Mystical India
February 26-March 15, 2009
Trace India’s classic Golden Triangle, starting in bustling Delhi. Continue to legendary Jaipur, one of the great cities of the Rajput known for its pink sandstone buildings. Search for elusive Bengal tigers and other wildlife at Ranthambore National Park, once a royal hunting ground. Embark on an afternoon camel safari to meet the Meena tribespeople in Kalakho along the banks of glacial Madhosager Lake. Travel to Agra to visit the sublime Taj Mahal as well as Agra Fort and Fatehpur Sikri, all UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Visit the Hindu temples at Khajuraho. Witness Hindu pilgrims performing their rituals along the ghats (steps) leading to the Ganges River in the holy city of Varanasi.
Cost: From $5,095 with airfare included.

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Tours of China
In conjunction with the University of Chicago International Forum in Hong Kong, April 17–19, we are offering three different tours of China.

Classical Highlights of China
April 5-15, 2009
Join us on an exciting exploration of the Middle Kingdom. In Beijing we will explore the Forbidden City and Great Wall. The terra cotta warriors await us in Xian. We cruise down the Yangzi River to view the breathtaking Three Gorges and an engineering feat, the Three Gorges Dam construction site. Our last stop is Shanghai, China’s most European-influenced city, with its colonial buildings on the Bund, world-class museums, meticulous gardens, and bustling life along the Huangpu River.
Cost: $4,990 plus airfare.

China, the Sublime Beauty
April 20-26, 2009
Enjoy Guilin, famous for its spectacular karst limestone formations—vertical mountains thrust up from the seabed some 300 million years ago. Take a leisurely cruise down the picturesque Li River to arrive at Yangshuo, where you’ll explore quaint shops and restaurants and walk out into gorgeous agricultural valleys surrounded by the distant karst scenery. Continue your journey of natural beauty with an exploration of the life of Longsheng, an agricultural region known for rice terraces cut into precipitous hills. This is also the homeland of the Yao and Zhuang minorities who both continue to don colorful dress and carry on ancient traditions.
Cost: $3,290 plus airfare.

Natural Wonders & Ancient Vilages
April 20-27, 2009
Marco Polo called Hangzhou paradise on earth. Start your extension tour in this most idyllic ancient city sitting on the beautiful West Lake. Then journey to Anhui province, the center of the Huizhou culture. This is also the locale of two UNESCO World Heritage Sites— the Hong and Xidi Villages, as well as the awe-inspiring Huang Mountains.
Cost: $3,590 plus airfare.

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Mediterranean Music Festival: Classical Music Performances From Venice to Barcelona
May 17–27, 2009
What could be more delightful than a springtime voyage that marries the joy of music with visits to some of the most splendid centers of Mediterranean history and culture? Aboard the 114-guest Corinthian II, all this and more await those who sail from the romantic waterways of Venice to the dynamic city of Barcelona. En route, a roster of distinguished musicians will regale travelers with concerts and recitals aboard ship as well as in exclusive venues ashore including Dubrovnik’s Sponza Palace and the private Palazzo Raffadali in Sicily. Among the highlights of our voyage are visits to Croatia’s magnificent coast; explorations of two of Italy’s most compelling and oftoverlooked cities, Palermo and Naples; the verdant island of Elba; and the timeless treasures of Provence.
Cost: From $7,995 plus airfare.

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Cruising the Baltic Sea and the Norwegian Fjords
May 26–June 7, 2009
In the tradition of ancient Viking mariners, sail across the Baltic Sea. Experience the beauty of Norway’s fjords, the cultural rebirth of the Baltic States, and the imperial riches of St. Petersburg. This voyage features a once in-a-lifetime opportunity to meet Nobel Laureate Lech Walesa. While cruising from the medieval port of Bergen, Norway, to Stockholm, Sweden, marvel at the fjords, discover the stunning architecture of Scandinavia’s most historic ports, and immerse yourself in the cultural renaissance of the recently liberated Baltic States. From the medieval treasures of Riga, Tallinn, and Gdánsk, to the unrivaled artistic heritage of St. Petersburg, delve into the region’s historical legacy. This custom itinerary includes a special tour of the world-acclaimed Hermitage Museum and features accommodations aboard the deluxe M.S. Le Diamant.
Cost: From $6,295 plus airfare.

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A Fortnight in Oxford
June 14–27, 2009
An annual tradition, this two-week program offers your choice of courses on history and literature taught by Oxford faculty (this year’s courses will be early 20th century European history and the Brontës) plus an exciting series of lectures and discussions led by Shakespeare scholar David Bevington, Department of English.
Sold Out. To add yourself to the waiting list, call 773-702-1730 or e-mail cguymon@uchicago.edu

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A Family Learning Adventure in Rome and Tuscany
June 20–28, 2009
Take in the wonders of Italy with your children and grandchildren on a trip designed for families. In Rome, see the Coliseum, the Forum, and the Vatican, and stroll the Piazza Navona and the Spanish Steps. In Tuscany, explore Florence’s medieval core, including the graceful Ponte Vecchio and the grand Duomo, and travel to Siena to learn about the excitement of the Palio. Children will bicycle the old city walls of Lucca and climb the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Stay five nights at a beautifully restored 15th-century villa, complete with swimming pool and lush grounds. We will have a cooking demonstration at a renowned Tuscan culinary academy.
Cost: $6,995/adult and $3,995/child plus airfare.

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Amalfi: The Divine Coast
July 22–30, 2009
During your stay in the seaside resort of Amalfi, venture out to see the town of Ravello and the dramatic cliffs of Positano. Explore the cliff-top village of Sorrento, overlooking the Bay of Naples. Discover an epoch suspended in time at the fabled ruins of Herculaneum and Pompeii. See the Temples of Hera and Athena at Paestum, and immerse yourself in the extraordinary beauty of Capri, the Isle of Dreams.
Cost: From $2,795 plus airfare.

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The Danube River: From Vienna to Istanbul
August 2–12, 2009
Sail with us from the baroque palaces and Gothic cathedrals of Habsburg Vienna to the domed mosques and soaring minarets of Ottoman Istanbul. Encounter the rich cultures of two crossroads of history, the Danube River Valley and the Black Sea. While cruising through the heart of Central Europe aboard the inviting M.S. Amadeus Princess, admire the splendid architecture of Budapest and marvel at such famous landmarks as the elegant Parliament building and the Church of St. Matthew. Journey to the fabled Hungarian puszta (plains) where traditions of horsemanship and intricate embroidery survive to this day, and discover the ancient Slavic culture of Belgrade. Conclude the cruise in Romania’s bustling capital of Bucharest, a city of broad boulevards and stately belle époque architecture, before proceeding by land to the palaces, mosques, and bazaars of Istanbul.
Cost: From $3,295 plus airfare.

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Israel
September 5–14, 2009
Admire the architectural beauty of Tel Aviv and Haifa. Explore Roman ruins at Caesarea and the well-preserved Crusader fort at Akko. Walk along the storied shores of the Sea of Galilee. Learn about the struggle for settlement near the contested Golan Heights. Stroll the winding lanes of Jerusalem. Descend into the spectacular Jordan Valley and marvel at the Dead Sea.
Cost: From $2,495 plus airfare.

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South African Odyssey
October 12–28, 2009
Our journey begins in Pretoria, the capital, and Soweto, where the seeds of South African freedom took root. Continue to Zimbabwe to experience one of the natural wonders of the world—Victoria Falls. Take a sunset cruise on the Zambezi River, tour the falls, and meet with children at a local school. Travel to Botswana for a full day where we enjoy a breathtaking game drive on a private reserve within the famous Chobe National Park, home of exceptional bird life and one of Africa’s largest elephant populations. Depart for Namibia and the vast Namib Desert with its towering sand dunes that are more than a thousand feet high. Conclude in Cape Town, visit the Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve, where the Atlantic and Indian Oceans meet; the Winelands, South Africa’s renowned wine-growing region; and Robben Island, where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned.
Cost: From $7,395 with airfare included.

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Day of the Dead in Oaxaca, Mexico
October 28–November 4, 2009
Join us on unique trip to Oaxaca, one of Mexico’s most beautiful cities. Experience the rituals and festivities of the Day of the Dead, a time when Mexicans honor the souls of their departed relatives with elaborately decorated grave sites and festive offerings of sweets and flowers. The city features museums and galleries, colonial churches, cobblestone streets, and charming squares. Watch local artisans produce handicrafts in their workshops as we explore the villages in the Valley of Oaxaca. Dine on Oaxacan cuisine and absorb the atmosphere of cafes and colorful open-air markets. Explore the archaeological sites of Monte Albán and Mitla, remnants of the early Zapotec and Mixtec peoples who inhabited this fertile region. Stay seven nights in the Hostal de la Noria, a colonial-style hotel in the heart of the city.
Cost: $3,195 plus airfare.

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Spain: Barcelona and San Sebastián
October 27 – November 6, 2009
Our tour of northern Spain will take us through Roman ruins to Gaud’Õs Modernist structures and GehryÕs Guggenheim, with stops along the way to see Pamplona and Monserrat. You will have the chance to view archeological finds, savor the cuisines of Catalonia and the Basque Region, and admire the masterworks of Picasso, Mir—, Dal’, and Goya.
Cost: From $3,095 plus airfare.

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Around The World by Private Jet
November 1–24, 2009
Travel by private jet with a team of world-class scholars (including our own Divinity scholar Martin Marty). Explore the world’s most treasured and legendary places. Climb the terraced steps and touch the seamless walls of the ancient Inca citadel, Machu Picchu. Feel the protective gaze of the Easter Island moai statues. Bask in the radiant beauty of lush, tropical Samoa. Immerse yourself in the underwater splendor of the Great Barrier Reef. Welcome the sun among Angkor Wat’s astoundingly beautiful temples and watch it set amid Africa’s greatest concentration of wildlife in Tanzania. Take in aweinspiring views of the Himalayas from Lhasa’s Potala Palace. Stand enthralled before the majesty of the Taj Mahal. Come face-to-face with the mysterious Sphinx in the company of the ancient Pyramids. Savor the exotic scents of spices and foods in the souks of Fez. Take in the natural and cultural wonders that have for ages inspired and captured the imagination of the world.
Cost: $56,950 with airfare included

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Our other trips include:

Costa Rica Family Adventure aboard the Pacific Explorer
July 2–11, 2009
Cost: From $5,490/adult and $4,990/child plus airfare.

Paris & the Founding Fathers
Fall 2009

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ALUMNI STUDY TRIPS
University of Chicago Alumni Association
5555 South Woodlawn Avenue
Chicago, IL 60637
773/702-2150 or 800/955-0065, alumni-ed@uchicago.edu