Academy Travel 2018 Tour Program by Academy Travel

TOUR PROGRAM January – December 2018

New worlds await…

academytravel.com.au

new tours Easter in Malta or Tuscany

Burgundy, Provence & the Riviera

11 Portugal

25 Opera in New York

33 Bendigo to the Yarra Valley

53 2

Gardens & Castles of Scotland

www.academytravel.com.au

Around the Baltic

28 Wagnerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Ring Cycle in Munich

40 To the Edge of the Outback

43 Modern Architecture: Los Angeles to Chicago

30 New Zealand

49 Paris: study tour

contents

What kind of traveller are you?

Italy 8

Dear Academy Traveller,

Europe 18

We’re delighted to publish a full catalogue of our tours for 2018, listing 61 tours to five continents. We’ve also previewed many of the tours we will be offering in 2019. Several years ago, research on ‘special interest travel’ undertaken by the University of Sydney described three types of traveller: swimmers, snorkellers and divers. Swimmers were interested in expertise and authenticity, but also wanted variety in their travels, visiting several destinations and including a broad range of experiences – art, history, landscape and food. If you’re a swimmer, you’ll be interested in our ‘survey’ tours, such as the ever-popular Grand Tour of Spain, Turkey, Morocco, Scandinavia and Iceland, Iran and Prague, Budapest and Vienna. Snorkellers are looking for distinctive themes in their travel, longer stays and a concentration on one geographical region. Well-established tours such as Sicily and the Aeolian Islands, Puglia to Pompeii, Japan, Taiwan and Gardens of Southern England all fit into this category, as do our new tours to Portugal, New Zealand, and the regional art galleries of Victoria. Divers want significant depth and focus. They have often read extensively about a destination, or are returning to a specific place for a much closer look. They value the genuine academic expertise of our tour leaders and are looking forward to being with fellow-travellers who share their passion. Our two-week residential tours to Rome, Venice, Florence and Paris are classic ‘diver’ tours for art and history lovers, but if music is your thing, there’s Opera in New York, Wagner’s Ring Cycle in Munich and London: Music and Theatre to tempt you. So whether you’re a swimmer, snorkeller or diver, or just someone sitting on the beach waiting to take the plunge, we hope you enjoy reading about our 2018 program! Robert Veel, and the entire Academy Travel team

Music & Theatre

Asia Pacific

The Americas

Africa & the Middle East 59 Study Tours

Upcoming tour program 68 Fitness Requirements

The Next Steps

academytravel.com.au Our website contains detailed itineraries, maps and tour leader profiles. Our site also features an online booking form.

More information Detailed itineraries for all tours are available by calling us or by downloading from our website. academytravel.com.au

Sold out tours Egypt

January 2018 (tour leader Lucia Gahlin)

Lakes & Villas of Northern Italy April 2018 (tour leader Robert Veel)

tailored small group Journeys Ph0ne: +61 2 9235 0023 email: info@academytravel.com.au Web: academytravel.com.au

› Expert tour leaders › Maximum 20 in a group › Carefully planned itineraries

More details at academytravel.com.au

Front: Monument of the Discoveries, Lisbon, Portugal Inset: Geisha, Kyoto, Japan

Brochure production: Damien Flint Design: Pro Bono Publico

Tour Product Managers: Stuart Barrie, Nick Gordon, Robina Frosinini, Hannah Kleboe, Mark Lalor, Matthew Laing, Kathleen Olive and Robert Veel.

Why choose academy travel?

Great itineraries

Like-minded groups

Long stays

Academy Travel works hard to create itineraries that provide a balanced experience – walking tours, museum and gallery visits, live performances, city and countryside. We’re proud to be constantly innovating, from opening up new destinations, creating tours around festivals and special exhibitions, to providing unrivalled depth in our residential tours.

Over the years we’ve been in operation, we’ve developed a loyal band of Academy Travellers, some of whom have travelled with us more than 10 times. They say the small groups (maximum 20, average 17) and distinct themes of our tours attract like-minded travellers and create a relaxed, convivial atmosphere.

Feedback from our clients consistently tells us that creating itineraries with three and four-night stops, or even longer, is far more appealing that rushing from place to place. Wherever possible, we plan our tours around a limited number of stops, making your travels more relaxed and more meaningful.

“I valued the mix of art gallery tours, architecture, musical performances and restaurants.”

“Loved the myriad of different sites every day – a real a‘ dventure’. Also, really enjoyed our eclectic yet harmonious group – our lunches and dinners – we all shared a passion for Renaissance history/art.”

Frank Lloyd Wright: Chicago to New York, 2017

Florence & the Italian Renaissance, 2016

There are lots of tour operators out there, with lots of tempting offerings. So why choose us?

Maximum 20 in a group

“The mix of history, art and architecture was perfect and the tour moved at a pace that allowed us to have a decent amount of time at each site, while still fitting in all sites.” Grand Tour of Spain, 2016

Special Events

Expert tour leaders

Years of experience

A private viewing of the Sistine Chapel? Tickets to a sold-out concert by the Berlin Philharmonic? A worldfamous art fair? Access to private homes and gardens? Behind-thescenes visits? Many of our tours feature access to places and events that are usually not offered on most group tours.

We work closely with a team of academically qualified and highly experienced tour leaders. They don’t just ‘rattle off the facts’ – they help us plan our itineraries and, on tour, freely share their deep knowledge and genuine passion. Most of our tour leaders are still teaching at an advanced level and many are still undertaking academic research.

Academy Travel was founded in 2004 by a team with decades of prior experience in small group travel. On average, our tour leaders have over 11 years’ experience, some with 25 or more years. To ensure quality, we have our own office in Rome, Italy and a network of trusted suppliers around the world.

“I loved the whole t woweek programme – it was diversified to cover all interests. Highlights for me were the opera at the Met (great seats, thanks!) and the private tour of the Neue Gallery on 5th Avenue.” New York: music, theatre, art & food, 2016

More details at academytravel.com.au

“Estelle Lazer’s knowledge of the places visited and thoughtfulness in organising each phase in consultation with local guides meant that we go the most out of each location.”

“You always deliver on what you promise and as always, I enjoyed the company of likeminded people, the lectures and commentary and the very interesting places.” Scandinavia and Iceland, 2017

Corsica, Sardinia and Malta, 2017

Our experts lead the way Ben Churcher

Chris Carter

Has a wide range of experience as an educator, and an archaeologist. Since 1994 Ben has led tours to Jordan, Greece, Syria, Egypt, China & Morocco.

Has an Honours and Master’s degree in archaeology and has recently completed a PhD. He has led tours to Central and South America for over 20 years.

Upcoming tours: Pages 52, 60

Upcoming tours: Page 54

Dr Estelle Lazer

Dr Jeni Ryde

Is an archaeologist who has worked on site at Pompeii for seven seasons and has an international reputation for her research on the city’s skeletal remains.

Has a wide-ranging knowledge of Italian history and cultural traditions. Jeni has a PhD focusing on tourism, heritage and Renaissance studies.

Upcoming tours: Pages 10, 11, 13, 21

Upcoming tours: Pages 10, 13, 19, 20, 33

Judy Tenzing

Dr Kathleen Olive

Has a degree in South Asian History. She has a lifelong passion for travel and over 30 years’ experience as a tour leader on the sub-continent and in Asia.

Has a PhD in Italian Studies, speaks fluent Italian and lectures on the art, history and culture of Europe. Kathleen has an outstanding knowledge of Italy.

Upcoming tours: Pages 47, 50

Upcoming tours: Pages 16, 17, 25, 48, 51

Dr Matthew Dal Santo

Academy Travel’s team of expert tour leaders offers genuine academic expertise, enthusiasm and the ability to communicate their knowledge to interested travellers.

Dr Matthew Laing

Is a historian and freelance writer with Honours degrees from both Sydney and Cambridge Universities.

Is a historian and political scientist with a PhD from the ANU. Matthew leads tours to the United States and Scandinavia and lectures for Academy Travel.

Upcoming tours: Page 32

Upcoming tours: Pages 30, 37, 56, 58

Michael Turner

Dr Nick Gordon

Is a classical archaeologist, an antiquarian, garden historian and lecturer. The former Senior Curator of the Nicholson Museum at the University of Sydney.

Has a University Medal and a PhD in history and lectures on European art. Nick is also a practising painter and brings this passion to the visual arts.

Upcoming tours: Pages 14, 26, 28

Upcoming tours: Pages 11, 12, 15, 23, 27, 29, 53, 66

Stuart Barrie

Thomas Abbott

Is a director of Academy Travel and has over 20 years’ experience in travel, including leading groups through Western Europe, Russia and the United States.

Holds a degree in art history, specialising in the architecture of Berlin, the art of 18th-century Germany and the Bauhaus. He has led many tours in Germany.

Upcoming tours: Page 57

Upcoming tours: Page 24

Carefully planned itineraries

Christopher Bradley

Christopher MEnz

Has an Honours degree from Liverpool University and specialises in the history and art of North Africa and Arabia.

Is a former Director of the Art Gallery of SA. He has published extensively on the decorative arts and is a regular contributor to Australian Book Review.

Upcoming tours: Pages 62, 63

Upcoming tours: Pages 31, 40

Dr Jenny Lawless

Dr John Tidmarsh

Has led tours to Turkey, Greece and Iran. Jenny has been awarded a Churchill Fellowship and a NSW Premier’s History Prize for her research and writing.

Is the former president of the University of Sydney’s Near Eastern Archaeology Foundation, and a former lecturer in the Department of Archaeology.

Upcoming tours: Page 34

Upcoming tours: Pages 22, 61, 64

Lindy Montgomery

Lucia Gahlin

Is a graduate of both the University of Sydney and the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, where she taught musicology for 13 years.

Is a UK-based Egyptologist with a wealth of experience as an educator, researcher, archaeologist and museum curator. She has led tours to Egypt since 1994.

Upcoming tours: Page 39

Upcoming tours: Not listed (sold out)

Dr Michael Adcock

Dr Michael Neuman

Is a social and cultural historian who specialises in the art and history of France. He has led several highly successful tours to Paris.

Is a former Professor at the University of New South Wales, where his work in urban history, specialising in Spain, has won international awards.

Upcoming tours: Page 67

Upcoming tours: Page 19

Robert Gay

Robert Veel

Is one of Australia’s leading music tour leaders and music educators. He has led more than 80 performance-based tours to Europe and the US.

Holds a Bachelor of Arts and Masters of Education. He is a director of Academy Travel and leads tours to Europe, Scandinavia, the US & Australia.

Upcoming tours: Pages 38, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45

Upcoming tours: Pages 9, 21, 49

Dr Tom Ford Holds a PhD in history and has written extensively on classical music. Tom is currently PR and media manager (classics and jazz) for Universal Music Australia.

“The tour leader is always an important part of the success of the tour. They set the tone and quickly get to understand the dynamics of the group. Our tour leader was very personable, very knowledgeable and nothing was a trouble. Excellent leader in every way.”

Upcoming tours: Page 36

Tour participant on New York: music, theatre, art & food, March 2017. 7

Tours to Italy Academy Travel began by offering small-group cultural tours to Italy, and these remain a cornerstone of our operations. Our most popular itineraries include Sicily, Puglia to Pompeii and across northern Italy – all difficult to access for the independent traveller. Equally sought-after are our in-depth ‘residential’ visits to Rome, Venice and Florence, which offer an unrivalled chance to get to know these major centres of history, art and architecture.

Expert tour leaders

Palermo & Naples Italy’s southern capitals

$6,450 pp, twin share $1,150 single supplement

January 9-22, 2018

Discover • Mediterranean history, art and architecture, showcasing more than 3,000 years of civilisation • Classical archaeology at leading Greek and Roman sites in Sicily and on the Bay of Naples • The lasting legacy of medieval Arab and Norman rule, expressed in the mosaics and architecture of Palermo • The ‘southern Renaissance’ of the 18th century, culminating in the period of Bourbon rule, which made Naples a major European centre of culture

Overview A feast for the senses, this 14-day tour begins with six nights in Palermo where centuries of diverse cultures, from the ancient Greeks to the Normans, come together. We explore the layers of the city’s cultural heritage and venture out with day trips to Segesta and Cefalù. We then travel to Naples, our base for the next six nights, where we explore the ancient sites of Vesuvius, Herculaneum and Paestum. We travel along the scenic Amalfi Coast and visit the galleries of Capodimonte and the Naples National Archaeological Museum.

Highlights > Well-preserved Greek and Roman culture at Segesta, Paestum and Herculaneum > Impressive Arab-Norman mosaics in Palermo and Cefalù > Little-visited but world-famous artworks at Capodimonte and in the footsteps of Caravaggio > Private visit to Palazzo Lanza Tomasi, home of Prince Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa, author of the Sicilian literary masterpiece The Leopard > Palermo and Naples’ excellent gastronomic scenes, including tastings of local specialties > Only two hotel stays: six nights at each > Off-season travel: low visitor numbers and mild weather

Your tour leader

Robert Veel has led groups to Italy since 1990. Years of travel and work in Italy have given him an intimate knowledge of the country and its history that goes well beyond the tourist experience. Robert holds a Master’s degree from the University of Sydney, where he taught medieval and Renaissance history for 15 years. He speaks fluent Italian.

Getting there

Emirates flies to Rome daily from most Australian cities. Contact us for quotes.

Fitness requirement

Itinerary Day 1: Arrive in Palermo. Days 2–6: View Greek architecture in Segesta and Arab-Norman Byzantine mosaics in Palermo. Visit the home of author Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa (The Leopard). Days 7–13: Take the overnight ferry to Naples. Explore the ancient sites of Vesuvius, Herculaneum and Paestum. Travel along the scenic Amalfi Coast and visit the galleries of Capodimonte and the National Archaeological Museum. Dine at excellent restaurants, follow in Caravaggio’s footsteps and enjoy a performance at the historic Teatro San Carlo. Day 14: Transfer to Rome airport for flights home. More details at academytravel.com.au

Rome

Italy Naples (6) Herculaneum

Paestum

Palermo (6) Segesta

Cefalù

Puglia to Pompeii Classical southern Italy March 8-24, 2018 October 18 – November 3, 2018

$7,970 pp, twin share $1,750 single supplement

Experience

• The history and classical archaeology of southern Italy on display at Paestum, Pompeii and Herculaneum • Thousands of years of history ranging from the Greek colonists and the Romans in the classical age to the Arabs, Normans, Germans, Aragonese, Spanish, Bourbon and French • The rich diversity of landscapes, from rugged mountain ranges to stunning Mediterranean scenery • The excellent regional food and wine traditions of southern Italy

Overview

This 17-day tour will appeal to those looking to take ‘the road less travelled’ through the regions of Puglia and Basilicata, and on to the famous archaeological sites of the Bay of Naples. We explore sites ranging from the cave dwellings of Matera to ancient Greek colonies, fine Norman castles and cathedrals and the striking scenery of the Salentine peninsula. Along the way we enjoy the fine food and hospitality that is traditional in southern Italy, a region still delightfully free of mass tourism. An optional four-day extension to Capri and Amalfi is also available.

Your tour leaders

Dr Jeni Ryde (March tour) is a former Senior Lecturer at Western Sydney University. Dr Estelle Lazer (October tour) is an archaeologist with an international reputation for her years of work onsite at Pompeii.

Getting there

Emirates flies to Rome daily from most Australian cities. Contact us for quotes and bookings.

Highlights > The ‘Southern Baroque’ architecture of Lecce > Unique ‘sassi’ cave dwellings in Matera, one of Italy’s most remote cities > The medieval castles and cathedrals of Puglia, built by Norman and German rulers > The battlefield of Cannae, where Hannibal defeated the Romans in 216 BC > Hidden artistic and architectural gems of Naples seen by relatively few tourists > Paestum, Pompeii and Herculaneum – Europe’s premier archaeological sites > Capodimonte, one of Italy’s finest art galleries > Italy’s most important archaeological museum in Naples

Fitness requirement

Itinerary

Italy Rome Trani (3) Naples (5) Vietri sul Mare (3)

Brindisi Matera (2) Paestum

Maximum 20 in a group

Lecce (3)

Day 1: Arrive in Lecce. Days 2–3: Enjoy three nights in Lecce, visiting Otranto and Brindisi. Days 4–5: Tour Taranto and the ‘sassi’ of Matera. Days 6–9: Spend three nights in Trani, seeing Roman and medieval sites and sections of the Appian Way. Days 10–12: Travel via Melfi to Vietri sul Mare and spend a full day at the Greek temples of Paestum. Days 13–16: Enjoy five nights in Naples, exploring Pompeii, Herculaneum, Capodimonte and the National Archaeological Museum. Day 17: Transfer to Rome airport for flights home, or continue on the optional four-day extension to Capri and Amalfi.

Connect this tour with Easter in Malta on page 11

CELEBRATE EASTER EASTER IN Malta

Easter in Umbria & Tuscany

March 28 – April 3, 2018

$3,780 pp, twin share $1,350 single supplement

$2,940 pp, twin share $750 single supplement

Overview

Highlights

Overview

Highlights

Easter celebrations take place all over Malta, where the faithful gather to commemorate the passion, death and resurrection of Christ. This specially designed 7-day tour explores sites of history, culture, faith and art throughout Malta during the Easter period. Every stop on our journey has a fascinating history and our visits include prehistoric ruins, Phoenician settlements and places influenced by the Sicilians, Romans, Arabs, Knights of St John, French and British in succession. Enjoy Malta’s eclectic heritage, its quirky character and unique charms.

> Easter processions on Good Friday in Zebugg and Easter Sunday in Vittoriosa > Valletta, with its massive bastion walls built by the Knights of the Order of St John > Malta’s ancient sites, including the recently reopened Hal Saflieni Hypogeum > The Phoenician walled city of Mdina > Exploring the island of Gozo

Birthplace of saints and home to some of the country’s greatest artistic treasures, Umbria and Tuscany are a collection of green valleys and pictureperfect hill towns laden with centuries of history. This 7-day tour has been designed to escape the Easter crowds and enjoy the tranquillity of the countryside in the heart of Italy. The combination of unforgettable art, sumptuous landscapes, and outstanding wines that pair beautifully with its simple food makes a trip to Umbria and Tuscany something beyond special.

> Franciscan treasures in Assisi, including frescos by Giotto > Orvieto, perched dramatically on a rock cliff > Iris Origo’s La Foce estate, designed by Cecil Pinsent > Siena’s striking Gothic cathedral and elegant Piazza del Campo > Follow the Piero della Francesca trail in Arezzo and San Sepolcro

Your tour leader

Dr Estelle Lazer is an archaeologist with an international reputation for her years of work onsite at Pompeii. She has led numerous trips to Italy and Malta for Academy Travel.

Fitness requirement

Dr Nick Gordon has a University Medal and a PhD in history from the University of Sydney, lectures on European art, and has led many popular tours to Europe for Academy Travel.

Fitness requirement

Rome Fiumicino

Gozo

Your tour leader

MALTA Valletta (6) Mdina Hal Saflieni Hypogeum Marsaxlokk

More details at academytravel.com.au

Itinerary Days 1–7: Arriving in Valletta, experience Malta’s Good Friday processions in the village of Zebugg and Easter Sunday celebrations in Vittoriosa. Visit prehistoric sites at the Hypogeum and Marsaxlokk, the medieval walled city of Mdina and enjoy a full day excursion to the island of Gozo. Much of our exploration is by boat, including a cruise on the Grand Harbour.

Itinerary Florence

ITALY Arezzo

Siena (3) Assisi

Spoleto (3)

Orvieto

Rome

Days 1–7: Travel from Rome to Spoleto; explore the lush countryside of Umbria and the medieval towns Orvieto and Assisi, home to masterpieces by Signorelli and Giotto. Continue on through the rolling hills of Tuscany to Siena. Visit La Foce, and Arezzo and San Sepolcro to follow the path of artist Piero della Francesca. Enjoy the gentle pace and provincial Italian life, free from the noise of the tourist crush.

Florence, Ravenna & Venice Art, Architecture & History

$6,575 pp, twin share $1,575 single supplement

April 3-15, 2018

Experience • The world’s greatest concentration of art from the Renaissance in Florence • The unique art and architecture of Venice, from medieval Gothic to Renaissance splendour and beyond • The Italian villa, from the Medici villa at Poggio a Caiano to Palladio’s villas in the Veneto and the beautiful Villa Gamberaia • The mosaics of northern Italy, from Roman and Byzantine Ravenna to medieval and Renaissance Venice • The excellent food and wine of Tuscany and the Veneto

Overview This 13-day tour explores the history and culture of two of Italy’s pre-eminent art cities at a gentle pace. We visit world-class galleries and museums, private villas, palaces and gardens, and difficult-to-access sites, including a private, after-hours visit to St Mark’s Basilica to witness the illumination of the mosaics. We enjoy fine dining in restaurants showcasing the best of these regions’ gastronomic traditions.

Your tour leader

Dr Nick Gordon has a University Medal and a PhD in history from the University of Sydney, lectures on European art, and has led many popular tours to Europe for Academy Travel. He is also a practising painter and brings this passion to the visual arts in general.

Getting there Emirates fly into Bologna and out of Venice at times that coincide with the tour. Contact us for quotes and bookings.

Fitness requirement

Highlights > Italy’s leading art museums, including the Uffizi in Florence and the Accademia and Peggy Guggenheim Collection in Venice > Private visit to explore the secret passageways of Florence’s Palazzo Vecchio > The Renaissance country houses of Palladio in the Veneto > The UNESCO World Heritage mosaics of Ravenna > Private after-hours visit to St Mark’s Basilica, to see the illumination of the mosaics in peace and quiet > Prato, a charming medieval town near Florence with its Renaissance gems > The villas and gardens among the hills above Florence

Itinerary Venice (5)

ITALY

Bologna Ravenna (2)

Florence (5)

www.academytravel.com.au

Days 1–5: Examine masterpieces in the Uffizi and explore the secret passageways of the Palazzo Vecchio. Admire the garden at Villa Gamberaia, and sample a storied Tuscan wine at a stunning contemporary vineyard. Days 6–7: In Ravenna, admire the mosaicencrusted churches and, further north, elegant Palladian villas. Days 8–13: Orient yourself in Venice with a trip around the lagoon and visits to key museums and art galleries. Enjoy a private evening visit to St Mark’s Basilica for the illumination of the mosaics.

Connect this tour with Easter in Umbria & Tuscany on page 11

Sicily & the Aeolian Islands

Jewels of the Mediterranean April 6-22, 2018 September 7-23, 2018

$8,420 pp, twin share $1,500 single supplement

Explore

• The thriving colonies of the ancient Greek world – wealthy, cultured centres of literature and art • Ancient Phoenician, Carthaginian and Roman societies, and their struggle to control the Mediterranean • The lasting legacy of medieval Arab and Norman rule, expressed in the mosaics and architecture of Palermo • The distinctive period of ‘Sicilian Baroque’ architecture • Dramatic countryside, including active volcanoes • The natural beauty and traditional lifestyle of the Aeolian Islands

Overview

This 17-day tour around Sicily has been designed to give the first-time visitor an overview of the island’s diverse and fascinating history, art and traditions. Explore prehistoric, Greek and Roman sites across the island. Enjoy the dramatic scenery of Sicily and the Aeolian Islands, with their volcanoes and steep coastlines. Visit medieval Norman cathedrals with fine Byzantine mosaics. Sample some of Sicily’s excellent wines and Arab-influenced cuisine. An optional five-day extension to Malta is also available.

Highlights

> A private boat trip of the Aeolian Islands from Lipari to Stromboli and Panarea > Outstanding archaeological museums in Siracusa, Agrigento and Lipari > The Sicilian Baroque architecture of Noto and Ragusa > The 4th-century mosaics in the Roman villa at Piazza Armerina > The UNESCO World Heritage mosaics of Monreale and the Palatine Chapel in Palermo, undertaken by Byzantine masters for their Norman rulers > An excursion to the summit of Mt Etna Connect this tour with Easter in Malta on page 11

Your tour leaders

Dr Jeni Ryde (April tour) is a former Senior Lecturer at Western Sydney University. Her PhD focused on the Renaissance, heritage tourism and museology. Dr Estelle Lazer (September tour) is an archaeologist of international acclaim. She has led numerous trips to southern Italy for Academy Travel.

Getting there

Emirates offers regular flights to Rome. Contact us for quotes and bookings.

Fitness requirement

Itinerary

Optional pre-tour five-day extension to Malta. Days 1–4: Arrive Siracusa and tour the archaeological sites and baroque architecture. Days 5–6: Travel to the Greek temples at Agrigento via the Roman villa at Piazza Armerina. Days 7–10: Sightseeing in the capital of Palermo, including the cathedral at Monreale. Visit the tiny island of Mozia. Days 11–13: Continue on to Cefalù and take a private boat trip from Lipari to Stromboli and Panarea. Days 14–17: In Taormina, visit the fine GrecoRoman theatre and enjoy superb views of Mount Etna. More details at academytravel.com.au

Stromboli Lipari Islands (3) (Aeolian Islands) Palermo (4) Messina

Segesta Selinunte

Cefalu

Sicily

Mt Etna

Taormina (3)

Piazza Armerina Catania

Agrigento (2)

Ragusa

Siracusa (4) Noto

Lakes & Villas of Northern Italy April 26 – May 10, 2018

$8,670 pp, twin share $1,940 single supplement

Discover • Italy’s genius for art and architecture in spectacular lakeside and country sites • Italian history and art, from medieval towns to villas and 21st-century estates • Some of the world’s most beautiful gardens, still in the hands of Italy’s leading families • The Renaissance villas of Palladio • The stunning colours and landscapes of pre-alpine Italy • The best of northern Italy’s regional cuisines, famous for prosciutto, parmigiano and prosecco

Overview This 15-day tour begins on the shores of Lake Como. We follow a circular route around northern Italy, visiting the foothills of the Apennines in Emilia-Romagna with its medieval towns and contemporary villas, and then travelling to the Veneto where we admire the Renaissance country houses of architect Andrea Palladio. The tour concludes on Lake Maggiore. Our itinerary makes the most of the spectacular landscapes of pre-alpine Italy and its gardens, and enjoys the culinary delights of the region at a gentle pace.

Your tour leader

Michael Turner is an art and garden historian. The former Senior Curator of the Nicholson Museum at the University of Sydney, he now lives in Sussex. He is a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries in London and a member of the English Historic Gardens Society.

Getting there Emirates offers the best connections for this tour, flying into and out of Milan. Contact us for quotes and bookings.

Fitness requirement

Highlights > Welcome lunch at Villa d’Este, and fine regional cuisine in superior restaurants > Lake Como, famed for its natural beauty and the elegant villas along its shores > The Apennine foothills, with medieval towns and contemporary villas > Verona: explore villas, gardens and the medieval city > Excursions to Lake Garda and Lake Orta > Excellent regional cuisine and wine, including lunches in country restaurants and in the scenic Valdobbiadene, home of prosecco > The Borromean Islands and the gardens of Lake Maggiore

Itinerary switzerland ITALY Stresa (3)

Lake Como Asolo (3) Bellagio (4)

Lake Maggiore Milan

Verona (2)

Lake Garda

Cremona (2)

Carefully planned itineraries

Vicenza

Days 1–4: Arrive in Milan, transfer to Bellagio. Enjoy Lake Como by boat and visit 18th and 19th-century villas on its shores, including lunch at the Villa d’Este. Days 5–6: Explore the hill towns and medieval castles of Emilia-Romagna. Days 7–11: Admire Palladio’s country houses, palaces and theatre from Asolo; explore medieval Verona, Lake Garda and its surrounds. Days 12–14: Experience the extraordinary villas and gardens on Lake Maggiore from Stresa and enjoy the tranquillity of Lake Orta. Day 15: Transfer to Milan airport.

Connect this tour with Amsterdam to Paris on page 23

Florence

And the Italian Renaissance $7,390 pp, twin share $1,880 single supplement

September 22 – October 5, 2018

Explore • Italian art and culture in Florence, far beyond what most tourists see • The history of Florence, one of the most dynamic cities of the Middle Ages and Renaissance • Beautiful medieval towns, including Siena, San Gimignano and Pistoia, 2017’s Capital of Italian Culture • The world of the Renaissance genius: Michelangelo, Donatello, Botticelli and Bronzino • Florence beyond the Renaissance: Etruscans, villas and gardens • Tuscany’s gastronomic delights and artisanal traditions

Overview Florence has the world’s greatest concentration of masterpieces from the late Middle Ages and Renaissance, when it was one of Europe’s largest and most dynamic cities. Settle in and relax on this residential tour as we discover the unique amalgam of commercial enterprise, republican government, dynastic ambitions and individual virtuosity that shaped some of the world’s most revolutionary artists, writers and scholars: Dante, Giotto, Masaccio, Donatello, Michelangelo, Machiavelli and Galileo. Our visits to diverse collections are balanced with day trips to medieval towns in the beautiful Tuscan countryside, tours of Florence’s artisanal culture, wine tastings and fine dining.

Highlights > Two weeks in Florence exploring the society, history and art of the Renaissance > Extraordinary galleries and museums, including the Uffizi and the recently renovated Museo dell’Opera del Duomo > Day trips in Tuscany: Siena, San Gimignano, Volterra and Pistoia > Private tours of the cathedral terraces and the Secret Passages of the Palazzo Vecchio > Tuscan cuisine, wine tastings, and Florence’s artisanal traditions Connect this tour with Venice: City, Republic & Empire on page 17

Your tour leader

Dr Nick Gordon has a University Medal and PhD in Italian history from the University of Sydney. Having taught history at universities in Sydney for 10 years, he now leads tours to Italy and Europe exclusively for Academy Travel.

Getting there We recommend flights into and out of Bologna with Emirates. Contact us for quotes and bookings.

Fitness requirement

Itinerary Day 1: Arrive in Florence. Days 2–4: Discover how Florence became the centre of the Renaissance; excursion to the medieval towns of San Gimignano and Volterra. Days 5–9: Artisans and Renaissance masterpieces in Florence; Pistoia, a Renaissance jewel in Tuscany. Days 10–13: Renaissance heritage in art, science, letters; the gardens of Florence, including Villa Gamberaia and Villa Medici; day trip to Siena. Day 14: Depart Florence.

More details at academytravel.com.au

Bologna Pistoia Florence (13)

ITALY

San Gimignano Volterra Siena

Malta to Venice Aboard Sea Cloud II

September 22 – October 8, 2018

$14,550 pp, twin share $8,040 single supplement

Discover • The complex web of European and Eastern influences that have created the unique and distinctive cultures of Malta, Italy and Croatia • The 5,000-year-old prehistoric civilizations on Malta • The Dalmatian coast, where rugged mountain ranges plunge down to the sea and hundreds of small islands dot the coastline • The exceptional art and architecture of Venice, visiting centuries-old sites and world-class museums • Stunning scenery from the decks of the Sea Cloud II

Overview This new tour offers the opportunity to combine the pleasure of sailing through one of the most beautiful parts of the Mediterranean aboard Sea Cloud II, with visits to a host of remarkable harbours on this journey from Valletta to Venice. In Valletta, explore prehistoric sites and the rich culture of the Maltese; cruise the stunning Dalmatian coast pausing in Dubrovnik, Korcula, and Zadar. The cruise ends in Venice, where we spend four days exploring this wondrous city and its extraordinary art and history.

Your tour leader

Dr Kathleen Olive has a PhD in Italian Studies from the University of Sydney and is well-known as a lecturer on the art, history and culture of Europe. Kathleen speaks fluent Italian and has an outstanding knowledge of Italy’s cultural heritage.

Getting there Emirates offers flights direct to Malta and home from Venice. It is also possible to travel via many major European cities to Malta. Contact us for quotes and bookings.

Fitness requirement

Highlights > Nine nights cruising aboard the luxurious Sea Cloud II, a very different experience to mainstream cruising, with outstanding service, fine food and wine > The city-fortress of Valletta, constructed by the Knights of St John in the 16th century > The Neolithic temple complex at Tarxien, the Hal Saflieni Hypogeum and Ggantija Temples on Gozo > The beautiful resort town of Dubrovnik, known as the “Pearl of the Adriatic” > Magnificent 5th and 6th-century Byzantine mosaics in Ravenna > See the splendour of St Mark’s Basilica, the private chapel of the Doges, lit up at night on a private, after-hours tour

Itinerary Venice (4)

Porec

Ravenna

ITALY

Croatia Zadar Korcula Dubrovnik (9)

Otranto

Valletta (3)

Expert tour leaders

Malta

Days 1–3: Arrive in Valletta and tour Malta, visiting Neolithic sites, the medieval walled town of Mdina and the island of Gozo. Days 4–12: Embark on a nine-night cruise aboard Sea Cloud II, disembarking in Venice. Ports-of-call include Otranto, Dubrovnik, Korcula, Zadar, Rovinj/Porec and Ravenna, plus enjoy a full day and a half at sea. Days 13–17: Explore Venice, with visits to key museums and art galleries. Enjoy a private after-hours visit to St Mark’s Basilica for the illumination of the mosaics.

The Sea Cloud II The Sea Cloud II is a luxurious 3-masted barque, traditionally crafted in teak, but with modern features. White cloth sails and understated elegance create a unique environment that is at once nostalgic and luxurious. Although most of the journey takes place under motor, on some days the crew climb the rigging to set the square sails and jibs and you experience the thrill of ocean yachting.

Venice

City, Republic & Empire $7,480 pp, twin share $1,760 single supplement

October 10-24, 2018

Explore • The history of Venice and its key role in the Mediterranean during the Crusades and the Renaissance • The unique art and architecture of Venice, visiting centuries-old sites and world-class museums • The all-important and allencompassing relationship between Venice and the sea • Venice’s outstanding musical tradition in both opera and baroque music • The excellent food and wine of the Veneto region • The Renaissance architecture of Andrea Palladio

Overview Unpack your bags for 15 days and discover the city that ruled the Mediterranean for 1,000 years. Enjoy accommodation in a carefully selected four-star hotel in central Venice, just a few minutes from St Mark’s Square. Travel on day excursions to Ravenna, Padua and the villas of the Veneto. Dine in some of Venice’s best restaurants and explore the remote islands of the lagoon. The late autumn travel period means fewer crowds and cruise ships.

Highlights

Connect this tour with Malta to Venice: aboard Sea Cloud II on page 16

> Welcome lunch at the legendary Locanda Cipriani on the island of Torcello > Day trip to view the 5th and 6th-century Byzantine mosaics of Ravenna > An opera at Venice’s glittering La Fenice theatre > The art of Carpaccio, Bellini, Titian, Veronese, Tiepolo and others in palaces, confraternities and churches > Day trip to Padua to view Giotto’s Scrovegni Chapel and the ancient university > The private art collections of the Ca’ d’Oro and the Peggy Guggenheim Collection > Day trip to Vicenza and the beautiful Renaissance country villas of Andrea Palladio

Your tour leader

Getting there Emirates has daily flights from most Australian cities to Venice, stopping at Dubai. Contact us for quotes and bookings.

Fitness requirement

Itinerary Day 1: Arrive Venice and settle in. Days 2–3: Orient yourself with a trip around the lagoon and visits to key state history museums. Day 4: Day trip to Ravenna. Days 5–7: Explore medieval and early Renaissance Venice – the world of the merchants and Crusades. Day 8: Day trip to Padua. Days 9–12: Investigate Renaissance art and architecture in Venice. Day 13: Day trip to Vicenza and Palladio’s villas. Day 14–15: Explore baroque and modern art.

More details at academytravel.com.au

Vicenza Venice (14) Padua

ITALY Ravenna

Tours to Europe Our range of cultural tours to Europe is designed to explore the history, art and architecture of the continent in a way that is more relaxed than most Europe trips, but at the same time offering depth and focus. We offer survey tours through Spain, Germany, France, Central Europe and Scandinavia, as well as more specialised explorations of Portugal, Berlin, Moscow and St Petersburg and the gardens of England.

Maximum 20 in a group

Grand Tour of Spain Granada to Barcelona April 8-24, 2018 September 23 – October 9, 2018

$8,660 pp, twin share $2,250 single supplement

Experience

• The Moorish kingdoms of Andalucía in Spain’s south • The history of Spain in the 16th century, the most powerful empire on earth • The art of Renaissance and baroque Spain, including Velásquez, El Greco and Goya • The excellent regional food and wine traditions of Spain • The distinctive culture and modernista art and architecture of Catalonia in Spain’s north, from Gaudí to Picasso

Overview

Take a comprehensive tour of Spain, designed to give the first-time visitor an overview of the country’s diverse and always fascinating history, art and traditions. Begin with the medieval Moorish worlds of Granada, Cordoba and Sevilla, then explore royal Madrid and the exuberant city of Barcelona. Visit major art galleries, palaces and religious sites. Enjoy exceptional dining in carefully selected restaurants, designed to showcase Spain’s outstanding culinary traditions.

Highlights

Connect this tour with Northern Spain and Portugal on page 20

> The 13th-century Alhambra in Granada, a complex of palaces and water gardens > The renowned Mesquita (mosque) of Cordoba, a blend of Visigothic and Islamic art > Visiting the mighty cathedral and wandering the lanes of Sevilla, the city of Carmen and Don Juan > The art collections of the Prado and Thyssen-Bornemisza museums in Madrid > Philip II’s monastery-palace of El Escorial, the epitome of Spanish imperial power > The ancient Roman aqueduct of the historic city of Segovia > Antoni Gaudí’s Sagrada Família in Barcelona, together with other works

Your tour leader

Dr Michael Neuman (April tour) is a former Professor at the University of NSW, where his work in urban history, specialising in Spain, has won international awards.

Dr Jeni Ryde (September tour) is a former Senior Lecturer at Western Sydney University. Her PhD focused on the Renaissance, heritage tourism and museology.

Getting there

We recommend Emirates flights into Madrid or Barcelona, with connecting flights to Granada with Vueling or Iberia.

Fitness requirement

Itinerary

Days 1–3: Visit Moorish sites in Granada and explore Spain’s Roman heritage. Days 4–6: Travel to Cordoba via small towns in Andalucía. Explore the Mosque and other remarkable sites. Days 7–9: Three nights in Sevilla exploring museums, architecture and simply relaxing. Days 10–13: High-speed train to Madrid, where we visit galleries and palaces, take a trip to El Escorial and have a full free day. Days 14–17: Travel to Barcelona, centre of Catalonian art and culture.

More details at academytravel.com.au

Barcelona (3)

spAIN Madrid (4)

Cordoba (3) Sevilla (3)

Granada (3)

Northern Spain & Portugal April 27 – May 16, 2018

$8,950 pp, twin share $2,150 single supplement

Discover • An architectural tradition that extends from Visigothic, Gothic and Romanesque cathedrals to striking contemporary structures • Medieval pilgrimage along the Camino to Santiago de Compostela • The celebrated regional food of Spain’s north, the fine wines of the Rioja and Rías Baixas regions and the port wine of Porto • A varied landscape of turquoise coastlines, lush river valleys and rugged interiors • The legacy of explorers in the many layers of history and art in Lisbon

Overview This journey takes us through the fascinating regions of Northern Spain via Porto to Lisbon, centre of the Portuguese Age of Discovery. We marvel at the architecture of Bilbao and sample world-class wine in Rioja, then explore Spain’s medieval history in Castilla and León and the Asturias regions, including the charming city of Oviedo. In lush Galicia we witness the devotion of medieval pilgrims on the Camino Francés and the spectacular cathedral at Santiago de Compostela. We then travel to Lisbon via Porto and the Duoro Valley, where we explore a city of outstanding art collections, spectacular monuments and vibrant neighbourhoods.

Your tour leader

Highlights

Dr Jeni Ryde is a former Senior Lecturer at Western Sydney University. Her PhD focused on the Renaissance, heritage tourism and museology. She has travelled extensively through Portugal and Spain.

> Frank Gehry’s extraordinary design at the Guggenheim in Bilbao > Wine-tasting at the avant-garde Bodega Ysios winery in the Rioja > The exquisite Romanesque and Gothic churches, cathedrals and monasteries in and around Burgos, León and Oviedo > A mountain walk and lunch in the clear air of the majestic Picos de Europa in Asturias > Fine tapas in San Sebastián, and Spain’s most renowned seafood restaurant in Galicia > An exceptional range of museums and galleries in Lisbon > A full day in Sintra exploring exquisite palaces decorated with tiles

Getting there Emirates fly to Barcelona, and home from Lisbon. A connecting flight is necessary from Barcelona to Bilbao with Vueling Airlines. Contact us for quotes and bookings.

Fitness requirement

Santiago de Compostela (3)

Itinerary

Oviedo (3) Leon (2)

Bilbao (3)

Burgos (2) Porto (1)

Portugal

spAIN

Lisbon (5)

www.academytravel.com.au

Days 1–3: In Bilbao, visit the Guggenheim, the fine arts museum and San Sebastián. Days 4–6: Explore the Rioja wine region, including Burgos cathedral, Romanesque monasteries and Visigothic churches. Days 7–8: Follow the Pilgrims’ Way to León and enjoy a stay at an iconic parador. Days 9–10: Visit the Romanesque churches in Oviedo, take a market tour and taste some of the local cider. Days 11–13: Visit Santiago de Compostela, and enjoy seafood and wine in Rías Baixas. Days 14–20: Travel to Portugal and enjoy a night in Porto followed by five nights in vibrant Lisbon.

Connect this tour with Grand Tour of Spain on page 19

Corsica & Sardinia

History & landscapes

May 5-17, 2018 September 22 – October 4, 2018

$7,650 pp, twin share $1,580 single supplement

Experience • Two Mediterranean islands whose diverse landscapes, cultures and history belie their proximity • Fascinating evidence of past settlements dating back millennia • World Heritage-listed sites and museums and spectacular coastal and mountain scenery • Vibrant contemporary cultures which have remained defiantly independent, despite centuries of invasion and occupation • A culinary heritage which blends history and tradition with the best of local produce

Overview The islands of Corsica and Sardinia each have a unique history stretching back millennia. They have distinct languages, culture and identity. This tour offers an exploration of these two Mediterranean islands which, despite centuries of invasion, plunder and settlement, retain a proud independent spirit. In their beautiful setting, we discover the diverse histories of each island, from their ancient sites through to their rich contemporary cultures. Extended stays on each island combine site and museum visits with time for independent sightseeing.

Highlights

Connect this tour with Switzerland to Rome on page 29

> The prehistoric site of Filitosa with its collection of extraordinary stone warriors > Bonifacio, perched on the precipitous limestone cliffs of southern Corsica, and Ajaccio, birthplace of Napoleon Bonaparte > Boat excursion along the stunning west coast of Corsica, including the Scandola Nature Reserve > Distinctive nuraghe, the prehistoric conical stone towers for which Sardinia is famous, and ancient port cities at Nora and Tharros > The Castello district in Cagliari, Sardinia’s capital, dating back to the 13th century > The fascinating medieval melting pot of Alghero, with its Catalan-Gothic monuments

Your tour leader

Dr Estelle Lazer (May tour) is an archaeologist of international acclaim. She has led numerous trips to southern Italy for Academy Travel. Robert Veel (Sept tour) holds a Bachelor of Arts and Masters of Education. He is a director of Academy Travel and leads tours to Europe, Scandinavia & Australia.

Getting there Emirates flies into Nice and out of Rome at times that coincide with the tour. Contact us for quotes and bookings.

Fitness requirement

Itinerary Days 1–3: There is a group flight from Nice to Ajaccio to commence the tour. Explore Ajaccio, the birthplace of Napoleon, and take a boat trip to the Scandola Nature Reserve. Days 4–6: Visit the megalithic site at Filitosa en route to the harbour-side citadel of Bonifacio. Days 7–9: Ferry across to Sardinia, admire the Costa Smeralda on the way to Alghero. Days 10–12: Travel to Cagliari via Nora, Tharros and Anghelu Ruju. Explore the UNESCO World Heritage site of Su Nuraxi at Barumini. Day 13: There is a group flight to Rome.

More details at academytravel.com.au

Italy Corsica Ajaccio (3)

Bonifacio (3) Santa Teresa Gallura

Alghero (3)

SARDINIA Cagliari (3)

Greece

Agamemnon to Alexander $8,975 pp, twin share $1,245 single supplement

May 5-22, 2018

Discover • Minoan culture and history, considered Europe’s first civilisation • Greece’s defining symbol of cultural achievement, at the acropolis in Athens • Mycenaean civilisations dating back to 1500 BC • The legends and mythology of ancient times, including the story of Jason and the Argonauts • Ancient Olympia and its legacy of the Olympic Games, whose values have carried through to the modern era • Macedonian kings Philip II and Alexander the Great, whose exploits altered the shape of history

Overview Explore Ancient Greece’s rich history on this 17-day tour focussing on two of the most remarkable eras, the Aegean Bronze Age and that of Macedonian ruler Philip and his son Alexander the Great. In Crete, we explore the sprawling palaces of the Minoan Age. We then travel to Athens and the Peloponnese, entering the world of Mycenaean kings with their forbidding palaces and monumental burials. We continue via the great classical sites of Olympia and Delphi before arriving at Thessaloniki, gateway to ancient Macedon.

Your tour leader

Dr John Tidmarsh is the former president of the University of Sydney’s Near Eastern Archaeology Foundation, and a former lecturer in the Department of Archaeology. He is also Co-Director of the University’s excavations at Pella in Jordan, and has also excavated in Greece and Cyprus.

Getting there Emirates offers daily flights to Athens, with onwards connection through Aegean Airlines to Heraklion and return from Thessaloniki.

Fitness requirement

Volos (2)

GREECE

Deplhi (2) Athens (2)

Olympia (1) Nafplio (2) Pylos (2)

Carefully planned itineraries

> The palace of Minos at Knossos, home to the legendary Minotaur > Athens’ incomparable museums, acropolis and agora > The palaces of Agamemnon at Mycenae, the citadel of Tiryns and the beautifully preserved Palace of Nestor at Pylos > Delphi, home to the famous oracle > The stone pinnacles of Meteora, crowned by Byzantine-era monasteries > The Macedonian capital of Pella, birthplace of Alexander, with its opulent houses and fine mosaics > Vergina, where Alexander’s father Philip was assassinated, his spectacular unplundered tomb revealed in 1977

Itinerary

Thessaloniki (3)

CRETE

Highlights

Heraklion (3)

Days 1–3: Arrive Heraklion and explore the palaces of Knossos, Malia and Phaistos. Days 4–5: Fly to Athens, admire the acropolis and the Archaeological Museum. Days 6–7: Drive to Nafplio to visit Mycenae, Sparta and Tiryns. Days 8–9: The Palace of Nestor and the Venetian castle at Methoni. Day 10: The Sanctuary of Zeus at Olympia. Days 11–12: Continue to the seat of the oracle at Delphi. Days 13–14: Travel to Volos via Meteora. Days 15–18: Drive to Thessaloniki and explore the Macedonian kingdom of Pella and Vergina.

Amsterdam to Paris

from van Eyck to van Gogh

$8,630 pp, twin share $2,310 single supplement

May 11-27, 2018

Get to know • More than five centuries of European masterpieces, from the Middle Ages to the modern era • Innovation and the relentless pursuit of beauty in the works of Van Eyck, Rembrandt, Rubens, Vermeer, Van Gogh • How the considerable wealth and the exchange of goods and ideas from around the world in the merchant cities of northern Europe created a dynamic cultural scene • The broader history and development of some of Europe’s richest, most vibrant and historically cosmopolitan cities

Overview The Low Countries have extraordinary artistic traditions which have withstood and evolved with some of the most significant upheavals in European history. On this tour, Dr Nick Gordon takes you from Amsterdam to Delft, Brussels, Bruges and Paris, exploring the art and architecture that flourished in these dynamic environments. We also visit smaller centres such as Utrecht and Ghent, while enjoying exceptional museums and galleries and exquisitely preserved medieval and Renaissance cityscapes.

Highlights

Connect this tour with Lakes & Villas of Northern Italy on page 14

> The refurbished Rijksmuseum, housing the world’s finest collection of Dutch painting, with masterpieces by Rembrandt and Vermeer > Stays in beautifully preserved medieval and Renaissance cities, including Bruges and Delft > Master paintings in some of Europe’s finest galleries, including the Louvre and the Mauritshuis > Visits to many less well-visited galleries, seeing the extraordinary works overlooked by most travellers > Modern masterpieces by northern masters – Van Gogh, Magritte and Escher

Your tour leader

Dr Nick Gordon has a University Medal and PhD in history from the University of Sydney. Having taught at university for 10 years, he now leads tours exclusively for Academy Travel. An intimate knowledge of art gained from being a painter complements his academic background.

Getting there Emirates and Singapore Airlines offer flights from Australia to Amsterdam and home from Paris. Contact us for quotes and bookings.

Fitness requirement

Itinerary Days 1–4: Explore Amsterdam, once the centre of an empire extending from Brazil to Japan. Days 5–7: Visit art sites in Utrecht and The Hague, as well as Rotterdam and Delft. Days 8–10: In Brussels, visit superb Old Masters and modern galleries, admire Gothic and art nouveau architecture and tour Wallonia. Days 11–13: Visit Ghent to see the famous altarpiece by the Van Eycks, before exploring Bruges and Tournai. Days 14–17: Cap off our tour with visits to the Louvre, Cluny and the Musée d’Orsay in Paris.

More details at academytravel.com.au

Netherlands Amsterdam (4) Delft (2)

Bruges (3) Brussels (4)

BELGIUM FRANCE Paris (3)

Berlin & Beyond Berlin, Leipzig & Dresden May 21 – June 3, 2018

$7,250 pp, twin share $1,750 single supplement

Explore • A dynamic city that dominated 20th-century history and is one of the great cultural capitals of Europe • Museums of art and antiquities of the highest importance • An internationally-acclaimed centre of contemporary art, design and architecture • A famous musical heritage, with outstanding ensembles such as the Berlin Philharmonic and three major opera houses • The fascinating history of nearby Potsdam, Dresden and Leipzig

Overview This two-week residential-style tour allows you to take an in-depth look at Berlin, and also the nearby cities of Potsdam, Dresden and Leipzig. Daily walking tours, background talks and guided visits trace the history and development of Berlin from its earliest days through the glory days of the Prussian and German Empires, to the darker days of the early 20th century and its renaissance since 1989.

Your tour leader

Thomas Abbott was born in the US but has lived in Germany since 1988. He holds a degree in art history and has led many cultural tours throughout Germany, specialising in the architecture of Berlin, the art of 18th-century Germany and the Bauhaus.

Getting there

Etihad Airways fly in and out of Berlin daily. Contact us for quotes and bookings.

Fitness requirement

Highlights > Visits to Berlin’s major galleries, including the Pergamon Museum, the Egyptian Museum and the Gemäldegalerie > Walks through the historic neighbourhoods of both east and west Berlin > A full day in Potsdam, visiting Frederick the Great’s Sanssouci and the many other architectural gems of this beautiful town > Travel through the scenic countryside to the charming old town of Renaissance Leipzig, which Göethe describes in Faust as “a little Paris” > Spend time in the elegantly restored city of Dresden, see the impressive art collections at the Zwinger Palace > Farewell meal atop the Reichstag with views across Berlin

Itinerary GERMANY

Berlin (9)

Potsdam

Leipzig (2)

Dresden (2)

Expert tour leaders

Days 1–3: Explore medieval Berlin in the Nikolaiviertel, cruise the Spree River to the elegantly restored Charlottenburg Palace and tour the world-class Gemäldegalerie. Day 4: Excursion to Potsdam to examine the extensive complex of palaces, gardens and pavilions. Days 5–6: Two days on Museum Island, including the antiquities of the Pergamon Museum. Days 7–10: Spend two days each in Leipzig and Dresden. Days 11–14: Modern Berlin at the Bauhaus Archive, New National Gallery, and the Hamburger Bahnhof Museum of Contemporary Art.

Burgundy,Provence&Theriviera Medieval & Modern

$8,850 pp, twin share $1,450 single supplement

June 2-17, 2018

Enjoy • The extraordinary art and history of southern France, with its landscapes that inspired Van Gogh and Picasso • Medieval France, from the birth of Romanesque art and architecture at Cluny and Vézelay, to the Dukes of Burgundy and the popes in Avignon • Excellent regional galleries and museums, including Picasso at Antibes, the Fondation Maeght, and Lyon’s Musée des Beaux-Arts • Provence, Burgundy and the Côte d’Azur: home to some of France’s most beautiful hamlets, countryside and fine gastronomy

Overview This new 16-day tour begins in Burgundy, a region renowned for its charming villages, vineyards and majestic medieval architecture. Travelling south through Lyon to the Côte d’Azur, we admire fine Roman ruins, including the Pont du Gard, visit exceptional regional art galleries, and enjoy the exuberant atmosphere and inspirational colour of the French Riviera.

Highlights > Stunning art galleries in less-visited cities, from Dijon’s Musée des Beaux-Arts to Arles’ Fondation Vincent van Gogh and the Fondation Maeght in St-Paul-de-Vence > Atmospheric Romanesque architecture, from Cluny to Vézelay and Berzé-la-Ville > Exceptionally well-preserved remnants of Roman Gaul in Lyon, Arles and the amphitheatre, at Nîmes, and the celebrated aqueduct, Pont du Gard > Medieval Avignon, including the celebrated Palais des Papes > Van Gogh’s world in Arles; Picasso, Matisse, Chagall and Cocteau on the French Riviera > France’s premier gastronomic regions, from fine wines in Burgundy to haute cuisine on the Riviera

Itinerary Days 1–4: Arrive Dijon, to tour Cluny, Vézelay and Autun. Visit Beaune’s Hôtel Dieu, home to Rogier van der Weyden’s Last Judgement, and Dijon’s Palace of the Dukes of Burgundy. Days 5–7: Tour the Roman ruins of Lyon, admire contemporary Lyonnais art and cuisine. Days 8–11: Explore the papal palace of Avignon, travel to Nîmes to see the Roman ruins and the Pont du Gard, and walk in Van Gogh’s footsteps in Arles. Days 12–16: From Antibes, explore Marseilles and the Côte d’Azur, with art galleries and museums dedicated to Bonnard, Picasso and Chagall. More details at academytravel.com.au

Your tour leader

Dr Kathleen Olive has a PhD in Italian Studies from the University of Sydney, and has taught the history of medieval and Renaissance Europe at universities in Sydney since 2001. She is one of Academy Travel’s most respected tour leaders.

Getting there

Emirates fly into Geneva and out of Nice at times that coincide with the tour. Contact us for quotes and bookings.

Fitness requirement

Vezelay

Dijon (4) Beaune

Switzerland Geneva Lyon (3)

FRANCE

Avignon (4) Nimes Arles Marseille

Saint Paul de Vence

Nice

Antibes (4)

Gardens of Southern England June 6-20, 2018

$9,150 pp, twin share $2,350 single supplement

Explore • The exquisite countryside of midsummer England, experienced through visits to fine gardens, stately homes, country houses and castles • The gardens of passionate professional gardeners and writers, from Lancelot ‘Capability’ Brown to Gertrude Jekyll, and Vita Sackville-West to Christopher Lloyd • The gardens of passionate amateurs, including Henry Hoare at Stourhead and Sir Roy Strong at The Laskett • The history of the English garde

Overview This tour surveys the work of the passionate men and women who, over the past three hundred years, have created some of the best-loved gardens in the south of England – from the magnificent 18th-century Arcadian landscapes at Rousham and Stourhead, with their temples, lakes and grottoes, to idyllic Kelmscott Manor, the Arts and Crafts country home of William Morris. We also visit Britain’s oldest botanic garden, in Oxford, as well as one of its newest and most influential gardens, at Highgrove House.

Your tour leader

Michael Turner is a garden historian and classicist. The former Senior Curator of the Nicholson Museum at the University of Sydney, he now lives in Sussex. He is a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries in London and a member of the English Historic Gardens Society.

Getting there Singapore and Emirates fly to London daily. . Contact us for quotes and bookings.

Highlights

> The private gardens of Their Royal Highnesses The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall > Stourhead, the most beautiful 18th-century Arcadian landscape garden in England > Blenheim Palace, steeped in more than 300 years of history, and its magnificent parkland landscaped by ‘Capability’ Brown > Chartwell, the beloved home of Sir Winston Churchill > Jewels of the Arts and Crafts movement: Kelmscott Manor, Hidcote, Sissinghurst and Great Dixter > The gardens of romantic Hever Castle and the beautifully situated Arundel Castle

Fitness requirement

Itinerary ENGLAND Oxford (4) London Royal Tunbridge Wells (3)

Bath (3) Lewes (4)

Maximum 20 in a group

Days 1–4: Tour begins in Oxford. Visit the beautiful Oxford Botanic Garden, Kelmscott Manor, Rousham and Blenheim House. Days 5–7: From our base in Bath we visit the Laskett Gardens, Stourhead, Royal Highgrove and other estates. Days 8–10: Travel to Royal Tunbridge Wells from where we visit Sissinghurst, Great Dixter and Chartwell, Winston Churchill’s estate. Days 11–14: From Lewes, enjoy several wonderful castles, homes and gardens in the Sussex Downs. Day 15: Transfer to London for flights home.

Scandinavia & Iceland The Nordic World

$10,720 pp, twin share $2,430 single supplement

June 11-25, 2018

Get to know • The fjords of Norway • Denmark’s royal traditions, from Hamlet’s castle at Helsingør (Elsinore) to Frederick and Mary • Iceland’s unique blend of Celtic, Viking and Nordic culture, shaped by its remarkable volcanic landscape • Modern art and design, including the art of Edvard Munch, the architecture of Jørn Utzon and the opera houses of Henning Larsen • The history of Scandinavia, from the voyages of the Vikings to the Kingdom of Denmark, and the emergence of modern Nordic culture

Overview This new 15-day tour takes you from Copenhagen, to Oslo, Bergen and Iceland, and explores the region’s distinctive cultural traditions, from the Vikings of the Middle Ages to the emergence of a unique modern culture expressed through the art of Edvard Munch and cutting-edge architecture and design. Equally impressive is the natural beauty of the region, from the golden fields of southern Sweden, to the fjords of Norway and the pristine coastlines and wild, volcanic landscapes of Iceland.

Highlights > Modern art and architecture in Copenhagen, Oslo and Bergen > Jørn Utzon in Copenhagen > Helsingør castle, the setting of Shakespeare’s Hamlet > The fjords of Norway and the art of Edvard Munch > Southern Sweden, from the World Heritage-listed cathedral of Lund to the mysterious standing stones of Ales > The unique atmosphere of Reykjavik, the world’s most northerly capital city > The landscapes of Iceland, including the Snaefellsnes Peninsula, where Jules Verne set his Journey to the Centre of the Earth

Your tour leader

Dr Nick Gordon holds a University Medal and a PhD in European history from the University of Sydney. He has taught European history at university for ten years and continues to lecture on art and history. He has led tours for Academy Travel since 2007.

Getting There British Airways offers flights to Copenhagen and from Reykjavik via Heathrow. Contact us for quotes and bookings.

Fitness requirement

Itinerary Days 1–5: Explore Copenhagen and its surrounds, including Elsinore Castle, Utzon’s Bagsvaerd Church and the Louisiana Art Museum. Enjoy a day trip to southern Sweden, visiting Lund and the standing stones of Ales. Days 6–9: Discover Oslo with its modern architecture, fine art collections and Viking history. Experience the natural beauty of the Norwegian Fjords and relax in Bergen. Days 10–15: Fly to Reykjavik and discover its unique history and culture. Explore the geysers, volcanos and the rugged isolated coastlines of Iceland. Experience the untouched beauty of the Snaefellsnes Peninsula by coach and snowcat. More details at academytravel.com.au

Iceland Budir (1) Reykjavik (4)

NORWAY Bergen (2) Oslo (2) 1

Copenhagen (4)

Denmark

Gardens & castles of Scotland July 2-17, 2018

$9,650 pp, twin share $2,200 single supplement

Discover • The history of the Scottish garden, as rich as the history of the country itself, spanning the past 500 years • Gardens in their full mid-summer glory • A diverse nation with dynamic cities and castles steeped in tradition, and islands shrouded in the mists of legend • On Beauty and the Sublime: the natural splendour of the Scottish landscape, from delicate medieval walled and formal gardens, to the mountain wilderness of the National Parks • Edinburgh, the Royal Mile from the Castle to the Palace of Holyrood

Overview Scotland is a country of dramatic landscapes, sublime beauty and haunting history. From the sophistication of Edinburgh, to the wild and dramatic Highlands and on to the mystical isles of the West Coast, this new 16-day tour visits some of the most beautiful gardens and castles in this enchanted land. As well as the gardens, we explore the landscape in which they’re set and enjoy the heritage and culture of the Celts.

Your tour leader

Michael Turner is a garden and art historian. The former Senior Curator of the Nicholson Museum, he now lives in Sussex from where he writes and lectures on garden history. He is a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries in London and member of the English Gardens Trust.

Getting there Singapore Airlines and Emirates offer daily flights into Edinburgh and home from Glasgow. Contact us for quotes and bookings.

Fitness requirement

> Private tours with owners and head gardeners of some of Scotland’s greatest gardens > Abbotsford, the house and garden of Sir Walter Scott > A private and personal visit to meet the owners of Broadwoodside, Scotland’s most influential new garden > Balmoral, the summer retreat of Her Majesty the Queen and the Royal Family > A private tour of Portree and of the Isle of Skye, including a visit to the very new Misty Isle gin distillery > Travelling from Skye to Fort William on the Jacobite steam train, said to be ‘the greatest railway journey in the world’

Itinerary

Skye (3)

Inverness (4)

Scotland

Inveraray (3)

Glasgow

Highlights

Edinburgh (5)

www.academytravel.com.au

Days 1–6: Explore Edinburgh’s Royal Botanic Garden. Day trips to Floors Castle, Abbotsford, Cambo, Falkland Palace and Broadwoodside. Days 7–10: Travel into the Highlands to Inverness, via Drummond Castle and Blair Castle. Day trips to Cawdor, Ballindalloch and Balmoral, and into Wester Ross to visit Dundonnell House and Inverewe. Days 11–13: To the Isle of Skye via Loch Ness and Attadale. On Skye, visit Dunvegan Castle and the Museum of the Isles at Armadale Castle. Days 14–16: The Jacobite steam train from Mallaig to Fort William and on to Inverary, our final destination, to visit Inverary Castle and Mount Stewart on Bute.

Switzerland to Rome

A journey through medieval Italy $8,280 pp, twin share $1,940 single supplement

September 2-18, 2018

Explore • The beauty of Lake Geneva, the Great St Bernard Pass and the Val d’Aosta • The profound influence of pilgrimage on the hillside hamlets, abbeys and less-touristed towns of the north and centre • Masterpieces of medieval and Renaissance art and architecture in Orvieto, Pavia, Siena and Pienza • Romanesque Italy and the extraordinary landscape of southern Tuscany • The wonderful regional cuisines of Emilia-Romagna, Tuscany and Lazio

Overview Follow the pilgrim road from Lake Geneva to Rome and step back in time on this 17-day journey. This tour takes you through varied and dramatic landscapes, from the Swiss Alps to the Apennines and the fields of Tuscany, and visits some of Italy’s most beautiful medieval towns, less touristed medieval monuments and Renaissance masterpieces.

Highlights > The beautiful landscapes and towns of Tuscany: San Gimignano, Siena, Lucca and Pienza > Sublime alpine scenery, as we cross the Great St Bernard Pass from Switzerland to the Val d’Aosta > The magnificent cathedrals of Orvieto, Pisa and Pavia and the medieval and Renaissance gems they preserve > The Apennine hill towns of Emilia-Romagna and Italy’s most highly regarded regional cuisine > Medieval Rome: enjoy historic sites beyond the tourist trail, including San Clemente and Santa Costanza

Your tour leader

Getting there Emirates fly into Geneva and out of Rome at times that coincide with this tour. Contact us for quotes and bookings.

Fitness requirement

Itinerary Days 1–4: Arrive Geneva and transfer to Montreux on the shores of Lake Geneva. Explore Lake Geneva, and cross the Great St Bernard Pass to the Val d’Aosta. Days 5–7: Explore the Val d’Aosta, visit Pavia, and enjoy the medieval hamlets and cuisine of Emilia-Romagna. Days 8–13: Travel through the landscapes and towns of medieval Tuscany, from our bases in Pisa and Pienza. Enjoy Siena and experience a procession in Lucca, which dates back to the Middle Ages. Days 14–17: Visit Orvieto and discover medieval Rome, including San Clemente, Santa Costanza and the catacombs of Sant’Agnese fuori le mura.

switzerland Montreux (3) Geneva

Aosta (2) Pavia Salsomaggiore (2)

ITALY Pisa (3) Pienza (3)

Rome (3)

Fitness requirement More details at academytravel.com.au

Around the baltic Hamburg to Helsinki

$9,250 pp, twin share $2,150 single supplement

August 15-31, 2018

Get to know • Centuries of battling for dominance in the Baltic, from Viking raiders to trading leagues, Christian crusaders and modern empires • The golden age of northern Germany and the stunning Hanseatic cities of Hamburg, Bremen and Lubeck • The rise and fall of Scandinavian ambitions, and their legacy in Copenhagen and Helsinki • The unspoiled beauty, medieval masterpieces, and long struggle for independence in Latvia and Estonia • Art, architecture, music and design in Copenhagen, Hamburg and Helsinki

Overview This new tour circumnavigates the Baltic Sea and explores its fascinating history and culture in depth. Discover the first Iron Age and Viking expeditions from Scandinavia, the great Hanseatic trading league of Germany which dominated Northern Europe for four centuries, and the struggle for control between Scandinavia, Russia and Germany in the modern era. We’ll be treated to some of the most stunning architecture, art and design of Northern Europe, spanning the medieval to the modern era.

Your tour leader

Dr Matthew Laing has a PhD from the ANU and is a lecturer and fellow at Monash University, specialising in leadership and political history. An ADFAS lecturer on history, he has led many tours to the United States and Europe.

Getting there Emirates and Qantas offer flights to Hamburg and return via London from Helsinki. Contact us for quotes and bookings.

Fitness requirement FINLAND Helsinki (3) Tallinn (3)

ESTONIA Denmark Helsingør Copenhagen (3)

Lübeck Hamburg (5) Bremen

GERMANY

Riga (2)

Latvia

Carefully planned itineraries

Highlights > Hamburg’s stunning Hanseatic waterfront, Lutheran cathedrals and Kunsthalle > The remarkably intact Brick Gothic cityscapes of Bremen and Lubeck > Helsingør Castle, the setting of Shakespeare’s Hamlet > Great art nouveau architecture in Riga, and the medieval city of Tallinn > The beauty of the Baltic, from Helsinki’s Suomenlinna fortress to the rugged islands of southern Denmark and our ferry crossing from Estonia > Modern design by Jørn Utzon in Copenhagen and Alvar Aalto in Helsinki > World-class music and opera in Hamburg, Copenhagen and Helsinki

Itinerary Days 1–5: In Hamburg, see world-class art, music and architecture, and discover the Hanseatic world with day trips to Lubeck and Bremen. Days 6–8: In Copenhagen via the southern islands and Roskilde, visiting Viking heritage, royal palaces and modern masterpieces. Days 9–10: Fly to Riga, and take in its beautiful old city and collections. Days 11–13: Drive to Tallinn via ancient castles and visit this superbly preserved medieval capital. Days 14–17: Ferry to Helsinki, and explore its imperial history and its remarkable design, music and architecture.

Connect this tour with Switzerland to Rome on page 29

Prague, Budapest & Vienna Art, history & music in central europe

$8,780 pp, twin share $2,090 single supplement

September 17-30, 2018

Explore • The history of Central Europe, from the Habsburgs to re-emergence from behind the Iron Curtain • Art collections, from Old Masters to Klimt, Schiele and the Secessionists • Decorative arts collections and palaces, including Schonbrunn and the Kaizerliche Schatzkammer • Gems of modern architecture, including Mies van der Rohe’s Villa Tugendhat at Brno, and Otto Wagner and Joseph Hoffmann in Vienna • The rich musical traditions of the region and their deep cultural histories

Overview Experience the rich cultural traditions of Central Europe, from collections of fine and decorative arts accumulated over the centuries by kings and emperors, to royal palaces and gems of modern architecture, on this new 14-day tour. The tour is rounded out with the fine musical traditions of the region, and enjoys performances in Vienna and Prague or Budapest.

Highlights > Mies van der Rohe’s Villa Tugendhat near Brno, a beautifully renovated modernist masterpiece > Prague, one of Europe’s most alluring capitals > Vienna’s extraordinary fine and decorative arts collections, including the Kunsthistoriches Institut and Kaizerliche Schatzkammer, collections of the Habsburg emperors > Cruise down the Danube to Budapest, where we visit the Franz Liszt Academy and Hungary’s recently renovated Museum of Fine Arts > Performances in Vienna and Prague or Budapest (details TBA when the Autumn 2018 program is released)

Your tour leader

Christopher Menz is a former Director of the Art Gallery of South Australia and was Acting Director of The Ian Potter Museum of Art, The University of Melbourne. He has published extensively on the decorative arts, notably the design work of William Morris, and is a regular contributor to Australian Book Review.

Getting there Emirates and Qatar offer flights into Prague and out of Vienna daily. Contact us for quotes and bookings.

Fitness requirement

Itinerary Days 1–4: Arrive Prague; tour the beautiful city and its monuments from the Gothic to art nouveau, visit the Narodni Gallery and Cathedral of St Vitus. Days 5–6: Admire Mies van der Rohe’s Villa Tugendhat near Brno; tour Bratislava and cruise down the Danube to Budapest. Days 7–9: Explore the musical traditions of Budapest at the Liszt Academy and the city’s excellent galleries, including the recently reopened MFA and the Museum Ludwig. Days 10–14: Visit Klosterneuburg and Schonbrunn Palace, explore Vienna’s extraordinary fine and decorative art collections; enjoy performances. More details at academytravel.com.au

Prague (3)

Czech Brno

Slovakia Vienna (5)

AUSTRIA

Bratislava (2)

Budapest (3)

HUNGARY

St Petersburg & Moscow September 21 – October 7, 2018

$11,495 pp, twin share $2,215 single supplement

Experience

• A rich and tumultuous history stretching back hundreds of years • Vast repositories of art and culture in Russia’s incredible array of museums and galleries • Sumptuous palaces built for the tsars and designed by architects to rival the best in Western Europe • The resilience of a people who have survived catastrophic wars and revolution • Ancient wooden towns of the Golden Ring around Moscow

Overview

Delve into Russian culture, history and art on this comprehensive 17-day tour. Spend seven nights in St Petersburg exploring the city’s famous landmarks, art museums, churches and palaces, with a day trip to Catherine the Great’s palaces. Immerse yourself in Moscow’s Red Square, visit the Kremlin’s cathedrals and Armoury Collection and the Tretyakov Gallery. Spend three nights in Suzdal, with visits to the Golden Ring towns of Sergiev Posad and Vladimir.

Your tour leader

Dr Matthew Dal Santo is a historian with Honours degrees from both Sydney and Cambridge universities. He was a Fellow in History at Trinity College, where he received his PhD, and speaks numerous languages, including some Russian.

Getting there

Emirates offers flights from Australian cities via Dubai to St Petersburg and home from Moscow. Contact us for quotes and bookings.

Fitness requirement

Highlights

> Seven nights in St Petersburg visiting the Hermitage, the Fabergé Museum, Yusupov Palace and cathedrals > Full-day excursion to the magnificent palaces of Catherine the Great > Red Square and the treasures of the State Armoury in Moscow > A visit to the Kremlin, seat of the Tsars, headquarters of the USSR and residence of Vladimir Putin > Masterpieces of Russian art at the Tretyakov Gallery > Sergiev Posad, home of the Russian Orthodox Church > Three nights in Suzdal exploring the wooden architecture and churches of the Golden Ring

Itinerary St Petersburg (7)

RUSSIA

Pushkin

Suzdal (3) Vladimir Moscow (6)

Expert tour leaders

Day 1: Arrive in St Petersburg. Days 2–8: Over seven days explore the city’s extraordinary landmarks, galleries, churches, palaces and museums, including a day trip to Catherine’s palaces at Pushkin. Day 9: Travel in luxury by fast train to Moscow. Days 10–14: Over four days discover Red Square, the Kremlin, the Tretyakov Gallery and Moscow’s museums. Days 15–17: Stay three nights in the charming Golden Ring town of Suzdal, with visits to Sergiev Posad and Vladimir.

Portugal $8,860 pp, twin share $1,670 single supplement

October 11-25, 2018

Discover • Portugal’s archaeology, from granite megaliths at Almendres Cromlech to dinosaur footprints at Cabo Espichel • An architectural tradition embracing Roman, Moorish, Gothic and Renaissance styles • Rich cultural heritage – from fine wines and port, to the melancholic music of fado • A varied landscape of turquoise coastlines, lush river valleys and rugged interiors • The legacy of the explorers’ Golden Age of Discovery, in Lisbon’s many layers of history and art

Overview Discover Portugal on this new 15-day tour, from the triumph of Lisbon’s Golden Age, with its refined Manueline architecture and lively azulejos tiles, to the World Heritage-listed sites of Sintra and Évora, and the prehistoric megaliths of the Almendres Cromlech. At Tomar’s Convento de Cristo, headquarters of the Knights Templar, and medieval Coimbra, explore Portugal’s encounter with its Moorish legacy. Take a private cruise of the Douro, admire Paleolithic rock art in the Côa Valley, and witness Porto’s revival in outstanding contemporary art and architecture.

Highlights

Connect this tour with Grand Tour of Spain on page 19

> An exceptional range of museums and galleries in Lisbon and Porto > A full day in Sintra, exploring exquisite palaces decorated with tiles > Walk in the footprints of dinosaurs and admire spectacular coastline on Cabo Espichel > A full day cruising the Douro and two nights in Pinhão, celebrated for its excellent port wine > Exquisite Romanesque and Manueline Gothic churches, cathedrals and monasteries > Cutting-edge contemporary architecture from Rem Koolhaas and Álvaro Siza Vieira in Porto

Your tour leader

Dr Jeni Ryde is a former Senior Lecturer at Western Sydney University. Her PhD focused on the Renaissance, heritage tourism and museology. She has travelled extensively through Portugal and Spain.

Getting there Emirates offers flights into and out of Lisbon. Contact us for quotes and bookings.

Fitness requirement

Itinerary

Days 1–4: Explore Lisbon’s Age of Discovery, admire masterpieces at the Museu Gulbenkian. Excursion to fairytale Sintra. Days 5–7: Prehistoric and Roman archaeology around Évora. Days 8–9: The World Heritage-listed Convento de Cristo in Tomar. Coimbra, medieval capital of Portugal; 1st-century Roman villa life at Conímbriga. Days 10–11: Admire Aveiro, Venice of Portugal. Porto’s colourful Ribeira district. Days 12–13: Full day cruising the Douro and two nights in Pinhão. Cõa valley’s prehistoric rock art. Days 14–15: Return to Lisbon via the Cistercian abbey of São João de Tarouca. More details at academytravel.com.au

Porto (2)

Pinhão (2)

Coimbra (2)

Portugal

Lisbon (4,1) Evora (3)

Turkey

Classical, Byzantine & Ottoman October 16 – November 2, 2018

$7,870 pp, twin share $1,195 single supplement

Explore • Majestic Byzantine and Ottoman art and architecture in Istanbul • Ancient Neolithic, Greek and Roman civilisations of Asia Minor • The Byzantine rock-hewn churches and underground cities of Cappadocia • Medieval Seljuk civilisation – fine mosques and Whirling Dervishes • Ancient traditions and vibrant contemporary culture in Turkey • Fine food and a bustling modern scene on the Asian side of the Bosphorus • The superb collection of artefacts housed at the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations in Ankara

Overview Turkey has for centuries been a crossroads of religions and cultures, connecting the East with the West. Layers of Neolithic, Greek, Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman history have endowed it with a wealth of unique historical and archaeological sites, often found in places of breathtaking natural beauty. This 18-day journey follows a comprehensive path through Turkey’s rich past from Istanbul, one of the great cities of the world, to the Aegean coastal towns of Kusadasi and Assos and the unique landscape of Cappadocia, before concluding in Istanbul.

Your tour leader

Dr Jennifer Lawless has led tours to Turkey, Greece and Iran. Her PhD concerned the Australian POWs captured at Gallipoli. She has co-authored over ten books on ancient history and has been awarded a Churchill Fellowship and a NSW Premiers History Prize for her research and writing.

Getting there Emirates and Etihad offer regular flights to and from Istanbul. Contact us for quotes and bookings.

Fitness requirement

Highlights > Seven nights in Istanbul with visits to the major Byzantine and Ottoman sites > Ankara’s Museum of Anatolian Civilisations, housing artefacts from every significant archaeological site in Anatolia > The Gallipoli Peninsula, including Anzac Cove and Lone Pine > The archaeological sites of Assos and Troy > Three nights in Kusadasi, visiting the ancient cities of Ephesus, Priene, Miletus and Didyma > Three nights in Cappadocia with its ‘moonscape’ of caves and chimneys > The painted cave-churches at the Göreme Open Air Museum > The Neolithic site of Çatal Hüyük

Itinerary

Istanbul (7) Gallipoli

Assos (2)

TURKEY

Ankara Cappadocia (3)

Kusadasi (3) Pamukkale (1)

Konya (1)

Maximum 20 in a group

Days 1–4: Explore Istanbul from ancient times to the Ottoman conquest, visiting the Hagia Sophia, the city walls and Topkapı Palace. Days 5–7: Marvel at spectacular cave churches and unique volcanic landscapes in Cappadocia. Days 8–9: Examine the Neolithic site of Çatal Hüyük and Pamukkale. Days 10–12: On the Aegean coast, visit ancient Ephesus and Aphrodisias. Days 13–14: Two nights in Assos visiting Pergamum and Troy. Days 15–18: Return to Istanbul via Gallipoli for further exploration.

Music & Theatre tours Our music and theatre tours focus on the quality and rarity of performances, providing experiences that are simply not possible in Australia. We work closely with leading organisations, including Glyndebourne, The Metropolitan Opera, Carnegie Hall, the Berlin Philharmonic and the Bavarian State Opera. As well as orchestral music and opera, tours to New York and London feature a broad range of performing arts, including musicals, stage drama and dance.

More details at academytravel.com.au

London

music & theatre $8,950 pp, twin share $2,250 single supplement

January 18-29, 2018

Enjoy • 11 performances of the highest quality: opera, orchestral concerts and stage drama • Meetings with performing artists and local music experts • Music-themed visits to select museums and galleries • Background talks from a music educator, and post-performance discussions • Comfortable lodgings in a heritage building in Bloomsbury

Overview This carefully-curated tour brings together great performances, meetings with performing artists and music-themed sightseeing in one of the world’s great music cities. A diverse range of performances from Monteverdi to Richard Strauss, together with Dr Tom Ford’s expert commentary, will broaden your tastes and enhance your love of music. We visit all the major performing venues in London and hear all its major orchestras. Thanks to our association with Decca we have been able to arrange special music-oriented events that are not available to other travellers.

Performances 11 performances of opera, orchestral and choral music, chamber music and drama are included: > Royal Opera production of Monteverdi’s The Return of Ulysses > Richard Strauss’s thrilling Salome at the Royal Opera House > The London Philharmonic Orchestra in a concert performance of Wagner’s Das Rheingold > A French orchestral music marathon, with the Philharmonia Orchestra and London Symphony Orchestra > The Orchestra of La Scala, Milan, led by Riccardo Chailly > Recital by renowned pianist Paul Lewis > A recital at Wigmore Hall, a favourite London recital venue > Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar by the Royal Shakespeare Company > The Globe Theatre’s production of Shakespeare’s comedy All’s Well That End’s Well > Peter Shaffer’s play Amadeus at the National Theatre

www.academytravel.com.au

Your tour leader

Dr Tom Ford holds a PhD in history from the University of Adelaide. He has written extensively on classical music, and is currently the PR and media manager (classics and jazz) for Universal Music Australia, based in Sydney.

Getting there Singapore Airlines, Qantas, Emirates and Etihad fly to London daily. Contact us for quotes and bookings.

Fitness requirement

Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive in London. Days 2–4: Meet singer Aled Jones, visit the National Portrait Gallery and the Handel House Museum. Attend The Return of Ulysses, two concerts of French music and a piano recital. Days 5–8: Follow in the footsteps of Nellie Melba in London, visit Kenwood House, attend the RSC’s Julius Caesar and a concert by the orchestra of La Scala. Days 9–11: Visit the Victoria and Albert Museum, attend a London Philharmonic Orchestra gala and Salome at the Royal Opera. Day trip to Oxford. Day 12: Enjoy a recital at Wigmore Hall.

LONDON 11 nights The Wallace Collection

British Museum

Handel House Museum Royal Academy of Arts

Victoria & Albert Museum

Covent Garden

Tate Modern

Westminster Tate Britain

Tower Bridge

New York

Art, architecture, history & theatre $10,350 pp, twin share $2,930 single supplement

March 14-26, 2018

Experience • New York’s dramatic history, from colonial outpost to global metropolis • Outstanding performances: opera, orchestral concerts, plays and a musical • A breathtaking array of visual arts, ranging from European Old Masters to 20th-century classics and the cuttingedge contemporary scene • New York’s marvellous architectural heritage, with a focus on art deco, modern and contemporary • A survey of New York’s food scene, from historic venues to Michelin three-star establishments

Overview Wake up in the city that never sleeps – 12 times! Our annual New York residential tour combines a carefully-selected range of performances, from jazz to Broadway, orchestral music and opera, with private visits to a selection of the city’s best museums and galleries, dining in some of its best restaurants, architectural walking tours and explorations of renowned neighbourhoods: Brooklyn, Soho, Chelsea, Downtown, the Upper East Side and Central Park. Accommodation is in spacious premier-plus rooms at the Warwick Hotel, perfect for attending theatres and visiting galleries.

Your tour leader

Dr Matthew Laing has a PhD in American political history from the ANU and is a fellow at Monash University, specialising in politics, history and leadership. An ADFAS lecturer on history, he has led many tours to the United States and Europe.

Getting there Qantas and United Airlines fly regularly to the East Coast. Contact us for quotes and bookings.

Fitness requirement

Guggenheim Museum Neue Museum Frick Collection

Lincoln Center Theater Carnegie Hall Broadway

High Line

Warwick Hotel

MoMA

Morgan Library

NEW YORK 12 nights

More details at academytravel.com.au

Highlights Performances > Franco Zeffirelli’s acclaimed production of Puccini’s Turandot at the Met > Renowned violinist Itzhak Perlman and pianist Martha Argerich in recital at Carnegie Hall > The New York Philharmonic Orchestra in concert > The much anticipated drama The Minutes, by Pulitzer-prize winner Tracy Letts Art and Design > A private out-of-hours viewing of the MoMA with a museum lecturer > Charming small galleries, including the Frick Collection and the Neue Museum > Cutting-edge design at the Cooper-Hewitt, and in Soho and Chelsea Architecture and History > Architectural walking tours of Midtown’s art deco, Downtown and the High Line > New York’s fascinating history of immigration, from Ellis Island to the Lower East Side > Brownstone streetscapes, fantastic museums and diverse history in Brooklyn Fine Dining > Lunch at the Michelin two-star restaurant The Modern, inside MoMA > Degustation dinner at the Michelin threestar restaurant Eleven Madison Park > Lunch at Fraunces Tavern, a favourite of George Washington

From the Rhine to the Alps Opera in Switzerland & Germany

$11,680 pp, twin share $2,760 single supplement

April 13-30, 2018

Delight in • Ten performances at some of Europe’s premiere venues • A particular focus on opera, with nine performances spanning the early 19th to the 20th centuries • The stunning landscape and heritage of the Rhine River • Outstanding food and fine wine in Alsace and Franconia • Picturesque and historic towns of northern Bavaria and visits to castles and the scenic Bavarian Alps • Background talks on all performances and post-performance discussion

Overview Continuing our tradition of performances of opera and orchestral music of the highest calibre, Academy Travel is proud to present this 18-day program, built around ten performances at opera houses and concert halls in Switzerland and Germany. Familiar repertoire by Rossini, Bellini, Donizetti and Wagner is complemented by the opportunity to see several rarely performed operas, including works by Prokofiev, Janácek and Arrigo Boito, who was one of Verdi’s librettists. In addition, there is a concert by the Munich Philharmonic Orchestra, led by one of the leading conductors of our day, Semyon Bychkov.

Performances This tour is designed around ten performances, with nine operas and one concert by the Munich Philharmonic Orchestra: In Basel > Prokofiev’s rarely-performed The Gambler at Theater Basel > Rossini’s La Cenerentola at Theater Basel > Donizetti’s Maria Stuarda, with star soprano Diana Damrau at the Zurich Opera House In Frankfurt > Wagner’s Das Rheingold at Oper Frankfurt > Bellini’s La sonnambula at Oper Frankfurt > Janácek’s From the House of the Dead at Oper Frankfurt In Nuremberg > Zimmermann’s Die Soldaten (The Soldiers) at Staatstheater Nuremberg In Munich > The Munich Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Semyon Bychkov > Donizetti’s Lucrezia Borgia at the Bavarian State Opera > Arrigo Boito’s rarely-performed Mefistofele at the Bavarian State Opera

Carefully planned itineraries

Your tour leader

Robert Gay is one of Australia’s leading music tour leaders and music educators. He has designed and led more than 80 performancebased tours. For 30 years he has presented music history courses at the Centre for Continuing Education at the University of Sydney.

Getting there Emirates fly into Zurich and out of Munich at times that coincide with the tour. Contact us for quotes and bookings.

Fitness requirement

Itinerary Days 1–5: The tour begins in Basel with performances at the opera and day trips to the Beyeler Foundation, Zurich and the Rhine Falls at Schaffhausen, and through Alsace to Colmar. Days 6–10: Travel though the Black Forest to Frankfurt, stopping in Baden-Baden. Attend the opera in Frankfurt and visit Goethe’s birth house. Take a cruise along the Rhine River. Days 11–13: Our next stop is Nuremberg via Würzburg. Attend the opera in Nuremburg and spend the day visiting Wagner’s town of Bayreuth. Days 14–18: The tour ends in Munich with performances at the opera, a day in the Alps and leading galleries.

Frankfurt (5)

Bayreuth

Würzburg

Nuremberg (3)

Baden-Baden

GERMANY Colmar

Munich (4)

Basel (5) Zurich

Switzerland

Great Musical Cities

Prague, Vienna & Budapest

$9,440 pp, twin share $1,950 single supplement

April 16-30, 2018

Enjoy • Orchestral music and opera of the highest quality in Central Europe’s most celebrated music venues • The rich musical traditions of Austria, Hungary and the Czech Republic • In-depth background to the music you will hear in live performance • Visits to wonderfully preserved baroque theatres in Cesky Krumlov and Prague • The delightful city of Bratislava on the Danube and the breathtaking scenery at Cesky Krumlov in southern Bohemia • The many glorious Art Nouveau buildings in Prague

Overview This 15-day tour visits three of the great music capitals of Central Europe: Vienna, Prague and Budapest. As well as attending a series of fine performances, this musical pilgrimage takes you to the places where some of the great composers lived and worked. In Budapest, there are museums dedicated to Liszt and Bartok; in Vienna, an astonishing number of sites associated with Mozart, Beethoven and Schubert; and in the countryside near Prague, the birthplace of Dvorak. We will also visit two beautifully preserved baroque theatres, one in Cesky Krumlov and the other the celebrated Estates Theatre in Prague.

Your tour leader

Lindy Montgomery is a graduate of both the University of Sydney and the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, where she taught musicology for 13 years. Lindy possesses a fine soprano voice and has featured as a soloist with the Pinchgut Opera and the Australian Brandenburg Orchestra.

Getting there Emirates fly into Prague and out of Budapest at times that coincide with the tour.

Fitness requirement

Itinerary Prague (4)

CZECH Ceske Budejovice (1)

SLOVAKIA

Cesky Krumlov

Bratislava Vienna (5)

AUSTRIA

Budapest (4)

HUNGARY More details at academytravel.com.au

Days 1–4: In Prague, attend outstanding performances and visit a range of sites both in the city and the surrounding countryside. Day 5: Stay overnight in Ceske Budejovice and take a day trip to nearby Cesky Krumlov in the Czech Republic. Days 6–10: In Vienna, in addition to performances, visit venues where Mozart, Beethoven and Schubert lived and worked. Days 11–15: Visit Bratislava en route to Budapest, attend performances and enjoy walking tours of both Buda and Pest, the Bartok and Liszt museums, and the Empress Elisabeth’s castle at Gödöllö.

Performances In Prague > Prague Symphony Orchestra conducted by Jac van Steen at Smetana Hall, featuring pianist Lukas Vondracek > Mozart’s Le Nozzie di Figaro at the Estates Theatre > The Wayward Daughter ballet at the National Theatre In Vienna > Beethoven’s Fidelio and Verdi’s Aida at the Vienna State Opera > Gewandhausorchester Leipzig conducted by Andris Nelsons, featuring pianist Yefim Bronfman > Pianist Piotr Anderszewski at the Konzerthaus In Budapest > Verdi’s Un Ballo in Maschera at the Erkel Theatre > Anton Bruckner’s Symphony No. 8, with the Budapest Festival Orchestra conducted by Jukka-Pekka Saraster

Opera in New York April 18-27, 2018

$9,250 pp, twin share $2,300 single supplement

Experience • Some of the greatest stars in the operatic firmament: Anna Netrebko, Joyce DiDonato, Sonya Yoncheva, Pretty Yende, Placido Domingo • Grand Tier seating at the Met for all performances • Glorious vocal music from Mozart to Puccini • Superb productions by leading stage directors: Bartlett Sher, Laurent Pelly, Sir David McVicar, Elijah Moshinsky • In-depth analysis of productions and performers

Overview Netrebko, DiDonato, Domingo, Yoncheva, Perez – the stars of the operatic firmament come out in a star-studded lineup at New York’s Metropolitan Opera, unrivalled by any other opera company anywhere in the world! Academy Travel is delighted to offer lovers of vocal music a 10-day program that includes six outstanding performances at the Met. We’ve secured seats in the Grand Tier for all performances, and the performance program is complemented by background talks and visits to a select range of galleries and museums.

Tour leader

Getting there Qantas and United Airlines fly regularly to the East Coast. Contact us for quotes and bookings.

Fitness requirement

Performances > Mozart’s Così fan tutte – with Amanda Majeski and Christopher Maltman > Verdi’s dramatic Luisa Miller – starring Sonya Yoncheva and Placido Domingo > Gounod’s Roméo et Juliette – a hit production, starring the brilliant American soprano Ailyn Pérez and Bryan Hymel > Donizetti’s Lucia di Lammermoor – with coloratura Pretty Yende, currently the world’s leading exponent of the title role > Massenet’s Cendrillon – a Laurent Pelly production, starring the celebrated mezzo soprano Joyce DiDonato > Puccini’s Tosca, starring Russian diva Anna Netrebko in the David McVicar production

Itinerary

Guggenheim Museum

Metropolitan Opera

Neue Museum Met Museum Frick Collection Warwick Hotel

MoMA Times Square

Morgan Library

NEW YORK 9 nights

Expert tour leaders

Day 1: Meet for welcome drinks. Day 2: Downtown walking tour. Così fan tutte. Day 3: Frick Collection, Rockefeller Center. Day 4: Museum of Art and Design. Luisa Miller. Day 5: Neue Galerie. Central Park. Day 6: Met Museum. Roméo et Juliette. Day 7: Guggenheim Museum. Cendrillon. Day 8: JP Morgan Library. Lucia di Lammermoor. Day 9: MoMA private viewing. Tosca. Day 10: Free morning. Airport transfers.

Music in Scandinavia

including the Bergen International Festival $11,495 pp, twin share $1,595 single supplement

May 22 – June 6, 2018

Get to know • The fascinating relationship between Nordic music and the region’s culture, tradition and landscape • Excellent performances by the region’s orchestras and opera companies • Outstanding contemporary Nordic architecture and design in opera houses and concert halls • Stunning scenery, from Stockholm’s island-strewn harbour to the fjords and mountains around Bergen • Norse mythology as a source of inspiration for Nordic and German composers, including Wagner

Overview This 16-day tour explores the landscape, history and music of Finland, Sweden and Norway. These northern lands have a strong and distinctive musical tradition, expressed not only through their composers – including famous names like Grieg and Sibelius – but also through the many fine conductors, singers and instrumentalists who hail from these parts. Nordic music is often inspired by folk literature and traditions, and travelling through the landscapes that have evoked these ideas will undoubtedly enhance your appreciation of the haunting music of this region.

Your tour leader

Robert Gay is one of Australia’s leading music tour leaders and music educators. He has designed dozens of music courses and led more than 80 performance-based tours around the world. For 30 years he has been presenting music history courses for the Centre for Continuing Education at the University of Sydney.

Getting there Finnair offers well-priced flights from Australia to Helsinki. Contact us for quotes and bookings.

Fitness requirement

Itinerary NORWAY

FINLAND

Bergen (4)

Helsinki (3)

Oslo (3) Stockholm (4) 1

SWEDEN

More details at academytravel.com.au

Days 1–4: In Helsinki, explore sites associated with Sibelius, as well as great architecture and design. Overnight ferry to Stockholm. Days 5–8: Explore Stockholm’s maritime history and visit Drottningholm Palace. Days 9–11: Fly to Oslo in Norway to view the Viking Ship Museum, the art of Munch and others, and Oslo’s harbourfront opera house. Days 12–15: Take a train and boat journey to Bergen for four nights, to enjoy the Bergen Festival and sites associated with Grieg and Ole Bull. Day 16: Begin Iceland extension, or return home.

Performances Nine performances are included, with three operas, two ballets and two concert performances. There will also be two performances included at the Bergen Festival (details announced in October 2017). Helsinki, Finland > Concert at Helsinki Music Centre > Wagner’s Parsifal at the Finnish National Opera conducted by Pinchas Steinberg Stockholm, Sweden > Tchaikovsky’s ballet The Sleeping Beauty at the Royal Swedish Opera > Richard Strauss’s Der Rosenkavalier at the Royal Swedish Opera Oslo, Norway > Mozart’s Don Giovanni at the Oslo Opera House > Tchaikovsky’s ballet Swan Lake at the Oslo Opera House Bergen, Norway > Two performances at the Bergen International Music Festival > Chamber music concert or recital at Ole Bull’s house

Munich & Glyndebourne Opera FestivalS $11,980 pp, twin share $1,970 single supplement

July 3-14, 2018

Enjoy • Seven top-flight performances with internationally renowned singers, conductors and directors • Expert pre and post-performance discussions • The musical, architectural and artistic heritage of Bavaria • The fine landscapes and villages of the Sussex Downs • World-famous private sculpture parks and private gardens • The company of like-minded music lovers

Overview Through its special connections in Munich and at Glyndebourne, Academy Travel is pleased to offer entrée to difficult-to-access performances at two of the world’s leading opera festivals. Each year in Munich, the Bavarian State Opera presents all its new productions for the season over three weeks. The impressive roster of singers features sopranos Anna Netrebko and Anja Harteros, and tenor Jonas Kaufmann. Established in 1934, Glyndebourne is the doyen of English country-house opera festivals, with superb productions, excellent singers and the London Philharmonic Orchestra in the pit.

Performances Best available tickets to seven performances are included. Academy Travel is a sponsor of Glyndebourne, giving us access to the best tickets. Munich > Richard Strauss’s Arabella, starring Anja Harteros and Kurt Rydl > Richard Wagner’s Parsifal, in which tenor Jonas Kaufmann shows his mastery of the German repertoire > Donizetti’s sparkling comedy, L’elisir d’amore, with coloratura star Pretty Yende and dashing tenor Vittorio Grigolo > Puccini’s Tosca, starring Anna Netrebko in Luc Bondy’s thrilling production Glyndebourne > A new production of an opera by Debussy > A well-known Puccini drama, perfect for Glyndebourne’s intimate surroundings > A sparkling dramatic opera by Handel, a composer with whom Glyndebourne excels

Maximum 20 in a group

Your tour leader

Robert Gay is a music educator with more than 25 years’ experience designing and leading music and cultural tours. He is well known for his courses at the University of Sydney’s Centre for Continuing Education.

Getting there Singapore Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Emirates and Etihad offer daily flights into Munich and home from London. Contact us for quotes and bookings.

Fitness requirement

Itinerary

Days 1–3: Settle in to our Munich program with Strauss’s Arabella and a trip to the Bavarian lakes. Days 4–7: Attend Parsifal, L’elisir d’amore and Tosca, visit Munich’s galleries and Bavaria’s historic castles. Day 8: Fly to London and transfer to Lewes, a historic market town in the Sussex Downs. Days 9–11: Attend late afternoon performances of Pelleas et Melisande, Madama Butterfly and Giulio Cesare at Glyndebourne, with long interval dinners. During the day visit sites such as the Bloomsbury Group’s Charleston and the historic villages of Alfriston and Firle.

Connect this tour with Wagner’s Ring Cycle in Munich on page 43

UK London Glyndebourne Lewes (4)

GERMANY

Munich (7)

$8,850 pp, twin share $1,500 single supplement

Wagner’s Ring Cycle in Munich July 19-28, 2018

Experience • Andreas Kriegenburg’s lucid and compelling interpretation of Wagner’s masterpiece • Musical direction by young conductor Kirill Petrenko • An outstanding cast of singers headed by Nina Stemme, Jonas Kaufmann, Anja Kampe and Wolfgang Koch • Expert pre and post-performance talks to heighten your enjoyment • A song recital and a rare Verdi opera in addition to the Ring Cycle • Excursions to music-related sites in and around Munich

Overview Wagner’s tetralogy, Der Ring des Nibelungen, is considered by many music lovers to be the pinnacle of the Western music tradition. It combines intense, heroic drama with orchestral and vocal writing which is both vast in scale and highly innovative. A special journey to see The Ring is a once-in-a-lifetime pilgrimage. Academy Travel has selected the Munich Ring Cycle in 2018 for its fine production, which premiered in 2013, an unsurpassable singing cast, and the musical leadership of Kirill Petrenko, the Russian-Austrian maestro who is at the forefront of today’s younger generation of conductors. We’ve also included two additional performances taking place at the time of the Munich Ring.

Performances

Connect this tour with Munich and Glyndebourne Opera Festivals on page 42

Best available tickets to six performances are included. > All four operas in the Ring Cycle, Das Rheingold, Die Walküre, Siegfried and Götterdämmerung, performed in the space of a week > A recital by fine Polish tenor Piotr Beczala > Verdi’s rarely-performed grand opera, Les vêpres siciliennes, starring Carmen Giannattasio, Bryan Hymel and Erwin Schrott > A day with Wagner’s patron, Ludwig II, visiting castles and galleries > Visits to a selection of Munich’s best art museums

Your tour leader

Getting there Singapore Airlines, Emirates and Etihad offer daily flights into Munich. Contact us for quotes and bookings.

Fitness requirement

Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive and settle in. Meet fellow participants over drinks and canapes. Day 2: Morning talk, welcome lunch and Das Rheingold. Days 3: Visit Neuschwanstein, Linderhof and other sites associated with Ludwig II. Days 4–6: Performances of Die Walküre, Siegfried and Piotr Beczala’s song recital, with pre-performance talks and gallery visits. Days 7–8: Visit some of Munich’s superb art galleries and attend Les vêpres siciliennes. Day 9: Pre-performance talk, a fine farewell lunch and Götterdämmerung. Day 10: Transfer to Munich airport. More details at academytravel.com.au

Munich (9)

GERMANY

Linderhof Castle Neuschwanstein Castle

Chicago to New York Operas & Orchestras

$10,750 pp, twin share $2,200 single supplement

October 7-21, 2018

Enjoy • Eight performances – three operas, four concerts and a stage play • Insightful pre-performance talks to expand your musical knowledge and help you get the most out of performances • Exclusive events such as a private visit to the Museum of Modern Art in New York, and private dining in highly regarded restaurants • Long stays in major cities, with time for relaxing and for individual sightseeing • The company of like-minded music lovers

Overview This tour takes you to three of the leading music-making centres of the United States, each with a longstanding tradition of innovative productions and superlative performances. Chicago and Philadelphia have fine symphony orchestras, while the Metropolitan Opera and Carnegie Hall are two of the most storied venues in music history – all will be featured in the itinerary. The tour is timed to coincide with the opening of the 2018-19 season, with details becoming available progressively from late 2017. The musical program will be augmented by visits to galleries and walking tours surveying history and architecture.

Performances

Your tour leader

The itinerary will be updated as performing arts organisations release details of their 2018-19 season. Chicago > A play at the Steppenwolf Theater, one of the USA’s leading theatre companies > An orchestral performance by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, America’s finest ensemble > An opera at the Chicago Lyric Opera, known for its excellent singers and productions Philadelphia > A concert by the Philadelphia Symphony Orchestra, one of the USA’s first orchestras New York > Two operas at the Metropolitan Opera, selected from their 2018-19 season > A concert at Carnegie Hall by a visiting international orchestra > A concert by the New York Philharmonic Orchestra

Getting there

www.academytravel.com.au

Qantas/American Airlines fly regularly into Chicago and home from New York.

Fitness requirement

Itinerary

Days 1–5: In Chicago for five nights, we attend performances and visit the wonderful Art Institute. Go on walking tours of Chicago’s renowned modern architecture and visit Frank Lloyd Wright’s Robie House. Days 6–8: Fly to Philadelphia for a performance and tour the excellent Philadelphia Museum of Art. Days 9–15: Our tour ends in New York, where we attend performances at the Metropolitan Opera, Carnegie Hall and by the New York Philharmonic Orchestra. Enjoy a private viewing of the Museum of Modern Art and architectural walking tours.

Canada

Chicago (5)

New York (6) Philadelphia (3)

USA

Salzburg, Prague & Vienna

A musical Christmas & New Year

$10,180 pp, twin share $1,850 single supplement

December 21, 2018 – January 5, 2019

Revel in • Nine performances of the highest quality – from operas to intimate chamber concerts • The heritage of Europe’s leading opera houses in Salzburg, Prague and Vienna • Orchestral music by excellent national orchestras • Walking tours of the cities in which we stay as well as visits to cultural sites, many with a strong musical history • Longer stays, with time for relaxing and for individual sightseeing • The company of like-minded music lovers and expert introductions to performances

Overview Experience a winter wonderland and celebrate a European Christmas and New Year on this new 16-day tour visiting the great music capitals of Europe – Salzburg, Prague and Vienna. The tour has been designed to coincide with the height of the winter music season, with nine performances of the highest calibre. As well as featuring a series of outstanding performances, this musical journey takes you to the places where the great composers lived and worked, in addition to visiting key historical sites.

Performances The tour price includes nine performances of fine opera, orchestral, chamber, vocal and instrumental music. In Salzburg > An opera at the Großes Festspielhaus > An opera at the Landestheater Salzburg In Prague > Three performances at the Rudolphinum, Smetana Hall or the historic Estates Theatre In Vienna > The New Year’s Eve performance of Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 at the Konzerthaus > New Year’s Day performance of Strauss’ Die Fledermaus at the Vienna Staatsoper

Your tour leader

Getting there Singapore Airlines, Emirates and Etihad offer daily flights into Munich and home from Vienna. Contact us for quotes and bookings.

Fitness requirement

Itinerary Days 1–5: Arrive in Salzburg and attend two performances, take a walking tour of the city and wander the festive Christmas markets. Celebrate Christmas day with a traditional lunch in Salzburg. Days 6–9: Travel to Prague, where we visit a range of sites and attend three performances, one at the historic Estates Theatre. Days 10–16: Travel to Vienna via Brno. See in the New Year in Vienna, attend three outstanding performances and explore the city’s vast musical heritage, including visits to venues where Mozart, Beethoven and Schubert lived and worked. More details at academytravel.com.au

Prague (4)

Czech

Brno

GERMANY Munich Vienna (6) Baden Bei Wien Salzburg (5)

Austria 45

Tours to Asia and the Pacific In recent years there has been a huge increase in interest in cultural tours to our part of the world. We regularly run tours to popular destinations such as Japan and Burma as well as less visited, but equally fascinating, places such as Bhutan and Taiwan. If youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re done with long-haul flying, then take a look at our growing range of Australasia tours, including New Zealandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s North Island, Tasmania and regional Victoria.

Burma $9,460 pp, twin share $2,065 single supplement

December 29, 2017 – January 13, 2018

Explore • A nation gradually emerging from years of military rule • A rich cultural and artisanal tradition of silk weaving, world-class lacquerware and skilled puppeteers • A wealth of Buddhist culture evidenced by the multitude of stupas and exquisite carved teak monasteries • Colonial history and architecture from the era of the British Raj • A remarkably friendly and easy-going nation made up of over 135 ethnic groups eager to share their history and culture

Overview From its ancient origins in settlement by Hindu Sakyas from India, through millennia of spiritual and political change, Burma has emerged with all that is quintessentially Burmese intact and as enchanting and enriching as it has always been. This tour takes you into the heart of old Burma – the sleepy town of Nyaungshwe on the edge of Lake Inle, the last royal capital of Mandalay, the vast Buddhist pagoda-studded plain of Bagan, and the splendour of the great pagodas of Yangon.

Highlights

Your tour leader

> A magical sunset at the golden-domed Shwedagon Pagoda, the greatest in Burma > New Year’s Eve on Lake Inle exploring the monasteries, pagodas, villages and floating gardens all built on stilts over the lake > The extraordinary complex of crumbling stupas at Indein in Shan state > Roaming through the National Botanic Gardens in Maymyo, with its stunning four-acre orchid garden > An overnight cruise down the famed Ayeyarwady River > The amazing pagoda-studded plains of Bagan, each structure unique in design and decoration

Judy Tenzing has over 30 years’ experience as an administrator and tour leader in India, Nepal, Bhutan and Burma. Judy has a degree in South Asian history and regularly presents courses at Sydney University’s Centre for Continuing Education on the history and culture of this remarkable region.

Getting there Singapore Airlines offers daily flights to Yangon. Contact us for quotes and bookings.

Fitness requirement

Itinerary Days 1–2: Explore Yangon’s colonial architecture and the Shwedagon Pagoda. Days 3–5: Fly to Lake Inle and explore the communities living on stilted houses. Days 6–7: Wander amongst the botanic gardens and colonial architecture of Maymyo. Days 8–10: In Mandalay visit teak monasteries, pagodas and the Royal Palace. Day 11: Cruise the Ayeyarwady River to Bagan. Days 12–14: In Bagan, survey some of the hundreds of pagodas scattered on the plains. Days 15–16: Return to Yangon.

More details at academytravel.com.au

INDIA BURMA (1) Bagan (3)

China

Maymyo (2) Mandalay (3) Nyaungshwe (3)

THAILAND Yangon (3)

Tasmania

history, art & landscape $3,975 pp, twin share $985 single supplement

February 17-24, 2018

Discover • Outstanding colonial heritage, with some of Australia’s oldest private and public architecture • The complex history of Tasmania, involving early indigenous contact and the full articulation of the convict system • A vibrant visual arts scene, ranging from important 19th-century painters to remarkable contemporary art • Pristine World Heritage-listed landscapes of forest, river and ocean • Wonderful food and wine, now gaining global attention

Overview Tasmania has a distinctive history, culture and landscape which make it quite different from Australia’s other states and territories. This tour offers a unique itinerary which combines the island’s well-known attractions with sites of particular interest to specialised travellers. Staying in Launceston, on the Freycinet Peninsula and in Hobart, with day trips to surrounding areas, we visit historic homes and gardens and travel through stunning landscapes. Art lovers are well treated, with an in-depth look at colonial artist John Glover and a visit to the renowned Museum of Old and New Art (MONA) on the Derwent River near Hobart.

Your tour leader

Dr Kathleen Olive has led tours to Europe, Turkey and the USA and is a popular teacher of art and architectural history at the WEA, Sydney and for ADFAS.

Getting there Jetstar/Qantas offer direct flights to Launceston from Sydney and Melbourne and return flights from Hobart. These can be booked online.

Fitness requirement

Highlights > Tasmania’s colonial sites, including Clarendon Estate and World Heritage-listed Port Arthur > Tasmania’s leading public art galleries in Launceston and Hobart > Cruise from Coles Bay to Wineglass Bay, offering a unique perspective of the Freycinet Peninsula’s sheer cliffs and abundant wildlife > A day trip to the Huon River Valley, visiting pristine rainforests, gardens and wineries > Fine regional wine and produce while dining at some of Tasmania’s excellent restaurants and vineyards

Itinerary Launceston (3)

Ross

TASMANIA Freycinet (1)

Hobart (3) Port Arthur

Expert tour leaders

Days 1–3: The tour begins in Launceston, visiting historic homes and villages, exploring the farm of colonial artist John Glover and touring the Tamar Valley and the hills towards the Cradle Mountain region. We also visit wineries and two excellent restaurants. Days 4–5: Travel down to the Freycinet Peninsula and cruise Wineglass Bay. Days 6–8: In Hobart we continue our exploration of colonial artists, take day trips to the Huon Valley and the Tasman Peninsula, and visit MONA.

New Zealand

Nature, culture & the arts $6,350 pp, twin share $1,710 single supplement

February 21 – March 2, 2018

Uncover • World-famous private sculpture parks and private gardens • Remarkable architecture, ranging from art deco Napier to cutting-edge contemporary design • Fine landscapes – harbours and coastlines, mountain ranges, lakes and islands • Dramatic volcanic and geothermal activity in the centre of the island • Contemporary and traditional Maori culture and arts

Overview This 10-day tour offers a relaxed investigation of the visual arts and architecture of New Zealand’s North Island. Our journey takes us across dramatic mountain ranges, to centres of volcanic activity, along stunning coastlines and through rolling green hills. We visit sites of Maori heritage as well as several privately-owned art collections and sculpture parks. The tour begins in Wellington, the harbourside capital, before heading up the Pacific coast to Napier and across the centre of the island to Lake Taupo and Rotorua, and culminates with four days in and around Auckland.

Highlights > Private tours of Gibbs Farm and Connells Bay sculpture parks and the Wallace art collection > A full day on Waiheke Island in Auckland harbour > Scenic drives through mountains, volcanic landscapes and verdant countryside > Visits to privately-owned and public gardens > Lunches and dinners at excellent local restaurants > A concert or play in Auckland

Your tour leader

Robert Veel was at the University of Sydney before co-founding Academy Travel in 2004. He has over 25 years’ tour leading experience.

Getting there Qantas and Air New Zealand have regular flights into Wellington and out of Auckland. Contact us for quotes and bookings.

Fitness requirement

Itinerary

Days 1–2: Wellington’s cultural heritage at the Te Papa Museum, National Portrait Gallery and Katherine Mansfield Museum, tour the Beehive and Botanic Gardens. Days 3–4: Cross the Rimutaka Mountains, visit the Wairarapa wine region and explore the art deco architecture of Napier. Days 5–7: Lake Taupo, Huka Falls and the volcanic landscape of Rotorua. Days 8–10: Three days in Auckland visiting the Wallace Arts Centre, Gibbs Farm and Ayrlies Garden. Explore Waiheke Island.

Gibbs Farm Auckland (3)

Rotorua (2)

New Zealand

Napier (2)

Wellington (2)

More details at academytravel.com.au

Taiwan $6,200 pp, twin share $2,100 single supplement

April 15-24, 2018

Uncover • An indigenous culture pre-dating the arrival of the Chinese in the 17th century • The cultural legacy, including elaborate tea ceremonies, of the Japanese who ruled the island for 50 years • Stunning scenery of mountain peaks, lakes and gorges, formed through volcanic activity on the edge of the Pacific’s ‘Ring of Fire’ • An array of architecture, from Dutch forts, centuries-old Daoist and Confucian temples, to Japanese Meiji-era buildings

Overview Taiwan has been ‘off the radar’ for tourism since the tumultuous events of 1949, when Chiang Kai Shek and his nationalist compatriots separated themselves from the Communists on the mainland. Discover the place that 16th-century Portuguese explorers named ‘Ilha Formosa’, the beautiful island, on our 10-day tour. Unlike mainland China, where warfare, revolution and an economic boom have transformed the country, large sections of Taiwan retain Chinese traditions and culture with a wealth of art, architecture and beautiful landscapes to enjoy.

Your tour leader

Highlights

> Historic ancient temples, colonial forts and Meiji-era architecture in Old Tainan > The pristine environment of Sun Moon Lake, surrounded by steep mountain peaks > The art of Taiwanese tea-making at an Assam tea farm > The extraordinary Chung Tai Chan Monastery near Puli, headquarters of a popular Zen Buddhist order > A spectacular drive hugging the Chingshui Cliffs and into the valley of Taroko Gorge > Taipei’s National Palace Museum, Taiwan’s celebrated cultural institution, home to over 500,000 artefacts and artworks

Getting there Cathay Pacific and partner Dragon Air offer flights into Kaohsiung and out of Taipei via Hong Kong. Contact us for quotes.

Fitness requirement Taipei (3)

Taroko Gorge (1) Lugang Sun Moon Lake (3)

TAIWAN Tainan (2) Kaohsiung

Maximum 20 in a group

Itinerary

What does Taiwan offer?

Days 1–2: Arrive into Kaohsiung and transfer to Tainan to explore the city. Day 3: Admire Lugang, and continue on to Sun Moon Lake. Days 4–5: Explore sites around the lake, spending a full day at the Chung Tai Chan monastery and museum. Day 6: Traverse the Central Range to Taroko Gorge and experience Taiwanese indigenous culture. Days 7–9: Drive to Taipei. Ascend the Taipei 101 skyscraper, and visit Chiang Kai Shek Memorial Hall and the National Palace Museum. Day 10: Depart Taipei.

> The culture of the indigenous inhabitants > Well-preserved traditional Chinese culture, architecture and streetscapes > The cultural and architectural legacy of the period of Japanese rule, 1895–1945 > Outstanding mountain scenery, with sharp peaks rising to nearly 4000 metres > Two superb museums > A destination not affected by mass tourism

Japan unmasked art, history & culture

May 11-26, 2018 November 16 – December 1, 2018

$11,485 pp, twin share $2,890 single supplement

Get to know • The contrast of a contemporary metropolis against the backdrop of Edo period Tokyo • Serenity in some of Japan’s finest landscaped gardens and shrines • A bygone era at the well-preserved wooden teahouses of Kanazawa’s entertainment district • The floating world of the geisha in Kyoto’s Gion district • An abundance of art, history and culture dating back to the 6th century • A unique cuisine using the freshest produce that perfectly reflects the seasons

Overview Uncover Japan’s rich history, art and culture on our 16-day tour. Explore old and new world Tokyo. Visit one of Japan’s best landscaped gardens in Kanazawa. Understand the devastation of the atomic bomb in Hiroshima and the tranquillity of Miyajima. Spend seven nights in Kyoto exploring temples, shrines and museums and glimpse the geisha’s floating world. Complemented by day trips to Nara and Arashiyama, this tour offers a comprehensive insight into the beauty and mystique of this wonderful land.

Highlights > The hustle, bustle and bright lights of Tokyo, its galleries, museums and shrines > Kanazawa’s famed Kenrokuen Garden, one of the best landscaped gardens in Japan > Speeding through the countryside on the Shinkansen or bullet train > The moving display of human resilience at Hiroshima’s Peace Memorial > Day trips to Nara, and the bamboo grove and garden at Arashiyama > Seven nights discovering Zen temples, stone and moss gardens and an incredible array of art and culture in Kyoto

Your tour leader

Dr Kathleen Olive has led tours to Europe, Turkey and the USA and is a popular teacher of art and architectural history at the WEA, Sydney and for ADFAS.

Getting there Qantas, Japan Airlines and ANA offer daily flights to Tokyo, with return connections through Tokyo from Osaka. Contact us for quotes and bookings.

Fitness requirement

Itinerary Days 1–4: Arrive Tokyo and explore the gardens, temples, shrines, art galleries and museums. Days 5–6: Bullet train to Kanazawa; visit the wooden tea houses, Kanazawa Castle and Kenrokuen garden. Days 7–8: Travel to Hiroshima Peace Memorial, the Torii Gate and shrine on Miyajima. Day 9: Bullet train to Kyoto; explore Kiyomizu Temple and the geisha district. Days 10–12: Art, history and culture of Kyoto’s temples, shrines, museums and galleries. Days 13–14: Day trips to Arashiyama and Nara. Days 15–16: Walk through Nishiki market and depart from Osaka. More details at academytravel.com.au

Kanazawa (2)

Hiroshima (2)

Kyoto (7) Nara Osaka

Japan Tokyo (4)

In the footsteps of Ned Kelly September 11-22, 2018

$4,485 pp, twin share $879 single supplement

Discover • The story behind Australia’s most infamous and celebrated bushranger, Ned Kelly • An exciting, myth-laden period of history through the eyes of Ben Churcher, a practicing archaeologist • How the events at the Eureka Stockade changed Australia’s view of government forever • Creation stories of the local Jardwadjali and Djab warrung Indigenous peoples at the Brambuk Aboriginal Cultural Centre in the Grampians • A region endowed with great beauty, fine wine, excellent produce and food

Overview Mick Jagger and Heath Ledger have played him, Peter Carey has written about him, Sidney Nolan has painted him and Paul Kelly has sung about him, but what is still to be found on the ground that brings the history of Ned Kelly alive? We know the stories, but it is time to give these stories substance, as we travel between Albury and Melbourne exploring the hidden history of not only Ned Kelly but also the formation of modern Australia.

Your tour leader

Ben Churcher is a wellknown Academy tour leader to destinations as diverse as Morocco, Iran and China. He is also a keen student of Australian history, with an interest in Ned Kelly and the hidden histories behind Australia’s formative years.

Getting there Please contact us for the best airline to meet your travel requirements into Albury and from Melbourne.

Highlights > Traverse the Murray River from New South Wales into the High Country of Victoria > Explore the story of Ned Kelly, from his home in Greta to his hanging at the Melbourne Goal > Discover the impact and consequences of the Victorian gold rush > A day in the Grampians National Park learning the spiritual significance of the area > Visit sites pivotal to the formation of Australian Federation at Corowa > Explore the colonial past of Melbourne

Fitness requirement

Itinerary

Albury (1)

Beechworth (2)

VICTORIA Mansfield (2) Ballarat (4)

Melbourne (2)

www.academytravel.com.au

Day 1: Travel to Albury where our tour begins. Visit the Murray Art Museum. Days 2–3: Explore the Birthplace of Federation at Corowa and Beechworth’s heritage with visits to the courthouse, Burke Museum and Beechworth Gaol. Days 4–5: Delve into the Kelly saga at Glenrowan, Greta and Stringybark Creek at Mansfield. Days 6–9: Storm the Eureka Stockade at Sovereign Hill and Ballarat’s museums, view ancient rock art in the Grampians. Days 10-12: In Melbourne visit the Museum of Victoria, Captain Cook’s Cottage and Old Melbourne Gaol.

Bendigo to the Yarra Valley Victoria’s regional galleries

$3,790 pp, twin share $680 single supplement

October 18-25 2018

Get to know • The impact of the Victorian Gold Rush on colonial art and architecture • The role of the bush and the beach in creating Australia’s visual identity • Cutting-edge contemporary sculpture and painting in superb natural settings • The patronage of the visual arts by prominent Australians, ranging from Nellie Melba to the Besson family • Hanging Rock, the backdrop to Joan Lindsay’s book Picnic at Hanging Rock • Great food and wine along the Bellarine Peninsula and Yarra Valley

Overview The small cities of the countryside and coastline surrounding Melbourne have a wealth of cultural sites to tempt visitors. Chief among them is an outstanding collection of regional and private galleries. This new itinerary gives art lovers the chance to sample a range of Australia’s best smaller galleries as well as enjoying varied scenery, great food and wine. Background talks and meetings with gallery directors and curators will add depth and context to the works we explore.

Highlights > Regional galleries in the goldfields towns of Bendigo and Ballarat > The wineries and landscapes of the Bellarine and Mornington Peninsulas, on either side of Port Phillip Bay > The McClelland Gallery and Sculpture Park and Tarrawarra – two of Australia’s leading private galleries > Dame Nellie Melba’s former estate in the Yarra Valley > Heide Museum of Modern Art – celebrating Nolan, Albert Tucker and the thoroughly modern Reid family > The Lyon Housemuseum in Kew, an architect’s home bursting with contemporary art

Your tour leader

Getting there The tour begins and ends at Melbourne’s Tullamarine Airport. Qantas, Virgin and Jetstar have regular flights from all over Australia. Contact us for quotes and bookings.

Fitness requirement

Itinerary Days 1–2: Explore the superb Bendigo Regional Gallery and take an afternoon excursion to the goldfields town of Castlemaine. Day 3: Spend the day at the Bendigo and Geelong galleries, both highly regarded, before heading to the Bellarine Peninsula. Days 4–5: Take the ferry crossing to Sorrento, visiting the Mornington Peninsula Gallery and McClelland Sculpture Park. Days 6–7: Enjoy lunch at Tarrawarra Gallery in the Yarra Valley. Visit Nellie Melba’s estate and sample some of the region’s great food and wine. Day 8: Visit Heide and the Lyons Housemuseum in suburban Melbourne. More details at academytravel.com.au

Bendigo (3)

VICTORIA Heide Museum

Ballarat Melbourne

Yarra Valley/ Healesville

Geelong Mornington (3)

Queenscliff (1) Sorrento

To the edge of the outback Mungo, Broken Hill & Beyond

$4,495 pp, twin share $P.O.A. single supplement

October 23-31, 2018

Experience • A continuous history of human occupation spanning 50,000 years • Outback landscapes in Lake Mungo and Mutawintji National Parks • An iconic part of our national history, with the story of the Broken Hill Proprietary Company known fondly as ‘the big Australian’ • An area rich in archaeology that has been preserved in pristine condition for thousands of years • The importance of riverboat culture to the history and settlement of the areas around the mighty Murray and Darling River systems

Overview Travel to the Murray River and into the outback to explore Australia’s history, from Indigenous settlement to the larrikins and miners who led our nation into modernity. In Mildura, we discuss the importance of the mighty Murray on the history of settlement and rural economy. We head to Lake Mungo to look for evidence of the Aboriginal settlement that spread broadly across the landscape, and on to Broken Hill where mining provided the genesis for an Australian icon, the Broken Hill Proprietary Company.

Your tour leader

Chris Carter holds a firstclass Honours degree in archaeology from the Australian National University. He has worked as a professional archaeologist and has taught extensively in the field. He is currently involved with prehistoric sites in the Atacama region of northern Chile.

Getting there Please contact us for the best airline to meet your travel requirements into Mildura and from Broken Hill.

Highlights > Degustation dinner at Stefano’s much acclaimed restaurant in Mildura > Walk around the Walls of China, climb the sand dunes at Vigars Well and explore the archaeology at Lake Mungo National Park > Special access to Indigenous cultural and historic sites with a traditional owner at Mutawintji National Park > Experience the life of the 19th-century Cornish miner underground at Day Dream Mine > The wealth of art in Broken Hill, where art galleries outnumber pubs

Fitness requirement Mutawintji National Park

Broken Hill (4)

Bindara Station (1)

NSW Lake Mungo (2) Mildura (1)

VIC

Carefully planned itineraries

Itinerary

Day 1: In Mildura, visit Rio Vista historic home and dine at Stefano’s. Days 2–3: Cruise the Murray River, travel to Lake Mungo National Park and uncover the archaeology of the area. Day 4: Drive via Pooncarie to Bindara Station on the Darling River. Days 5–6: In Broken Hill, walk through the historic centre, visiting art galleries and the Miners Memorial. Day 7: Explore Mutawintji National Park with a traditional elder and see the rock art. Days 8–9: Go underground at the Day Dream Mine before travelling home.

Tours to the Americas Our small range of tours to the Americas concentrates on special people and special places. For several years we have offered tours examining the life and work of Frank Lloyd Wright, whereas our long-stay New York tours are perennially popular â&#x20AC;&#x201C; combining art, architecture, fine dining and the performing arts. If you look to our 2019 program, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll also see tours to Mexico, Cuba, Canada and the North East United States.

Frank Lloyd Wright Chicago to Fallingwater May 5-16, 2018 October 27 – November 7, 2018

$8,970 pp, twin share $1,640 single supplement

Admire • American modern architecture in the 20th century, from Louis Sullivan and the “Chicago School” to Frank Lloyd Wright and beyond • Wright’s transformation of the American home, using inspiration from the prairie landscape of the American Midwest and a Japanese-influenced aesthetic • Extraordinary interiors at Fallingwater, Robie House, the Johnson Wax Administration Building, Darwin Martin House, Farnsworth House, and Taliesin • The amazing art collection of Chicago’s Art Institute

Overview Follow the Frank Lloyd Wright trail from his early beginnings in Chicago and his prairie style homes, to his tragic yet inspirational home in Spring Green, Wisconsin, and the city of Buffalo with the Darwin Martin complex. Enjoy the natural beauty of Niagara Falls and discover Wright’s most famous work, Fallingwater, outside Pittsburgh. The tour features private guided visits to homes and major galleries and enjoys the wealth of art, culture and history in America.

Your tour leader

Dr Matthew Laing has a comprehensive knowledge of the history and society of the United States and has travelled the length and breadth of the country for research, personal interest and as a tour leader.

Getting there We recommend either Qantas or United who both have daily flights to Chicago and from Pittsburgh. Discounted fares are regularly offered, so please contact us for quotes and bookings.

Highlights > A private interior visit to Fallingwater, Wright’s most famous work > Private interior visits to Farnsworth House, Taliesin, the Johnson Wax Administration Building, Darwin Martin House, Graycliff and Kentuck Knob > A cocktail reception in Robie House, the finest example of Wright’s prairie style > Docent-led tour of the Art Institute of Chicago and a theatre performance > In-depth tour of Taliesin estate – Wright’s home for 30 years and the scene of tragedy and triumph Connect this tour with Modern Architecture: Los Angeles to Chicago on page 57

Fitness requirement

Itinerary Canada

Buffalo (2) Madison (2)

Milwaukee (1)

Chicago (4)

Pittsburgh (2)

USA

Expert tour leaders

Days 1–4: In Chicago, enjoy sights including Millennium Park, the Art Institute of Chicago, Wright’s Home and Studio, Robie House and Mies van der Rohe’s Farnsworth House. Day 5: Coach to Milwaukee to see Johnson Wax Administration Building, Research Tower, Wingspread, Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church. Days 6–7: Continue to Madison for a full estate tour of Taliesin and to visit the first Usonian home, Jacobs House I. Days 8–9: Fly to Buffalo to view the Darwin Martin House, Graycliff and to tour Niagara Falls. Days 10–12: Coach to Pittsburgh to see Fallingwater and Kentuck Knob.

Modern architecture

Los Angeles to Chicago

$9,870 pp, twin share $1,770 single supplement

October 14-26, 2018

Discover • The development of modernist American architecture and design • Outstanding art collections at Chicago’s Art Institute and the Getty Center and The Broad, LA • The emergence of the western USA as a global economic and cultural force of the 20th century • Dramatic desert landscapes in Palm Springs and Arizona • The life and times of 20th-century “starchitects”, from Frank Lloyd Wright to Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, Richard Meier and Aero Saarinen

Overview Explore the development of America’s unique mid-century modernist architecture and design on this new 13-day tour, from its early proponents, such as Richard Neutra and Albert Frey, to the master of international architecture, Mies van der Rohe. Enjoy “Desert Modernism” in Palm Springs and Frank Lloyd Wright’s Taliesin West in Arizona; Columbus, Indiana with its unique collection of civic buildings; and Chicago’s modern masterpieces. Private guided visits to homes and major galleries, walking tours, concert performances and the rich history and culture of America in the modern era round out the touring program.

Highlights

Connect this tour with Frank Lloyd Wright: Chicago to Fallingwater on page 56

> In-depth tours of Hollyhock House and Taliesin West, two of Frank Lloyd Wright’s masterpieces > Visits of modernist icons, Charles and Ray Eames House in Malibu and Farnsworth House, Illinois > Tours of Palm Springs and Columbus, Indiana with their unique concentrations of modernist architecture > Concert performance in Frank Gehry’s exuberant Walt Disney Concert Hall > Docent-led tours of the Getty Center in LA and the Art Institute of Chicago > Chicago River cruise with the Chicago Architecture Foundation

Your tour leader

Stuart Barrie has a passion for 20th-century American history and the architecture of Frank Lloyd Wright. He has led many tours to the USA. Stuart holds a Masters degree from the University of New South Wales and is a co-founder of Academy Travel.

Getting there We recommend either Qantas or United, who both have daily flights to Los Angeles and from Chicago. Discounted fares are regularly offered, so please contact us for quotes and bookings.

Fitness requirement

Itinerary

Days 1–3: 20th-century “starchitects”, from Frank Lloyd Wright to Neutra, Meier and Gehry. Days 4–5: The marriage of modernism with desert landscape at Palm Springs’ Albert Frey House and Architecture & Design Center. Days 6–9: Outside Phoenix, Frank Lloyd Wright’s Taliesin West, beloved winter home and architectural laboratory. In Columbus, Indiana, the “Athens on the Prairie”, Eero Saarinen, I.M. Pei and Richard Meier. Days 10–13: Mies van der Rohe at Farnsworth House and the Institute of Technology, Chicago’s outstanding Art Institute, architectural river cruise.

More details at academytravel.com.au

USA

Chicago (3) Columbus (2)

Los Angeles (3) Palm Springs (2) Phoenix (2)

Thanksgiving in New York music, theatre, art & food

$9,950 pp, twin share $2,930 single supplement

November 14-26, 2018

Enjoy • The unique atmosphere of New York in the Fall, with seasonal food and the leaves turning gold in Central Park • Special Thanksgiving events – the most important annual festivities in North America • A stimulating range of new season performances of stage drama, musicals, opera and symphony • An expert’s account of the history and architecture of New York over the decades • Newly-opened exhibitions at galleries, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art and MoMA

Overview Enjoy Thanksgiving in the Big Apple and a host of other events on this special tour. As well as the regular offerings on our New York performing arts tours – opera, symphony, private visits to galleries such as MoMA etc – we’ve included seasonal events that are only on offer at this special time of year, such as the Thanksgiving Day Parade and the legendary Radio City Rockettes. There’s also some great new season stage drama and musicals on offer. Accommodation, as always, is in spacious premium plus rooms in the perfectly located Warwick Hotel on 54th Street.

Highlights Performances Eight performances to be selected from the upcoming 2018-2019 season, including: > A production from the world-leading Metropolitan Opera > The critically-acclaimed hit Broadway musical Hamilton > Performances at Carnegie Hall and at the Lincoln Center > Two Broadway stage dramas > An evening at the Jazz at the Lincoln Center Theatre > The Radio City Music Hall’s Rockettes’ Christmas Spectacular Fine Dining > Lunches at the Morgan Library and Guggenheim Museum dining rooms > Lunch at the Michelin two-star restaurant The Modern, inside MoMA > Degustation dinner at the Michelin threestar restaurant Eleven Madison Park Art, Architecture and History > A private out-of-hours viewing of MoMA with a museum lecturer > Charming small galleries, including the Frick Collection and the Neue Museum > Private guided tour of the Whitney Museum of American Art in Chelsea > Architectural walking tours of Midtown art deco, Brooklyn Heights and the High Line 58

Maximum 20 in a group

Your tour leader

Getting there Qantas and United Airlines fly regularly to the East Coast. Contact us for quotes and bookings.

Fitness requirement

Guggenheim Museum Neue Museum Lincoln Center Theater MoMA Broadway

Frick Collection Warwick Hotel Morgan Library

High Line

NEW YORK 12 nights Whitney Museum Brooklyn Heights

Tours to Africa & The Middle East Academy Travelâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s tours to Africa and the Middle East have a strong focus on ancient history and archaeology. Many tours are led by experienced archaeologists, several of whom have worked on sites in the region. Our small-group cultural tours to Iran are currently our most popular to the Middle East, with two departures each year. We also offer cultural tours to select destinations in North Africa, including Morocco, Egypt and Ethiopia.

Morocco March 26 – April 13, 2018

$7,870 pp, twin share $1,570 single supplement

Discover • A remarkable country that has been the crucible for Islamic influence in the region for more than a millennium • Exceptional scenery, from the Atlantic coastline to the Atlas Mountains and the Sahara Desert • Beautiful, remote villages along the Todra Gorge and Dades River • Distinct cultural regions, including the Europeanised north and the Berber interior • A diverse inheritance, from Roman ruins, to medieval fortifications, Islamic kasbahs and cities

Overview This comprehensive tour brings you the diverse delights of Morocco, from stunning scenery to fabulous Islamic architecture, ancient cities and inviting locals. From cosmopolitan Casablanca, we travel along the Atlantic coast visiting Rabat, Roman Volubilis and bustling Fes, before crossing the Atlas Mountains to the kasbahs and oases of the northern Sahara. Returning to the Atlantic coast, we stay in Marrakesh, famous for its vibrant souks, foodstalls and palaces, and Essaouira, a medieval port still nestled inside its walls.

Your tour leader

Highlights

Ben Churcher has a wide range of experience as an educator, traveller, historian and archaeologist. He holds an honours degree in Ancient history and a Diploma of Education from the University of Sydney.

> The bustling and picturesque markets of Fes and Marrakesh > Rabat on the river Bou Regreg, a most wonderfully located capital city > The UNESCO World Heritage-listed Roman ruins at Volubilis, overlooking rolling plains > The Atlas Mountains, home of the Berbers and stands of Cedars of Lebanon > Majestic kasbahs and verdant oases on the fringe of the Sahara Desert > Peaceful Essaouira on the shores of the Atlantic > The spectacular Todra and Dades gorges > Beautiful, secluded towns such as Boumalne Dades, and Ouarzazate, the ‘Gate to the Desert’

Getting there Emirates and Etihad have daily flights to and from Casablanca. Contact us for quotes and bookings.

Fitness requirement

Itinerary

Rabat (1)

Fes (4)

Meknes

Casablanca (3)

Ifrane (1)

Morocco Marrakesh (3)

Erfoud (2) Boumalne Dades (1)

Essaouira (2) Ouarzazate (1)

www.academytravel.com.au

Days 1–4: Arrive in Casablanca and explore Morocco’s Atlantic coast, touring Casablanca and Rabat. Days 5–7: Travel inland, stopping at Meknes and Fes and visiting the Roman ruins of Volubilis. Days 8–12: Cross over the Atlas Mountains and explore the western edge of the Sahara Desert, including the spectacular scenery of the Todra Gorge. Days 13–15: Travel to Marrakesh, tour the city and enjoy a free day in a city of souks. Days 16–19: Travel to Essaouira, exploring the city and its complex history, then return to Casablanca for our departure.

Connect this tour with Essential Iran on page 61

Essential Iran April 15 – May 2, 2018 November 6-23, 2018

$11,185 pp, twin share $1,695 single supplement

Uncover • The rich diversity of landscapes, cultures and peoples which make up modern Iran • The abundant and spectacular remains, testament to Iran’s power and influence in the ancient world • The truly stunning art and architecture of Islamic Iran, seen at its finest in the legendary cities of Shiraz and Isfahan • The enchanting world of Persian gardens and Sufi poetry • A remarkably friendly, cultured and inquisitive population, eager to engage with the world outside Iran

Overview Over 18 days we travel through the marvellous mountain and desert landscapes of Persia and visit some of the most remarkable monuments in the ancient and Islamic worlds. We explore awe-inspiring Achaemenid palaces and royal tombs, mysterious Sasanian fire temples, enchanting mud-brick cities on the desert fringes, and fabled Persian cities with their enchanting gardens, caravanserais, bazaars and stunning cobalt-blue mosques. Perhaps more importantly, however, we encounter the unsurpassed friendliness and hospitality of the Iranian people, which leave most travellers longing to return.

Highlights

Connect this tour with Morocco on page 60

> Tehran’s array of museums and palaces, including the Crown Jewels Museum > The imposing Mausoleum of Öljeitü and the Sasanian watch towers, palaces and fire temples at Takht-e Soleyman > The gardens of Shiraz, where Persia’s poets are celebrated > Great classical sites at Persepolis, Pasargadae and Firuzabad > The desert city of Yazd, with its evocative Zoroastrian towers of silence and medieval sites > The UNESCO World Heritage city of Isfahan, centre of the ‘Renaissance’ Abbasid period

Itinerary Days 1–3: Explore Tehran’s extraordinary palaces and museums. Days 4–5: Drive to Zanjan and examine the Sasanian ruins of Takht-e Soleyman. Days 6–7: Continue to Hamadan and explore Ecbatana. Days 8-11: Fly to Shiraz and investigate Persepolis and Firuzabad. Days 12–13: Travel to Yazd, visiting Pasargadae and the Zoroastrian fire temples. Days 14–16: Enjoy the Maidan, mosques, palaces and Armenian Quarter of Isfahan. Days 17–18: Return to Tehran via Natanz and Kashan before departure. More details at academytravel.com.au

Your tour leader

Dr John Tidmarsh is the former president of the University of Sydney’s Near Eastern Archaeology Foundation and a former lecturer in the Department of Archaeology. He has led numerous tours to Iran, Oman, Turkey, Syria and Jordan.

Getting there Emirates and Etihad offer daily flights from Australia to Tehran. Contact us for quotes and bookings.

Fitness requirement

Zanjan (2) Tehran (4) Hamadan (2)

Kashan

IRAN Isfahan (3) Yazd (2)

Shiraz (4)

Iran

Ancient Persia & the Silk Road April 27 – May 15, 2018

$11,295 pp, twin share $1,920 single supplement

Experience • The rich diversity of landscapes, cultures and peoples which make up modern Iran • Memorable archaeological sites of the ancient Persian Empire • The stunning art and architecture of Iran’s Safavid and Qajar-era mosques and palaces in the legendary cities of Shiraz and Isfahan • The crosscurrents of Eastern and Western cultures at key Silk Road sites • The enchanting world of Persian gardens and Sufi poetry • A remarkably friendly, cultured and inquisitive population

Overview Our 19-day tour begins in Tehran, with an introduction to the fine arts and traditional culture of Iran. From here we travel to Zanjan and Ecbatana over the Zagros Mountains, and visit the Renaissance-era city of Isfahan. We view Iran’s remaining Zoroastrian shrines and intricate mosques in Yazd, then continue to Kerman and Shiraz, the city of poets. Here we see some of Iran’s most exceptional historical monuments, such as the magnificent relief carvings of Persepolis and Pasargadae, before returning to 21st-century Tehran.

Your tour leader

Christopher Bradley has an Honours degree from Liverpool University, with a particular interest in the history and art of the Middle East. He regularly leads tours to Iran and lectures to ADFAS, NADFAS, at universities, and for the Royal Geographical Society.

Getting there Emirates and Etihad offer daily flights from Australia to Tehran. Contact us for quotes and bookings.

Highlights > The Crown Jewels Museum and Golestan Palace in Tehran > The imposing Mausoleum of Öljeitü and ancient Ecbatana > Safavid Palaces, Islamic mosques and squares of Isfahan > Zoroastrian and medieval sites in Yazd > Gardens, fortresses and royal tombs around Shiraz > Achaemenid Persepolis and Cyrus the Great’s legacy at Pasargadae > The extremely well-preserved mud brick citadel at Rayen, constructed over 1000 years ago

Fitness requirement

Itinerary

Zanjan (2) Tehran (4) Hamadan (2)

IRAN Isfahan (3) Yazd (2) Kerman (2)

Shiraz (3)

Carefully planned itineraries

Days 1–3: Visit Tehran’s Qajar Palaces and museums. Days 4–5: See the Mausoleum of Öljeitü and Takht-e Soleyman near Zanjan. Days 6–7: Drive to Hamadan and ancient Ecbatana. Days 8–10: Explore Safavid Palaces, Islamic mosques and architecture in Isfahan. Days 11–12: Delve into Zoroastrianism with Yazd’s fire temples and towers of silence. Days 13–14: Investigate remnants of the Sasanian Empire around Kerman. Days 15–17: Travel to Shiraz and visit Persepolis and Pasargadae. Days 18–19: Fly to Tehran and visit the carpet museum before departure.

$8,435 pp, twin share $1,180 single supplement

Ethiopia’s Classical Highlights September 13-27, 2018

Discover • A country steeped in tradition and belief, witnessed through its many beautifully decorated churches • The legend of the Queen of Sheba and her son Menelik, first Solomonic Emperor of Ethiopia • The cradle of civilization and mankind, rich in archaeological finds • A strong, stable nation rich in culture, with a population comprising over 80 different ethnic groups and languages • The origins of coffee and coffee ceremony, the symbol of Ethiopian hospitality

Overview From the Queen of Sheba to the rule of Emperor Haile Selassie in the 20th century, Ethiopia has carved out for itself a unique identity among African nations. It was one of the first Christian countries in existence and remains predominantly Christian. This classic itinerary has been devised for travellers to witness the remarkable legacy of Ethiopia’s unique history. We traverse the country from Addis Ababa to Lake Tana, Gondar, the ancient capital of Axum and the spectacular rock-cut churches of Lalibela.

Highlights > In Addis Ababa, visit the National Museum and the Holy Trinity Cathedral, resting place of Haile Selassie > Cruise on the Lake Tana to the isolated and beautiful churches on the Zege peninsula > Visit the restored 17th-century castles and palaces at Gondar’s Royal Enclosure > Admire Axum’s carved stele, dating back 2000 years, the Queen of Sheba’s palace and the reputed location of the Ark of the Covenant > Enjoy the scenic and remote Simien Mountains, spotting Gelada baboons > Lalibela’s rock-hewn and frescoed 13th-century churches, including the less frequented western churches

Your tour leader

Christopher Bradley has an Honours degree from Liverpool University and specialises in the history and art of North Africa and Arabia. He first visited Ethiopia in 1977 and has led specialist tours there since 1993.

Getting there Emirates has daily flights to and from Addis Ababa. Contact us for quotes and bookings.

Fitness requirement

Itinerary Days 1–2: Arrive Addis Ababa, visit the national museum and Holy Trinity Cathedral. Days 3–4: Fly to Bahar Dar, visit decorated monasteries on the Zege peninsula. Days 5–6: Drive to Gondar and explore the Royal Enclosure. Day 7: Overnight in the Simien Mountains. Days 8–10: Drive to Axum, visit the stele park and Queen of Sheba’s palace. Days 11–13: Fly to Lalibela, famous for its unique rock-hewn churches. Days 14–15: Fly to Addis Ababa before departure. More details at academytravel.com.au

Axum (3)

Simien Mountains (1) Gondar (2) Bahar Dar (2)

Lalibela (3)

Addis Ababa (3)

ETHIOPIA

Iran in depth $12,985 pp, twin share $2,140 single supplement

October 9-31, 2018

Explore • Little-visited sites on the Caspian Sea in the ‘Azerbaijani’ regions of Iran • Memorable archaeological sites of the Ancient Persian Empire • The stunning tiled architecture of Iran’s Savafid-era mosques and palaces • The crosscurrents of Eastern and Western cultures at key Silk Road sites • The bazaars of Tehran, Tabriz, Shiraz and Isfahan • A remarkably friendly, cultured and open population, eager to engage with the world outside Iran

Overview Over 23 days we travel through the marvellous spring-time mountain and desert landscapes of Persia and visit some of the most remarkable monuments in the ancient and Islamic worlds. We explore awe-inspiring Achaemenid palaces and royal tombs, mysterious Sasanian fire temples, enchanting mud-brick cities on the desert fringes, and fabled Persian cities with their enchanting gardens, caravanserais, bazaars and stunning cobalt-blue mosques. Perhaps more importantly, however, we encounter the unsurpassed friendliness and hospitality of the Iranian people which leave most travellers longing to return.

Your tour leader

Getting there Emirates and Etihad offer daily flights to Tehran. Contact us for quotes and bookings.

Fitness requirement Tabriz (3)

Astara (1)

Zanjan (2) Tehran (4)

IRAN

Isfahan (4) Yazd (3)

Shiraz (5)

Expert tour leaders

> The remarkable museums and palaces of Tehran > The Armenian church of St Stephanos and the turquoise mosque in Tabriz > The imposing Mausoleum of Oljeitu and the Sasanian watchtowers, palaces and fire temples at Takht-e Soleyman > The gardens of Shiraz, where Persia’s poets are celebrated > Classical sites of Persepolis and Pasargadae > The desert city of Yazd, with its evocative Zoroastrian and medieval sites > The UNESCO World Heritage city of Isfahan, centre of the ‘renaissance’ Safavid period

Itinerary

CASPIAN SEA

Kashan

Highlights

Days 1–3: Explore Tehran’s extraordinary palaces and museums. Days 4–7: Drive to the Caspian Sea then to Tabriz and visit Safavid mausoleums, St Stephanos church and the troglodyte village of Kandovan. Days 8–9: Examine the Sasanian ruins of Takht-e Soleyman. Days 10–14: Investigate Bishapur, Persepolis and the Parthian city of Firuzabad. Days 15–17: Three nights in Yazd, with visits to Pasargadae and the Zoroastrian fire temples. Days 18–21: Relax with four nights in Isfahan. Days 22–23: Return to Tehran via the merchant houses and water gardens of Kashan.

Study and professional development TOURS Academy Travel ran its first professional development program for teachers in 2006, and since then weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve developed several highly focused study tours to select destinations, either for personal interest or to develop professional skills and meet professional development requirements. Study tours often use self-catered accommodation and include regular lectures and seminars. Participants are expected to be independent travellers, with lots of walking and public transport involved.

Rome

Study Tour $4,910 pp, twin share $1,130 single supplement

January 5-16, 2018

Get to know • Roman antiquity, from the Etruscans to the Christians • The transition to the Middle Ages: Rome’s role in shaping European culture • The glory of Renaissance and baroque Rome, from Michelangelo and Raphael to Caravaggio and Bernini • Rome beyond the tourist trail, including Ostia Antica and the house and studio of Giorgio de Chirico • The neighbourhoods of Rome, where contemporary culture lives alongside its ancient inspiration

Overview Rome’s contribution to Western culture is difficult to overestimate, but most visitors do not penetrate the city’s complex, interwoven layers. This 12-day study tour provides you with a detailed examination of Rome’s history, art and culture, from antiquity to the present, through an extended series of lectures and guided site visits. This tour is ideal for the independent traveller: group visits are carefully balanced with time for independent exploration.

Your tour leader

Dr Nick Gordon has a University Medal and a PhD in history from the University of Sydney. For ten years, he has lectured on European history, from antiquity to the 19th century, at universities in Sydney. He continues to lecture on European art and history and has led tours for Academy Travel since 2007.

Getting there Emirates and Singapore offer daily flights from Australia to Rome. Contact us for quotes and bookings.

Highlights > Superb collections of antiquities, including the Vatican Museums, the Capitoline Museums and Palazzo Massimo > The spectacular works of Caravaggio and Bernini throughout the city and in the Galleria Borghese > Excursions to Ostia Antica, Hadrian’s Villa, and the masterful baroque Villa d’Este > Detailed lecture series providing you with extensive knowledge of the city and its past > Walking tours visiting Rome’s hidden gems and masterpieces by Raphael, Bramante and Borromini > Modern Rome, including a visit to the house and studio of Giorgio de Chirico

Fitness requirement

Itinerary

Academy Travel is endorsed to provide NESA Registered Professional Development for teachers accredited at Proficient Teacher level. Completing this study tour program will contribute 18 hours of NESA Registered PD addressing 2.1.2, 6.2.2, 6.3.2 from the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers towards maintaining Proficient Teacher Accreditation in NSW. 66

Maximum 20 in a group

Days 1–3: Explore Rome’s origins and its extraordinary rise to greatness, through visits to archaeological sites, including Ostia Antica, and world-class museums. Days 4–6: From imperial splendour to the coming of Christianity. Explore underground Rome to witness how the city and its culture transformed and see the splendour of the medieval church. Days 7–12: Rome’s Renaissance revival and baroque glory – walking Caravaggio’s Rome, visiting the Galleria Borghese and the Vatican Museums, home to the Sistine Chapel. Excursion to Hadrian’s Villa and Villa d’Este.

Paris

Study Tour $5,290 pp, twin share $1,100 single supplement

July 2-14, 2018

Uncover • Old Paris, from Celtic and Roman settlements to the capital of the kings of France • The glory of the Middle Ages, from Sainte Chapelle and Notre Dame to the renovated Cluny Museum • Masters of magnificence: from Louis XIV’s Versailles to the Empire of Napoleon • Impressionist and postimpressionist Paris, from masterpieces in less visited galleries to the Montmartre of Toulouse-Lautrec • The cradle of modernism: Paris in the 20th century

Overview This 13-day study tour takes you well beyond the tourist’s Paris, to explore the history, art and architecture of the quintessential European city from its Roman origins, through its medieval glory to its rebirth as the epicentre of modernism. Throughout the tour, a series of detailed background lectures, guided visits and historical walking tours are balanced with time for independent exploration.

Highlights > The glory of medieval Paris at Sainte Chapelle, Notre Dame and Cluny Museum > Guided visits of world-class museums including the Louvre, and many excellent quieter museums, such as the Musée Jacquemart-André and the Petit Palais > Day trips to Versailles and Giverny, home of Monet’s garden > Walking tours of key sites in the city’s history, such as Montmartre, the Marais, and Hausmann’s Opéra district > Icons of modern Paris, including the Musée Pompidou and the Picasso Museum > Underground Paris: the Roman city and the Napoleonic Canal St Martin

Your tour leader

Dr Michael Adcock is a social and cultural historian who specialises in the art and history of France. He has led several highly successful tours to Paris for Academy Travel.

Getting there There are a number of airline options available for flights into and out of Paris. Contact us for quotes and bookings.

Fitness requirement

Itinerary Days 1–3: Ancient and medieval Paris, from Roman settlement to the pinnacles of Gothic architecture, and a cruise up Canal Saint Martin. Days 4–5: Explore the Louvre in depth and experience the extravagance of Louis XIV and his court at Versailles. Days 6–8: Discover 19th-century Paris in depth, from Napoleon and Josephine to the birth of modern art; day trip to Monet’s gardens at Giverny. Days 9–13: The cradle of modernism: bohemian Montmartre and modern art at the Pompidou Centre, Picasso Museum and more. More details at academytravel.com.au

2019 tour program Sneak peek! Our program for 2019 is now being finalised and includes an exciting range of new destinations, along with repeats of some of our more popular tours! Further information for each tour, including a detailed itinerary, will be released 12 months before departure dates. If you are interested in finding out more about a tour listed below, please contact us directly or register your interest on our website.

Italy

Art Cities of Tuscany: Pisa, Siena, Florence January 2019 Venice: City, Republic and Empire March 2019 Easter in Malta April 2019 Puglia to Pompeii: Classical Southern Italy April 2019 & October 2019 The City of Rome April 2019 Lakes and Villas of Northern Italy April 2019 Sicily and the Aeolian Islands May 2019 & September 2019 Corsica and Sardinia May 2019 & September 2019 The Venice Biennale June 2019 Florence and the Italian Renaissance September 2019 Istanbul and Venice: a tale of two cities October 2019

www.academytravel.com.au

Europe London and Paris January 2019 Grand Tour of Spain April 2019 & October 2019 Warsaw to Berlin May 2019 Northern Spain and Portugal May 2019 British art: Holbein to Hepworth May 2019 High Art in the Low Countries May 2019 Gardens of South West England June 2019 Gardens of Yorkshire & the Lake District June 2019 Scandinavia and Iceland June 2019 Art Basel and the Upper Rhine June 2019 Stockholm to St Petersburg August 2019 St Petersburg and Moscow September 2019 Croatia September 2019 Vienna to Venice September 2019 Art along the Rhine September 2019 Berlin and Beyond October 2019 Portugal October 2019

Music & Theatre New York: orchestra and opera January 2019 Montreal to New York: fine music in historic cities April 2019 Music in Germany May 2019 Amsterdam to Bergen: a musical journey May 2019 European Summer Music Festivals: Salzburg and Lucerne July 2019 Paris to Madrid: a musical journey October 2019 Naples to Venice: a musical Grand Tour of Italy October 2019

Asia Pacific New Zealand February 2019

Hong Kong: Art Basel March 2019 Canberra and Monaro: along the heritage trail April 2019 Japan Unmasked May 2019 & November 2019

The Americas New York: art, architecture, history & theatre April 2019 North East USA: Boston, Washington, New York April 2019 Frank Lloyd Wright: Chicago to Fallingwater May 2019

Bhutan: The Last Shangri-La May 2019

Modern Architecture: Los Angeles to Chicago October 2019

Singapore Arts Festival June 2019

New England and French Canada October 2019

Western China: on the Silk Road September 2019

Central America October 2019

Tasmania: history, art and landscape October 2019

Mexico October 2019

Africa & the Middle East Egypt January 2019

Iran April 2019 & October 2019 Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan April 2019 Morocco October 2019 Turkey: Classical, Byzantine and Ottoman October 2019

Cuba: then and now November 2019

More details at academytravel.com.au/adfas

Fitness Requirements of our tours It is important both for you and for your fellow travellers that you are fit enough to be able to enjoy all the activities on an Academy Travel tour. We have assigned a star grading to each tour to give you an indication of the level of physical fitness required for participation. There are three levels of grading. Please see below for the participation criteria of each grading. You will also find a star grading listed on each tour page in the brochure. Academy Travel’s tours tend to feature extended walking tours and site visits, which require greater fitness than coach touring. We ask you to consider carefully your ability to meet the physical demands of the tour. If you have any questions about these gradings, or you are concerned about your ability to meet the requirements of the trip, we urge you to contact us for further information and to consult your medical practitioner for an realistic assessment of your travel fitness.

Grade one

Grade two

Grade three

Grade One tours are appropriate for travellers in good health with good mobility. You should be able to participate comfortably in up to three hours of physical activity per day on most days, including walking at an easy pace, sometimes on uneven terrain, climbing stairs and standing in galleries.

Grade Two tours are designed for people who lead active lives and can comfortably participate in up to five hours of physical activity per day on most days, including walking tours, challenging archaeological sites, climbing stairs, embarking and disembarking trains and/or boats, and a more demanding tour schedule with one night stops or several internal flights.

Grade Three tours are our most physically demanding. To participate on this tour, you should be able to comfortably undertake in up to seven hours of physical activity per day, over several days. Activities may include travelling long distances, walking on difficult terrain, climbing stairs, embarking and disembarking trains and/ or boats, exposure to high altitudes and long days of touring. These tours may include one night stops and early starts.

Participation criteria for a Grade One tour

You should be able to:

• k eep up with the group at all times • walk for 2-3 kilometres at a moderate to slow pace • stand for a reasonable length of time in galleries and museums • negotiate stairs and escalators • get on and off a coach with steep stairs unassisted • move your luggage a short distance if required

A note for older travellers

If you are more than 80 years old, or have restricted mobility, you will find a number of our itineraries challenging. On a Grade Two tour it is unlikely that you will be able to undertake all activities and get the full value of the tour. Grade Three tours are unsuitable for travellers more than 80 years old, unless you are exceptionally fit. We kindly ask travellers more than 80 years old to contact Academy Travel before submitting a booking form, so that we can provide specific advice on the physical requirements of the tour in which you are interested.

Carefully planned itineraries

Participation criteria for a Grade Two tour

You should be able to:

• k eep up with the group at all times • walk for 4-5 kilometres at a moderate pace with only short breaks • stand for a reasonable length of time in galleries and museums • tolerate uncomfortable climatic conditions such as cold, humidity and heat • walk up and down slopes • negotiate steps and slopes on archaeological sites, which are often uneven and unstable • get on and off a large coach with steep stairs, train or boat unassisted, possibly with luggage • move your luggage a short distance if required

Participation criteria for a Grade Three tour

You should be able to:

• k eep up with the group at all times • walk for 5-7 kilometres at a moderate pace with only short breaks • stand for a reasonable length of time in galleries and museums • tolerate varying climatic conditions such as humidity and heat • enjoy a reasonable level of physical and respiratory fitness • tolerate a diet that can be significantly different from a typical Australian diet, and where some dietary requirements cannot be met • walk up and down slopes • negotiate steps and slopes on archaeological sites or mountain paths, which are often uneven and unstable • get on and off a large coach with steep steps, train or boat unassisted, possibly with luggage • move your luggage a short distance if required

The NEXT STEPs

itineraries, bookings, airfares

We’ve tempted you with one of our tours, so what happens next? Detailed itineraries

For each tour, we publish a 10–12 page itinerary providing day-by-day descriptions of the tour program and other important information. This is published 9–12 months before departure. Bookings are only accepted once the detailed itinerary is published.

Booking on a tour

Welcome letter and updates

Once we have received your booking we will send you a letter confirming all details of your booking and any special requests. We will keep you updated on special tour-related events and other matters as they arise.

Pre-departure

Each person booking on a tour must complete and sign a booking form and send it to us together with a deposit of $500. Booking forms are attached to all detailed itineraries and can also be downloaded from our website.

About a month before your tour begins we’ll send you a comprehensive package with your travel documents, tour notes and practical information. If you prefer you can arrange a meeting in our Sydney office to go through your documents in person with your travel consultant.

Travel consultant

Beyond the tour: Other services

Each of our tours has a dedicated, professional consultant who will manage all aspects of your booking from rooming and special requests to airfares, travel insurance and additional accommodation. Your consultant is your one-stop point of reference for all matters relating to your travel.

Back cover: Nasir Al-Mulk Mosque in Shiraz, Iran

Outstanding small-group journeys are just one of the services Academy Travel offers. We are a full-service travel agency and can also organise your international flights, additional travel before or after your tour, private airport transfers and travel insurance. We organise group airfares for tours to difficult-to-reach destinations such as Russia, Iran and Uzbekistan. For travel to Europe and the US we offer competitive individual fares in economy, business or first class. Why begin your tour jet-lagged? We can arrange pre-tour accommodation so you can relax for a few extra nights in the first hotel before your tour begins.

Meet our client services team

Our consultants are here to look after all matters relating to your travel. If you are interested in a tour or would like to book your place, get in touch with one of our consultants below on 02 9235 0023 or 1800 639 699 outside of Sydney.

Jemma York

Groups travel manager jemma@academytravel.com.au

Frederick Steyn

Groups travel manager frederick@academytravel.com.au

Kathy Wardrop

Groups travel manager kathy@academytravel.com.au

Lynsey Martin

Travel administrator lynsey@academytravel.com.au

Level 1, 341 George Street Sydney NSW 2000 Australia Ph: +61 2 9235 0023

academytravel.com.au