16 GUESTS OR FEWER
Small enough to feel the difference.
Smaller groups create access to more personal hotels, local tables, flexible moments and conversations that larger tours simply miss.
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FeaturedThe Beauty of Small-Group Travel
Tradition, Drama & Passion · Carnival in Italy
Venice Carnival
Luggage packed. Secrets waiting. Let the Journey begin.
Beneath the Lion’s Wings · Four days of pageantry, mystery and Venetian beauty
Duration4 Days / 3 Nights
GroupUp to 16 Guests
ExperienceVenice Carnival
HostedNow Journey Tour Captain
Arrival and departure transfers · Daily breakfast · Welcome and farewell dinners
4 Days / 3 NightsOne enchanting Venice base
Venice, ItalySan Marco and the lagoon
Small GroupUp to 16 guests
Classic, Deluxe & LotusHand-picked hotel collections
Tour CaptainHosted locally
The Revelry · The Magic · The Memories
Step into a Venetian dream.
Imagine stepping into a whirlwind of vibrant colors, where every corner holds a new surprise—from dazzling costumes to masks that seem to hold secrets. Venice Carnival is like a journey into a dreamland where elegance and beauty reign supreme.
Three Nights
Stay in our hand-picked Classic, Deluxe or Lotus Hotel Collection in Venice.
Daily Breakfast
Begin each morning with breakfast included at your Venice hotel.
Welcome Dinner
Gather for a regional Italian dinner hosted by your Now Journey Tour Captain.
Meet & Greet
Airport arrival transfer is included, carrying you across the lagoon to Venice.
Farewell Dinner
Celebrate the Journey over an included final dinner with your Tour Captain.
Thoughtful Transfers
Both arrival and departure transfers are included for a more effortless stay.
Optional experience: Saturday night Carnival ball. Reservations for dinners and balls should be made well in advance.
The Complete Journey
Four days beneath the Lion’s Wings.
Arrival by lagoon, the spellbinding pageantry of Carnival, a gentler day in Venice and an easy included departure.
Welcome to Carnival
Days 1–4 · Venice
Ah, Venice!
Celebrate the amazing tradition of Carnival—its mystery, elegance, joyful spontaneity and the quieter Venice waiting beyond the revelry.
Day by Day
Beneath the Lion’s Wings.
Four days, three nights and one beautifully located Venetian home base. Your Tour Captain is there for the shared moments, while generous free time lets Carnival unfold in your own way.
Day 1 · Friday in VeniceWelcome to Carnival
The adventure begins upon arrival to Marco Polo Airport in Venice with our included Airport Arrival Transfer as we whisk you across the Lagoon of Venice to our hotel on San Marco.
Whatever your plans for to celebrate Carnival in Venice, today is your day to plan and prepare.
Discovery Walk. Our Discovery Walk is a signature Now Journey touch—a short orientation with your Tour Captain through Venice’s highlights, including Piazza San Marco, the Campanile, the Grand Canal, and more.
Welcome to Venice Dinner. Later tonight, join our Tour Captain (Pascal Locatelli) as we head to one of our favorite Venetian restaurants for a regional Italian dinner, paired with excellent wines and premium beverages—all included.
Day 2 · Saturday in VeniceCarnival di Venezia
Today is set aside for you to immerse yourself in Venice’s spellbinding Carnival celebrations. Stroll through the labyrinth of canals and piazzas where costumed revelers bring centuries-old traditions to life. Watch the parades of elaborate masks and gowns sweeping through St. Mark’s Square, join in a mask-making workshop to create your own Venetian masterpiece, or step into one of the city’s famed masquerade balls for an evening of elegance and mystery. Sip a Bellini at a historic café, enjoy live music spilling into the streets, and don your own mask to become part of the pageantry.
From the grandeur of the official events to the joyful spontaneity of street performances, today is your chance to celebrate Carnival like a true Venetian.
Ideas about balls to attend? Visit the official Venice Carnival website.
We recommend making reservations for dinner and/or balls well in advance. Or join the Tour Captain for some at leisure time frivolity!
Day 3 · Sunday in VeniceVenice at a Gentler Pace
After the revelry of Carnival, today invites you to slow down and savor Venice at a gentler pace. Perhaps enjoy a leisurely cappuccino by the Grand Canal as the city gradually returns to its everyday rhythm. Wander quiet calli and hidden courtyards where the festive crowds have thinned, pausing to browse artisan shops or admire the reflections of gondolas gliding under arched bridges. Visit a favorite museum, slip into a small bacaro for cicchetti and a glass of local wine, or simply sit along the Riva degli Schiavoni and watch the lagoon’s soft light shift through the day. It’s a time to let Venice reveal her quieter, more intimate side.
Enjoy the day at your leisure.
Farewell to Venice. Enjoy a beautiful farewell dinner tonight with your Tour Captain, celebrating the unforgettable moments, new friendships, and stories gathered along your Journey.
Day 4 · DepartureArrivederci Venezia!
Breakfast is included this morning should you have time before your departure. Departure transfers are included.
Where We Stay
Three nights in Venice.
Choose among our Classic, Deluxe and Lotus Hotel Collections. Every collection follows the same itinerary, and hotel assignments are made closer to departure.
Classic Hotel Collection
Thoughtful comfort and value.
Our Classic Hotel Collection features thoughtfully selected, comfortable 3-star-plus hotels chosen for their location, character and convenience.
Exact properties and room categories are confirmed in your personalized Journey proposal.
Deluxe Hotel Collection
Curated 4- and 5-star stays.
Hotel Saturnia & International, Hotel Bauer, Hotel Kette or similar.
Our Deluxe Package includes these 4-star and 5-star properties and features Classic and Superior category rooms.
Lotus Hotel Collection
Venice at its most refined.
Nolinski Venice or similar.
Lotus offers thoughtfully selected premium accommodations, spacious rooms, Junior Suites, Suites, and preferred views or terraces where available.
The collection images illustrate the Classic, Deluxe and Lotus accommodation styles. Exact properties, room categories and availability are confirmed in your personalized Journey proposal.
2027 Dates & Prices
Choose your Carnival escape.
Prices are in U.S. dollars, per guest, based on two guests sharing a room. International airfare is not included.
Hotel Collection guidance: Classic features thoughtfully selected 3-star-plus hotels. Deluxe features curated 4- to 5-star properties with thoughtful room selection. Lotus offers premium accommodations, spacious rooms, Junior Suites, Suites, and preferred views or terraces where available. Room categories, availability and pricing are confirmed in your personalized proposal.
February 5–7
- Classic$3,849
- Deluxe$4,949
- Lotus$14,679
Other Dates
- Classic$3,849
- Deluxe$4,949
- Lotus$14,679
Want help choosing the right hotel collection?
Tell us how you like to travel and stay. A Journey Specialist will review Classic, Deluxe and Lotus options with you, then prepare a personalized proposal without obligation.
Request a Journey ProposalNow Journey TV
A glimpse into Italy.
See Venice, Florence and Rome, then review our practical What to Know Before You Go introduction.
Glimpse of Venice (:36)
Glimpse of Florence (:36)
Glimpse of Rome (:34)
What to Know Before You Go (3:55)
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this your kind of Venice?
The practical details behind Now Journey touring.
How do the Classic, Deluxe and Lotus hotel collections differ?
All three collections share the same itinerary and included experiences. Classic offers thoughtfully selected 3-star-plus accommodations, Deluxe features curated 4- and 5-star stays, and Lotus offers preferred upper room categories and suites. See current Hotel Collection guidance here.
How active are Journey Tours?
Our pace for sightseeing is leisurely with ample opportunity to stop and even opt out should a guest desire to do so. We walk about 45 to 90 minutes per day on our sightseeing tours on average.
What amount of leisure time is there?
Journey features a Slow Travel concept on most of our trips with most sightseeing occurring in the mornings and the afternoons at leisure.
How many guests are on a Journey Tour?
Our tours feature up to 16 guests—unlike most tour companies which feature an average of 35 to 44 guests!
What is the average Journey guest like?
Journey’s trips are designed to engage people of all ages and backgrounds, but the “average” Journey guest is not average at all: they enjoy interesting excursions, learning about history and culture, and above all enjoy having fun while on tour. Experiencing foreign lands brings with it a host of amazing and sometimes challenging experiences, so a great attitude is essential for the Journey guest and the Modern Traveler!
Where can I find more answers?
Your Journey Begins Here
Can you picture yourself at Carnival?
Tell us your preferred dates, Hotel Collection and travel party. We will review the details and prepare a personalized proposal.
No obligation. No pressure. Just a thoughtful conversation about your Venice.