Academic Arrangements Abroad 2017 Idea Book

ACADEMICARRANGEMENTSABROAD

2017

Naturally, any anniversary evokes reflection—and 40 years in the world of educational travel is certainly an occasion worth noting! Not only have we explored the world, developing the distinctive travel experiences that have become our hallmark, but we have done so with exceptional partners. It has truly been a pleasure to support you and care for your travelers. For this, I can’t thank you enough.

“The past is history, “ wrote Deepak Chopra, “ the future a mystery, and this moment is a gift.” As a forward-looking company committed to innovation, I am thrilled to share a few exciting new developments happening now that energize what our future together may bring.

Over 15 years ago, we fell in love with a little island nation just 90 miles from Key West, and have since shared our passion for Cuba with thousands of travelers. While restrictions on travel to Cuba are easing, demand for our services continues to grow. We can only imagine that this is a result of our commitment to quality programming, and of deep and enduring friendships with our Cuban neighbors. As Cuba’s doors begin to open, we look forward to doing our part to ensure that travel has a positive impact. In August, my wife Liz and I sailed on a yacht to Havana on the first cruise to Cuba departing from a U.S. port. This new mode of exploring Cuba will enable more travelers to learn about our neighbor, without the impact of additional hotels and infrastructure.

Building on our expertise and experience in cultural travel, I am also pleased to announce the launch of the Museum Travel Alliance (MTA). This new venture brings together a consortium of museums and cultural organizations interested in offering their members access to select trips led by renowned scholars and curators. Some of our valued travel partners are also members of MTA. All of us at Arrangements Abroad believe that travel contributes to a fuller, richer life. We are committed to designing exceptional travel experiences, with a personal touch and with special elements like those that we are featuring in this collection of program ideas for 2017. Since 1977, we have endeavored to do what we say, and to choose the right thing: for our travelers, for our partners, and also for our marvelously talented staff.

We are delighted to have taken this journey with you and look forward to many more adventures.

Jim Friedlander President 1

Welcome 1 40 Years of Discovery 4 Charleston, Savannah & the Sea Islands Celebrating the World Since 1977

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AMERICAS

SIGNATURE CRUISE & RAIL Gardens of the Caribbean Aboard Sea Cloud 7

Hudson River Valley 33

With the Trade Winds Aboard Sea Cloud II 9

The Arts in America’s Heartland 35

Sailing the Panama Canal Aboard Sea Cloud II 9

Charleston, Savannah & the Sea Islands

Cuba by Sea 11

Mexican Modern 39

Dutch & Flemish Landscapes Aboard AmaPrima 13

Art & Architecture of Havana

Castles & Collections on the Rhine Aboard AmaCapella

15

Undiscovered Cuba 43

The Emerald Isle by Rail 17

Jewels of Colombia 45

100th Anniversary of the Russian Revolution Aboard Volga Dream 19

Family Ecuador & the Galápagos

Sailing the Baltic’s Amber Coast Aboard Sea Cloud II

21

Across the Andes 49

The Enchanting Douro Aboard AmaVida 23

Shores of Discovery Aboard the Via Australis 51

Sicily by Sail Aboard Sea Cloud II

25

Adriatic Odyssey Aboard Sea Cloud 27 Vineyards, Vintages & Châteaux Aboard AmaDolce

29

Our Ships 30 River Boats & Rail 31

37

41

47

EUROPE London & Berlin by Rail

AFRICA & THE MIDDLE EAST 53

Morocco 91

Arias & Arenas 55

Ancient Kingdoms of Ethiopia by Private Plane

93

Grand English Gardens & Estates

South Africa & Namibia by Rail

95

Spires & Squires 59

Egypt & Jordan by Private Plane with a Cruise on the Nile

97

Tudor England 61

Jerusalem & The Holy Land

99

Houses & Gardens of Northern Ireland

63

Iran 101

Italian Villas & Private Gardens

65

Art & Architecture on the Arabian Peninsula

57

Made in Italy 67

ASIA & THE PACIFIC

Ch창teaux of the Loire 69

Mughals & Maharajas 105

Chemin d'Arles 71 Camino de Santiago 73 Alentejo & Extremadura 75

79

500 Years Since the Reformation

81

Wonders of Australia by Private Plane

107

The Malay Peninsula by Rail

109

China Discovered 111

Bike & Barge Aboard Magnifique II 77 The United States in WWI

103

Japan 113 The Academic Arrangements Abroad Team

114

Berlin 83 Vienna 85 Undiscovered Balkans 87 Iceland Northern Lights Adventure

89

Old Havana Skyline, photo: Martin Agegglen

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40 YEARS OF DISCOVERY Dear Friends and Colleagues, Sharing with old friends and clients a few personal recollections of why and how I founded Academic Arrangements Abroad in 1977 is a privilege! Many of you were there at the firm’s inception. How wonderful that you remain strong supporters! Transitioning from a 16-year career as a French teacher to basically teaching adults on tours was not as difficult as some would imagine. In 1977 when Air France offered me the chance to develop the new market of educational travel. I realized that years of organizing international exchanges for my students could lead to a new venture—a start-up company perhaps. Risky, yes, but I had a lot of valuable help from Air France executive Bill Roan and my Wall Street husband Bob (later to become AAA’s CFO).

The essence of our trips continues to be about learning while also enjoying the many pleasures of travel. Increasingly sophisticated travelers are interested in unexpected adventures, behind-the-scenes experiences, and rarely visited gems, all of which have become the specialty of AAA. In this regard, I have had the pleasure of working with two renowned and highly competent lecturers, art historian and author Olivier Bernier and landscape architect and garden expert Patrick Bowe, a collaboration that has enabled us to offer deep, original, and highly successful cultural experiences.

I am happy to say that our company has pioneered travel to unlikely destinations even in the most challenging times. AAA became an accredited Intourist agency which opened the doors to Soviet Russia; a marketing grant from the EU took us to the Republic of Ireland; and our firm was among the first to develop trips to Cuba. To reach out to Cuban academics and artists, I became an early board member of The Ludwig Foundation of Art. Significant changes occurred as we entered the 21st century. After the 9/11 crisis, our offices eventually moved from the Wall Street area to midtown. Our son Jim left the world of corporate finance to lead AAA, making this a second generation family company.

We entered the small ship cruise market with Sea Cloud Cruises and in 2000, were selected by The Metropolitan Museum of Art for our exceptional art and architecture.

I have had the pleasure and honor of continuing to develop special programs for many of your institutions. We are confident that fiscal responsibility, integrity, and competence will always be associated with AAA and look forward to a continued partnership in travel.

With much appreciation for your loyalty over the past 40 years,

Harriet F. Friedlander Founding Chair Emerita

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CELEBRATING THE WORLD SINCE 1977 1981

Under the leadership of the late Eloise O. Spaeth, the Archives of American Art offers pioneering artrich journeys: London and Scotland in the Spring; Museums and Family Collections in Holland, Belgium and France; and Yugoslavia-Venice-Orient Express.

2000

The Metropolitan Museum of Art appoints Arrangements Abroad as its exclusive travel provider.

We publish the first seasonal Cultural Calendar with six programs; our latest calendar has 36.

1977

Academic Arrangements Abroad is founded.

1979

We receive a groundbreaking grant to change the face of Irish tourism, developing programs on art & architecture, gardens, writers and politics with Patrick Bowe. At Aer Lingus, Maura FitzGerald is Instrumental in bringing us to Ireland. She later joins us as a tour director.

Havana & the Biennial, sponsored by the NelsonAtkins Museum of Art sells out with 74 guests inscribed for our first tour to Cuba.

1986

1982

Jim is tour director on our first cruise, Galapagos Islands: A Voyage to a Living Laboratory, sponsored by Mount Holyoke Alumnae Association.

1999

Jim joins as President/CEO. Sea Cloud sails to the Caribbean on our first two charters of this legendary ship, sponsored by Harvard and the National Trust, respectively. Walter Cronkite lectures aboard a few months later on an Aegean cruise.

We have since offered more than 100 voyages on Sea Cloud and Sea Cloud II.

We move into expanded offices at 1040 Avenue of the Americas.

2001

Jim brings a group of museum directors and friends to Cuba, where they meet Fidel Castro.

Meggan Reim starts as receptionist (followed in 2003 by Erin Sorensen in the same position!). Today they share leadership of operations and product development.

5

Aung San Suu Kyi meets with a group from the Met on our first trip to Burma, led by Olivier Bernier and Christine Pagnani.

2014

2006

Russia appoints Arrangements Abroad as one of the first Intourist agencies.

2012

2010

The first trip to Iran, Palace, Poets & Nightingales, departs.

Museum Travel Alliance is launched.

2015

Roberta Moore joins as Vice President of Sales & Marketing.

Still Water, the first yacht charter from the U.S. to Cuba since the 1960s, sails.

SIGNATURE CRUISE & RAIL

Sea Cloud

G A R D E NS OF THE C A R I B BEA N ROU N D - TRI P AN TI G UA AB OARD S E A C L O U D January 30 - February 6 Visit great gardens, sail in waters with rich maritime history, and step ashore at lesser-known ports of call to experience Caribbean culture and culinary delights. Embark the legendary Sea Cloud in Antigua to cruise to chic St. Barthélemy, and call at Virgin Gorda in the British Virgin Islands for a swim at the “Baths” and a rum punch. Sail to the charming Dutch island of St. Eustatius, and discover the Botanical Garden and childhood home of Alexander Hamilton on Nevis.

Call at Iles des Saintes, site of a 1782 battle between the Royal Navy and the French Fleet.

Highlights

Ports of Call

• Discover the rich cultural legacy of the Caribbean islands, their lush landscapes and gardens, and the extraordinary geology of the region during a sevennight cruise

Day 1 Day 2 Day 3 Day 4 Day 5 Day 6 Day 7 Day 8

• Explore the lesser-known Dutch Island of St. Eustatius on an architectural walking tour • Visit private gardens whose owners will greet us personally • Learn about the history of the area at the magnificent fort on Iles des Saintes and the Alexander Hamilton house on Nevis • Swim at exquisite hidden beaches and snorkel in clear blue waters

Academic Arrangements Abroad

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Depart USA / Embark Antigua St. Barthélemy Tortola Virgin Gorda St. Eustatius Nevis Iles des Saintes Disembark Antigua / USA

Aerial view of the Panama Canal with the Centennial Bridge

W I TH TH E TR A D E W I ND S CURA ÇAO TO COL ÓN AB OARD SE A C L O U D I I February 13-21 Highlights

Ports of Call

• Overnight in Cartagena, Colombia’s colonial gem on the Caribbean

Day 1 Day 2 Day 3 Day 4 Days 5-6 Day 7 Day 8 Day 9

• Enjoy architectural walking tours of Dutch colonial Curaçao and Bonaire • Sail amongst the palm-flecked San Blas islands • Discover Tayrona National Park, one of the loveliest coastlines in all of South America

Depart USA / Embark Willemstad, Curaçao Kralendijk, Bonaire At sea Santa Marta, Colombia Cartagena San Blas Islands, Panama Disembark Colón – Panama City Panama City / USA

SA I L I NG THE PA NA M A C A N A L COLÓN TO P UN TAREN AS AB OARD S E A C L O U D I I February 20 - March 3 Highlights

Ports of Call

• Transit the Panama Canal aboard the elegant sailing yacht Sea Cloud II during daylight hours

Day 1 Day 2 Day 3 Day 4 Day 5 Day 6 Day 7 Day 8 Day 9 Day 10 Day 11 Day 12

• Discover Costa Rica’s Corcovado National Park, home to scarlet macaws, quetzals, red-eyed tree frogs, and tapirs • Join an architectural tour of Panama’s Casco Viejo, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, before a visit to the Museum of Biodiversity—Frank Gehry’s only design in Latin America • Swim at exquisite hidden beaches and snorkel in clear blue waters Academic Arrangements Abroad

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Depart USA / Panama City – Embark Colón Transit the Panama Canal – Panama City Panama City Isla Coiba, Panama Casa Orquideas, Golfito, Costa Rica Corcovado National Park Sierpe-Terraba Mangroves Park At sea San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua Playa del Coco, Costa Rica Disembark Puntarenas, Costa Rica - San José San José / USA

Waterfront in Cienfuegos, photo: Natalie Maynor

C U B A B Y SE A CI EN FUEG OS TO H AVANA Winter Experience Cuba from a unique perspective as we explore this beautiful island by ship. Call at various ports and meet Cubans across the island from all walks of life—from students, to farmers, to celebrated artists. Fly to historic Cienfuegos, a World Heritage Site, to embark. Meet a Santería priest in Trinidad and stroll the winding streets of Sancti Spíritus. On Isla de la Juventud, tour the former prison, now a museum, that held Fidel Castro; chat with ecologists in María La Gorda; and visit a tobacco farm in Pinar del Río. Conclude with two nights alongside in Havana.

Highlights

Ports of Call

• Enjoy the pleasures of a privately chartered yacht

Day 1 Day 2 Day 3 Day 4 Day 5 Days 6-7 Day 8

• Call at ports across the island from Cienfuegos to Havana • Learn about marine conservation in María La Gorda, a biosphere reserve in westernmost Cuba • Visit artists in their studios and tour museums with curators • Discover colonial Trinidad and Sancti Spíritus on architectural walking tours • Meet with local ceramists on Isla de la Juventud • Attend exclusive performances of music and dance

Options Small ship and private yacht charters are available

Academic Arrangements Abroad

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Depart USA / Cienfuegos Embark Cienfuegos / Trinidad Trinidad – Sancti Spíritus Isla de la Juventud María La Gorda Havana Disembark Havana / USA

AmaPrima

D U TC H & F L E M I SH L A ND SCA PES ROUN D - TRI P AM STERD AM AB OARD A M A P R I M A April 19-27 In the still-life paintings of the Dutch Golden Age, flowers often serve to remind the viewer of the transience of all earthly things. Next April, as tulips and daffodils unfurl in a fleeting riot of colors, we invite you to join a captivating seven-night cruise along Dutch and Flemish waterways aboard the elegant AmaPrima. Abundant visual delights await during visits to famed gardens and museums.

Highlights

Ports of Call

• Delight in the pleasures of springtime in the Low Countries

Day 1 Day 2 Day 3 Day 4 Day 5 Day 6 Day 7 Day 8 Day 9

• Enjoy luxury accommodation aboard AmaPrima, featuring a sundeck, gourmet dining, and bicycles for use ashore; most staterooms offer a French balcony as well as a step-out balcony • Tour the renowned Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam • At Ghent’s Cathedral of St. Bavo, marvel at the Van Eyck brothers’ Adoration of the Mystic Lamb • Visit the Kröller-Muller Museum, with its collection of Van Goghs and fine sculpture gardens Optional Extensions, featuring Keukenhof Two-night prelude in The Hague at the Hotel des Indes Two-night postlude in Amsterdam at the Pulitzer Hotel

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Depart USA Amsterdam – Embark AmaPrima Rotterdam – Delft Middelburg – Ghent, Belgium Ghent – Bruges Antwerp Arnhem, The Netherlands Amsterdam Disembark Amsterdam / USA

Heidelberg at night, photo: Godoi

CASTL E S & C OL L E C TI ONS ON T H E RH I N E AMST ERD AM TO B ASEL AB OARD A M A C A PE L L A FEATURI N G ART B ASEL June 9-19 From the Dutch flatlands to the Swiss Alps, follow the mighty Rhine upstream past legendary landscapes immortalized

by Turner, Heine, Goethe, and Byron. Towering fortresses, terraced vineyards, first-rate art, and fine cuisine are yours to enjoy as you step ashore to explore the great German and French cities of Cologne, Mainz, Heidelberg, and Strasbourg. Disembark in Basel to visit Art Basel, the outstanding international exhibition of modern and contemporary art; conclude with two nights in lovely Lucerne.

Highlights

Ports of Call

• Enjoy five-star accommodations

Day 1 Day 2 Day 3 Day 4 Day 5 Day 6 Day 7 Day 8 Day 9 Day 10 Day 11

• Explore Art Basel, featuring hundreds of galleries displaying the finest modern and contemporary works • Experience luxury accommodations in Lucerne, with a visit to the city’s peerless Picasso Museum • Tour storied castles along the Rhine: Schloss Benrath, Castle Augustusburg, Burg Eltz, and the ruins of the seventh-century Heidelberg Castle • In Cologne, visit the Wallraf-Richartz Museum, housing one of the greatest collections of German art; in Mainz, the Gutenberg Museum and the stained-glass windows by Chagall at St. Stephans Cathedral • See the Grünewald Altarpiece in Colmar and the Beyeler Collection in Basel

Academic Arrangements Abroad

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Depart USA Amsterdam – Embark AmaCapella Dusseldorf – Cologne Cologne – Castle Augustusburg in Brühl Koblenz Mainz Strasbourg Strasbourg – Basel Basel – Disembark AmaCapella – Lucerne Lucerne Lucerne / USA

Restaurant aboard Grand Hibernian

TH E E M E R A L D I SL E B Y R A I L AB OARD G RAN D H I B ERNI A N June 10-20 and June 17-27 Join us on a new adventure, drawing on our more than 30 years’ experience in Ireland! After two nights in Dublin, join the privately chartered Belmond Grand Hibernian, limited to just 40 guests. Visit Cork, Connemara, and Galway; dine in the homes of art collectors, and take tea with the owner of a castle in Limerick. Then, explore the great country estates of Northern Ireland, traveling not as tourists but as guests of the ancestral owners, who welcome us into their homes.

Highlights

Program

•S pend four nights aboard the privately chartered Belmond Grand Hibernian, limited to 40 guests in 20 en-suite cabins, styled on the original Orient Express

Day 1 Depart USA Days 2-3 Dublin Day 4 Embark Grand Hibernian Day 5 Cork-Killarney – Limerick Day 6 Limerick – Galway Day 7 Galway – Westport Day 8 Westport – Dublin / Disembark Days 9-10 Northern Ireland’s west country Day 11 Belfast / USA

•E xplore the stunning scenery of Ireland’s west coast, including wild Connemara, the Cliffs of Moher, and the lakes of Killarney •T ake tea at Glin Castle by special invitation of Lady FitzGerald •E njoy private visits and meals with the owners at estates in Northern Ireland, including Baronscourt, Killyreagh House, and Ballywalter Park •D ine at Hillsborough House, Northern Ireland’s official royal residence and site of the historic 1985 Anglo-Irish Agreement

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Lunch on Volga Dream

100TH AN NI VE R SA RY OF TH E R U SSI A N REV O L U T I O N MOS COW TO ST. P ETERSB URG AB OARD VO L G A D R E A M June 14-24 Explore the history and legacy of the 1917 Russian Revolution on this classic six-night voyage along the Volga River and its waterways into the heartland of Russia. Our program begins with three days to discover Moscow, present and past. Embarking Volga Dream, cruise to Uglich, which played an important role in the rise of the Romanovs; Yaroslavl, the oldest city on the Volga; Goritsy, with its painted monasteries; UNESCO-designated Kizhy; and charming Mandrogi.

Conclude in St. Petersburg.

Highlights

Ports of Call

• Experience Russia’s two great cities over the summer solstice during the centennial year

Day 1 Days 2-4 Day 5 Day 6 Day 7 Day 8 Day 9 Day 10 Day 11

• Cruise to famed Golden Ring cities surrounding Moscow • See Lenin’s coat—still bearing the bullet marks of an assassination attempt—during a private, curator-led tour of a the Museum of Contemporary Russian History • Visit Moscow’s Grand Kremlin Palace, the tsar’s former residence not open to the general public • Meet celebrated anchorman Boris Notkin for a lecture on the rise and fall of Communist ideas

Depart USA Moscow Moscow / Embark Volga Dream Uglich Yaroslavl Goritsy Kizhy Svir River cruise to Mandrogi Disembark St. Petersburg / USA

• Marvel at the astonishing wealth of the Romanov Dynasty at the Crown Jewels Treasury • Visit backstage with a dancer at the legendary Bolshoi Theater Optional Extension Three-day postlude in St. Petersburg at the peak of the “White Nights” season of the midnight sun

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Millesg책rden Sculpture Park, Stockholm

SAI L I NG THE B A LTI C ’ S A M B E R CO A S T ST. PETERS B URG TO COP EN H AG EN AB O A R D S E A C L O U D I I July 19-30 Sail to Scandinavian and Baltic cities, with their marvelous mix of medieval and modern, aboard an elegant four-masted barque at midsummer on this classic cruise. Embarking in St. Petersburg, call at Helsinki, with its innovative architecture, and visit a 13th-century church in Tallinn, Estonia. Navigate the picturesque Stockholm archipelago for an overnight call in the Swedish capital, and step ashore at tiny Visby, Gotland to walk among the medieval ruins. Admire the Art Nouveau district of Riga, Latvia, before an excursion to Vilnius, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, concluding in Copenhagen.

Highlights

Ports of Call

• Enjoy an overnight docked in Stockholm with ample to time to explore

Day 1 Day 2 Day 3 Day 4 Days 5-6 Day 7 Day 8 Day 9 Day 10 Day 11 Day 12

• Join a curator to view the impressive collections of the Ateneum Museum in Helsinki • In Riga, attend a private concert at the Dome Cathedral on one of Europe’s finest pipe organs • Walk medieval, walled Visby, once a center of the Hanseatic League Optional Extensions Three-night prelude in St. Petersburg Two-night postlude in Copenhagen

Academic Arrangements Abroad

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Depart USA Embark St. Petersburg Helsinki Tallinn Stockholm Visby At sea Riga Klaipeda At sea Disembark Copenhagen / USA

Douro Valley

TH E E NC HA NTI NG D OURO RO UN D - TRI P P ORTO AB OARD A M AVI D A September 11-21 Portugal’s Douro River Valley, the birthplace of port wine, boasts a rich cultural history and rustic charm. Cruise aboard the luxury riverboat M.S. AmaVida through verdant landscapes, stepping ashore to explore timeless villages, tour remarkable museums and historic sites, sample excellent varietals, and savor Michelin-starred cuisine. Delight in visits to private vineyards, manor homes, and gardens not otherwise open to the public on special arrangements exclusive to our groups.

Highlights

Ports of Call

• Attend a private concert in Porto at Casa da Música, Rem Koolhaas’ architectural masterpiece

Day 1 Day 2 Day 3 Day 4 Day 5 Day 6 Day 7 Day 8 Day 9 Day 10 Day 11

• Visit the historic manor home and artistic gardens of Casa do Campo • Sample vintage ports at a special tasting at a winery overlooking Porto’s historic quarter • Dine at Quinta do Portal, a family-owned vineyard with strikingly modern cellars designed by Álvaro Siza, a Pritzker Prize-winning architect • Lunch at a Michelin-starred restaurant in Amarante • In Salamanca, Spain’s city of golden sandstone, tour the UNESCO-designated Old Town

Depart USA Embark Porto Régua Barca D’Alva Salamanca Vega Terrón Pinhão Entre-os-Rios Disembark Porto Porto Porto / USA

Optional Extensions Three-night prelude in Santiago de Compostela, Three-night postlude in Lisbon

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City by the sea in Sicily

SI C I LY B Y SA I L ROUN D - TRI P VAL L ETTA AB OARD S E A C L O U D I I October 14-22 Circumnavigate the seductive island of Sicily aboard the storied Sea Cloud II on a classic Arrangements Abroad cruise that was named one of just 50 “Tours of a Lifetime” by National Geographic Traveler. Autumn, when the heat and crowds of summer are gone, is the perfect time to discover the countless cultural marvels of this stepping stone between Europe and Africa. Admire Sicily’s diverse landscapes from the comfort of an elegant three-masted barque, sail into her legendary harbors, and step ashore to admire ancient temples and theaters, glittering mosaics, and a Caravaggio masterpiece.

Highlights

Ports of Call

• Spend seven nights aboard Sea Cloud II, enjoying gourmet cuisine and fine amenities as you sail to ancient towns that were once centers of the GrecoRoman, Carthaginian, and Byzantine worlds

Day 1 Day 2 Day 3 Day 4 Day 5 Day 6 Day 7 Day 8 Day 9

• Explore the capital city of Palermo, dotted with Baroque churches, Arab mosques, and Byzantine mosaics • Visit Agrigento, whose Valley of the Temples contains some of the finest Greek ruins in the world • In Syracuse, once Athens’ rival in wealth and culture, see the cathedral built on the ruins of the Temple of Athena and a prized Caravaggio painting in the Church of Santa Lucia alla Badia • Stroll in Taormina, a romantic hilltop town laden with shops and art galleries; tour an ancient Greek theater still used for plays and concerts; and enjoy an exclusive visit to a private palazzo Optional Extension Two nights in Valletta, Malta Academic Arrangements Abroad

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Depart USA Embark Valletta, Malta Porto Empedocle, Sicily Trapani Palermo At sea Taormina Syracuse Disembak Valletta / USA

Dubrovnik, Croatia, photo: Michael Caven

A D R I ATI C OD Y SSE Y VEN I CE TO VAL L ETTA AB OARD S E A C L O U D October 15-24 Sail aboard a legendary ship through the Adriatic, Ionian, and Mediterranean seas, to ancient towns and impressive archaeological sites. Greek, Carthaginian, Roman, Byzantine, Arab, and Norman civilizations have all left their mark here.

From Venice, cruise to Ravenna to admire stunning Byzantine mosaics, then cross to Croatia to experience Dubrovnik’s exquisite architecture. Step ashore in scenic, rarely visited Montenegro before returning to Italy and the Baroque delights of Lecce. Conclude in Syracuse, to tour its classical ruins and visit a private palazzo by special invitation.

Highlights

Ports of Call

• Enjoy an eight-night cruise aboard Sea Cloud

Day 1 Day 2 Day 3 Day 4 Day 5 Day 6 Day 7 Day 8 Day 9 Day 10

• In Urbino, see a charming and historically rich town • View ancient manuscripts and exquisite architecture in Dubrovnik, Croatia, which George Bernard Shaw called “paradise on earth” • Discover exotic Montenegro, home to UNESCOdesignated medieval monuments and the bewitching Bay of Kotor • Visit Lecce, a gem of a town in Italy’s heel, famous for its dozens of dazzling churches • Spend a day in Syracuse, to tour its ancient Greek and Roman theaters, marvel at a Caravaggio painting, and enjoy an exclusive visit to a private palazzo

Optional Extensions Two-night prelude in Venice, Two-night postlude in Valletta

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Depart USA Embark Venice, Italy Ravenna Ancona Dubrovnik, Croatia Kotor, Montenegro Brindisi, Italy At sea Syracuse Disembark Valletta, Malta / USA

Bordeaux wine cellars

V I NE YA R D S, VI NTA G E S & C HAT EA U X ROUN D - TRI P B ORD EAUX AB OARD A M A D O L C E October 18-26 Discover the rich Bordeaux region during the vendange on a one-week cruise aboard the deluxe AmaDolce. Home to Eleanor of Aquitaine, Queen of France, Queen of England, and one of the most powerful women of the Middle Ages, Bordeaux’s fame as a capital of culture and wine has only grown since her day. Sample Sauternes and rich varietals from the Médoc and the UNESCO-designated Saint-Emilion region, and visit the domaines where the grapes are grown. Stroll the streets of Bergerac and other charming villages, and admire the splendidly preserved medieval Château de Roquetaillade.

Highlights

Ports of Call

• Experience this celebrated wine producing region, home to seven regional appellations d'origine contrôlée, during the grape harvest season

Day 1 Day 2 Day 3 Day 4 Day 5 Day 6 Day 7 Day 8 Day 9

• Meet winemakers and visit the caves where they store their fine vintages • Savor black truffles, foie gras, and exquisite local varietals during exclusive tastings and haute cuisine experiences • Learn the secrets of terroir and how to differentiate the typical wines of the region • Enjoy a private lunch on an island in the Gironde Estuary • Stroll through Bordeaux’s lovely 18th-century squares and tour the Musée des Beaux-Arts • Visit the 17th-century citadel Blaye, a UNESCO World Heritage Site overlooking the Garonne estuary Optional Extensions Toulouse or the Dordogne region (Lascaux caves)

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Depart USA Embark Bordeaux Cadillac Pauillac Blaye – Bourg Libourne (Saint-Emilion) Libourne – Bergerac – Cubzac Bordeaux Disembark Bordeaux / USA

OUR SHIPS

SEA CLOUD

Type Four-masted Barque Length 360 ft Beam 50 ft Sail Area 32,000 sq. ft Guests 64 Crew 60 Cabins 32 Year Built 1931/2011 renovated

SEA CLOUD II

Type Three-masted barque Length 384 ft Beam 53 ft Sail Area 32,000 sq. ft Guests 94 Crew 65 Cabins 47 Built 2001

RIVER BOATS AMAWATERWAYS

RAIL GRAND HIBERNIAN

AmaCapella, AmaPrima, AmaDolce, AmaVida, Type Riverboat Length 443, 443, 360, 260 ft Beam 38, 38, 38, 37 ft Guests 158, 164, 146, 106 Crew 40, 49, 41, 30 Cabins 79, 82, 82, 74, 53 Year Built 2016, 2013, 2009, 2013

Type Pullman Train Carriages 5 sleeper cars; 2 dining cars, 1 observation car Designer James Park Associates Guests 40 Cabins 20, all en-suite Crew 20 Year Built 2016

VOLGA DREAM

Type Riverboat Length 314 ft Beam 48 ft Guests 109 Crew 60 Cabins 56 Year Built 1959/2007 rebuilt

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AMERICAS

Kykuit, Rockefeller's Hudson River Estate (above), photo: Kris. Setting Sun, (right) painting by Frederic Edwin Church

H U D SON R I VE R VA L L E Y ROOSEVELT, ROCK EFEL L ER & TH E B UI L DI N G O F A M E R I C A May to November Tour the spectacular gardens, splendid mansions, and historic homes of Revolutionary War heroes, former presidents, famous artists, and Gilded Age financiers. Admire the celebrated landscapes that inspired the Hudson River School artists on a delightful sojourn in the historic Hudson Valley. Discover important contemporary art set amid bucolic scenery. Enjoy award-winning farm-to-table dining as well as private invitations for meals and receptions at the homes of local residents and art collectors.

Highlights • Admire spectacular vistas along the Hudson River • By special invitation, enjoy visits, receptions, and meals at the homes of private art collectors • Tour grand residences including Kykuit, Olana, Cedar Grove, Hyde Park, and Locust Grove • View contemporary art in inspired natural settings at Storm King Art Center and Dia: Beacon • Experience fine locavore dining at Blue Hill at Stone Barns and the Culinary Institute of America • Dine and enjoy a show at the Fisher Center at Bard College, designed by Frank Gehry Optional Extension New York City prelude Suggested Program Dates The entire region is especially delightful during the fall foliage season

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Shuttlecock by Claes Oldenburg at The Nelson足-Atkins Museum of Art, Kansas City, MO, photo: David Arbogas

T H E A RTS I N A M E R I C A’ S HE ART L A N D CRY STAL B RI D G ES & K AN SA S C I T Y Spring, Fall When the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art opened in 2011, the art world was stunned. Here was a collection of the highest caliber housed in a gorgeous building in the most unlikely place—Bentonville, Arkansas, the hometown of its founder, Alice Walton. In a similar way, powerful personalities in Kansas City had earlier transformed their city into a renowned destination for art. Celebrate the arts on a privileged program to these two remarkable cities, with private curatorial tours and visits to collectors’ homes.

Highlights

Program

• Discover the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, designed by Moshe Safdie and situated in the picturesque Ozarks

Day 1 Day 2 Days 3-4 Day 5

• Enjoy receptions in collectors’ homes to view outstanding private collections • Tour the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art and Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art in Kansas City in the company of a curator • Go backstage at the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts, also designed by Safdie

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Arrive Bentonville Bentonville – Kansas City Kansas City Kansas City / Depart

Charleston plantation, South Carolina (above). Nathaniel Russell House, Charleston (right),photo: denisbin

CHARLE STON, SAVA NNA H & TH E S EA I S L A N D S Spring, Fall Discover Charleston and Savannah’s historic city squares, rich culture, magnificently restored architecture, beautiful parks, and alluring spirit. Learn of the area’s Civil War legacy during visits to well-preserved 18th- and 19th-century homes. Meet local artists and enjoy the area’s legendary hospitality on private tours. A special feature of this program is an excursion to the South Carolina Sea Islands for a traditional Low Country Boil, served at a landmark Greek Revival plantation that was once home to the first school for freed slaves in the United States.

Highlights

Program

• Gain entrée into private, historic homes and gardens for tours and special events

Days 1-3 Day 4 Days 5-6

• Meet the director of Charleston’s Gibbes Museum of Art and take an evening tour of the Nathaniel Russell House Museum, one of America’s most important neoclassical dwellings • In Charleston, visit Drayton Hall, a National Trust Historic Site that survived the American Revolution, Civil War, and the earthquake of 1886 • Explore Oaks Plantation on St. Helena Island • Join an architectural tour of Savannah’s Victorian District

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Charleston Beaufort – St. Helena Island Savannah

Museo Soumaya (above), photo: T J DeGroat. Museo Casa Estudio Diego Rivera y Frida Kahlo (right), photo: Indra Purmale

M E XI C O M OD E R N TH E EX P L OSI ON OF ARCH I TE C T U R E January to May Spend a week in Mexico City, which has become a world-class center for art and design rivaling New York and Paris.

Admire the Federal District’s fine museums and modernist buildings, visit the studios of up-and-coming architects, and discover firsthand why the city’s dining scene is every bit as exciting as its art. Mexican architecture is enjoying its welldeserved moment, with increasing attention on both the mid-century modernism of Luis Barragán and others, and on cutting-edge contemporary architects, who combine the modernist legacy with a deep appreciation for craft and tradition.

Highlights • Visit the National Museum of Anthropology, designed by Pedro Ramírez Vázquez and devoted to the Aztec, Maya, and other pre-Hispanic civilizations • See the Júmex Collection, the largest private contemporary art collection in Latin America, in a building designed by David Chipperfield • Marvel at Museo Soumaya, the private collection of telecommunications magnate Carlos Slim, concealed in a hallucinatory façade of aluminum hexagons • Tour Casa Luis Barragán, home of Pritzker Prizewinning father of Mexican modernism • Enjoy lunch at the landmark San Angel Inn, colonialmonastery-turned-restaurant facing El Museo Casa Estudio Diego Rivera y Frida Kahlo • Discover the La Tallera Siqueiros Museum, Teopanzolco Auditorium; see Barrancas House and other innovative buildings in nearby Cuernavaca Optional Extensions Colonial Oaxaca or San Miguel de Allende Suggested Program Dates First week in February to coincide with the Zona Maco Art Fair Academic Arrangements Abroad

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Old Havana

TH E A RT & A R C H I TE C TU R E OF H AVA N A October to May Discover the exciting art and architecture of Cuba, with special entrée to the country’s arts community, on this signature week-long trip, fine-tuned over the last fifteen years with many optional themes and activities. Interact with artists and cultural leaders, stroll the main squares of Old Havana, visit historic cities, and enjoy the warm hospitality of this captivating Caribbean nation.

Highlights

Themes

• Walk through Old Havana, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with an architectural historian

Tailored to sponsor and lecturer interests, including gardens, ecology (including underwater ecology), Jewish interest, historic preservation, urban planning, economics and business, and contemporary social and political issues.

• Visit Cuba’s leading artists in their homes and studios; meet with dance and choral groups; attend lectures by local historians and professors whose knowledge and perspective provide unique insight into the country’s past, present, and future • Travel along the north coast to Matanzas with its rich Afro-Cuban heritage and traditions • Or visit Trinidad and Cienfuegos, both UNESCO World Heritage Sites Option Include an overnight visiting Cienfuegos and Trinidad, or Matanzas and Varadero

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Vintage car in Old Havana, photo: Thomas M端nter

U ND I SC OVE R E D C U B A HO L G UI N , SAN TI AG O D E CUB A , H AVA N A October to April Hundreds of miles from Havana, eastern Cuba—often called the soul of the island—is site of the country’s first capital, birthplace of son music, and cradle of many revolutionary movements. Discover this lesser-visited region on a brandnew itinerary. Fly from Miami to Holguín to spend four nights exploring this “City of Parks.” Continue to Santiago de Cuba, the former capital, which has played an instrumental role in Cuban literature, music, architecture, and politics.

Conclude in Havana, where we can customize each itinerary from a wide variety of resources.

Highlights

Program

• In Holguín, visit Chorro de Maita, the largest indigenous burial site on the island

Day 1 Day 2 Day 3 Day 4 Day 5 Days 6-8 Day 9

• In Santiago, explore San Juan Hill, site of the decisive battle in the Spanish-American War; the Moncada Barracks Museum, to learn about the origins of the Cuban Revolution; and Santa Ifigenia Cemetery, burial site of national hero José Martí • In Santiago, take a curator-led tour of Casa Velázquez, the oldest house still standing in Cuba, followed by a private performance by local musicians in the courtyard • Visit Basilica del Cobre, home of Cuba’s patron saint, La Virgen de la Caridad del Cobre, and a destination for thousands of pilgrims every year • Admire the Caribbean Sea from Castillo de San Pedro de la Roca, also known as “El Morro,” a 17thcentury, UNESCO-designated fortress

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Miami / Holguín Holguín Holguín – Santiago de Cuba Santiago Santiago / Havana Havana Havana / USA

Fruit vendors in Cartagena, photo: Luz Adriana Villa

J E W E L S OF C OL OM B I A CARTAG EN A & B OG OTÁ December to March The rich heritage of Colombia awaits you! Here the conquistadores established the first permanent European settlement on the American mainland, and the abundance of gold led to the legend of El Dorado. Discover this diverse land of lush mountain and coastal landscapes, vibrant culture, and exquisite colonial architecture. We include a day on the Caribbean coast in Barranquilla, famous as the home of a Carnival celebration second in size only to Rio’s. These preLenten festivities have been going on since the 19th century.

Highlights

Program

• See the art treasures of Bogotá, including the extraordinary Museo del Oro (Gold Museum), the masterpieces of native son Fernando Botero at the Museo Botero, and the historic neighborhood of La Candelaria

Day 1 Days 2-3 Day 4 Days 5-7 Day 8

• Wander the cobblestone streets and see the colorful colonial buildings of Cartagena’s old town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the inspiration for many of Gabriel García Márquez’s writings • Journey to Barranquilla, where we visit the House of the Carnival and meet with a local dance group that performs in the annual parade • Enjoy private visits to studios of prominent local artists

Optional Extension Medellín: Three Nights in the City of Eternal Spring

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USA Cartagena with an excursion to Barranquilla Cartagena – Bogotá Bogotá Bogotá / USA

Galรกpagos sea lion and boy

EXP L OR I NG E C U A DOR & TH E GA L A PA G O S A FAM I LY AD V EN TURE Year-round A new twist on a classic! We have been operating family programs to the Galápagos Islands for more than three decades; this exciting program combines that magical archipelago with the natural and cultural wonders of mainland Ecuador. Explore the 16th-century legacy of the capital city of Quito, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and spend three days in the Andean cloud forest, based in a remarkable glass-walled lodge, sustainably set in the midst of a private reserve. To top it off, embark on a Galápagos Islands cruise, a world apart. The diversity of this program will delight travelers from 6 to 96.

Highlights

Program

• Experience an unforgettable four- or five-night Galápagos Islands cruise

Day 1 Day 2 Day 3 Days 4-5 Day 6 Days 7-9 Day 10

• Enjoy expert-led walks and snorkeling trips • Encounter the landscapes and species that inspired young Charles Darwin • Stay at award-winning Mashpi Lodge in Ecuador’s Cloud Forest, to experience the immense biodiversity with local naturalists • Stand on the Equator at the Mitad del Mundo • Discover the architecture of Quito’s colonial center Options Isabella II (maximum 40 guests), La Pinta (maximum 48 guests) or space aboard the new Santa Cruz II

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Depart USA Quito Quito – Mashpi Mashpi Mashpi – Quito / Embark Galápagos Galápagos cruise Galápagos / Quito / USA

Cavas Wine Lodge, Mendoza

A C R OSS THE A NDE S CH I L E & ARG EN TI N A February, March, or September, October Explore the thriving capital cities of Buenos Aires and Santiago, journey to world-class wine regions, sojourn on the Pacific, and thrill at the startlingly clear skies of the Atacama Desert in this carefully crafted South American journey.

Admire the architectural heritage and enjoy the art and culture of two great cities. Sample excellent local vintages and exquisite cuisine in natural settings of stunning beauty across the Andes. With nearly five centuries of viticulture, Chile and Argentina command the world stage with Old World grape varieties. Our comprehensive program concludes in the north of Chile with three nights at the desert oasis of San Pedro de Atacama. Our accommodations throughout are exceptional.

Highlights

Program

• In Buenos Aires, see the newly opened Museum Art Center Buenos Aires (MACBA) and go behind the scenes at the Colón Theater, one of the world’s great opera houses • Spend three nights at the luxurious Relais & Châteaux Cavas Wine Lodge in Mendoza, with private wine tastings at innovative vineyards in this up-and-coming wine region • Experience a traditional asado (barbecue) at an estancia in the Argentine pampas • Overnight in seaside Valparaiso, Chile, to tour the home of poet Pablo Neruda • In the Atacama Desert, float in the buoyant waters of the Cejar Lagoon and stargaze at the clear night sky from a private observatory

Day 1 Days 2-3 Day 4 Days 5-6 Day 7 Day 8 Day 9 Days 10-11 Day 12 Day 13

Depart USA Buenos Aires Buenos Aires – Mendoza Mendoza Mendoza – Santiago Santiago – Valparaiso Valparaiso – Atacama Atacama Atacama / Santiago Santiago / USA

Suggested Program Dates The National Grape Harvest Festival in Mendoza takes place during the first days of March Option This program could be shortened without Atacama

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Courting Magellanic penguins, Tierra del Fuego

SH OR E S OF DI SC OVE RY A VOYAG E TO TH E UTTERM OST PART O F T H E E A RT H September to April On this adventure in southernmost South America, fly from Santiago to Punta Arenas on the Straits of Magellan. Embark the 100-passenger Via Australis for a five-day cruise south through the wild fjordlands of Tierra del Fuego and Cape Horn, where glaciers drop from the snow-covered Andes. Penguins, seals, seabirds, and whales abound. Disembark in Ushuaia, southernmost city in the world, and continue to Buenos Aires for two nights, where highlights include the spectacular Teatro Colón.

Highlights

Program

• Land at Cape Horn (weather permitting)

Day 1 Day 2 Day 3 Days 4-6 Day 7 Day 8 Day 9

• Sail the spectacular Beagle Channel in the wake of Charles Darwin • Go-anywhere Zodiac boats bring us ashore for naturalist-led hikes • Discover Yamana archaeological sites in rarely visited Wulaia Bay • Visit Harberton, oldest estancia in Tierra del Fuego, for a tour and private lunch • Stay two nights in the fashionable Recoleta neighborhood in cosmopolitan Buenos Aires Optional Extensions Three-night prelude in Torres del Paine at the Hotel Singular or Tierra Patagonia

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Depart USA Santiago Santiago / Embark Punta Arenas Tierra del Fuego Disembark Ushuaia / Buenos Aires Buenos Aires Buenos Aires / USA

EUROPE

Venice Simplon-足Orient-Express, photo: Belmond Images

L OND ON & B E R L I N B Y R A I L ABO ARD V EN I CE SI M P L ON - ORI ENT-E XPR E S S May 29 - June 5 London and Berlin are tied together by history, not least a World War II legacy that resonates 75 years later. On a special departure, travel between these two cities on trains that hark back to the golden age of rail. After two nights in London, board the exquisite Belmond British Pullman train in London’s Victoria Station. Travel through the bucolic Kentish countryside in style, joining the legendary blue-and-gold carriages of the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express across the English Channel for a rail journey via Paris across Europe. Spend the night surrounded by glamorous Art Deco interiors, whiling away the second afternoon with ever-changing views. Disembark à la Dietrich in dynamic Berlin for a weekend of culture.

Highlights

Program

• See Europe aboard a legendary train on a new route commemorating WWII

Day 1 Days 2-3 Day 4 Day 5 Days 6-7 Day 8

• In London, enjoy exclusive access to top art collections including those of Sir John Soane’s Museum and the Tate Modern, and explore the Churchill War Rooms • Meet with East and West Berliners to hear their personal account of the events leading up to the fall of the Wall on November 9, 1989 • On a private visit, discover the Marienfelde Refugee Center, entry point to West Berlin • Admire the fine art collection of the U. S. Embassy in Berlin

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Depart USA London Embark London Disembark Berlin Berlin Berlin / USA

Bregenz Festival, Lake Constance,Photo: Austria, Wolfgang photo: Staudt Kecko

A R I A S & A R E NA S EUROP EAN SUM M ER FESTIVA L S Mid-July to Mid-August Experience the most famous performing arts and opera festivals in Germany, Austria, and Italy on a 17-day grand tour with a musical theme: summer festival in Baden-Baden; Munich Opera Festival, established in 1875; Bregenz Festivals, “Festival of the Year” in 2015; Verona Arena Opera Festival with its Roman amphitheatre; and last but not least, the Torre del Lago Puccini festival. Along the way, enjoy the finest art, architecture, and gastronomy available in these regions with superb hotels throughout.

Highlights

Program

• In Baden-Baden, the famed Black Forest spa town, attend a performance at Germany’s largest opera house, followed by dinner onstage with the performers

Day 1 Days 2-4 Days 5-7 Days 8-9 Days 10-12 Days 13-16 Day 17

• See Grünewald’s Isenheim Altarpiece in Colmar and sample wines in the Alsace region • Experience a performance of Puccini from the natural stage on Lake Massaciuccoli • At the Bregenz Festival, marvel at the extraordinary performances at the Seebühne, a massive floating stage on Lake Constance and the centerpiece of the event • Tour renowned vineyards and enjoy tastings and “slow food” meals in Valpolicella Option A shorter program with fewer festivals

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Depart USA Frankfurt – Baden-Baden Munich Bregenz Verona Torre del Lago Torre del Lago – Rome / USA

RHS Chelsea Flower Show, photo courtesy of Visit England. Highclere Castle (right), photo: Haley Blackmor

GR A ND E NG L I SH G A R DE NS & ES TAT ES FEATU RI N G TH E RH S CH EL SEA FL O WE R S H O W Mid-May Explore a wealth of gardens and manor homes on an enchanting week-long English journey, centered on Members Day at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, one of the world’s great floral events. Meet with head gardeners and owners of private estates, dine on farm-fresh food, discover a dazzling range of gardening styles, and learn their historical significance in both London and the bucolic countryside. Drawing on our decades-long experience, each departure is tailored to sponsor interests.

Highlights • Programs designed in conjunction with longtime friend, author, and horticulturist Paddy Bowe • See the RHS Chelsea Flower Show on Members’ Day, when exhibits are at their peak • Explore elegant country homes with noteworthy art collections as well as beautiful gardens, such as Highgrove House, the family home of the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall • Stay overnight in country manors like Weston Park, set amidst 1,000 acres in Staffordshire • Admire Highclere Castle, where Downton Abbey is filmed, on a private visit • Enjoy lunch at Madresfield Court, inspiration for Brideshead Revisited

Options Popular past trips have included Oxfordshire and London, Cornwall, Devon, Wiltshire, East Sussex, Hampshire, Bath, the Cotswolds, and the Lake District.

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River Clyde, Glasgow

SP I R E S & SQU I R E S L ON D ON , ED I N B URG H , G L A S G O W Spring, Fall Tailored for specific departures, our London and Scotland program draws on our 40 years working with valued private estate owners, museum curators, head gardeners, and exceptional local guides in London, Edinburgh, and Glasgow.

Highlights

Program

• Visit private gardens and manor homes, noted for their art collections

Day 1 Days 2-3 Day 4 Day 5 Day 6 Day 7 Day 8

• Enjoy behind-the-scenes tours of historic theaters, libraries, and Parliamentary buildings • See Glasgow in the company of art historian Dr. Evelyn Silber, former director of the University of Glasgow’s Hunterian Museum and former Chair of the Charles Rennie Mackintosh Society • With a private guide, visit Edinburgh Castle and Stirling Castle outside of public hours • Discover the art of whisky-making at a Scottish Highlands distillery, followed by a special tasting of single malts paired with chocolates

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Depart USA London London – Edinburgh Edinburgh Edinburgh – Glasgow Glasgow Glasgow / USA

Windsor Castle

TU D OR E NG L A ND K I N G S, QUEEN S & K N AVE S Spring, Fall This rich journey through Tudor England brings to life the history and intrigue of Wolf Hall, Hilary Mantel’s absorbing novel named after the Seymour family seat in Wiltshire. Visit sites associated with Henry VIII, Elizabeth I, Anne Boleyn, and other members of the Tudor dynasty, including Windsor Castle, Hever Castle, and Penshurst Place. Admire Lacock Abbey, a former Tudor family home where scenes from Wolf Hall and several Harry Potter movies were filmed; and travel to Bosworth Field, where the death of Richard III launched the birth of the Tudor era.

Highlights

Program

• Enjoy special visits to London Tower, the National Portrait Gallery, and the Victoria and Albert Museum

Day 1 Days 2-5 Day 6 Day 7 Day 8 Day 9

• See a performance at Shakespeare's Globe and visit backstage • View selected art from the Royal Collection at Windsor Castle, the oldest and largest occupied castle in the world • Stay at Weston Park in Staffordshire, and see its impressive visual and decorative arts collections • Visit elegant estates such as Hampton Court, Hatfield House, and Burghley House, with afternoon tea and curatorial tours arranged Option A family adventure

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Depart USA London London – Weston Park Weston Park Weston Park – Leicester Leicester – Birmingham / USA

Hillsborough Castle, photo: tatchie

HOUSE S & G A R DE NS OF NORTH ERN I REL A N D W I TH PATRI CK B OW E April to June Explore one of Arrangements Abroad’s original destinations on an itinerary created by garden author and native son of Eire, Patrick Bowe. After time in Dublin, travel with Paddy to Northern Ireland’s beautiful west country for visits to spectacular private gardens and historic houses. Meet Paddy’s personal contacts and good friends, who happen to own some of the most extraordinary homes and gardens on the Emerald Isle. Northern Ireland is a surprising jewel of the gardening world.

Highlights

Program

• Spend ten days with charming and popular Patrick Bowe on a program he designed

Day 1 Days 2-3 Day 4 Days 5-6 Day 7 Days 8-9 Day 10

• Lunch at Grey Abbey, home of art collectors Mr. and Mrs. William Montgomery • Visit Hillsborough Castle, residence of the Royal Family, on a private after-hours tour, followed by dinner in the palace’s State Dining Room • Enjoy special access to National Trust properties throughout the program, including stunning Mount Stewart, historic seat of the Marquesses of Londonderry • In Dublin, tour the National Gallery in the company of a curator

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Depart USA Dublin Dublin – Lough Erne Lough Erne and area Lough Erne – Belfast Belfast Belfast / USA

Boboli Gardens, Florence

I TA L I A N VI L L A S & P R I VATE GA RD EN S W I TH PAD D Y B OW E Spring, Fall The compellingly beautiful gardens of Italy show their medieval and Renaissance origins in dark cypress and yew, fragrant herbs, shimmering pools, and whimsical grottoes. We are privileged to explore these marvelous places with Patrick Bowe, one of our most popular lecturers and trip designers, a leading horticulturist, and author of Gardens of the Roman World. This classic tour features exclusive access to villa gardens in Le Marche, Umbria, and Tuscany, as well as opportunities to meet with head gardeners, villa owners, and other colleagues and friends.

Highlights

Program

• Learn from lectures and on-site chats with Patrick Bowe, with his impeccable knowledge of the architectural relationships between Italian villas and their gardens

Day 1 Days 2-4 Day 5 Days 6-8 Day 9 Days 10-11 Day 12

• Discover Italy's unspoiled hill country, visiting many places that are off the beaten path • Explore villas and private gardens, historic and modern, on tours led by their owners • Meet Principessa Giorgiana Corsini for tea and a reception at Palazzo Corsini del Prato, Florence

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Depart USA Urbino – Umbria Urbino – Perugia Perugia Perugia – Florence Florence Florence / USA

Traditional book bindery, Florence (above), photo: ŠFrank van Dongen, Holland. The Italian art of shoemaking (right)

M A D E I N I TA LY FOCUS ON FL OREN CE September to October Explore Florence in depth during a five-night stay, with accommodations at a deluxe, centrally located hotel. Interactive visits to workshops, studios, local markets, a culinary school, and an award-winning winery will enrich your appreciation for Florentine craftsmanship, culture, and cuisine. Conclude this experiential program with a relaxing day in Siena, one of the most perfectly preserved medieval towns in all of Italy.

Highlights • Stay five nights at the luxurious Hotel Savoy, located beside the Duomo in the heart of the city • Tour the Duomo, Baptistry, Uffizi Gallery, Accademia, and other iconic attractions • Experience fine Italian craftsmanship on intriguing visits to a local leather-making workshop and a marble sculptor’s studio • Shop for seasonal produce at a city market, followed by a hands-on cooking lesson from a master chef • Enjoy a tour, tasting, and lunch at one of Italy’s premier vintners, with over 600 years in the winemaking industry • Discover charming Siena during a daylong excursion in the Tuscan countryside

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Château de Chenonceau, Loire Valley (above), photo: Yvan Lastes. Garden Festival at Chaumont­-sur-­Loire, photo: Esther Westerveld

C H ATE A U X OF TH E L OI RE WIT H TH E CH AUM ON T G ARD EN F E S T I VA L Late April to October Admire châteaux gardens in the company of head gardeners and dine in private homes on an exclusive one-week stay in one of France’s loveliest regions. Just two hours from Paris, the Loire Valley is home to many of the most exquisite châteaux in the world. A special highlight of this program, drawing on our 40 years’ experience in the region, is a visit to the International Garden Festival at Chaumont-sur-Loire, once home to Catherine de Medici.

Highlights • Stay a week at Domaine de la Tortinière, an exclusive château-hotel outside Tours • Attend the International Chaumont Garden Festival, featuring themed landscape designs • In Tours, visit the Gothic cathedral and the Musée des Beaux Arts • Admire the Château d’Ussé, which inspired the story of Sleeping Beauty; and the Château de Chenonceau, known as “the castle of the ladies” • Enjoy a private dinner at a château, featuring the finest French wines and cuisine • Visit Atelier Calder in Saché, where the artist settled in the 1960s

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Canal du Midi, photo: Michel Coiffard

I N THE F OOTSTE P S OF ST. J A MES CH EM I N D ' ARL ES Spring, Fall Our pilgrimage along part of the historic Way of St. James takes us from Montpellier, with its monumental Saint-Pierre Cathedral, to the Basilica of Saint Sernin in Toulouse, concluding in Pau, birthplace of King Henry IV. See the medieval Abbey of Gellone, cross the Romanesque Pont du Diable, and walk along the shaded Canal du Midi. Pass through countryside once ruled by Charlemagne and defended by Roland, and stop in Lourdes, where present-day pilgrims still come to be healed. This winning combination of history, architecture, touring, and walks (averaging 3-4 miles per day)—topped with French food and wine—is l’art de vivre at its finest!

Highlights

Program

• Admire pilgrimage towns along the Chemin d’Arles, including Saint-Guilhem-le-Désert and Pau

Day 1 Days 2-3 Day 4 Day 5 Day 6 Days 7-8 Day 9 Day 10 Day 11 Day 12

• Walk along the UNESCO-designated Canal du Midi and through scenic valleys and villages • In Toulouse, view medieval art at the Musée des Augustins, a former monastery • Feast on cassoulet, the famous local specialty, and savor regional vintages • In Lourdes, hear the Chanson de Roland and the tale of Bernadette’s visions of the Virgin Mary

Optional Extension Postlude: Biarritz

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Depart USA Montpellier Saint Guilhem-le-Désert – Castres Castres Canal du Midi Toulouse Auch – Lourdes Lourdes Pau Pau / USA

The Camino de Santiago, photo: JosĂŠ Antonio Gil Martinez

I N THE F OOTSTE P S OF ST. J A MES CAM I N O D E SAN TI AG O Spring, Fall For more than a millennium, pilgrims have walked the Camino de Santiago, the Way of St. James, to the Shrine of the Apostle at Santiago de Compostela in Galicia, Spain. On this moderately active program, hike the most interesting sections of the Camino, enjoying exquisite cuisine, regional wines, breathtaking architecture, and splendid hotels en route. Daily walks average 3.5 miles. This luxury journey on the classic Camino concludes with Mass at the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela, where the traditional incense-burning ceremony will be performed specially for our group.

Highlights

Program

• Begin the Camino in Roncevalles and end in Santiago de Compostela, as has been done for centuries

Day 1 Depart USA Days 2-3 Pamplona Days 4-5 Laguardia Days 6-7 Burgos Days 8-9 León Day 10 Villafranca del Bierzo Days 11-12 Santiago de Compostela Day 13 Santiago de Compostela / USA

• Explore awe-inspiring cathedrals and monasteries in Nájera, Burgos, León, and other pilgrimage cities along the way, staying in splendid paradores • See the artistic treasures of the 15th-century Cartuja de Miraflores monastery in Burgos on an after-hours visit • Experience midday Mass at the magnificent Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela • Journey to Cape Finisterre, once considered the end of the Earth, for the sunset

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Évora, Portugal, photo: Phillip Capper

A L E NTE J O & E XTR E M A DU RA M ED I EVAL V I L L AG ES, ROM AN L E G A C Y Spring or Fall Portugal’s verdant Alentejo and neighboring Spanish Extremadura reveal diverse cultural influences from Celtic to Moorish and French. Marvelous Mérida, Spain (founded as Augusta Emerita in 25 B.C.) shows its legacy as capital of the Roman province of Lusitania. A magical land of cork oaks, olive groves, and vineyards, fertile Alentejo is dotted with forts, watchtowers, and hilltop castle towns that date to the 13th and 14th centuries. On this exceptional journey to these lesser-known regions of Portugal and Spain, savor Michelin-starred cuisine, and stay in stunning hotels in historic buildings.

Highlights

Program

• See seven UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including the “World Heritage Triangle” of Mérida, Cáceres, and Guadalupe in Spain

Day 1 Day 2 Day 3 Days 4-6 Day 7 Day 8

• Enjoy Lisbon’s cultural treasures, including an authentic fado performance • In Spain, Visit Zafra, “Little Seville,” and Trujillo, “Cradle of the Conquistadors” • Tour the Palace of the Dukes of Cadaval with the current duchess in Évora, once the second most important city in Portugal after Lisbon Option This can also be a more active program, in part following the Via de la Plata and Roman roads.

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Depart USA Lisbon, Portugal Lisbon – Estremoz Trujillo, Spain Monsaraz, Portugal – Lisbon Lisbon / USA

Bikes along an Amsterdam canal

BI K E & B A R G E A B OA R D MAGNIFIQUE II AM STERD AM TO B RUG E S May to October Pedal past picturesque scenery and along pastoral canal paths on this moderately active program, taking advantage of the gentle, even terrain of the Netherlands and Belgium (they’re called the Low Countries for a reason!). Enjoy a seven-night cruise aboard a luxury barge, daily guided bike tours of storybook Flemish villages, and city tours in Amsterdam, Antwerp, Ghent, and Bruges, and you have the perfect combination of activity and relaxation.

Highlights

Ports of Call

• Two-night stay in historic Amsterdam, with guided visits to the Rijksmuseum and the Stedelijk Museum

Day 1 Days 2-3 Day 4 Day 5 Day 6 Day 7 Day 8 Day 9 Day 10 Day 11

• Seven-night cruise aboard the new Magnifique II, a luxury barge with just 18 comfortable cabins and suites • Daily guided bike tours, including picnic lunches • City tours of Antwerp, Ghent, and Bruges Optional Extension Two- or three-night postlude in Brussels Option A family adventure

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Depart USA Amsterdam Embark Amsterdam Vianen – Dordrecht Dordrecht – Antwerp Antwerp – Dendermonde Saint-Amand – Ghent Ghent – Bruges Bruges – North Sea Disembark Bruges – Brussels / USA

Verdun Memorial, France, photo: Wolfgang Staudt

TH E U NI TE D STATE S I N WW I COM M EM ORATI N G TH E 100TH AN N I VE R S A RY April, May, September Responding to its allies, the United States joined the Great War on April 16, 1917, when President Woodrow Wilson called on Americans to “make the world safe for democracy.” Commemorating the centennial, this history-themed program focuses on America’s role as seen in Belgium and France. Visit battlefields, cemeteries, and museums; attend commemorative events; and tour memorable exhibitions of art inspired by this world-changing event. Conclude on a celebratory note with a special tour of Champagne cellars in Reims, France.

Highlights

Program

• Begin with three days in Brussels, including a walking tour of the UNESCO-listed Grand-Place and an exhibition of avant-garde art

Day 1 Days 2-4 Day 5 Days 6-8 Day 9 Day 10

• Witness the deeply moving Last Post Ceremony at Menin Gate in the town of Ypres • In Reims, see the magnificent 13th-century cathedral • See the monuments to Americans who died in France, including the Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery and Memorial, the largest U.S. military cemetery in Europe • Visit battlefield cemeteries and see where poet John McCrae wrote “In Flanders Fields.”

• Visit the battle sites and museums at Verdun and the Somme • Tour the cellars of a renowned Champagne house in Reims with a tasting and dinner

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Depart USA Brussels Brussels – Reims Reims Reims – Paris Paris / USA

Church of Our Lady and the Martin Luther memorial, Dresden, photo:Worldaroundtrip

50 0 Y E A R S SI NC E TH E R E F OR MAT I O N CEL EB RATI N G L UTH ER & TH E 9 5 T H E S E S May to October Join a fascinating journey to Brandenburg, Saxony-Anhalt, and Thuringia in the footsteps of one of Germanys greatest sons. When Martin Luther nailed his 95 Theses to the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg, no one could have predicted that this simple act would launch a worldwide movement. From Berlin and Leipzig to Dresden and Lutherrelated towns in between, relive the birth of the Protestant Reformation on its 500th anniversary.

Highlights

Program

• Admire iconic treasures of Berlin and gain a historical overview of the Reformation on a private visit to a special exhibition at the Martin-Gropius-Bau

Day 1 Day 2 Day 3 Days 4-5 Day 6 Days 7-8 Day 9

• In Leipzig, attend a concert of the celebrated St. Thomas Church choir, whose most famous director was Johann Sebastian Bach; and learn of Luther’s other life as a gifted musician and composer • Dine at one of Germany’s oldest taverns, Auerbachs Keller, frequented by Luther, Goethe, and other luminaries • From Leipzig, travel to Luther-related sites • Take selected hikes along the Luther Trail in Saxony, through charming medieval towns and spectacular scenery Option Follow highlights of the Luther Trail on a walking tour

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Depart USA Berlin Berlin – Leipzig Leipzig Leipzig – Dresden Dresden Dresden / USA

Interior of Reichstag dome, photo: Wolfgang Staudt

BERLIN THRIVING ART & CULTURE I N TH E NE W G E R M A N Y Year-round In the nearly three decades since the fall of the Wall, no other European city has undergone a greater transformation than Berlin. Bold designs by some of the world’s most renowned architects have sparked the city’s renaissance, while thought-provoking monuments have redefined her urban space. Immerse yourself in Berlin’s boundless energy during a perfect week in this vibrant capital. Experience her landmarks, old and new, and discover why she so richly deserves your undivided attention. Inclusive, easily customized, and featuring luxury accommodations.

Highlights

Museum Island

• See the outstanding collections of Museum Island and view iconic treasures, from the bust of Queen Nefertiti to the Pergamon Altar to the Brandenburg Gate

Granted UNESCO World Heritage status in 1999 and located in Berlin’s historic center, the collection of galleries and museums on Museum Island, with its five temple-like buildings, represent 6,000 years of art and cultural history. The James Simon Gallery is the latest addition to the museum complex, completing David Chipperfield Architects master plan for the island.

• Stay at the five-star Hotel Regent Berlin, steps from everything in the central Mitte district • Discover striking architectural landmarks and worldclass museums designed by Frank Gehry, Daniel Libeskind, Norman Foster, I.M. Pei, and others • Visit Sammlung Boros, an extraordinary private art collection housed in an above-ground former WWIIera bunker • Spend a day in the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Potsdam, to discover the Rococo palace and gardens of Sanssouci

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Schรถnbrunn Palace Garden Gloriette, Vienna, Austria (above). Palace staircase, interior of Kunsthistorisches Museum (right)

VI E NNA FIN- D E- SI ECL E & H AB SB URG SPL E N D O R Year-round Relive the elegance of Old Europe during six days in this dazzling city on the Danube. Enjoy the best of Vienna’s musical and culinary pleasures as you explore the extraordinary legacy of the Habsburg family who ruled the Holy Roman Empire for three centuries. This exceptional program includes an evening at the State Opera House, Vienna’s premier classical music venue.

Highlights • Explore noteworthy landmarks, including the Kunsthistorisches Museum, Upper Belvedere, Museum for Applied Arts, and Liechtenstein Palace • Admire the crown of the Holy Roman Empire and the riches of the Order of the Golden Fleece at the Imperial Treasury • Enjoy an exclusive lunch at the 300-year-old Dorotheum, the celebrated auction house • Visit an important collection of turn-of-the-century decorative arts by special invitation • Tour Schönbrunn Palace, summer residence of the Habsburgs, where a six-year-old Mozart performed for the Empress Maria Theresa

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Mostar Bridge, Bosnia and Herzegovina

U ND I SC OVE R E D B A L KA N S FROM SOFI A TO SARAJ E VO April, May, September, October Experience the mosaic of histories, cultures, cuisines, and religions on this program to six Balkan countries: Bulgaria, Macedonia, Kosovo, Albania, Montenegro, and Bosnia and Herzegovina. Roman ruins, Orthodox monasteries, Austro-Hungarian palaces, and timeless Turkish bazaars stand proudly alongside bustling cafés and sophisticated restaurants. Delve into the diversity of the peoples of the region and meet locals at specially arranged performances of folkloric dance and music. Lectures from experts will unravel the intertwined, often turbulent histories of these former Yugoslavian countries.

Highlights

Ports of Call

• See the ancient bridge at Mostar in Bosnia and Herzegovina, rebuilt stone by stone after the Yugoslav Wars of the 1990s

Day 1 Day 2 Day 3 Day 4 Day 5

Day 6 Days 7-9 Day 10

Day 11

• Visit Sarajevo, “Jerusalem of the Balkans,” where Croats, Serbs, and Bosnians mingle in a deliberate effort to reclaim the city’s historic culture of tolerance • Enjoy a full-day yacht experience in the Bay of Kotor to Skrpjela islet, Perast, and Kotor • Sample delicious olive oil on a tasting tour in Luštica • View the enchanting classical ruins of Durrës, Albania • Discover the lovely, lesser-known landscapes of é Lovcen, and Lake Ohrid

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Depart USA / Sofia, Bulgaria Sofia – Plovdiv Sofia – Skopje, Macedonia Skopje with excursion to Pristina, Kosovo Skopje – Ohrid, Macedonia – Tirana, Albania Tirana Tirana – Tivat, Montenegro Tivat – Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina – Sarajevo Sarajevo / USA

Photo: Northern Lights above Hotel Rangá, Iceland, photo: Hotel Rangá. New Year’s Fireworks in Reykjavik (right)

I CELA ND NORTH E R N L I G H TS A D V EN T U RE Late September to early April One of nature’s great displays, the aurora borealis is a mysterious, multicolored show that spreads across the night sky with wondrous twists and swirls. Join us for a week in Iceland, a prime place for viewing this natural phenomenon, to take special aurora outings and learn the science behind the northern lights. Marvel at Iceland’s primeval landscape of volcanoes, geysers, waterfalls, and glaciers; and experience its lively Nordic culture, staying at exceptional countryside hotels.

Highlights

Program

• Witness the northern lights in a magnificent setting

Day 1 Days 2-3 Days 4-5 Day 6 Day 7

• Stay at the remote and stunning ION Hotel, just outside UNESCO-listed Thingvellir, site of the first democratic parliament and a volcanic wonderland at the juncture of two tectonic plates • Enjoy an exclusive lunch at Fridheimar, a family farm that uses geothermal energy to grow vegetables all year round, and spend time with Icelandic horses • Join an optional sled-dog ride on Langjokull Glacier • Experience the celebrated Blue Lagoon and other geothermal pools and geysers Suggested Program Dates A New Year’s Celebration: December 26, 2017 - January 2, 2018, with spectacular fireworks

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Depart USA Reykjavik – Thingvellir Hella Reykjavik Reykjavik / USA

AFRICA & THE MIDDLE EAST

Mosque doors in Fes, Morocco

M OR OC C O L AN D OF M I STS & M Y STER I E S Winter, Spring, Fall Over the last 10,000 years, the place that Edith Wharton called “a land of mists and mysteries” has been home to Berbers, Arabs, sub-Saharan Africans, Romans, the French, and more. Unveil the secrets of this spectacular country on an exciting journey that includes seaside Casablanca, medieval Fes and Marrakesh, and, as a highlight, time in the Sahara. Experience superb museums, luxury accommodations, six UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and authentic cuisine along the way.

Highlights

Program

• Visit Djemaa el-Fna, one of the world’s great public squares in Marrakesh

Day 1 Day 2 Day 3 Days 4-5 Day 6 Day 7 Day 8 Day 9 Day 10 Day 11 Day 12

• In Fes, wander the unspoiled old quarter, public gardens, and mellah (old Jewish quarter) • Tour Meknes, a 17th-century rival to Versailles, and the archaeological site of Volubilis, one of the bestpreserved Roman towns in North Africa • On the “Road of a Thousand Kasbahs” visit a small private museum housing exhibits of local art, culture, and history, en route to Ouarzazate and the lovely oasis hotel, Le Berbere Palace • Experience the Sahara in style, sleeping under the stars at a luxury desert tented camp alongside the stunning Erg Chebbi dunes

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Depart USA Casablanca Casablanca – Fes Fes Fes – Erfoud Erfoud – Merzouga (Erg Chebbi) Sahara Desert dunes – Ouarzazate Ouarzazate Ouarzazate – Marrakesh Marrakesh Marrakesh / USA

Lalibela, photo: Marc Veraat

A NC I E NT KI NG DOM S OF E T H I O PI A B Y P RI VATE P L AN E Spring, Fall At the intersection of ancient empires, Ethiopia was crisscrossed by traders from the great civilizations of Rome, Greece, Persia, and Egypt. Follow along the historic trade routes of Northern Ethiopia to explore medieval cities, elaborate mosques, unique Christian churches, and other sites of historical importance via privately chartered plane. Marvel at the majestic Simien Mountains, catch a glimpse of baboons and other wildlife, and witness the famed Blue Nile as it plunges into a gorge to create the awe-inspiring impression of smoking water.”

Highlights

Program

• Visit the Blue Nile Falls and centuries-old monasteries on picturesque Lake Tana

Day 1 Day 2 Day 3 Days 4-6 Days 7-8 Days 9-10 Day 11 Day 12

• See the fortified 17th-century city of Gondar • View Lalibela’s 11 stunning churches, hand carved from massive monolithic red rock • Tour Axum, Ethiopia’s oldest city, and the reputed resting place of the Ark of the Covenant • Explore Simien National Park, a World Heritage Site on the stunning Ethiopian Plateau Optional Extensions Southern Ethiopia’s tribal region, Tanzania

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Depart USA Addis Ababa Addis Ababa / Bahir Dar Bahir Dar – Gondar Gondar / Axum Lalibela Addis Ababa Addis Ababa / USA

Pride of Africa at sunset, photo: Rovos Rail Tours

S OU TH A F R I C A & NA M I B I A BY RA I L PRETORIA TO SWAK OP M UN D AB OARD PR I D E O F A F R I C A Spring, Fall Recapture the excitement of a bygone era on a journey across South Africa and Namibia aboard the Pride of Africa, Rovos Rail’s luxurious train. Relax in its sumptuous interiors and enjoy five-star service as you watch dramatic scenery speeding by. Step off the train to visit a diamond mine, marvel at Fish River Canyon (second in size only to the Grand Canyon), and overnight at Etosha National Park, teeming with exotic wildlife. Fly to cosmopolitan Cape Town to complete this once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Highlights

Program

• Experience a two-thousand-mile luxury rail journey across South Africa and Namibia

Day 1 Day 2 Day 3 Day 4

Day 5 Day 6 Day 7 Day 8 Day 9

Day 10 Days 11-12

• Enjoy Rovos Rail’s spacious and elegant coaches, featuring en-suite cabins and gourmet dining • See Sossusvlei, one of Namibia’s most spectacular attractions, a stunning salt flat surrounded by high red dunes • Stay overnight and experience a game drive at Mokuti Etosha Lodge, a private 10,000-acre nature reserve bordering game-rich Etosha National Park • Visit Swakopmund, on Namibia’s Atlantic coast, a perfectly preserved 19th-century town settled by Germans • Spend two days in Cape Town, with its eclectic mix of superb scenery, culture, history, and cuisine

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Depart USA Johannesburg – Embark Pretoria Kimberley – Karoo Uppington, South Africa – Holog, Namibia Fish River Canyon – Keetmanshoop Keetmanshoop – Windhoek – Sossusvlei Sossusvlei – Windhoek Tsumeb-Etosha National Park Etosha National Park – Disembark Swakopmund Swakopmund / Cape Town Cape Town / USA

Pyramids of Giza, photo: Tinou Bao

EG Y P T & J OR D A N B Y P R I VATE PL A N E W I TH A CRUI SE ON TH E NI L E December to February The ancient lands of Egypt and Jordan have enthralled travelers for centuries. No one can fail to be moved by the Great Pyramids, the tombs and temples of Luxor, or mysterious Petra. Add Biblical landmarks, Greco-Roman ruins, and special entrée to many of these timeless treasures, and you have an experience that is truly unforgettable. This iconic journey across the millennia features a Nile cruise aboard the Sanctuary Nile Adventurer and private flights to aweinspiring Abu Simbel and on to Jordan.

Highlights

Program

• Sail the Nile on a four-night cruise from Luxor to Aswan aboard the elegant 32-cabin Nile Adventurer

Day 1 Days 2-5 Day 6 Day 7 Day 8 Day 9 Day 10

Day 11 Day 12 Days 13-14 Day 15

• Fly to Abu Simbel to see the monumental temples of Ramses II and Queen Nefertari • Marvel at the Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx • In Luxor, visit Tutankhamun’s tomb in the Valley of the Kings, the outstanding collections of the Luxor Museum, and the temple of Queen Hatshepsut at Deir el-Bahari • Explore Petra, Jordan’s “rose-red city half as old as time,” and the magnificent Roman ruins of Jerash

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Depart USA Cairo Cairo / Luxor – Embark Luxor Luxor Edfu Aswan Disembark Aswan / Abu Simbel / Aqaba – Petra Petra Petra – Amman Amman Amman / USA

Port in Acre, Israel, photo: Chris Yunker

J E R U SA L E M & TH E HOLY LA N D Spring, Fall Explore the relationship between the historic and the symbolic city of Jerusalem on this rich cultural program across Israel. Sacred in Jewish, Muslim, and Christian traditions, Jerusalem itself is endowed with hundreds of buildings, ancient sites, art, and shrines; the commanding Dome of the Rock stands out. Continue beyond the old city and its walls to visit the Golan Heights, the ancient port city of Acre, and Tel Aviv, where we conclude.

Highlights

Program

• Stay at the legendary King David Hotel

Day 1 Days 2-6 Day 7 Day 8 Days 9-10 Day 11

• Travel through the stunning Golan Heights to explore Nimrod’s Fortress, the Crusader-era castle • Visit Acre, a strategic Mediterranean port and UNESCO World Heritage Site, where pilgrims, merchants, and armies disembarked en route to Jerusalem • Admire the collections of the Tel Aviv Museum of Art and explore the port city of Jaffa

Optional Extension Petra & Jordan

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Depart USA Jerusalem Jerusalem – Tiberias Tiberias – Tel Aviv Tel Aviv Depart Tel Aviv / USA

Tomb of the poet Saadi, Shiraz, photo: dynamosquito

IRAN IN SEARCH OF FAB L ED P ERSI AN G A R D E N S Spring For thousands of years, Persian gardens have inspired the world’s imagination. These lush sanctuaries—whose ancient name is the source of the word paradise—have influenced garden design from India to Spain, as well as the art, architecture, and literature of Iran itself. A UNESCO World Heritage concept that brings together important sites throughout Iran, the garden is deeply rooted in Persian history, religion, and culture, from Persepolis through modern times.

Highlights

Program

• Discover the treasures of Tehran, including the Golestan Palace Complex and the glittering Iranian Crown Jewels

Day 1 Depart USA Days 2-4 Tehran Day 5 Tehran – Isfahan Days 6-7 Isfahan Day 8 Isfahan – Yazd Day 9 Yazd Day 10 Yazd – Shiraz Days 11-12 Shiraz – Persepolis Day 13 Shiraz / USA

• Visit Kashan, an oasis city near Isfahan, and the venerable Bagh-e Fin, renowned as the epitome of the Persian garden • Stay two nights in Isfahan, home to legendary royal gardens and the magnificent Imam Square and Friday Mosque • See the majestic tomb of Cyrus the Great, first king of the Persian Empire, in Pasargadae • Explore 2,500-year-old Persepolis, founded by Darius the Great and destroyed by Alexander • Conclude in Shiraz, a graceful finale to the journey, with breathtaking gardens and the exquisite tombs of mystical Persian poets

Option Palaces, Poets & Nightingales, with a focus on art, is also available.

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Museum of Islamic Art, Doha, photo: Jimmy Baikovicius

ART & ARC H I TE C TU R E ON THE A R A BI A N PEN I N S U L A OMAN , QATAR & TH E UN I TED ARA B E M I R AT E S November to March Rising from the azure waters of the Persian Gulf, Oman, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates offer a tantalizing mix of the timeless and ultramodern. On this intriguing journey, discover how the region is being transformed from a handful of desert trading posts into a world-class cultural and commercial destination with cutting-edge architecture and technology. Featured are visits to Abu Dhabi’s newly opened museums, including the Louvre and the Guggenheim.

Highlights

Program

• Explore Muscat, Oman’s capital, dubbed “Arabia’s Jewel” for its Old World-style forts, mosques, golden minarets, colorful souks, and spectacular Royal Opera House

Day 1 Depart USA Days 2-4 Muscat Day 5 Muscat – Doha Days 6-7 Doha Day 8 Doha – Abu Dhabi Day 9 Abu Dhabi – Dubai Days 10-12 Dubai Day 13 Dubai / USA

• Visit the I.M. Pei-designed Museum of Islamic Art in Doha, Qatar, with dinner in its Alain Ducasse restaurant • Experience new Louvre and Guggenheim museums on Abu Dhabi’s Saaidiyat Island, and learn about Masdar City’s green technologies with one of the city planners • In Dubai, tour the Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building, with one of its architects • Enjoy dinner at the Burj al Arab, symbol of modern Dubai • Discover less-visited Sharjah, known as the cultural capital of the U.A.E. for its more traditional identity and heritage

Suggest Program Dates Art Dubai is the third week of March Optional Extension Seychelles Academic Arrangements Abroad

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ASIA & THE PACIFIC

Elephant in Jaipur, photo: John Haslam

M U G H A L S & M A HA R A J AS RAJ ASTH AN I N D EP TH Fall, Winter On this journey from Delhi to Agra by way of Rajasthan, explore the intimate and varied wonders of northern India, home to four religions and countless kingdoms. Witness how the sun’s rays transform the Taj Mahal, wander lively bazaars and royal gardens, admire art and architecture fit for emperors, and relax each evening in historic luxury hotels, many of them former palaces.

Highlights

Program

• Watch a sunset folk dance performance and ride an elephant in the mountains near the “Pink City” of Jaipur

Day 1 Days 2-3 Days 4-5 Days 6-7 Days 8-10 Day 11

• In Agra, visit the Taj Mahal at dawn or sunset • View demonstrations of pottery, silver and metalwork, carpet-weaving, and other handicrafts • In Delhi, enjoy shopping and a meeting with the chairperson of the Dastkar Nature Bazaar, a 35-year-old NGO founded by women to support craftspeople all over India • Take a private cruise on Lake Pichola, to soak up the beguiling beauty of Udaipur

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Depart USA Delhi Udaipur Jaipur Agra Delhi / USA

Ayers Rock, photo: Kata Tjuta, courtesy Tourism Australia

W OND E R S OF A U STR A LI A B Y P RI VATE P L AN E August to October Travel in relaxed luxury across an entire continent with the convenience of your own aircraft. Discover sophisticated cities, sacred landscapes, UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and wildlife found nowhere else on earth on this distinctive journey through a diverse and culturally rich land.

Highlights

Program

• Tour Sydney Opera House, followed by a performance and a private yacht ride across Sydney Harbor

Day 1 Days 2-3 Days 4-5 Days 6-7 Days 8-10 Days 11-12 Days 13-14 Days 15-17 Days 18-19 Day 20

• Visit off-the-beaten-path marvels like the ancient desert pillars of the Pinnacles at Namburg National Park, and the underground churches and jewelry shops at Coober Pedy, “Opal Capital of the World” • Snorkel and swim at the Great Barrier Reef • Walk across the red dunes of Minyirr Park in the Kimberley, a spiritual place for the Yawuru people • Enjoy an outback reception and dinner under the stars at Uluru (Ayers Rock) Option A variety of private jets available

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Depart USA Sydney Great Barrier Reef Kimberley Perth Perth-Ayers Rock Ayers Rock (Uluru) Coober Pedy – Tasmania Melbourne Melbourne / USA

Eastern & Oriental Express crossing the River Kwai bridge, Thailand, photo: Belmond Images

TH E M A L AY P E NI NSU L A B Y RA I L BA N GKOK TO S IN G AP ORE AB OARD TH E EASTE R N & O R I E N TA L E XP R E S S January 21 - February 1 Relive the bygone era of luxury rail travel, when the legendary Orient Express was “the king of trains and the train of kings,” on an unforgettable four-day rail journey. Immerse yourself in the sights, sounds, and scents of the region with your time divided between Bangkok, Singapore, and the countryside. Enjoy the elegant ambiance of the Eastern & Oriental Express as she rolls past temples, tea plantations, and rice paddy fields. The train makes a detour off the main line to traverse the infamous rail bridge on the River Kwai, immortalized in David Lean’s 1957 film. 2017 marks 75 years since the construction of the bridge, and Burma railway, under terrible conditions during WWII.

Highlights

Program

• Enjoy superior service and five-star dining aboard the luxurious Eastern & Oriental Express

Day 1 Depart USA Day 2 Bangkok, Thailand Days 3-5 Bangkok Days 6-9 Eastern & Oriental Express Days 10-11 Singapore, Malaysia Day 12 Singapore / USA

• Spend three days in Bangkok; tour the National Museum and the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, Thailand’s most sacred shrine • Experience Penang Island, with its East-meets-West culture and the largest Buddhist temple in Malaysia • Stay three nights in Singapore, featuring an architectural tour and visits to the new Singapore Art Museum and the Orchid Garden • Recall the tragic WWII story of building the bridge on the River Kwai on its 75th anniversary year

Optional Extension Prelude to Luang Prabang, Laos or Chiang Mai, Thailand

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The Great Wall of China

C HI NA D I SC OVE R E D AN CI EN T CI TI ES, ART TREAS U R E S Spring, Fall Experience the artistic treasures, ancient temples, pavilions, gardens, and diverse cultures of China on this two-week journey. See iconic sites and walk along the Great Wall in Beijing, then take a short flight west to Datong, to marvel at the 1,500-year-old Hanging Monastery. Continue southwest to Xi’an, birthplace of the Qin Dynasty. Visit lesser-known Hangzhou, with its picturesque vistas and extraordinary collection of temples, pagodas, and pavilions. Experience Suzhou, one of China’s oldest and most beautiful cities. Conclude in 21st-century Shanghai, “Paris of the East.”

Highlights

Program

• In Beijing, enjoy an insider’s look at the “798” District, contemporary art galleries housed in former factories; and visit an artist’s home and private collection by special invitation

Day 1 Days 2-4 Day 5 Days 6-7 Days 8-9 Days 10-11 Days 12-13 Day 14

• See the Terracotta Warriors on an exclusive tour of the tomb of the First Emperor Qin in Xi’an • Stay at the Four Seasons in Hangzhou, a tranquil enclave on West Lake • On a private visit, admire Suzhou’s Garden of the Master of the Fishing Nets—inspiration for the Astor Court at The Metropolitan Museum of Art • In Shanghai, stroll along the celebrated Bund, one of the world’s great urban streets Optional Extension Tibet

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Depart USA Beijing Datong Xi’an Hangzhou Suzhou Shanghai Shanghai / USA

Pumpkin, Naoshima, photo: Jmhullot

J A PA N AN CIEN T TRAD I TI ON S, M OD ERN ART & A R C H I T E C T U R E Spring, Fall Subtle, arcane, and elegant, Japan is endlessly fascinating, keeping one foot rooted in the past even while she hurtles— at bullet-train speed—into the future. Experience this beautiful country in all her different aspects, from spiritual and traditional to modern and dynamic. Immerse yourself in the island nation’s proud traditions as you discover magnificent temples, remarkable museums, sacred sites, and culinary delights from Tokyo to Kyoto. This in-depth cultural program features an overnight stay on Naoshima, the tiny fishing island that has become the country’s major destination for avant-garde art.

Highlights

Program

• Stay overnight at Naoshima, the sublime island where art lives around every corner

Day Days 2-5 Day 6 Day 7 Day 8 Days 9-11 Day 12

• Participate in an exclusive tea ceremony at Sagawa Art Museum, in a pavilion designed by a Raku master ceramist • Enjoy specially arranged visits to artists’ homes and galleries • Tour Tokyo’s world-class Mori Art Museum with a curator • Experience the Zen rock garden Ryoan-ji and the exquisite temples of Kyoto, including Kinkaku-ji, the “Golden Pavilion” which served as inspiration to Noguchi

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Depart USA Tokyo Tokyo – Naoshima Naoshima Naoshima – Kyoto Kyoto Kyoto / USA

The Academic Arrangements Abroad Team Back row from left: John Welsh, Ingrid Ahlgren, Gloria De Luca, Tom Cawley, Abigail Graszl. Center row from left: Jim Friedlander, Cathy Farber, Sara Welch, Meggan Reim, Camilla Markarian, Johan Steiner, Sara Kosyk, Simon Bordwin. Front row from left: Grace Rago, Ute Keyes, Hannah Teskey, Susan Cassidy, Kalea Wiseman, Indra Purmale, Christine Pagnani, Roberta Moore, Todd Galitz Not pictured (many away on AAA trips): Richard Barcham (Baltic cruise), Mary Brophy, Claudia Cumbo (Baltic cruise), Danielle Dybiec, Maura FitzGerald, Valerie Harte, Liz Irwin (Cuba), Elizabeth Kester (Baltic cruise), Kate Klorer (France), Nicole Markley, Clive Porter (Wales), Ellen Renstrom, Erin Sorensen, Deborah Tarr

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Why are some of us holding signs saying “This Place Matters”? To show our love for New York City’s Bryant Park, which is across the street from our office and where we took the photo. The National Trust for Historic Preservation launched the “This Place Matters” campaign to highlight historic places people care about.

Academic Arrangements Abroad, 1040 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10018-3721 212-514-8921 • 800-221-1944 • www.arrangementsabroad.com Jim Friedlander: jim@arrangementsabroad.com • Roberta Moore: roberta@arrangementsabroad.com Simon Bordwin: simon@arrangementsabroad.com