Upcoming Alumni Excursions
- Jump to information about:
- Poland—Featuring Krakow and Warsaw
- Alumni College in Italy: Sorrento and Orvieto
- Alumni Campus Abroad in Spain
- China Discovery
- Expedition to Antarctica Aboard the M.S. Le Diamant
- Discovery Down Under: New Zealand and Australia Aboard the Coral Princess
- Treasures of Southern Africa
- Treasures of Peru
- Japan: Town and Country Life
Poland—Featuring Krakow and Warsaw
July 6-14, 2008
Poland is a treasure trove for those seeking to discover a wealth of artistic, historic and natural wonders. Begin your travels in Krakow, a virtual open-air museum waiting to be explored. Its picturesque Market Square-miraculously spared during the destruction of both World Wars-has earned Krakow the designation as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Choose to visit either Auschwitz or Ojcow National Park.
Descend below the earth's surface to marvel at the crystalline sculptures and underground lakes of the Wieliczka Salt Mine. Journey to Warsaw, a capital collection of architectural splendors that now stand beautifully restored. Admire at its elegant squares and the magnificent houses along the Royal Route. Visit the well-preserved Hanseatic League town of Torun, the birthplace of Copernicus.
Alumni College in Italy: Sorrento and Orvieto
September 14-25, 2008
Explore the very best of Italy—its coast and its countryside—as you travel through two beautiful, yet very different, regions. You'll begin in Sorrento, where the scent of lemons from nearby lemon groves fills the air. A walking tour will be your introduction to this beautiful town. You'll stroll through fishing harbors, dine at charming cafes, and admire the view of limestone mountains in the distance. After stops on the Amalfi Coast, Pompeii, and the Isle of Capri, you'll arrive at the hilltop of Orvieto, free to roam the cobblestone streets and spend time exploring the magnificent cathedralsand other churches that make up the town. Sessions on Renaissance art and the history of the region, as well as a cooking demonstration, round out this magnificent trip.
$2,695 per person. Taxes additional. Based on double occupancy.
Alumni Campus Abroad in Spain
October 21-November 1, 2008
Discover the fashionable and modern city of Barcelona, the heart of Spain’s culturally distinct and artistically rich Catalonia region. Walk Las Ramblas before touring the prominent art nouveau architectural sites of Antoni Gaudí, including the famous La Sagrada Familia basilica. In Spain’s enchanting Pendes wine country, see the town of Montserrat and enjoy Cava, the Catalan sparkling wine, on a visit to a local vineyard. Then travel to the Basque country, with its unique language and culture, as you drive along the scenic route from Montserrat to seaside San Sebastian on the Bay of Biscay. Tour the city of Bilbao and explore its renowned Guggenheim Museum, designed by postmodern architect Frank Gehry. Finally, experience the sites of Pamplona, famous for the running of the bulls.
You will enjoy the no-worry convenience and unbeatable value of traveling with a group of like-minded alumni and friends who are focused on learning through discovery. Your carefully planned University of Rochester itinerary is designed so that you can enjoy the best a region has to offer. Our trips combine the convenience and unbeatable value of group travel with the flexibility to venture and explore on your own.
Approximately $2,895 per person, based on double occupancy plus taxes and airfare.
China Discovery
October 22-November 3, 2008
In Beijing, visit the ornate Forbidden City palace complex, the royal Summer Palace and massive Tiananmen Square. Admire beautiful countryside atop the Great Wall, and stroll sacred roads once used for imperial funerals at the Ming Tombs. See the impressive Temple of Heaven before traveling the narrow streets of old Beijing's Hutongs. Discover Xi'an, home to the Small Wild Goose Pagoda and famous Terra Cotta Warriors that guard Emperor Qin Shi Huangdi's tomb. Then, from Chongqing, cruise the Yangtze River to Fengdu. Sail through the magnificent Three Gorges region before disembarking in Yichang to explore Sanyou Cave. Finally, arrive in Shanghai, and experience the Bund, the prestigious Shanghai Museum and the serene Yuyuan Gardens. You will be joined on this tour by Eastman School of Music Professor Thomas Schumacher who performs and teaches regularly in China.
From $2,595 per person, based on double occupancy, plus taxes and airfare.
Expedition to Antarctica Aboard the M.S. Le Diamant
January 30-February 12, 2009
Following in the wake of intrepid explorers like Amundsen, Scott, and Shackleton, travel with the University of Rochester to Antarctica and experience the White Continent’s majestic coastal scenery and abundant wildlife. Spend two nights in the cosmopolitan Argentinean capital of Buenos Aires before boarding the exclusively chartered, deluxe M.S. Le Diamant in Ushuaia, and embarking on a journey to discover the Earth’s most pristine wilderness, where a vast array of wildlife flourishes, including millions of penguins, thousands of seals and whales, and countless seabirds. From spectacular volcanic topography and majestic glaciers to wildlife and the outposts of some of history’s great explorers, this itinerary has been carefully designed to provide you with the optimal Antarctica experience. Throughout the program, an expert team of naturalists will lead excursions on state-of-the-art Zodiacs and provide their knowledge and insight into this region’s unique ecosystem. Professor John Tarduno, an internationally recognized geophysicist and renowned teacher, will serve as your host and faculty lecturer. A special post-program option to majestic Iguazú Falls is also offered.
From approximately $5,295 to $10,695 per person, plus taxes and airfare, based on double occupancy.
Discovery Down Under: New Zealand and Australia Aboard the Coral Princess
February 22-March 7, 2009
This extraordinary 14-day journey provides a perfect introduction to the natural and cultural treasures of New Zealand and Australia. Admire the stunning beauty of New Zealand’s Southern Alps. While cruising from Townsville to Cairns, snorkel along the Great Barrier Reef and take in the breathtaking rainforests of Far North Queensland. This program also provides exclusive opportunities to gain personal insight into local cultures during dinner with a Christchurch family in their home and during a comprehensive introduction in Cairns to the Aborigines’ rich heritage. You may further enhance your journey by joining the two-night Pre-Program Option in the beautiful port of Auckland, New Zealand. University of Rochester Biology Professor H. Allen Orr and his wife Lynne Orr, a professor in the Department of Physics, will accompany you on this tour and provide additional learning opportunities.
From $3,995 per person, based on double occupancy, plus taxes and air.
Treasures of Southern Africa
May 12-25, 2009
Experience the diversity of South Africa. Tour cosmopolitan Cape Town, ascend flat-topped Table Mountain for breathtaking panoramic views and cruise to historic Robben Island, site of Nelson Mandela’s incarceration. Admire the natural beauty of Cape Point, and observe the African penguin colony at Boulders Beach. Then, transfer to Livingstone, Zambia, and marvel at the spectacular Victoria Falls. In Johannesburg, explore Soweto and the Apartheid Museum. Finally, enjoy a game viewing safari at Shishangeni in Kruger National Park, replete with zebras, giraffes, kudu and more. Optional excursions include a visit to the wine country towns of Dutch-colonial Stellenbosch and French-settled Franschhoek followed by a wine tasting; a sunset cruise on the Zambezi River; and Chobe National Park in Botswana, with its renowned African elephants. Nigel Maister, Artistic Director of the University of Rochester International Theatre Program and a native of South Africa, will accompany you on this tour.
From $5,795 per person, plus airfare and taxes, based on double occupancy.
Treasures of Peru
June 1-10, 2009
A land of archaeological, cultural, and natural treasures, Peru draws those eager to learn about the distant past and encounter a fascinating present. At its height, the Inca Empire comprised some six million people and was a highly developed civilization, as reflected by the magnificent remains of their cities and temples. Visit Machu Picchu–the stunning “Lost City of the Incas”–and stay overnight to take advantage of prime viewing opportunities before the crowds arrive. Still older civilizations such as the Moche existed centuries prior to the Inca. Explore the legacy of these ancient peoples as you view spectacular ruins and artifacts that still bear silent testimony to the power of their civilizations. From Cuzco and the Sacred Valley to Lake Titicaca, explore the many natural treasures of this intriguing country. Associate Professor of Religion Curt Cadorette, will accompany you on this tour and provide additional learning opportunities. Professor Cadorette leads the University’s study abroad program in Peru.
From approximately $2,995, plus taxes, based on double occupancy. Includes airfare.
Japan: Town and Country Life
September 5-14, 2009
On this delightful 10-day itinerary, immerse yourself in the timeless charm and beauty of the vibrant Japanese culture. This unique tour introduces you to the repository treasures of Kyoto and Nara and the spectacular beauty of the rural Noto Peninsula. Visit and immerse yourself in one of the few areas of Japan that has escaped the Westernization of the Japanese culture. This exclusive experience will introduce you in person to the farmers, fisherman, and monks of rural Japan. Features include a private home visit for ikebana flower arrangement presentation and tea ceremony, visit to a Sake Brewery with a brew master lecture and tasting, a visit to Sojiji Temple with a lecture in Zen meditation and specially prepared Zen Vegetarian meal with the monks, a visit to the Noto Nakajima Theater well known for Kabuki Theater, visit to a rice farm where the owner lectures on rice cultivation, and a unique farewell dinner at a local fishing village where you will experience a Taiko Drum performance.
Approximately $3,000 per person, based on double occupancy, plus taxes and air.