Don't have an Account?
Sign up now
.
Forgotten Password?
Log In
800-221-2216
Mon-Fri 9am-8pm ET
or call your travel advisor
Travel Advisor Login
Brochure Request
Trip Search
Email Offers
MENU
Destinations
Africa
Botswana
Ethiopia
Kenya
Morocco
Namibia
Rwanda
Seychelles
South Africa
Tanzania
Zambia
Zimbabwe
Middle East
Egypt
Israel
Jordan
Oman
United Arab Emirates
Asia
Bhutan
Cambodia
China
Hong Kong
India
Indonesia
Japan
Korea
Laos
Mongolia
Nepal
Singapore
Sri Lanka
Thailand
Tibet
Vietnam
Pacific
Australia
New Zealand
Europe
Albania
Armenia
Austria
Bulgaria
Croatia
Czech Republic
Denmark
England
Finland
France
Georgia
Greece
Greenland
Hungary
Iceland
Italy
Macedonia
Montenegro
Norway
Poland
Romania
Russia
Slovenia
Spain
Sweden
Turkey
Latin America
Amazon River
Argentina
Bolivia
Brazil
Chile
Colombia
Costa Rica
Ecuador
Galapagos
Panama
Peru
North America
Canada
United States
Cuba
Cuba
Antarctica
Antarctica
Don't see what you're looking for?
Try Tailor-Made Travel
Small Group Tours
Small Ships
Private Tours
Tailor Made
Deals
Before You Go
About Us
Alexander W. Harris, 1921 - 2013
Born in September 1921, the remarkable life of Mr. Harris encompassed many of the most significant events of the 20th century. As a young man in Poland, he lost two generations of his family in the Holocaust. Arrested in Russian-occupied eastern Poland and sent to a Siberian Gulag, he and other Polish citizens were subsequently released and conscripted into the Second Polish Army to fight the Nazis. The end of the Second World War found Mr. Harris in a displaced person’s camp outside of Dresden, Germany.
The American camp managers gave the young Mr. Harris a choice – Palestine or America. Alex always said that it was an easy choice and he immigrated to the United States, coming to New York where he founded General Tours in 1947. These were the early days of the Cold War, and Mr. Harris held the firm conviction that travel would build bridges of understanding between his newly adopted homeland and the Continent he’d left behind. With special permission from the Eisenhower Administration, General Tours became the first American company to offer scheduled tours to the Soviet Union.
In the decades since, we have remained true to the vision of our founder. Nearly seven decades later, we continue to offer original journeys that take our guests deeper inside the life and culture of the places we go, enriching their travels with a profound and lasting appreciation and understanding of the world we share.
Alex left us in 2013 at the fine age of 92, but he will always be remembered by his family, friends and colleagues as a brilliant pioneer of the modern American tourism industry.
More than 70 Years of History
The story of General Tours
and Alexander+Roberts
Right After World War II
When Alex Harris arrived in the USA from Poland, the ravages of the recent war were hardening into a new cold version of mistrust and hostility. The optimistic, young Mr. Harris knew that travel is a great way to break the borders of distrust in the world. In 1955, Alex was granted special approval by the Eisenhower White House to operate the first scheduled tours to the Soviet Union.
South America in the 1950’s
Empowered by U.S. enthusiasm for the new United Nations, we headed to the 1954 UNESCO Conference in Montevideo as
America’s Flying Ambassadors
… 60 years of cruises and touring throughout South America have since followed that first trip.
East Africa in the 1970’s
On safari in the late ‘60’s, Alex observed that only the wealthiest of world travelers could afford the experience. He determined to make the thrill of safari more widely accessible and by 1973, General Tours was operating sold-out Pan Am charters to Kenya and Tanzania, the first of their kind.
China and Beyond since the 1980’s
It wasn’t long after Nixon’s ground-breaking trip to China that General Tours established its reputation as a premier company for Americans eager to see it for themselves. Now our original journeys encompass popular and newly emerging lands all across Asia.
The 21st Century
With the dawn of a new century, the company continued to innovate and was the first to limit its groups to never more than 16 guests. In 2014, General Tours introduced a new identity inspired by the names of founder Alex Harris and CEO Robert Drumm. Now for 2016-2017, the company has unveiled new journeys across the globe including North America, Albania, Greece + Macedonia, and Ethiopia.
Trustpilot
Africa
Botswana
Ethiopia
Kenya
Morocco
Namibia
Rwanda
Seychelles
South Africa
Tanzania
Zambia
Zimbabwe
Middle East
Egypt
Israel
Jordan
Oman
United Arab Emirates
Asia
Bhutan
Cambodia
China
Hong Kong
India
Indonesia
Japan
Korea
Laos
Mongolia
Nepal
Singapore
Sri Lanka
Thailand
Tibet
Vietnam
Pacific
Australia
New Zealand
Europe
Albania
Armenia
Austria
Bulgaria
Croatia
Czech Republic
Denmark
England
Finland
France
Georgia
Greece
Greenland
Hungary
Iceland
Italy
Macedonia
Montenegro
Norway
Poland
Romania
Russia
Slovenia
Spain
Sweden
Turkey
Latin America
Amazon River
Argentina
Bolivia
Brazil
Chile
Colombia
Costa Rica
Ecuador
Galapagos
Panama
Peru
North America
Canada
United States
Cuba
Cuba
Antarctica
Antarctica
Small Group Tours
Never more than 16 guests
Small Ships
Small Ship Cruising
Private Tours
Just for your traveling party
Tailor Made
Create your own unique journey
Deals
Big savings everywhere, anytime
Solo Travel
Special Savings for Solo Travelers
Brochures
Download or request by mail
Reviews
Read what other travelers are saying
Blog
Alexander + Roberts Travel Blog
Travel Updates + Requirements
Travel Updates + Entry Requirements
800-221-2216
Brochure Request