About Us
At MARQUIS Discoveries, we specialize in crafting luxury travel experiences that are accessible, safe, and enriching. Our focus is on providing educational, family, and special-interest travel that caters to diverse needs and interests. Whether you’re embarking on a school trip, a family vacation, or an adventure with your friends or sports team, we ensure that every detail— from the moment you step out your front door to your return—is tailored to your specific desires, needs, and themes.
Our Journey
Our journey started with a shared passion for both teaching and travel. Our founders, Ken and Tracy, bring a unique blend of experiences to the table.
Ken’s background in leadership roles, including as a Senior Director and CEO in large companies, combined with Tracy’s upbringing in a family that operated a tour business, inspired us to create something truly special. With a love for exploring new places, we were determined to provide others with the opportunity to experience the world in a way that blends discovery, comfort, and learning.
The name MARQUIS Discoveries
Reflects our commitment to both the elegance and luxury of travel (symbolized by the noble title “Marquis”) and our unrelenting curiosity to explore the world.
It’s also a tribute to Tracy’s late mother, whose company—Western Discoveries—shared a similar passion for exploration.
Our core values
Are rooted in honesty, exploration, and lifelong learning
We believe in the power of travel to broaden minds and connect people to the world and to each other. Our itineraries are built around your unique:
- Themes
- Destinations
- Budgets
Ensuring a journey that feels personal and deeply enriching.
We cater to
To special interest groups our custom-designed trips are more than just vacations—they’re an opportunity to explore new horizons and create unforgettable memories together.
Including
- Schools
- Choirs
- Orchestras
- Sports Teams
- Churches
- Families and Friends
The MARQUIS Discoveries Team
As a small, dedicated team, we pride ourselves on listening to our clients and designing tailored travel experiences that go beyond the ordinary.
With an eye for detail and a commitment to your needs, we craft journeys that are not only unique but also ethical and environmentally sustainable.
Our goal is to spark the love of travel in everyone we serve, creating not just memories, but a lasting impact on the places we visit and the people we meet along the way.
Our Mission
At MARQUIS Discoveries, our mission is to design journeys that inspire curiosity, spark connection, and leave a lasting imprint on both travelers and the communities they encounter. We believe that travel should be more than a trip—it should be a personal narrative filled with learning, wonder, and shared experience.
Each itinerary we create is handcrafted to reflect the passions, interests, and stories of our travelers—whether it’s students tracing the steps of history, families embracing new adventures, or choirs lifting their voices in sacred spaces. Our aim is to make luxury and meaning accessible to all, crafting deeply enriching experiences that feel as personal as they are unforgettable.
What Drives Us
Personalization
Every journey is custom-built around your passions, goals, and dreams.
Accessibility
We make luxury travel experiences attainable, inclusive, and meaningful.
Enrichment
Our trips encourage curiosity, cultural understanding, and lifelong learning.
Connection
Travel brings people together—families, friends, teams, and communities.
Integrity
We operate with honesty, care, and a deep respect for every destination we visit.
Sustainability
Ethical, environmentally conscious travel is at the heart of what we do.
Storytelling
Every itinerary is designed to tell a story—your story—through experiences that resonate.
What Makes MARQUIS Discoveries Unique?
Our Adventures
From the bustling streets of New York City to the vast landscapes of Patagonia, from climbing Mount Everest Base Camp to witnessing the Northern Lights in Iceland, our travels have taken us across the world in search of unforgettable experiences. Some of our most cherished moments include:
Watching the sunset over the Grand Canyon, only to turn around and find ourselves surrounded by a herd of elk.
Riding horseback through the Pantanal in Brazil at dusk, spotting capybaras, hyacinth macaws, and monkeys.
Singing beneath the soaring arches of Salisbury Cathedral, our voices echoing through centuries of history.
These experiences shape how we design travel for others.
We want every MARQUIS Discoveries journey to be as awe-inspiring and transformative as these moments have been for us.
Looking Ahead
MARQUIS Discoveries is on a mission to bring the world to our travelers—and our travelers to the world.
With trips spanning all seven continents, we dream of one day planting the MARQUIS Discoveries flag in every country, ensuring that each traveler who joins us finds adventure, inspiration, and a deeper understanding of themselves and the world.
No matter where your journey takes you, MARQUIS Discoveries is here to guide you beyond the map—to the heart of discovery.
Ken Saunders
Owner / Executive Director
Ken’s journey into the world of travel and education began with his career in teaching, specializing in religious philosophy and ethics in England.
With a strong background in fine art, photography, and biological anthropology, Ken’s passion for exploration grew over the years. A defining moment in his career came when he met the Dalai Lama at the Royal Albert Hall in London.
At the time, Ken didn’t fully understand the magnitude of the encounter, but the Dalai Lama’s words left a lasting impression. He emphasized that no one person is more important than another, and that even famous individuals are accessible, because, at the end of the day, we are all just people. This powerful message deeply influenced Ken’s approach to teaching and shaped his educational philosophy.
Tracy Saunders
Owner / Manager
Tracy’s love for travel and education was nurtured early on, thanks to her mother, who owned and grew a successful travel company, Western Discoveries.
As an elementary school teacher and K-12 math specialist for the state of Nevada, Tracy’s expertise lies in helping students understand complex subjects in engaging ways. Living in both Lake Tahoe and Virginia, she has deep ties to two different regions, and her extensive travel knowledge brings a unique perspective to the way she designs and plans trips.
Tracy’s dedication to education led her to create experiential travel programs that offer not just sightseeing but the opportunity to learn through cultural immersion. Her extensive experience in the travel industry allows her to deliver unique and meaningful experiences that go beyond traditional tours.
Tours
Every Journey Tells a Story. Let’s Write Yours Together.
Discoveries
Discover the World, Safely. Adventure with Purpose.
Our Professional Affiliations & Accreditations
At MARQUIS Discoveries, we believe that excellence in travel begins with trust, integrity, and professionalism. We are proud members of the American Bus Association (ABA), the Student & Youth Travel Association (SYTA), the National Tour Association (NTA), and the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA). We are also accredited by the International Airlines Travel Agent Network (IATAN), ensuring we meet global standards in travel services.
Our partnership with GroupCollect allows us to offer seamless, secure, and personalized payment solutions for group travel—enhancing convenience for both organizers and participants. These affiliations reflect our deep commitment to industry best practices, continued learning, and delivering safe, enriching, and expertly managed travel experiences around the world.
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