diff --git a/config/plugins/tours/core.galaxy_ui.yaml b/config/plugins/tours/core.galaxy_ui.yaml
index e981beb72fef..dfc9e56f418f 100644
--- a/config/plugins/tours/core.galaxy_ui.yaml
+++ b/config/plugins/tours/core.galaxy_ui.yaml
@@ -1,4 +1,3 @@
-id: galaxy_ui
 name: Galaxy UI
 description: A gentle introduction to the Galaxy User Interface
 title_default: "Welcome to Galaxy"
diff --git a/config/plugins/tours/core.scratchbook.yaml b/config/plugins/tours/core.scratchbook.yaml
index 6b878772257c..b3111a98088c 100644
--- a/config/plugins/tours/core.scratchbook.yaml
+++ b/config/plugins/tours/core.scratchbook.yaml
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 name: Scratchbook - Introduction
-title_default: "Scratchbook Introduction"
 description: "An introduction on how to display multiple datasets and visualizations next to each other."
+title_default: "Scratchbook Introduction"
 tags:
   - "core"
   - "UI"
diff --git a/lib/galaxy/app.py b/lib/galaxy/app.py
index 97c6b971a7be..d773de8a734a 100644
--- a/lib/galaxy/app.py
+++ b/lib/galaxy/app.py
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@
 from galaxy.tools.data_manager.manager import DataManagers
 from galaxy.tools.error_reports import ErrorReports
 from galaxy.tools.special_tools import load_lib_tools
-from galaxy.tours import ToursRegistry
+from galaxy.tours import build_tours_registry
 from galaxy.util import (
     ExecutionTimer,
     heartbeat,
@@ -173,7 +173,7 @@ def __init__(self, **kwargs):
             directories_setting=self.config.visualization_plugins_directory,
             template_cache_dir=self.config.template_cache_path)
         # Tours registry
-        self.tour_registry = ToursRegistry(self.config.tour_config_dir)
+        self.tour_registry = build_tours_registry(self.config.tour_config_dir)
         # Webhooks registry
         self.webhooks_registry = WebhooksRegistry(self.config.webhooks_dir)
         # Load security policy.
diff --git a/lib/galaxy/schema/__init__.py b/lib/galaxy/schema/__init__.py
index 0533680cb97e..174c87af56d9 100644
--- a/lib/galaxy/schema/__init__.py
+++ b/lib/galaxy/schema/__init__.py
@@ -1,12 +1,15 @@
-import typing
+from typing import (
+    Dict,
+    Optional,
+)
 
 from pydantic import BaseModel
 
 
 class BootstrapAdminUser(BaseModel):
     id = 0
-    email: typing.Optional[str] = None
-    preferences: typing.Dict[str, str] = {}
+    email: Optional[str] = None
+    preferences: Dict[str, str] = {}
     bootstrap_admin_user = True
 
     def all_roles(*args) -> list:
diff --git a/lib/galaxy/tours/__init__.py b/lib/galaxy/tours/__init__.py
index 2239caf48042..b8549dc9a45d 100644
--- a/lib/galaxy/tours/__init__.py
+++ b/lib/galaxy/tours/__init__.py
@@ -1,87 +1,17 @@
-"""
-This module manages loading/etc of Galaxy interactive tours.
-"""
-import logging
-import os
-
-import yaml
-
-from galaxy import util
-
-log = logging.getLogger(__name__)
-
-
-def tour_loader(contents_dict):
-    #  Some of this can be done on the clientside.  Maybe even should?
-    title_default = contents_dict.get('title_default', None)
-    for step in contents_dict['steps']:
-        if 'intro' in step:
-            step['content'] = step.pop('intro')
-        if 'position' in step:
-            step['placement'] = step.pop('position')
-        if 'element' not in step:
-            step['orphan'] = True
-        if title_default and 'title' not in step:
-            step['title'] = title_default
-    return contents_dict
-
-
-class ToursRegistry:
-    def __init__(self, tour_directories):
-        self.tour_directories = util.config_directories_from_setting(tour_directories)
-        self.load_tours()
-
-    def tours_by_id_with_description(self):
-        return [{'id': k,
-                 'description': self.tours[k].get('description', None),
-                 'name': self.tours[k].get('name', None),
-                 'tags': self.tours[k].get('tags', None)}
-                for k in self.tours.keys()]
-
-    def load_tour(self, tour_id):
-        for tour_dir in self.tour_directories:
-            tour_path = os.path.join(tour_dir, tour_id + ".yaml")
-            if not os.path.exists(tour_path):
-                tour_path = os.path.join(tour_dir, tour_id + ".yml")
-            if os.path.exists(tour_path):
-                return self._load_tour_from_path(tour_path)
-
-    def load_tours(self):
-        self.tours = {}
-        for tour_dir in self.tour_directories:
-            for filename in os.listdir(tour_dir):
-                if self._is_yaml(filename):
-                    self._load_tour_from_path(os.path.join(tour_dir, filename))
-        return self.tours_by_id_with_description()
-
-    def reload_tour(self, path):
-        # We may safely assume that the path is within the tour directory
-        filename = os.path.basename(path)
-        if self._is_yaml(filename):
-            self._load_tour_from_path(path)
-
-    def tour_contents(self, tour_id):
-        # Extra format translation could happen here (like the previous intro_to_tour)
-        # For now just return the loaded contents.
-        return self.tours.get(tour_id, None)
-
-    def _is_yaml(self, filename):
-        return filename.endswith('.yaml') or filename.endswith('.yml')
-
-    def _load_tour_from_path(self, tour_path):
-        filename = os.path.basename(tour_path)
-        tour_id = os.path.splitext(filename)[0]
-        try:
-            with open(tour_path) as handle:
-                conf = yaml.safe_load(handle)
-                tour = tour_loader(conf)
-                self.tours[tour_id] = tour_loader(conf)
-                log.info("Loaded tour '%s'" % tour_id)
-                return tour
-        except OSError:
-            log.exception("Tour '%s' could not be loaded, error reading file.", tour_id)
-        except yaml.error.YAMLError:
-            log.exception("Tour '%s' could not be loaded, error within file.  Please check your yaml syntax.", tour_id)
-        except TypeError:
-            log.exception("Tour '%s' could not be loaded, error within file. Possibly spacing related. Please check your yaml syntax.", tour_id)
-        return None
+from ._impl import build_tours_registry
+from ._interface import ToursRegistry
+from ._schema import Tour
+from ._schema import TourCore
+from ._schema import TourDetails
+from ._schema import TourList
+from ._schema import TourStep
+
+__all__ = [
+    'build_tours_registry',
+    'ToursRegistry',
+    'Tour',
+    'TourCore',
+    'TourDetails',
+    'TourList',
+    'TourStep'
+]
diff --git a/lib/galaxy/tours/_impl.py b/lib/galaxy/tours/_impl.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..be413f9d4989
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/galaxy/tours/_impl.py
@@ -0,0 +1,115 @@
+"""
+This module manages loading/etc of Galaxy interactive tours.
+"""
+import logging
+import os
+
+import yaml
+from pydantic import parse_obj_as
+
+from galaxy.util import config_directories_from_setting
+from ._interface import ToursRegistry
+from ._schema import TourList
+
+
+log = logging.getLogger(__name__)
+
+
+def build_tours_registry(tour_directories: str):
+    return ToursRegistryImpl(tour_directories)
+
+
+def load_tour_steps(contents_dict):
+    #  Some of this can be done on the clientside.  Maybe even should?
+    title_default = contents_dict.get('title_default')
+    for step in contents_dict['steps']:
+        if 'intro' in step:
+            step['content'] = step.pop('intro')
+        if 'position' in step:
+            step['placement'] = step.pop('position')
+        if 'element' not in step:
+            step['orphan'] = True
+        if title_default and 'title' not in step:
+            step['title'] = title_default
+
+
+@ToursRegistry.register
+class ToursRegistryImpl:
+
+    def __init__(self, tour_directories):
+        self.tour_directories = config_directories_from_setting(tour_directories)
+        self._extensions = ('.yml', '.yaml')
+        self._load_tours()
+
+    def get_tours(self):
+        """Return list of tours."""
+        tours = []
+        for k in self.tours.keys():
+            tourdata = {
+                'id': k,
+                'name': self.tours[k].get('name'),
+                'description': self.tours[k].get('description'),
+                'tags': self.tours[k].get('tags')
+            }
+            tours.append(tourdata)
+        return parse_obj_as(TourList, tours)
+
+    def tour_contents(self, tour_id):
+        """Return tour contents."""
+        # Extra format translation could happen here (like the previous intro_to_tour)
+        # For now just return the loaded contents.
+        return self.tours.get(tour_id)
+
+    def load_tour(self, tour_id):
+        """Reload tour and return its contents."""
+        tour_path = self._get_path_from_tour_id(tour_id)
+        self._load_tour_from_path(tour_path)
+        return self.tours.get(tour_id)
+
+    def reload_tour(self, path):
+        """Reload tour."""
+        # We may safely assume that the path is within the tour directory
+        filename = os.path.basename(path)
+        if self._is_yaml(filename):
+            self._load_tour_from_path(path)
+
+    def _load_tours(self):
+        self.tours = {}
+        for tour_dir in self.tour_directories:
+            for filename in os.listdir(tour_dir):
+                if self._is_yaml(filename):
+                    tour_path = os.path.join(tour_dir, filename)
+                    self._load_tour_from_path(tour_path)
+
+    def _is_yaml(self, filename):
+        for ext in self._extensions:
+            if filename.endswith(ext):
+                return True
+
+    def _load_tour_from_path(self, tour_path):
+        tour_id = self._get_tour_id_from_path(tour_path)
+        try:
+            with open(tour_path) as f:
+                tour = yaml.safe_load(f)
+                load_tour_steps(tour)
+                self.tours[tour_id] = tour
+                log.info("Loaded tour '%s'" % tour_id)
+        except OSError:
+            log.exception("Tour '%s' could not be loaded, error reading file." % tour_id)
+        except yaml.error.YAMLError:
+            log.exception("Tour '%s' could not be loaded, error within file."
+                " Please check your yaml syntax." % tour_id)
+        except TypeError:
+            log.exception("Tour '%s' could not be loaded, error within file."
+                " Possibly spacing related. Please check your yaml syntax." % tour_id)
+
+    def _get_tour_id_from_path(self, tour_path):
+        filename = os.path.basename(tour_path)
+        return os.path.splitext(filename)[0]
+
+    def _get_path_from_tour_id(self, tour_id):
+        for tour_dir in self.tour_directories:
+            for ext in self._extensions:
+                tour_path = os.path.join(tour_dir, tour_id + ext)
+                if os.path.exists(tour_path):
+                    return tour_path
diff --git a/lib/galaxy/tours/_interface.py b/lib/galaxy/tours/_interface.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..33cd2f76168a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/galaxy/tours/_interface.py
@@ -0,0 +1,21 @@
+from abc import ABC, abstractmethod
+
+from ._schema import (
+    TourDetails,
+    TourList,
+)
+
+
+class ToursRegistry(ABC):
+
+    @abstractmethod
+    def get_tours(self) -> TourList:
+        """Return list of tours."""
+
+    @abstractmethod
+    def tour_contents(self, tour_id: str) -> TourDetails:
+        """Return tour contents."""
+
+    @abstractmethod
+    def load_tour(self, tour_id: str) -> TourDetails:
+        """Reload tour and return its contents."""
diff --git a/lib/galaxy/tours/_schema.py b/lib/galaxy/tours/_schema.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..bf5d1274fef8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/galaxy/tours/_schema.py
@@ -0,0 +1,82 @@
+from typing import (
+    List,
+    Optional,
+)
+
+from pydantic import BaseModel, Field
+
+
+class TourCore(BaseModel):
+    name: str = Field(
+        title='Name',
+        description='Name of tour'
+    )
+    description: str = Field(
+        title='Description',
+        description='Tour description'
+    )
+    tags: List[str] = Field(
+        title='Tags',
+        description='Topic topic tags'
+    )
+
+
+class Tour(TourCore):
+    id: str = Field(
+        title='Identifier',
+        description='Tour identifier'
+    )
+
+
+class TourList(BaseModel):
+    __root__: List[Tour] = Field(
+        title='List of tours',
+        default=[]
+    )
+
+
+class TourStep(BaseModel):
+    title: Optional[str] = Field(
+        title='Title',
+        description='Title displayed in the header of the step container'
+    )
+    content: Optional[str] = Field(
+        title='Content',
+        description='Text shown to the user'
+    )
+    element: Optional[str] = Field(
+        title='Element',
+        description='JQuery selector for the element to be described/clicked'
+    )
+    placement: Optional[str] = Field(
+        title='Placement',
+        description='Placement of the text box relative to the selected element'
+    )
+    preclick: Optional[list] = Field(
+        title='Pre-click',
+        description='Elements that receive a click() event before the step is shown'
+    )
+    postclick: Optional[list] = Field(
+        title='Post-click',
+        description='Elements that receive a click() event after the step is shown'
+    )
+    textinsert: Optional[str] = Field(
+        title='Text-insert',
+        description='Text to insert if element is a text box (e.g. tool search or upload)'
+    )
+    backdrop: Optional[bool] = Field(
+        title='Backdrop',
+        description=('Show a dark backdrop behind the popover and its element,'
+            'highlighting the current step')
+    )
+
+
+class TourDetails(TourCore):
+    title_default: Optional[str] = Field(
+        title='Default title',
+        description='Default title for each step'
+    )
+    steps: List[TourStep] = Field(
+        title='Steps',
+        description='Tour steps'
+    )
diff --git a/lib/galaxy/webapps/galaxy/api/tours.py b/lib/galaxy/webapps/galaxy/api/tours.py
index 2837959644c4..fa0b126642cf 100644
--- a/lib/galaxy/webapps/galaxy/api/tours.py
+++ b/lib/galaxy/webapps/galaxy/api/tours.py
@@ -3,16 +3,56 @@
 """
 import logging
 
+from fastapi import Depends
+from fastapi_utils.cbv import cbv
+from fastapi_utils.inferring_router import InferringRouter as APIRouter
+
+from galaxy.tours import (
+    TourDetails,
+    TourList,
+    ToursRegistry,
+)
 from galaxy.web import (
     expose_api_anonymous_and_sessionless,
     legacy_expose_api,
     require_admin
 )
 from galaxy.webapps.base.controller import BaseAPIController
+from . import (
+    get_admin_user,
+    get_app,
+)
 
 log = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
 
+router = APIRouter(tags=['tours'])
+
+
+def get_tours_registry(app=Depends(get_app)) -> ToursRegistry:
+    return app.tour_registry
+
+
+@cbv(router)
+class FastAPITours:
+    registry: ToursRegistry = Depends(get_tours_registry)
+
+    @router.get('/api/tours')
+    def index(self) -> TourList:
+        """Return list of available tours."""
+        return self.registry.get_tours()
+
+    @router.get('/api/tours/{tour_id}')
+    def show(self, tour_id: str) -> TourDetails:
+        """Return a tour definition."""
+        return self.registry.tour_contents(tour_id)
+
+    @router.post('/api/tours/{tour_id}', dependencies=[Depends(get_admin_user)])
+    def update_tour(self, tour_id: str) -> TourDetails:
+        """Return a tour definition."""
+        return self.registry.load_tour(tour_id)
+
+
 class ToursController(BaseAPIController):
 
     def __init__(self, app):
@@ -24,7 +64,7 @@ def index(self, trans, **kwd):
         *GET /api/tours/
         Displays available tours
         """
-        return self.app.tour_registry.tours_by_id_with_description()
+        return self.app.tour_registry.get_tours()
 
     @expose_api_anonymous_and_sessionless
     def show(self, trans, tour_id, **kwd):
diff --git a/lib/galaxy/webapps/galaxy/fast_app.py b/lib/galaxy/webapps/galaxy/fast_app.py
index 64ad1e293296..069011c178d8 100644
--- a/lib/galaxy/webapps/galaxy/fast_app.py
+++ b/lib/galaxy/webapps/galaxy/fast_app.py
@@ -16,6 +16,10 @@
         "name": "licenses",
         "description": "Operations with [SPDX licenses](https://spdx.org/licenses/).",
     },
+    {
+        "name": "tours",
+        "description": "Operations with interactive tours.",
+    },
 ]
 
 
@@ -49,12 +53,14 @@ def initialize_fast_app(gx_app):
     from galaxy.webapps.galaxy.api import (
         job_lock,
         jobs,
+        licenses,
         roles,
-        licenses
+        tours,
     )
     app.include_router(jobs.router)
     app.include_router(job_lock.router)
-    app.include_router(roles.router)
     app.include_router(licenses.router)
+    app.include_router(roles.router)
+    app.include_router(tours.router)
     app.mount('/', wsgi_handler)
     return app
diff --git a/lib/galaxy_test/api/test_tours.py b/lib/galaxy_test/api/test_tours.py
index b15a1e714424..6c2ecde6836e 100644
--- a/lib/galaxy_test/api/test_tours.py
+++ b/lib/galaxy_test/api/test_tours.py
@@ -9,9 +9,20 @@ def test_index(self):
         tours = response.json()
         tour_keys = map(lambda t: t["id"], tours)
         assert "core.history" in tour_keys
+        for tour in tours:
+            self._assert_has_keys(tour, "id", "name", "description", "tags")
 
     def test_show(self):
         response = self._get("tours/core.history")
         self._assert_status_code_is(response, 200)
         tour = response.json()
+        self._assert_tour(tour)
+
+    def test_update(self):
+        response = self._post("tours/core.history", admin=True)
+        self._assert_status_code_is(response, 200)
+        tour = response.json()
+        self._assert_tour(tour)
+
+    def _assert_tour(self, tour):
         self._assert_has_keys(tour, "name", "description", "title_default", "steps")