2020/2021
3080 Yonge Street Suite 5052, Toronto, ON M4N 3N1
Experiences that Enlighten
Hello! Yassou! Bonjour! Ni Hao! Cheers! Grüetzi! G'day! ¡Hola! Ciao! Guten Tag!
The experience is everything
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explorica.ca
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Choose from over 2020/2021 200 educational explorica.ca travel programs 1.888.378.8845
“We must take adventures in order to know where we truly belong.”
A letter from our General Manager
- James, Student
Dear Traveller, There’s an endless world to explore outside of your classroom, and we are excited to help you and your students to experience it! At WorldStrides Explorica, we take educational travel – every part of it – to the highest levels of eye-opening discovery, quality learning, and genuine enthusiasm. From the support of our team of seasoned travel consultants to our ability to customize an itinerary that’s perfect for your group, our goal is simple: to be your trusted partner and exceed your expectations for safety, security, quality, price, and overall peace of mind. Most of our tours span 10 days, but the memories they create? They last forever. That’s why our emphasis on a superior planning process is our highest priority, from our first phone call to the day you and your group return. It all starts with listening to you. Where you want to go, what you want to do, how your students will learn along the way – this is where our partnership begins. And since we’ve joined the WorldStrides family, we can deliver even more travel options, with even greater support and flexibility, across the globe. As you look through these pages, you’ll see just what I mean – we’ve never had more programs than we do now, and this makes our entire team immensely proud. Trip after trip, year after year, we are always improving, innovating, and increasing our ability to give you and your students the tools and resources you need to feel the excitement of new places. Here’s to you, your students, and future adventures in educational travel! Cordially,
David Conklin General Manager, CPA, CA WorldStrides Explorica
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Table of Contents Page
Page
4 6 8 9 10 12 14 16
What makes travel so important Best Tour Directors Making travel accessible Quality programs you can customize Safety and support equal trust Essential customer care Interview: Brent Bidner, Sr. Business Development Executive Anatomy of a great tour
18 20 21 22 23
Tour North America Québec and Montréal The Canadian Maritimes Boston, New York City and Washington, D.C. New York City: Landmarks of Manhattan
24 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33
Tour Spain and Portugal Madrid and Southern Spain Insider’s Spain Northern Spain Spanish Highlights Barcelona, Madrid and Andalusia Madrid and Andalusia Spain and Morocco Madrid and Barcelona
34 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43
Tour Latin America Costa Rica Costa Rica: Coast to Coast Costa Rican Highlights Nicaragua and Costa Rica Peru: Machu Picchu Peru: Incan Adventure Galapagos Island Highlights Belize
44 46 47
Tour France Paris, City of Light Insider’s Paris
48 49 50 51 52 53 54
Tour Britain and Ireland Ireland, Wales and England New York City and London Theatre Best of Ireland Scotland and Ireland London, the Countryside and Edinburgh London Theatre
55 56 57 58 59 60
Tour Italy Best of Italy Italian Highlights Rome and Florence Rome, Florence and Venice Italy and Greece
61 62 63
Tour Greece Athens and the Aegean Best of Greece
64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85
Tour European Combinations Madrid, Barcelona and Rome Paris, Provence and Barcelona Spain and Paris London, Paris and Barcelona France and Italy London and Paris London, Paris and Italy Paris, the Côte d’Azur and Barcelona Italy, France and Spain Rome and Greece London, Paris and the Alps France, Switzerland, Austria and Germany Croatia, Ljubljana and Venice Iceland Adventure Paris, Venice, Florence and Rome Paris and Barcelona Madrid and Paris Spain, Italy and Greece Italy and Spain Switzerland and Paris Switzerland and Italy
86 87 88 89 90 91
Tour Germany and Central Europe Germany, Switzerland and Austria Central European Cities Budapest, Vienna, Prague and Munich Germany, Switzerland and Italy Berlin, Prague and Munich
92 93 94 95 96 97
Tour Asia and the Pacific Japan Highlights Beijing, Xi’an and Shanghai Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand Delhi, Jaipur and Agra Australia and New Zealand
98 99
Make a Difference Tours Make a Difference: Thailand
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Camps International
102 103 104 105 106 107 108 109 110
Canadian History Tours Venice, Florence, Ortona and Rome Normandy to Cassino D-Day Paris, Vimy and Normandy D-Day Netherlands and France D-Day London and France Central European History Germany: WWII History Canadian History: Battle of Hong Kong
Tour fees based on March 2021 departures. Canadian tour prices include tax. Government taxes not included. Fees valid at time of printing and are subject to change.
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We believe the real world offers a classroom like no other. Educational travel inspires those moments when the light bulb goes on. Students’ minds race beyond their everyday worlds and they find the personal meaning behind what they study in school. That’s a transformation. It’s the aha moment that you – and we – love most as educators.
Add a new dimension to classroom learning If classroom studies are the source of learning, then you might say educational travel is its living lab! When students venture out, they find themselves face-to-face with the real thing – from culture to language arts to history – and they see it with fresh eyes.
“This was truly a life changing experience not only for my students but for me as well. It was awesome to see their excitement and enthusiasm each day.”
Show your students a bigger world Getting beyond their hometowns and daily routines is a great eye-opener. Immersion in totally new places and cultures prompts students to challenge their assumptions and begin to think as world citizens.
“It really allowed us to stop and reflect and get a sense of our shared histories and relationships with our Indigenous Tribes.”
Make the memories of a lifetime Students seem to learn more when they’re having fun – finding spontaneous breakthrough moments through their travel experiences. New settings and fresh encounters with what they study in class help them grow.
“Simply the best experience for theatre students to make their dreams tangible. From Broadway shows to workshops to exploring the city, students can imagine what life in a busy city might be like and set their sights on various schools which will help them achieve their goals.”
– Teacher, 2019
- Student, 2018
– Teacher, 2018
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Educational travel. It’s learning’s
aha moment.
Students enjoying a panoramic view of Venice.
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Reasons why our educational experience is simply the best.
Bar none.
Tour Director shares inside stories about the culture.
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Our Tour Directors have more than just information—they have inspiration. They have real, professional training under their belts. They invent new ways of seeing things and helping students squeeze the last ounce of learning and fun from their programs. Here’s how our Tour Directors personify excellence. It’s also why our students call them heroes! Infectious enthusiasm They lead adventures off the beaten path and set the action-packed pace for each day. Inclusive friends and coaches They know that bringing students along with them instead of lecturing at them is the key to making things fun and memorable. Proud locals who love to share They’re all savvy natives and exceptionally knowledgeable about our destinations abroad: “Let me show you my London. It’s not just what you’ve read and think!”
“What I love about working with WorldStrides Explorica is seeing the transformation in the students from the day they arrive to the moment they leave – seeing how each day they get a little braver in embracing the new places and cultures they are exposed to, and how this experience opens their minds a little more with every passing day. I love seeing the sparkle in their eyes when they get to see in real life what so far they have only known from books or the internet. There is no better way to learn than through travel. It really is teaching at its best.” Alexandra Rauter | Tour Director for 14 years
Innovators and creators They share our philosophy that learning activities embedded in the adventure of travel combine for a more enriching education. Skilled leaders They know how to get students dialed in to their surroundings. “Be silly. Be playful. Be fun. Laughing together brings us together, and gets us all started off at the same place at the same time.” – Alexandra Rauter
Our selection process yields only the best! We invest a lot in the selection and training of our Tour Directors. We take them through a formal training process. We also assess how they’ll lead and inspire our groups, based on auditions, role plays, and more. – ~1,500 application forms per year – 100-200 preliminary finalists – ~ 20 new recruits It all adds up to a carefully vetted, well-qualified, and enthusiatic group of trip leaders.
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Travel is for everyone. Opportunities that combine the adventure of travel with deeper understanding from new learning should be available to all students. That’s why we make accessibility a top priority. EX
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Group fundraising support Group fundraising is a great way to help students pay for a portion of their tour fees, while helping students meet and bond prior to travelling. We help you kick start your fundraising initiatives with:
Financial assistance To help make travel a reality for as many students as possible, we offer need-based financial assistance for qualifying families. Student travel grants We offer student travel grants throughout the year to further reduce the tour fee for your travellers. We award over $4 million in funds each year.
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Flexible chaperone ratio Our guaranteed best prices are based on the industry safety standard of one chaperone for every six paying participants. However, if you don’t need that many chaperones we let you adjust the ratio to your preferred value, lowering your students’ tour fee.
Hands-on cooking class in BARCELONA
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– Fundraising resource packet We also provide a packet full of great ideas and helpful advice compiled from years of fundraising experience. EX
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Monthly payment plans Our easy, automated plans allow your students to spread out their payments over the months leading up to their tour. As low as $149/month for international tours, this convenient feature helps more of your students afford to travel.
– Fundraising webinars Our experienced Teacher-to-Teacher mentors provide time-tested methods and tips in an interactive setting, so you can ask questions and learn what works.
“When I reflect on everything our group did in just one week and what my students paid for their trip, I can honestly say it was an amazing deal. For my students, this was a trip of a lifetime, and worth every penny.” –Gina M., Costa Rica, 2017
Personal fundraising pages We give every student their own personal fundraising page on explorica.ca. With an average donation of $100, students can easily raise significant funds for their tour using their favourite social channels.
Critiquing the sculpture in a Pont du Gard exhibit, FRANCE
Contemplating nobility at Neuschwanstein Castle in BAVARIA
The best experience. Hands down. We put the most committed, expert team behind every trip, and it shows in the cultural quality your students will feel: Where you stay. What you eat. How you get around—and most important, how you interact with the locals and live like them. This is what transforms an ordinary travel program into the educational experience of a lifetime. Top-quality hotels We guarantee quality hotels within 45 minutes of activities, so you have more time in your day to see the things you came to see. All hotels offer clean, safe and comfortable rooms with private bathrooms, and you can even upgrade for more amenities — for one night, or for your entire tour. Daily breakfast and dinner You and your students will fuel up for your adventures with hearty breakfasts and sample regional cuisine with filling, authentic dinners. Your Tour Director will show you the best places for lunches and snacks along the way.
All transportation We provide all transportation between cities and itinerary activities. Our clean, comfortable coaches follow the strictest safety standards, and we opt for highspeed trains whenever possible, so you spend less time in transit. Excursions and sightseeing You’ll see more—and learn more—than you ever thought possible thanks to our professional, local guides who know our destinations inside and out. They amaze and educate with fun stories and little-known facts, and share hidden local gems you could never experience any other way.
Customize it your way Upgrade hotels Want more amenities or a location closer to popular attractions? We let you upgrade your hotel accommodations for one night, or your entire trip. Add extra days Want more time in your favourite city? Voilà! Choose how long you’d like to stay and what you’d like to do. Upgrade or remove meals Opt for a special dining experience, or remove a meal for more freedom of choice. Add or remove activities You can decide where to go and what to see. Change individual activities, or create an entirely custom tour. Add an extension See even more by adding one of our pre-planned itineraries, or making your own.
Balcony view from a LIDO hotel
A MONTMARTRE café break. Croissants, anyone?
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We’re specialists at international travel, so we have years of experience in keeping programs on track, no matter what the world hands out! We’re also seasoned troubleshooters: We’ve got the staff and partnerships to pivot on a dime and make any real-time program adjustments necessary, so you can feel confident and covered, every moment of your trip. That’s true peace of mind! Trusted experience
Total travel protection
We have been organizing safe and reliable tours across the globe for more than 17 years. And as a WorldStrides organization, our travellers benefit from an additional 50 years of risk management experience and a worldwide network of support.
Our travel protection plans now cover school board cancellations. Call your program consultant for details.
Proactive risk management Safety protocols are built into every aspect of our operations. From rigorous safety checks and detailed site visits, to continuous safety trainings conducted by veteran risk management professionals, we take every possible precaution to ensure a safe and enjoyable travel experience for all participants. Global vigilance Our Vice President of Health and Safety and our supporting team of risk management officials continually assess all travel destinations and situations. We also partner with WorldAware, a leading worldwide security and risk management organization, for additional assistance monitoring and evaluating global conditions.
No one wants to think about cancelling their tour, but sometimes life happens. Our two trusted travel protection plans offer a cash refund — not just credit for a future trip like other companies provide. Travel Protection Plan Our standard plan covers common mishaps like misplaced tickets or passports, lost luggage, sickness or injury during the tour, and more. If you have to cancel your tour due to a covered reason, you will receive a full refund minus the cost of the insurance policy. Travel Protection Plan PLUS Our exclusive, upgraded plan adds to the standard plan, providing the ability to cancel your tour for any reason up to 30 days before departure and receive a cash refund for 75% of the non-refundable fee. This is the only “cancel for any reason” policy in the industry. WorldStrides Explorica fully protects your investment with TICO’s Compensation Fund. As a member of the Travel Industry Council of Ontario (TICO), a self-governed non-profit that promotes a fair and ethical marketplace, consumers can be confident about their travel purchase.
Unparalleled on-tour support We’re by your side every step of the way to provide guidance and assistance. Global presence As a WorldStrides organization, we have a network of more than 45 offices around the world, so no matter where you travel we are always nearby and ready to help in person if the need arises. 24/7 emergency support We operate a dedicated, 24/7 emergency contact line to assist you with any problem, anywhere, at any time.
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Daily tour updates Our exclusive online Tour Diaries enable friends and family to check on their loved one and follow the group’s progress. These private trip logs are posted daily by the group’s Tour Director. Comprehensive liability coverage When you travel with WorldStrides Explorica, your tour is backed by our $50 million liability policy protecting third parties such as your school and school board. Your academic institution can rest assured that they are protected with WorldStrides Explorica.
Our ABCs of safety spell one important thing:
Trust.
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There’s a reason our teachers stay with us for years. It’s the same reason our new customers say, “Why didn’t I join WorldStrides Explorica sooner?” We’re experts at building fun, inspired trips Part of our great service is great trip planning itself. Over the years we’ve learned how students learn and enjoy travel best. Here’s our formula for making it the best: Busy, action-packed days of sightseeing and cultural activities Relaxing evenings with optional guided walking tours Off-the-beaten path excursions and adventures with their Tour Directors Authentic meals and fun hotels in the heart of the action!
We help you get your trip started Our Recipe for Success is designed with one goal in mind—to make it easy for you to recruit your largest group ever. Based on 50 years of advice from our travelling teachers, this simple method gets students and families excited about your program. “We’ve got a person for that” —end-to-end support Our customer care begins the minute you raise your hand to learn more about student travel. You get one of our seasoned Business Development Executives to answer your questions and help you start planning. Once you commit to your trip, you get your own Client Experience Manager to get things rolling for you. Check out our additional specialized team members below and imagine what they can do for your program!
A proven process: Step-by-step support We’ve been helping teachers lead incredible tours for decades, so we’ve got it down to a science. And we’re by your side, providing guidance and support, every step of the way.
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1
We help you choose
We give you a Business Development Executive to help you choose (or build) your perfect tour. You get the ability to change anything you want, and see instant pricing.
We care for our customers with a personal touch that no one can match.
Period.
Tour Director Tina Jimenez leading an evening walking tour and listening to students’ opinions about sculptor Gaudí and his Sagrada Família architectural masterpiece.
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We help you recruit
Your Client Experience Manager makes a web page for your tour, then sends you beautiful posters, invitations and more to give to your students and their parents. Then your students sign up online.
3
We prepare you
We give you webinars and an extensive network of experienced WorldStrides Explorica trip leaders, who provide field-tested tips and advice about the tour you’re taking.
4
We deliver an exceptional experience
Our Tour Directors meet you at the airport and take it from there; guiding your group, managing logistics and bringing the destinations to life.
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A WorldStrides Explorica staffer shares his joy in helping students connect their lessons to the world outside their classroom. Our International travel consultants are both our ambassadors and our master planners. They’re spreading the word about our travel programs, and then working directly with our teachers to make their trip meet and exceed expectations.
Meet Brent Bidner Customer champion for over 10 years
With more than 10 years of experience in the travel industry, Brent is an expert in helping organize unforgettable student trips. From firsttime planners to travel addicts, he’s dedicated to helping Canadian educators bring their lesson plans to life, and giving students meaningful new perspectives on the world around them. Q: The teachers you work with know you as a true believer in what we do. …Not just travel in general, but educational travel, specifically. What drives that? A: I believe it’s a true honour to be able to work with teachers to create a once-in-a-lifetime experience for their students. Having worked in the student travel industry for 10+ years and having watched students faces light up when they connect the classroom to the outside world, is priceless to me. Having been fortunate enough to travel as a student has helped shape my career and my adult life more than I could have ever imagined. I’ve travelled to over 15 countries, and while I love sharing my experiences, there’s nothing quite like helping others experience their own great adventures.
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Q: What’s your favourite part of the planning process? A: I honestly do not have a favourite step! Each stage of the cycle has its own excitement which ultimately leads to a successful trip. Whether it’s deciding on the itinerary, preparing for and hosting the student meeting, receiving the first sign up notification, sharing pre-departure information, or returning from the tour, there is always something to celebrate. Planning travel is always inspiring and thrilling in its own way, but there’s nothing quite like forming great working relationships with the organizers – it’s the part that I always truly enjoy. In this line of work, earning a teacher’s trust and respect is a must, but being able to enjoy the entire process while working together is key. Planning a once in a lifetime experience shouldn’t feel like work, but instead something that is exciting from the very first conversation.
Q: Share some pro tips. What’s something you wish teachers knew before they planned their first trip? A: I wish that first-time planners knew that planning a trip is not as difficult as they may believe. We have the entire process broken down from A to Z. We understand that the primary goal isn’t to just plan an amazing trip, it’s to plan an amazing trip AND please the students, parents, principals, and school boards. That’s no small task, which is why we work very hard throughout the company to ensure our customers feel very comfortable during each step of the process and have utmost confidence in our ability to provide the best educational experience possible. A pro tip that is often overlooked is planning early is a HUGE advantage! Planning early allows for more students to get in on the fun, as they’ll be able to take advantage of the lowest possible prices, they’ll have more time to spread out monthly payments, and, better still, they’ll have more time to fundraise (their online personal fundraising pages are available as soon as they sign up and are not to be underestimated!). Q: What’s your personal favourite place to visit? A: Picking one is impossible! I have been lucky enough to visit so many great places around the world. If I had to narrow it down to my top three, it would be – 1) Montmartre & Latin Quarter areas, Paris: the energy of both areas is so wonderful and always keeps me coming back; 2) The Grand Place Square, Brussels: I will never forget the feeling I had the first time I walked into the square, it is just so stunning; 3) Munich: there’s nothing quite like the hands-on attitude and being able to experience so much history first-hand, along with the open air markets and the lifestyle that many in the city centre live.
“I believe it’s a true honour to be able to work with teachers to create a once and a lifetime experience for their students. Having worked in the student travel industry for 10+ years and having watched students faces light up when they connect the classroom to the outside world, is priceless to me.” Brent Bidner | WorldStrides Explorica Senior Business Development Executive
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Anatomy of a great tour Paris is a must-see destination that lives up to its reputation as The City of Light. Many of our French (and European combo) tours include one or more days in Paris, and we typically combine art, architecture, local cuisine—and a bit of handson artistic activity—to give students a firsthand feel for its elegance and history.
7:00
Breakfast at the hotel: Full and hearty breakfast to fuel up for day
9:00
Guided tour of Île de la Cité and Île Saint-Louis
Travel via the Metro—just as the locals do!
11:30 Visit Notre Dame Cathedral: Holy shrine since Roman times WorldStrides Explorica emergency support goes into action— passport is replaced. No worries!
1:00
Lunch at a local brasserie: A bit of drama, a passport has been misplaced!
2:00
Explore Montmartre: Light a candle in the famous Sacré-Cœur. Photograph the street vendors
4:00
Educational activity at the Louvre: Say hello to Mona Lisa and prepare to paint your own masterpiece
Educational activity—“Cover the Canvas” You’ve just seen the best art in Paris—now get inspired to paint your own.
7:00
Dinner at a popular French bistro: Right around the corner from our hotel! Local recipes, locally owned
All of our meals are carefully planned to give students a taste of local cuisine!
8:30
Early night on the town with your Tour Director
Take a walking tour with your Tour Director! Our centrally located hotels add hours of evening fun with friends.
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TOUR NORTH AMERICA
Educational activity Immigrant experience Step into the shoes of those leaving home and arriving to Ellis Island, and search for the names of ancestors of yours who made the journey themselves.
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9/11 Memorial Reflect as you visit the twin pools paying tribute to the nearly 3,000 victims of the September 11, 2001 attacks.
Our home continent is full of diverse and multicultural experiences. Feel – and taste – the influence of France in Québec and Montréal as you wander charming city streets. Touch the pulse of the modern world in New York City and absorb the cultural delights of a city that sets a global tone. Discover an ironic sense of the end of the world in Newfoundland.
Hello!
WorldStrides Explorica pro tip “This collection highlights exciting options close to home—great for anyone seeking a unique experience. And we’ve recently expanded our offerings to include destinations such as New Orleans and the Maritimes, allowing your students to experience unique French and Acadian culture.” –Sarah Aleem, Client Experience Manager
Big cities and natural wonders
Tour Highlights Québec: L’Escalier Casse-Cou, Notre-Damedes-Victoires, Rue Saint-Jean, La Terrasse Dufferin, Old Québec & Château Frontenac, Basilica of Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré Montréal: Old Montréal, McGill University, Place Ville Marie, Bell Centre, Mont Royal, Notre-Dame Basilica, Pointe-à-Callière, Montréal Museum of Archaeology
Authentic cuisine: Au Petit Coin Breton – QUÉBEC CITY Located in the heart of Vieux Québec, this restaurant specializes in making both sweet and savoury crepes, a type of traditional French pancake. Convenient hotels: Holiday Inn – TOTOWA Situated just 12 miles from downtown Manhattan, you’ll quickly get in and out of the city.
St. John: Loyalist Burial Grounds, City Market, Stone Church, Three Sisters Lamp, Fundy National Park, Hopewell Rocks Charlottetown: Beaconsfield Historic House visit, Confederation Centre of the Arts visit, Victoria Park, Historic Great George Street Prince Edward Island: Anne of Green Gables Museum visit, Cavendish Beach, Covehead Lighthouse, Prince Edward Island National Park New York City: Rockefeller Centre, St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Times Square, Grand Central Terminal, Empire State Building & Observatory, Ellis Island & Statue of Liberty, Central Park, Broadway, American Museum of Natural History
Say hello to the perfect tour at explorica.ca/northamerica
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NORTH AMERICA Québec & Montréal
Day 1 – Travel to Québec City and meet your Tour Director – Québec city walk: La Terrasse Dufferin, Old Québec & Château Frontenac – Crêperie dinner
NORTH AMERICA 5 DAYS | 4 NIGHTS | Extension available CITIES VISITED (NIGHT STAYS): Québec (2), Montréal (2) Breakfast daily (except arrival day) Dinner daily (except departure day)
Québec City(2)
QUÉBEC Ottawa(1)
ONTARIO
Montréal(2)
Toronto(2)
explorica.ca/qam
Spring 2021
Vancouver
$2,074
Calgary
$1,852
Winnipeg
$1,869
Toronto
$1,683
Halifax
$1,788
Prices available from all Canadian airports. Prices in table are based on 3/10/2021 departure date. Call for details. Tour prices include tax.
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Day 2 – Québec Tour Director-led sightseeing: L’Escalier Casse-Cou (Breakneck Steps), Notre-Dame-des-Victoires, Rue Saint-Jean – Musée du Fort visit – Plains of Abraham battlefield re-enactment – Traditional dinner and entertainment at a sugar shack Day 3 – Beaupré Coast panoramic tour – Basilica of Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré guided visit – Montmorency Falls visit – Village-des-Hurons Wendake guided visit – Travel to Montréal along the St. Lawrence River – Montréal Tour Director-led sightseeing: Old Montréal, McGill University, Place Ville Marie, Bell Centre, Mont Royal
Day 4 – Notre-Dame Basilica visit – Pointe-à-Callière, Montréal Museum of Archaeology and History guided visit – Saint Joseph’s Oratory of Mount Royal – Olympic Park Tower Observatory – Montréal Science Centre visit Days 5–8: Extension in Ottawa and Toronto Travel home or stay in Ottawa and Toronto. Highlights: Ottawa Tour Director-led sightseeing, Byward Market, Crime and Punishment Jail, Rideau Canal guided bike tour, National Gallery, Toronto city walk, CN Tower visit, Niagara Tour Director-led sightseeing tour, IMAX Theatre Niagara Falls: Legends and Daredevils, Niagara Falls cruise (Seasonal)
NORTH AMERICA Day 1 – Travel to Halifax and meet your Tour Director – Maritime Museum of the Atlantic visit Day 2 – Halifax guided sightseeing tour: Halifax Public Gardens visit, Fairview Lawn Cemetery visit, Halifax waterfront – Peggy s Cove visit Day 3 – Fort Anne National Historic Site visit – Travel to Saint John by ferry Day 4 – Saint John Tour Director-led sightseeing: Loyalist Burial Grounds, City Market, Stone Church, Three Sisters Lamp – Travel to Moncton via Fundy National Park – Fundy National Park visit: Dickson Falls Trail hike – Hopewell Rocks visit
Day 5 – Travel to Charlottetown – Charlottetown Tour Director-led sightseeing: Beaconsfield Historic House visit, Confederation Centre of the Arts visit, Victoria Park, Historic Great George Street
The Canadian Maritimes
Day 6 – Prince Edward Island excursion: Anne of Green Gables Museum visit, Cavendish Beach, Covehead Lighthouse, Prince Edward Island National Park
CITIES VISITED (NIGHT STAYS):
NORTH AMERICA 8 DAYS | 7 NIGHTS Halifax (3), Peggy’s Cove, Digby, Saint John (1), Fundy, Moncton (1), Charlottetown (2), PEI National Park Breakfast daily (except arrival day) Dinner daily (except departure day)
Day 7 – Travel to Halifax – Millbrook Cultural & Heritage Centre visit
PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND
Day 8 – Travel home
PEI National Park Charlottetown(2)
NEW BRUNSWICK Moncton(1)
Truro
Fundy St. John(1) Ferry Digby
Halifax(3) Peggy’s Cove NOVA SCOTIA
explorica.ca/cam
Spring 2021
Vancouver
$2,853
Calgary
$2,411
Winnipeg
$2,594
Toronto
$2,472
Halifax
—
Prices available from all Canadian airports. Prices in table are based on 3/10/2021 departure date. Call for detail. Tour prices include tax.
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NORTH AMERICA Boston, New York City & Washington, D.C. NORTH AMERICA 7 DAYS | 6 NIGHTS | Extension available CITIES VISITED (NIGHT STAYS): Boston (2), Salem, New York (2), Philadelphia, Washington (2) Breakfast daily (except arrival day) Dinner daily (except departure day)
Salem
NEW YORK
PENNSYLVANIA
MASS.
Boston(2)
New York City(2)
explorica.ca/bnd
Vancouver
$2,524
Calgary
$2,496
Winnipeg
$2,485
Toronto
$2,218
Halifax
$2,259
Prices available from all Canadian airports. Prices in table are based on 3/10/2021 departure date. Call for details.
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Day 3 – Travel to New York – Midtown walking tour: Rockefeller Centre, St. Patrick s Cathedral, Times Square, Grand Central Terminal – Empire State Building & Observatory visit
Day 5 – Travel to Philadelphia – Philadelphia Tour Director-led sightseeing tour: Independence Hall visit, Liberty Bell Centre visit, Ben Franklin s grave, Elfreth s Alley, Friendship Meeting House – Travel to Washington
Washington DC(3 or 4)
Spring 2021
Day 2 – Boston Duck Boat guided sightseeing tour (seasonal) – Salem city walk: Witch Trial Memorial, Old Burying Point, Pickering Wharf – Salem Witch Museum visit – Optional: Ghost tour
Day 4 – Ferry boat to Ellis Island & Statue of Liberty – Lower Manhattan guided sightseeing tour: Trinity Church, Wall Street, Chinatown, Little Italy, 9/11 Memorial visit – Optional: Broadway show
Philadelphia
VIRGINIA
Day 1 – Travel to Boston and meet your Tour Director – Freedom Trail walking tour: Old North Church, Paul Revere s House, Old Granary Burial Ground, Boston Common, King s Chapel, Old State House, Faneuil Hall
Day 6 – U.S. Capitol guided tour – Supreme Court visit – Mount Vernon excursion – Arlington National Cemetery & Marine Corps War Memorial (Iwo Jima) visit – Washington evening guided sightseeing tour: World War II Memorial, Lincoln Memorial, Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Korean War Memorial, National Mall, Tidal Basin, Washington Monument, White House Day 7 – Holocaust Museum visit – Smithsonian Museums visit: The National Air and Space Museum, National Museum of Natural History, National Museum of American History, National Portrait Gallery, National Museum of the American Indian, Smithsonian American Art Museum Days 7–8: Extension in Washington Travel home or stay in Washington. Highlights: National Archives, Ford s Theatre, International Spy Museum
NORTH AMERICA Day 1 – Travel to New York City and meet your Tour Director – Midtown walking tour: Rockefeller Centre, St. Patrick s Cathedral, Times Square, Grand Central Terminal – Empire State Building & Observatory visit Day 2 – Ferry boat to Ellis Island & Statue of Liberty – Lower Manhattan guided sightseeing tour: Trinity Church, Wall Street, 9/11 Memorial visit, Chinatown, Little Italy – Optional: Broadway show
Day 4 – American Museum of Natural History visit Days 4–5: Extension in New York City Travel home or stay in New York City. Highlights: United Nations building, MoMA
New York City: Landmarks of Manhattan NORTH AMERICA 4 DAYS | 3 NIGHTS | Extension available CITIES VISITED (NIGHT STAYS): New York (3) Breakfast daily (except arrival day) Dinner daily (except departure day)
Day 3 – Radio City Music Hall guided visit – Metropolitan Museum of Art visit – Central Park walking tour: Cherry Hill, Strawberry Fields, Delacorte Theatre – Madison & Park Avenues – Broadway show
Central Park Times Square Empire State Building
NEW YORK
Wall Street
explorica.ca/nyc
Spring 2021
Vancouver
$2,015
Calgary
$2,055
Winnipeg
$2,055
Toronto
$1,919
Halifax
$1,722
Prices available from all Canadian airports. Prices in table are based on 3/10/2021 departure date. Call for details.
23
TOUR SPAIN & PORTUGAL
24
Wander the labyrinth of passageways off tree-lined Las Ramblas in Barcelona — a favourite diversion for tourists and locals alike. Explore the fishermen’s stalls at the port of Lisbon. Feel the passion of flamenco in Madrid. And watch your students communicate with the locals and vendors in their native Spanish and Portuguese.
¡Hola!
WorldStrides Explorica pro tip “This collection is great for new and experienced group leaders. There is so much to see, and these itineraries do a great job of balancing the important cultural and academic elements with the laid-back pace of local life.” –Kelly Fitzgerald, Client Experience Manager
Spain. A study in elegance, history, and bold character
Tour Highlights Madrid: Prado Museum, Reina Sofia Museum, Plaza Mayor, Royal Palace Barcelona: Sagrada Família, Barri Gòtic, Casa Milà, Park Güell Córdoba: Mezquita Toledo: Gothic cathedrals, synagogues, monasteries
Authentic cuisine: Tablao El Arenal—SEVILLE Located in the Arenal quarter of Seville, this restaurant serves local cuisine and holds nightly live flamenco performances! Convenient hotels: Hotel Moderno—MADRID In the heart of Madrid and adjacent to the Puerta del Sol Square, this hotel is convenient and modern. Just 165 yards away from the Plaza Mayor!
Segovia: El Escorial, Roman aqueduct Seville: Giralda Tower, Alcázar Granada: Alhambra
Say hola to the perfect tour at explorica.ca/spain-portugal
25
SPAIN & PORTUGAL Madrid & Southern Spain SPAIN & PORTUGAL 8 DAYS | 6 NIGHTS | Extension available CITIES VISITED (NIGHT STAYS): Madrid (3), Aranjuez, Granada (1), Seville (2), Córdoba Full European breakfast daily (except arrival day) Dinner daily (except departure day)
SPAIN (1)
AVE Toledo
Barcelona(2)
Madrid(3)
Córdoba Granada(1)
explorica.ca/mss
Spring 2021
Vancouver
$3,583
Calgary
$3,583
Winnipeg
$3,527
Toronto
$3,375
Halifax
$3,531
Prices available from all Canadian airports. Prices in table are based on 3/10/2021 departure date. Call for details.
26
Day 2 – Meet your Tour Director – Madrid city walk: Puerta del Sol, Plaza Mayor, Plaza de España – Prado visit Day 3 – Madrid guided sightseeing tour: Calle Mayor, Gran Vía, Cibeles Fountain, Puerta de Alcalá, Columbus Square, Royal Palace visit – Optional: Toledo guided excursion – Toledo Cathedral visit, Church of Santo Tomé, St. Mary’s Synagogue visit – Tapas dinner Day 4 – Travel to Granada via Aranjuez – Aranjuez Palace visit Day 5 – Alhambra guided visit – Travel to Seville
Aranjuez
Seville(2)
Day 1 – Travel to Madrid
Day 6 – Seville guided sightseeing tour: Giralda Tower, Alcázar visit, Columbus’ gravesite, Seville Cathedral visit – Seville city walk: Barrio de Santa Cruz – Flamenco evening Day 7 – Travel to Madrid via Córdoba – Mezquita guided visit Days 8–10: Extension to Barcelona Travel home or travel by train to Barcelona. Highlights: Barcelona guided sightseeing tour, Barcelona city walk, paella dinner
SPOTLIGHTS The Prado Museum is one of the largest and most visited museums in the world. It houses over 8,000 drawings, 7,500 paintings, nearly 5,000 prints, 1,000 sculptures, and many other historical documents.
SPAIN & PORTUGAL Day 1 – Travel to Madrid Day 2 – Meet your Tour Director – Madrid city walk: Puerta del Sol, Plaza Mayor, Plaza de España – Paella dinner Day 3 – Madrid guided sightseeing tour: Calle Mayor, Gran Vía, Cibeles Fountain, Puerta de Alcalá, Columbus Square, Royal Palace visit – Optional: Toledo guided excursion – Toledo Cathedral visit, Church of Santo Tomé, St. Mary’s Synagogue visit – Flamenco show with dinner Day 4 – Prado visit – Bullfighting lesson
Day 5 – Travel to Barcelona via high-speed AVE train – Barcelona city walk: Mercat de la Boquería, Las Ramblas, Columbus Monument
Insider’s Spain
Day 6 – Barcelona guided sightseeing tour: Gaudí’s Sagrada Família, Montjuïc Hill, Park Güell visit – Mosaic art workshop
CITIES VISITED (NIGHT STAYS):
SPAIN & PORTUGAL 8 DAYS | 6 NIGHTS | Extension available Madrid (3), Barcelona (3) Full European breakfast daily (except arrival day) Dinner daily (except departure day)
Day 7 – Barcelona guided bike tour – Tapas route with dinner Days 8–10: Extension to Valencia Travel home or travel to Valencia. Highlights: Valencia city walk, Valencia guided sightseeing tour, Tarragona Tour Director-led sightseeing
SPAIN
Toledo
Barcelona (3 or 4)
AVE
Madrid(3) Valencia(2)
(1)
explorica.ca/isp
Spring 2021
Vancouver
$3,888
Calgary
$3,888
Winnipeg
$3,832
Toronto
$3,680
Halifax
$3,836
Prices available from all Canadian airports. Prices in table are based on 3/10/2021 departure date. Call for details.
27
SPAIN & PORTUGAL Northern Spain
Day 1 – Travel to Madrid
SPAIN & PORTUGAL
Day 2 – Meet your Tour Director – Madrid city walk: Puerta del Sol, Plaza Mayor, Plaza de España – Prado visit
9 DAYS | 7 NIGHTS | Extension available CITIES VISITED (NIGHT STAYS): Madrid (2), Segovia, Burgos (1), Bilbao, Basque Region (2), Pamplona, Barcelona (2) Full European breakfast daily (except arrival day) Dinner daily (except departure day)
Bilbao Burgos(1) Segovia Toledo
Basque Region(2) Pamplona Costa Brava(2)
Madrid(2)
Barcelona(2)
SPAIN (1)
explorica.ca/nsp
Spring 2021
Vancouver
$3,572
Calgary
$3,572
Winnipeg
$3,516
Toronto
$3,364
Halifax
$3,520
Prices available from all Canadian airports. Prices in table are based on 3/10/2021 departure date. Call for details.
28
Day 3 – Madrid guided sightseeing tour: Calle Mayor, Gran Vía, Cibeles Fountain, Puerta de Alcalá, Columbus Square, Royal Palace visit – Optional: Toledo guided excursion – Toledo Cathedral visit, Church of Santo Tomé, St. Mary’s Synagogue visit – Flamenco evening Day 4 – Travel to Burgos via Segovia – Segovia Alcázar visit – Burgos Tour Director-led sightseeing: Burgos Cathedral visit, Cartuja de Miraflores visit
Day 5 – Travel to Basque Region via Bilbao – Visit Guggenheim Museum Day 6 – San Sebastián Tour Director-led sightseeing: Playa de la Concha, Palacio de Miramar, Hotel de Londres, harbour & Old Quarter – Monte Igueldo Lighthouse visit Day 7 – Travel via Pamplona to Barcelona – Tapas dinner Day 8 – Barcelona guided sightseeing tour: Gaudí’s Sagrada Família, Montjuïc Hill, Park Güell visit – Barcelona city walk: Mercat de la Boquería, Las Ramblas, Columbus Monument – Paella dinner Days 9–11: Extension to Costa Brava Travel home or travel to Costa Brava. Highlights: Costa Brava beach
SPAIN & PORTUGAL Day 1 – Travel to Barcelona Day 2 – Meet your Tour Director – Barcelona city walk: Mercat de la Boquería, Las Ramblas, Columbus Monument – Paella dinner Day 3 – Barcelona guided sightseeing tour: Gaudí’s Sagrada Família, Montjuïc Hill, Park Güell visit – Optional: flamenco evening Day 4 – Travel to Valencia – Valencia city walk: Central Market, Church of Saint Nicolas, Valencia Cathedral, La Lonja de la Seda – Valencia Aquarium visit Day 5 – Travel to Granada Day 6 – Granada Tour Director-led sightseeing – Alhambra guided visit – Travel to Costa del Sola Day 7 – Optional: Morocco guided excursion – Ferry to Ceuta, panoramic view of Ceuta, Tétouan sightseeing tour, authentic lunch included
SPOTLIGHTS When construction began in 1883, Gaudí’s Sagrada Família was one of the world’s longest construction projects— only 20% complete at Gaudí’s death. Today it is about 70% complete, with work expected to continue on it for years.
Spanish Highlights SPAIN & PORTUGAL 11 DAYS | 9 NIGHTS | Extension available CITIES VISITED (NIGHT STAYS): Barcelona (2), Valencia (1), Granada (1), Costa del Sol (2), Seville (1), Córdoba, Madrid (2) Full European breakfast daily (except arrival day) Dinner daily (except departure day)
Day 8 – Travel to Seville – Seville guided sightseeing tour: Giralda Tower, Alcázar visit, Columbus’ gravesite, Seville Cathedral visit – Seville city walk: Barrio de Santa Cruz
(1) SPAIN Salamanca(2) Madrid(2 or 3)
Day 9 – Travel to Madrid via Córdoba & Puerto Lapice – Mezquita guided visit
Barcelona(2) Valencia(1)
Córdoba Granada(1)
Seville(1)
Day 10 – Madrid guided sightseeing tour: Calle Mayor, Gran Vía, Cibeles Fountain, Puerta de Alcalá, Columbus Square, Royal Palace visit – Madrid city walk: Puerta del Sol, Plaza Mayor, Plaza de España – Prado visit – Tapas dinner
Ferry
Costa del Sol(2)
Ceuta Tétouan MOROCCO
explorica.ca/sph
Days 11–14: Extension to Salamanca Travel home or travel to Salamanca via El Escorial. Highlights: El Escorial guided visit, Salamanca guided sightseeing tour Spring 2021
Vancouver
$3,788
Calgary
$3,788
Winnipeg
$3,732
Toronto
$3,580
Halifax
$3,736
Prices available from all Canadian airports. Prices in table are based on 3/10/2021 departure date. Call for details.
29
SPAIN & PORTUGAL Barcelona, Madrid & Andalusia SPAIN & PORTUGAL 10 DAYS | 8 NIGHTS | Extension available CITIES VISITED (NIGHT STAYS): Barcelona (2), Madrid (2), Córdoba, Seville (2), Granada, Costa del Sol (2) Full European breakfast daily (except arrival day) Dinner daily (except departure day)
Zaragoza
PORTUGAL Toledo
Tétouan
Barcelona(2)
AVE
Lisbon(2) Italica
Madrid(2)
Córdoba Seville(2) Granada Costa del Sol(2) Ceuta
explorica.ca/bma
Vancouver
$3,971
Calgary
$3,847
Winnipeg
$3,943
Toronto
$3,720
Halifax
$3,920
Prices available from all Canadian airports. Prices in table are based on 3/10/2021 departure date. Call for details.
30
Day 3 – Barcelona guided sightseeing tour: Gaudí’s Sagrada Família, Montjuïc Hill, Park Güell visit
Day 5 – Madrid guided sightseeing tour: Calle Mayor, Gran Vía, Cibeles Fountain, Puerta de Alcalá, Columbus Square, Royal Palace visit – Optional: Toledo guided excursion – Toledo Cathedral visit, Church of Santo Tomé, St. Mary’s Synagogue visit – Tapas dinner Day 6 – Travel via AVE train to Córdoba – Mezquita guided visit – Travel to Seville
MOROCCO
Spring 2021
Day 2 – Meet your Tour Director – Barcelona city walk: Mercat de la Boquería, Las Ramblas, Columbus Monument – Paella dinner
Day 4 – Full-day transfer via Zaragoza to Madrid – Basilica of the Virgin of Pilar visit
(1) SPAIN
Day 1 – Travel to Barcelona
Day 7 – Seville guided sightseeing tour: Giralda Tower, Alcázar visit, Columbus’ gravesite, Seville Cathedral visit – Seville city walk: Barrio de Santa Cruz – Flamenco evening Day 8 – Travel to Costa del Sol via Granada – Alhambra guided visit Day 9 – Optional: Morocco guided excursion – Ferry to Ceuta, panoramic view of Ceuta, Tétouan sightseeing tour, authentic lunch included Days 10–12: Extension to Portugal Travel home or travel to Lisbon via Italica. Highlights: Italica visit, Lisbon guided sightseeing tour, Fado evening
SPOTLIGHTS The 3rd largest cathedral in the world houses the tomb of Christopher Columbus. After his death he “journeyed” to Valladolid, Seville, the Dominican Republic, Havana…and finally back to Seville’s Gothic Cathedral.
SPAIN & PORTUGAL Day 1 – Travel to Madrid Day 2 – Meet your Tour Director – Madrid city walk: Puerta del Sol, Plaza Mayor, Plaza de España – Prado visit Day 3 – Madrid guided sightseeing tour: Calle Mayor, Gran Vía, Cibeles Fountain, Puerta de Alcalá, Columbus Square, Royal Palace visit – Optional: Toledo guided excursion – Toledo Cathedral visit, Church of Santo Tomé, St. Mary’s Synagogue visit – Tapas dinner – Puerta del Sol treasure hunt Day 4 – Travel via Córdoba to Seville – Mezquita guided visit
Day 5 – Seville guided sightseeing tour: Giralda Tower, Alcázar visit, Columbus’ gravesite, Seville Cathedral visit – Seville city walk: Barrio de Santa Cruz – Flamenco evening Day 6 – Travel to Granada – Alhambra guided visit Day 7 – Travel to Costa del Sol
Madrid & Andalusia SPAIN & PORTUGAL 9 DAYS | 7 NIGHTS | Extension available CITIES VISITED (NIGHT STAYS): Madrid (2), Córdoba, Seville (2), Granada (1), Costa del Sol (2) Full European breakfast daily (except arrival day) Dinner daily (except departure day)
Day 8 – Optional: Morocco guided excursion – Ferry to Ceuta, panoramic view of Ceuta, Tétouan sightseeing tour, authentic lunch included
(1) SPAIN
PORTUGAL
Days 9–11: Extension to Portugal Travel home or travel to Lisbon via Italica. Highlights: Italica visit, Lisbon guided sightseeing tour, Fado evening
Madrid(2)
Toledo
Lisbon(2) Italica
Tétouan
Córdoba Seville(2) Granada(1) Costa del Sol(2) Ceuta MOROCCO
explorica.ca/maa
Spring 2021
Vancouver
$3,805
Calgary
$3,681
Winnipeg
$3,777
Toronto
$3,554
Halifax
$3,754
Prices available from all Canadian airports. Prices in table are based on 3/10/2021 departure date. Call for details.
31
SPAIN & PORTUGAL Spain & Morocco
Day 1 – Travel to Madrid
SPAIN & PORTUGAL
Day 2 – Meet your Tour Director – Madrid city walk: Puerta del Sol, Plaza Mayor, Plaza de España – Prado visit
9 DAYS | 7 NIGHTS | Extension available CITIES VISITED (NIGHT STAYS): Madrid (2), Granada, Costa del Sol (2), Gibraltar, Tangiers, Fes (2), Casablanca (1) Full European breakfast daily (except arrival day) Dinner daily (except departure day)
(1)
Madrid(2)
SPAIN
Tangiers
Day 4 – Travel to Costa del Sol via Granada – Alhambra guided visit
Granada Costa del Sol(2)
Gibraltar
Day 5 – Gibraltar excursion: Rock of Gibraltar, Moorish Castle, The Tower of Homage
Ferry Fes(2) Casablanca(1 or 2)
Marrakesh(1)
MOROCCO
explorica.ca/sam
Spring 2021
Vancouver
$3,848
Calgary
$3,607
Winnipeg
$3,820
Toronto
$3,481
Halifax
$3,797
Prices available from all Canadian airports. Prices in table are based on 3/10/2021 departure date. Call for details.
32
Day 3 – Madrid guided sightseeing tour: Calle Mayor, Gran Vía, Cibeles Fountain, Puerta de Alcalá, Columbus Square, Royal Palace visit – Optional: Toledo guided excursion – Toledo Cathedral visit, Church of Santo Tomé, St. Mary’s Synagogue visit – Tapas dinner
Day 6 – Ferry to Tangiers – Lunch (included) – Tangier guided sightseeing tour – Chefchaouen guided sightseeing tour – Travel to Fes Day 7 – Fes guided sightseeing tour: Fes-Jdid Mellah, Royal Palace, Fes el Bali Medina, Karaouine Mosque, University of Al-Karaouine, Medersa Bou Inania Day 8 – Volubilis Roman Ruins visit – Travel to Casablanca via Rabat – Rabat guided sightseeing tour: Mohamed V Mausoleum, Hassan Tower, Royal Palace Days 9–11: Extension to Marrakesh Travel home or travel to Marrakesh. Highlights: Casablanca guided sightseeing tour, Marrakesh guided sightseeing tour
SPAIN & PORTUGAL Day 1 – Travel to Madrid
Day 5 – Full-day transfer via Zaragoza to Barcelona – Basilica of the Virgin of Pilar visit
Day 2 – Meet your Tour Director – Madrid city walk: Puerta del Sol, Plaza Mayor, Plaza de España – Prado visit Day 3 – Madrid guided sightseeing tour: Calle Mayor, Gran Vía, Cibeles Fountain, Puerta de Alcalá, Columbus Square, Royal Palace visit – Optional: Toledo guided excursion – Toledo Cathedral visit, Church of Santo Tomé, St. Mary’s Synagogue visit – Flamenco evening Day 4 – Optional: El Escorial & Segovia guided excursion – El Escorial visit, Segovia Alcázar visit
Day 6 – Barcelona guided sightseeing tour: Gaudí’s Sagrada Família, Montjuïc Hill, Park Güell visit – Barcelona city walk: Mercat de la Boquería, Las Ramblas, Columbus Monument – Tapas dinner – Las Ramblas treasure hunt
Madrid & Barcelona SPAIN & PORTUGAL 8 DAYS | 6 NIGHTS | Extension available CITIES VISITED (NIGHT STAYS): Madrid (3), Zaragoza, Barcelona (3) Full European breakfast daily (except arrival day) Dinner daily (except departure day)
Day 7 – Optional: Girona and Figueres guided excursion – Visit Salvador Dalí Theatre Museum – Paella dinner Days 8–10: Extension to Costa Brava Travel home or travel to Costa Brava. Highlights: Costa Brava beach
Segovia El Escorial Toledo
SPOTLIGHTS All aboard! The AVE— Alta Velocidad Espanola—is Europe’s largest network of high-speed trains. It travels at over 200 mph and connects the major cities of Spain, and even travels into neighbouring France.
Girona
Zaragoza
Madrid(3)
Costa Barcelona(3) Brava(2)
SPAIN (1)
explorica.ca/mab
Spring 2021
Vancouver
$3,489
Calgary
$3,489
Winnipeg
$3,433
Toronto
$3,282
Halifax
$3,438
Prices available from all Canadian airports. Prices in table are based on 3/10/2021 departure date. Call for details.
33
TOUR LATIN AMERICA
Educational activity Peruvian School Visit Visit a Peruvian school to meet the students, learn about their culture, and discover the differences between the schools in Peru and the schools back home.
34
Ox Cart Crafts A local artisan introduces you to the origins of traditional Costa Rican craftmaking, such as Ox Cart painting. Try your own hand at painting and take home your art as a souvenir.
Our Central & South American programs bring you to countries with a mix of ancient pre-Columbian relics and modern civilizations influenced by European colonization. From the Galapagos Islands to San Juan, Machu Picchu to Lima, the Americas offer travellers the treasures of antiquity and the pulse of metropolitan energy. Study rainforest ecosystems. Visit banana plantations. Learn about the Inca and Maya. Trace the economic path of emerging urban centres.
¡Hola!
WorldStrides Explorica pro tip “No matter the subject, these itineraries provide a hands-on learning experience that will change the way your students view the world, especially since so many include volunteering opportunities. For a great price, you’ll get a life-changing educational experience in your own backyard — you can’t go wrong with this collection!” –Alison Mackie, Client Experience Manager
Where ancient and modern enchant and teach
Tour Highlights Costa Rica: San José, Poás Volcano, Arenal hot springs, Monteverde Reserve (rain and cloud-forests) Ecuador: Capital Quito, Galapagos Islands, Charles Darwin Research Station—El Panecillo, Otavalo Market Peru: Machu Picchu, Capital Lima—Larco Museum and Plaza de Armas, Cuzco—the Incan empire, Incan baths
Authentic cuisine: Andean Grill—PERU Laid-back atmosphere with Incan décor. Friendly staff serve hearty native meals— including alpaca meat! Enjoy Peruvian serenades from bands and singers Convenient hotels: Holiday Inn—SAN JOSÉ Fabulous view of the entire city, this convenient inn is walking distance to the National Theatre, city centre, and craft shops
Puerto Rico: Capital San Juan—El Morro Castle, El Yunque—Caribbean National Forest, Ponce—Seralles Castle, Arecibo Observatory Mexico: Mexico City, Cancun on the Yucatan Peninsula—Mérida, Mayan town of Valladolid and archaeological site of Uxmal, Chichen Itza, the largest archaeological zone of the Mayan world
Say hola to the perfect tour at explorica.ca/latinamerica
35
LATIN AMERICA Costa Rica
Day 1 – Fly to San José and meet your Tour Director
LATIN AMERICA 9 DAYS | 8 NIGHTS | Extension available CITIES VISITED (NIGHT STAYS): San José (2), Arenal (2), Monteverde (2), Coastal Puntarenas (2) Breakfast daily (except arrival day) Lunch daily Dinner daily (except departure day)
Day 2 – Travel to Arenal – Arenal Volcano Day 3 – Lake Arenal kayaking tour – Hanging Bridges Excursion – Hot springs visit Day 4 – Travel to Monteverde – Local school visit – Canopy tour Day 5 – Santa Elena Biological Reserve visit – Plant your own tree – Horseback ride
Arenal(2) Monteverde(2)
Coastal Puntarenas(2)
San José(2 or 3) Sarapiquí River
COSTA RICA
Manuel Antonio
explorica.ca/cos
Spring 2021
Vancouver
$3,139
Calgary
$3,106
Winnipeg
$3,269
Toronto
$2,961
Halifax
$2,973
Prices available from all Canadian airports. Prices in table are based on 3/10/2021 departure date. Call for details.
36
SPOTLIGHTS There are over 121 volcanoes in Costa Rica, and seven active ones. Poás Volcano has the world’s second widest crater (almost a mile wide). Arenal is one of the 10 most active in the world.
Day 6 – Travel to Coastal Puntarenas – Free time at the beach – Optional: Surfing lesson Day 7 – Guided visit to Manuel Antonio National Park Day 8 – Travel to San José via Sarchí – Sarchí craft village visit – Optional: Folklore evening Days 9–10: Extension in Costa Rica Travel home or stay in Costa Rica. Highlights: Whitewater rafting guided excursion
LATIN AMERICA Day 1 – Travel to San José and meet your Tour Director
Day 6 – Travel to Rincón de la Vieja – Tenorio National Park visit
Day 2 – Travel to Tortuguero – Tortuguero Tour Director-led sightseeing – Caribbean Conservation Corporation Museum visit
Day 7 – Horseback ride – Optional: Canopy Tour
Day 3 – Canal tour – Tortuguero National Park visit – School visit Day 4 – Travel to Sarapiqui – Sarapiqui River kayaking tour – Red-eyed tree frog night walk Day 5 – Travel to Arenal – Optional: Bike ride to Lake Arenal – Hot springs visit
Costa Rica Coast to Coast LATIN AMERICA 9 DAYS | 8 NIGHTS | Extension available
Day 8 – Travel to Guanacaste – Free time on Guanacaste Beach
CITIES VISITED (NIGHT STAYS):
Days 9–10: Extension in Costa Rica Travel home or stay in Costa Rica. Highlights: Whitewater rafting guided excursion
Breakfast daily (except arrival day) Lunch daily Dinner daily (except departure day)
San José (1), Tortuguero (2), Sarapiqui (1), Arenal (1), Rincón de la Vieja (2), Guanacaste (1)
Rincon de la Vieja(2) Guanacaste (1 or 2)
Sarapiquí(1) Arenal(1)
Tortuguero(2)
San José(1)
COSTA RICA
explorica.ca/crc
Spring 2021
Vancouver
$3,039
Calgary
$3,022
Winnipeg
$3,169
Toronto
$2,872
Halifax
$2,945
Prices available from all Canadian airports. Prices in table are based on 3/10/2021 departure date. Call for details.
37
LATIN AMERICA Costa Rican Highlights
Day 1 – Travel to Liberia and meet your Tour Director – Travel to Rincón de la Vieja
LATIN AMERICA
Day 2 – Optional: Canopy tour – Horseback ride
Day 7 – Free time on Guanacaste Beach
Day 3 – Rincón de La Vieja Volcano Park visit – Travel to Arenal – Hot springs visit
Days 8–9: Extension in Costa Rica Travel home or stay in Costa Rica. Highlights: Whitewater rafting guided excursion
8 DAYS | 7 NIGHTS | Extension available CITIES VISITED (NIGHT STAYS): Rincón de la Vieja (2), Rincón de la Vieja National Park, Arenal (1), Monteverde (2), Guanacaste (2) Breakfast daily (except arrival day) Lunch daily Dinner daily (except departure day)
Day 4 – Lake Arenal kayaking tour – Travel to Monteverde Day 5 – Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve night walk – Santa Elena Biological Reserve visit – Local school visit – Serpentine Museum visit
Liberia(0 or 1) Guanacaste(2)
Rincón de la Vieja(2) Rincón de la Vieja National Park Tenorio Arenal(1) River Monteverde(2)
COSTA RICA
explorica.ca/crh
Spring 2021
Vancouver
$3,074
Calgary
$3,074
Winnipeg
$3,205
Toronto
$2,918
Halifax
$3,053
Prices available from all Canadian airports. Prices in table are based on 3/10/2021 departure date. Call for details.
38
Day 6 – Travel to Guanacaste – Palo Verde boat tour – Transfer to Papagayo Gulf – Free time on Guanacaste Beach
SPOTLIGHTS Small in size, large in biodiversity, Costa Rica has the most dense biodiversity of any country in the world!
LATIN AMERICA Day 1 – Travel to Managua and meet your Tour Director – Travel to Granada Day 2 – Granada guided sightseeing tour: Plaza de la Independencia, Monastery of San Francisco, Church of La Merced, Plazuela de los Leones, Casa de los Tres Mundos – Educational workshop at Café de las Sonrisas – Masaya Market visit – Masaya Volcano Museum visit – Masaya Volcano evening tour Day 3 – Bike ride to El Rayo – Lake Nicaragua Isletas boat tour – Isletas local school visit – Lake Nicaragua Isleta visit – Travel to San Juan del Sur
Day 4 – Canopy tour – San Juan del Sur beach time Day 5 – Travel to Costa Rica: Rincón de la Vieja – Rincón de La Vieja Volcano Park visit
Nicaragua & Costa Rica LATIN AMERICA 9 DAYS | 8 NIGHTS | Extension available
Day 6 – Horseback ride – Hot springs visit
CITIES VISITED (NIGHT STAYS):
Day 7 – Travel to Guanacaste Beach – Visit the craft village of Guaitil
Breakfast daily (except arrival day) Lunch daily Dinner daily (except departure day)
Granada (2), San Juan del Sur (2), Rincón de la Vieja (2), Guanacaste (2)
Day 8 – Palo Verde boat tour Days 9–10: Extension in Costa Rica Travel home or stay in Costa Rica. Highlights: Whitewater rafting guided excursion
NICARAGUA Managua Granada (2)
Masaya
San Juan del Sur (2) Liberia
Rincón de la Vieja (2) Guanacaste (2 or 3)
COSTA RICA
explorica.ca/ncr
Spring 2021
Vancouver
$3,342
Calgary
$3,326
Winnipeg
$3,473
Toronto
$3,176
Halifax
$3,249
Prices available from all Canadian airports. Prices in table are based on 3/10/2021 departure date. Call for details.
39
LATIN AMERICA Peru: Machu Picchu LATIN AMERICA 7 DAYS | 5 NIGHTS | Extension available CITIES VISITED (NIGHT STAYS): Lima (2), Cuzco (2), Machu Picchu (1) Breakfast daily (except arrival day) Dinner daily (except departure day)
Sacred Valley
Machu Picchu(1) Cuzco(2)
explorica.ca/mpu
Spring 2021
Vancouver
$3,553
Calgary
$3,553
Winnipeg
$3,812
Toronto
$3,464
Halifax
$3,464
Prices available from all Canadian airports. Prices in table are based on 3/10/2021 departure date. Call for details.
40
Day 2 – Lima guided sightseeing tour: Government Palace, City Hall, Cathedral of Lima, Miraflores, San Isidro, San Francisco Convent visit – Museum of Archaeology & Anthropology visit Day 3 – Travel to Cuzco – Cuzco guided sightseeing tour: Tambo Mach ay, Qenko, Puca Pucara, Sacsayhuaman Fortress visit
PERU
Lima (3 or 5)
Day 1 – Travel to Lima and meet your Tour Director
Day 4 – Sacred Valley excursion: Ollantaytambo Fortress visit, Pisac Indian Market, Wildlife Sanctuary visit – Train ride to Machu Picchu Day 5 – Sunrise at Machu Picchu – Hike to Intipunku – Transfer back to Cuzco Day 6 – Travel to Lima Days 6–9: Extension in Peru - Make a Difference Travel home or stay in Lima. Highlights: Volunteer at a local school
LATIN AMERICA Day 1 – Travel to Lima and meet your Tour Director Day 2 – Lima guided sightseeing tour: Government Palace, City Hall, Cathedral of Lima, Miraflores, San Isidro, San Francisco Convent visit – Museum of Archaeology & Anthropology visit Day 3 – Travel to Cuzco – Cuzco guided sightseeing tour: Tambo Mach ay, Qenko, Puca Pucara, Sacsayhuaman Fortress visit Day 4 – Sacred Valley excursion: Ollantaytambo Fortress visit, Pisac Indian Market, Wildlife Sanctuary visit
Day 5 – Train ride to Machu Picchu – Explore Machu Picchu – Hike to Intipunku
Peru: Incan Adventure
Day 6 – Machu Picchu free time – Transfer back to Cuzco
LATIN AMERICA
Day 7 – Travel to Puno – Andahuaylillas Chapel guided visit – Raqchi Temple guided visit – Shop at local ceramics market
10 DAYS | 8 NIGHTS CITIES VISITED (NIGHT STAYS): Lima (2), Cuzco (2), Sacred Valley (1), Machu Picchu (1), Puno (2), Uros and Taquile Islands Breakfast daily (except arrival day) Lunch daily Dinner daily (except departure day)
Day 8 – Cruise to Uros Islands & Taquile Island – Visit with indigenous Uros families – Hike Taquile Island
(1)
Day 9 – Sillustani Temple guided visit – Travel to Lima – Travel home
PERU Lima(2)
Machu Picchu(1) Sacred Valley(1) Cuzco(2)
Day 10 – Return home SPOTLIGHTS Machu Picchu was built around 1450 at the height of the Incan Empire, and abandoned 100 years later due to the Spanish Conquest. It wasn’t until 1911 that it was rediscovered by American explorer Hiram Bingham.
Uros & Taquile Islands Puno(2)
explorica.ca/per
Spring 2021
Vancouver
$4,287
Calgary
$4,287
Winnipeg
$4,546
Toronto
$4,198
Halifax
$4,198
Prices available from all Canadian airports. Prices in table are based on 3/10/2021 departure date. Call for details.
41
LATIN AMERICA Galapagos Island Highlights LATIN AMERICA 9 DAYS | 7 NIGHTS CITIES VISITED (NIGHT STAYS):
Day 1 – Travel to Quito and meet your Tour Director
Day 5 – Full-day guided Sierra Negra Volcano hike – Puerto Villamil beach time
Day 2 – Quito guided sightseeing tour: Independence Plaza, Government Palace, San Francisco Church visit, Mitad del Mundo visit
Day 6 – Las Tintoreras visit: See marine iguanas, Galápagos penguins & Sally Lightfoot crabs – Snorkling adventure in Las Tintoreras – Transfer to Santa Cruz Island via boat – Darwin Research Station guided visit
Quito (3), Santa Cruz (2), Isabela (2)
Day 3 – Travel to Santa Cruz – Twin Craters visit – Highlands of the Island visit – View lava tunnels
Breakfast daily (except arrival day) Lunch daily Dinner daily (except departure day)
GALÁPAGOS Santa Cruz(2)
Quito(3)
ECUADOR
Isabela(2)
(1)
explorica.ca/gah
Spring 2021
Vancouver
$5,151
Calgary
$5,151
Winnipeg
$5,256
Toronto
$4,850
Halifax
$4,882
Prices available from all Canadian airports. Prices in table are based on 3/10/2021 departure date. Call for details.
42
Day 4 – Transfer to Isabela Island via boat – Wetlands visit: Playa del Amor, estuary tunnels, Wall of Tears visit – Giant Tortoise Breeding Centre guided visit – Flamingo Lake walk
Day 7 – Transfer to Baltra Island via Itabaca Canal – Travel to Quito Day 8 – Travel home Day 9 – Return home
LATIN AMERICA Day 1 – Travel to Belize City and meet your Tour Director Day 2 – Boat ride down the New River to visit Lamanai Ruins Day 3 – Travel to San Ignacio – Canopy tour – Explore River Caves in Cayo District Day 4 – Xunantunich Ruins guided visit – Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve guided visit Day 5 – Belize Zoo & Tropical Education Centre visit – Travel to Ambergris Caye
Day 6 – Hol Chan Marine Reserve and Shark Alley snorkeling tour – Optional: Snuba excursion Day 7 – Travel to Belize City Days 7–8: Extension in Belize Travel home or stay in Ambergris Caye. Highlights: Ambergris Caye free time
Belize LATIN AMERICA 7 DAYS | 6 NIGHTS | Extension available CITIES VISITED (NIGHT STAYS): Belize City (3), San Ignacio (2), Ambergris Caye (1) Breakfast daily (except arrival day) Lunch daily Dinner daily (except departure day)
SPOTLIGHTS Did you know? Rainforests cover only 6% of the Earth’s surface but are home to over half the world’s plant and animal species. About 80% of the food we eat and over a quarter of our medicines originally came from rainforests. Unfortunately, at the current rate of deforestation, most rainforests will be gone within the next 40 years.
Ambergris Caye(1 or 2) Belize City(3) San Ignacio(2)
BELIZE
explorica.ca/blz
Spring 2021
Vancouver
$3,198
Calgary
$3,198
Winnipeg
$3,466
Toronto
$3,114
Halifax
$3,126
Prices available from all Canadian airports. Prices in table are based on 3/10/2021 departure date. Call for details.
43
TOUR FRANCE
Educational activity Cover the Canvas Live the artist’s life. Explore line, colour, perspective, and negative space and form, then paint a masterpiece inspired by the beauty of Paris.
44
Bon Appetit Slice, dice, and stir! Savour the French country lifestyle by creating (and eating) traditional Loire Valley cuisine.
Feast on an unforgettable meal in a brasserie tucked away in the Latin Quarter of Paris. Walk the beaches of Normandy and stand on the hallowed ground where Allied soldiers fought and fell for freedom. Visit the warm Mediterranean cities of the French Riviera, speckled with palaces and mansions once inhabited by the formidable Grimaldi family.
Bonjour!
WorldStrides Explorica pro tip “This collection highlights the diversity and depth of the historical, cultural and culinary history within the region. And the locals won’t let you off the hook so easily when it comes to speaking French, so language students get a lot out of these tours. A willingness to be immersed in the culture will serve new and experienced travellers well when exploring the best of France with Explorica.” –Elyse Solomon, Client Experience Manager
France. Birthplace of elegance and style!
Tour Highlights Paris: The Louvre, Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame Cathedral, Seine River Cruise, Versailles, Montmartre Normandy: D-Day battleground, Canadian Military Cemetery, Landing Museum in Arromanches, Mont St. Michel, Giverny Loire Valley: Chartres Cathedral, Château de Chenonceau and d’Amboise, vineyards Nice: Maison Carée, Roman Arena
Authentic cuisine: La Maison de Verlaine— PARIS. Located in the Latin Quarter beneath the apartment once held by poet Paul Verlaine, you’ll dine on authentic French fare and discuss the “Lost Generation’s” literary legacy. Convenient hotels: Le Patio Saint Antoine— PARIS. Close to the Bastille district and a short walk to public transportation, this charming garden hotel offers a peaceful haven, right in the heart of the city.
Avignon: Pont du Gard Provence: Lavender fields, Tuscan culture
Say bonjour to the perfect tour at explorica.ca/france
45
FRANCE Paris, City of Light
Day 1 – Travel to Paris
FRANCE
Day 2 – Meet your Tour Director – Paris city walk: Île de la Cité, Notre Dame Cathedral visit, Île St. Louis, Latin Quarter visit
8 DAYS | 6 NIGHTS | Extension available CITIES VISITED (NIGHT STAYS): Paris (6) Full European breakfast daily (except arrival day) Dinner daily (except departure day)
ENGLAND
Day 4 – Louvre visit – Fragonard s Perfume Museum visit – Seine River cruise – Couscous dinner
London(2) Eurostar Giverny Versailles
Paris(6)
FRANCE Loire Valley
(1)
explorica.ca/pcl
Spring 2021
Vancouver
$3,478
Calgary
$3,478
Winnipeg
$3,478
Toronto
$3,268
Halifax
$3,404
Prices available from all Canadian airports. Prices in table are based on 3/10/2021 departure date. Call for details.
46
Day 3 – Paris & Versailles guided sightseeing tour: Arc de Triomphe, Champs-Élysées, Eiffel Tower, Champ de Mars, École Militaire, Les Invalides, Conciergerie, Tuileries, Place Vendôme, Opera House, Versailles guided excursion
Day 5 – Optional: Loire Valley châteaux excursion – Château de Chambord, Château de Chenonceau visit, Château d Amboise visit Day 6 – Musée d’Orsay visit – Eiffel Tower ascent – Crêperie dinner – Île de la Cité treasure hunt Day 7 – Optional: Giverny guided excursion (April-November only) – Sacré Coeur visit Days 8–10: Extension to London Travel home or travel to London. Highlights: London city walk, classic fish & chips dinner, London guided sightseeing tour
FRANCE SPOTLIGHTS Arguably the most
famous street in the world, the Avenue de Champs-Élysées has a rich history. At 1.2 miles long, it hosts some of the biggest events in Europe each year: Large military parades on Bastille Day, plus the climactic finish of the Tour de France.
Day 4 – Montmartre Tour Director-led sightseeing – Learn to play pétanque with the locals – Louvre visit Day 5 – Optional: Deauville and Honfleur full-day excursion – Tarte flambée dinner Day 6 – Guided neighbourhood foodie tour – Steak frites dinner
Day 1 – Travel to Paris Day 2 – Meet your Tour Director – Marais district visit – Crêperie dinner Day 3 – Paris guided sightseeing tour: Arc de Triomphe, Champs-Élysées, Eiffel Tower, Champ de Mars, École Militaire, Les Invalides, Conciergerie, Tuileries, Place Vendôme, Opera House – Optional: Versailles guided excursion – State Apartments, Hall of Mirrors, Gardens of Versailles – Boeuf bourguignon dinner
Insider’s Paris FRANCE 8 DAYS | 6 NIGHTS | Extension available CITIES VISITED (NIGHT STAYS): Paris (6) Full European breakfast daily (except arrival day) Dinner daily (except departure day)
Day 7 – Père Lachaise Cemetery visit – Canal Saint-Martin Tour Director-led sightseeing – Seine River cruise – Couscous dinner
ENGLAND London(2)
Days 8–10: Extension to London Travel home or travel to London. Highlights: London city walk, classic fish & chips dinner, London guided sightseeing tour
Eurostar Deauville & Honfleur Paris(6)
Versailles
FRANCE (1)
explorica.ca/ipa
Spring 2021
Vancouver
$3,476
Calgary
$3,476
Winnipeg
$3,476
Toronto
$3,266
Halifax
$3,402
Prices available from all Canadian airports. Prices in table are based on 3/10/2021 departure date. Call for details.
47
TOUR BRITAIN AND IRELAND
Cheers! The U.K. and Ireland—Centuries of tradition and a storied past
Their long history makes the U.K. and Ireland fascinating places to study. The British culture celebrates impeccable manners and tradition, while Scotland and Ireland have endured centuries of ferocious invasion and warfare. From Roman invaders to long lineages of kings and queens, this destination offers a most colourful culture. It’s also a land of windswept moors, meandering rivers, and towering cliffs.
Educational activity
Tour Highlights London: Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, Houses of Parliament, Westminster Abbey, St. Paul’s Cathedral, Trafalgar Square, Piccadilly Circus, Hampton Court
Dublin: Dublin General Post Office, Dail Éireann, Trinity Chapel, Book of Kells, Phoenix Park, O’Connell Street
Oxford: Christ Church College
Killarney: Parks, mountains, Ring of Kerry, Blarney Castle, Rock of Cashel
York: Hadrian’s Wall, Jorvik Viking Museum
Wales: Caernarfon Castle
Stratford: Life and times of Shakespeare
Authentic cuisine: The Sun Tavern—LONDON. Filled with character, this brick-lined 1850s pub features a weathered bar and serves local fare like fish and chips. Located in Covent Garden.
Edinburgh: Royal Mile, Holyrood Palace, Edinburgh Castle, Stirling Castle
Say cheers to the perfect tour at explorica.ca/uk-ireland
48
Convenient hotels: Millennium and Copthorne Chelsea FC—LONDON. Situated on site at the famous Stamford Bridge, home to Chelsea Football Club. Deluxe accommodations, a stone’s throw from Kings Road and The Saatchi Gallery.
Out of Ireland Walk a mile in the shoes of an Irish emigrant. Uncover personal accounts of the circumstances that forced these inhabitants out of the country. Reflect on the feelings you would have felt in their shoes and discover how their departure shaped the history of Ireland. Scottish Steps Learn the art of Scottish dancing at a social gathering, or Ceilidh, (pronounced “Kay-lay”). Dance to live music as an instructor shows you some traditional steps.
BRITAIN & IRELAND Day 1 – Travel to Shannon Day 2 – Meet your Tour Director – Travel to Killarney Day 3 – Excursion to Ireland s coastal Ring of Kerry – Sheep farm visit (March to October) Day 4 – Travel to Dublin – Visit Blarney Castle Day 5 – Dublin guided sightseeing tour: Phoenix Park, St. Patrick s Cathedral, Trinity College Book of Kells visit – Dublin city walk: O Connell Street, Parnell Square, Henry Street – Optional: Irish folklore evening – Traditional public house dinner
Day 6 – Ferry ride across Irish Sea to Holyhead – Travel to North Wales – Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch – Snowdonia National Park
Ireland, Wales & England
Day 7 – Travel to London via Stratford – Anne Hathaway s cottage & Shakespeare s birthplace visit
CITIES VISITED (NIGHT STAYS):
Day 8 – London guided sightseeing tour: Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, Houses of Parliament, Westminster Abbey, Tower Bridge, Hyde Park, St. Paul s Cathedral – Optional: Windsor Castle guided excursion – Classic fish & chips dinner Days 9–10: Extension in London Travel home or stay in London. Highlights: Stonehenge & Bath guided excursion, West End theatre performance
BRITAIN & IRELAND 9 DAYS | 7 NIGHTS | Extension available Shannon, Killarney (2), Ring of Kerry, Dublin (2), Holyhead, North Wales (1), Stratford, London (2) Full European breakfast daily (except arrival day) Dinner daily (except departure day)
IRELAND
Dublin(2) Holyhead
(1) Shannon
Blarney
g Rin
SPOTLIGHTS Did you know—one of the busiest intersections in London is actually named after a big collar? Piccadill is a large, broad collar of cut-work lace that was fashionable in the late 16th century—a favourite of Queen Elizabeth. Years later, Piccadilly Circus was so named to honour a large landowner who made a fortune crafting these collars.
of Ker ry
ENGLAND
Killarney(2)
Stratford North Wales(1) WALES Oxford Stonehenge London Bath (2 or 3)
explorica.ca/iwe
Spring 2021
Vancouver
$3,766
Calgary
$3,766
Winnipeg
$3,762
Toronto
$3,586
Halifax
$3,720
Prices available from all Canadian airports. Prices in table are based on 3/10/2021 departure date. Call for details.
49
BRITAIN & IRELAND New York City & London Theatre BRITAIN & IRELAND 9 DAYS | 7 NIGHTS | Extension available
Day 2 – Ferry boat to Ellis Island & Statue of Liberty – Lower Manhattan guided sightseeing tour: Trinity Church, Wall Street, 9/11 Memorial visit – Neighbourhoods city walk: Chinatown, Little Italy, Greenwich Village, SoHo – Optional: Broadway show
CITIES VISITED (NIGHT STAYS): New York City (3), London (4) Breakfast daily (except arrival day) Dinner daily (except departure day)
NEW YORK New York City(3)
Day 3 – Broadway workshop – Radio City Music Hall guided visit – MoMA visit – Broadway show
ENGLAND (1) London(4)
Eurostar Paris(2)
explorica.ca/nyl
Vancouver
$3,834
Calgary
$3,855
Winnipeg
$3,851
Toronto
$3,703
Halifax
$3,672
Prices available from all Canadian airports. Prices in table are based on 3/10/2021 departure date. Call for details.
50
Day 4 – Central Park city walk: Cherry Hill, Strawberry Fields, Belvedere Castle, Delacorte Theatre – Overnight flight to London Day 5 – Meet your Tour Director – London city walk: Thames River, Trafalgar Square, National Gallery visit, Piccadilly Circus, Covent Garden, Leicester Square, Soho – Classic fish & chips dinner
FRANCE
Spring 2021
Day 1 – Travel to New York City and meet your Tour Director – Midtown city walk: Rockefeller Centre, St. Patrick s Cathedral, Trump Tower, Times Square, Grand Central Station – Empire State Building & Observatory visit
SPOTLIGHTS Valentia, on the rocky
shores of Ireland’s County Kerry, was the eastern terminus of the first transatlantic telegraph cable, which stretched to Newfoundland in 1866. These cables were in operation for over 100 years, linking Europe and America for the first time ever.
Day 6 – London guided sightseeing tour: Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, Houses of Parliament, Westminster Abbey, Tower Bridge, Hyde Park, St. Paul s Cathedral – Optional: Windsor Castle guided excursion Day 7 – British Museum visit – Globe Theatre interactive workshop – West End theatre performance Day 8 – Optional: Oxford & Stratford excursion – Traditional curry dinner Days 9–11: Extension to Paris Travel home or travel to Paris. Highlights: Paris city walk, dinner in Latin Quarter, Paris guided sightseeing tour, Louvre visit, Seine River cruise
BRITAIN & IRELAND Day 1 – Travel to Dublin Day 2 – Meet your Tour Director – Dublin city walk: O Connell Street, Parnell Square, Henry Street Day 3 – Dublin guided sightseeing tour: Phoenix Park, St. Patrick s Cathedral, Trinity College Book of Kells visit – Optional: Powerscourt Gardens excursion – Traditional public house dinner Day 4 – Travel to Galway – Knowth excursion
Best of Ireland
Day 7 – Excursion to Ireland s coastal Ring of Kerry – Sheep farm visit (March to October)
9 DAYS | 7 NIGHTS | Extension available
Day 8 – Travel to Dublin – Visit Blarney Castle – Optional: Irish Folklore Evening
BRITAIN & IRELAND
CITIES VISITED (NIGHT STAYS): Dublin(3), Galway (2), Ring of Kerry, Killarney (2), Blarney Full European breakfast daily (except arrival day) Dinner daily (except departure day)
Days 9–11: Extension to London Travel home or travel to London. Highlights: London city walk, classic fish & chips dinner, London guided sightseeing tour
(1)
Galway(2)
IRELAND Dublin(3)
ENGLAND
Blarney
g Rin
Day 5 – Galway city walk: Spanish Arch, Quay Street, St. Nicholas Church, Eyre Square – Excursion to Connemara – Visit to Kylemore Abbey
Day 6 – Travel to Killarney via Cliffs of Moher and Limerick
of Ker ry
London(2)
Killarney(2)
explorica.ca/irl
Spring 2021
Vancouver
$3,652
Calgary
$3,652
Winnipeg
$3,652
Toronto
$3,451
Halifax
$3,586
Prices available from all Canadian airports. Prices in table are based on 3/10/2021 departure date. Call for details.
51
BRITAIN & IRELAND Scotland & Ireland
Day 1 – Travel to Edinburgh
BRITAIN & IRELAND
Day 2 – Meet your Tour Director – Edinburgh city walk: Charlotte Square, Alexander Graham Bells home, Robert Louis Stevensons home, Robert Burns monument
10 DAYS | 8 NIGHTS | Extension available CITIES VISITED (NIGHT STAYS): Edinburgh (2), Trossachs, Highlands (2), Glencoe, Loch Lomond, Glasgow (1), Belfast (1), Dublin (2) Full European breakfast daily (except arrival day) Dinner daily (except departure day)
Highlands(2)
SCOTLAND
Loch Lomond
Glasgow(1)
IRELAND Galway(2)
Day 4 – Travel to Highlands via the Trossachs – Visit Stirling Castle
Trossachs
Glencoe
(1)
Edinburgh(2)
Belfast(1)
g Rin
Blarney
explorica.ca/sci
Spring 2021
Vancouver
$3,840
Calgary
$3,840
Winnipeg
$3,836
Toronto
$3,658
Halifax
$3,759
Prices available from all Canadian airports. Prices in table are based on 3/10/2021 departure date. Call for details.
52
Day 5 – Glencoe and Loch Ness excursion: Visit Loch Ness Monster Exhibition, Culloden Moor Day 6 – Travel to Glasgow via Loch Lomond – Glasgow city walk: Strathclyde University, City Chambers, George Square
Dublin(2 or 3)
Killarney(2) of Ker ry
Day 3 – Edinburgh guided sightseeing tour: Royal Mile, Old Town, Sir Walter Scott Monument, Edinburgh Castle visit – Edinburgh guided ghost tour
Day 7 – Ferry to Belfast – Travel along the Antrim Coast – Giants Causeway excursion Day 8 – Belfast guided sightseeing tour: Lower Falls, Shankill Road, Belfast murals – Travel to Dublin – Dublin city walk: O Connell Street, Parnell Square, Henry Street Day 9 – Dublin guided sightseeing tour: Phoenix Park, St. Patricks Cathedral, Trinity College Book of Kells visit – Glasnevin Cemetery Museum visit – Optional: Irish folklore evening – Traditional public house dinner Days 10–15: Extension to Ring of Kerry Travel home or travel to Galway. Highlights: Knowth excursion, Galway city walk, excursion to Connemara, visit to Kylemore Abbey, travel to Killarney via Cliffs of Moher and Limerick, excursion to Irelands coastal Ring of Kerry, sheep farm visit (March to October), Blarney Castle
BRITAIN & IRELAND Day 1 – Travel to London Day 2 – Meet your Tour Director – London city walk: Thames River, Trafalgar Square, National Gallery visit, Piccadilly Circus, Covent Garden, Leicester Square, Soho – Classic fish & chips dinner Day 3 – London guided sightseeing tour: Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, Houses of Parliament, Westminster Abbey, Tower Bridge, Hyde Park, St. Paul s Cathedral – Optional: Windsor Castle guided excursion Day 4 – Travel to Bath – Stonehenge visit – Lacock Abbey visit – Chippenham visit
SPOTLIGHTS William Shakespeare is
without a doubt one of the most notable writers in history. Hundreds of his phrases pop up in everyday conversations today— lacklustre, foregone conclusion, in a pickle… the list goes on!
Day 5 – Bath guided sightseeing tour: Pulteney Bridge, Roman Baths visit, Abbey – Travel to Stratford via Oxford – Oxford Tour Director-led sightseeing – Christ s Church visit
London, the Countryside & Edinburgh
Day 6 – Stratford Tour Director-led sightseeing: Anne Hathaway’s Cottage visit, Shakespeare s birthplace visit – Warwick Castle visit
BRITAIN & IRELAND
Day 7 – Travel to Yorkshire – York Tour Director-led sightseeing: York Minster visit
10 DAYS | 8 NIGHTS | Extension available CITIES VISITED (NIGHT STAYS): London (2), Stonehenge, Bath (1), Oxford, Stratford (2), Yorkshire (1) Edinburgh (2) Full European breakfast daily (except arrival day) Dinner daily (except departure day)
Glencoe
Day 8 – Travel to Edinburgh via Yorkshire – Alnwick Castle
SCOTLAND Highlands Edinburgh(2)
Glasgow
Day 9 – Edinburgh guided sightseeing tour: Royal Mile, Old Town, Sir Walter Scott Monument, Edinburgh Castle visit – See the Elephant House coffee shop – Optional: Scottish folklore show
ENGLAND
Days 10–13: Extension to the Highlands Travel home or travel to Highlands via Stirling. Highlights: Visit Stirling Castle, Glencoe and Loch Ness excursion, Glenfinnin Viaduct & Visitor Centre, Glasgow city walk
Yorkshire(1)
Stratford(2)
Oxford
Bath(1)
London(2)
Stonehenge (1)
explorica.ca/pot
Spring 2021
Vancouver
$3,789
Calgary
$3,789
Winnipeg
$3,780
Toronto
$3,627
Halifax
$3,726
Prices available from all Canadian airports. Prices in table are based on 3/10/2021 departure date. Call for details.
53
BRITAIN & IRELAND London Theatre
Day 1 – Travel to London
BRITAIN & IRELAND
Day 2 – Meet your Tour Director – London city walk: Thames River, Trafalgar Square, National Gallery visit, Piccadilly Circus, Covent Garden, Leicester Square, Soho – Classic fish & chips dinner
8 DAYS | 6 NIGHTS | Extension available CITIES VISITED (NIGHT STAYS): London (6) Full European breakfast daily (except arrival day) Dinner daily (except departure day)
Day 3 – London & Windsor guided sightseeing tour: Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, Houses of Parliament, Westminster Abbey, Tower Bridge, Hyde Park, St. Paul s Cathedral, Windsor Castle visit – Covent Garden treasure hunt
ENGLAND (1)
Stratford Oxford London(6) Bath Stonehenge
Day 4 – Tower of London visit – Optional: Thames River cruise & London Eye excursion – West End theatre performance – Traditional curry dinner
Eurostar Paris(2)
FRANCE
explorica.ca/lth
Spring 2021
Vancouver
$3,523
Calgary
$3,523
Winnipeg
$3,513
Toronto
$3,362
Halifax
$3,495
Prices available from all Canadian airports. Prices in table are based on 3/10/2021 departure date. Call for details.
54
Day 5 – Optional: Stonehenge & Bath full-day guided excursion – Stonehenge visit, Guided sightseeing tour of Bath, Pulteney Bridge, Roman Baths visit, Abbey Day 6 – British Museum visit – Globe Theatre interactive workshop – West End theatre performance Day 7 – Optional: Oxford & Stratford guided excursion – Brasenose College visit, the Cotswolds, Anne Hathaway’s Cottage visit, Shakespeare s birthplace visit – Hard Rock Cafe dinner Days 8–10: Extension to Paris Travel home or travel to Paris. Highlights: Paris city walk, dinner in Latin Quarter, Paris guided sightseeing tour, Louvre visit, Seine River cruise
TOUR ITALY
Ciao! Enlightenment is everywhere
Through the centuries Italy has evoked romance, beauty—and a celebrated zest for life. It has given us the greatest artists, from Michelangelo to da Vinci. The most magnificent civilizations: the Roman Empire and the Renaissance. The most compelling artifacts, from the David statue to the stately Duomo. Make Italy yours: Study art and architecture. Witness the rise and fall of empires. Dine on carbonara and stroll through imposing museums and ancient ruins.
Tour Highlights
Educational activity Venice: St. Mark’s Square, Grand Canal, Doge’s Palace, Bridge of Sighs Florence: The Duomo, Ghiberti’s Baptistery Doors, Ponte Vecchio, Uffizi Gallery Rome: Vatican City—St. Peter’s Basilica, Sistine Chapel, Roman Forum, Arch of Constantine, Colosseum Milàn: La Scala Opera House, “birthplace of the Renaissance”
Authentic cuisine: Ristorante Kori—VENICE In the heart of the city, beside Piazza San Marco, this restaurant serves traditional Venetian dishes, plus Mediterranean fusion cuisine. Convenient hotels: Hotel Cicerone—ROME 4-star comfort, located in the heart of Rome’s exclusive Prati district. The Vatican, Piazza del Popolo, and the Spanish Steps are all a short way away, along with popular shopping areas.
Tuscany: Assisi, Basilica of St. Francis, Giotto’s frescoes Siena: 17 medieval neighbourhoods, San Gimignano
Cucina Fiorentina You and your friends will make an authentic threecourse Italian meal from scratch, using local produce for your ingredients. Behind the Carnival Mask Try your hand at crafting your own original carnival mask, in the style of the traditional Venetian festival meant to honour Christian traditions of Easter, Lent, and Ash Wednesday.
Say ciao to the perfect tour at explorica.ca/italy
55
ITALY Best of Italy
Day 1 – Travel to Rome
ITALY
Day 2 – Meet your Tour Director – Travel to Florence – Traditional Italian pizza dinner
9 DAYS | 7 NIGHTS | Extension available CITIES VISITED (NIGHT STAYS): Florence (2), Verona, Venice (2), Assisi (1), Orvieto, Rome (2) Full European breakfast daily (except arrival day) Dinner daily (except departure day)
Venice(2)
Verona
ITALY
Day 4 – Travel to Venice via Verona – Verona Tour Director-led sightseeing: Romeo and Juliet balcony, Verona Arena
Florence(2) Assisi(1) Orvieto Rome(2 or 3) (1)
Pompeii Sorrento(1)
explorica.ca/boi
Spring 2021
Vancouver
$3,672
Calgary
$3,672
Winnipeg
$3,630
Toronto
$3,469
Halifax
$3,635
Prices available from all Canadian airports. Prices in table are based on 3/10/2021 departure date. Call for details.
56
Day 3 – Florence guided walking sightseeing tour with Whisper headsets: Palazzo Vecchio, Piazza della Signoria, Chiesa di Santa Croce, Ponte Vecchio, Duomo visit, leather workshop, Gates of Paradise, Giotto’s Bell Tower, Dante s House – Optional: Pisa guided excursion – Baptistery visit, Leaning Tower
Day 5 – Venice guided walking sightseeing tour with Whisper headsets: St. Mark’s Square, St. Mark s Basilica, Doge s Palace visit, glass-blowing demonstration
Day 6 – Travel to Assisi – St. Francis of Assisi Basilica visit Day 7 – Travel to Rome – Orvieto visit – Rome city walk: Spanish Steps, Trevi Fountain, Pantheon, Piazza Navona Day 8 – Rome guided walking sightseeing tour with Whisper headsets: Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel visit, St. Peter’s Basilica visit, Colosseum visit, Piazza Venezia, Forum Romanum visit – Authentic trattoria dinner Days 9–11: Extension to Sorrento Travel home or travel to Sorrento. Highlights: Cameo workshop, Pompeii guided excursion, Capri & Blue Grotto excursion
ITALY Day 1 – Travel to Milan Day 2 – Meet your Tour Director – Travel to Venice Day 3 – Venice guided walking sightseeing tour with Whisper headsets: St. Mark’s Square, St. Mark s Basilica, Doge s Palace visit, glass-blowing demonstration Day 4 – Travel to Florence – Verona Tour Director-led sightseeing: Romeo and Juliet balcony, Verona Arena – Traditional Italian pizza dinner
SPOTLIGHTS You could say Rome
is a very wet place—in fact, it’s home to hundreds of fountains with the oldest being the Trevi Fountain. Over 85-feet high, its water comes from an aqueduct originally built in 19 B.C. All foreign coins thrown in the fountain are removed and donated to the Red Cross.
Day 5 – Florence guided walking sightseeing tour with Whisper headsets: Palazzo Vecchio, Piazza della Signoria, Chiesa di Santa Croce, Ponte Vecchio, Duomo visit, leather workshop, Gates of Paradise, Giotto’s Bell Tower, Dante s House – Optional: Pisa guided excursion – Baptistery visit, Leaning Tower Day 6 – Travel to Rome – St. Francis of Assisi Basilica visit – Rome city walk: Spanish Steps, Trevi Fountain, Pantheon, Piazza Navona
Italian Highlights ITALY 8 DAYS | 6 NIGHTS | Extension available CITIES VISITED (NIGHT STAYS): Venice (2), Verona, Florence (2), Assisi, Rome (2) Full European breakfast daily (except arrival day) Dinner daily (except departure day)
Milan
Venice(2)
(1)
Day 7 – Rome guided walking sightseeing tour with Whisper headsets: Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel visit, St. Peter’s Basilica visit, Colosseum visit, Piazza Venezia, Forum Romanum visit – Authentic trattoria dinner
Verona
ITALY Pisa
Florence(2) Assisi
Days 8–10: Extension to Sorrento Travel home or travel to Sorrento. Highlights: Cameo workshop, Pompeii guided excursion, Capri & Blue Grotto excursion
Rome(2 or 3) Pompeii Sorrento(1)
explorica.ca/ite
Spring 2021
Vancouver
$3,594
Calgary
$3,594
Winnipeg
$3,552
Toronto
$3,391
Halifax
$3,557
Prices available from all Canadian airports. Prices in table are based on 3/10/2021 departure date. Call for details.
57
ITALY Rome & Florence
Day 1 – Travel to Milan
ITALY
Day 2 – Meet your Tour Director – Travel to Florence
8 DAYS | 6 NIGHTS | Extension available CITIES VISITED (NIGHT STAYS): Florence (3), Assisi, Rome (3) Full European breakfast daily (except arrival day) Dinner daily (except departure day)
Milan
ITALY
(1)
Pisa
Rome(3 or 4) Pompeii Sorrento(1)
explorica.ca/raf
Vancouver
$3,556
Calgary
$3,556
Winnipeg
$3,514
Toronto
$3,353
Halifax
$3,519
Prices available from all Canadian airports. Prices in table are based on 3/10/2021 departure date. Call for details.
58
Day 7 – Ancient Rome guided walking sightseeing tour with Whisper headsets: Colosseum visit, Forum Romanum visit, Piazza Venezia – Optional: Catacombs & gladiator centre excursion – Authentic trattoria dinner Days 8–10: Extension to Sorrento Travel home or travel to Sorrento. Highlights: Cameo workshop, Pompeii guided excursion, Capri & Blue Grotto excursion
Day 4 – Visit Accademia – Optional: Florentine cooking class
Florence(3) Assisi
Spring 2021
Day 3 – Florence guided walking sightseeing tour with Whisper headsets: Palazzo Vecchio, Piazza della Signoria, Chiesa di Santa Croce, Ponte Vecchio, Duomo visit, leather workshop, Gates of Paradise, Giotto’s Bell Tower, Dante s House – Optional: Pisa guided excursion – Baptistery visit, Leaning Tower – Traditional Italian pizza dinner
Day 6 – Vatican City guided walking sightseeing tour with Whisper headsets: Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel visit, St. Peter’s Basilica visit
Day 5 – Travel to Rome via Assisi – St. Francis of Assisi Basilica visit – Rome city walk: Spanish Steps, Trevi Fountain, Pantheon, Piazza Navona
SPOTLIGHTS Vatican City is the smallest country in the world covering just over 100 acres— that’s 1/8 the size of New York’s Central Park. It’s also governed by an absolute monarchy, mints its own Euros, prints its own stamps, issues passports, and more.
ITALY Day 1 – Travel to Rome Day 2 – Meet your Tour Director – Rome city walk: Spanish Steps, Trevi Fountain, Pantheon, Piazza Navona Day 3 – Rome guided walking sightseeing tour with Whisper headsets: Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel visit, St. Peter’s Basilica visit, Colosseum visit, Piazza Venezia, Forum Romanum visit – Authentic trattoria dinner Day 4 – Travel to Florence – St. Francis of Assisi Basilica visit – Traditional Italian pizza dinner
Day 5 – Florence guided walking sightseeing tour with Whisper headsets: Palazzo Vecchio, Piazza della Signoria, Chiesa di Santa Croce, Ponte Vecchio, Duomo visit, leather workshop, Gates of Paradise, Giotto’s Bell Tower, Dante s House – Optional: Pisa guided excursion – Baptistery visit, Leaning Tower Day 6 – Travel to Venice Day 7 – Venice guided walking sightseeing tour with Whisper headsets: St. Mark’s Square, St. Mark s Basilica, Doge s Palace visit, glass-blowing demonstration
Rome, Florence & Venice ITALY 9 DAYS | 7 NIGHTS | Extension available CITIES VISITED (NIGHT STAYS): Rome (2), Assisi, Florence (2), Venice (2), Verona, Milan (1) Full European breakfast daily (except arrival day) Dinner daily (except departure day)
ITALY Milan(1 or 2)
Day 8 – Travel via Verona to Milan – Verona Tour Director-led sightseeing: Romeo and Juliet balcony, Verona Arena – Milan Tour Director-led sightseeing: La Scala, Duomo, fashion walk
Venice(2)
Verona
Genoa Cinque Terre
Days 9–11: Extension to Italian Riviera Travel home or travel to Genoa. Highlights: Aquarium visit, Cinque Terre guided excursion
Italian Riviera(1)
Florence(2) Pisa
Assisi
(1)
explorica.ca/rfv
Spring 2021
Vancouver
$3,677
Calgary
$3,677
Winnipeg
$3,635
Toronto
$3,474
Halifax
$3,640
Prices available from all Canadian airports. Prices in table are based on 3/10/2021 departure date. Call for details.
59
Rome(2)
ITALY Italy & Greece
Day 1 – Travel to Milan
ITALY
Day 2 – Meet your Tour Director – Travel to Florence – Traditional Italian pizza dinner
10 DAYS | 8 NIGHTS | Extension available CITIES VISITED (NIGHT STAYS): Florence (1), Rome (2), Sorrento (1), Pompeii, Brindisi, Patras, Delphi (1), Athens (2) Full European breakfast daily (except arrival day) Dinner daily (except departure day)
(1) Milan
ITALY
Florence(1)
GREECE
Pompeii
Rome(2) Sorrento(1)
Brindisi
Athens(2)
Delphi(1) Ferry(1)
Patras Cruise(4) Greek Islands
Vancouver
$4,013
Calgary
$4,013
Winnipeg
$3,992
Toronto
$3,818
Halifax
$3,979
Prices available from all Canadian airports. Prices in table are based on 3/10/2021 departure date. Call for details.
60
Day 4 – Rome guided walking sightseeing tour with Whisper headsets: Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel visit, St. Peter’s Basilica visit, Colosseum visit, Piazza Venezia, Forum Romanum visit – Rome city walk: Spanish Steps, Trevi Fountain, Pantheon, Piazza Navona – Authentic trattoria dinner Day 5 – Travel to Sorrento – Capri & Blue Grotto excursion Day 6 – Travel to the port – Pompeii guided visit – Overnight ferry to Patras
explorica.ca/iag
Spring 2021
Day 3 – Florence guided walking sightseeing tour with Whisper headsets: Palazzo Vecchio, Piazza della Signoria, Chiesa di Santa Croce, Ponte Vecchio, Duomo visit, leather workshop, Gates of Paradise, Giotto’s Bell Tower, Dante’s House – Travel to Rome
SPOTLIGHTS Zeus is the most potent god
in Greek mythology—ruling over all the other gods! He eventually split this rule with his brothers: Hades became king of the Underworld, Poseidon ruled the sea, and Zeus, the heavens.
Day 7 – Travel to Delphi Day 8 – Delphi guided sightseeing tour: visit Delphi site, Temple of Apollo – Travel to Athens – Greek dinner in Plaka – Plaka treasure hunt Day 9 – Athens guided sightseeing tour: Parthenon, visit Acropolis, Temple of Athena Nike, Omonoia Square, Syntagma Square, 2004 Olympic site – Athens city walk: Plaka district, Temple of Olympian Zeus, Hadrian’s Arch Days 10–14: Extension on an Aegean Cruise Travel home or travel on an Aegean Cruise
TOUR GREECE
Yassou! A country for the ages, inspired by gods and mythology
Greece compels like no other country, with its haunting antiquities, legends, and mysticism. It’s the home to famous gods and goddesses and the birthplace of democracy. Tour the Athens monuments. Visit mysterious Delphi and its oracle. See Olympia, home of the first Olympic Games. Then bring your visit to an inspiring close with a trek on the coastal road to Corinth.
Tour Highlights Athens: Acropolis Museum, Delphi, Patras Olympia: Home of the first Olympic Games Epidaurus: Historic theatre Mycenae: Lion’s Gate, Royal Citadel Corinth: Saronic Gulf, Ancient marketplaces, temples to Apollo and Aphrodite
Say Yassou to the perfect tour at explorica.ca/italy-greece
Authentic cuisine: O Geros tou Moria— ATHENS. Traditional Greek tavern under the Acropolis in Plaka, a picturesque part of Athens. Live music and traditional Greek cuisine. Convenient hotels: Hotel Golden Age— ATHENS. A luxury hotel tucked at the feet of the Athens foothills. It’s right next to the Athens Music Hall, an art museum, and Kolonaki, the celebrated shopping area.
Educational activity Moussaka and Sousta Join hands for traditional Greek line dancing. Next, head to the taverna and live like a local. Enjoy Greek culture, cuisine— and a show!
Pick a Patron Which deity will be the patron of your city? Explore the beliefs of ancient Greeks, then delve into the personalities and powers of gods and goddesses to choose the ideal patron to represent your people.
61
GREECE Athens & the Aegean
Day 1 – Travel to Athens
GREECE 10 DAYS | 8 NIGHTS | Extension available CITIES VISITED (NIGHT STAYS): Athens (4), Mykonos, Patmos, Rhodes, Heraklion, Santorini, Cape Sounion, Delphi Full European breakfast daily (except arrival day) Dinner daily (except departure day)
Day 2 – Meet your Tour Director – Athens city walk: Plaka district, Temple of Olympian Zeus, Hadrian’s Arch Day 3 – Athens guided sightseeing tour: Parthenon, Acropolis, Temple of Athena Nike, Omonoia Square, Syntagma Square, 2004 Olympic site Day 4 – Delphi guided sightseeing tour: Visit Delphi site, Temple of Apollo
ENGLAND London(2)
Day 5 – Depart Athens on four-day Aegean cruise – Visit Mykonos – Cruise overnight to Samos
GREECE
(1)
TURKEY Athens(4) Mykonos
Delphi Cape Sounion Santorini
Samos Patmos
Heraklion
Rhodes Cruise(4)
explorica.ca/ata
Spring 2021
Vancouver
$4,560
Calgary
$4,373
Winnipeg
$4,530
Toronto
$4,560
Halifax
$4,560
Prices available from all Canadian airports. Prices in table are based on 3/11/2021 departure date. Call for details.
62
Day 6 – Visit Samos – Cruise on and visit Patmos – Cruise overnight to Rhodes Day 7 – Visit Rhodes – Cruise overnight to Crete Day 8 – Visit Crete – Cruise on and visit Santorini – Cruise overnight to Athens Day 9 – Arrive in Athens – Cape Sounion guided excursion: Temple of Poseidon Days 10–12: Extension to London Travel home or travel to London. Highlights: London city walk, classic fish & chips dinner, London guided sightseeing tour
GREECE Day 1 – Travel to Athens Day 2 – Meet your Tour Director – Athens city walk: Plaka district, Temple of Olympian Zeus, Hadrian’s Arch Day 3 – Athens guided sightseeing tour: Parthenon, Acropolis, Temple of Athena Nike, Omonoia Square, Syntagma Square, 2004 Olympic site
Day 4 – Travel to Delphi – Delphi guided sightseeing tour: Visit Delphi site, Temple of Apollo Day 5 – Travel to Tolo via Olympia – Ancient Olympia guided visit Day 6 – Travel to Athens – Mycenae and Epidaurus guided excursion – Corinth Canal – Greek dinner in Plaka – Plaka treasure hunt
Best of Greece GREECE 9 DAYS | 7 NIGHTS | Extension available CITIES VISITED (NIGHT STAYS): Athens (5), Delphi (1), Olympia, Tolo (1), Saronic Gulf Full European breakfast daily (except arrival day) Dinner daily (except departure day)
Day 7 – Saronic Gulf Cruise full day excursion SPOTLIGHTS Derived from the Greek for “edge” and “city”, the Acropolis was Athens’ primary sanctuary for Athena, the city’s matron deity. Its most famous structure is the Parthenon, built around 447 B.C.
Day 8 – Cape Sounion guided excursion: Temple of Poseidon
(1)
Days 9–12: Extension on an Aegean Cruise Travel home or travel on an Aegean Cruise
Delphi(1) Olympia
GREECE
Athens(5) Mykonos Tolo(1) Santorini Saronic Gulf
Patmos Cruise(3)
explorica.ca/bog
Spring 2021
Vancouver
$3,654
Calgary
$3,654
Winnipeg
$3,654
Toronto
$3,467
Halifax
$3,623
Prices available from all Canadian airports. Prices in table are based on 3/10/2021 departure date. Call for details.
63
TOUR EUROPEAN COMBINATIONS
Grüetzi! Boost your takeaways with multicultural discovery
With countless cities to choose from, you can see the best of Europe, your way. Enjoy the baths of Budapest. Hop on a glassroofed canal boat in Amsterdam. Stand where the Battle of the Bulge was fought in the Ardennes forest. Join the colourful chaos and excitement on Barcelona’s Las Ramblas. Wander down Paris’s Champs-Élysées to the Arc de Triomphe. The options are endless.
WorldStrides Explorica pro tip “Teachers often combine their classes and educational goals to give their students a diverse travel experience. These customizable itineraries offer you and your students the highlight reel of each location while taking a deep dive into your curriculum; from history to science, art and math, there is something for everyone to revel in and enjoy.” –Emma Levantian, Business Dev. Executive
Say grüetzi to the perfect tour at explorica.ca/eurocombos
64
Educational activity
Authentic cuisine: Café Catalunya— BARCELONA. Centrally located on Plaça de Catalunya, this elegant and cozy restaurant is well known for its paellas and tapas. Bring your appetite! Convenient hotels: Hôtel Vacances Bleues Villa Modigliani—PARIS. Situated in a prime location, it’s just a stone’s throw from the theatres of the Rue de la Gaité in the Montparnasse des Artistes.
Fáilte Be Irish for a day! Experience firsthand how Irish farmers tend to their land and animals. Learn all about traditional Ireland: speak their native language, dance a jig, or play the bodhran, a traditional Irish drum made from goatskin. Cover the Canvas Live the artist’s life. Explore line, colour, perspective, and negative space and form, then paint a masterpiece inspired by the beauty of Paris.
EUROPEAN COMBINATIONS Day 1 – Travel to Madrid
Day 6 – Arrive in Rome in the evening
Day 2 – Meet your Tour Director – Madrid city walk: Puerta del Sol, Plaza Mayor, Plaza de España – Prado visit
Day 7 – Ancient Rome guided walking sightseeing tour with Whisper headsets: Colosseum visit, Forum Romanum visit, Piazza Venezia – Rome city walk: Spanish Steps, Trevi Fountain, Pantheon, Piazza Navona – Authentic trattoria dinner
Day 3 – Madrid guided sightseeing tour: Calle Mayor, Gran Vía, Cibeles Fountain, Puerta de Alcalá, Columbus Square, Royal Palace visit – Optional: Toledo guided excursion – Toledo Cathedral visit, Church of Santo Tomé, St. Mary’s Synagogue visit Day 4 – Full-day transfer via Zaragoza to Barcelona – Basilica of the Virgin of Pilar visit – Tapas dinner Day 5 – Barcelona guided sightseeing tour: Gaudí’s Sagrada Família, Montjuïc Hill, Park Güell visit – Barcelona city walk: Mercat de la Boquería, Las Ramblas, Columbus Monument – Paella lunch – Overnight ferry to Rome
Day 8 – Vatican City guided walking sightseeing tour with Whisper headsets: Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel visit, St. Peter’s Basilica visit
Madrid, Barcelona & Rome EUROPEAN COMBINATIONS 9 DAYS | 7 NIGHTS | Extension available CITIES VISITED (NIGHT STAYS): Madrid (2), Zaragoza, Barcelona (1), Rome (3) Full European breakfast daily (except arrival day) Dinner daily (except departure day)
Day 9 - 11: Extension to Sorrento Travel home or travel to Sorrento. Highlights: Cameo workshop, Pompeii guided excursion, Capri & Blue Grotto excursion
ITALY (1) Zaragoza
Rome(3 or 4)
Barcelona(1)
Madrid(2) Ferry(1)
SPAIN
Sorrento(1)
explorica.ca/mbr
Spring 2021
Vancouver
$3,780
Calgary
$3,574
Winnipeg
$3,735
Toronto
$3,731
Halifax
$3,780
Pompeii
Prices available from all Canadian airports. Prices in table are based on 3/11/2021 departure date. Call for details.
65
EUROPEAN COMBINATIONS Paris, Provence & Barcelona EUROPEAN COMBINATIONS 8 DAYS | 6 NIGHTS | Extension available CITIES VISITED (NIGHT STAYS): Paris (2), Avignon, Provence (2), Collioure, Barcelona (2) Full European breakfast daily (except arrival day) Dinner daily (except departure day)
Paris(2) Versailles TGV
FRANCE Provence(2)
Avignon
Barcelona(2) Costa Dorada(2)
explorica.ca/ppb
Spring 2021
Vancouver
$3,711
Calgary
$3,711
Winnipeg
$3,683
Toronto
$3,502
Halifax
$3,648
Prices available from all Canadian airports. Prices in table are based on 3/10/2021 departure date. Call for details.
66
Day 2 – Meet your Tour Director – Paris city walk: Île de la Cité, Notre Dame Cathedral visit, Île St. Louis, Latin Quarter visit – Louvre visit Day 3 – Paris guided sightseeing tour: Arc de Triomphe, Champs-Élysées, Eiffel Tower, Champ de Mars, École Militaire, Les Invalides, Conciergerie, Tuileries, Place Vendôme, Opera House – Optional: Versailles guided excursion – State Apartments, Hall of Mirrors, Gardens of Versailles – Seine River cruise Day 4 – Travel to Avignon on the TGV – Avignon Tour Director-led sightseeing: See Palais des Papes, Pont d Avignon Day 5 – Provence Tour Director-led sightseeing: Pont du Gard visit, visit Nîmes amphitheatre, Les Baux de Provence
Collioure
SPAIN
Day 1 – Travel to Paris
Day 6 – Travel to Barcelona via Collioure – Tapas dinner Day 7 – Barcelona guided sightseeing tour: Gaudí’s Sagrada Família, Montjuïc Hill, Park Güell visit – Barcelona city walk: Mercat de la Boquería, Las Ramblas, Columbus Monument – Paella dinner Days 8–10: Extension to Costa Dorada Travel home or travel to Costa Dorada via Sitges. Highlights: Sitges excursion, Costa Dorada beach time, flamenco evening
SPOTLIGHTS Founded in 1134, the University of Salamanca is Spain’s oldest university—3rd oldest in the world. It has hosted Spain’s historical figures through many eras. Today it is a top teaching university for the Spanish language, attracting thousands of students per year.
EUROPEAN COMBINATIONS Day 1 – Travel to Madrid Day 2 – Meet your Tour Director – Madrid city walk: Puerta del Sol, Plaza Mayor, Plaza de España – Prado visit Day 3 – Madrid guided sightseeing tour: Calle Mayor, Gran Vía, Cibeles Fountain, Puerta de Alcalá, Columbus Square, Royal Palace visit – Optional: Toledo guided excursion – Toledo Cathedral visit, Church of Santo Tomé, St. Mary’s Synagogue visit Day 4 – Optional: El Escorial and Segovia guided excursion – El Escorial visit, Segovia Alcázar visit – Flamenco evening Day 5 – Full-day transfer via Zaragoza to Barcelona – Basilica of the Virgin of Pilar visit – Tapas dinner
Day 7 – Travel to Paris – Paris city walk: Île de la Cité, Notre Dame Cathedral visit, Île St. Louis, Latin Quarter visit
Spain & Paris
Day 8 – Paris guided sightseeing tour: Arc de Triomphe, Champs-Élysées, Eiffel Tower, Champ de Mars, École Militaire, Les Invalides, Conciergerie, Tuileries, Place Vendôme, Opera House – Optional: Versailles guided excursion – State Apartments, Hall of Mirrors, Gardens of Versailles
CITIES VISITED (NIGHT STAYS):
EUROPEAN COMBINATIONS 10 DAYS | 8 NIGHTS | Extension available Madrid (3), Zaragoza, Barcelona (2), Paris (3) Full European breakfast daily (except arrival day) Dinner daily (except departure day)
Normandy(2)
Day 9 – Visit Louvre – Seine River cruise – Montmartre Tour Director-led sightseeing: Sacré Coeur, Place du Tertre, Moulin Rouge
Rouen
Paris(3 or 4)
Versailles
FRANCE Train
SPAIN
Days 10–13: Extension to Normandy Travel home or travel to Normandy via Honfleur and Rouen. Highlights: Rouen Tour Director-led sightseeing, Arromanches Museum visit, D-Day beaches
Zaragoza
(1)
Day 6 – Barcelona guided sightseeing tour: Gaudí’s Sagrada Família, Montjuïc Hill, Park Güell visit – Barcelona city walk: Mercat de la Boquería, Las Ramblas, Columbus Monument – Paella dinner
Barcelona(2)
Madrid(3)
explorica.ca/saf
Spring 2021
Vancouver
$4,089
Calgary
$4,089
Winnipeg
$4,061
Toronto
$3,880
Halifax
$4,026
Prices available from all Canadian airports. Prices in table are based on 3/10/2021 departure date. Call for details.
67
EUROPEAN COMBINATIONS London, Paris & Barcelona EUROPEAN COMBINATIONS 9 DAYS | 7 NIGHTS | Extension available CITIES VISITED (NIGHT STAYS): London (2), Paris (3), Barcelona (2) Full European breakfast daily (except arrival day) Dinner daily (except departure day)
ENGLAND
London(2)
(1)
Eurostar Paris(3) Versailles
FRANCE
TGV
Zaragoza Toledo
Madrid(3)
Barcelona(2)
SPAIN
explorica.ca/lps
Spring 2021
Vancouver
$3,895
Calgary
$3,895
Winnipeg
$3,862
Toronto
$3,710
Halifax
$3,855
Prices available from all Canadian airports. Prices in table are based on 3/10/2021 departure date. Call for details.
68
Day 1 – Travel to London Day 2 – Meet your Tour Director – London city walk: Thames River, Trafalgar Square, National Gallery visit, Piccadilly Circus, Covent Garden, Leicester Square, Soho – Classic fish & chips dinner Day 3 – London guided sightseeing tour: Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, Houses of Parliament, Westminster Abbey, Tower Bridge, Hyde Park, St. Paul s Cathedral – Optional: Windsor Castle guided excursion Day 4 – Paris city walk: Île de la Cité, Notre Dame Cathedral visit, Île St. Louis, Latin Quarter visit Day 5 – Paris guided sightseeing tour: Arc de Triomphe, Champs-Élysées, Eiffel Tower, Champ de Mars, École Militaire, Les Invalides, Conciergerie, Tuileries, Place Vendôme, Opera House – Optional: Versailles guided excursion – State Apartments, Hall of Mirrors, Gardens of Versailles – Seine River cruise
Day 6 – Louvre visit – Montmartre Tour Director-led sightseeing: Sacré Coeur, Place du Tertre, Moulin Rouge Day 7 – Travel to Barcelona – Barcelona city walk: Mercat de la Boquería, Las Ramblas, Columbus Monument – Tapas dinner Day 8 – Barcelona guided sightseeing tour: Gaudí’s Sagrada Família, Montjuïc Hill, Park Güell visit – Paella dinner Days 9–12: Extension to Madrid Travel home or travel to Madrid via Zaragoza. Highlights: Basilica of the Virgin of Pilar visit, Madrid guided sightseeing tour, Madrid city walk, Prado visit, Toledo guided excursion, flamenco evening
EUROPEAN COMBINATIONS Day 1 – Travel to Paris Day 2 – Meet your Tour Director – Paris city walk: Île de la Cité, Notre Dame Cathedral visit, Île St. Louis, Latin Quarter visit – Louvre visit Day 3 – Paris guided sightseeing tour: Arc de Triomphe, Champs-Élysées, Eiffel Tower, Champ de Mars, École Militaire, Les Invalides, Conciergerie, Tuileries, Place Vendôme, Opera House – Optional: Versailles guided excursion – State Apartments, Hall of Mirrors, Gardens of Versailles – Seine River cruise Day 4 – Travel to Nice Day 5 – Monaco & Èze Tour Director-led sightseeing: Prince’s Palace, Parfumerie visit in Èze – Nice Tour Director-led sightseeing: Vieux Nice, Promenade des Anglais
Day 7 – Florence guided walking sightseeing tour with Whisper headsets: Palazzo Vecchio, Piazza della Signoria, Chiesa di Santa Croce, Ponte Vecchio, Duomo visit, leather workshop, Gates of Paradise, Giotto’s Bell Tower, Dante s House – Optional: Siena guided sightseeing tour – Piazza del Campo, Palazzo Pubblico, Duomo, Church of St. Catherine, Fortezza Medicea
France & Italy EUROPEAN COMBINATIONS 10 DAYS | 8 NIGHTS | Extension available CITIES VISITED (NIGHT STAYS): Paris (2), Côte d Azur (2), Nice, Eze, Monaco, Pisa, Florence (2), Assisi, Rome (2) Full European breakfast daily (except arrival day) Dinner daily (except departure day)
Day 8 – Travel to Rome – St. Francis of Assisi Basilica visit – Rome city walk: Spanish Steps, Trevi Fountain, Pantheon, Piazza Navona
(1)
Paris(2) Versailles
Day 9 – Rome guided walking sightseeing tour with Whisper headsets: Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel visit, St. Peter’s Basilica visit, Colosseum visit, Piazza Venezia, Forum Romanum visit – Authentic trattoria dinner
TGV
Côte d’Azur(2)
Days 10–12: Extension to Sorrento Travel home or travel to Sorrento. Highlights: Cameo workshop, Pompeii guided excursion, Capri & Blue Grotto excursion
Monaco Florence(2) Eze Pisa Nice Assisi Siena Rome(2 or 3) Pompeii Sorrento(1)
Day 6 – Travel to Florence – Visit Baptistery and view the Leaning Tower of Pisa – Traditional Italian pizza dinner
explorica.ca/fai
SPOTLIGHTS Adding toppings to bread dates back 7,000 years,
but pizza as we know it today actually originated when Americans introduced tomatoes to Europe in the 16th century. Europeans actually believed tomatoes were poisonous, but the poor surrounding Naples began adding them to their bread in the 18th century. And so began the origins of pizza.
ITALY
FRANCE
Spring 2021
Vancouver
$4,035
Calgary
$4,035
Winnipeg
$4,014
Toronto
$3,829
Halifax
$3,979
Prices available from all Canadian airports. Prices in table are based on 3/10/2021 departure date. Call for details.
69
EUROPEAN COMBINATIONS London & Paris
Day 1 – Travel to London
EUROPEAN COMBINATIONS
Day 2 – Meet your Tour Director – London city walk: Thames River, Trafalgar Square, National Gallery visit, Piccadilly Circus, Covent Garden, Leicester Square, Soho – Classic fish & chips dinner
8 DAYS | 6 NIGHTS | Extension available CITIES VISITED (NIGHT STAYS): London (3), Paris (3) Full European breakfast daily (except arrival day) Dinner daily (except departure day)
(1)
NETHERLANDS
ENGLAND
Amsterdam(2) London(3)
Windsor
Eurostar
Versailles
Thalys
explorica.ca/lap
Vancouver
$3,548
Calgary
$3,548
Winnipeg
$3,543
Toronto
$3,362
Halifax
$3,496
Prices available from all Canadian airports. Prices in table are based on 3/10/2021 departure date. Call for details.
70
Day 4 – Tower of London visit – Hard Rock Cafe dinner – Jack the Ripper evening guided walking tour Day 5 – Paris city walk: Île de la Cité, Notre Dame Cathedral visit, Île St. Louis, Latin Quarter visit – Île de la Cité treasure hunt
Paris(3)
FRANCE
Spring 2021
Day 3 – London guided sightseeing tour: Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, Houses of Parliament, Westminster Abbey, Tower Bridge, Hyde Park, St. Paul s Cathedral – Optional: Windsor Castle guided excursion – Curry dinner
SPOTLIGHTS Winston Churchill’s famous career as Prime
Minister and military leader would never have happened if it hadn’t been for his daring escape from a South African prison in 1899. Churchill stumbled upon a British coal mine manager who hid him in a mine shaft for three days before sneaking him out of the country.
Day 6 – Paris guided sightseeing tour: Arc de Triomphe, Champs-Élysées, Eiffel Tower, Champ de Mars, École Militaire, Les Invalides, Conciergerie, Tuileries, Place Vendôme, Opera House – Optional: Versailles guided excursion – State Apartments, Hall of Mirrors, Gardens of Versailles – Crêperie dinner Day 7 – Louvre visit – Montmartre Tour Director-led sightseeing – Seine River cruise – Eiffel Tower ascent Days 8–10: Extension to the Netherlands Travel home or travel to the Netherlands. Highlights: Traditional Dutch pannenkoeken dinner, Amsterdam Tour Director-led sightseeing, Rijsttafel dinner
EUROPEAN COMBINATIONS Day 1 – Travel to London Day 2 – Meet your Tour Director – London city walk: Thames River, Trafalgar Square, National Gallery visit, Piccadilly Circus, Covent Garden, Leicester Square, Soho – Classic fish & chips dinner Day 3 – London guided sightseeing tour: Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, Houses of Parliament, Westminster Abbey, Tower Bridge, Hyde Park, St. Paul s Cathedral – Optional: Windsor Castle guided excursion Day 4 – Paris city walk: Île de la Cité, Notre Dame Cathedral visit, Île St. Louis, Latin Quarter visit – Île de la Cité treasure hunt Day 5 – Paris guided sightseeing tour: Arc de Triomphe, Champs-Élysées, Eiffel Tower, Champ de Mars, École Militaire, Les Invalides, Conciergerie, Tuileries, Place Vendôme, Opera House – Optional: Versailles guided excursion – State Apartments, Hall of Mirrors, Gardens of Versailles – Seine River cruise
Day 6 – Louvre visit – Overnight train to Milan Day 7 – Travel to Florence from Milan – Florence guided walking sightseeing tour with Whisper headsets: Palazzo Vecchio, Piazza della Signoria, Chiesa di Santa Croce, Ponte Vecchio, Duomo visit, leather workshop, Gates of Paradise, Giotto’s Bell Tower, Dante s House – Traditional Italian pizza dinner
London, Paris & Italy EUROPEAN COMBINATIONS 10 DAYS | 8 NIGHTS | Extension available CITIES VISITED (NIGHT STAYS): London (2), Paris (2), Milan, Florence (1), Assisi, Rome (2) Full European breakfast daily (except arrival day) Dinner daily (except departure day)
Day 8 – Travel to Rome – St. Francis of Assisi Basilica visit – Rome city walk: Spanish Steps, Trevi Fountain, Pantheon, Piazza Navona
ENGLAND
London(2) Eurostar
(1)
Day 9 – Rome guided walking sightseeing tour with Whisper headsets: Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel visit, St. Peter’s Basilica visit, Colosseum visit, Piazza Venezia, Forum Romanum visit – Authentic trattoria dinner
Versailles
Paris(2) Train(1)
FRANCE
Milan
ITALY Florence(1)
Days 10–12: Extension to Sorrento Travel home or travel to Sorrento. Highlights: Cameo workshop, Pompeii guided excursion, Capri & Blue Grotto excursion
Rome(2 or 3)
Assisi
Sorrento(1)
explorica.ca/lpr
Spring 2021
Vancouver
$4,075
Calgary
$4,075
Winnipeg
$4,049
Toronto
$3,893
Halifax
$4,042
Prices available from all Canadian airports. Prices in table are based on 3/10/2021 departure date. Call for details.
71
Pompeii
EUROPEAN COMBINATIONS Paris, the Côte d’Azur & Barcelona EUROPEAN COMBINATIONS 9 DAYS | 7 NIGHTS | Extension available CITIES VISITED (NIGHT STAYS): Paris (2), Monaco, Èze, Nice, Côte d Azur (2), Provence (1), Collioure, Barcelona (2) Full European breakfast daily (except arrival day) Dinner daily (except departure day)
(1)
Paris(2) Versailles
FRANCE
Collioure
Zaragoza Toledo
Madrid(2)
TGV Monaco Èze Nice Côte d’Azur(2)
Barcelona(2)
explorica.ca/pcb
Spring 2021
Vancouver
$3,977
Calgary
$3,977
Winnipeg
$3,949
Toronto
$3,768
Halifax
$3,914
Prices available from all Canadian airports. Prices in table are based on 3/10/2021 departure date. Call for details.
72
Day 2 – Meet your Tour Director – Paris city walk: Île de la Cité, Notre Dame Cathedral visit, Île St. Louis, Latin Quarter visit – Louvre visit Day 3 – Paris guided sightseeing tour: Arc de Triomphe, Champs-Élysées, Eiffel Tower, Champ de Mars, École Militaire, Les Invalides, Conciergerie, Tuileries, Place Vendôme, Opera House – Optional: Versailles guided excursion – State Apartments, Hall of Mirrors, Gardens of Versailles – Seine River cruise Day 4 – Travel to Nice
Provence(1)
SPAIN
Day 1 – Travel to Paris
Day 5 – Monaco & Èze Tour Director-led sightseeing: Prince’s Palace, Parfumerie visit in Èze – Nice Tour Director-led sightseeing: Vieux Nice, Promenade des Anglais
Day 6 – Travel to Provence – Provence Tour Director-led sightseeing: Avignon, Pont du Gard visit, Visit Nîmes amphitheatre, Les Baux de Provence Day 7 – Travel to Barcelona via Collioure – Tapas dinner Day 8 – Barcelona guided sightseeing tour: Gaudí’s Sagrada Família, Montjuïc Hill, Park Güell visit – Barcelona city walk: Mercat de la Boquería, Las Ramblas, Columbus Monument – Paella dinner Days 9–12: Extension to Madrid Travel home or travel to Madrid via Zaragoza. Highlights: Basilica of the Virgin of Pilar visit, Madrid guided sightseeing tour, Madrid city walk, Prado visit, Toledo guided excursion, flamenco evening
EUROPEAN COMBINATIONS SPOTLIGHTS 14,500 tons is a lot of weight to be
leaning to one side, but that’s exactly what Pisa Tower has been doing since 1178, five years after construction began. And over 340 years later, it’s still leaning! The uneven profile is caused by the soft ground around the base of the structure.
Day 1 – Travel to Rome Day 2 – Meet your Tour Director – Rome city walk: Spanish Steps, Trevi Fountain, Pantheon, Piazza Navona Day 3 – Rome guided walking sightseeing tour with Whisper headsets: Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel visit, St. Peter’s Basilica visit, Colosseum visit, Piazza Venezia, Forum Romanum visit – Authentic trattoria dinner Day 4 – Travel to Florence – Orvieto visit – Traditional Italian pizza dinner Day 5 – Florence guided walking sightseeing tour with Whisper headsets: Palazzo Vecchio, Piazza della Signoria, Chiesa di Santa Croce, Ponte Vecchio, Duomo visit, leather workshop, Gates of Paradise, Giotto’s Bell Tower, Dante s House – Optional: Siena guided sightseeing tour – Piazza del Campo, Palazzo Pubblico, Duomo, Church of St Catherine, Fortezza Medicea
Day 6 – Travel to Côte d A zur via Pisa – Visit Baptistery and view the Leaning Tower of Pisa – Nice Tour Director-led sightseeing: Vieux Nice, Promenade des Anglais Day 7 – Monaco & Èze Tour Director-led sightseeing: Prince s Palace, Parfumerie visit in Èze – Travel to Provence – Pont du Gard visit
Italy, France & Spain EUROPEAN COMBINATIONS 10 DAYS | 8 NIGHTS | Extension available CITIES VISITED (NIGHT STAYS): Rome (2), Orvieto, Florence (2), Pisa, Côte d Azur (1), Nice, Èze, Monaco, Provence (1), Barcelona (2) Full European breakfast daily (except arrival day) Dinner daily (except departure day)
Day 8 – Provence Tour Director-led sightseeing: Visit Nîmes amphitheatre – Travel to Barcelona – Paella dinner Day 9 – Barcelona guided sightseeing tour: Gaudí’s Sagrada Família, Montjuïc Hill, Park Güell visit – Barcelona city walk: Mercat de la Boquería, Las Ramblas, Columbus Monument – Tapas dinner Days 9–12: Extension to Madrid Travel home or travel to Madrid. Highlights: Madrid city walk, Prado visit, Madrid guided sightseeing tour, flamenco evening
FRANCE Provence(1)
Madrid(2)
ITALY
Monaco
Florence(2) Èze Pisa Siena Côte d’Azur(1) Nice Orvieto Rome(2) Barcelona(2)
SPAIN
(1)
explorica.ca/sfi
Spring 2021
Vancouver
$3,958
Calgary
$3,958
Winnipeg
$3,909
Toronto
$3,753
Halifax
$3,914
Prices available from all Canadian airports. Prices in table are based on 3/10/2021 departure date. Call for details.
73
EUROPEAN COMBINATIONS Rome & Greece
Day 1 – Travel to Rome
EUROPEAN COMBINATIONS
Day 2 – Meet your Tour Director – Rome city walk: Spanish Steps, Trevi Fountain, Pantheon, Piazza Navona
9 DAYS | 7 NIGHTS | Extension available CITIES VISITED (NIGHT STAYS): Rome (2), Sorrento (1), Pompeii, Bari, Patras, Olympia, Tolo (1), Athens (2) Full European breakfast daily (except arrival day) Dinner daily (except departure day)
(1)
Day 4 – Travel to Sorrento – Cameo workshop – Pompeii guided excursion
ITALY
Rome(2)
Day 3 – Rome guided walking sightseeing tour with Whisper headset: Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel visit, St. Peter’s Basilica visit, Colosseum visit, Piazza Venezia, Forum Romanum visit – Authentic trattoria dinner
Pompeii
Sorrento(1)
Bari
GREECE
Athens(2 or 3) Delphi Patras Ferry(1) Olympia Tolo(1) Cruise(3) Greek Islands
explorica.ca/rag
Spring 2021
Vancouver
$3,788
Calgary
$3,788
Winnipeg
$3,767
Toronto
$3,593
Halifax
$3,754
Prices available from all Canadian airports. Prices in table are based on 3/10/2021 departure date. Call for details.
74
Day 5 – Travel to the port – Overnight ferry to Patras
Day 6 – Travel to Tolo via Olympia – Ancient Olympia guided visit Day 7 – Travel to Athens – Mycenae and Epidaurus guided excursion – Corinth Canal Day 8 – Athens guided sightseeing tour: Parthenon, Visit Acropolis, Temple of Athena Nike, Omonoia Square, Syntagma Square, 2004 Olympic site – Athens city walk: Plaka district, Temple of Olympian Zeus, Hadrian’s Arch – Greek dinner in Plaka – Plaka treasure hunt Days 9–13: Extension on an Aegean Cruise Travel home or travel on an Aegean Cruise. Highlights: Delphi guided sightseeing tour
EUROPEAN COMBINATIONS Day 1 – Travel to London Day 2 – Meet your Tour Director – London city walk: Thames River, Trafalgar Square, National Gallery visit, Piccadilly Circus, Covent Garden, Leicester Square, Soho – Classic fish & chips dinner Day 3 – London guided sightseeing tour: Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, Houses of Parliament, Westminster Abbey, Tower Bridge, Hyde Park, St. Paul s Cathedral – Optional: Windsor Castle guided excursion Day 4 – Louvre visit Day 5 – Paris guided sightseeing tour: Arc de Triomphe, Champs-Élysées, Eiffel Tower, Champ de Mars, École Militaire, Les Invalides, Conciergerie, Tuileries, Place Vendôme, Opera House – Optional: Versailles guided excursion – State Apartments, Hall of Mirrors, Gardens of Versailles – Seine River cruise Day 6 – Travel to Zurich – Zurich Tour Director-led sightseeing – Travel to Lucerne
Day 7 – Lucerne Tour Director-led sightseeing: Löwendenkmal (Lion Monument), River Reuss, Kapellbrücke – Optional: Mt. Pilatus excursion – Traditional Swiss dinner with fondue Day 8 – Travel to Munich – Neuschwanstein Castle visit – Oberammergau excursion Day 9 – Munich guided sightseeing tour: Residenz, Nymphenburg Palace Gardens, Alte Pinakothek, Deutsches Museum, BMW Headquarters visit, Olympic site of 1972, Frauenkirche, Neues Rathaus, Marienplatz/ Glockenspiel, Hofbräuhaus – Dachau Concentration Camp & Memorial visit – Bavarian bratwurst dinner
London, Paris & the Alps EUROPEAN COMBINATIONS 10 DAYS | 8 NIGHTS | Extension available CITIES VISITED (NIGHT STAYS): London (2), Paris (2), Zurich, Lucerne (2), Neuschwanstein, Munich (2) Full European breakfast daily (except arrival day) Dinner daily (except departure day)
ENGLAND GERMANY
London(2) (1)
Days 10–12: Extension to Vienna Travel home or travel to Vienna via Salzburg. Highlights: Mozart’s birthplace visit, Vienna guided sightseeing tour, Wiener Schnitzel dinner
Eurostar Paris(2)
Versailles
Neuschwanstein TGV
FRANCE
Munich(2)
Zurich
SPOTLIGHTS Greeks have
planted olive trees since ancient times, and they’re still a big business today. There are an estimated 120,000,000 olive trees in Greece; some from the 13th century are still producing olives!
explorica.ca/lpa
Spring 2021
Vienna(2)
Salzburg SWITZ. Lucerne(2)LECH. AUSTRIA
Vancouver
$4,044
Calgary
$4,044
Winnipeg
$4,009
Toronto
$3,857
Halifax
$4,002
Prices available from all Canadian airports. Prices in table are based on 3/10/2021 departure date. Call for details.
75
EUROPEAN COMBINATIONS France, Switzerland, Austria & Germany EUROPEAN COMBINATIONS 9 DAYS | 7 NIGHTS | Extension available CITIES VISITED (NIGHT STAYS): Paris (2), Bern, Lucerne (2), Liechtenstein, Innsbruck (1), Neuschwanstein, Munich (2), Dachau Full European breakfast daily (except arrival day) Dinner daily (except departure day)
Berlin(2)
GERMANY Train(1)
(1)
Paris(2)
Dachau Munich(2) TGV Neuschwanstein Salzburg Lucerne(2) Innsbruck(1) Bern SWITZ. LIECH.
Versailles
AUSTRIA
FRANCE
explorica.ca/fsg
Spring 2021
Vancouver
$3,907
Calgary
$3,907
Winnipeg
$3,876
Toronto
$3,695
Halifax
$3,841
Prices available from all Canadian airports. Prices in table are based on 3/10/2021 departure date. Call for details.
76
Day 1 – Travel to Paris Day 2 – Meet your Tour Director – Paris city walk: Île de la Cité, Notre Dame Cathedral visit, Île St. Louis, Latin Quarter visit – Louvre visit
Day 6 – Travel to Innsbruck via Liechtenstein – Innsbruck city walk: Golden Roof, Triumphbogen, Olympic site Day 7 – Travel to Munich – Neuschwanstein Castle visit – Oberammergau excursion
Day 3 – Paris guided sightseeing tour: Arc de Triomphe, Champs-Élysées, Eiffel Tower, Champ de Mars, École Militaire, Les Invalides, Conciergerie, Tuileries, Place Vendôme, Opera House – Optional: Versailles guided excursion – State Apartments, Hall of Mirrors, Gardens of Versailles – Seine River cruise
Day 8 – Munich guided sightseeing tour: Residenz, Nymphenburg Palace Gardens, Alte Pinakothek, Deutsches Museum, BMW Headquarters visit, Olympic site of 1972, Frauenkirche, Neues Rathaus, Marienplatz/ Glockenspiel, Hofbräuhaus – Dachau Concentration Camp & Memorial visit – Bavarian bratwurst dinner
Day 4 – Travel to Bern – Bern Tour Director-led sightseeing – Travel to Lucerne
Days 9–12: Extension to Berlin and Salzburg Travel home or travel to Berlin and Salzburg. Highlights: Guided excursion to Salzburg, Mozart’s birthplace visit, Berlin guided sightseeing tour, Checkpoint Charlie Museum visit, Jewish Museum visit, Potsdam excursion
Day 5 – Lucerne Tour Director-led sightseeing: Löwendenkmal (Lion Monument), River Reuss, Kapellbrücke – Optional: Mt. Pilatus excursion – Traditional Swiss dinner with fondue
EUROPEAN COMBINATIONS Day 1 – Travel to Dubrovnik Day 2 – Meet your Tour Director Day 3 – Dubrovnik guided sightseeing tour: Onofrio s Fountain, medieval city walls, Rector s Palace, Franciscan and Dominican monasteries, Old Pharmacy visit Day 4 – Travel to Split – Split guided sightseeing tour: Diocletian s Palace visit, Peristil Square, St. Duje s Cathedral Day 5 – Travel to Plitvice via Zadar – Zadar old town visit – Sea Organ Day 6 – Plitvice National Park visit – Travel to Ljubljana
SPOTLIGHTS Did you know that Vienna has a zoo—and it’s the world’s oldest, dating back to 1752? The first original snow globe was also invented in Vienna at the end of the 19th century. And, Vienna is also home to the oldest carousel, in Prater Amusement Park.
Croatia, Ljubljana & Venice EUROPEAN COMBINATIONS 10 DAYS | 8 NIGHTS | Extension available
Day 7 – Ljubljana guided sightseeing tour: Old town, Triple Bridge, Dragon Bridge, Ljubljana Castle visit, Republic Square
CITIES VISITED (NIGHT STAYS): Dubrovnik (2), Split (1), Zadar, Plitvice (1), Ljubljana (2), Trieste, Venice (2) Full European breakfast daily (except arrival day) Dinner daily (except departure day)
Day 8 – Travel to Venice via Trieste
SLOVENIA
Day 9 – Venice guided walking sightseeing tour with Whisper headsets: St. Mark’s Square, St. Mark s Basilica, Doge s Palace visit, glass-blowing demonstration
Trieste
Ljubljana(2)
Venice(2)
ITALY
Plitvice(1) Zadar
Days 10–12: Extension to Rome Travel home or travel to Rome. Highlights: Rome city walk, Rome guided walking sightseeing tour with Whisper headsets
CROATIA
Split(1) Dubrovnik(2) Rome(2) (1)
explorica.ca/cro
Spring 2021
Vancouver
$4,158
Calgary
$4,158
Winnipeg
$4,137
Toronto
$3,938
Halifax
$4,124
Prices available from all Canadian airports. Prices in table are based on 3/10/2021 departure date. Call for details.
77
EUROPEAN COMBINATIONS Iceland Adventure
Day 1 – Travel to Reykjavik
Day 6 – Blue Lagoon visit
EUROPEAN COMBINATIONS
Day 2 – Meet your Tour Director – Reykjavik Tour Director-led sightseeing tour: Laugavegur, Bessastaðir, Höfði House, Hallgrímskirkja Church visit – Icelandic Saga Museum visit
Days 7–9: Extension in Iceland Travel home or travel to the Snaefellsnes peninsula. Highlights: Bjarnarhofn Shark Museum visit, Viking Sushi Cruise, Snaefellsnes peninsula excursion
7 DAYS | 5 NIGHTS | Extension available CITIES VISITED (NIGHT STAYS): Reykjavik (3), South Shore (2), Jökulsárlón Breakfast daily (except arrival day) Dinner daily (except departure day)
Day 3 – Travel to the South Shore – Lava Centre visit – Seljalandsfoss waterfall walk – Skogafoss waterfall – Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach Day 4 – Skaftafell National Park excursion – Jökulsárlón Glacial Lagoon
(1)
Stykkisholmur(1)
ICELAND Jokulsorlon Reykjavik(3 or 4) South Shore(2)
explorica.ca/ice
Spring 2021
Vancouver
$4,117
Calgary
$4,117
Winnipeg
$4,056
Toronto
$3,907
Halifax
$4,063
Prices available from all Canadian airports. Prices in table are based on 3/10/2021 departure date. Call for details.
78
Day 5 – Golden Circle excursion: Thingvellir National Park visit, Great Geysir, Gullfoss waterfall, Strokkur hot springs, Gelato tasting at Efstidalur farm
SPOTLIGHTS Is it a puffin or a penguin? Although similar in nature, penguins and puffins are distinctly different animals. Penguins can’t fly, puffins can. Penguins have small beaks, puffins are large relative to their body size. They’re a common sight in Iceland.
EUROPEAN COMBINATIONS Day 1 – Travel to Paris Day 2 – Meet your Tour Director – Paris city walk: Île de la Cité, Notre Dame Cathedral visit, Île St. Louis, Latin Quarter visit Day 3 – Paris guided sightseeing tour: Arc de Triomphe, Champs-Élysées, Eiffel Tower, Champ de Mars, École Militaire, Les Invalides, Conciergerie, Tuileries, Place Vendôme, Opera House – Optional: Versailles guided excursion – State Apartments, Hall of Mirrors, Gardens of Versailles – Crêperie dinner Day 4 – Louvre visit – Seine River cruise – Overnight train to Venice Day 5 – Venice guided walking sightseeing tour with Whisper headsets: St. Mark’s Square, St. Mark s Basilica, Doge s Palace visit, glass-blowing demonstration
Day 6 – Travel to Florence – Florence guided walking sightseeing tour with Whisper headsets: Palazzo Vecchio, Piazza della Signoria, Chiesa di Santa Croce, Ponte Vecchio, Duomo visit, leather workshop, Gates of Paradise, Giotto’s Bell Tower, Dante s House – Visit Accademia
Paris, Venice, Florence & Rome EUROPEAN COMBINATIONS 9 DAYS | 7 NIGHTS | Extension available CITIES VISITED (NIGHT STAYS): Paris (2), Venice (1), Florence (1), Assisi, Rome (2)
Day 7 – Travel to Rome via Assisi – St. Francis of Assisi Basilica visit – Rome city walk: Spanish Steps, Trevi Fountain, Pantheon, Piazza Navona
Full European breakfast daily (except arrival day) Dinner daily (except departure day)
Day 8 – Rome guided walking sightseeing tour with Whisper headsets: Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel visit, St. Peter’s Basilica visit, Colosseum visit, Piazza Venezia, Forum Romanum visit – Authentic trattoria dinner
(1)
Paris(2)
Versailles
FRANCE
Days 9–11: Extension in Sorrento Travel home or travel to Sorrento. Highlights: Cameo workshop, Pompeii guided excursion, Capri & Blue Grotto excursion
Train(1) Venice(1)
ITALY
Florence(1) Assisi Rome(2 or 3) Pompeii Sorrento(1)
explorica.ca/pvr
Spring 2021
Vancouver
$3,864
Calgary
$3,864
Winnipeg
$3,843
Toronto
$3,657
Halifax
$3,808
Prices available from all Canadian airports. Prices in table are based on 3/10/2021 departure date. Call for details.
79
EUROPEAN COMBINATIONS Paris & Barcelona
Day 1 – Travel to Paris
EUROPEAN COMBINATIONS
Day 2 – Meet your Tour Director – Paris city walk: Île de la Cité, Notre Dame Cathedral visit, Île St. Louis, Latin Quarter visit
8 DAYS | 6 NIGHTS | Extension available CITIES VISITED (NIGHT STAYS): Paris (3), Barcelona (3) Full European breakfast daily (except arrival day) Dinner daily (except departure day)
(1)
Paris(3) Versailles
FRANCE
TGV
Day 3 – Paris guided sightseeing tour: Arc de Triomphe, Champs-Élysées, Eiffel Tower, Champ de Mars, École Militaire, Les Invalides, Conciergerie, Tuileries, Place Vendôme, Opera House – Optional: Versailles guided excursion – State Apartments, Hall of Mirrors, Gardens of Versailles – Crêperie dinner Day 4 – Louvre visit – Montmartre Tour Director-led sightseeing – Seine River cruise
SPAIN Barcelona(3) Costa Dorada(2)
explorica.ca/pab
Spring 2021
Vancouver
$3,700
Calgary
$3,700
Winnipeg
$3,672
Toronto
$3,491
Halifax
$3,637
Prices available from all Canadian airports. Prices in table are based on 3/10/2021 departure date. Call for details.
80
Day 5 – Travel to Barcelona – Barcelona city walk: Mercat de la Boquería, Las Ramblas, Columbus Monument – Tapas dinner Day 6 – Barcelona guided sightseeing tour: Gaudí’s Sagrada Família, Montjuïc Hill, Park Güell visit – Paella dinner Day 7 – Optional: Girona and Figueres guided excursion – Visit Salvador Dalí theatre Museum Days 8–10: Extension in Costa Dorada Travel home or travel to Costa Dorada via Sitges. Highlights: Sitges excursion, Costa Dorada beach time, flamenco evening
EUROPEAN COMBINATIONS SPOTLIGHTS Pont du Gard was built by the Romans in the 1st century to supply water to the town of Nîmes. This masterpiece is made of about 50,000 tons of limestone; each 6-ton block was perfectly chiseled, hand set, and affixed with iron. Completely intact today, it is one of the world’s technical masterpieces.
Day 1 – Travel to Madrid Day 2 – Meet your Tour Director – Madrid city walk: Puerta del Sol, Plaza Mayor, Plaza de España Day 3 – Madrid guided sightseeing tour: Calle Mayor, Gran Vía, Cibeles Fountain, Puerta de Alcalá, Columbus Square, Royal Palace visit – Optional: Toledo guided excursion – Toledo Cathedral visit, Church of Santo Tomé, St. Mary’s Synagogue visit – Flamenco evening
Day 4 – Optional: El Escorial excursion – Prado visit
Madrid & Paris
Day 5 – Fly to Paris – Paris city walk: Île de la Cité, Notre Dame Cathedral visit, Île St. Louis, Latin Quarter visit
8 DAYS | 6 NIGHTS
Day 6 – Paris guided sightseeing tour: Arc de Triomphe, Champs-Élysées, Eiffel Tower, Champ de Mars, École Militaire, Les Invalides, Conciergerie, Tuileries, Place Vendôme, Opera House – Optional: Versailles guided excursion – State Apartments, Hall of Mirrors, Gardens of Versailles – Crêperie dinner
EUROPEAN COMBINATIONS
CITIES VISITED (NIGHT STAYS): Madrid (3), Paris (3) Full European breakfast daily (except arrival day) Dinner daily (except departure day)
Paris(3) Versailles
FRANCE (1)
Day 7 – Louvre visit – Montmartre Tour Director-led sightseeing – Seine River cruise
El Escorial Toledo
Day 8 – Travel home
Madrid(3)
SPAIN
explorica.ca/map
Spring 2021
Vancouver
$3,711
Calgary
$3,711
Winnipeg
$3,683
Toronto
$3,502
Halifax
$3,648
Prices available from all Canadian airports. Prices in table are based on 3/10/2021 departure date. Call for details.
81
EUROPEAN COMBINATIONS Spain, Italy & Greece
Day 1 – Travel to Madrid
EUROPEAN COMBINATIONS 14 DAYS | 12 NIGHTS | Extension available CITIES VISITED (NIGHT STAYS): Madrid (2), Zaragoza, Barcelona (2), Rome (2), Sorrento (1), Capri, Pompeii, Brindisi, Tolo (1), Patras, Athens (2) Full European breakfast daily (except arrival day) Dinner daily (except departure day)
ITALY
GREECE Zaragoza Barcelona(2) Rome(2) Pompeii Brindisi Madrid(2) Ferry(1) Capri Toledo Sorento(1) Patras Cruise(3) Ferry(1)
Tolo(1)
Athens(2 or 3)
Greek Islands
explorica.ca/sig
Spring 2021
Day 5 – Barcelona guided sightseeing tour: Gaudí’s Sagrada Família, Montjuïc Hill, Park Güell visit – Barcelona city walk: Mercat de la Boquería, Las Ramblas, Columbus Monument – Paella dinner Day 6 – Optional: Sitges excursion – Overnight ferry to Rome Day 7 – Arrive in Rome in the evening
Vancouver
$4,763
Calgary
$4,763
Winnipeg
$4,735
Toronto
$4,566
Halifax
$4,723
Prices available from all Canadian airports. Prices in table are based on 3/10/2021 departure date. Call for details.
82
Day 3 – Madrid guided sightseeing tour: Calle Mayor, Gran Vía, Cibeles Fountain, Puerta de Alcalá, Columbus Square, Royal Palace visit – Optional: Toledo guided excursion – Toledo Cathedral visit, Church of Santo Tomé, St. Mary’s Synagogue visit – Flamenco evening Day 4 – Full-day transfer via Zaragoza to Barcelona – Basilica of the Virgin of Pilar visit – Tapas dinner
(1)
SPAIN
Day 2 – Meet your Tour Director – Madrid city walk: Puerta del Sol, Plaza Mayor, Plaza de España – Prado visit
Day 8 – Rome guided walking sightseeing tour with Whisper headsets: Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel visit, St. Peter’s Basilica visit, Colosseum visit, Piazza Venezia, Forum Romanum visit – Rome city walk: Spanish Steps, Trevi Fountain, Pantheon, Piazza Navona – Authentic trattoria dinner Day 9 – Travel to Sorrento – Capri & Blue Grotto excursion Day 10 – Travel to the port – Pompeii guided visit – Overnight ferry to Patras Day 11 – Travel to Tolo via Olympia – Ancient Olympia guided visit Day 12 – Travel to Athens – Mycenae and Epidaurus guided excursion – Corinth Canal – Greek dinner in Plaka Day 13 – Athens guided sightseeing tour: Parthenon, Acropolis, Temple of Athena Nike, Omonoia Square, Syntagma Square, 2004 Olympic site – Athens city walk: Plaka district, Temple of Olympian Zeus, Hadrian’s Arch Days 14–18: Extension on an Aegean Cruise Travel home or travel on an Aegean Cruise. Highlights: Athens guided sightseeing tour, Athens city walk
EUROPEAN COMBINATIONS SPOTLIGHTS Michelangelo’s David was sculpted out of a flawed piece of marble that several other artists had used and abandoned. Lucky for us, Michelangelo was persistent! At 14'3" tall, its right hand is disproportionately large, which is odd since David was left-handed.
Day 1 – Travel to Rome Day 2 – Meet your Tour Director – Rome city walk: Spanish Steps, Trevi Fountain, Pantheon, Piazza Navona Day 3 – Rome guided walking sightseeing tour with Whisper headsets: Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel visit, St. Peter’s Basilica visit, Colosseum visit, Piazza Venezia, Forum Romanum visit – Authentic trattoria dinner Day 4 – Travel to Florence – Orvieto visit – Traditional Italian pizza dinner
Day 5 – Florence guided walking sightseeing tour with Whisper headsets: Palazzo Vecchio, Piazza della Signoria, Chiesa di Santa Croce, Ponte Vecchio, Duomo visit, leather workshop, Gates of Paradise, Giotto’s Bell Tower, Dante s House – Optional: Siena guided sightseeing tour – Piazza del Campo, Palazzo Pubblico, Duomo, Church of St. Catherine, Fortezza Medicea
Italy & Spain EUROPEAN COMBINATIONS 9 DAYS | 7 NIGHTS | Extension available CITIES VISITED (NIGHT STAYS): Rome (2), Orvieto, Florence (2), Pisa, Lucca, Barcelona (2) Full European breakfast daily (except arrival day) Dinner daily (except departure day)
Day 6 – Travel to port via Pisa and Lucca – Visit Baptistery and view the Leaning Tower of Pisa – Lucca visit – Overnight ferry to Barcelona
ITALY
Day 7 – Arrive in Barcelona in the evening
AVE
Day 8 – Barcelona guided sightseeing tour: Gaudí’s Sagrada Família, Montjuïc Hill, Park Güell visit – Barcelona city walk: Mercat de la Boquería, Las Ramblas, Columbus Monument – Paella dinner
Madrid(2)
Lucca Florence(2) Pisa Siena Orvieto Ferry(1) Rome(2) Barcelona(2) (1)
SPAIN
Days 9–11: Extension in Madrid Travel home or travel to Madrid. Highlights: Madrid city walk, Prado visit, Madrid guided sightseeing tour, flamenco evening
explorica.ca/ias
Spring 2021
Vancouver
$3,859
Calgary
$3,859
Winnipeg
$3,810
Toronto
$3,654
Halifax
$3,815
Prices available from all Canadian airports. Prices in table are based on 3/10/2021 departure date. Call for details.
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EUROPEAN COMBINATIONS Switzerland & Paris
Day 1 – Travel to Zurich
EUROPEAN COMBINATIONS 9 DAYS | 7 NIGHTS | Extension available CITIES VISITED (NIGHT STAYS): Zurich (1), Lucerne (2), Interlaken, Geneva (2), Paris (2) Full European breakfast daily (except arrival day) Dinner daily (except departure day)
(1)
Versailles TGV
FRANCE
Zurich(1) Lucerne(2)
Geneva(2)
SWITZ.
Interlaken
explorica.ca/swp
Spring 2021
Vancouver
$4,006
Calgary
$4,006
Winnipeg
$4,006
Toronto
$3,790
Halifax
$3,940
Prices available from all Canadian airports. Prices in table are based on 3/10/2021 departure date. Call for details.
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Day 3 – Chocolate workshop – Travel to Lucerne – Traditional Swiss dinner with fondue Day 4 – Lucerne Tour Director-led sightseeing: Löwendenkmal (Lion Monument), River Reuss, Kapellbrücke – Optional: Mt. Pilatus excursion Day 5 – Travel to Geneva via Interlaken – The Grindelwald ZipRider
Normandy(2) Paris(2 or 3)
Day 2 – Meet your Tour Director – Zurich Tour Director-led sightseeing: Old Town, quays of Zurich, Bahnhofstrasse
Day 6 – International Red Cross and Red Crescent Museum visit – United Nations European Headquarters visit – CERN visit
Day 7 – Travel to Paris – Paris city walk: Île de la Cité, Notre Dame Cathedral visit, Île St. Louis, Latin Quarter visit – Visit Louvre – Seine River cruise Day 8 – Paris guided sightseeing tour: Arc de Triomphe, Champs-Élysées, Eiffel Tower, Champ de Mars, École Militaire, Les Invalides, Conciergerie, Tuileries, Place Vendôme, Opera House – Optional: Versailles guided excursion – State Apartments, Hall of Mirrors, Gardens of Versailles Days 9–12: Extension in Normandy Travel home or travel to Normandy via Honfleur and Rouen. Highlights: Rouen Tour Director-led sightseeing, Arromanches Museum visit, D-Day beaches
EUROPEAN COMBINATIONS Day 1 – Travel to Zurich Day 2 – Meet your Tour Director – Travel to Lucerne Day 3 – Lucerne Tour Director-led sightseeing: Löwendenkmal (Lion Monument), River Reuss, Kapellbrücke – Optional: Mt. Pilatus excursion – Traditional Swiss dinner with fondue Day 4 – Travel to Venice via Lake Como
Day 7 – Florence guided walking sightseeing tour with Whisper headsets: Palazzo Vecchio, Piazza della Signoria, Chiesa di Santa Croce, Ponte Vecchio, Duomo visit, leather workshop, Gates of Paradise, Giotto’s Bell Tower, Dante s House – Optional: Pisa Guided Excursion Day 8 – Travel to Rome – St. Francis of Assisi Basilica visit – Rome city walk: Spanish Steps, Trevi Fountain, Pantheon, Piazza Navona
Day 5 – Venice guided walking sightseeing tour with Whisper headsets: St. Mark’s Square, St. Mark s Basilica, Doge s Palace visit, glass-blowing demonstration
Day 9 – Rome guided walking sightseeing tour with Whisper headsets: Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel visit, St. Peter’s Basilica visit, Colosseum visit, Piazza Venezia, Forum Romanum visit – Authentic trattoria dinner
Day 6 – Travel to Florence via Verona – Verona Tour Director-led sightseeing: Romeo and Juliet balcony, Verona Arena – Traditional Italian pizza dinner
Days 10–12: Extension in Sorrento Travel home or travel to Sorrento. Highlights: Cameo workshop, Pompeii guided excursion, Capri & Blue Grotto excursion
Switzerland & Italy EUROPEAN COMBINATIONS 10 DAYS | 8 NIGHTS | Extension available CITIES VISITED (NIGHT STAYS): Zurich, Lucerne (2), Lake Como, Venice (2), Florence (2), Assisi, Rome (2) Full European breakfast daily (except arrival day) Dinner daily (except departure day)
(1)
SWITZ.
Zurich Lucerne(2)
Lake Como
ITALY
Venice(2)
Florence(2) Assisi Rome(2 or 3) Sorrento(1)
SPOTLIGHTS Pompeii is a city frozen in time. With
the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius in 79 A.D., the city was buried under 20 feet of ash and pumice. The ash served as a preservative, leaving buildings and skeletal remains intact for explorers to unearth in the 18th century. Even today, Mount Vesuvius is considered dangerous!
explorica.ca/sai
Spring 2021
Vancouver
$3,934
Calgary
$3,934
Winnipeg
$3,913
Toronto
$3,721
Halifax
$3,887
Prices available from all Canadian airports. Prices in table are based on 3/10/2021 departure date. Call for details.
85
INTRO TO GERMANY AND CENTRAL EUROPE
GutenTag! Deep history meets modern movement
Germany and Central Europe are unique and important in the European culture and economy. All these countries have colourful histories of imperial reigns, political turmoil, and tumultuous change. They also offer a rich legacy of cultural achievements, including classical music, grand architecture, and incredible cuisine. Choose your focus—Germany, Austria, the Czech Republic. Then dig deeper into the treasures of famous cities like Berlin, Munich, Prague, Budapest, and more.
Educational activity WorldStrides Explorica pro tip “If you’re looking for a cultural experience that is off the beaten path, the Central Europe collection will be perfect for you. Experienced group leaders who are looking for a new adventure often turn to cities like Innsbruck and Lucerne for ecological adventures with snowcapped mountains and picturesque rivers.” –Charles Ryan, Product Coordinator
Say guten tag to the perfect tour at explorica.ca/centraleurope
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Authentic cuisine: Wirtshaus Rechthaler Hof—MUNICH. Just a stone’s throw from the local railway station, this cozy restaurant offers homemade cuisine, featuring Bavarian delicacies—loved by locals and travellers alike. Convenient hotels: Berlin Mark Hotel—BERLIN. In the heart of the city, this stylish hotel is two minutes from the Kurfürstendamm shopping district and four minutes from the Uhlandstraße underground station.
Debate the Great Meet six influential figures from Germany’s history. Join a debate and argue their accomplishments to decide who is the greatest German.
Bask in Bavarian Arts Discover the links between traditional dance and Bavarian history. Listen to and learn Bavarian music while participating in ancient folklore storytelling. You’ll also learn (and demonstrate) a variety of traditional dance steps as taught by local experts.
GERMANY & CENTRAL EUROPE Day 1 – Travel to Frankfurt Day 2 – Meet your Tour Director – Travel to Rothenburg – Rothenburg Tour Director-led sightseeing: Marktplatz Day 3 – Travel via Romantic Road to Munich – Dachau Concentration Camp & Memorial visit Day 4 – Munich guided sightseeing tour: Residenz, Nymphenburg Palace Gardens, Alte Pinakothek, Deutsches Museum, BMW Headquarters visit, Olympic site of 1972, Frauenkirche, Neues Rathaus, Marienplatz’s Glockenspiel, Hofbräuhaus – Bavarian bratwurst dinner
Day 7 – Lucerne Tour Director-led sightseeing: Löwendenkmal (Lion Monument), River Reuss, Kapellbrücke – Optional: Mt. Pilatus excursion – Traditional Swiss dinner with fondue Day 8 – Travel to Heidelberg via the Black Forest – Cuckoo clock demonstration – Heidelberg Tour Director-led sightseeing: Heidelberg Castle & Heidelberg Tun barrel visit, University, Marktplatz Day 9 - 11: Extension in Rhineland Travel home or travel to Rhineland via Cologne. Highlights: Cologne Cathedral visit, Rhine cruise from Koblenz to Rudesheim
Germany, Switzerland, Austria GERMANY & CENTRAL EUROPE 9 DAYS | 7 NIGHTS | Extension available CITIES VISITED (NIGHT STAYS): Frankfurt, Rothenburg (1), Munich (2), Dachau, Neuschwanstein, Innsbruck (1), Lucerne (2), Heidelberg (1) Full European breakfast daily (except arrival day) Dinner daily (except departure day)
(1) Cologne
GERMANY Frankfurt
Rhineland(2) Heidelberg(1)
Day 5 – Travel to Innsbruck via Neuschwanstein – Neuschwanstein Castle visit – Oberammergau excursion
Rothenburg(1) Dachau
Day 6 – Innsbruck city walk: Golden Roof, Triumphbogen, Olympic site – Travel to Lucerne via Liechtenstein
Lucerne(2)
Vaduz
SWITZ.
Munich(2)
Neuschwanstein
LIECH.
Innsbruck(1)
explorica.ca/gsa
Spring 2021
Vancouver
$3,566
Calgary
$3,566
Winnipeg
$3,505
Toronto
$3,353
Halifax
$3,510
Prices available from all Canadian airports. Prices in table are based on 3/10/2021 departure date. Call for details.
87
AUSTRIA
GERMANY & CENTRAL EUROPE Central European Cities GERMANY & CENTRAL EUROPE 10 DAYS | 8 NIGHTS | Extension available CITIES VISITED (NIGHT STAYS): Berlin (2), Dresden, Prague (2), Krakow (2), Budapest (2) Full European breakfast daily (except arrival day) Dinner daily (except departure day)
(1) Berlin(2)
Potsdam
POLAND
Prague(2) CZECH REPUBLIC
Krakow(2)
Vienna(2)
AUSTRIA
HUNGARY Budapest(2)
explorica.ca/cec
Spring 2021
Vancouver
$3,787
Calgary
$3,787
Winnipeg
$3,746
Toronto
$3,550
Halifax
$3,741
Prices available from all Canadian airports. Prices in table are based on 3/10/2021 departure date. Call for details.
88
Day 2 – Meet your Tour Director – Berlin city walk: Alexanderplatz, Bebelplatz, Hackesche Höfe, Nikolai Quarter, Museum Island Day 3 – Berlin guided sightseeing tour: Checkpoint Charlie, Potsdamer Platz, Berlin Wall, Brandenburg Gate, Reichstag, Victory Column – Checkpoint Charlie Museum visit – Optional: Potsdam excursion – Neues Palais guided visit, Sanssouci Palace gardens, the Russian Colony – Alexanderplatz treasure hunt Day 4 – Transfer via Dresden to Prague – Visit Zwinger Museum
Dresden
GERMANY
Day 1 – Travel to Berlin
Day 5 – Prague guided sightseeing tour: Hradcany (Prague Castle), visit St. Vitus Cathedral – Prague city walk: Charles Bridge, Mala Strana, Old Town Square, Jewish Quarter Day 6 – Travel to Kraków – Auschwitz Concentration Camp & Memorial guided visit
Day 7 – Krakow guided sightseeing tour: Wawel Hill, Wawel Castle & Cathedral, medieval Market Square, Cloth Hall, St. Mary s Basilica, Jewish Quarter – Optional: Wieliczka Salt Mine excursion – Traditional Polish dinner Day 8 – Travel to Budapest Day 9 – Budapest guided sightseeing tour: Castle Hill, Royal Palace, Hungarian Parliament, Matthias Church, Fisherman’s Bastion – Optional: Danube River cruise – Goulash dinner Days 10–12: Extension in Vienna Travel home or travel to Vienna via Gyor. Highlights: Vienna guided sightseeing tour, Wiener Schnitzel dinner
SPOTLIGHTS German is Europe’s most spoken language. Unlike many others, it applies three genders to nouns: male, female, and neuter. It also has the most compound words. The first printed book was written in German.
GERMANY & CENTRAL EUROPE Day 1 – Travel to Budapest Day 2 – Meet your Tour Director – Budapest city walk Day 3 – Budapest guided sightseeing tour: Castle Hill, Royal Palace, Hungarian Parliament, Matthias Church, Fisherman’s Bastion – Optional: Danube River cruise Day 4 – Travel to Vienna – Vienna city walk Day 5 – Vienna guided sightseeing tour: Visit Schönbrunn Palace, Parliament, Ringstraße, Hofburg, Opera House, visit St. Stephen’s Cathedral – Optional: Mozart Concert Day 6 – Travel to Prague via Cesky Krumlov – Cesky Krumlov city walk
Day 7 – Prague guided sightseeing tour: Hradcany (Prague Castle), visit St. Vitus Cathedral – Prague city walk: Charles Bridge, Mala Strana, Old Town Square, Jewish Quarter
Budapest, Vienna, Prague & Munich
Day 8 – Travel to Munich via Dachau – Dachau Concentration Camp & Memorial visit
10 DAYS | 8 NIGHTS | Extension available
Day 9 – Munich guided sightseeing tour: Residenz, Nymphenburg Palace Gardens, Alte Pinakothek, Deutsches Museum, BMW Headquarters visit, Olympic site of 1972, Frauenkirche, Neues Rathaus, Marienplatz’s Glockenspiel, Hofbräuhaus – Optional: Neuschwanstein Castle visit – Bavarian bratwurst dinner
GERMANY & CENTRAL EUROPE
CITIES VISITED (NIGHT STAYS): Budapest (2), Vienna (2), Cesky Krumlov, Prague (2), Munich (2) Full European breakfast daily (except arrival day) Dinner daily (except departure day)
Berlin(2)
Days 10–12: Extension in Berlin Travel home or travel to Berlin. Highlights: Berlin city walk, Berlin guided sightseeing tour, Checkpoint Charlie Museum visit
GERMANY Prague(2)
CZECH REPUBLIC
Cesky Krumlov
Dachau Munich(2)
Vienna(2)
HUNGARY
AUSTRIA
Budapest(2)
(1)
explorica.ca/bvm
Spring 2021
Vancouver
$3,742
Calgary
$3,742
Winnipeg
$3,701
Toronto
$3,505
Halifax
$3,696
Prices available from all Canadian airports. Prices in table are based on 3/10/2021 departure date. Call for details.
89
GERMANY & CENTRAL EUROPE Germany, Switzerland & Italy
Day 1 – Travel to Frankfurt Day 2 – Meet your Tour Director – Travel to Rothenburg – Rothenburg Tour Director-led sightseeing: Marktplatz
GERMANY & CENTRAL EUROPE 10 DAYS | 8 NIGHTS | Extension available CITIES VISITED (NIGHT STAYS): Frankfurt, Rothenburg (1), Neuschwanstein, Munich (2), Dachau, Innsbruck, Venice (2), Verona, Lucerne (2), Heidelberg (1) Full European breakfast daily (except arrival day) Dinner daily (except departure day)
GERMANY (1) Paris(2)
Frankfurt
Heidelberg(1)
Dachau Munich(2) Neuschwanstein Innsbruck AUSTRIA Lucerne(2)
SWITZ.
Verona
ITALY
Venice(2)
explorica.ca/gsi
Spring 2021
Vancouver
$3,748
Calgary
$3,748
Winnipeg
$3,687
Toronto
$3,536
Halifax
$3,692
Prices available from all Canadian airports. Prices in table are based on 3/10/2021 departure date. Call for details.
90
Day 4 – Munich guided sightseeing tour: Residenz, Nymphenburg Palace Gardens, Alte Pinakothek, Deutsches Museum, BMW Headquarters visit, Olympic site of 1972, Frauenkirche, Neues Rathaus, Marienplatz’s Glockenspiel, Hofbräuhaus – Dachau Concentration Camp & Memorial visit – Bavarian bratwurst dinner Day 5 – Travel via Innsbruck to Venice
Rothenburg(1 )
Train
FRANCE
Day 3 – Travel to Munich – Neuschwanstein Castle visit
Day 6 – Venice guided walking sightseeing tour with Whisper headsets: St. Mark’s Square, St. Mark s Basilica, Doge s Palace visit, glass-blowing demonstration Day 7 – Full-day transfer via Verona to Lucerne – Verona Tour Director-led sightseeing: Romeo and Juliet balcony, Verona Arena Day 8 – Lucerne Tour Director-led sightseeing: Löwendenkmal (Lion Monument), River Reuss, Kapellbrücke – Optional: Mt. Pilatus excursion – Traditional Swiss dinner with fondue Day 9 – Travel to Heidelberg via the Black Forest – Cuckoo clock demonstration – Heidelberg Tour Director-led sightseeing: Heidelberg Castle & Heidelberg Tun barrel visit, University, Marktplatz Days 10–12: Extension in Paris Travel home or travel to Paris. Highlights: Paris city walk, Paris guided sightseeing tour, Louvre visit, Seine River cruise
GERMANY & CENTRAL EUROPE SPOTLIGHTS The Rhine River is the second
longest in Central and Western Europe. It flows through nine countries and creates borders between Germany, Switzerland, and France. Vital throughout history, it has many castles and fortifications on its banks.
Day 1 – Travel to Berlin Day 2 – Meet your Tour Director – Berlin city walk: Alexanderplatz, Bebelplatz, Hackesche Höfe, Nikolai Quarter, Museum Island Day 3 – Berlin guided sightseeing tour: Checkpoint Charlie, Potsdamer Platz, Berlin Wall, Brandenburg Gate, Reichstag, Victory Column – Checkpoint Charlie Museum visit – Optional: Potsdam excursion – Neues Palais guided visit, Sanssouci Palace gardens, the Russian Colony Day 4 – Transfer via Dresden to Prague – Visit Zwinger Museum
Day 5 – Prague guided sightseeing tour: Hradcany (Prague Castle), visit St. Vitus Cathedral – Prague city walk: Charles Bridge, Mala Strana, Old Town Square, Jewish Quarter
Berlin, Prague & Munich
Day 6 – Travel to Munich via Nuremberg – Nuremberg city walk
9 DAYS | 7 NIGHTS | Extension available
Day 7 – Munich guided sightseeing tour: Residenz, Nymphenburg Palace Gardens, Alte Pinakothek, Deutsches Museum, BMW Headquarters visit, Olympic site of 1972, Frauenkirche, Neues Rathaus, Marienplatz’s Glockenspiel, Hofbräuhaus – Dachau Concentration Camp & Memorial visit – Bavarian bratwurst dinner
GERMANY & CENTRAL EUROPE
CITIES VISITED (NIGHT STAYS): Berlin (2), Dresden, Prague (2), Nuremberg, Munich (3), Dachau, Neuschwanstein, Oberammergau Full European breakfast daily (except arrival day) Dinner daily (except departure day)
(1)
Potsdam
GERMANY
Day 8 – Neuschwanstein Castle visit – Oberammergau excursion
Dresden
Nuremberg
Days 9–11: Extension in Vienna Travel home or travel to Vienna via Salzburg. Highlights: Mozart’s birthplace visit, Vienna guided sightseeing tour, Wiener Schnitzel dinner
Dachau Neuschwanstein Oberammergau
Berlin(2)
Prague(2)
CZECH REPUBLIC
Munich(3)
Vienna(2)
AUSTRIA
explorica.ca/bpm
Spring 2021
Vancouver
$3,747
Calgary
$3,747
Winnipeg
$3,686
Toronto
$3,535
Halifax
$3,691
Prices available from all Canadian airports. Prices in table are based on 3/10/2021 departure date. Call for details.
91
INTRO TO ASIA AND THE PACIFIC
G’day...Ni Hao! Shining a spotlight on the other side of the world
Help your students connect with Asia! Visit China, Korea, and Japan. See firsthand the centuries-old traditions of Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism. Appreciate the staggering pace of change and emerging industrial power centres. Or, take your students Down Under! Explore New Zealand’s indigenous Maori culture. Marvel at its natural beauty and wildlife. Tour through Christchurch, Mount Cook, and Queenstown. From snowmobiling to harbour cruises to downtown Sydney, Australia, this is a truly fascinating trip!
Authentic cuisine: Chibo Sonezaki—OSAKA Conveniently located, this bustling restaurant gets great reviews for its Japanese specialties and fast service. The menu also shows English translations for dining convenience. Convenient hotels: Tiantan Hotel—BEIJING Delivering four-star comfort and located in the centre of Beijing, this hotel is convenient to the Imperial Palace and Red Bridge, plus wonderful shopping areas like the Silk Market.
Say Ni Hao to the perfect tour at explorica.ca/gofarther
92
Educational activity Cook Chinese Cuisine Create an authentic Chinese dish as professional chefs guide you through a traditional recipe. Kia Ora Immerse yourself in the culture of the Maori, New Zealand’s indigenous Polynesian people. Enjoy a full cultural evening complete with an authentic meal and an enthralling performance by the Maori.
ASIA & THE PACIFIC Day 1 – Travel to Tokyo Day 2 – Meet your Tour Director Day 3 – Tokyo guided sightseeing tour: Sensō-ji Temple visit, Imperial Palace East Garden, Meiji Shrine, Harajuku District visit – Shibuya Crossing – Tempura dinner
Day 7 – Nara excursion: Nara Park, Tōdai-ji Temple, Kasuga Grand Shrine – Kyoto guided sightseeing tour: Kinkaku-ji Temple (Golden Pavilion) visit, Fushimi Inari Taisha visit – Travel by bus to Osaka Day 8 - 10: Extension in Hiroshima and Miyajima Travel home or travel to Hiroshima. Highlights: Hiroshima guided sightseeing tour, Yakisoba dinner, Miyajima excursion
Japan Highlights ASIA & THE PACIFIC 8 DAYS | 6 NIGHTS | Extension available CITIES VISITED (NIGHT STAYS): Tokyo (2), Hakone (1), Takayama (1), Kyoto (2), Osaka Breakfast daily (except arrival day) Dinner daily (except departure day)
Day 4 – Travel to Hakone by bus – Hakone excursion: Lake Ashi cruise, Mount Komagatake – Overnight in a Ryokan
(1)
Day 5 – Travel to Matsumoto by bus – Matsumoto Castle visit
Takayama(1) Tokyo(2) Bullet Train Kyoto(2) Hakone(1) Hiroshima(2) Osaka
Day 6 – Takayama guided sightseeing tour: Morning Market visit, Old City visit – Shirakawa Village visit – Travel to Kyoto by bus
explorica.ca/jpn
Spring 2021
Vancouver
$4,079
Calgary
$4,260
Winnipeg
$4,260
Toronto
$4,217
Halifax
$4,375
Prices available from all Canadian airports. Prices in table are based on 3/10/2021 departure date. Call for details.
93
ASIA & THE PACIFIC Beijing, Xi’an & Shanghai
Day 1 – Travel to Beijing Day 2 – Meet your Tour Director
ASIA & THE PACIFIC 9 DAYS | 7 NIGHTS | Extension available CITIES VISITED (NIGHT STAYS): Beijing (3), Xi an (1), Shanghai (2) Breakfast daily (except arrival day) Lunch daily Dinner daily (except departure day)
(1)
Great Wall
Day 4 – Chinese doctor visit – Travel to Great Wall of China – Ming Tombs visit – Peking duck dinner
Beijing(3) Train(1)
Day 5 – Temple of Heaven visit – Beijing Zoo pandas visit – Hutong tour – Overnight train to Xi an
Xi’an(1)
CHINA
Shanghai(2)
Hong Kong(2)
explorica.ca/chi
Spring 2021
Vancouver
$3,425
Calgary
$3,656
Winnipeg
$3,656
Toronto
$3,677
Halifax
$3,677
Prices available from all Canadian airports. Prices in table are based on 3/10/2021 departure date. Call for details.
94
Day 3 – Tai chi exercise – Beijing guided sightseeing tour: Tiananmen Square visit, Forbidden City visit, Jingshan Mountain, Summer Palace visit, National Stadium (Bird s Nest), National Aquatic Centre (Water Cube), jade and pearl factory visit, local tea house visit – Optional: Kung fu show
Day 6 – Xi an guided sightseeing tour: Terracotta Warriors Museum visit, Huaqing Palace visit, hot springs visit, Banpo Village Ruins & Museum visit – Xi an city walk: Ancient City Wall, Greater Wild Goose Pagoda visit – Optional: Tang Dynasty singing and dancing show Day 7 – Travel to Shanghai – High-speed Shanghai Maglev Train transfer – Shanghai residential quarter walk: Residential quarters, local families visit Day 8 – Shanghai guided sightseeing tour: Yu Yuan Garden, Jade Buddha Temple visit, silk factory visit – Shanghai city walk: Bund, Children s Palace, Nanjing Road – Acrobatic show Days 9–11: Extension to Hong Kong Travel home or travel to Hong Kong. Highlights: Hong Kong guided sightseeing tour
ASIA & THE PACIFIC
Day 4 – Thoi Son Island visit – Mekong River jungle cruise Day 5 – Travel to Siem Reap – Tonlé Sap Lake cruise – Floating villages visit – Phnom Bakheng Hill – View sunset at Angkor Wat
Day 7 – Travel to Bangkok via Poipet and Aranyaprathet
ASIA & THE PACIFIC
Day 8 – Bangkok guided sightseeing tour: Grand Palace visit, Emerald Buddha visit, Temple of Dawn, Wat Pho – Chao Phraya River dinner cruise
10 DAYS | 8 NIGHTS | Extension available CITIES VISITED (NIGHT STAYS): Ho Chi Minh (3), Siem Reap (2), Angkor Wat, Bangkok (3), Kanchanaburi (1) Breakfast daily (except arrival day) Dinner daily (except departure day)
Day 9 – Travel to Kanchanaburi via Nakhon Pathom – Phra Pathom Chedi visit – Kanchanaburi guided sightseeing tour: War Cemetery visit, Thailand-Burma Railway Centre, the River Kwai bridge Days 10–12: Extension to Hua Hin Travel home or travel to Hua Hin. Highlights: Khao Wang Palace visit, beach day
(1)
THAILAND Kanchanaburi(1) Khao Luang Caves Hua Hin
Bangkok(3 or 4)
Angkor Wat
Siem Reap(2)
M
Day 3 – Vietnam War Cu Chi Tunnels visit – Ho Chi Minh City guided sightseeing tour: War Remnants Museum visit, Reunification Palace, Saigon Notre-Dame Basilica, City Hall
Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand
CAMBODIA Ho Chi Minh(3)
explorica.ca/vct
Spring 2021
Vancouver
$4,275
Calgary
$4,220
Winnipeg
$4,210
Toronto
$3,964
Halifax
$3,951
Prices available from all Canadian airports. Prices in table are based on 3/10/2021 departure date. Call for details.
95
TNA
Day 2 – Arrive late on Day 2 or early on Day 3 – Meet your Tour Director
Day 6 – Angkor Wat guided sightseeing tour – Angkor Thom visit – Ta Prohm Temple visit – Bayon Temple visit – Old Market visit
VIE
Day 1 – Travel to Ho Chi Minh
ASIA & THE PACIFIC Delhi, Jaipur & Agra
Day 1 – Travel to Delhi Day 2 – Arrive late on Day 2 or early on Day 3 – Meet your Tour Director
ASIA & THE PACIFIC 11 DAYS | 8 NIGHTS | Extension available CITIES VISITED (NIGHT STAYS): Delhi (2), Jaipur (2), Ranthambore(2), Bharatpur, Agra(2) Breakfast daily (except arrival day) Dinner daily (except on Day 1, 11 and 14)
(1)
(1)
(1)
NEPAL Delhi(2) Jaipur(2)
Agra(2) Bharatpur
Kathmandu(3)
Train
Ranthambore(2)
INDIA
explorica.ca/ind
Spring 2021
Vancouver
$3,851
Calgary
$3,851
Winnipeg
$3,790
Toronto
$3,641
Halifax
$3,797
Prices available from all Canadian airports. Prices in table are based on 3/10/2021 departure date. Call for details.
96
Day 6 – Travel to Ranthambore – Ranthambore National Park evening safari Day 7 – Ranthambore National Park visit
Day 3 – Old Delhi guided sightseeing tour: Jama Masjid Mosque, Lal Quila (Red Fort) visit, Raj Ghat and the site of Mahatma Gandhi s cremation – New Delhi guided sightseeing tour: Connaught Place, Humayun s Tomb, Janpath Market – Sound and light show
Day 8 – Travel to Bharatpur by train – Travel to Agra – Mother Teresa s Charity Mission visit
Day 4 – Travel to Jaipur – Local market guided visit – Yoga lesson
Day 10 – School visit – Travel to Delhi
Day 5 – Amber Fort excursion – Palace of the Winds visit – Jaipur guided sightseeing tour – City Palace visit – Mubarak Mahal textile museum – Folk evening
Day 9 – Taj Mahal visit at dawn – Agra Fort visit – Agra Wildlife SOS visit
Days 10–14: Extension to Kathmandu Travel home or travel to Kathmandu. Highlights: Kathmandu guided sightseeing tour, Swayambhunath Stupa visit, Patan excursion, Native Tibetan camp visit, hike to Changu, Changunarayan Temple visit, meet local craftsmen in Pottery Square
ASIA & THE PACIFIC Day 1 – Travel to Auckland Day 2 – Lose a day as you cross the International Date Line Day 3 – Meet your Tour Director – Travel to Rotorua Day 4 – Rotorua guided sightseeing tour: Māori Cultural Centre visit, visit Whakarewarewa Thermal Reserve, Skyline Gondola ride on Mt. Ngongotaha – Visit Agrodome – Māori Hāngi feast Day 5 – Travel to Auckland via Waitomo – Visit Waitomo Caves – Visit Glowworm Grotto
Day 7 – Sydney guided sightseeing tour: Darling Harbour, the Gap, visit Opera House – Bondi Beach excursion – Optional: Surf lesson on Bondi Beach
Australia & New Zealand
Day 8 – Sydney city walk: The Rocks, Royal Botanic Gardens, Mrs. Macquarie s Point – Sydney Harbour cruise
10 DAYS | 7 NIGHTS | Extension available
Day 9 – Optional: Blue Mountains & Wildlife Sanctuary full-day excursion
ASIA & THE PACIFIC
CITIES VISITED (NIGHT STAYS): Auckland (1), Rotorua (2), Sydney (4) Buffet-style breakfast daily (except arrival day) Dinner (4 meals included)
Days 10–14: Extension to Cairns Travel home or travel to Cairns. Highlights: Cairns guided sightseeing tour, Palm Cove half-day excursion, Great Barrier Reef full-day excursion, Cairns free day
Cairns(3) Great Barrier Reef
AUSTRALIA
Day 6 – Auckland guided sightseeing tour: Visit War Memorial Museum, Visit Tarlton s Underwater World – Travel to Sydney
(2) Auckland(1)
Sydney(4)
Rotorua(2)
SPOTLIGHTS Taumatawhakatangihangaoauauotameteatu
NEW ZEALAND
ripukakapikimaungahoronukupo-kaiwhenuakitanatahu, is the longest town name found in any English-speaking country. It may take you longer to say it than to explore this small coastal town!
explorica.ca/anc
Spring 2021
Vancouver
$5,205
Calgary
$5,328
Winnipeg
$5,527
Toronto
$5,402
Halifax
$5,422
Prices available from all Canadian airports. Prices in table are based on 3/10/2021 departure date. Call for details.
97
MAKE A DIFFERENCE Travel with a special kind of purpose
Gain life-enriching lessons in philanthropy by teaching local school children, creating sustainable gardens in developing nations and studying the ecology of an exotic corner of the globe. Become part of a greater good that benefits the indigenous peoples of each region and, most importantly, makes a difference.
WorldStrides Explorica pro tip “I tell my students at the beginning of every year that I want them to be able to look back on their lives and say, ‘It was important that I was here because I made a difference in the world.’ That’s one of the very many reasons why I took my students on WorldStrides Explorica’s Make A Difference Tour to Morocco. We worked side-byside with the people of a Berber village and I saw my students stop being tourists in a strange land and start connecting in a deeply meaningful way. On the last night we sat on our hotel balcony, reflecting on the work we had accomplished and the friendships we had built. It was one of the greatest moments of all of our lives; not one of us will ever forget it.” –Jeffrey R., WorldStrides Explorica group leader
You can make a difference at explorica.ca/difference
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MAKE A DIFFERENCE Day 1 – Travel to Bangkok Day 2 – Arrive late on Day 2 or early on Day 3 Day 3 – Meet your Tour Director – Bangkok city walk – Bangkok bicycle tour – Travel to Sing Buri Day 4 – Sing Buri community volunteer program
Day 8 – Buddhist monastery visit – Introduction to Buddhism – Buddhist monk cultural exchange – Overnight in a traditional Buddhist monastery Day 9 – Travel to Bangkok – Market and palace tour Day 10 – Travel home
Thailand THAILAND 10 DAYS | 8 NIGHTS | Extension available CITIES VISITED (NIGHT STAYS): Bangkok (2), Sing Buri (3), Wang Thong (1), Wang Nam Khiao (2) Breakfast daily (except arrival day) Lunch daily Dinner daily (except departure day)
Day 5 – Sing Buri community volunteer program – Traditional dancing & “thank you” dinner
Wang Thong(1)
THAILAND
Day 6 – Travel to Wang Thong – Elephant sanctuary volunteer project
Sing Buri(3)
Wang Nam Khiao(2)
Bangkok(2)
Day 7 – Travel to Wang Nam Khiao – Overnight in a traditional Buddhist monastery
(1)
explorica.ca/thv
Spring 2021
Vancouver
$4,266
Calgary
$4,212
Winnipeg
$4,200
Toronto
$3,955
Halifax
$3,941
Prices available from all Canadian airports. Prices in table are based on 3/10/2021 departure date. Call for details.
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We have partnered with Camps International to be the exclusive provider of Camps programs in North America! With the support of the Camps teams on the ground, WorldStrides Explorica students will live and work with these communities, so they can empower themselves and generate their own income. Our groups will also contribute in numerous ways to protecting the environment and conserving wildlife.
Find out more at explorica.ca/makeadifference
Camps in South America: Ecuador, Peru Over 50% of the rural communities in the highlands live below the poverty line. WorldStrides Explorica groups will therefore be combatting high malnutrition levels, building greenhouses and educating on nutrition. Planting trees by the thousands, we will also be caring for the environment in this uniquely biodiverse part of the world. Other program highlights for our students: – Trek to World Heritage Site, Machu Picchu – Meet tribes in the Amazon Rainforest – Explore the world-famous Galapagos Islands – Visit Lake Titicaca: highest navigable lake on earth – Dance with the local Quechua communities
100
Camps in Central America: Costa Rica Costa Rica is a fairly small country, but it is still one of the most biologically diverse regions in the world. Visitors can explore the Pacific or Caribbean coasts, volcanoes, and rainforests and encounter countless species of mammal, insect, reptile, and bird. While the environment is impressive, there is much more to tempt visitors to Costa Rica. Adventure awaits around every corner, and the unique culture of La Pura Vida beckons through food, music, and art. Other program highlights for our students: – Visit the beaches of Guanacaste – Explore the natural beauty and biodiversity – Discover an array of species – Interact with the local communities
Camps in East Africa: Tanzania 51% of the population lives in poverty, so with the support of Camps team in East Africa, WorldStrides Explorica student travellers will be directly bettering the lives of the communities they are living and working with. In Africa, the sense of community is inspiring and the natural beauty overwhelming. Other program highlights for our students: – Climb Kilimanjaro – Go on a big game safari – Play football with the local children – Cook chapattis with local women – Watch a red African sunset over the savannah
Camps in Southeast Asia: Borneo, Cambodia The people of this region have had a troubled past; the kindness and positivity of even the poorest communities is overwhelming. Attendance of secondary school is frighteningly low and deforestation rates are high. WorldStrides Explorica students engaged in projects in this region will be focused on improving education infrastructure and combatting deforestation. Other program highlights for our students: – Visit the mystical temples of Angkor Wat – Cruise through the jungle on a boat at sunset – Sleep in a hammock deep in the jungle – Teach English to an eager class of children – Scuba dive in the crystal clear waters
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CANADIAN HISTORY Bring history to life for your students
Experience the legendary battlefields that made our nation great and visit the final resting places of those who made the ultimate sacrifice. From Vimy to Normandy, each itinerary is crafted to support your curriculum and school board standards and includes unique immersive activities to bring history to life for your students.
WorldStrides Explorica pro tip “Educational travel brings a realism to the lesson that doesn’t happen when reading facts in a textbook. You can’t get the same level of understanding any other way— being there gives purpose and meaning to the history. When we come back from a tour, the enthusiasm my students carry with them is contagious. I can practically see the ripples of energy they create flow throughout the entire school. They get the other students excited about what they saw and what they learned. For me, this is huge; the past is alive in my students and that is what being a history teacher is all about.” –Phil C., WorldStrides Explorica group leader
Relive history with the perfect tour
explorica.ca/history
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CANADIAN HISTORY Day 1 – Travel to Milan Day 2 – Meet your Tour Director and travel to Venice Day 3 – Venice guided walking sightseeing tour with Whisper headsets: St. Mark’s Square, St. Mark s Basilica, Doge s Palace visit, glass-blowing demonstration Day 4 – Travel to Florence via Bologna – Traditional Italian pizza dinner Day 5 – Florence guided walking sightseeing tour with Whisper headsets: Palazzo Vecchio, Piazza della Signoria, Chiesa di Santa Croce, Ponte Vecchio, Duomo visit, leather workshop, Gates of Paradise, Giotto’s Bell Tower, Dante’s House – Optional: Pisa guided excursion – Baptistery visit, Leaning Tower
Day 8 – Travel to Rome via Monte Cassino – Commonwealth War Graves Cemetery – Monte Cassino Monument visit – Piana delle Orme Museum visit Day 9 – Rome guided walking sightseeing tour with Whisper headsets: Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel visit, St. Peter’s Basilica visit, Colosseum visit, Piazza Venezia, Forum Romanum visit – Authentic trattoria dinner
Venice, Florence, Ortona and Rome CANADIAN HISTORY 10 DAYS | 8 NIGHTS | Extension available CITIES VISITED (NIGHT STAYS): Venice (2), Florence (2), Ortona (2), Rome (2) Full European breakfast daily (except arrival day) Dinner daily (except departure day)
Day 10 – 14 - Extension in Sicily Travel home or travel to Naples via Pompeii. Highlights: Pompeii guided excursion, Palermo guided sightseeing tour, Agrigento guided sightseeing tour, Piazza Armerina, Agira Canadian War Cemetery, Taormina guided sightseeing tour
(1) Milan
ITALY
Venice(2) Florence(2) Ortona(2) Rome(2) Naples Ferry(1)
Day 6 – Travel to Ortona via Assisi – St. Francis of Assisi Basilica visit
Palermo
Taormina(2) Catania
Agrigento(1)
Day 7 – Ortona Tour Director-led sightseeing tour – Private Remembrance Ceremony at Moro Cemetery – Ortona War Museum
explorica.ca/ita
Spring 2021
Vancouver
$3,656
Calgary
$3,656
Winnipeg
$3,614
Toronto
$3,453
Halifax
$3,619
Prices available from all Canadian airports. Prices in table are based on 3/10/2021 departure date. Call for details.
103
CANADIAN HISTORY Normandy to Cassino CANADIAN HISTORY 10 DAYS | 8 NIGHTS CITIES VISITED (NIGHT STAYS): Paris (2), Normandy (1), Milan, Rome (3), Monte Cassino (1) Full European breakfast daily (except arrival day) Dinner daily (except departure day)
Normandy(1) Paris(2) (1) Versailles Train(1)
FRANCE
Milan Train Rome(3) Monte Cassino(1)
explorica.ca/nac
Vancouver
$3,826
Calgary
$3,826
Winnipeg
$3,805
Toronto
$3,620
Halifax
$3,770
Prices available from all Canadian airports. Prices in table are based on 3/10/2021 departure date. Call for details.
104
Day 2 – Meet your Tour Director – Paris city walk: Île de la Cité, Notre Dame Cathedral visit, Île St. Louis, Latin Quarter visit Day 3 – Paris guided sightseeing tour: Arc de Triomphe, Champs-Élysées, Eiffel Tower, Champ de Mars, École Militaire, Les Invalides, Conciergerie, Tuileries, Place Vendôme, Opera House – Optional: Versailles guided excursion – State Apartments, Hall of Mirrors, Gardens of Versailles Day 4 – Travel to Normandy via Dieppe – D-Day beaches – Bény-sur-Mer Canadian Military Cemetery visit
ITALY
Spring 2021
Day 1 – Travel to Paris
Day 5 – Arromanches Museum visit – Juno Beach Centre visit – Travel to Paris – Overnight train to Milan
Day 6 – Transfer by train to Rome from Milan – Rome city walk: Spanish Steps, Trevi Fountain, Pantheon, Piazza Navona Day 7 – Rome guided walking sightseeing tour with Whisper headsets: Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel visit, St. Peter’s Basilica visit, Colosseum visit, Piazza Venezia, Forum Romanum visit – Authentic trattoria dinner Day 8 – Travel to Monte Cassino via Pontecorve – Canadian Monument visit – Pantheon Day 9 – Monte Cassino Monument visit – Piana delle Orme Museum visit – Commonwealth War Graves Cemetery – Monte Cassino Abbey visit – Travel to Rome Day 10 – Travel home
CANADIAN HISTORY Day 1 – Travel to Paris Day 2 – Meet your Tour Director – Paris city walk: Île de la Cité, Notre Dame Cathedral visit, Île St. Louis, Latin Quarter visit – Louvre visit Day 3 – Paris guided sightseeing tour: Arc de Triomphe, Champs-Élysées, Eiffel Tower, Champ de Mars, École Militaire, Les Invalides, Conciergerie, Tuileries, Place Vendôme, Opera House – Optional: Versailles guided excursion – State Apartments, Hall of Mirrors, Gardens of Versailles Day 4 – Travel to Flanders via Vimy Ridge – Vimy Ridge Guided Sightseeing Tour – Beaumont Hamel visit Day 5 – Passchendaele Canadian Memorial Park – Talbot House Museum – St. Julien Memorial – In Flanders Fields Museum visit – Attend Last Post Ceremony at Menin Gate Day 6 – Wellington Quarry visit – Travel to Normandy via Dieppe – Canadian Cemetery visit – Dieppe Canadian landing beach visit
Day 7 – Arromanches Museum visit – Juno Beach Centre visit Day 8 – Batterie de Merville – Beny-sur-Mer Canadian Military Cemetery visit Day 9 – Travel to Paris via Rouen – Rouen Tour Director-led sightseeing – Visit Rouen Cathedral, Old Clock – Seine River cruise
D-Day Paris, Vimy & Normandy CANADIAN HISTORY 10 DAYS | 8 NIGHTS | Extension available CITIES VISITED (NIGHT STAYS): Paris (3), Vimy, Flanders (2), Normandy (3), Rouen Full European breakfast daily (except arrival day) Dinner daily (except departure day)
Days 10–13: Extension in Berlin Travel home or travel to Berlin. Highlights: Musée d’Orsay, Berlin guided sightseeing tour, Checkpoint Charlie Museum, Sachsenhausen excursion, Jewish Museum, Potsdam excursion
Berlin(3) GERMANY
SPOTLIGHTS One of the earliest
forms of entertainment was the Gladiator Games, dating back to the 1st century B.C. Gladiators were armed combatants who entertained audiences as they battled each other, wild animals, or condemned criminals. Although most were slaves sentenced to death, they were celebrated and valued as entertainers—and even commemorated through art.
BELGIUM Flanders(2)
y(3) and m r No Rouen
(1)
Vimy
Train
Paris(3)
Versailles
FRANCE
explorica.ca/pvn
Spring 2021
Vancouver
$3,744
Calgary
$3,744
Winnipeg
$3,744
Toronto
$3,534
Halifax
$3,669
Prices available from all Canadian airports. Prices in table are based on 3/10/2021 departure date. Call for details.
105
CANADIAN HISTORY D-Day Netherlands & France CANADIAN HISTORY 10 DAYS | 8 NIGHTS | Extension available CITIES VISITED (NIGHT STAYS): Amsterdam (2), Ypres, Flanders (2), Vimy, Dieppe, Normandy (2), Paris (2) Full European breakfast daily (except arrival day) Dinner daily (except departure day)
(1)
NETHERLANDS Amsterdam(2)
London(2)
Ypres
Dieppe Normandy(2)
BELGIUM Flanders(2) Vimy
FRANCE
Day 3 – Amsterdam Tour Director-led sightseeing: Canal guided cruise, Diamond factory visit, Anne Frank House visit – Jewish Historical Museum visit – Traditional Dutch pannenkoeken dinner Day 4 – Travel to the Flanders region via Arnhem – John Frost Bridge photo stop – Liberation Museum visit – Groesbeek Cemetery visit Day 5 – Passchendaele Canadian Memorial Park – Talbot House Museum – St. Julien Memorial – In Flanders Fields Museum visit – Attend Last Post Ceremony at Menin Gate
Day 7 – Juno Beach Centre visit – Beny-sur-Mer Canadian Military Cemetery visit – D-Day beaches
explorica.ca/naf
Vancouver
$3,638
Calgary
$3,638
Winnipeg
$3,638
Toronto
$3,422
Halifax
$3,563
Prices available from all Canadian airports. Prices in table are based on 3/10/2021 departure date. Call for details.
106
Day 2 – Meet your Tour Director
Day 6 – Vimy Ridge guided visit – Vimy Tunnels visit – Vimy Trenches visit – Travel to Normandy via Dieppe – Dieppe Tour Director-led sightseeing
Paris(2)
Spring 2021
Day 1 – Travel to Amsterdam
Day 8 – Arromanches Museum visit – Batterie de Merville – Travel to Paris – Paris city walk: Île de la Cité, Notre Dame Cathedral visit, Île St. Louis, Latin Quarter visit Day 9 – Paris guided sightseeing tour: Arc de Triomphe, Champs-Élysées, Eiffel Tower, Champ de Mars, École Militaire, Les Invalides, Conciergerie, Tuileries, Place Vendôme, Opera House – Optional: Versailles guided excursion – State Apartments, Hall of Mirrors, Gardens of Versailles Days 10–12: Extension in London Travel home or travel to London. Highlights: London city walk, classic fish & chips dinner, London guided sightseeing tour, Imperial War Museum visit, Cabinet War Rooms with Churchill Museum visit
SPOTLIGHTS The Allied Invasion of Normandy
during World War II is the largest seaborne invasion in history. In total, over 2 million Allied troops, 54 thousand military vehicles, and 570k tons of supplies landed on the beaches of Normandy. An estimated 225 thousand soldiers were killed during the course of battle.
CANADIAN HISTORY Day 1 – Travel to London Day 2 – Meet your Tour Director – London city walk: Thames River, Trafalgar Square, National Gallery visit, Piccadilly Circus, Covent Garden, Leicester Square, Soho – Cabinet War Rooms with Churchill Museum visit – Classic fish & chips dinner Day 3 – London guided sightseeing tour: Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, Houses of Parliament, Westminster Abbey, Tower Bridge, Hyde Park, St. Paul's Cathedral – Imperial War Museum visit Day 4 – Eurostar Chunnel crossing – Paris city walk: Île de la Cité, Notre Dame Cathedral, Île St. Louis, Latin Quarter visit – Louvre visit Day 5 – Paris guided sightseeing tour: Arc de Triomphe, Champs-Élysées, Eiffel Tower, Champ de Mars, École Militaire, Les Invalides, Conciergerie, Tuileries Garden
visit, Place Vendôme, Opera House – Optional: Versailles guided excursion: State Apartments, Hall of Mirrors, Gardens of Versailles
D-Day London & France
Day 6 – Travel to Normandy – Dieppe Tour Director-led sightseeing – Museum for Peace
CANADIAN HISTORY
Day 7 – Arromanches Museum visit – Juno Beach Centre & Park visit – Batterie de Merville
10 DAYS | 8 NIGHTS CITIES VISITED (NIGHT STAYS): London (2), Paris (3), Dieppe, Normandy (2), Lille (1), Vimy (1) Full European breakfast daily (except arrival day) Dinner daily (except departure day)
Day 8 – Beny-sur-Mer Canadian Military Cemetery visit – Travel to Lille Day 9 – Travel to Vimy Ridge – Vimy Ridge Memorial visit: Vimy Trenches visit, Vimy Tunnels visit, Memorial Museum visit – Wellington Quarry visit – Travel to Paris
ENGLAND
(1)
London(2) Vimy(1)
Normandy(3)
Day 10 – Travel home
Paris(2)
FRANCE
explorica.ca/lfa
Spring 2021
Vancouver
$3,607
Calgary
$3,607
Winnipeg
$3,602
Toronto
$3,421
Halifax
$3,556
Prices available from all Canadian airports. Prices in table are based on 3/10/2021 departure date. Call for details.
107
Lille(1)
CANADIAN HISTORY Central European History CANADIAN HISTORY 10 DAYS | 8 NIGHTS | Extension available CITIES VISITED (NIGHT STAYS): Berlin (2), Warsaw (2), Kraków (2), Prague (2) Full European breakfast daily (except arrival day) Dinner daily (except departure day)
Day 1 – Travel to Berlin Day 2 – Meet your Tour Director – Berlin city walk: Alexanderplatz, Bebelplatz, Hackesche Höfe, Nikolai Quarter, Museum Island Day 3 – Berlin guided sightseeing tour: Checkpoint Charlie, Potsdamer Platz, Berlin Wall, Brandenburg Gate, Reichstag, Victory Column – Checkpoint Charlie Museum visit – Jewish Museum visit Day 4 – Travel to Warsaw – Warsaw city walk
Train
Berlin(2)
Warsaw(2)
POLAND
GERMANY CZECH REPUBLIC Prague(2) Nuremberg
Krakow(2)
Munich(2)
explorica.ca/ceh
Spring 2021
Vancouver
$3,731
Calgary
$3,731
Winnipeg
$3,701
Toronto
$3,532
Halifax
$3,688
Prices available from all Canadian airports. Prices in table are based on 3/10/2021 departure date. Call for details.
108
Day 5 – Warsaw guided sightseeing tour – Old ghetto visit – Museum of Warsaw Uprising visit – Jewish Institute – Pawiak Prison Visit
Day 6 – Travel to Kraków – Kraków guided sightseeing tour: Wawel Hill, Wawel Castle & Cathedral, Medieval Market Square, Cloth Hall, St. Mary's Basilica, Jewish Quarter Day 7 – Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial & Museum guided excursion – Traditional Polish dinner Day 8 – Travel to Prague – Prague city walk: Charles Bridge, Mala Strana, Old Town Square, Jewish Quarter Day 9 – Prague guided sightseeing tour: Hradcany (Prague Castle), Visit St. Vitus Cathedral – KGB museum Days 10–12: Extension in Munich Travel home or travel to Munich via Nuremberg. Highlights: World War II Art Bunker guided tour, Nuremberg Trial site, Munich guided sightseeing tour, Dachau Concentration Camp & Memorial
CANADIAN HISTORY Day 1 – Travel to Berlin Day 2 – Meet your Tour Director – Berlin city walk: Alexanderplatz, Bebelplatz, Hackesche Höfe, Nikolai Quarter, Museum Island Day 3 – Berlin guided sightseeing tour: Checkpoint Charlie, Potsdamer Platz, Berlin Wall, Brandenburg Gate, Reichstag, Victory Column – The Story of Berlin visit – DDR Museum visit Day 4 – Travel to Dresden via Leipzig – Leipzig guided sightseeing tour: Augustus Square, Old Town Hall, St. Thomas Church – Museum of Military History visit
Day 7 – Travel to Munich – Dachau Concentration Camp & Memorial visit Day 8 – Munich guided sightseeing tour: Residenz, Nymphenburg Palace Gardens, Alte Pinakothek, Deutsches Museum, BMW Headquarters visit, Olympic site of 1972, Frauenkirche, Neues Rathaus, Marienplatz/ Glockenspiel, Hofbräuhaus – Bavarian bratwurst dinner
Germany: WWII History CANADIAN HISTORY 9 DAYS | 7 NIGHTS | Extension available CITIES VISITED (NIGHT STAYS): Berlin (2), Leipzig, Dresden (1), Nuremberg (1), Munich (3) Full European breakfast daily (except arrival day) Dinner daily (except departure day)
Days 9–11: Extension in Vienna Travel home or travel to Vienna via Berchtesgaden. Highlights: Eagle's Nest Excursion, Vienna guided sightseeing tour, Jewish Museum, Wiener Schnitzel dinner
(1) Berlin(2) Leipzig
Day 5 – Dresden guided sightseeing tour: Frauenkirche, Bruhlsche Terrasse, Furstenzug – Travel to Nuremberg – Nuremberg city walk
Dresden(1)
GERMANY Nuremberg(2)
Day 6 – War Crimes Trial Museum visit – Nazi Party Rally Grounds visit – Documentation Centre visit
Vienna(2)
Munich(2) Berchtesgaden
explorica.ca/geh
Spring 2021
Vancouver
$3,639
Calgary
$3,639
Winnipeg
$3,578
Toronto
$3,426
Halifax
$3,583
Prices available from all Canadian airports. Prices in table are based on 3/10/2021 departure date. Call for details.
109
AUSTRIA
CANADIAN HISTORY
Day 1 – Travel to Hong Kong
Canadian History: Battle of Hong Kong CANADIAN HISTORY 11 DAYS | 9 NIGHTS | Tour must depart 12/5/2021 CITIES VISITED (NIGHT STAYS): Hong Kong (3), Shanghai (2), Xi'an (1), Beijing (2) Full European breakfast daily (except arrival day) Lunch daily Dinner daily (except departure day)
Train(1) Xi’an(1) Shanghai(2)
CHINA
Day 4 – Hong Kong guided battlefield tour Day 5 – Fly to Shanghai – High-speed Shanghai Maglev Train transfer – Shanghai residential quarter walk: Residential quarters, local families visit
Day 8 – Xi'an guided sightseeing tour: Terracotta Warriors Museum visit, Huaqing Palace visit, hot springs visit, Banpo Village Ruins & Museum visit – Overnight train to Beijing Day 9 – Tai chi exercise – Beijing guided sightseeing tour: Tiananmen Square visit, Forbidden City visit, Jingshan Mountain, Summer Palace visit, National Stadium (Bird's Nest), National Aquatic Center (Water Cube), jade and pearl factory visit, local tea house visit – Optional: kung fu show Day 10 – Beijing Zoo pandas visit – Great Wall of China visit – Ming Tombs visit – Local tea house visit – Peking duck dinner Day 11 – Travel home
(1) Hong Kong(3)
explorica.ca/bhk
Vancouver
$4,253
Calgary
$4,489
Winnipeg
$4,489
Toronto
$4,438
Halifax
$4,438
Prices available from all Canadian airports. Prices in table are based on 12/5/2021 departure date. Call for details.
110
Day 3 – Hong Kong guided sightseeing tour: Star Ferry ride across Victoria Harbour, Kowloon, Victoria Peak, Tai Po Man Mo Temple visit, Repulse Bay, Stanley Market
Day 6 – Shanghai guided sightseeing tour: Yu Yuan Garden, Chenghuagmiao Bazaar, Jade Buddha Temple visit, Oriental Pearl Tower visit, Shanghai museum visit, Bund – Shanghai city walk: Bund, Children's Palace, Nanjing Road, Jade Buddha Temple visit – Acrobatic show
Beijing(2)
Dec 5, 2021
Day 2 – Meet your Tour Director
Day 7 – Fly to Xian – Xi'an city walk: Ancient City Wall, Greater Wild Goose Pagoda visit – Optional: Tang Dynasty singing and dancing show
“We must take adventures in order to know where we truly belong.”
A letter from our General Manager
- James, Student
Dear Traveller, There’s an endless world to explore outside of your classroom, and we are excited to help you and your students to experience it! At WorldStrides Explorica, we take educational travel – every part of it – to the highest levels of eye-opening discovery, quality learning, and genuine enthusiasm. From the support of our team of seasoned travel consultants to our ability to customize an itinerary that’s perfect for your group, our goal is simple: to be your trusted partner and exceed your expectations for safety, security, quality, price, and overall peace of mind. Most of our tours span 10 days, but the memories they create? They last forever. That’s why our emphasis on a superior planning process is our highest priority, from our first phone call to the day you and your group return. It all starts with listening to you. Where you want to go, what you want to do, how your students will learn along the way – this is where our partnership begins. And since we’ve joined the WorldStrides family, we can deliver even more travel options, with even greater support and flexibility, across the globe. As you look through these pages, you’ll see just what I mean – we’ve never had more programs than we do now, and this makes our entire team immensely proud. Trip after trip, year after year, we are always improving, innovating, and increasing our ability to give you and your students the tools and resources you need to feel the excitement of new places. Here’s to you, your students, and future adventures in educational travel! Cordially,
David Conklin General Manager, CPA, CA WorldStrides Explorica
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2020/2021
3080 Yonge Street Suite 5052, Toronto, ON M4N 3N1
Experiences that Enlighten
Hello! Yassou! Bonjour! Ni Hao! Cheers! Grüetzi! G'day! ¡Hola! Ciao! Guten Tag!
The experience is everything
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explorica.ca
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