the detour experience

The right way to wholeness is made up of fateful detours and wrong turnings.
— Carl Jung

Wonderlust drives our detours. It is a fierce desire to feel surprise mingled with delight caused by something unexpected, unfamiliar, or inexplicable. We believe that life's most profound lessons come when we venture off the beaten path. Through our offbeat learning journeys, we nurture a lifelong sense of wonder, allowing the pace and space for getting lost, being delighted, and feeding your wonderlust.

A young girl sitting alone in front of rows of white gravestones at a military cemetery on a bright sunny day.
Tour guide explaining to a group of people on the beach with ocean in the background.

Our Values

we believe travel should be intentional, immersive, and deeply human. We value experiences that prioritize connection over checklists, depth over speed, and authenticity over spectacle. We prioritize local stays and curated excursions so you can be fully present in the experience. Our itineraries blend meaningful activity with unhurried time to reflect, explore, and rest. We don’t believe in tourist traps or upselling. Instead, we offer honest, memorable Detours rooted in respect, curiosity, and genuine engagement with the places and people we visit.

Off the beaten path travel destinations Dressler Detours
Off the beaten path travel destinations Dressler Detours

Purposeful Travel.

As a boutique, founder-led company, we prioritize sustainability, cultural respect, and traveler connection. We design every Detour as if we were crafting it for our own friends—and many of our travelers become just that.

Winery in Sicily with red wine grapes
Small group tours wine tasting Dressler Detours

small groups.

We keep our groups intimate—typically 10 to 16 travelers—so you can move like a local, not a tourist. That means family-run guesthouses, off-the-beaten-path eateries, and conversations with winemakers, artists, and storytellers you’d never meet on a big bus tour.

Slow travel slow food slow stays with Dressler Detours
Slow travel slow food slow stays Dressler Detours

slow Journeys.

We believe in traveling deeply, not quickly. Our itineraries favor longer stays in fewer places, giving you time to settle in, explore with intention, and form real connections—with the culture, the community, and yourself. It’s better for travelers, and better for the places we visit.

Stained glass
Travel with a tour professor expert educators Dressler Detours

expert Led.

Each itinerary is a passion project crafted by our seasoned guides and subject-matter experts—from archaeologists and chefs to professors and cultural insiders—who bring history, culture, and place to life in meaningful, memorable ways.

Meet Our Team

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Meet Our Team *

At the heart of every Detour is a passionate expert who brings each destination to life. Our trip leaders are educators, historians, artists, and locals who offer more than just facts—they share lived experience, insider access, and a deep understanding of place. With diverse backgrounds and unique lenses, they guide you beyond the surface into the heart of every story, landscape, and culture.