager/director, Henri, did a fantastic job of accommodating everyone's requests as much as possible throughout the tour. One of the best experiences of the entire tour, for me, was our visit to Strathisla distillery where we were able to not only sample some wonderful whisky but also participate in an exclusive whisky blending workshop where we each created our own special blend to take home. I would definitely take this tour again, and if the quality of this tour is the standard for all Scholarly Sojourn tours, the next time I am looking for a guided tour I know where I will look. Thank you Scholarly Sojourn Team, for the vacation of a lifetime! read more

Scholarly Sojourns - Historical Tours Near Me - Ann Arbor, Michigan

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I participated in the Great Castles of Britain tour in 2018 and the Sun-Kissed Southern Italy alumni tour during September 2019. Both sojourns were worthwhile. The castle tour was organized to contain a full itinerary each day. The Italian experience was structured to allow a little more free time for exploration. We covered a great deal of physical territory, while enjoying diverse cultural and culinary experiences. I would definitely encourage others to explore Scholarly Sojourns. read more

If I could give Scholarly Sojourns and their Scotch Whiskey Tour 10 stars, I would...it was that good!!! Absolutely fabulous, in fact!! Although I have been traveling in Europe for a good many decades, this was my first 'organized tour' and I had some reservations, but....WOW!!! It exceeded all my expectations! Having John, the owner of the company, on board as our tour director was an added bonus! His attention to every detail is like nothing I've encountered before...from the printed menus at our group dinners....to the INCREDIBLE gourmet picnics on board....to his help, suggestions and information...the list goes on and on and on....it all made for a most delightful, fun and thoroughly enjoyable trip! Ronnie, our on-board Scotch expert was patient, kind, knowledgeable, funny and approachable...and he rocks his Scottish kilt! I am planning to travel again with Scholarly Sojourns...as often as possible! It is such a pleasure doing business with someone who is as committed, passionate and caring as John!! read more

My son and I returned from taking the Scholarly Sojourn Scotch Whiskey In Depth tour in October 2017. Prior to my signing up, I called the US office to verify the literature that said there would be opportunities to visit historical sites, do some shopping, and do personal exploration. I was assured by representative that, yes, each day's itinerary had the bus arriving at that day's destination in early afternoon, and we would have plenty of time to do shopping and sightseeing. The literature talked about day stops in Edinburgh, Inverness and several other places of interest. On the basis of this assurance, I signed up. The reality was this was nothing but a marathon bus ride from distillery to distillery. The only opportunity made available for shopping was at the distillery package stores. Our "day" in Inverness consisted of a 3 minute photo stop (no exaggeration - that was the time limit given to us by the Scholar Guide). We arrived at each day's destination after business hours each day. so the only places open were restaurants, pubs, or hotels. The blistering pace of the drive schedule left passengers nauseous with motion sickness. Picnic lunches were eaten on the bus - you were imprisoned there if you weren't in a distillery. After nearly a week of requesting the opportunity to stop for a picture, to see a historical site, or time to shop since it was her vacation, the Scholar Guide informed her publicly "this is not a vacation class, Madame, it's a whiskey class. The Scholar Guide talked non-stop every day, and publicly berated participants if they attempted to have a quiet conversation with each other while he was orating. He sabotaged dinner conversations that drifted away from the topic of Scotch whiskey and himself. After nearly a week, we called the office enroute and asked if there was some way we could leave the tour so as to see some of Scotland with the time we had left. We were put off indefinitely. After waiting two days and then asking again, we were offered one option: a one way train ticket to Edinburgh airport where we could change our air transportation and leave Scotland immediately. Owner John did join the tour two days before then end. We asked for an opportunity to talk privately with him to discuss our concerns. Since that opportunity never materialized, we said we would document our experience and concerns and send it to him. He has never responded, even though the letter had been sent twice with requests to verify his reception of the information. Consequently, I will NEVER take another Scholarly Sojourn tour. It appears their concern for customer satisfaction ends when your check is cashed. There are many other tour groups offering guided excursions. I suggest you find one that listens to the voice of their customers. read more