About Us

Literati Tours is an extension of the ethos at Literati Bookstore. We take the level of curation we do at our store seriously and we translate this to Literati Tours. Experiences are handpicked to be unique, informative, and broaden our appreciation of literary culture all over the world. We take our passion for the written word to the next level by immersing travelers in memorable experiences and encounters. 

Literati Tours grows out of Literati Bookstore’s love of literature and community. As travelers, we found ourselves seeking out book centric sites in specific destinations. Sure, we stumbled across one-off walking tours or museums that highlight a particular author or era, but we found a lack of cohesive experiences that really highlight the breadth of literary culture. We felt that we might not be the only ones looking to really do a deep dive into how literature shapes a place.

Using our connections in the publishing, bookselling, and writing communities, we have built a program that will delight even the most seasoned traveler – with unique insights, one-of-a-kind experiences, and delightful takes on how the book world shapes the physical and cultural landscape. We mix historical walking tours, special book collections and physical book spaces, hands-on activities, and unique presentations to make for a rememberable experience.

Tours are led by Hilary Gustafson, owner of Literati Bookstore in Ann Arbor, MI. She founded Literati with her husband, Michael, in 2013 and has been running it ever since. Literati has a physical presence in downtown Ann Arbor where they run over 200 events each year, host multiple book clubs, and connect with area businesses. Literati also has an online presence and runs four book subscription programs. Literati Bookstore won Bookstore of the Year in 2019 from Publishers Weekly. Prior to owning the store, Hilary worked in publishing at Simon & Schuster in New York City. The Gustafson’s share a love of travel alongside their love of literature.