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Dear Traveller,
Remember those books from when we were kids – the ones where you could choose page 15 or page 27 to see what would happen next? You never knew where you'd end up…deep in a jungle, lost in space, or discovering hidden treasure. Every choice was a new adventure.
Travel is a lot like those books. Each destination you choose is its own unique experience, each stop an undeniable page-turner. In this newsletter, we’ve highlighted a few great choices for you: hidden gems, unexpected detours, and stories to inspire your next great escape.
Have you always wanted to snorkel the Great Barrier Reef, visit Hobbiton (where the Lord of the Rings movies were filmed), or see the iconic Uluru (Ayers Rock) with your own eyes? Choose our Australia & New Zealand tour as your next adventure!
Looking to try out an under-the-radar destination most North Americans don’t know about? On our Tunisia tour, you’ll stay in beautiful Mediterranean beach towns, ride camels through the desert, and make your inner history geek happy exploring incredible ruins from the ancient world.
Is Japan at the top of your travel list? Join us on our 18-day Japan: Land of the Rising Sun tour, which includes several days in Tokyo and Kyoto, visits to charming towns – and all the sushi you can eat!
Check out our latest brochures
You’ll find dozens of additional “choose your own adventure” options ranging from sunny Caribbean holidays to amazing cruises to tours through Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. Not on our mailing list? Sign up to get brochures to your door, and in the meantime, browse the online version.
Remember, you can always count on Senior Discovery Tours for carefree travel, guaranteed prices in Canadian dollars, and an incredible experience. We’ve been proudly Canadian for 50 years!
Are you ready to choose your adventure?
Danny Shay, President
Senior Discovery Tours
Exploring Australia’s Great Barrier Reef
The Great Barrier Reef is the largest living structure on Earth…so big, in fact, that it’s visible from space! It stretches over 2,300 km and is made up of nearly 3,000 individual reefs and 900 islands.
Snorkelling this spectacular spot is one of those bucket-list adventures that truly lives up to the hype, especially when you launch from Cairns, Australia, the gateway to some of the reef’s most spectacular sections.
Snorkel through crystal-clear waters (you can usually see 20m or more below you!), gliding over sprawling coral gardens that are home to thousands of marine species. Expect to see:
- Clownfish darting through sea anemones
- Giant clams with neon-blue lips
- Curious parrotfish munching coral
- Graceful sea turtles and harmless reef sharks
A living classroom
There’s much more to visiting the Great Barrier Reef than just a scenic swim, though – it’s a chance to connect with one of the most complex ecosystems in the world. With a marine biologist as your guide, you’ll get to know the reef’s secrets, spot underwater highlights, learn about conservation efforts, and come away with a deep understanding of its delicate beauty and its importance to the planet.
Want to check the Great Barrier Reef off your travel bucket list? Join us on our 19-day Australia and New Zealand tour, departing February 27 - March 17, 2026. We will spend an unforgettable day on a state-of-the-art pontoon boat, where you’ll hear from a marine biologist, snorkel, feed fish – and immerse yourself in the magic of this natural wonder.
5 Reasons to travel to Tunisia
(before everyone else does!)
Dreaming of an off-the-beaten-path destination that checks all your travel boxes? Let us introduce you to Tunisia, a Mediterranean gem that’s adored by savvy Europeans, but is still flying under the radar for most North American travellers. Here’s why Tunisia deserves a top spot on your travel list:
A history buff’s dream
The ruins and relics here rival those in Italy and Greece – with way fewer people. See sacred Islamic cities, visit ancient empires, or wander through one of the best-preserved Roman coliseums in the world.
A place for desert adventures
Ride camels through golden dunes, explore remote oases, and check out the country’s surreal landscapes – Star Wars fans will recognize the salt flats of Chott el Jerid as Luke Skywalker’s home planet, Tatooine.
Incredible Mediterranean beaches
Think soft sand beaches, turquoise waters, and charming resort towns like Hammamet, Sousse, and the island of Djerba. There’s a good reason why European travellers love it here: it’s gorgeous, relaxing, and far more affordable than the south of France.
Vibrant culture and delicious cuisine
Tunisia’s soul lives in its medinas: old walled towns with colourful markets, winding alleys, and historic mosques. The Tunis Medina, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is a sensory overload in all the best ways. And when it comes to food, everything is incredible: spicy, fragrant dishes blend North African, Mediterranean, and Middle Eastern flavours. Don’t miss brik (a crispy egg-stuffed pastry), freshly grilled seafood, and generous helpings of harissa.
It’s still a “hidden gem”
Tunisia isn’t overrun with tourists, at least not yet. While it’s pretty well-known among Europeans, it’s still a destination that’s off the beaten path for North American travellers. So you can count on fewer crowds, lower prices, and the chance to spend time in a place that feels fresh and undiscovered.
Uncover this hidden gem on our 16-day Tunisia tour with various departures starting with November 1, 2025. Relax on beautiful beaches, explore bustling medinas, see the remnants of ancient civilizations, visit Berber villages – and get to know this incredible place before everyone else finds out about it!
Sampling sushi in Japan: a primer
In Japan, eating sushi is more than just a meal. It’s a culinary ritual, a cultural experience, and a chance to taste some of the freshest seafood on the planet. Freshness first. Restaurants focus on seasonal and regional fish and ingredients that are simple and high-quality. Each piece is carefully prepared to highlight the natural flavour of the fish – no spicy mayo or deep-fried rolls here. The texture, temperature, and cut all matter deeply.Practice good sushi etiquette. A few tips to help you dine like a local:
- Go easy on the soy sauce: if you do use it, only dip the fish side, not the rice, and use it sparingly.
- Wasabi is usually already added: trust the chef’s balance before adding more.
- Use the pickled ginger (gari) as a palate cleanser between bites, not as a topping.
- It’s okay to use your hands, especially for nigiri sushi.
Where to eat? Each type of sushi spot offers a different vibe:
- Kaiten-zushi (conveyor belt sushi) places are casual, affordable, and fun. Plates pass by on a belt, with prices based on plate colour.
- Standing sushi bars are great for a quick, budget-friendly bite.
- Sushi-ya (traditional sushi restaurants) are more formal, often pricier, and home to master-level craftsmanship.
No matter where you go, though, the standard is typically very high…even a convenience store sushi pack will be surprisingly good!
Trust the chef. In many traditional sushi restaurants (especially higher-end ones) you might be offered an omakase experience. Omakase means “I’ll leave it up to you,” allowing the chef to create a personalized tasting menu based on the best ingredients of the day. Eat each piece as it’s served to ensure it’s the perfect temperature and texture.
Different types of sushi. Not sure about the difference between maki and sashimi? Here’s the scoop:
- Nigiri: Hand-pressed rice topped with a slice of raw or cooked fish.
- Maki: Rolled sushi with rice, fish, and/or vegetables wrapped in seaweed then sliced into pieces. Hosomaki are thin rolls with one filling, futomaki are thick rolls with multiple fillings, and uramaki are “inside-out” rolls with rice on the outside.
- Temaki: Cone-shaped hand rolls made of seaweed filled with rice, fish, and vegetables.
- Gunkan: Oval rice ball wrapped in seaweed to form a “boat” topped with loose ingredients like roe or sea urchin.
- Sashimi: Thin slices of raw fish or seafood (not technical sushi, since there’s no rice).
- Chirashi: A bowl of vinegared sushi rice topped with sashimi and garnishes.
Sample all the sushi you can handle on our upcoming Japan: Land of the Rising Sun tour, departing May 8 - May 25, 2026, where we will visit Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, and other incredible (and delicious!) destinations.
Why travel with us? Reason #6:
If you have to cancel, you’re covered
We want your travel experience to be completely carefree, so every SDT tour includes comprehensive health, cancellation, and trip interruption protection. Senior Discovery Tours is the only travel company in Canada that includes it in the cost!
Travel Inspiration:
"Jiro Dreams of Sushi"
If you're heading to Japan (or even just dreaming of it as a someday destination), there’s a wonderful movie to watch before you go: Jiro Dreams of Sushi.
The 2011 documentary follows Jiro Ono, an 85-year-old sushi master who runs a tiny, Michelin-starred restaurant in a Tokyo subway station. Jiro’s quiet dedication and pursuit of perfection offer a glimpse into the values that shape Japanese life: discipline, humility, and respect for tradition.
As you watch, you’ll realize that sushi isn’t just a meal. It’s an art form and built on years of mastery. The movie teaches us to slow down, appreciate subtlety, and notice the beauty in simplicity.
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