WHERE HPSO TOURS GO
Since 1998, HPSO members have traveled together to international garden destinations in England, Wales, Scotland, Ireland, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Spain, Portugal, Madeira, South Africa, New Zealand, Japan, Denmark, Sweden, Slovenia, and Croatia. New destinations - Southeast Australia and Tasmania - are in the works.
Closer to home, our U.S. tours have featured gardens in Washington and California. The Puget Sound Islands tour series highlighted the gardens of Whidbey Island, Vashon Island, and Bainbridge Island. Trips to the East Coast have also been popular. Destinations include New York City, the Hudson Valley, New England, Savannah and Charleston.
HOW WE CREATE AN HPSO TOUR
HPSO tours have distinctly garden oriented focus that supports our mission to provide great horticultural education opportunities for our members. Tours include a variety of cultural and historical sites that round out the landscape. Trips vary in duration, and they are filled with activities. HPSO tours represent an excellent value for the money.
Tour prices typically include double accommodations, motor coach and professional guide, tour gratuities, many meals, and admission to all gardens and other sites along the way. Participants are responsible for their own transportation to and from the tour's start and finish points, including airfare.
Tours are conceived, researched and led by HPSO volunteers with experience in the relevant destinations. HPSO works through excellent international tour companies that are responsible for booking arrangements. Tours are open exclusively to HPSO members.
HOW TO GET ON AN HPSO TOUR
Tours are announced to members through emails, our member magazine the HPSO Quarterly, the HPSO Travel Interest Group (a.k.a. HPSO Travel Club), and on this web page.
HPSO Members who wish to have advance notice about tours must join the HPSO Travel Interest Group. There is no fee for joining the group and no obligation to attend extra meetings. Travel Interest Group members receive early-bird registration privileges for HPSO tours. Contact the HPSO office to join and be on a travel-interest mailing list.
Tours proposed & planned for 2024 & beyond
2024
Magical in the off-season: Enchanting Winter Gardens of England
February 4-10, 2024
COMPLETED
Not even winter keeps the English out of the garden, and the wide array of gardening activities and sights in late winter is testimony to their tenacity. Whether it be snowdrops festivals, witch hazel nurseries, a national collection of hellebores, or extraordinary gardens designed especially for winter, the gardeners of England make the most of the winter, and so does this tour!
Portugal's Horticulture Treasures: Lisbon, Sintra & the island of Madeira
April 28 - May 6, 2024
COMPLETED
This nine-day, eight-night tour explores Lisbon and Sintra on the Portuguese mainland plus the volcanic slopes of the island of Madeira, with its unique flora and fauna. You’ll be astounded by the natural beauty, horticultural diversity and stunning gardens of these locales, including three UNESCO World Heritage sites. Both regions are blessed with year-round mild weather. The finale to the tour will be grandstand seats at the parade during the Madeira Flower Festival.
Across the Iberian Peninsula: The French Pyrenees & Basque Country
May 7 - May 25, 2024, and also May 9 - May 27, 2024
COMPLETED.
Running across the neck of the Iberian Peninsula, the Pyrénées form a natural separation between the countries of Spain and France and their respective cultures and languages. Adding to this separation are the peoples that live in the regions at either end of the Pyrénées — the Basques in the west (Atlantic Ocean side) and the Catalonians in the east (Mediterranean Sea side). Each of these two peoples have their own proud history, language, and cultural traditions. Our HPSO adventure includes visits to both of these unique regions that “bookend” the Pyrénées. We begin with a 5-night pre-tour to Catalonia (from Barcelona to Carcassonne) followed by our 13-night main tour to Basque Country (from Carcassonne to Bilbao).
  
"West of the Rhine: From Reims to Lyon" - Eastern France
June 6-23, 2024
COMPLETED
A 17-night tour (in two parts) of gardens, cathedrals, historical sites, some of the prettiest towns in France, and so much more. Part one includes visits to the Champagne region (Reims, Lorraine (Nancy) and Alsace region (Strasbourg/Colmar). Part two includes visits to Burgundy (Beaune/Dijon) and Rhone/Alps (Annecy and Lyon). Food and wine will undoubtedly be a big feature of this tour.
   
"Japan’s Magical Gardens, Culture and More"
November 3-15, 2024
SORRY. THIS TOUR IS NOW FILLED. Contact us if you wish to be placed on the waiting list.
Japan has intrigued travelers for centuries but was closed to foreigners for much of its history. Gardens and horticulture have been exceptionally important to Japanese society. In addition to visiting gardens, we will also explore historical sites, culture, arts and more. November days are generally dry and the weather is usually ideal. Color from Japanese maples and ginkos are starting to show plus there are extraordinary chrysanthemum celebrations. Join us on this tour to the Land of the Rising Sun, magical and beautiful Japan.
   
"In the Land of the Silver Fern": A Grand Adventure to New Zealand"
October 21 - November 21, 2024
SORRY. THIS IS TOUR IS NOW FILLED. Contact us if you are interested on being on the waiting list
We explore the gardens and natural wonders of these two main islands of New Zealand - the North Island and the South Island. We will visit the very best private and public gardens. We’ll enjoy fabulous sights, geologic wonders, country towns, a Maori cultural performance, wine tours and tasting, and cruises on the Milford Sound, the Bay of Islands, and across the Cook Strait. We’ll do some shopping, see unfamiliar plants, make some new friends, enjoy the camaraderie of other gardeners, and meet the wonderful and friendly people of New Zealand. In short, we’ll experience the very best that New Zealand has to offer! This will be HPSO's fourth complete adventure to New Zealand - one of our most popular tours.
   
2025
"Southwest England: Gardens & Highlights to Land's End": A Quintessential tour of Cornwall, Devon, Somerset, & Dorset for Gardeners"
May 6-8, 2025: Pre-tour to select Cotswold & Wales gardens
May 8-20, 2025: SW England tour
May 20-23, 2025: Post-tour to London & the Chelsea Flower Show
SORRY. THIS TOUR IS NOW FILLED. Due to the length of the waiting list, we are no longer accepting reservations.
"Philadelphia's Brandywine Valley"
May 12-18, 2025
SORRY. THIS TOUR IS NOW FILLED
"Ulster: The Top of the Emerald Isle": The Gardens of Northern Ireland and northwest Ireland (& Dublin, too)
July 23 - Aug 4, 2025
SORRY. THIS TOUR IS NOW FILLED. Contact us if you wish to be placed on the waiting list.
   
"Netherlands: Gardens, Art, & Architecture"
Aug 25 - Sept 5, 2025
SORRY. THIS TOUR IS NOW FILLED.
"Gardens & Highlights of Normandy & the Loire Valley"
Sep 7-18, 2025
SORRY. THIS IS TOUR IS NOW FILLED. Contact us if you are interested on being on the waiting list
Join us on this garden and château tour of Normandy and the Vallée de la Loire. While we can’t possibly see every garden and all one thousand
châteaux in these regions, we will see the best of them! We’ll also explore fortified medieval towns, dine at a winery, visit the final home of Leonardo da Vinci, see a place made famous by Joan of Arc, explore quaint seaside towns, enjoy good food, and tour the great cathedral in Chartres.
   
[In planning] "Japan’s Magical Gardens, Culture and More"
November, 2025
Due to the popularity of the 2024 tour, the Japan tour is being offered again in 2025.
2026
[In planning] "Chelsea Flower Show & the Cotswolds"
May, 2026
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