Troy B Marden Travel

Hill Towns of Tuscany
2024-10-09 00:00 - 2024-10-20 23:59 (America/Chicago)
For the first time since before the Covid pandemic, we are returning to Tuscany! Autumn is the most beautiful time of year to enjoy the hill towns, when crowds are smaller, wine is being made, olives are being harvested, and restaurant menus are overflowing with local delicacies like chestnuts, mushrooms (including the famous truffle!), and wild boar.

We’ll bookend this tour with visits to the beautiful cities of Rome and Florence, taking in a few of the highlights of each. In between, we’ll stay in Cortona and at least one other hill town (probably San Gimignano, but we are awaiting hotel confirmation), and visit several more.

Along the way, we’ll enjoy public and private villas, palazzos, and gardens, including the Villa d’Este at Tivoli, the Parco dei Mostri (Bomarzo), the Basilica of Assisi, at least two wineries, and an olive grove and press.

It is no secret that Italy, and Tuscany in particular, is my favorite place in the world. I look forward to sharing it with you!

Email troy@troybmarden.com for more information.

Spring Fling in Mobile
2025-03-03 00:00 - 2025-03-09 23:59
Jason Reeves and I are still figuring out the details, but—similar to our 2024 tour to the Raleigh, NC area—we are planning to offer a shorter “spring fling” sightseeing and shopping trip to the Mobile, AL area in early March. The centerpieces of this tour will be a visit to Bellingrath Gardens and attendance at Mobile’s spring “Festival of Flowers”.

We’ll also include visits to at least one, and probably two, native pitcher plant bogs, several nurseries and garden centers, and an excursion to the beautiful town of Fairhope where locally owned shops, antique stores, and restaurants line the streets. Of course, we’ll do our best through our friends and colleagues in the Mobile area to arrange visits to private gardens around Mobile Bay. Complete details and pricing for this tour will be available soon.

Gardens & Treasures of Sicily
2025-03-27 00:00 - 2025-04-07 23:59
Join Charles Yurgalevituch and me for our classic “Gardens & Treasures of Sicily” tour, circumnavigating the island to explore as many beautiful sites as we can cover in 10 days. Beginning and ending in Palermo, sightseeing will include the ancient temple and amphitheater at Segesta, the archaeological site and museum at Mozia, some of the island’s most spectacular temples at Agrigento, the botanical garden in Palermo, an excellent cactus and succulent nursery near Siracusa, one of the most complete Roman villas still left in the world—the Villa Romana del Casale, whose mosaics remain almost completely intact—plus private gardens, exceptional food, and much, much more!

After 2025, we will take a short break from Sicily since we have been multiple times since 2022 and Charles and I want to offer other destinations together. If you have been hoping to join us in Sicily, please consider doing so in 2025! Charles is the now-retired director of the New York Botanical Garden’s School of Professional Horticulture. He is of Sicilian heritage and his contacts throughout Sicily are part of what makes these tours so special!

For complete details, please email troy@troybmarden.com

Beautiful Bulbs!
2025-04-08 00:00 - 2025-04-17 23:59
We will use Amsterdam as our home base for the duration of this tour. In the city, we will enjoy a canal cruise, the Anne Frank House, the Rijksmuseum and the Van Gogh Museum. Around Holland, we will take in the Trompenburg Botanical Garden, enjoy a farm tour and cheese tasting in Gouda, visit the magnificent Het Loo Palace, the Hortus Bulborum, and the Dutch flower auction at Aalsmeer. Of course, no spring tour to Holland would be complete without taking in the spectacle of 7 MILLION flower bulbs at Keukenhof! These are but a few of the very special places we’ll visit on this tour and we’ll still get you home in time for Easter!

As with Sicily, I will take a short break from the Netherlands after offering it two years in a row, so if the magnificent tulip and other spring floral displays have been on your “To Do” list, please consider joining me in 2025!

For complete details, please email troy@troybmarden.com

The Chelsea Flower Show and Gardens of Cornwall & Devon
2025-05-10 00:00 - 2025-05-22 23:59
While I have led many tours to England over the past decade, the southwest part of the country—Devon and Cornwall—have eluded me. Well, no more! In May of 2025, we will spend 8 days making our way from Newquay, in the far southwest of the country, up through Exeter, Bath, and finally to London. This region of England is an almost subtropical climate and the plants that thrive here vary dramatically from any other part of England. Gardens may include Trewidden, Caerhays Castle, Buckland Abbey, The Lost Gardens of Heligan, The Eden Project, Forde Abbey, and Iford Manor, to mention but a few. There will be many more in the final itinerary! We will also take a short side trip to Stonehenge.

The tour will end with 3 nights in London and on Wednesday, May 21, as a grand finale to the tour, we will attend the world-famous Chelsea Flower Show on Member’s Day, prior to the show opening to the general public.

For complete details, please email troy@troybmarden.com

Jewels of the Emerald Isle
2025-07-17 00:00 - 2025-07-28 23:59
Complete details for this tour are now available! Join me along with friends and colleagues Joseph & Shannon Hillenmeyer, of Joseph Hillenmeyer Garden Design in Lexington, Kentucky for a 5-star tour of Ireland, the Emerald Isle! We will fly into and out of Dublin, exploring as much of the island as possible in the time we have, including sites like Kylemore Abbey, the Cliffs of Mohr, the garden of Ilnacullin (Garnish Island), Powerscourt (plus the Powerscourt waterfall), Mount Congreve, Ballynahinch Castle, the private gardens of extraordinary brother and sister gardeners Jimi and June Blake, and much, much more! Along the way, we will relax in the comfort of 5-star hotels in Killarney, Galway, and Dublin. We’ll dine in some of the finest restaurants and we’ll also experience the rustic pubs, the farmhouse cheese, and perhaps an Irish pint or two (or a little Irish whiskey)! Border collies rounding up sheep? Done! A one-of-a-kind birding experience at Ireland’s oldest school of falconry? Check! A visit to a private thoroughbred farm? We’re on it! If Ireland has been on your bucket list, this is going to be a bucket list kind of tour! Don’t miss out!

To be advised when complete details become available, please email troy@troybmarden.com

The Wonders of Africa--Tour #1!
2025-07-30 00:00 - 2025-08-14 23:59
These tours will explore ALL of the wonders of Africa—history, nature, art, food, wine, culture, and of course, gardens! From the roar of Victoria Falls to the roar of lions, and from the tip of the Cape of Good Hope to the top of Table Mountain, we’ll explore South Africa, Botswana, and Zimbabwe through the eyes of the locals as they show us their lands, tell us their stories, tempt us with their cuisine, and treat us as friends. Included are your hotels, daily breakfast, transportation by private coach, local tour guides throughout the tour, all entry fees for sites and activities outlined in the final itinerary, meals as specified in the final itinerary, and all internal flights in the final tour itinerary (these are the flights within Africa, after your arrival from the U.S.–international airfare from the U.S. is not included). Hotels are 4- and 5-star accommodations throughout the tour and include all group safari activities in Victoria Falls, Chobe National Park, and Kapama private reserve as noted in the final itinerary. These small group tours are limited to 10-12 participants each to ensure that we can provide each guest with the most personal experience possible.

Some of the activities on this tour include: Two nights in Johannesburg–Regina Mundi church, the Nelson Mandela House, Soweto township, the Apartheid Museum, and lunch and dinner at traditional South African restaurants. Three nights at Victoria Falls Safari Lodge, including a visit to Victoria Falls, a sunset river cruise, a village tour, lunch at the Lookout Cafe, and a Boma Dinner including traditional music and dance. Our stay at Victoria Falls will also include a daytrip to the extraordinary Chobe National Park for a game drive in the park, lunch at the Chobe Lodge, and a river cruise. Our three nights in Cape Town will find us visiting Table Mountain, District Six Museum, the world-renowned Kirstenbosch Gardens, and more. We’ll also spend an incredible day out on the Cape of Good Hope, beginning with an unforgettable motorcycle ride as sidecar passengers on vintage, WW2 motorcycles. This excursion will take us along the seafront to Chapman’s Peak with a dropoff at Hout Bay for our Seal Island cruise. We will also visit the penguin colony at Boulders Beach and take the funicular to the summit of the Cape of Good Hope. Two nights in Franschhoek and wine country–Iconic wineries such as Babylonstoren, Haute Cabriere, and Bartinney will be part of our visit to this region of South Africa. We’ll also experience a top-of-the-line lunch at the Fairview Estate along with a master tasting of the estate’s wines. Stellenbosch will round out our visit to this area. We will end our tour with three nights at the extraordinary Kapama River Lodge, where we will experience 5-star African hospitality at its very finest. Included in our “grand finale” are 3 meals daily, morning and evening daily game drives/safaris, an opportunity to do an optional bush walk to experience African wildlife in the most up close and personal way possible, as well as some free time to enjoy the exceptional features of our spa resort.

Double Occupancy Price: $8,950 per person, ground package including internal flights within Africa. (International airfare from and returning to the U.S. is the responsibility of individual guests.)

Single Occupancy Price: $10,600 per person, ground package including internal flights within Africa. (International airfare from and returning to the U.S. is the responsibility of individual guests.)

For complete details about this once-in-a-lifetime tour to experience the Wonders of Africa, please email troy@troybmarden.com

The Wonders of Africa--Tour #2
2025-08-14 00:00 - 2025-08-30 23:59
These tours will explore ALL of the wonders of Africa—history, nature, art, food, wine, culture, and of course, gardens! From the roar of Victoria Falls to the roar of lions, and from the tip of the Cape of Good Hope to the top of Table Mountain, we’ll explore South Africa, Botswana, and Zimbabwe through the eyes of the locals as they show us their lands, tell us their stories, tempt us with their cuisine, and treat us as friends. This tour is one day longer than Tour #1 and is a slightly different itinerary, including a 2-night stay at Chobe National Park (Chobe is included in Tour #1, but will be done as a daytrip from Victoria Falls). Included are your hotels, daily breakfast, transportation by private coach, local tour guides throughout the tour, all entry fees for sites and activities outlined in the final itinerary, meals as specified in the final itinerary, and all internal flights in the final tour itinerary (these are the flights within Africa, after your arrival from the U.S.–international airfare from the U.S. is not included). Hotels are 4- and 5-star accommodations throughout the tour and include all group safari activities in Victoria Falls, Chobe National Park, and Kapama private reserve as noted in the final itinerary. These small group tours are limited to 10-12 participants each to ensure that we can provide each guest with the most personal experience possible.

Some of the activities on this tour include: Two nights in Johannesburg–Regina Mundi church, the Nelson Mandela House, Soweto township, the Apartheid Museum, and lunch and dinner at traditional South African restaurants. Two nights in Chobe National Park, where we will enjoy the hospitality of the Chobe Marina Lodge and Resort. Our stay here will include daily safari activities, as well as a river cruise during our stay. Two nights at Victoria Falls Safari Lodge, including a visit to Victoria Falls, a sunset river cruise, a village tour, lunch at the Lookout Cafe, and a Boma Dinner including traditional music and dance. Our three nights in Cape Town will find us visiting Table Mountain, District Six Museum, the world-renowned Kirstenbosch Gardens, and more. We’ll also spend an incredible day out on the Cape of Good Hope, beginning with an unforgettable motorcycle ride as sidecar passengers on vintage, WW2 motorcycles. This excursion will take us along the seafront to Chapman’s Peak with a dropoff at Hout Bay for our Seal Island cruise. We will also visit the penguin colony at Boulders Beach and take the funicular to the summit of the Cape of Good Hope. Two nights in Franschhoek and wine country–Iconic wineries such as Babylonstoren, Haute Cabriere, and Bartinney will be part of our visit to this region of South Africa. We’ll also experience a top-of-the-line lunch at the Fairview Estate along with a master tasting of the estate’s wines. Stellenbosch will round out our visit to this area. We will end our tour with three nights at the extraordinary Kapama Buffalo Camp, where we will experience 5-star African hospitality at its very finest. Included in our “grand finale” are 3 meals daily, morning and evening daily game drives/safaris, an opportunity to do an optional bush walk to experience African wildlife in the most up close and personal way possible, as well as some free time to enjoy the exceptional features of our spa resort.

Double Occupancy Price: $9,850 per person, ground package including internal flights within Africa. (International airfare from and returning to the U.S. is the responsibility of individual guests.)

Single Occupancy Price: $11,500 per person, ground package including internal flights within Africa. (International airfare from and returning to the U.S. is the responsibility of individual guests.)

For complete details about this once-in-a-lifetime tour to experience the Wonders of Africa, please email troy@troybmarden.com

Chateaux & Gardens of Normandy and the Loire Valley
2025-10-05 00:00 - 2025-10-16 23:59
Jason Reeves and Troy Marden are off once again, this time to two of the most beautiful regions of France—Normandy and the Loire Valley! Beginning and ending in Paris, first we’ll head north and west as we explore the region of Normandy. We’ll use Rouen and Caen as our home bases for this part of the tour, exploring some of the most beautiful gardens in France along the way. No trip to Normandy would be complete without visits to the D-Day beaches, the American cemetery, and other historic World War II sites, and we’ll be sure not to miss them. Then we’ll head south to the indescribable Loire Valley, where you can toss a stone in any direction and hit a chateau, each one grander and more exquisite than the next. We’ll explore the valley from its west end to its east as we complete our loop and eventually make our way back to Paris.

Complete details will be available in September 2024. To be added to a list of interested guests, please email troy@troybmarden.com and you will be notified once the final itinerary and pricing are complete.

Japan--Cultural Masterpieces!
2025-11-06 00:00 - 2025-11-20 23:59
Another joint venture with friend and colleague, Charles Yurgalevitch. With Charles’ contacts in Japan from his tenure at the New York Botanic Garden, and excellent assistance from a travel agency specializing in Japan and all it has to offer, this will be a once-in-a-lifetime experience centered around the gardens and temples of Japan, from Tokyo to Miyajima, set in the peak of fall color season!

In addition to beautiful gardens and temples, we will completely immerse ourselves in and experience the culture of this exceptional country; traditions and ceremonies going back hundreds of years, cuisine unique to this island nation, art that has influenced generations of other artists, and much more will all be a part of this itinerary—truly something for everyone!

Pricing and details for this tour will be published approximately 12 months prior to the tour—once we are able to secure firm pricing on hotels and transportation. To be added to the list of interested guests, please email troy@troybmarden.com

The Floralies and Spring Gardens of Belgium
2026-04-29 00:00 - 2026-05-08 23:59
The Floralies (or Floraliën Gent) in Ghent, Belgium, is a prestigious international flower and plant festival that happens only once every four years. Taking place at multiple venues, including the Citadel Park which features the iconic Floralies Hall, it is a historic event that dates back to 1809, and its infrequency makes it particularly special. The Floralies showcases creations by national and international florists, ornamental horticulturists, and artists. The 2026 theme is “Flowers Connect Us” and a visit to the show will be one of many highlights of this tour featuring some of Belgium’s most beautiful springtime gardens, both public and private.

Of course, no trip to Belgium would be complete without visiting some of its magnificent castles—and we will! We would also be remiss not to include some of the country’s finest cuisine (and let me assure you, there are some amazing restaurants!), delicious chocolate (of course!), some of the best beer in the world (it’s good even if you’re not much of a beer drinker!), and so much more! Flying into and out of Brussels, we’ll first head to the beautiful small city of Bruges, where we’ll enjoy the hospitality of the Hotel Heritage for three nights. Then, we’ll make our way back to Brussels to the Warwick Hotel, using this beautiful city as home base as we explore the rest of Belgium, from Antwerp in the north to the magnificent Castle and Garden of Annevoie in the south, and many points in between.

For complete details, please email troy@troybmarden.com

Hill Towns and Gardens of Tuscany
2026-06-09 00:00 - 2026-06-20 23:59
It has been some years since I’ve done a main season, early summer tour to Tuscany—usually we go in the fall—and I decided that 2026 was the year to bring it back! The spring rains have ended, warmer summer temperatures prevail (but it isn’t sweltering yet!), the wheat fields are in their full glory, and the sunflowers are beginning to bloom. And the light… especially in the mornings. It’s a wonderful time to be in Tuscany! But who am I kidding? There is never a bad time to be in Tuscany!

This tour will begin in Rome and end in Florence, and we will spend three nights in each of those magnificent cities. For the four nights in between, we will base ourselves in the Tuscan hill town of Cortona, of Under the Tuscan Sun fame, and use it as home base to explore some of the surrounding hill towns, as well as several nearby villas, wineries, castles, and more. We’ll experience La Dolce Vita, the sweet life, firsthand as we participate in “la passegiata” (the nightly stroll), partake of the local food and wine, become regulars at the local coffee shop, mingle with the townspeople on the square. For those who have been with me before, we’ll visit some old favorites like Castello Ruspoli on our way from Rome to Cortona, and Palazzo Corsini while we’re in Florence, but we’ll add plenty of new sights, too, for those who have “already been”! This will be a tour of Tuscany you won’t want to miss!

For complete details, please email troy@troybmarden.com

English Gardens of Kent and Sussex
2026-07-08 00:00 - 2026-07-17 23:59
This year’s tour to England will feature the counties of Sussex and Kent in the southeastern corner of the country. We have touched on Kent before and this time we’ll cast our net even wider, visiting gardens like Goodnestone Park, Old Bladbean Stud, Walmer Castle, and others. County Kent is also home to Canterbury Cathedral and the white cliffs of Dover and we’ll do our best to include them both while we’re in the area.

County Sussex also has amazing gardens, including my favorite garden of all, Great Dixter, so you know we’ll be visiting there! Other gardens nearby include Borde Hill, Gravetye Manor, Nymans, Wakehurst and many, many more. It’s a long list, but we’re going to work as many of them into the schedule as we possibly can in the time we have available!

On the way back to London at the end of the tour, we’ll spend most of the day at the RHS garden, Wisley, with its grand borders, astounding rock garden, exotic garden, glasshouse, and so much more! We will end the tour in London on a Thursday night for people to fly home on Friday OR extend your stay in London on your own for the weekend! This is going to be a good one! For more information, please email info@troybmarden.com

Gardens from Montreal to Quebec City 2026
2026-08-01 00:00 - 23:59
This is just a place holder for this tour with official dates in the month of August and more information coming soon.

This tour will be a collaboration with good friend and colleague, Jason Reeves, of the UT Garden in Jackson, TN.

New Zealand
2026-11-01 00:00 - 2026-11-22 23:59
This will be a 5-star tour of New Zealand, with top-of-the-line hotels and experiences. Covering both the north and south islands of New Zealand, this will be a once-in-a-lifetime discovery of some of the best of New Zealand. This year’s tour will include visits to at least 5 private gardens (more if they can be arranged), 4 or 5 public gardens, an overnight cruise on Milford Sound, a scenic ride on the Tranzalpine Railway, the Waitomo glowworm caves, the geothermal area of Rotorua, Hobbiton (part of the Lord of the Rings movie set), and much, much more! This tour will be strictly limited to 15 guests.
