oxford alumni travel programme 2012

www.alumni.ox.ac.uk/travel

Exclusive academic tours to every corner of the globe

www.alumni.ox.ac.uk/travel/

Exclusive academic tours to every corner of the globe

OXFORD ALUMNI TRAVEL PROGRAMME TRAVEL 20

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FOR A FULL ITINERARY PLEASE CONTACT THE TOUR OPERATOR: HURTIGRUTEN: +44 (0)20 88462633

FOR A FULL ITINERARY PLEASE CONTACT THE TOUR OPERATOR: HURTIGRUTEN: +44 (0)20 88462633

Kalaallit Nunaat is the Greenlandic name of the world’s biggest island. Meaning ‘land of the people,’ the name describes Greenland perfectly. MS Fram brings you not only close to the fantastic mountain formations, endemic wildlife and icebergs, but also to the welcoming people of Greenland.

Like no other polar destination, Greenland offers close interaction and unique cultural experiences together with breathtaking nature. The Inuit people’s heritage and fascinating way of life is best told by themselves and we will take you to the storytellers. MS Fram fully understands and appreciates the contact and cooperation that we have with the Greenlandic communities and settlements visited en route. In our opinion, sustainability is the only way to operate and the best way to ensure our customers get the best possible experience.

This expedition along Greenland’s west coast is a fascinating meeting with the Inuit culture and the stunning land they inhabit. Only accessible by boat, the small settlements give you a genuine picture of Greenlandic life. The spectacular scenery and Midnight Sun provide a stunning backdrop for the voyage.

*Book before 31 December 2011 to obtain an early bird discount.

DATE: 24 June – 1 JuLY 2012

NUMbER OF DAYS: 8

PRICE: from £4,487*

THE HEART OF GREENLAND

TRIP SCHOLAR: To be confirmed.

A round voyage from the cultural centre of bergen to Kirkenes and back again is the ultimate voyage with Hurtigruten. The complete voyage takes 12 days. If you travel with Hurtigruten, you will get the opportunity to see and experience the most fantastic nature and culture that Norway has to offer. You visit 34 ports and cover over 2500 nautical miles. On the southbound leg you have a second chance to catch the ports and experiences that you might have slept through as you headed north.

For over 100 years, Hurtigruten has been a part of daily life for the towns, villages and hamlets located along the shores and fjords of Norway’s dramatic coastline. As such, our captains know these waters and its people better than anyone else. And with their fleet of smaller, more intimate ships, they take you closer to the heart of Norwegian life by exploring narrower channels and stopping at the smaller ports that other larger cruise lines are simply unable to reach. Join us and get closer to the real Norway on this voyage of a lifetime.

NORwEGIAN CLASSIC ROUND VOYAGE:bERGEN – KIRKENES – bERGEN INCLUDING FLIGHTS FROM STANSTED

DATE: 10 – 21 SepTember 2012

NUMbER OF DAYS: 12

PRICE: from £1,539

TRIP SCHOLAR: professor neil Kent, Associate, Scott polar research Institute, university of Cambridge.Another trip scholar to be confirmed.

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Exclusive academic tours to every corner of the globe www.alumni.ox.ac.uk/travel 3

TRIP SCHOLAR: professor John Deathridge, former Organ Scholar at Lincoln College, Oxford, is the Immediate past president of the royal musical Association and one of the world’s foremost classical music

DATE: 7 – 14 June 2012

NUMbER OF DAYS: 8

PRICE: £1,950* from London

TRIP SCHOLAR: philip Kenrick, mA, Dphil (Oxon). philip read Classics at balliol College, Oxford, where he gained his doctorate on pottery from british excavations at benghazi.

DATE: 21 – 31 mAY 2012

NUMbER OF DAYS: 11


The landscape of Albania – rugged and mountainous – is steeped in history: the ancient Greeks planted colonies along the Mediterranean coast; Caesar and Pompey fought one another on what is now Albanian territory; and the Via Egnatia, so vital to the Romans, byzantines, Turks and even the Normans, straddled the country on its march from the Adriatic to Constantinople.

Our 11-day tour will visit Illyrian fortifications, Greek and Roman cities, medieval citadels, painted Orthodox churches and handsome mosques.

The archaeological site of Butrint on the Straits of Corfu will be one of the highlights of our journey: surrounded by a picturesque lagoon and encircled by thick forest, ancient Buthrotum owed its early fame to a 4th-century-BC sanctuary of Asclepius. Today the settlement presents a microcosm of almost 3,000 years of Mediterranean history, with a cornucopia of Hellenistic, Roman and Venetian remains. Gjirokastra and Berat are two further UNESCO World Heritage sites: the former is a rare example of a well-preserved Ottoman town, replete with a 13th-century citadel and hundreds of fortified kule – grand tower houses with ornately decorated interiors.

Berat, a charming hill-town of narrow, cobbled streets, was at the heart of the nationalist movement in the late 19th century as Albania strove for autonomy from the Ottoman empire. Much of Albania – including the transport system – remains undeveloped, and participants should expect some lengthy road journeys. Accommodation will generally be of three star quality, but hotels may vary in standard.

Price includes: accommodation based on sharing a twin or double room, return airfare from Gatwick with British Airways, full board, excursions and admissions.Not included: travel insurance, single room supplement £200.

Leipzig lies at the heart of the classical music tradition: wagner was born here, Mendelssohn died here and bach spent nearly three decades as Kapellmeister at the Thomaskirche. Leipzig’s St Thomas’s boys Choir is almost as old as the city itself and in 2012 will celebrate its 800th anniversary.

Our visit to the Bachfest will feature five festival concerts in Leipzig as well as Mozart’s Marriage of Figaro at Dresden’s exquisite Semper Opera and Hasse’s Cleofide in the Goethe Theatre in Bad Lauchstädt. We will also attend private recitals in Halle, the birthplace of Handel, and in the Leipzig museum devoted to Bach’s greatest champion, Mendelssohn.

Our tour opens with the St Matthew Passion in the august surroundings of the Thomaskirche, where the towering masterpiece was first performed four years after Bach’s arrival in Leipzig. The town’s Altes Rathaus, Nikolaikirche and Peterskirche also host concerts, with music ranging from Bach’s cantatas to Handel’s Alcina as well as pieces by less well-known composers, including Johann Kuhnau, Bach’s predecessor at the Thomaskirche.

“If you want something done properly, go to Dresden”, declared Bach. On our whole-day excursion to the capital of Saxony we will salute Dresden’s cultural inheritance with visits to the superbly reconstructed Frauenkirche and the Old Masters picture gallery in the Zwinger Palace. Our tour will pay tribute to the musical genius of Felix Mendelssohn, perhaps Bach’s greatest champion, and celebrate the recent bicentenary of Robert Schumann with an excursion to his birthplace in Zwickau. We will also hear a concert at the Markt Church in Halle where Handel learned to master the organ.

We stay in the centre of Leipzig at the Best Western Victors Residenz, situated a short walk from the Thomaskirche.

Price includes: accommodation based on sharing a twin or double room, return airfare from Heathrow with British Airways, all performances, breakfast, three lunches and four dinners, excursions and admissions. Not included: travel insurance, single room supplement £180.

‘Meanwhile on Mt Vesuvius broad sheets of fire and leaping flames blazed at several points, their bright glare emphasised by the darkness of night.’ So wrote Pliny of the sudden eruption of Vesuvius nearly 2,000 years ago. Pompeii and Herculaneum, destroyed yet preserved by the volcanic catastrophe, offer unrivalled insight into day-to-day life in the Roman empire. As well as investigating the ruins of Vesuvius’ twin victims - the one a vast commercial centre, the other a luxurious retreat - we will view the exceptional finds on display at the National Archaeological Museum in the ever-vibrant city of Naples.

Our comprehensive tour in and around the Bay of Naples will take in a wide array of further ancient treasures, such as the cave of the Sybil at Cumae and the famous Odysseus and Polyphemus sculptures at Bacoli. The vast villa complex at Oplontis will be a further highlight alongside Paestum, ‘inexpressibly grand’ according to Shelley.

Further along the coast, perched on a mountaintop overlooking the sea, lies Velia, one of the last Greek colonies in Italy. Built to a recognisable town plan, Velia’s remains include a complex dedicated to Asclepius and an acropolis now occupied by a medieval fortress.

We stay throughout at the first-class Miglio d’Oro Park Hotel, conveniently situated between Naples and the Sorrento Peninsula. This elegant hotel, surrounded by private parkland, is within walking distance of Herculaneum.

Price includes: accommodation based on sharing a twin or double room, return airfare from Gatwick with British Airways, breakfast and dinner, excursions and admissions.Not included: travel insurance, single room supplement £200.

TRIP SCHOLAR: professor Christopher Smith, mA (Hons), Dphil (Oxon), fSAS, frHistS, fSA, professor of Ancient History at the university of St Andrews and Director of the british School at rome, from where he takes a close interest in the Herculaneum Conservation project.

DATE: 25 februArY – 2 mArCH 2012

NUMbER OF DAYS: 7


bACH FESTIVAL IN LEIPZIGALbANIAPOMPEII wITH

HERCULANEUM

FOR A FULL ITINERARY PLEASE CONTACT THE TOUR OPERATOR: ACE: +44 (0) 1223 835055



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TRIP SCHOLAR: professor mark J Smith, professor of egyptology, university College Oxford, specialises in ptolemaic and roman egypt, as well as Coptic Christianity.

DATE: 15 – 31 mArCH 2012

NUMbER OF DAYS: 17


TRIP SCHOLAR: educated at the university of Cambridge, Chris Sharpe is an ecologist who has lived and worked in Latin America for over twenty years. He has led over 100 specialist wildlife tours throughout the region.

DATE: 2 – 13 mArCH 2012

NUMbER OF DAYS: 12


From the cafes of buenos Aires, where impassioned tango dancers swirl through the night, to the magnificent spectacle of imposing Iguazu Falls and the breathtaking wilderness of Patagonia, Argentina offers an experience unmatched anywhere in the world.

Our tour encompasses many of Argentina’s incredible contrasting highlights, starting with a tango show in sophisticated Buenos Aires and experiencing gaucho life on an estancia before flying up to see the 275 cataracts of the mighty Iguazu Falls as it gushes 90 metres over its horse-shoe shaped precipice.

We fly to Welsh-speaking Puerto Madryn to visit the wild isthmus of Peninsula Valdes, home to penguins, elephant seals, armidillos and killer whales, then finally south to Glacier National Park, where the magnificent Perito Moreno glacier calves vast ice sheets into the stunning lake landscape. Private extensions to Salta, Bariloche, Chile, and other destinations in South America can be arranged.

*Price per person including flight from London. Single supplement £650. (Can be joined without flight).

This version of our popular tour combines Egypt’s key experiences into one comprehensive journey: the Pyramids at Giza, a classic Nile cruise from Aswan to Luxor and a fascinating trip through the Oases of the western Desert to Siwa, and to Alexandria, Cleopatra’s Capital. Most excitingly, we shall join UK researchers as they excavate Tel el-Amarna, the fascinating New Kingdom capital of ancient Egypt built by ‘heretic’ Pharaoh Akhenaten. we shall explore Cairo and the Pyramids before travelling to Tel el-Amarna. we will have behind-the-scenes access to this religiously important city, with its Project Director on hand to bring the lives of its ancient Egyptian inhabitants to life. Further south lie the Temples of Luxor and Karnak and the Valley of the Kings with tombs filled with wealth beyond dreams.

Our cruise on the Nile is one of the most memorable ways of absorbing the atmosphere of ancient Egypt. Along its banks in Upper Egypt are the Philae Temple at Aswan, the Ptolemaic Temples of Horus at Kom Ombo and of Sobek and Horus the Elder at Edfu.

Another highlight is a unique excursion through the oases of the Great Sand Sea of the Western Desert to the oases of Khârga, Dakhla and Farafra, an experience of an unspoiled, Bedouin Egypt. And in the great oasis of Siwah we can stand at the site of the oracular temple of Amon and listen for a whispered deification as once did Alexander the Great.


“Scenes so lovely must have been gazed upon by angels in their flight” was David Livingstone’s thought upon being the first European to see Mosi-oa-Tunya (the Smoke that Thunders) which he named Victoria Falls. This special safari starts in Zambia then crosses into botswana, following in Livingstone’s footsteps.

We spend three nights exploring Victoria Falls, including a visit to the Falls, walking tours and a cruise on the mighty Zambezi looking for crocodiles, hippo and elephants and learning about Zambia’s cultural heritage with a visit to the Tokoleya people. We then cross the Zambezi from Zambia into Botswana.

We spend the next two nights at Chobe Safari Lodge next to Chobe National Park. Host to unique birdlife and game viewing, these waterways are best navigated by boat, where we look for birds such as the night herons, African skimmers and pygmy geese and large mammals such as large herds of elephant, hippo and buffalo.

Taking a scenic flight over the Chobe, we travel onwards to the glittering waters of the Okavango Delta, an amazing location for viewing the wildlife. The Moremi Reserve is rated as one of Africa’s finest game-viewing areas, offering sanctuary to abundant herds of elephant, sable, giraffe, tsessebe, lechwe, wildebeest, impala and waterbuck. Lion, leopard, cheetah, wild dog and hyena are also resident and the birdlife is superb.

TRIP SCHOLAR: Accompanied by an expert local guide throughout.


NUMbER OF DAYS: 11


ETERNAL EGYPT: THE NILE, wESTERN DESERT OASES & EXCAVATIONS AT AMARN

AMAZING ARGENTINA:bUENOS AIRES, IGUAZU FALLS AND PATAGONIAN GLACIERS

LIVINGSTONE’S FOOTSTEPS: VICTORIA FALLS, CHObE AND THE OKAVANGO DELTA

FOR A FULL ITINERARY PLEASE CONTACT THE TOUR OPERATOR: TEMPLE wORLD: +44 (0) 20 89404114



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Exclusive academic tours to every corner of the globe www.alumni.ox.ac.uk/travel

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TRIP SCHOLAR: Dr peter Sarris is university Senior Lecturer in Late roman, early medieval, and byzantine History and a fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge. His research interests include the social and economic context of Justinian’s reform programme and the rise of Islam.

DATE: 26 June – 6 JuLY 2012

NUMbER OF DAYS: 11


TRIP SCHOLAR: Dr David price Williams frGS directed an environmental research project in southern Africa for 15 years and has led many alumni trips to Southern Africa. He is a Life member of the Southern African Quaternary research Association (SASQuA).

DATE: 7 – 17 mAY 2012

NUMbER OF DAYS: 11


who are we and where do we come from? Despite the fact that the investigation is sown with political and cultural minefields and riven with dissent, it is also one of the most dynamic subjects in modern science. New discoveries, new methods of dating and new analytical techniques all add to the constantly changing aspects of this fascinating pursuit. Our tour of South Africa focuses on the physical evidence – the sites, the scholars and the skeletal remains which have shaped our understanding of our own evolution – and on the ecological framework in which these events took place. We shall visit Taung, from where the first hominid ever was described by Professor Raymond Dart in 1925, and Sterkfontein, the largest hominid site in the world, and talk to the team who are currently excavating here. We shall also see the original specimens on which the whole study is based.

In order to understand the context of these events we shall spend time in one of the finest game reserves in Southern Africa, at Madikwe on the Limpopo.

No prior knowledge of the subject is needed. The background will be filled in for you on the tour.


From Rose Macauly’s enchanting ‘Towers of Trebizond’ to the towering magnificence of Mount Ararat, Turkey’s highest peak at over 18,000 feet, Eastern Turkey, the true border between Europe and Asia, is alive with cultural echoes of the past. Spanning more than 3,000 years of tempestuous history, its landscapes and buildings are evocative of bygone ages.

Explore dramatic eastern Anatolia with its fertile plateau, stunning lakes and mountains and the architectural legacy of the Urartian, Armenian, Seljuk and Ottoman kingdoms.

Beginning in Trabzon on the Black Sea, we visit St Sophia with its fine Byzantine frescoes and the 4th century Sümela Monastery, clinging to sheer cliff face. We travel to Kars to visit the lost medieval city of Ani and drive along the Silk Road to the Ishak Pas, a palace with wonderful views of Mount Ararat.

We explore Seljuk tombs at Ahlat and visit picturesque Akdam Island with its Armenian Church of the Holy Cross. We finish with visits to the Urartian fortress built by the 9th-century-BC Urartian King Sarduri and the Kurdish castle of Hosap. The scenery of Lake Van, the largest sodium carbonate lake in the world, is breathtaking.

A post tour extension is available to Nemrut , famous for the incredible 2,000-year-old

Mausoleum of Antiochus of Commagene, with statues littered around the peak.


This special short tour of India and Jordan covers some of the finest monuments of these two countries, including two of the architectural wonders of the world – the Taj Mahal and the rock-cut city of Petra.

In Jordan we shall visit the partly reconstructed Roman city of Jerash before driving through the desert to Wadi Musa and the outstanding city of Petra, capital of the Nabateans in the 1st century BC and 1st century AD. We shall also visit Wadi Rum, stunning haunt of Lawrence of Arabia.

In India, the Mughal empire held sway in the 16th and 17th centuries, leaving, along with the Taj Mahal, enduring echoes such as the Red Fort at Agra. The later Rajput states are represented by a visit to Jaipur and the Palace of Deeg. Whether visiting for the first time or returning to gaze again at their grandeur, these sites never fail to impress on the traveller the glories of Asia’s past.

Private extensions to southern India and Sri Lanka can be arranged on request.


TRIP SCHOLAR: Dr maria misra, lecturer in modern history at the university of Oxford, specialises in politics, culture and economics of 19th century imperialism and colonialism. She is an expert on India and has written many books and articles on the subject.

DATE: 22 – 31 mArCH 2012

NUMbER OF DAYS: 10


EASTERN TURKEY:FORGOTTEN KINGDOMS AND LOST EMPIRES

THE CRADLE OF MANKIND: SOUTH AFRICA A STUDY OF HUMAN ANCESTRY wITH THE SCHOLARS AT THE CUTTING EDGE

PETRA AND THE TAJ MAHAL:MODERN wONDERS OF THE wORLD




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TRIP SCHOLAR: until recently, mark Hassall taught at the Institute of Archaeology, university of London. He has excavated at many sites, and was Assistant Director of the excavations at Knidos.He has led many alumni cruises to Turkey.


NUMbER OF DAYS: 15


TRIP SCHOLAR: Dr Ivan Scales is a fellow of St Catharine’s College, Cambridge. His phD was on landscape change in western madagascar. He has led alumni tours here before.

DATE: 26 AuGuST – 11 SepTember 2012

NUMbER OF DAYS: 17


Uninhabited by man until just 2,000 years ago, 80% of Madagascar’s species are endemic, making it possible to witness what happens when a large isolated island is left to evolve without big predators for 165 million years.

A host of protected reserves and rainforests contain amazingly diverse wildlife, from impish ring-tailed lemurs and ‘dancing’ sifakas to brightly-coloured chameleons, frogs and butterflies. Madagascar is one of the world’s ten biodiversity hotspots and six of the world’s eight species of Baobab tree (Adansonia) are endemic to the island.

Bird lovers will find a superb array in each new habitat, with the beautiful crested coua and impressive helmet vanga to be found amongst the six endemic families of birds and more than 70 species of singing birds and parrots.But it is the lemurs which really inspire the imagination. They are unique to Madagascar. There are over eighty species and sub-species, including the indris, largest of all the lemurs, whose singing haunts the tree tops; also the red-faced grey lemurs and the various bamboo lemurs.

For such a remote island, the accommodation isn’t at all bad, and the food is excellent, recalling its original French influence.


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. Mark will share with us his first-hand knowledge of ancient Knidos – set majestically tier upon tier above its two harbours, its Temple of Aphrodite once housing Praxitales’ famous statue and its city-scape dominated by Sostratus’ famous colonnaded stoa.

Along the peninsula lies Triopium, and passing the Greek islands we find evidence of the Dorian settlement of Asia Minor at Kasara. Nearby is the well-preserved Hellenistic shore fort of Loryma, most probably built by the Rhodians to celebrate the lifting of the siege of Rhodes in 304 BC.

In eastern Caria on the sinuous Dalyan River lies the city of Caunos, with its complete theatre, while further upstream are the famous royal tombs, and further east are the remains of Lydae and Arymaxa overlooking the Bay of Fethiye.

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 with en-suite cabins and our own Turkish chef.


Travel the relaxing way through France, by classic hotel barge, in this case from the town of Dijon along the burgundy Canal to meet up with a small section of the River Saone, and then on to the Canal du Centre. whilst floating in comfort through the picturesque countryside, sample the various regions of French cuisine prepared on board by the excellent chefs, with the appropriate red and white wines to accompany your lunch and dinner, and each day take escorted visits to the medieval towns and villages of historic Northern burgundy.

We shall visit the magnificent Hotel Dieu in Beane, the finest example of Burgundian-Flemish architecture in existence. Also visit the medieval town of Chalon-Sur-Soane, the Chateau de Rully and the picturesque village of Chagny. All this is punctuated by visits to the fabulous vineyards of the Cote d’Or, such as Clos de Vougeot and Chateau Maguerite for a degustation of the local wines.

We have exclusive use of the hotel-barge Caprice, a charming vessel taking just 21 passengers in comfort, with private en-suite cabins, a large lounge with picture windows, dining room and sundeck. For the energetic, bicycles are carried on board for cycling along the pretty towpath or you can just relax and watch the bucolic scenery pass by.

*Price per person including flight from London. (Can be joined without train/flights). One single cabin available without supplement.

TRIP SCHOLAR: Dr peter Collins, a Senior research fellow at the university of Oxford, was cellarer of St edmund Hall for 20 years. He has a passion for burgundy and its wines and has led many of our tours in this area. He is familiar with many of the vineyards in the region.

DATE: 14 – 20 JuLY 2012

NUMbER OF DAYS: 7


THE TURqUOISE COAST: CRUISING THE SHORES OF ANCIENT CARIA

MAGICAL MADAGASCAR: THE ZOOLOGY OF A GONDwANA ISLAND

HEART OF bURGUNDY CRUISE: ARCHITECTURE AND wINES OF CENTRAL bURGUNDY

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Exclusive academic tours to every corner of the globe www.alumni.ox.ac.uk/travel


NUMbER OF DAYS: 15


TRIP SCHOLAR: professor David Walton, a practicing scientist with the british Antarctic Survey for 40 years. professor Walton has written and edited six books on research in Antarctica and is editor in chief of the journal Antarctic Science.

FIRE AND ICE:A VOYAGE FROM TIERRA DEL FUEGO TO ANTARCTICA

This unusual itinerary features Oman’s more remote gems as well as its well-known highlights.

We go in search of bottle-nosed dolphins in the stunningly isolated Musandam peninsula, known for its dramatic fjords. Flying to Muscat, we explore Grand Mosque and visit the historical souk and harbour at Muttrah. Turning towards the interior, we head for the verdant oasis of Nizwa, its massive 17th century fort dominating the town. Nearby is the traditional town of Hamra with its Ya’arubi mud-brick houses, Jabreen Castle and Oman’s oldest fort at Bahla. Then we spend an exciting night in Bedouin style at a desert camp amidst the dunes at Wahiba Sands, before returning to the coast and the town of Sur, famous for its dhows and the sea turtles which lay their eggs nearby.

Ending in Muscat, for those with more time there is a three night extension to Salalah, the land of frankincense.


TRIP SCHOLAR: professor James Allan, emeritus fellow of St Cross College and lecturer in Islamic Art and Archaeology, Oriental Institute, university of Oxford.

DATE: 9 – 20 OCTOber 2012

NUMbER OF DAYS: 12


OMAN:OASES, FORTS AND FJORDS

Experience first hand the astonishing ecology which contributed to Charles Darwin’s pivotal theory of evolution with this new version of our ever-popular itinerary.

The tour begins in the Andes, at the northern extent of the Inca Empire in Quito, the first city to receive World Heritage status. We visit the plazas and churches of Quito’s Old City and Otovalo’s famous market.

In the Galápagos, we have arranged an eight-day private cruise exclusively for Oxford and Cambridge alumni aboard Coral I, a cruiser with just 18 fully air-conditioned outside cabins, all with private facilities. She will visit key islands in the Galápagos to take in the astonishing bird life, iguanas and giant tortoises, as well as witnessing evolution in action on the islands

*Price per person including flight from London. Single supplement £1,950. (Can be joined without flight).

TRIP SCHOLAR: nick Davies, professor of behavioural ecology, university of Cambridge. professor Davies is an ornithologist and has accompanied many successful alumni tours.


NUMbER OF DAYS: 12


THE GALáPAGOS ISLANDS AND ECUADOR:ZOOLOGY, ECOLOGY AND ORNITHOLOGY OF THE PACIFIC

The fascination of Ethiopia lies in its ancient monasteries, rock-hewn churches and dramatic mountain scenery. Our visit will coincide with Meskel, a festival commemorating the discovery of the true cross, a piece of which is believed to be kept in Ethiopia.

Aksum was the seat of an empire that reached across the Red Sea to Arabia, traded with India and China, had its own alphabet and was one of the four great powers of the ancient world. We shall visit Gondar’s fascinating castles and the unique church of Debre Berhane Selassie. Then we will look for the gelada baboon in the beautiful Simien Mountains before visiting the legendary sources of the Blue Nile.

We conclude in Lalibela where, wreathed in mystery, the rock-cut churches of Ethiopia’s ‘New Jerusalem’ have been welcoming pilgrims for almost 1,000 years.


DATE: 25 SepTember – 7 OCTOber 2012

NUMbER OF DAYS: 13


TRIP SCHOLAR: professor David phillipson was professor of African Archaeology at the university of Cambridge and has directed major excavations at Aksum.

ANCIENT ETHIOPIA:THE EMPIRE OF AKSUM AND THE ROCK-CUT CHURCHES OF LALIbELA





we are delighted to offer our 2013 tour to the Antarctic Peninsula. The towering walls of ice and glistening glaciers of the world’s last untouched continent are awe-inspiring, whilst the abundant summer wildlife of whales, penguins, leopard seals and multitudinous birds contrast with the mesmerising, trackless landscape.

We fly to Tierra del Fuego to embark our expedition ship Antarctic Dream. With just 39 outside cabins, all with en-suite facilities, this comfortable ship has been selected because it can get to remote locations to land passengers for extended visits among the islands and continent of Antarctica. The cruise crosses the Drake Passage to the magnificent scenery of the South Shetlands and Antarctic Peninsula. Frequent landings enable the group to get close to penguin colonies. 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. The birdlife is superb with over 250 species.

*Price per person including flight from London. Single supplement £2,890. (Can be joined without flight).

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TRIP SCHOLAR: Zara fleming is a cultural historian specialising in Himalayan and South Asian history, art and culture. Since her first visit to Tibet in 1984, she has lived, worked and travelled extensively in the region. She has accompanied three very successful treks to nepal for Oxford alumni.

DATE: 12 – 26 AprIL 2012

2 – 16 OCTOber 2012

NUMbER OF DAYS: 15


A SHORT TREK IN THE HIMALAYAN MOUNTAINS OF NEPAL

TRIP SCHOLAR: Since the first Oxford university visit to Iran over ten years ago, mr Ali Sadrnia has accompanied many very successful visits to Iran. He is co-author of the book Iran: A Chronological History and is currently working on book whose working title is Iran: A Collection of Treasures. In 2011 he accompanied the very successful Oxford alumni tour to the Gardens of persia.

DATE: 28 AprIL – 12 mAY 2012

NUMbER OF DAYS: 15


TRIP SCHOLAR: Dr Shearer is an Islamic expert who is currently on secondment as the Sackler Scholar at the british museum. He has lectured and researched extensively on development and conflict archaeology. During the last decade he has conducted on site research at the minaret of Jam in Afghanistan, excavated at the city of nishapur in Iran and in the ferghana Valley of uzbekistan. In 2009 and 2011, he accompanied two very successful journeys to Central Asia and persia for Oxford alumni.

DATE: 3 – 20 AprIL 2012

NUMbER OF DAYS: 18


Travel on this unique itinerary and learn more of the history and culture of the region’s great kingdoms, whose magnificent civilizations have produced some of Asia’s most beautiful art and architecture.

Begin in Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan and travel to Samarkand. Visit the Registan, constructed over a period of two hundred years and described by Lord Curzon as ‘the noblest square in the world’. Drive to ‘Divine Bukhara’, a town of hundreds of mosques, madrassas and minarets all linked by crooked alleys which wind between the walls of clay-built houses. The centuries old activity of Muslim scientists, thinkers, architects and poets have endowed the city with such titles as Dome of Faith, Noble Bukhara and Blessed City. Across the Oxus River and the Karakum desert in Turkmenistan, lies the oasis city of Merv - now a UNESCO World Heritage site. In the 12th century this was the second most important city of Islam after Baghdad and today it offers a unique glimpse of five different walled cities. Cross into Iran and travel to Shiraz, famous for its poets and exquisite gardens. In the 18th century the Qashqai descendants of the Seljuks, planted cypress, pine and orange trees and helped the city gain its various names from City of Roses to City of Love and City of Gardens. At this time of year, the scent of orange blossom fills the air. Nearby is the ancient ceremonial capital of Persepolis built by Darius the Great and now one of the world’s most inspiring archaeological sites. The journey finishes amidst the splendour and beauty of Isfahan whose buildings are some of the finest in the Islamic world.

It is an illuminating experience to visit some of the oldest gardens and palaces in the world. In fact the Persian word pairidaeza meaning ‘a wall around’ was translated by the Greeks (who conquered Persia under Alexander the Great in 334 bC), as paradeisos and was later used to describe the Garden of Eden in the Greek translation of the bible. Meant as an escape from the stark realities of desert life, Persian gardens and palaces are often secreted away behind high brick walls and gates. They have, throughout history, influenced building and garden design throughout the Islamic and non Islamic world. The journey begins in the town of Kerman in southeast Iran. It is a town of citrus and pomegranate orchards. Discover the beautiful 19th century gardens just south of the town at Mahan and nearby, the tomb of a sufi saint and poet, set against a spectacular back drop of snow capped mountains. Enjoy a wonderful drive through orchards and pistachio estates to the delightful garden city of Shiraz with its glorious mirrored shrines.

Visit the ancient capital of Persepolis, one of the world’s most inspiring archaeological sites and the Palace of Pasargadae. This was the site of the first ‘chahar bagh’ (four fold) garden, created in 550 BC as a ‘paradise on earth’ by Cyrus the Great as an emblem of the world’s first true empire. After visiting the desert city of Yazd, home to Persia’s last Zoroastrian community discover the beauty and splendour of Isfahan. Explore this splendid 17th century capital whose buildings are some of the most exquisite in all Islam. The journey finishes in Tehran, Iran’s cultural, intellectual and political capital; beautifully situated in the foothills of the spectacular Alborz Mountains.

GARDENS AND PALACES OF PERSIA

A JOURNEY THROUGH CENTRAL ASIA AND PERSIA: SAMARKAND TO ISFAHAN

FOR A FULL ITINERARY PLEASE CONTACT THE TOUR OPERATOR: DISTANT HORIZONS: +44 (0) 151 6253425



Edging the utmost heights of the Himalayas, Nepal is one of the world’s most spectacular countries 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 the Indian subcontinent and the plateau of Tibet. The trip has been especially designed as a ‘first time’ trek and does not require any particularly high fitness levels.

The journey begins in Kathmandu with its bustling bazaars and exquisite temples. Continue by plane to Jomsom, the capital of the still semi-restricted district of Mustang which is notably more ethnically Tibetan – this is the starting point for the trek. Begin walking along the wind-swept alluvial river valley of the Kali Gandaki with its timeless Nepalese villages set against the magnificent backdrop of the soaring Annapurna peaks.

From Kagbeni, an old medieval fortress town, walk to the sacred, ancient site of Muktinath, which highlights a blend of animistic, Hindu and Buddhist beliefs, and the village of Lubra where the Bon religion is practised. Continue on to Marpha, one of the prettiest villages in the Himalayas, surrounded by apple and peach orchards. Nearby, in Tukche, an old Thakali trading town, there are sulphurous hot springs, ideal for soaking in after walking.

The trek finishes in the beautifully situated town of Pokhara with its patchwork rice terraces, citrus trees and bananas. The journey can be extended to include a three-day safari through the Royal Chitwan National Park, one of Asia’s great wilderness areas.

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TRIP SCHOLAR: Dr Hubertus Jahn lectures in east european history at Cambridge university where he is the Chair of the Committee for russian and east european History. He first travelled to the Caucasus in 1982 in the ‘dark’ days of the brezhnev era and since then he has travelled extensively in the region. Dr Jahn is married to a Georgian who until recently was a lecturer at the university of Georgia in Tbilisi.


NUMbER OF DAYS: 15


TRIP SCHOLAR: Dr Jamie Greenbaum is currently at beijing university where he is researching the history of early Chinese utopias and also a history of the early State of Yan. He has travelled widely in China and lectured on both Ancient and Contemporary China.

DATE: 19 AuGuST – 7 SepTember 2012

NUMbER OF DAYS: 19


The ancient Silk Road was actually a vast network of roads with a number of branches stretching westwards from Xi’an to Venice and Rome. Dr Greenbaum will show that the road was a mechanism not just for the trade of silk and other precious items, but also a crossroads for the expansion of religious ideas, arts and the exchange of opinions.

Begin in Beijing and continue on to Xi’an to learn more about the great 9th century Tang court, which opened its doors to the cultural and economic influences of Byzantium and Arabia.

At Dunhuang, in caves hewn over a millennium, discover one of the world’s richest treasure troves of Buddist art. Turfan was an important oasis town on the Silk Road and a jewel in the Buddhist crown until the 8th century when Islam spread from the West. The town, now Muslim, presents an interesting contrast of these two religious influences.

‘The Silk Road journey was truly memorable and it will take some time for the epic to sink in. Words can not express the debt of gratitude which we all felt for the way in which Jamie [Greenbaum] informed us, stimulated our thinking, entertained us and bubbled with enthusiasm.’

Arrive in Kashgar for the famous Sunday market where down the ages Eastern traders have rubbed shoulders with some of the most colourful figures in Central Asia. The market is still a thrilling experience. Travel north through the spectacular landscape of the Tien Shan mountains past herds of Bactrain camels and Tajik camping grounds into Kyrgystan, a small and beautiful country in the heart of Central Asia. Explore Issy Kul, the world’s second highest navigable lake surrounded by snow- capped peaks and verdant pastures.

From the legend of the Golden Fleece to the stories of ancient Ararat, Georgia and Armenia share turbulent histories, extraordinary cultural traditions and spectacularly beautiful landscapes.

This unique journey begins in Georgia, whose history has been profoundly affected by the country’s adoption of Christianity in the 4th century. For centuries, it stood as a key stop on the Silk Road – right on the border between Europe and Asia. The mosque, the synagogue, the Armenian and Roman Catholic churches mingle harmoniously with the splendid Georgian churches and architecture.

From Tbilisi explore the easternmost part of country – Kakheti – a province of Georgia rich in historic monuments and home to its greatest vineyards. Admire the white-walled, silver-domed Cathedral of Alaverdi with the foothills of the Caucasus rising in the distance. The ancient capital of Georgia, Mtskheta, is where Christianity was first adopted. The town and its historical sites are now listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site.

From Georgia head south into Armenia, stopping en route at the monastic complex of Haghbat, an excellent example of 10th century Armenian architecture. Spend three days in Yerevan, Armenia’s elegant capital, and visit the Matenadaran, the world’s largest collection of ancient manuscripts, including works by Aristotle. Enjoy excursions to Geghard, a 10th century monastery hewn out of the rocks, and the Urartu fortress where archaeological excavations have revealed a highly developed civilisation.

ANCIENT ROUTES OF THE CAUCASUS: GEORGIA AND ARMENIA

CROSSING THE ANCIENT SILK ROAD: CHINA AND CENTRAL ASIA




TRIP SCHOLAR: professor Alexei Leporc is Curator of Western european Art at the Hermitage and has accompanied several highly successful alumni visits to russia.

THE HEART OF RUSSIA: MOSCOw AND THE GOLDEN RING


NUMbER OF DAYS: 8

PRICE: TbC

The Golden Ring is the name given to a series of ancient and beautiful towns lying to the north and east of Moscow. Travel through these towns and experience the medieval Russian spirit reaching upward from mud to glory, shaped by centuries of conquest and threat. So very different to life in the country’s grand cities with their great wealth and great squalor.

The appeal and cultural supremacy of Moscow, however, cannot be underestimated. The city is home to the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour, the immense Red Square, the splendid twirled cupolas of St. Basil’s and The Kremlin, with it’s magical palace-fort of gilded domes and royal treasures in the Armoury Chamber. Beyond the streets, deep underground, is Moscow’s vast subterranean metro system - ‘the people’s palace’ with its unique mosaics, chandeliers and ornate sculptures.

Travelling into the heart of the Golden Ring offers a rich tapestry of Russian history woven in stone and wood. For centuries, in these towns, Russians looked over the battlements to hostile horizons, while within their walls, builders created churches, craftsmen adorned them with carvings and frescoes, ironworkers cast huge bells, and monks painted icons.

From the 12th century cathedral in Pereslavl-Zalessky, to the 15th century Cathedral of the Trinity in Suzdal’s open air museum. Troitse-Sergieva Lavra in Zagorsk, has for 500 years, been the most important centre of pilgrimage in Russia. These Russian towns offer unique insights into the exquisite treasures of Russian culture and architecture, but perhaps, more than anything else, they evoke the true spirit of this immense nation.

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TRIP SCHOLAR: Dr ramble is a lecturer in Himalayan Studies at the Oriental Institute of Oxford university. He lived in nepal for fifteen years working as an anthropologist and a naturalist. He has travelled extensively in the region and led a very successful visit for the Alumni to bhutan in 2009.


NUMbER OF DAYS: 16


TRIP SCHOLAR: Zara fleming is a cultural historian specialising in Himalayan and South Asian history, art and culture. Since her first visit to Tibet in 1984, she has lived, worked and travelled extensively in the region. She has accompanied three very successful journeys to Tibet and other regions of the Himalayas for Oxford alumni.

DATE: 17 OCTOber – 4 nOVember 2012

NUMbER OF DAYS: 19


The journey begins in a small backwater in the heart of Laos, at a confluence of the mighty Mekong River where the royal town of Luang Prabang remains one of Asia’s last unspoiled havens.

Take the beautiful northern road, through endless rice paddies and lush jungle to the misty mountains of the Hmong hill tribes whose settlements are perched precariously on high cliff faces. Here the party will enter China through a small ‘back door’ border crossing with the Himalayan foothills beyond. Yunnan Province (or ‘South of the Clouds’), is home to some of China’s most diverse variations in flora, fauna and ethnicity. The sleepy town of Jinghong resides on the banks of the Mekong and serves as a useful base from which to explore outlying Dai minority villages, ancient temples and botanical gardens. An incredible feat of engineering seems to almost levitate the newly opened highway to Kunming though the bamboo forests and the lush tea plantations of Pu’er. Visit the ancient towns of Dali and Lijiang with their colourful bustling markets left over from the Southern Silk Route. Here rolling terraced hills give way to jagged snow capped peaks where matriarchal tribes reside amongst the shadows of the sacred Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. From Tiger Leaping Gorge (the deepest ravine of its kind in the world), ascend into the Tibetan world of Shangri-La immortalised in James Hilton’s novel The Lost Horizon. Spend seven days on the Himalayan plateau in Tibet where the party will explore the traditions of China’s most famous minority group, in the medieval capital city of Lhasa and surrounding towns Gyantse and Shigatse. Then finally return to earth on the world’s newly opened and highest (Sino Tibet) railway.

Isolated by formidable mountain barriers, the peoples of Sikkim and bhutan have preserved a sophisticated, living medieval culture in the modern world. Travel through some of the world’s most magnificent scenery and explore these unique kingdoms. The journey begins in Kathmandu, where the snow-capped peaks of the Himalayas tower above the foothills encircling the Kathmandu Valley.

Enjoy a wonderful drive through terraced fields, tea estates, small towns and soothing green landscapes to Darjeeling – a jewel of a town and a welcome hill retreat from the steamy lowlands along the Bay of Bengal. Sikkim is a kingdom of relentlessly steep hills, knife-edged valleys and a stunning variety of plants and animals. The monasteries here are the repositories, not only of art treasures, but also of centuries of belief.

Enter Bhutan on a spectacular road where the sense of near-impregnability deepens as one drives to Thimpu, its capital, hemmed in by jagged, forbidding mountains. No bigger than Switzerland, it is one of the most beautiful and unspoilt countries in Asia and its architecture is stunning. The role of religion in Bhutan is crucial and the influence of red-robed lamas can be seen everywhere. Indeed the strict policy of seclusion has ensured that this culture of Tibetan Buddhism has been preserved in its purist form. “You have to understand” said a Jesuit priest who has lived in Bhutan for decades, “by and large most of the country still exists in the time of King Arthur”.

The journey finishes in Kolkata (formerly known as Calcutta). It is an intense, vital and crowded city where the grand old buildings of the Raj overlook narrow winding bazaars. It offers a stark contrast to the peace and serenity of Bhutan.

KINGDOMS IN THE SKY, NEPAL, SIKKIM AND bHUTAN

TRIbAL AND SACRED CHINA: A JOURNEY THOUGH LAOS, YUNNAN AND TIbET




TRIP SCHOLAR: Julian brown first travelled to burma in the early 1990’s when he was researching the ancient temples of Arakan. His current research at the School of Oriental and African Studies continues to be on Southeast art and sculpture. As well as lecturing in the uK and europe, he has accompanied several very successful journeys to burma.

DATE: 28 OCTOber – 11 nOVember 2012

NUMbER OF DAYS: 15


Accompanied by Julian brown, explore the ancient land of burma, now called Myanmar, one of the most beautiful and fascinating countries in Asia. Myanmar is the last of the truly magical destinations of the Orient, a glimpse of old Asia and the most devoutly buddhist nation on earth.

Begin the journey in Yangon, formerly called Rangoon, and explore this curiously Victorian city with its wide straight boulevards and majestic colonial facades. The former capital is dominated by the huge golden stupa of the Shwedagon Pagoda – Burma’s spiritual centre. It is a fascinating experience to visit the pagoda at dusk when thousands of pilgrims throng to this holiest of shrines.

Spend two nights exploring Inle Lake, beautifully situated amidst the Shan Mountains at over 1,000 metres above sea level. Travel on through lush countryside deep into the Shan states to the hill station of Kalaw and explore the sacred Buddhist caves at Pindaya and the fascinating hill tribe cultures of this mountainous and isolated region. Mandalay was Burma’s last royal capital and today it is the cultural heart of the country - a city of many characters with a romantic and evocative past.

Cruise along the mighty Irrawaddy River to the many shrines and pagodas of Sagaing and the huge ruined temple of Mingun. Further downstream is the ancient capital of Bagan. Across 25 square miles, stretching back from the Irrawaddy is a true wonder of the ancient world. Here stand hundreds of huge and glorious pagodas soaring towards the sky. Along with Angkor in Cambodia, Bagan is one of the most remarkable archaeological sites in Southeast Asia. In contrast to Angkor however, Bagan still receives few visitors and at sunset, one can watch, undisturbed, a spectacular vista of ethereal beauty where sky, river and temples blend as one.

bURMA: THE ART AND CULTURE OF THE GOLDEN LAND

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TRIP SCHOLAR: Dr Claire Oelrichs from the Save Indonesia’s endangered Species fund (SIeS).

DATE: 9 – 23 June 2012

NUMbER OF DAYS: 15


TRIP SCHOLAR: Jo Anne Van Tilburg, phD, frGS is considered to be the world’s foremost expert on the easter Island statues. Her work has been featured on bbC Horizon, at the royal Geographical Society and on American CbS television. She also wrote the biography of Katherine routledge Among Stone Giants: The Life of Katherine Routledge and her Remarkable Expedition to Easter Island. She has just received a grant from the Archaeological Institute of America to start work on a conservation project designed to help preserve the moai statues for future generations.

DATE: 1 – 13 nOVember 2012

NUMbER OF DAYS: 13


‘The stone giants, and the faithful dead over whom they watch, are never without music, as countless waves launch their strength against the pebbled shore.’ Katherine Routledge’s words capture the megalithic wonder of Rapa Nui, a world Heritage Site. This tour combines intimate biographical detail with indigenous art and the most recent archaeological discoveries to enliven Routledge’s legacy and personalise your visit to ‘the navel of the world.’

Katherine Routledge (Somerville 1895) was the first woman archaeologist in the Pacific. She initiated the first true survey of Easter Island and captured her experiences in the classic The Mystery of Easter Island: The Story of an Expedition in 1919, reprinted in 2005. Hundreds of the objects that she found are now in the Pitt Rivers Museum and most of her scientific conclusions are accepted to this day. Continuing this heritage is Jo Anne Van Tilberg.

This tour offers a unique and personal perspective on the island’s past and the opportunity to learn how archaeologists have measured, mapped and documented the statues and the quarries in which they were carved. It also offers an insider’s view of ongoing archaeological work and conservation efforts to preserve these treasures as ‘silent witness to the glory which has departed’ (Katherine Routledge).

Steppes Travel, in exclusive co-operation with the Save Indonesia’s Endangered Species (SIES), offers intrepid travellers, the opportunity to explore Indonesia’s rich wildlife in areas rarely seen by outsiders. From the rainforests in Sumatra where tigers prowl, to elephants and rhino sanctuaries in remote parks, on to the island of borneo and the fabled “Man of the Forest” to the land of dragons in Komodo, this tour is unlike any other. Our unique partnership with SIES allows us to camp in regions not open to conventional tourism, away from the crowds in areas of pristine wilderness. The tour also includes a contribution to SIES to allow them to continue their much-needed work.

On this unforgettable journey you will learn more about conserving the forests and wildlife of this fascinating country. Join in conservation discussions and meetings with local communities, explore majestic rainforests, bathe Sumatran elephants, discuss the issues of breeding the almost extinct Sumatran rhino and search Sumatran tigers in highly threatened corridors, with special local naturalists.

The trip is led by Dr Claire Oelrichs, a veterinary surgeon, conservationist and coordinator of the Ecolodges Indonesia Conservation Fund and the driving force behind SIES. Travelling regularly in Indonesia she works closely with the National Parks and the Guides Training Courses raising their awareness of protecting the wildlife and their habitat in emerging.


Join the author of The White Rock: An Exploration of the Inca Heartland and Cochineal Red: Travels through Ancient Peru on this in-depth journey through the Inca heartland of Cusco and the Sacred Valley, developed specially for the Oxford Alumni Travel Programme. Travel to rarely-visited ruins with spectacular views and learn about the fascinating history and amazing culture of the Inca civilisation.

This trip takes in the annual Senor de Torrechayoc Festival in Urubamba, Sacred Valley, where the Senor’s cross is paraded as if it were an Inca Emperor, decorated with roses, oranges and pomegranates. Confetti is thrown and small Andean musicians (Conjuntos) fill the air with music. The town comes alive with dancers and street performers celebrating until the early hours, and it is a spectacular sight.

We will travel to rarely-visited ruins, enjoy spectacular views and learn about the fascinating history and amazing culture of the Inca civilisation. This exploration of the Sacred valley takes in sights often missed by those in a hurry to get to Machu Picchu. The combination of mainly downhill walks, artisan markets, varied sights and progression through Inca history provides the perfect build up for our journey to Machu Picchu and beyond. Following a thorough visit of this enigmatic site, we head further into the jungle by train and vehicle to the remote Vilcabamba region, home to many incredible Inca sites including the famous ‘White Rock’, from which Hugh’s book takes its name.

TRIP SCHOLAR: Hugh Thompson is an author, explorer and award-winning film-maker who believes strongly that the world is not as explored as we would like to suppose.

DATE: 19 mAY – 3 June 2012

NUMbER OF DAYS: 16


INDONESIA: IN SEARCH OF THE bIG FIVE

EASTER ISLAND: AMONG STONE GIANTSPERU: IN DEPTH INCA

FOR A FULL ITINERARY PLEASE CONTACT THE TOUR OPERATOR: STEPPES TRAVEL: +44 (0)1285 880890



OFFICIAL TOUR PARTNERAll tour operators featured in this brochure are official travel partners in the university ofOxford’s alumni travel programme. We have designed this logo for them, which you can look outfor in Oxford Today magazine travel advertisements and other publications. You can find moreinformation about each partner on our website at www.alumni.ox.ac.uk/travel

fOr furTHer DeTAILS AnD A fuLL ITInerArY fOr eACH TrIp, pLeASe COnTACT THe nAmeD TOur OperATOr, Or VISIT WWW.ALumnI.OX.AC.uK/TrAVeL

FOR A FULL ITINERARY PLEASE CONTACT THE TOUR OPERATOR: bETCHART EXPEDITIONS INC: 001 408 [email protected] www.solareclipsetrips.com

TRIP SCHOLAR: roger Davies is philip Wetton professor of Astrophysics, university of Oxford.

DATE: 18 – 25 mAY 2012

NUMbER OF DAYS: 8

PRICE: £2,240 including flights

Join us as we explore the spectacular Canyonlands in America and see the Annular Solar Eclipse over the Grand Canyon on 20 May 2012. Explore the ecological and geological significance of the Grand Canyon during walks along the South Rim, and enjoy the fantastic views.

Fly from London to Las Vegas, and explore three spectacular national parks – Zion, Bryce, and the Grand Canyon – including a half-day float trip on the quiet waters of the Colorado River.

See magnificent Antelope Canyon, and the fantastic dinosaur tracks at St George, just discovered in 2000. With leadership by excellent naturalists, explore these lands of exceptional scenic grandeur.

For those who wish, there is an optional extension in Las Vegas, staying at the Monte Carlo Las Vegas resort.

GRAND CANYON ANNULAR ECLIPSE

Grand Canyon Annular Solar Eclipse!

ZION • BRYCE • GRAND CANYONMay 18-25, 2012

ACE Study ToursBabraham, Cambridge CB22 3AP Tel: +44 (0)1223 835055 Email: [email protected] www.acestudytours.co.uk

betchart Expeditions Inc.17050 Montebello Road, Cupertino, CA 95014-5435 Tel: 001 408 2524910Email: [email protected] www.solareclipsetrips.com

Distant horizons13 Melloncroft Drive, Caldy, Wirral CH48 2JA Tel: +44 (0)151 6253425 Email: [email protected] www.distanthorizons.co.uk

Hurtigruten2nd Floor, Bedford House, 69-79 Fulham High Street, London, SW6 3JW Tel: +44(0)20 88462633 Email: [email protected] www.hurtigruten.co.uk

Steppes TravelTravel House, 51 Castle St, Cirencester, Gloucs GLD 1QD Tel: +44 (0)1285 880980 Email: [email protected] www.steppestravel.co.uk

Temple world (incorporating IMA Travel)13 The Avenue, Kew, Richmond, Surrey TW9 2AL Tel: +44 (0)20 89404114 Email: [email protected] www.templeworld.com/alumni

OUS is part of the University, a charity which has to protect its assets for the benefit of its mainstream charitable activities of teaching and research. It is with this in view that I must ask you to note that the trips in this brochure are offered, organised and run by the various commercial tour operators, and not by the Society or the University. Your attention is drawn to the operators’ membership of the various travel industry schemes. Responsibility for taking bookings and organising and running each trip rests with the operator, and any queries or concerns you may have about a trip should be addressed to the operator. You take part in a trip at your own risk. The operator is responsible for ensuring the safety and proper running of the trip. Therefore, except in the case of personal injury or death arising from the University’s negligence, the University does not accept any liability for any loss or damage, or for the cancellation of the event.

FOR A FULL ITINERARY PLEASE CONTACT THE TOUR OPERATOR: bETCHART EXPEDITIONS INC: 001 408 [email protected] www.solareclipsetrips.com

TRIP SCHOLAR: roger Davies is philip Wetton professor of Astrophysics, university of Oxford.

DATE: 5 – 16 nOVember 2012

NUMbER OF DAYS: 11

PRICE: £3,430 (excluding flights)

Explore Australia, from Sydney to the magnificent red centre of Ayer’s Rock, Alice Springs and Cairns in tropical queensland. Learn about Captain Cook’s exploration of Australia in 1770 (when he claimed the land for King George III and named it New South wales).

Fly to Cairns to see the Total Solar Eclipse from the oceanfront on 14 November 2012. This will be a unique opportunity to see the eclipse alongside Professor Davies.

See unique Australian wildlife at Taronga Park Zoo, and have an opportunity to participate in the Cairns Eclipse Festival. Enjoy an optional day on the Great Barrier Reef.

On the optional extension, fly to New Guinea and take a charter flight to Tufi, situated on an ocean headland in the southeast. Amazing cultural experiences, including a sing sing, await you, plus birds of paradise, orchids, snorkelling, kayaking, and more! The extension price is £1,195 (excluding flights).

AUSTRALIA TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSE(wITh OPTIOnAL nEw GUInEA ExTEnSIOn)

oxford alumni travel programme 2012

Documents

ultimate voyage

complete voyage

organ scholar

fascinating way of life

best way

norwegian classic round

bergen kirkenes bergen

heart of norwegian life