alumni travel programme

Alumni Travel Programme

Unbound

www.alumni.cam.ac.uk/travel

Edition 2 / 2013

Alumni Relations Office

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Welcome to the second issue of Unbound, the Alumni Travel Programme listing of tours and journeys for 2013.

Key:

Europe 4 – 5

Pompeii and the Bay of NaplesIntroduction to RomeAlbania: Land of the EaglesWalking Istanbul

Europe 6 – 7

Polar Nights and Mystical Northern LightsArt Treasures of St PetersburgWhen Can Their Glory Fade?The Turquoise Coast

Europe 8 – 9

Provence and the CamargueCroatia’s Dalmatian Coast Bulgarian MonasteriesFrom Cracow to WarsawEaster Festival in SalzburgAmazing Anatolia

Africa 10

Egypt UncoveredNamibian LandscapesLast Kingdoms of Africa

Asia 11

A Short Trek in the Himalayan Mountains Along The Golden Road to SamarkandEnchanting Sri Lanka

Asia & South America 12

BurmaThe Galapagos Islands & Ecuador

Antarctica 13

Fire and Ice

South Asia 14

Singapore and Burma: Lands of Contrast

Full details of how to contact the operators and book a trip can be found on P15.

We were rewarded with a wonderful display of the Northern Lights…we will never forget that night: it was truly spectacular.

Polar Nights and Mystical Northern Lights, Hurtigruten 2011

D T P SDate Tour Operators Price ScholarsFront cover image:Bagan

Now in its 20th year, the Travel Programme offers a unique way of linking up with other Cambridge alumni and exploring the world in the company of University experts.

Our small group trips can include anything from an exclusive visit to a Cambridge archaeological dig in the Egyptian desert with the research leader on hand, to seeing the Galapagos Islands in the company of a leading Darwin expert or viewing the night skies over the Arctic Circle with a professor of astrophysics. Many of the trips are highly unusual; some are unique.

Destinations for 2013 include Burma, St Petersburg, Croatia, the Salzburg Festival, Central Asia, Sri Lanka and Antarctica. We are delighted to introduce two new travel operators with this brochure, Voyages to Antiquity and archaeology specialists Andante, adding to the very select group of expert operators with whom we have worked for many years. Itineraries are chosen with meticulous attention to detail and a great deal of local knowledge, and all trips benefit from the knowledge, insight and enthusiasm of an academic expert, greatly enriching each tour.

The trips are a wonderful way to connect back to Cambridge and to support the work of the University, as every booking results in a donation from our partner tour operators. We hope that within these pages you’ll find your journey of a lifetime.

Unbound

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Europe

Pompeii and the Bay of Naples– Shades of the RomansA haunting vision of ordinary Roman lives, caught at a moment of extraordinary disaster

Introduction to Rome – Private Visit to the Sistine ChapelThe eternal city at the heart of empire. Journey on foot through a panorama of Roman history

7 – 12 October 2013

Andante Travels / www.andantetravels.com/cambridge

£2,050 (Single supplement £330)

Henry Hurst is Emeritus Reader in Classics and a Fellow of Churchill College

Rome is one of the most charismatic and engaging of the great cities of the world, her monuments an omnipresent testament to a past in which she controlled an Empire reaching from Scotland to Syria. Surprisingly, this is also an intimate city - the historic centre is small, still centred on a core 2000 years old. It is easy to understand, based on the ancient layout, and it is all within comfortable walking distance of our central, family-run hotel, situated just behind the Pantheon. Exploring on foot, we journey through a panorama of Rome’s history, from some of the earliest monuments of the forum; to the introduction of Christianity and Rome’s transformation into a holy city and modern capital. Venturing outside Rome, we also visit Emperor Hadrian’s fantastically opulent villa at Tivoli, and the ancient harbour city of Ostia – home to some of the best-preserved Roman buildings anywhere in the world. For many, the crowning glory of this tour is the private evening visit to the Sistine Chapel. We enter the Chapel in the early evening, after the crowds depart, leaving our group free to contemplate Michelangelo’s soaring masterpiece in an atmosphere of calm and serenity – truly an unforgettable experience.

23 – 27 January 2013

Andante Travels / www.andantetravels.com/cambridge


Guide lecturers include Professor Andrew Wallace-Hadrill, Master of Sidney Sussex College and Director of the Herculaneum Conservation Project

This trip offers an intimate introduction to the lives of ordinary people caught up in an extraordinary disaster. Before the eruption of Vesuvius, Pompeii was a prosperous town of around 12,000 people. The catastrophic events of AD79 brought the life of the town (and the surrounding region) to an abrupt halt. Houses, private possessions, mortal remains were frozen in situ. In some cases, we even know the names and occupations of the individuals who walked these ancient streets, two millennia ago. Andante Travels is a company founded and run by archaeologists; we have been introducing small groups of like-minded individuals to Pompeii for over twenty years. This tour includes private entry to some of the best-preserved buildings in the city; behind-the-scenes access to conservation labs, and pre-booked entry to all sites. We also visit the smaller, exceptionally well-preserved town of Herculaneum and a magnificent Villa at Oplontis. Pompeii in January is haunting, empty of other tourists and (with any luck) bathed in bright winter sunshine. The tour is based in a well-loved, family-run hotel where a roaring fire and good Italian dinner await your return.

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About AndanteAndante Travels is widely regarded as Britain’s leading specialist in archaeological travel. Over the past 27 years they have taken thousands of guests all over the ancient world in the company of experts.

Albania – Land of the EaglesA small country coveted by her mighty neighbours - Greece and Rome. Glorious unspoilt landscapes, peerless classical ruins

Walking Istanbul – Wander the Byways of Old ConstantinopleOn foot through the past and present of this vibrant city, with the author of the Rough Guide

7 – 13 October 2013

Andante Travels/ www.andantetravels.com/cambridge


Terry Richardson is an author of the Rough Guides for Turkey and Istanbul. He lives and works in Turkey

A chance to escape the crowds around Istanbul’s major monuments and get to know the hidden corners and vibrant street life of this great city, whose history is so tightly bound-up with the development of both Eastern and Western civilisation. This tour has been expertly devised by a writer who has lived in Turkey for many years, and wrote the Rough Guide to Istanbul – Terry Richardson. For two days, we walk in the shadow of the great Theodosian Walls. Built in the early 5th century they run from the Sea of Marmara to the Golden Horn and have withstood the vicissitudes of time amazingly well, though few visitors take time to explore them today. Our route takes us through back streets and alleyways; past hidden mosques and churches, thriving market gardens and local bazaars. A further two days is spent meandering along the hilltops of the old city’s seldom-visited northwest quarter and, on the ‘European side’, the old Genoese colony of Galata. The tour is based in one wonderfully situated hotel set just off the main tourist area, right in the heart of old Sultanahmet with the Hippodrome, Topkapi Palace and the Grand Bazaar all within a few hundred metres. This is a small group tour, limited to 16 guests maximum.

19 – 27 April 2013

Andante Travels/ www.andantetravels.com/cambridge


Oliver Gilkes is a leading expert in Albanian archaeology and has led excavations at the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Butrint for many years.

Albania is like no other country in Europe – a beautiful and fascinating place, emerging from communist-imposed isolation, but still very much off the tourist trail. Caught between Greece and Rome, Albania was once home to classical cities which vied in splendour with those of her mighty neighbours. There is a wonderful sense of discovery about Albanian archaeology: this a place where pristine ruins really do still stand untouched, in splendid isolation, often amid meadows of wildflowers. Guide lecturer Oliver Gilkes has worked in Albania for many years and has witnessed the country’s exuberant post-communist transformation first-hand. Oliver’s experience, insight and expertise make him uniquely qualified to tell the story of Albania, both past and present. Andante has hand-picked an interesting mix of hotels (albeit from a fairly limited offering) and created a varied, expertly planned itinerary, introducing sites from many periods of Albania’s history. Highlights include the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Butrint, once a prosperous Roman town, with wonderful views across to Corfu, and the attractive medieval town of Berat – where Byzantine churches and Ottoman mosques jostle for space along the narrow streets.

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Europe

Polar Nights and Mystical Northern LightsJointly with University of Oxford

Art Treasures of St Petersburg

2 – 7 March 2013

Distant Horizons / www.distanthorizons.co.uk

£2,060 from London. Can be joined without flight

Professor Alexei Leporc, Curator of Western European Art at the Hermitage

The beautiful city of St Petersburg, often known as the ‘Venice of the North’, was founded by Peter the Great to demonstrate his wish that Russia was a major power with its roots firmly fixed in Europe. The visit has been specially planned for February when the snow makes everything picturesque and the city looks magnificent. The theatres are open, the vodka and furs are out and it’s cosy and warm inside the buildings. One can enjoy the city’s wonderful architecture and superb museums without the crowds later in the year. There will be two visits to the Hermitage with its hundreds of glittering, gilded rooms and its unrivalled collection of European and Russian art. Enjoy a day excursion to Tsarkoye Selo, the spectacular town of Imperial Palaces just outside St Petersburg, the Peter and Paul Fortress and Yussopev Palace at least as spectacular in its way as the Hermitage but on a smaller scale. For those who wish, the journey can be extended to include a four day visit to Russia’s traditional ‘Holy Mother’ – Moscow.

5 February – 10 February 2013 MS Polarlys 8 March – 13 March 2013 MS Nordkapp

Hurtigruten / www.hurtigruten.co.uk

From £1,529 for inside cabin per person including flights

Professor Roger Davies, Philip Wetton Professor of Astrophysics, University of Oxford (5 – 10 Feb); Dr Ian Willis (8 – 13 March), University Senior Lecturer, Scott Polar Research Institute, University of Cambridge

Our universe abounds with objects of spectacular beauty, some of which can be seen on this trip. Starting with a discussion of the aurorae and the other effects the sun can have on the earth, we will take a whistle-stop tour of the universe and explore the night sky, as well as looking at the effects of climate change on the landscape closer by. We hope to spend at least one session on deck at night exploring the heavens. The trip begins in Tromso, then journeys north to the North Cape and Kirkenes, before heading back south. The voyage includes full board, hotel stay in Tromso for one night at the start of the cruise and one at the end, excursion to the North Cape, Honningsvag, drinks reception on the first night on board and welcome and farewell group dinners, and the services of a dedicated tour manager. This is the sixth Cambridge and Oxford alumni tour with Hurtigruten, whose ships have been part of daily life on the Norwegian coast for more than 100 years.

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When Can Their Glory Fade? O’ The Wild Charge They MadeBlack Sea CruiseJointly with University of Oxford

The Turquoise Coast

Cruising the shores of Ancient Caria

7 – 21 September 2013

Temple World / www.templeworld.com

£2,950 from London. Single supplement on request Can be joined without flight

Professor Geoff Horrocks is Professor of Comparative Philology, Cambridge

Our favourite gulet itinerary cruises the azure waters of Ancient Caria, Turkey, where the scenery and sea views are surpassed only by the magnificence of the ruined cities. We set off in the shadow of the crusader castle at Bodrum, and cruise to classical Knidos, set majestically above its two harbours, its Temple of Aphrodite once housing Praxitales’ famous statue. We find further evidence of the Dorian settlement of Asia Minor at Kasara. In eastern Caria we visit the city of Caunos, with its famous royal tombs carved out of the rock face. Beyond, the haunting ruins of Lydae and Arymaxa overlook the Bay of Fethiye, offering outstanding views. Many previously un-noted Byzantine remains, especially those on Gemiler, tell of the birth of the early Christian Church and its final demise under the advance of Islam. As always we shall travel in comfort aboard classic Turkish yachts, each cabin with en-suite toilet and proper beds. Delicious Turkish cuisine is prepared by the on-board chef and there is plenty of time built in for relaxing and swimming in peaceful bays.

30 August – 12 September 2013

Voyages to Antiquity / www.voyagestoantiquity.com

From £2,645pp, including flights; £3,100 with single occupancy

Oswyn Murray was Fellow of Balliol College, Oxford for nearly 40 years. He is a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries and history editor of the Oxford History of the Classical World.

The Crimean War forms a central part of many people’s knowledge of the history of the Black Sea but there is so much more to the story of the area. No other city has played a more important role in the fortunes of the region than Istanbul and it is here that this journey begins. Aegean Odyssey, a beautiful small ship which carries an average of just 350 passengers, sails through the Bosphorus to the Turkish coast calling at Trabzon, founded in the 9th century BC, where there is a visit to the 4th century Sumela monastery high in the mountains. We then reach Batumi in Georgia, a city that has played host to the Greeks, Byzantines, Persians, Turks and Mongols. Next stop is the spa town of Sochi and then we cross to the port of Feodosiya and the splendid Genoese fortress at Sudak, the Russian imperial palaces of Yalta and Sevastopol. The ship will also call at the Ukrainian resort of Odessa - Catherine the Great’s St Petersburg of the South - and Nessebur in Bulgaria. The trip includes a 2-night stay in Istanbul, flights, all meals on board and wine or beer with dinner, shore excursions and all gratuities on board.

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Unbound / Edition 2 / 2013

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Europe


Provence and the CamargueLuxury barge cruise from Avignon to Aigues Mortes

From Cracow to WarsawTwo Polish capitals steeped in world history

Croatia’s Dalmatian Coast Exclusive yacht cruise from Split to Dubrovnik

Salzburg Easter Music FestivalWorld-class music in Mozart’s home town

Bulgarian MonasteriesHidden architectural gems and art treasures

Amazing AnatoliaCappadocia, the Hittite Empire and the enigmatic statues of Nemrut Dag

28 July – 3 August 2013


£2,680 from London. Single supplement on request.

Professor Rosamund McKitterick, Chair in Medieval History, University of Cambridge.

Meander along the Rhone River through the stunning scenery of the Provence and Languedoc-Roussillon regions in style and comfort. Starting in Avignon, we visit the Palais des Papes, a magnificent symbol of the church’s influence in the 14th century followed by a wine-tasting in Chateauneuf-du-pape. We also visit Le Pont Du Garde and the fortified village of Les Beaux de Provence, atop a rocky outcrop in the Alpilles. At Arles, see the superb Roman theatre and arena and the Romanesque Cathédrale St Trophîme with its renowned sculpture of the Last Supper. We end in the virtually intact medieval walled city of Aigues Mortes from which Louis IX launched the Seventh Crusade. We have exclusive use of Le Phénicien, a deluxe, air-conditioned hotel barge taking just 18 guests in comfort, with private ensuite cabins and an on board chef to prepare wonderful Provençal cuisine complemented by local wines.

16 – 21 October 2013

Ace Cultural Tours / www.aceculturaltours.co.uk

£1,490 including flights from London. Single supplement £250

Daniel Snowman (Jesus 1958) is a Senior Research Fellow at the Institute of Historical Research (London University).

No two cities reflect the vicissitudes of Polish history more dramatically than Cracow, with its mediaeval centre, and Warsaw, restored brick-by-brick after the ravages of World War II. In the 500 years up to 1609, the Polish Kings were crowned and entombed in Cracow’s Gothic cathedral and made the Royal Castle their official residence. The mediaeval core of Cracow is adorned with the Cloth Hall and Church of St Mary, whilst the Czartoryski Museum houses such notable oeuvres as Leonardo’s Lady with the Ermine. We also explore the synagogues of the Kazimierz district and the Collegium Maius. Chunks of Communist-era architecture survive in Warsaw alongside the unique 13th to 18th century styles found in the capital’s Old Town. The city witnessed many of the 20th century’s significant turning points and events such as the signing of the Warsaw Pact.

30 June – 7 July 2013


£2,450 from London. Single supplement on request. Can be joined without flight

Dr Peter Sarris is Lecturer in Roman, Medieval and Byzantine History, Cambridge.

The hauntingly beautiful Dalmatian coast has been occupied by the Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, Ottomans and for almost 700 years by the Venetians. This incredible architectural, artistic and cultural legacy is explored in comfort as we travel aboard the yacht MS Barbara, chartered for our exclusive use and with just 16 ensuite cabins. In Split, we visit Diocletian’s imposing palace, then cruise to Hvar, the Greek colony of Pharos, where the churches house paintings by Tintoretto and Bellini. We spend a day on the island of Mljet in the stunning national park before cruising to Korcula, where there is a beautifully preserved medieval city. Our highlight will be Dubrovnik, where amongst other delights there is time to explore the Stradun, walk the city walls, see the Sponza Palace and visit the baroque Assumption Cathedral, which houses not only a polyptych by Titian but also a piece of the true cross.

27 March – 2 April 2013



Dr John Deathridge MA, DPhil (Oxon), King Edward Professor of Music at King’s College London

Appropriately for Wagner’s anniversary year, the Easter Festival features a new production of Richard Wagner’s Parsifal, conducted by Christian Thielemann, with Johan Botha in the lead role. Wolfgang Koch takes on two roles, Amfortas and Klingsor; mezzo-soprano Michaela Schuster interprets the role of Kundry and Stephen Milling appears as Gurnemanz. The 2013 concert programme focuses on three composers: Beethoven, Brahms and Henze. World-acclaimed pianists, Evgeny Kissin and Yefim Bronfman, perform Beethoven’s Piano Concertos Nos. 4 and 5. Henze’s new work Isoldes Tod will premiere and Christian Thielemann, Michael Volle (baritone) and Christiane Karg (soprano) will perform Brahms’ Ein deutsches Requiem. We will enjoy a private tour of original manuscripts in the Mozart archives and our excursions include the Salkammergut and Lake Chiemsee.

21 September – 5 October 2013



Alex Koller, PhD (Magdalene 1993) is an expert in art history and architecture who specialises in Slavonic studies.

Carpeted in thick forest and studded with snow-capped peaks, Bulgaria’s natural landscape is only surpassed by the wealth of its cultural inheritance. Our circuit will visit six UNESCO World Heritage sites, from the Madara Horseman, an 8th century rock relief carved into a towering cliff, to the 4th century BC Thracian tomb at Kazanlak with its Helenistic murals. Our tour focuses on Bulgaria’s flamboyantly decorated monasteries, the symbolic strongholds of the nation’s values and traditions. Surrounded by the Rhodope Mountains sits Bachkovo Monastery, distinguished by a two-storeyed ossuary adorned with intricate murals, unique in the eastern Orthodox world. Ivanovo is an extensive complex of rock-hewn churches, chapels, monasteries and cells first dug out by hermits in the 12th century. Vivid murals by Zahari Zograf, Bulgaria’s most famous icon painter, decorate Rila Monastery.

26 June – 7 July 2013



Dr David Price Williams, lecturer in Archaelogy for 37 years at UCL

The Hittites had one of the most powerful empires of the Bronze Age, rival to the Egyptians, and they have left impressive remains at their capital, Hattusas. Nearby are the sanctuary of Yazlikaya and the magnificent tombs at Alaça Hüyük. We shall also visit the Syro-Hittite sites of Aslantepe and Karatepe, the ruins of the walled city of King Azatiwatas with its famous Sphynx gate. In between the two areas and eras is the Göreme valley, a whimsical landscape of pink and white “fairy chimneys”, vast pinnacles of eroded volcanic ash. Here over 350 churches are hewn out of the tuff, some containing superb Byzantine frescoes. We also explore the subterranean “cities” of Kaymakli and Derinkuyu. We end with the Hierotheseion of Antiochos at Nemrut Dag, where the mountainside is littered with giant statues of lions, gods and the king of the Commagenes himself.

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Africa Asia

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Egypt UncoveredGiza and Saqqara, Siwa and the Desert Oases, Luxor, Abydos and Dendera

A Short Trek in the Himalayan Mountains of Nepal

Namibian LandscapesExploring and photographing the dunes, deserts, wildlife and rock art of Namibia

Golden Road to SamarkandA Journey through Central Asia

Last Kingdoms of AfricaRoyal Swaziland, Zululand battlefields, big five safari and ancient rock art

Enchanting Sri LankaAncient cities, colonial history and wonderful wildlife

12 – 25 March 2013


£2,450 from London. from London. Single supplement on request. Can be joined without flight

Professor Mark J Smith, Professor of Egyptology, University College Oxford

Designed to suit both first and second time visitors, this unusual tour goes off the beaten track to visit Egypt’s unsung gems. We start in Cairo, where alongside the Egyptian museum and Giza pyramids, we visit lesser-known Saqqara with its iconic Step Pyramid. Heading into the desert, we explore the Coptic monasteries at Wadi Natrun, some of the oldest in Christendom. We continue to Alexandria, once home to the Pharos lighthouse and now showcasing its spectacular new Biblioteca Alexandrina. We visit El Alamein, then turning in from the coast, we arrive at the great oasis of Siwa, famed for its temple of Amun where the oracle made Alexander the Great a god. Journey through the oases of Farafra, Dakhla and Kharga until we reach the Nile. End with visits to Luxor, Abydos and the amazingly well-preserved Temple of Hathor at Dendera. Optional 4-7 night Nile Cruises are available to add on from Luxor.

5 – 19 April 2013


£2,380 from London. Can be joined without flight.

Dr Charles Ramble was formerly a lecturer in Himalayan Studies at the University of Oxford.

Edging the utmost heights of the Himalayas, Nepal is a spectacular country whose history and culture are steeped in ancient customs and traditions. The itinerary involves an eight-day trek following one of the oldest trade routes between India and the Tibetan plateau. The days walking also provide a wonderful opportunity to explore the great cultural diversity of this region where Dr Ramble has carried out research. The journey has been designed as a ‘first time’ trek and does not require particularly high fitness levels. Along the trek the party will visit Jomsom, capital of the semi-restricted district of Mustang, Muktinath with its blend of animistic Hindu and Buddhist beliefs and Marpha, one of the prettiest villages in the Himalayas, surrounded by apple and peach orchards. The party will also explore the great cultural centres of Nepal at Kathmandu, Patan, Bhaktapur and Pokhara with their exquisite temples and bustling markets.

22 June – 3 July 2013


£4,195 from London. Single supplement on request. Can be joined without flight.

David Tolley, professional photographer and Tutor in Fine Art at the Ruskin School, University of Oxford

Accompanied by an expert local naturalist as well as by professional photographer and tutor David Tolley, this journey is for nature lovers and budding photography enthusiasts alike. The Namib Desert is home to the world’s largest sand dunes at Sossusvlei, and some of nature’s rarest plants. From Sesriem canyon to the eerily foggy coastline of the Atlantic, this landscape is a photographer’s dream. We travel up the starkly beautiful Skeleton Coast, where shipwrecks rust in the sand, to Damaraland, home to the uniquely adapted desert elephant. We see the amazing rock art at Twyfelfontein, and we stay at Etosha, where the shimmering salt pan is alive with mighty herds of game - zebra, rhino, elephant and giraffe. We end at Okonjima, where we have a chance to get up-close to cheetah and lion. With workshops such as landscape and long-lens photography given by David, this is a chance to take photographs which do justice to the incredible scenery and wildlife seen on this tour.

2 – 16 April 2013


£2,970 from London. Can be joined without flight.

Dr Iain Shearer is an Islamic scholar currently on secondment at the V&A

Few landmarks have tantalised the minds of travellers and artists more than the legendary cities of Central Asia. Originally caravanserais on the Golden Trade route across Central Asia, they developed into thriving centres of commerce and culture. Learn more of the region’s great kingdoms whose magnificent civilizations have produced some of Asia’s most beautiful art and architecture. The journey begins in Khiva whose many mosques and colleges have been rebuilt and where it is still possible to experience the timelessness of a Central Asian Caravan town. In Turkmenistan, visit the ancient ruins of Merv which in medieval times was the second most important city in Asia Minor after Bagdad. Cross the Oxus River to ‘Divine Bukhara’, a town of hundreds of mosques, madrassas and minarets. The journey finishes in Samarkand whose main square, the Registan was described by Lord Curzon as ‘the noblest square in the world’.

28 September – 10 October 2013



Dr David Price Williams FRGS was Swaziland’s Director of Antiquities and built the National Museum.

Africa’s kingdoms are vanishing. Catch a glimpse of this disappearing heritage in Swaziland, one of the world’s last absolute monarchies, where traditional culture, dress and song are still a way of life. Here we see dancing at the cultural village and visit the oldest mine in the world. We move on to KwaZulu Natal, once the hunting preserve of Zulu kings and now superb for Big 5 game viewing. On safari at Leopard Mountain Reserve we go in search of majestic elephant, rhino, lion and other plains game as well as elusive leopards. Here too is the richest diversity of birdlife anywhere south of the equator. We continue to Isandhlwana Lodge in the Zulu heartland. It was near here in 1879 that the Anglo Zulu war started and experts will bring the fabled battles of Rorkes Drift and Isandhlwana to life. Finally we travel to the spectacular scenery of the southern Drakensberg Range and visit the world famous prehistoric rock art sites left by the San, earliest inhabitants of this land.

2 – 15 June 2013



Professor Robin Coningham (King’s 1985), Chair in Archaeology, University of Durham

Sri Lanka, the ‘Enchanted Isle’ is an island of marvellous contrasts, and we have included as many highlights as possible whilst devoting extra time to the ancient civilizations of the cultural triangle. Here Professor Coningham can offer unique insights from his extensive experience excavating in this region. We start at the sacred city of Anuradhapura, and climb the awe-inspiring rock fortress at Sigiriya. At Dambulla, cave temples contain colourful ancient artwork. We explore Polonnaruwa, known for its beautiful reclining Buddha, before heading to Kandy, place of Sri Lankan pilgrimage. We travel by rail to the colonial tea plantations of Nuwara Eliya, then to Yala National Park, home to the highest density of leopards in the world. We end at the 17th century Dutch fort at Galle, with historic architecture, palm-fringed beaches and a cosmopolitan vibe. Stay in historic, stylish and unique places including Geoffrey Bawa hotels.

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Asia & South America

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Antarctica

22 February – 8 March 2013


£6950 from London (Amundson Cabin). Single supplement £2890 (Amundson Cabin) Single supplement on request. Can be joined without flight.

Professor David Walton is a practicing scientist with the British Antarctic Survey for 40 years. He has written and edited six books on research in Antarctica and is editor in chief of the journal Antarctic Science.

Antarctica represents one of the world’s last pristine wildernesses, a magical place barely touched by human presence. Heroic feats of endurance (this year marks the centenary of Scott’s fateful Antarctic expedition), intense scientific study, extraordinary scenery and superb wildlife combined with a hostile environment are all part of the allure of the White Continent. The summer wildlife of whales, penguins, leopard seals and multitudinous endemic birds is an amazing contrast to the towering walls of ice and glistening glaciers of this unique continent. Starting in Ushuaia, this cruise on the well-

regarded expedition ship M/V Antarctic Dream explores the South Shetland Islands and lands on the Antarctic Peninsula. With only 78 passengers in 39 outside cabins, all ensuite, this ship is able to land passengers for extensive visits on the islands and continent of Antarctica and get up close to wildlife, which larger ships are neither able nor licensed to do. This tour is a chance to understand the importance of one of the most remote parts of our planet in comfort and in the company of a world expert.

Fire and Ice A voyage from Tierra del Fuego to Antarctica

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www.alumni.cam.ac.uk/travel13

Burma

The art and culture of the Golden Land

The Galapagos Islands & EcuadorThe zoology, ecology and ornithology of the Pacific

10 - 21 October 2013


£4,850 from London / Lower Cabin. Upper Cabin +£250 p.p. Single supplement on request. Can be joined without flight.

Professor John Parker was Director of the University Botanic Garden from 1996 to 2011. He is an expert in the life and work of the Garden’s founder and Charles Darwin’s mentor, Professor John Henslow.

Experience first hand the astonishing ecology which contributed to Charles Darwin’s pivotal theory of evolution. The tour begins in colonial Quito, the first city to receive World Heritage status. We visit Quito’s Old City and Otavalo’s famous market. In the Galapagos, we have arranged a week-long private cruise exclusively for Cambridge and Oxford alumni aboard CORAL I, a cruiser with just 18 fully air-conditioned outside cabins, all with private facilities. We have time to visit a cross-section of islands in the Galapagos where we will encounter its harsh and dynamic volcanic landscape and its fascinating flora. 500 species of “higher” plants are endemic and these together with endemic mosses, lichens and liverworts give the Galapagos its complex ecosystem. Living in this unique environment are an astonishing array of birds including all fifteen species of the famous Darwin’s finches, animals such as sea lions, iguanas and giant tortoises and colourful marine life including rays and reef sharks. You may get the chance to swim with sea lions, playful penguins or even dolphins, as they are unafraid of humans. Amazon pre-tour and Peru post-tour available.

22 January – 5 February 2013


£3,560 from London. Can be joined without flight

Professor Janice Stargardt is currently researching the history and archaeology of South East Asia at Cambridge. She is known for her discoveries of early historical sites in Burma.

Explore the ancient land of Burma, one of the most beautiful and fascinating countries in Asia. Burma is the last of the truly magical destinations of the Orient, a glimpse of old Asia and the most devoutly Buddhist nation on earth. The party of Aung Sang Suu Kyi – the National League for Democracy – are now encouraging informed and respectful visits to Burma. Begin the journey in Yangon (formerly Rangoon), and explore this curiously Victorian city with its wide straight boulevards and majestic colonial facades. Continue on to Inle Lake, beautifully situated amidst the Shan Mountains at over 1000 metres above sea level. Travel on through lush countryside to the ancient citadel of Sri Ksetra which has been the focus of much of Professor Stargardt’s research. Mandalay was Burma’s last royal capital with a romantic and evocative past. Today it is the cultural heart of the country and in its crowded streets, explore a city teeming with life. Not far away is the ancient capital of Bagan, spectacularly situated on the banks of the Irrawaddy River. It is a true wonder of the ancient world with its hundreds of huge and glorious pagodas soaring towards the sky.

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Unbound

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ACE Cultural Tours

The Granary, Bury Farm Bury Road, Stapleford Cambridge CB22 5BP

T +44 (0)1223 841055E [email protected] www.aceculturaltours.co.uk

Andante Travels

The Old Barn, Old Road, Alderbury, Salisbury, SP5 3AR

T +44 (0)1722 713800E [email protected] www.andantetravels.com/cambridge

Distant Horizons

13 Melloncroft Drive, CaldyWirral CH48 2JA

T +44 (0)151 6253425E [email protected] www.distanthorizons.co.uk

South Asia

15 February – 2 March 2013

Voyages to Antiquity / www.voyagestoantiquity.com

Price from £2,845 pp / £3,245 single occupancy

Guest lecturers include Major General Sir Michael Rose, formerly Commander of the UK Field Army and the UN Force in Bosnia; and Trevor Mostyn, a writer and journalist.

Few cities in Southeast Asia can boast Singapore’s fascinating cultural mix. Where else in the world can you dip into the cultures of China, India and Malaysia all in one day? Not only has Singapore’s history of migration left a rich cultural and architectural legacy that makes wandering the streets an absorbing delight, it has created one of the world’s great gastronomic capitals. Food is the national obsession - and it’s not difficult to see why. Sitting out under the stars at a bustling hawker center with a few bottles of Tiger beer and diving into an enormous array of Asian dishes is one of the iconic Singaporean experiences. It is also a place with a rich history. In 1818, Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles was determined that Great Britain should replace the Netherlands as the dominant power in the Malaysian archipelago and founded Singapore as a trading post in 1819.

From here it is on to Phuket in Thailand and the beautiful Phi Phi Islands, sailing on the 350-passenger Aegean Odyssey. And then to Burma: this is a land of incredible landscapes, some truly breathtaking man-made edifices, like the temples at Bagan or the shimmering golden Shwedagon, and a warm and friendly people. Your arrival is fittingly spectacular as the small size of our Aegean Odyssey ship, allows us to sail up the Yangon River to berth in the port of Yangon (Rangoon), the capital of Burma. The trip includes a 2-night stay in Singapore, flights and transfer aboard, all meals on board and wine or beer with dinner, shore excursions and all gratuities on board.

Singapore & BurmaLands of ContrastsJointly with University of Oxford

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For further information and to book

To find out more about a trip that interests you or to book, please contact the individual operator, either by email or phone. All the operator contact details are listed opposite, and they are all more than happy to provide further information to help you make your booking decision and to discuss whether a trip is right for you. More information about the Cambridge Alumni Travel Programme can be found at www.alumni.cam.ac.uk/travel, where you can search for a trip by destination, date or favourite trip scholar.

Important Note

All the trips in this brochure are run by tried and tested travel operator partners. The operators have sole responsibility for the trips and the University has no control over or responsibility for the operation of the tours. All queries about individual trips should be addressed to the operator concerned. The information provided in this brochure is for general information only; if you are interested in making a booking, please contact the travel operator directly.

What is it like to travel with us?

“The opportunity to take an informative and relaxed holiday in the intelligent company of other Cambridge alumni is a special treat and a reminder of our personal debt to the University.”

Galapagos Islands and EcuadorTemple World

“We had an excellent holiday and thoroughly enjoyed it all. Grant Truthe was an exceptional guide - very knowledgeable and always thoughtful and helpful.”

Footsteps of Livingstone Temple World

“Dr Shearer gave us impassioned overviews of the sites that clearly meant so much to him. The fact that this trip was perhaps life-changing owes much to his capacity to infuse life into the smallest bit of calligraphy as well as the most mesmerising dome.”

Central Asia Distant Horizons

Hurtigruten Ltd

Bedford House69 – 79 Fulham High StreetLondon SW6 3JW

T +44 (0)208 846 2633E [email protected] www.hurtigruten.co.uk

Temple World (incorporating IMA Travel)

13 The Avenue, Kew, Richmond, Surrey TW9 2AL

T +44 (0)208 940 4114E [email protected] www.templeworld.com

Voyages to Antiquity

8 South Parade, Oxford, OX27JL

T +44 (0)1865 302550E [email protected] www.voyagestoantiquity.com

Unbound / Edition 2 / 2013 www.alumni.cam.ac.uk/travel

Cambridge Alumni Relations OfficeUniversity of Cambridge1 QuaysideBridge StreetCambridge CB5 8AB

+44 (0)1223 332288

[email protected]

www.facebook.com/cambridgealumni

@CARO1209 / #camtravel

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alumni travel programme - unbound 2013

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