Oxford Alumni Travellers 2012: North American edition

Start the adventure today

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www.alumni.ox.ac.uk/travel

NORTH AMERICAN EDITION

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We are pleased to welcome our North American alumni to the Oxford Alumni Travellers program.Browse through this version of our digital brochure, designed especially for our North American alumni, to see the diverse range of educational tours we have on offer. Most of our tours are available to book in US Dollars and the price quoted* covers all accommodation, food, excursions and entrance fees whilst on the tour - everything except your flights. This gives you the flexibility to make your own travel arrangements but the reassurance that all other aspects will be planned for you so you can relax and enjoy the experience.

EDUCATIONAL TRAVELTravel in the company of an expert trip scholar who will offer interesting and unique insights into the destination.

LIKE-MINDED TRAVELLERSEnjoy travelling with other Oxford alumni. Group sizes are typically small, usually with a maximum of 20 participants.

UNIQUE TOURSTours are designed especially for alumni and include an extensive range of destinations and themes designed to satisfy the intellect, from cultural history to astronomy, from cruising Turkey’s turquoise coast to discovering Easter Island’s stone giants.

SUPPORT ALUMNI OUTREACHThe Alumni Office receives a contribution from the tour operators for each booking. The proceeds support alumni engagement activities for Oxford’s 200,000-strong alumni community.

2013 TRIPSLook out for our new 2013 Oxford Alumni Travellers brochure available this summer.

Exclusive academic tours to every corner of the globe

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CONTENTS

EUROPE 4

SOUTH AMERICA & ANTARCTICA 8

MIDDLE EAST 10

ASIA 10

AFRICA 14

TRIP SCHOLARS 15

TRAVEL PLANNER 16

TOUR OPERATORS 18

MAKING THE MOST OF THIS BROCHURE

You can see an overview of all of the trips in 2012 organised by date of departure on page 16. We’ve also grouped some of the trips by type, and flagged this throughout the brochure using the following key:

Cruise Wildlife

Culture Adventure

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

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TOUR OPERATOR: ACE

BACH FESTIVAL IN LEIPZIG

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.

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.

DATE: JUNE 7 –14 2012

TRIP SCHOLAR: Professor John Deathridge

PRICE: £1,950* from London

TOUR OPERATOR: HURTIGRUTEN

THE HEART OF GREENLAND

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.

DATE: JUNE 24 – JULY 1 2012

TRIP SCHOLAR: Professor Julian Dowdeswell

PRICE: £4,487 from London

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TRAVEL PLANNERCONTENTSWEBSITE

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TOUR OPERATOR:TEMPLE WORLD

EASTERN TURKEY: FORGOTTEN KINGDOMS AND LOST EMPIRES

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 Dagi famous for the incredible 2,000-year-old Mausoleum of Antiochus of Commagene, with statues littered around the peak.

DATE: JUNE 26 – JULY 6 2012

TRIP SCHOLAR: Dr Peter Sarris

PRICE: $4,310

WEBSITE CONTENTS TRAVEL PLANNER

TOUR OPERATOR: TEMPLE WORLD

HEART OF BURGUNDY CRUISE: ARCHITECTURE AND WINES OF CENTRAL BURGUNDY*

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.

*This trip is currently fully booked, however we will be running it again in 2013 so please contact the tour operator to register your interest.

DATE: JULY 14 – 20 2012

TRIP SCHOLAR: Dr Peter Collins

PRICE: $3,620








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EUROPE


THE TURQUOISE COAST: CRUISING THE SHORES OF ANCIENT CARIA

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.

DATE: SEPTEMBER 8 – 22 2012

TRIP SCHOLAR: Mark Hassall

PRICE: $4,160

TOUR OPERATOR: HURTIGRUTEN

NORWEGIAN CLASSIC ROUND VOYAGE: BERGEN – KIRKENES – BERGEN

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.

DATE: SEPTEMBER 10 –21 2012

TRIP SCHOLAR: Professor Nicholas Rodger

PRICE: £1,539 from Stansted








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TOUR OPERATOR: DISTANT HORIZONS

DATE: 12 – 27 SEPTEMBER 2012

TRIP SCHOLAR: Dr Hubertus Jahn

PRICE: £2,880* from London



THE HEART OF RUSSIA: MOSCOW AND THE GOLDEN RING

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.

DATE: SEPTEMBER 14 – 21 2012

TRIP SCHOLAR: Professor Alexei Leporc

PRICE: $3,610

ANCIENT ROUTES OF THE CAUCASUS: GEORGIA AND ARMENIA*

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.

*This trip is currently fully booked, however we will be running similar trips in 2013 so please contact the tour operator for further information and to register your interest.






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SOUTH AMERICA & ANTARCTICA


THE GALAPAGOS ISLANDS AND ECUADOR*

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


DATE: OCTOBER 7 – 18 2012

TRIP SCHOLAR: Professor Nick Davies

PRICE: $6,720

TOUR OPERATOR: STEPPES TRAVEL

PERU: IN-DEPTH INCA

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.

DATE: MAY 19 – JUNE 3 2012

TRIP SCHOLAR: Hugh Thompson

PRICE: $5,250








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

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.

DATE: FEBRUARY 22 – MARCH 8 2013

TRIP SCHOLAR: Professor David Walton

PRICE: $9,920


EASTER ISLAND: AMONG STONE GIANTS

‘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).

DATE: NOVEMBER 1 – 13 2012

TRIP SCHOLAR: Jo Anne Van Tilburg

PRICE: $4,250








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MIDDLE EAST & ASIA


OMAN: OASES, FORTS AND FJORDS

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

PRICE: $5,270


INDONESIA: IN SEARCH OF THE BIG FIVE

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.

DATE: JUNE 9 – 23 2012

TRIP SCHOLAR: Dr Claire Olerichs

PRICE: $4,095








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ASIA


CROSSING THE ANCIENT SILK ROAD: CHINA AND CENTRAL ASIA

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.

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.

DATE: AUGUST 19 – SEPTEMBER 7 2012

TRIP SCHOLAR: Dr Jamie Greenbaum

PRICE: $4,830


A SHORT TREK IN THE HIMALAYAN MOUNTAINS OF NEPAL

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.


TRIP SCHOLAR: Zara Fleming

PRICE: $2,870








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ASIA


KINGDOMS IN THE SKY: NEPAL, SIKKIM AND BHUTAN

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.


TRIP SCHOLAR: Dr Charles Ramble

PRICE: $4,930


TRIBAL AND SACRED CHINA: A JOURNEY THROUGH LAOS, YUNNAN AND TIBET*

The journey begins in a small backwater in the heart of Laos, 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.


DATE: OCTOBER 17 – NOVEMBER 4 2012

TRIP SCHOLAR: Zara Fleming

PRICE: $5,790








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BURMA: THE ART AND CULTURE OF THE GOLDEN LAND

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 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, 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 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. Along with Angkor in Cambodia, Bagan is one of the most remarkable archaeological sites in Southeast Asia, 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.


DATE: OCTOBER 28 – NOVEMBER 11 2012

TRIP SCHOLAR: Professor Janice Stargart

PRICE: $4,390





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AFRICA


MAGICAL MADAGASCAR: THE ZOOLOGY OF A GONDWANA ISLAND

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.

DATE: AUGUST 26 – SEPTEMBER 11 2012

TRIP SCHOLAR: Dr Ivan Scales

PRICE: $6,000


ANCIENT ETHIOPIA

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: SEPTEMBER 25 – OCTOBER 7 2012

TRIP SCHOLAR: Professor David Phillipson

PRICE: $4,810








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TRIP SCHOLARS

FEATURED SCHOLARS

Professor James Allen, Professor of Eastern Art, OxfordProfessor Allen was previously Keeper of Eastern Art at the Ashmolean Museum. His research interests include Islamic metalwork, ceramics and glass.

Dr Peter Collins, Senior Research Fellow in Mathematics, OxfordPeter Collins has 20 years experience as cellarer of St Edmund Hall and has led three previous alumni cruises in Burgundy and one in Alsace.

Professor John Deathridge, Professor of Music, King’s College LondonProfessor Deathridge is a former Organ Scholar of Lincoln College, Oxford, and one of the world’s foremost classical music experts.

Emeritus Professor Charles Ramble, Oriental Studies, OxfordCharles Ramble specialises in Himalayan anthropology and has spent more than 15 years living in Nepal working as an anthropologist and a naturalist.

Professor Nicholas Rodger, Senior Research Fellow, OxfordProfessor Rodger specialises in Viking maritime history, the Norse voyages and colonisation and the Second World War at sea.

Professor Julian Dowdeswell, Director of the Scott Polar Research Institute and Professor of Geography, Cambridge

Professor Neil Kent, Associate at the Scott Polar Research Institute

Dr Peter Sarris, University Serior Lecturer in History, Cambridge

Dr Ivan Scales, McGrath Lecturer in Human Geography, CambridgeEmeritus Professor David Philipson, African Archaeology, Cambridge

Professor Nick Davies, Professor of Behavioural Ecology, Cambridge

Hugh Thomson, author, explorer and award-winning film-maker

Claire Oelrichs, vet, conservationist and coordinator for the charity, Save Indonesian Endangered SpeciesDr Jaime Greenbaum, Visiting Fellow, Australian National University

Mark Hassall, Emeritus Reader in Archaeology, University College London

Professor Alexei Leporc, curator, State Hermitage Museum, Russia

Zara Fleming, art historian, lecturer and exhibition curator

Julian Brown, School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London

Jo Anne Van Tilburg, UCLA, archaeologist and director of the Easter Island Statue Project

Professor David Walton, a practicing scientist with the British Antarctic Survey for 40 years




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TRAVEL PLANNER

May 19 – Jun 3 2012 Peru

Jun 7-14 2012 Bach Festival in Leipzig

Jun 9-23 2012 Indonesia

Jun 24 - Jul 1 012 Greenland

Jun 26 – Jul 6 2012 Eastern Turkey

Jul 14-20 2012 Heart of Burgundy*

Aug 19 – Sept 7 2012 Crossing the Silk Road

Aug 26 – Sept 11 2012 Madagascar

TRIPS BY DATE

Sept 8-22 2012 Turquoise Coast

Sept 10 – 21 2012 Norwegian Voyage

Sept 14-21 2012 Russia

Sept 25 – Oct 7 2012 Ethiopia

Oct 2-16 2012 Short trek in Himalayas

Oct 7-18 2012 Galapagos*

Oct 9-20 2012 Oman

Oct 16-31 2012 Nepal, Sikkim and Bhutan

Oct 17 – Nov 4 2012 China*

Oct 28 – Nov 11 2012 Burma*

Nov 1-13 2012 Easter Island

Feb 22 – Mar 8 2013 Antarctica

Jun 24 - Jul 1 012 Greenland


Sept 8-22 2012 Turquoise Coast

Sept 10 – 21 2012 Norwegian Voyage

CRUISES

Jun 9-23 2012 Indonesia




WILDLIFE



Sept 12-27 2012 Georgia and Armenia



































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CULTURE

Jun 7-14 2012 Bach Festival in Leipzig

Jun 26 – Jul 6 2012 Eastern Turkey


Sept 25 – Oct 7 2012 Ethiopia

Oct 16-31 2012 Nepal, Sikkim and Bhutan

Oct 28 – Nov 11 2012 Burma*

ADVENTURE

May 19 – Jun 3 2012 Peru

Aug 19 – Sept 7 2012 Crossing the Silk Road


Oct 2-16 2012 Short trek in Himalayas



Nov 1-13 2012 Easter Island

*these trips are currently fully booked, however we will be running them again in 2013 so please contact the tour operator to register your interest.

Sept 12-27 2012 Georgia and Armenia


















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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.

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

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

TOUR OPERATORS

INFORMATION

DISCLAIMER

Contact the tour operators directly for more information about any of the trips in this brochure.




http://www.acestudytours.co.uk

mailto:[email protected]

http://www.acestudytours.co.uk

http://www.distanthorizons.co.uk


http://www.distanthorizons.co.uk

http://www.hurtigruten.co.uk


http://www.hurtigruten.co.uk

http://www.steppestravel.co.uk


http://www.steppestravel.co.uk

http://www.templeworld.com/alumni


http://www.templeworld.com/alumni

UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD ALUMNI OFFICE Natasha Stein, Benefits and Services [email protected] www.alumni.ox.ac.uk/travel

@oxfordalumni oxfordalumni



https://twitter.com/#!/oxfordalumni

http://www.facebook.com/oxfordalumni

Documents

Oxford Alumni Travellers 2012: North American edition