Travel for 2010
Oman & Dubai
January 10 - 23
Join the Alumnae & Alumni of Vassar College (AAVC) and Bryn Mawr Alumni Association, as we discover bustling, ancient bazaars, exquisite art and architecture and a magnificent landscape of deserts and clay-baked forts.
Our journey begins in Oman where evidence of the region’s long and dramatic history is still present in the people, their architecture and their way of life. Begin in Muscat, where the magnificent Grand Mosque hovers over those in prayer. Continue into the interior and discover Nizwa’s restored fort and the village of Al Hamra where little has changed over the years. More...
Bangladesh & India
January 10 - 25
Join alumnae from Vassar, Bryn Mawr, Smith, and Wellesley colleges as we connect with women in Bangladesh and India and explore women's issues that affect us all. Combine sightseeing with in-depth discussions and meetings with women in leadership positions in government, education, business, media, and the arts.
Your sightseeing will take you through the kaleidoscope of river life in Dhaka to the colonial streets of Calcutta. Nestled against the Arabian Sea is Bombay, or as it is now known, Mumbai. More...
EvergladesJanuary 17 - 23
The South Florida winter is like no other within the United States. It can almost feel like another country, a sunny paradise somehow miraculously attached to the less clement bulk of the northern states. But South Florida is much more than the beaches and amusement parks in the travel brochures; it is also home to the Everglades, a UNESCO World Heritage site (1979), and one of the most environmentally significant habitats in the world. More...
Cambodia & Vietnam -Waiting List
February 16 - 27
Immerse yourself in the allure of Indochina, while cruising in style along the fabled “Waterway of the Nine Dragons,” the Mekong River, aboard the deluxe, newly launched M.V. JAYAVARMAN.
Your journey culminates in the lush jungles of Cambodia amid the magnificent 12th-century Khmer temples and sculptures of the UNESCO World Heritage site of Angkor Wat, one of the world’s most sublime monuments. More...
Belize & Tikal, Guatemala
March 6 - 13
Join AAVC on a weeklong journey through Belize, a small, English-speaking country on the Caribbean Coast. This former British Colony has one of the lowest population densities in the world, leaving lots of room for pristine landscapes and natural habitat.
Our time will be divided between exploring the tropical rainforests and the Mayan ruins. We will also travel into Guatemala to the greatest of all the Maya ruins, Tikal, a UNESCO World Heritage site. More...
Provence
April 13 - 21
Discover the treasures of magical Provence- a land of colorful sunflowers and fields of lavender, lush vineyards and charming towns. Stroll through colorful markets where the stalls are brimming with local arts and crafts.
Immerse yourself in the artistic tradition of Provence while walking in the footsteps of van Gogh and Cezanne. Your base from which to explore this land of enchantment is Aix-en-Provence, a lovely town of impressive architecture, sun-drenched promenades and fashionable shops. More...
Cruising the Canary Islands
April 16 - 26
Journey along sea routes once plied by Roman galleys, Spanish explorers and Barbary pirates to the sun-washed Canary Islands, the fabled coast of Morocco, Spain's Moorish province of Andalusia and the fortress-like bastion of Gibraltar. Step back into the time of Christopher Columbus' famous voyage in historic Seville and overlook the rugged shores of the storied British Crown Colony of Gibraltar.
Throughout your voyage, travel aboard the elegant 113-cabin M.S. Le Diamant - an oceangoing vessel providing the deluxe amenities and superior standards offered on a larger ship with the charm and enhanced navigability of a yacht. More...
Gardens & Writers in the English Countryside
May 25 - June 1
This weeklong tour features the best of the British countryside - from the rolling hills of the Cotswolds to the scenic meadows of Dorset. The itinerary is an intriguing blend of scenery, literature, gardens, history, and art.
The English countryside is at its best in the springtime, and this carefully crafted tour is the perfect chance to experience its famous and hidden charms. More...
Discovering Eastern Europe
June 15 - July 1
Discover a beautiful and poignant part of the world and revel in the ample opportunity for enrichment, enlightenment, and enjoyment. Both leisurely and comprehensive, it provides a generous overview of five distinctly different and fascinating nations - Poland, Hungary, Austria, Slovakia and the Czech Republic.
Explore the enchanting city of Prague by visiting its acclaimed museums and architectural treasures. Spend a somber afternoon with visits to the haunting concentration camps of Auschwitz and Birkenau. Take a walking tour of Krakow, a major center of Polish culture and education. Explore Budapest, the "Paris of the East," with a visit to Matthias Church and a stroll around Fisherman's Bastion for outstanding views. More...
Land of the Ice Bears
July 23 - August 2
Join us for an Arctic expedition as we cruise under the midnight sun, aboard the fully stabilized ice-class expedition ship the National Geographic Explorer.
During summer, when the sun never sets, the tundra experiences a warm awakening. Experience nature in its purest form in the High Arctic. A remote archipelago situated just over 350 miles north of Norway's North Cape, Svalbard is a place of deep fjords, snow-capped mountains and massive sheets of ice. More...
Ecuador & the Galapagos Islands
August 3 - 10
Join us for an eye-opening journey to one of the world's most fascinating places: Ecuador, a hotbed of biodiversity that includes the Galapagos Islands, Andes Mountains and Amazon Rainforest.
Explore the Galapagos, the living laboratory that provided critical evidence for Charles Darwin's theory of evolution. You too will come face to face with 600-pound tortoises, exotic birds and some of the most unique creatures on the planet, 175 years after Darwin landed here and 150 years after he published "On the Origin of Species." Each island is another world of distinct geological features and endemic species. More...
Wild Alaska
August 10 - 17
Explore real Alaska on this amazing adventure to the Last Frontier. Trek under rainforest canopies in the mountain town of Girdwood.
Journey through the spectacular Chugach Mountains and learn about native flora and fauna. Dip your toes in the clear, turquoise waters of the famed Kenai River, and scan the river banks for abundant moose populations and the occasional black (or brown) bear fishing in the river. Experience the calmness and serenity only nature offers on this exclusive trip. More...
Italy's Lake Como
September 28 - October 4
Join us on Lake Como next fall for a special, up-close look at the villas, gardens, villages, and people that give the region its elan. The breathtaking combination of Mediterranean charm and Alpine majesty has long made Lake Como one of Europe's great retreats.
Special visits, combined with guided tours of Bellagio, the stunning Villa Balbianello, the terraced gardens and Neoclassical art of Villa Carlotta, and the historic buildings of old Como, promise to make this tour a memorable one. More...
Imperial Splendors of St. Petersburg
October 15 - 22
This exclusive tour of Peter the Great's beautiful 18th century city - on foot, by coach and by hydrofoil - includes extras like meetings with contemporary artists and scholars and special behind-the-scenes access to well-known sites.
Cruise graceful canals that give St. Petersburg the name, "Venice of the North". Visit Peter's summer palace, Peterhof, with its cascades of gravity-fed fountains; the Fortress of Peter and Paul, one of the first structures built in St. Petersburg; and Catherine's Palace, including the fully restored Amber Room with special access to its storage rooms. More...
Santa Fe
October 17 - 22
Join us for a rare look at Santa Fe, where Pueblo, Spanish, and Anglo traditions come alive in scholar-led excursions and special events not available elsewhere.
The Southwest is one of the country's most popular destinations, but casual visitors often miss the unique character of this extraordinary part of America, for centuries at the crossroads of three rich cultures. Even if you have visited Santa Fe and Taos before, this program will give you a new appreciation for this remarkable part of America. More...
London Theater Tour
October 17 - 23
Travel to cosmopolitan London for a backstage insight into theater. This program offers exceptional access to the best the world of theater has to offer.
Visit the new Saatchi Gallery situated in the refurbished former Duke of York’s Barracks in Chelsea. The gallery provides an innovative forum for contemporary art. Special programs and backstage tours are planned throughout the trip. More...
South Africa Revealed
November 10 - 21
Our journey begins in Cape Town, known as the Rainbow Nation because of its cultural, ethnic, and culinary diversity, and includes visits to the Southern tip of Africa - the Cape of Good Hope and the top of Table Mountain.
Travel to Johannesburg and experience the excitement of a vibrant African city. A visit to the Apartheid Museum will educate us on how this nation emerged from the dark days of forced segregation to being a modern nation where generations of ethnic groups live side-by-side in Soweto. More...