etrtours C u s t o m i z e d S t u d e n t Tr a v e l
“ Educational Travel for
International Schools
�
Ch emin d e Longer aie 9 - 1006 Lausanne Switze r la n d
Te l: +41 21 633 4455 F a x: +41 21 633 4454
www.et rto u r s .co m
Welcome Message In the educational travel industry, there is no greater compliment than repeat business. None. At etr, 88% of groups which travelled with us last year travelled with us this year. Quite an achievement. But we couldn’t have done it without you. Our motivation is the same now as it was in 1989, to provide international schools just like yours with exceptional, tailor-made educational travel. More than two decades later, we’re proud to say that’s exactly what we do. And our international school clients think we do it pretty well. And when we say “we”, we mean the whole etr team. From the remarkable lineup of global tour leaders, to IT and accounting departments to our dedicated team of tour administrators and directors, together we strive to bring you top value, time-efficient out-of-class experiences for your students. With this small brochure, we are simply hoping to introduce ourselves, our experience and our commitment to safe, rewarding student travel. For more details, just drop us a line. Wishing you a great 2012 – 2013 academic year, Alan, Andrea, Fanny, Annick, Hugo, Sirah, Melvina, Kent, David, Rainer, Mari-Ann, Natacha, Andreas, Beatriz, Ana, Jorge, Armand, Craig, Xuyen, Christina, Tim, Kunjan, Riccardo, Renato, Maite, Tamer, Hung, Michele, Jacques, Dave, Sandra, Greg and the rest of the etr team.
Table of Contents 03
Why choose etr
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etr Programs
06-07
List of Destinations
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Community Service Programs
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etr Tour Leaders
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Photo Gallery
etr
What makes etr different? First, and most importantly, we have over 23 years’ experience providing quality travel programs for international schools just like yours. We’re a friendly, personal company, staffed by topnotch employees who have thorough destination knowledge and years of travel industry expertise. We couple this with excellent customer service, flexibility, and attention to detail. The result? Great value, inspiring, and time-efficient tour programs that help enhance curricula for international schools.
etr tours is a member of:
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Why Choose
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etr programs
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One cannot place a single label on the collection of etr destinations for they are some of the most diverse, exciting student destinations in the world. Comprehensive in scope and geographically wide ranging, we have developed rewarding student adventures for you and your students to explore and enjoy. And when viewing our list of global offerings please remember that each and every destination is continually updated, thoroughly researched and that your program will be custom designed for your specific student group. It is our commitment to quality and personalized service which drives the planning process and only etr can provide that level of expertise.
Europe Thanks to geography and fine-tuned transportation, our European destinations are more accessible than ever before. We’ve actually had students in St. Peter’s at mid-morning and atop the Eiffel tower by dusk. But we suggest you do things a bit more slowly as fantastic culture and history will keep you dazzled for days in any etr city you choose. The European capitals abound with top-notch art, music, architecture and flair, and the provincial regions each have their own distinct local history, traditions and loads of local personality.
Asia As a land of diverse student destinations, the world’s largest continent, Asia, truly does have a lot going for it. Just a quick glance finds that from India’s Taj Mahal, to the Angkor temple ruins in Cambodia, to the Great Wall of China, some of humanity’s most renowned architectural wonders fill this land, and it’s no wonder considering the multitude of religious and cultural groups which make this region home.
Middle East The legendary landscapes of the Middle East have captured the imagination of artists, poets, and travellers for millennia. To venture here is to trace the arc of civilization, from the sandstone city at Petra, to the towering pyramids at Giza, to the thronging metropolis that is modern Cairo. Let etr guide you through this part of the Middle East, land of myth and magic.
Latin America Thousands of years of history, tremendous ecological and geographical diversity, native traditions and modern culture all combine to make Latin America one of the most vibrant, fascinating and breathtakingly beautiful continents our globe holds. Whether you seek to retrace the footsteps of the Incas, trek through lush rainforest, climb to top of a smoking volcano, or experience firsthand the rich mix of indigenous and European traditions, this is your paradise.
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Despite the varied travel opportunities presented by this vast continent, we at etr focus our attention on only two very popular and very hospitable countries, Kenya and South Africa. As with all etr programmes, our Kenya and South Africa offerings are customized designed to your requirements. Learn more by visiting our website.
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Africa
www.etrtours.com
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List of Destinations
Spain
Russia
ANDALUSIA Granada • Seville • Cordoba Spanish Language • Exploration
Costa Rica
MADRID and or BARCELONA Spanish Language Culture • History • Art
France
PARIS French Language & Culture Historical Exploration • Art ROMAN & MEDIEVAL FRANCE Nimes • Arles • Avignon Carcassonne NORMANDY D-Day and the Landing Beaches Rural Life • Local Crafts • Chateaux LOIRE VALLEY Art • Architecture Chateaux • History COTE D’AZUR Culture • Art • Activities in Nice Nimes • Monaco • French Language
Turkey
ISTANBUL • EPHESUS • TROY CAPPADOCIA Ancient Civilizations Ottoman History • Islamic Culture
India
RAJASTHAN EXPLORATION Udiapur • Jodhpur • Jaisalmer Forts • Palaces Camel Safari •
Egypt
CAIRO • LUXOR • ASWAN Egyptian Culture • Ancient History Islamic Religion and Heritage
MOSCOW • ST.PETERSBURG Culture • Art • History White Winter Weeks
MONTEVERDE • ARENAL Environmental Exploration Tropical Flora Fauna Rainforest Discovery
Switzerland
LAUSANNE • GENEVA Culture • Arts • Around the lake and in the mountains French Language Program
England
LONDON Culture • History • Art Theatre • Literature HISTORIC TOWNS Windsor • Bath Stratford-upon-Avon
Greece
Nepal
KATHMANDU • POKHARA Annapurna Trek
Bali
ATHENS • PELOPONNESE CRETE • THE ISLANDS Greek Culture • Ancient Civilisation
UBUD • PACUNG • CANDIDASA Balinese Cultural Immersion Outdoor Adventure • Environment Religion • Art • Music
Jordan
Peru
PETRA • JERASH • WADI RUM Crusades • Arabic Culture • History Desert Exploration
LIMA • AMAZONIA • CUSCO Inca Trail Trek • Peruvian Culture Environmental Awareness Sacred Valley • Machu Picchu
Thailand
Italy
Vietnam
SICILY Culture • Archaeology Historical Round Island Tour
BANGKOK • CHIANG MAI Thai Culture • History Community Service
HANOI • SAPA • HUE • HCMC Culture • History • Trekking Community Service
Cambodia
SIEM REAP • PHNOM PENH Community Service Temples of Angkor Wat
ROME • FLORENCE • VENICE Renaissance History and Art
South Africa
CAPE & KRUGER • SWAZILAND Wildlife • Outdoor Adventure Environment • Traditional Life
Germany
MUNICH AND BAVARIA WWII • Castles • History Bicycle Tours BERLIN The Cold War • Art • WWII Potsdam • Industries
Austria & Hungary
SALZBURG • ZELL AM SEE Outdoor Adventure and Activities VIENNA & BUDAPEST History • Music • Art
China
BAY OF NAPLES Roman Culture in Sorrento, Herculaneum and Pompeii
BEIJING • XIAN • GUILIN • LHASA HONG KONG • YANGSHUO SHANGHAI • CHENGDU Chinese Art • Culture • Economics Ancient & Contemporary History Calligraphy • Martial Arts
Poland
Portugal
KRAKOW • WARSAW • ZAKOPANE WWII • Holocaust • Polish Culture Bicycle Tours
LISBON • PORTO • ALGARVE Age of Discovery • Culture
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PRAGUE Habsburg Empire • History Can combine with Krakow
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Czech Republic
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Community Service Programs Sometimes, the most eye-opening travel experiences are found far beyond celebrated museums and monuments. Across the globe, etr student groups are discovering that service travel offers an unmatched opportunity to connect with—and give back to—local communities. We are proud to offer innovative, impactful community service programs in a variety of locations, including Cambodia, Nepal, Vietnam, Peru, Russia, South Africa and Thailand. We rely on more than two decades of experience in service travel to create rewarding, meaningful itineraries. With etr, students have planted trees in Nepal, built houses in Vietnam and classrooms in Thailand, painted orphanages in South Africa, constructed playgrounds in St. Petersburg, and more. Each program is designed to provide tangible assistance for those in need, and creates a responsible, lasting impact in the community. At the same time, these life-changing programs help students develop a firsthand appreciation for today’s global challenges. etr believes that purposeful travel can make a world of difference, not just for the communities we serve but for your students, as well.
etr is perhaps the best tour company I have ever used for arranging school study trips. K.B., Saudi Arabia
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dedicating their expertise and energy to create meaningful experiences for young travelers in destinations across the globe. We are immensely proud that our leaders have been with etr for an average of eight years. Whether exploring museums in London, roaming the ruins at Machu Picchu, or building a home in Vietnam, they will be there every step of the way to inspire and engage your students.
Lizette Kent Carole
Each and every of our 27 Tour Directors embody etr’s commitment to student travel in the most essential way, by
Craig
Every etr program is led by an experienced, friendly professional with first-rate destination knowledge and a passion for student travel. Our leaders are reliable, resourceful, and excellent communicators. They are flexible and detail-oriented, so whether your journey unfolds in a remote wilderness area or one of the world’s great capital cities, your etr Tour Director will capably manage logistics to ensure a smooth, memorable trip. Above all, each leader is friendly and engaging—the kind of dinner companion one would like to have for that historic Parisian restaurant, or the guide you’d choose for the challenging hike up Cape Town’s Table Mountain.
Jacques
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Truly inspirational tours require truly inspirational people. And at etr, we are fortunate to have some of the best Tour Directors in the business.
Michèle
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etr Tour Leaders
We had been in contact with other tour operators other than you, but I must admit yours was heads and shoulders above the rest in every single aspect. P.B., Kenya