Upcoming Trips
2012
Burma
SOLD OUT!
An exclusive Bryn Mawr only departure
With Kristin Kelly '74
February 20, 2012 – March 4, 2012
Visiting Myanmar, the land of a million pagodas, is an opportunity to step back in time and experience the Southeast Asia of old. The country still moves via ox cart, and water buffalo plough the fields. It is common knowledge to all that the political situation in Burma is problematic, and that the military dictatorship there is one of the most repressive in the world. It is important for you to understand that our tour operator, Asia Transpacific Journeys, uses private tour operators and hotels, so that there is minimal benefit to the government. Aung San Suu Kyi, the Nobel Laureate and charismatic leader of the opposition party, has reversed her long held stance that travelers should boycott the country, and now believes that they may help bring about change.
This largely untouristed and undeveloped country offers so much—incredible archaeological treasures, great natural beauty, colorful bazaars, joyous religious festivals and a people who are among the kindest and loveliest to be found anywhere on Earth.
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PARADORES & POUSADAS
An exclusive Bryn Mawr only departure
With H. Rosi Song, Associate Professor of Spanish
March 12 - 26, 2012
You're invited to join the Bryn Mawr Alumnae Association with H. Rosi Song, Associate Professor of Spanish on a distinctive small group journey through the Iberian Peninsula to the intimate lodgings of Spain's paradores and Portugal's pousadas: medieval monasteries, historic fortresses, and stately palaces, each reflecting the spirit of its region. We will feel the spell of Iberia's rich Roman and Moorish past – and the pull of its vibrant contemporary life.
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Living Abroad – Cuenca, Ecuador
March 1- 31, 2012
Bryn Mawr Alumnae Travel, in partnership with AHI Travel, is pleased to present a new concept in educational travel: an authentic, extended introduction to living abroad.
This first-of-its-kind opportunity features the old-world beauty of Cuenca, Ecuador. One of South America's most alluring and captivating colonial cities, Cuenca is a UNESCO World Heritage site and has been anointed by "International Living Magazine" as "The World's Top Retirement Haven."
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Turkish Treasures - The Lost Worlds of Anatolia
An exclusive Bryn Mawr only departure
With Pamela Webb, MA '83, PhD '89
April 13 - April 27, 2012
It’s a land fashioned from a sultan’s dream, immortalized in myth and ennobled by antiquity. A crossroads of civilization…East and West…the ancient world and contemporary culture. From splendid Istanbul and stunning Mt. Nemrut to southeastern Turkey’s Bible Lands and Cappadocia’s surreal landscapes, this journey will give you an in-depth view of a fascinating nation.
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Normandy with Paris
Co-sponsored with Smith College
With Janie Vanpée, professor of French at Smith College
April 25 – May 4, 2012
The Normandy beaches are inextricably linked with World War II, but there is so much more to this pastoral region. Join us as we discover the charm of France’s Normandy region, a land of beautiful art, delicious cuisine, the famous Calvados brandy, picturesque villages and idyllic countryside. Your exploration begins in the delightful town of Honfleur, long a source of inspiration for artists, writers and musicians. Visit Monet’s house at Giverny and admire the peaceful gardens that featured so prominently in his paintings. Tour the delightful town of Rouen, and travel to Bayeux to see its renowned masterpiece, the Bayeux Tapestry. Visit Caen and its Caen Memorial, which honors all those who fought in the D-Day battle. Journey to Omaha Beach to learn about D-Day and its impact on World War II. Shifting light and shadows play over gently rolling hills and shores that have seen history change course.
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Venice & Venetian Outposts: A Magnificent Mediterranean Sea Voyage
With Music Performed at Historic Sites
with Dale Kinney, PhD, Professor Emerita, History of Art
May 5-17, 2012
Throughout the middle ages the art, architecture, music and science of Venice were influenced and enriched by the Byzantine and Islamic civilizations that flourished in the Aegean, Asia Minor and the Middle East. Beginning in Venice, we’ll explore the rich cultures.
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Changing Tides of History: Cruising the Baltic Sea
featuring President Mikhail Gorbachev and
President Lech Walesa
aboard the M.S. Diamant SOLD OUT!
June 4 - 15, 2012
Experience the cultural rebirth of the Baltic States and the magnificent imperial riches of St. Petersburg on this 10-night program, cruising for 8 nights under the spectacular "White Nights of Summer" aboard the exclusively chartered, M.S. Diamant. By special arrangement, enjoy a rare opportunity to hear enriching speeches by former President of the Soviet Union Mikhail Gorbachev and former President of Poland Lech Walesa. Spend one night in the cosmopolitan Swedish capital of Stockholm, then, in the tradition of ancient Viking mariners, sail across the Baltic Sea.
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Danube River
and the Habsburg Empire
aboard the Deluxe Amadeus Fleet
June 14 to 27, 2012
This exclusive 14-day journey through the heart of Central Europe features a seven-night cruise on the legendary Blue Danube aboard one of the deluxe vessels of the prestigious AMADEUS FLEET, followed by three nights in Prague and two nights in Kraków, Poland, in deluxe hotel accommodations. The carefully designed itinerary encompasses the former glorious realm of Habsburg Emperors, with visits to six countries and six UNESCO World Heritage sites. Specially arranged excursions include a private organ concert in Melk and a private music performance in Vienna. Cruise from Budapest, Hungary, to Passau, Germany, through the spectacular Wachau Valley. Extend your Habsburg experience with the Budapest Two-Night Pre-Program Option and the Warsaw Two-Night Post-Program Option.
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A Women’s Approach to the Roof of Africa
Trekking Mt. Kilimanjaro
with Safari extension: July 4 - 10, 2012
Co-sponsored with Smith and Mt. Holyoke Colleges
June 23 – July 5, 2012
At 19,340 feet, an air of mystique surrounds the volcanic rock and ice of Kilimanjaro. For hikers and trekkers living on the other side of the globe, Africa’s greatest mountain might seem like something out of a dream. Yet each year, it draws those who want to do more than dream. No matter your age or skill level, join us as we take to Kilmanjaro’s foothills and rainforests and, step by step, make your dream a reality.
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A Journey to the Arts: Santa Fe
An exclusive Bryn Mawr only departure
with Bethany Schneider, Associate Professor of English
July 25 - 29, 2012
Join us as we explore the wonders of Santa Fe; from the galleries of Canyon Road to the artistic heritage of Georgia O'Keeffe's Ghost Ranch and the exquisite beauty of the world famous Santa Fe Opera. We will be granted special access to many of the venues and enjoy private talks from gallery owners and museum curators.
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Alaska: Exploration Under the
Midnight Sun, A Family Friendly Adventure
An exclusive Bryn Mawr only departure
with Don Barber, Associate Professor of Geology
August 7 – 14, 2012
Join us in Alaska for a family friendly adventure. Explore many of Alaska's pristine wilderness areas on this comprehensive tour: explore the backcountry by foot during a guided trek through Chugach State Park; raft on the tranquil, turquoise waters of the Kenai River as we meander through the Chugach National Forest and Kenai National Wildlife Refuge; and encounter abundant marine wildlife and massive tidewater glaciers en route to our exclusive lodge destination within Kenai Fjords National Park.
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Waterways of Russia
Aboard the Exclusively Chartered Deluxe M.S. Volga Dream
Co-sponsored with Mt. Holyoke College
August 19-29, 2012
Join us as we enjoy time in Russia’s two great cultural capitals on this carefully crafted itinerary—spend one night aboard ship in the fabled city of Moscow, the political and commercial capital of the world’s largest country, see the world’s largest collection of Fabergé eggs, and spend two nights aboard ship in St. Petersburg, czar Peter the Great’s “window on the West,” with a special early-opening tour of the State Hermitage Museum. Cruise through the heartland of Mother Russia along scenic rivers, lakes and canals to tenth-century Uglich, medieval Yaroslavl, the 14th-century monastery of Goritsy and the legendary open-air museum of Kizhi Island, rustic remnants of Old Russia. This unique and always popular program will appeal not only to the first-time visitor to Russia, but also to the return visitor curious to see the astounding changes that have taken place in Russia’s two largest and most important cities. Our trip will be one the exclusively chartered, deluxe M.S. VOLGA DREAM, the premier ship cruising Russia’s waterways.
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A Voyage Along the Columbia & Snake Rivers: In The Wake of Lewis & Clark 
With Smith and Williams Colleges
Karen Merrill, Professor of History, Williams College
September 15 -21, 2012
The Corps of Discovery expedition, led by Lewis and Clark from 1804 to 1806, was a dramatic episode in American history. Conceived by Jefferson as more than a geographic exploration, it studied native cultures; collected specimens; and through maps, put form to what was terra incognita. Join us as we explore the Palouse River by Zodiac and kayak, see Native American petroglyphs, cruise eastern Washington’s wine country, and take a jet boat ride into Hells Canyon, the deepest gorge in North America.
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Shakespeare in Italy
An exclusive Bryn Mawr only departureWith Katherine Rowe, Professor of English
October 13 – 21, 2012
Renaissance Italy looms in the imagination of Shakespeare and his contemporaries. Nearly a third of Shakespeare’s plays and poems mention specific sites and events in the country, or adapt Italian sources and literary models. The cultural center of medieval Europe, inheritor of the great classical empires, hotbed of humanistic learning, and a prosperous player in the emerging maritime economy — Italy offered English writers the cultural model to admire, imitate, and seek to surpass. Modern Italy has returned the passion, making fictional Shakespearean settings into real pilgrimage sites. Amidst the glories of Italian humanist architecture and art, we will sample the magnificent results of this centuries-long artistic dialogue.
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Botswana: Desert Sunset and Delta Dawn
An exclusive Bryn Mawr only departure
November 2 - 11, 2012 From the vast Kalahari Desert to the fertile Okavango Delta, Botswana offers some of the most remote and unspoiled wilderness in Africa. On this exceptionally well-planned safari, you’ll travel by day in 4x4s and mokoros—traditional African canoes—in search of wildlife from hippos and crocodiles to wildebeests, giraffes, cheetahs, leopards, baboons, hyenas, and rhinos.
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Upper Amazon:
Exploring Peru’s Pacaya-Samiria Reserve
An exclusive Bryn Mawr only departure
with Maria Luisa Crawford, Professor Emeritus of Geology
November 24, 2012- December 3, 2012
Skim past massive lily pads, peer up at towering ceiba trees, go fishing for piranhas, and witness glorious sunsets on our journey to the headwaters of the mighty Amazon in the heart of Peru’s rain forest. Every day we slip through an intricate network of jungle waterways aboard motorized skiffs, spotting hundreds of bird species as well as sloths, tamarins and caimans on our journey through Peru’s upper Amazon. This immense seasonal flood forest is delimited by two rivers, which meet in the easternmost corner of the reserve to form the Amazon River. Over 60% of the birds in Peru reside in the reserve, while rare pink river dolphins swim its waters, and red howler monkeys swing through its jungle canopy. We’ll even get a chance to meet the native people – called ribereños – who rely on sustainable fishing, hunting and agriculture, just as their ancestors did.
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Vanishing China: Ancient Traditions and Scenic Wonders 
An exclusive Bryn Mawr only departurewith June Mei '66
November 27 - December 12, 2012
This Bryn Mawr Alumnae Association trip will bring us to places where many aspects of traditional life can still be experienced including Pingyao, Wenchuan, Huizhou Villages and Suzhou to name a few.
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Galapagos Islands & Andean Highland: A Family Friendly Adventure 
An exclusive Bryn Mawr only departureDecember 21 - 30, 2012
You and your children will experience the rich culture of the Andes and the amazing natural history of the Galapagos on this thrilling family adventure. Our journey begins north of Quito, in the Highlands of the Ecuadorian Andes. Here we stay in a hacienda that dates back to the early seventeenth century. Nestled in the scenic surrounds of the Andean Highlands, we will have plenty of time to soak in the breathtaking natural beauty of this area.
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2013
A Walk Among the Gorillas: An Adventure in Rwanda & Uganda
An exclusive Bryn Mawr only departureWith Michele Rasmussen, Dean of the Undergraduate College
January 3-12, 2013
Join fellow alumnae/i on this once-in-a-lifetime trip to see the last remaining apes in Rwanda and Uganda. Only 740 mountain gorillas still make their home in the primeval forests of central Africa. This trip enables you to intimately experience these animals in their natural habitat, while learning firsthand about the history and cultural heritage of these two fascinating countries.
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Copper Canyon & the Sea of Cortez
January, 2013
Treasures of Peru: With Machu Picchu & Lake Titicaca
An exclusive Bryn Mawr only departureMarch 11 - 21, 2013
A land of treasures archaeological, cultural and natural, Peru draws those eager to learn about the distant past- and encounter a fascinating present of colonial and indigenous influences. Our program takes in some of the country's highlights – Cuzco, Machu Picchu, and Kate Titicaca – we will marvel at the riches of an intriguing lad somewhat off the beaten path.
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Alumnae College Abroad: Undiscovered Italy - Polignano a Mare
An exclusive Bryn Mawr only departureApril 16 - 24, 2013
The Waterways & Canals of Holland & Belgium
April, 2013Culture & Adventure Connect in Papua New Guinea
June, 2013Cruising the Adriatic Sea:
Venice- Dalmatian Coast - Kotor - Dubrovnik 
June 20 - 28, 2013
Travel with us to Venice, Dalmatian Coast, Koto and Dubrovnik
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Discovering a North American Treasure: Voyage to the Great Lakes
July, 2013Kamchatka & the Russian Far East
An exclusive Bryn Mawr only departure
with Maria Luisa Crawford, Professor Emeritus of Geology
August 14 – 24, 2013
This uncommon journey focuses on Russia’s east coast and the wild Kamchatka Peninsula, a wide volcanic promontory thrusting upward from the Pacific Ring of Fire. Spend over a week exploring this spectacular region by cross-country vehicle and helicopter, meeting its diverse people en route.
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Legendary Turkey From Istanbul to the Turquoise Coast
An exclusive Bryn Mawr only departure
with Pamela Webb, MA '83, PhD '89
September 12 – 26, 2013
Exotic sights, scents and sounds reign in this fascinating land where Europe and Asia meet. From Istanbul, magnificent "Empress of the World," to ancient ruins, stunning landscapes, and the dramatic Turquoise Coast where we board privately chartered "gullet" yachts for a unique four-day voyage, Turkey engages and beguiles, offering us an unparalleled adventure.
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Village Life: Dordogne
With Catherine Lafarge, Professor Emeritus of French
September 19 - 27, 2013
ON THIS DELIGHTFUL NINE-DAY EXPLORATION, discover the treasures of the Dordogne River Valley— one of France's best-kept secrets. Experience the joys of life in the heart of southwestern France's Dordogne River Valley, a delightful region renowned for its stunning beauty, delectable cuisine, splendid castles and charming villages.
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Journey through Vietnam
An exclusive Bryn Mawr only departure
With an optional extension to Angkor Wat & Phnom Penh
Sharon Ullman, Professor of History
October 20 - November 4, 2013
This uncommon journey focuses on Russia’s east coast and the wild vietnam Peninsula, a wide volcanic promontory thrusting upward from the Pacific Ring of Fire. Spend over a week exploring this spectacular region by cross-country vehicle and helicopter, meeting its diverse people en route.
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Mystical India
November 28 - December 15, 2013
Mystical and spiritual, chaotic and confounding, India overflows with riches. While staying at wonderful hotels – almost all are Taj properties –we travel the classic Golden Triangle: bustling Delhi; Agra, home of the sublime Taj Mahal; and Jaipur, great city of the Rajput. In addition, we will search for the elusive Bengals and Ranthambore Tiger Preserve; admire Khajuroho’s ancient temples and absorb the holiness of Varanasi.
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Guatemala: Land of Eternal Springs
An exclusive Bryn Mawr only departure
with Maria Luisa Crawford, Professor Emeritus of Geology
November 12 – 22, 2013
Once a center of Maya civilization, Guatemala today is like a living museum bridging past and present; indigenous cultures and colonial traditions. On our comprehensive yet unhurried program we visit the amazing ruins at Tikal, small towns where Indian culture thrives, beautiful Lake Atitlan and magnificent colonial Antigua – revealing the many treasures of this proud nation.
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