Nothing says design inspiration like travel, and over the course of the next few months, various historical and private organizations will host tours from Ireland to the Hudson River Valley, Virginia, China and beyond. Geared for designers, architects and design enthusiasts, these tours will help drum up inspiration while educating along the way.

Below is a list of nine upcoming travel programs to note.

Great Country Houses & Gardens of Northern Ireland & The Republic, May 25 – June 1, by ICAA’s Classical Excursions

Inspired by the architecture of Inigo Jones, who was the first to establish the Palladian style in 17th century England, followed by Lord Burlington, William Kent, Colen Campbell, and other early 18th century English architects, Ireland at the same time developed its own dramatic Palladian movement starting with the new façade for the country house, Castletown, designed by Allessandro Galilei in 1719. He provided details that reflected Palladio’s villas in the Veneto, such as colonnaded connections that linked the main building to end pavilions.

The leading architect of Palladian country houses in Ireland was Sir Edward Lovett Pearce, who provided interior details at Castletown and the design for Bellamont Forest, c. 1730, among other work. He developed a style that combined baroque inventiveness, movement and boldness with the somberness of the English Palladian style. These and other outstanding Irish Palladian country houses will be viewed during this tour with the Institute of Classical Architecture & Art.

Tour highlights include: tours of Mount Stewart, Newtownards, County Down; Florence Court, Enniskillen, County Fermanagh; Castle Coole, Enniskillen, County Fermanagh; a two-night stay at the privately owned Ballywalter Park, hosted by Lord Dunleath; a private visit and tea at Barons Court; a two-night stay at Belle Isle Castle; a visit to Castletown in County Kildare; a tour of the incredible Palladian jewel Russborough House, and much more.

Tour Price: $4995.00 per person, based on double occupancy. Tour price includes a $500 tax-deductible donation to ICAA. A single supplement of $750.00 per person applies. Contact Lani Summerville of Classical Excursions for additional information.

Treasures of Bordeaux and the Wine Country: Exemplary Estate Châteaux and their Gardens, May 25 – June 1, arranged by Pamela Huntington Darling, Exclusive Cultural Travel Programs

This tour, led by Bordeaux’s foremost guides, will take attendees on exclusive private visits to majestic buildings and town houses in the city, as well as an extravagant odyssey through the most prestigious wine estates of Bordeaux, celebrated for exceptional architecture, decorative arts and the world's finest wines, where they will enjoy private visits, wine tastings, lunches and dinners, including Château Margaux, Château Palmer, Château Gazin, Château Cheval Blanc, Château Lafite Rothschild, Château Haut Brion, Château d’Yquem, and many others.

Accommodations include seven nights at the 5-star luxury hotel-spa resort, Les Sources de Caudalie, on the estate of Château Smith Haut Lafitte. Only 20 minutes from Bordeaux's center.

Tour Price: $7,500 per person, double occupancy in prestige rooms, and $8,250 per person, single occupancy in comfort rooms. All rooms are spacious, elegantly appointed and equipped with wifi and air conditioning. The tour price is based on a minimum of 12 participants, maximum of 20; and an exchange rate of $1.30/1 Euro. The price includes seven days of private visits and receptions; seven nights hotel accommodation at the 5-star luxury hotel-spa resort, Les Sources de Caudalie; seven breakfasts, six lunches, five dinners; transportation to and from events; all private visits and wine tastings; and expert lecturers.

For more information contact pdarling@exclusiveculturaltours.com or call Paris, France, Tel. +33 1 45 67 62 81.

The Architecture of Thomas Jefferson, May 30 – June 2, by the ICAA

Jim Strickland (Senior Principal of Historical Concepts) and Laura Howard DePree (architect and ICAA Fellow) host a long weekend in Virginia focused on the architecture of Thomas Jefferson. Attendees will enjoy three and a half days of specialized tours and exclusive lectures in Richmond and Charlottesville, featuring local and national experts. Expedition fares are $1,650 per person double occupancy or $2,437.50 per person single occupancy, with hotel accommodations for three nights at the Omni Hotel on the mall in historic downtown Charlottesville (includes a tax deductible donation of $75 per person for the ICAA Southeast Chapter). Admission to six historic venues as well as the distinctive experience of dining at the Farmington Country Club, designed by Jefferson himself, are also covered by the fare. To register, please call Laura Howard DePree at (404) 892-3124.

Great Houses of Connecticut’s Fairfield County, June 5 – 9,  by ICAA’s Classical Excursions

Fairfield County, Connecticut is a locale where “New York City meets New England charm.” As one of the highest-income regions in the nation, the county’s affluent suburban towns that are situated along the Connecticut seashore have been coined the Gold Coast. Located approximately one hour from Manhattan, this region’s reputation for wealth and fame has long existed. The towns include Greenwich, Darien, Southport, and Westport and New Canaan and Ridgefield are a short distance inland but also a must to see.

During this exclusive educational tour of the area, attendees will visit some of America’s finest classical architecture, interiors, and gardens as well as remarkable historical sites. There will also be the chance to visit award-winning design firms, attend private functions, and have the opportunity to stay in appealing overnight accommodations. The itinerary will begin Wednesday evening, June 5, with an opening dinner and will end Sunday, June 9, at noon.

Tour Price: Land cost is $2495 per person. This includes a $500 donation per person to the Institute’s Annual Fund. A single supplement of $300 applies. For inquiries, contact Tom Hayes at Classical Excursions.

Bernini's Rome: Drawing and Painting Tour, June 8 – 15, by the ICAA’s Classical Excursions

Join experienced instructors of the ICAA and affiliated institutions for this opportunity to experience Rome while honing observational drawing and painting skills. Participants at all levels will be provided with a practical knowledge of the classical tradition as manifested in Rome and enjoy ample opportunity for the observation and representation of classical architecture. This signature study and drawing tour is open to all architects, artists, and like-minded individuals. This year’s tour will have a special focus on the life and work of Gian Lorenzo Bernini.

Credit hours from this trip may be counted toward the completion of the Certificate in Classical Architecture.

This tour is now closed to the public, click here to watch the video from last year’s tour.

Kathryn Ireland and Jan Scott's Extreme Balance Retreat, June 11 – July 24:

Kathryn & Jan’s Extreme Balance Retreat embodies yoga, meditation & breathing with exploring local antique markets, eating & drinking and a healthy amount of locally grown foods & wine. Hiking, biking and horse riding are all part of daily life at La Castellane, located in Southwest France. The week long retreat at La Castellane is an idyllic escape from the world. Nurtured by nature and guided by an accommodating staff, guests will reconnect to the important things in life. Tour dates include: June 11 – 17, 21 - 27, July 10 – 16 and July 18 – 24. Visit the website to register.

English Country in Holmby Hills, June, 13 from 5:00 – 8:00 p.m.

This is a private tour of an English Country residence designed by Richard Manion Architecture. This remodel of an English Country house built in the 1930s was done as a modern interpretation of the work of C.F.A.Voysey, Eyre and their contemporaries. The home features a new wing with interior moldings, fireplaces and details, redesigned from classical sources. The event will include a panel discussion with the homeowner, architect, builder and landscape designer. Wine and hors d’oeuvres will be served. The event is open to ICAA members only for $125.00. RSVP or call 310.396.4379 to attend.

Hudson River Valley Tour, June 16 – 20, led by Eleanor Schrader Schapa and Philip Zimmerman

Eleanor Schrader Schapa is an award-winning Beverly Hills architectural and interior design historian and consultant and Dr. Philip Zimmerman of Lancaster, Pa, is a noted American furniture expert and museum consultant. The tour will begin at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York City on June 16, and participants will travel to the picturesque Hudson River Valley by private shuttle June 17.

The tour will then take visitors inside several mansions, built in the 19th century in a range of styles including Classical Revival, Gothic Revival and Victorian. Tour participants will be given access to the inside of some homes not normally open to the public and entertaining insight into the exterior and interior designs, including the furniture. They will also stay in historic inns throughout the Hudson River Valley.

Included on the itinerary, is the Olana House; the Lyndhurst, the magnificent Gothic Revival home to New York Mayor William Paulding and later to railroad magnate Jay Gould and is on the National Trust Historic Site; Locust Lawn, built in 1814 for Col. Josiah Hasbrouck and now a museum and extraordinary time capsule; and Edgewater, a beautiful 1825 house with full-portico front on the Hudson River and restored in the 1970s by Richard Jenrette. In addition, David Bayne, head furniture conservator of the New York State Historic Site will speak at Clermont State Historic Site. Stops will be made in Sleepy Hollow, West Point and other historical places.

The cost of the tour is approximately $2,500, which includes ground transportation, lodging and most meals, as well as entrance into all the homes. For information and registration, please contact Eleanor Schrader Schapa.

Travel Classical China, June 30 – July 15, by the ICAA’s Classical Excursions

The Classical China program presented by the ICAA offers participants the opportunity to immerse themselves in Chinese culture and tradition through extensive travel to different regions and diverse sites throughout the country. Tour goers will peel back the layers of China’s incredibly rich and layered history, revealing the roots of one of the world’s oldest and continuous building traditions. From Shanghai to Beijing, participants will experience life within the walls of the ancient and medieval cities of China, relax and reflect in the classical gardens of Suzhou and Tongli, as well as visit sites situated along the historic silk route, noted by the thirteenth-century Venetian explorer and merchant, Marco Polo for their beauty and technological innovations. The tour will be led by Michael Lykoudis, Francis and Kathleen Rooney Dean of the School of Architecture at Notre Dame, and Selena Anders, Design Faculty, Rome Studies Program. For inquiries and registration contact Barbara Panzica at (574) 631-4699.

Note: Many of these tours may be sold out or registration may be closed, contact the organizers directly for further information.