Tour program august 2012 – june 2013
g n i ep over e K sc di www.academytravel.com.au
Thank you! The feedback provided by our travellers is of the utmost importance to us. Your experiences on our tours help us to plan the range of destinations, how we pace our tours, the level of accommodation and of course our choice of tour leaders. We greatly appreciate the many positive comments about what we do, but every now and again your comments really warm our hearts. Karin Spiegel Keighley of Golden Vale in the Southern Highlands in New South Wales travelled on our Laos and Angkor trip in November 2011. Thank you Karin, for writing such a lovely letter.
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Brit ient fragment . Photo:
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Tour leader Darryl Col
The Bayon temples. Photo: Mary -Ann Rose
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‌.. I tho roughly enjo yed the tou r through bot h cou ntr ies. The man age men t was exc elle nt and we were ver y wel l and che erf ully look ed after. Not hing was too much tro uble and all fun ctio ned like cloc kwork . The lect ure r (Da rry l Coll ins) was exc elle nt as wel l. Wh ilst visi ting tem ples and ruin s he was always ope n to que stio ns; not hing was too much tro uble and he had a che erf ul att itude. Hotel acc ommodation, rest aurant s and picn ics were of a goo d sta nda rd wit h sup erb loca l mea ls. We visi ted so many site s, all of which were of inte rest, but, of cou rse, Ang kor was the high ligh t – so much to see and wh at a hist ory ! It was a priv ilege to have visi ted this wor ld-reno wned site in the com pany of such wel l-in for med guides. I particu larl y enjo yed the leis ure ly travel, severa l nigh ts in hotels and severa l day s in the same plac e, wit hou t eve r feel ing rushed . May I also say that it was a par ticu larl y nice gro up of peo ple to travel wit h. You rs sinc erel y, Kar in Spie gel Keighley
l Hole
Sunset on the Mekong. Photo: Rache
Keep discovering
Contents
Dear Traveller,
USA 4
We are pleased to present our June 2012 brochure, containing details of remaining journeys for 2012 and a look at our program for the first part of 2013. As always, we aim to provide a stimulating range of destinations and cater to a wide range of interests – fine arts, archaeology, history and music in particular.
ASIA 6
November and December are ideal times to travel to southern Asia – the weather has cooled down and the mass tourist rush has yet begun. Our photographers’ tour to Sri Lanka and our journey to Laos and Angkor promise great experiences.
EUROPE 8 ITALY 18 MIDDLE EAST, TURKEY and africa
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Coming up
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Making a BOOKING
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Regular Academy Travel tour participants will notice a range of new tours to Europe and the UK in 2013, including Scotland, Russia and several outstanding music tours, among them an extended visit to Paris to attend the Paris Opera’s production of Wagner’s Ring Cycle, sure to be a highlight of the 2013 bicentenary of the composer’s birth. Some of our tours later this year have very limited availability, and many are already sold out. There are just two or three places remaining on the European Summer Music Festivals and North-East USA tours in September. Thanks for your interest in our program, and happy travelling! The Academy Travel team Sydney and Rome
detailed itineraries Detailed 10–12 page itineraries are available for all our tours. They contain a day-by-day itinerary, hotel information and air travel options and a description of the physical requirements of the tour. Contact us to receive a printed copy, or download them from our website www.academytravel.com.au. Front cover: This extraordinary image shows Europe and Asia in the form of a Queen. The map was produced in Basel, Switzerland, in 1570. The map accompanied an image of Sebastian Munster’s Cosmographia, a description of the known world, first published in 1544.
Tour product managers: Mark Lalor, Liselle Pullen Images, website and itineraries: Damien Flint Design: Pro Bono Publico
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North-East USA September 19 – october 8, 2012 May 5 – 21, 2013
4t o0nly) $la9nd ,c6 e t on n ment le
( pp share le su , twin 70 sing n o s r e $2,8 per p
OVERVIEW
Itinerary and highlights
Discover the wealth of art, architecture and history in some of America’s most famous cities. Our popular tour returns in 2012, with a special focus on the architecture of Frank Lloyd Wright. We begin with five nights in Chigaco, the hub of the Mid-West, brimming with fine buildings, art galleries and exuberant public sculpture. We then travel to Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, visiting the Carnegie Museum of Art and taking a day trip to America’s most famous house, Lloyd Wright’s Fallingwater. Over four nights in Washington we witness how the grand aims of the Union are expressed in monumental art and architecture, and take an excursion to Thomas Jefferson’s remarkable Monticello estate in Virginia. The tour concludes in New York, where we enjoy a private out-of-hours visit to the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Accommodation is in comfortable fourstar hotels throughout. A three-night extension tour to Boston is also available.
Day 1: Depart Australian cities in morning and arrive in Chicago the same evening.
Your tour leader Robert Veel holds a Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Education from the University of Sydney. He led his first tour to Italy in 1990 and since then has designed and led more than 25 tours to Italy, Turkey, Asia and the United States. The May 2013 tour will be led by Stuart Barrie.
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Days 2–5: Our sightseeing in Chicago includes the wonderful public design of Millennium Park, the renowned Art Institute of Chicago, an architectural river cruise and a full day exploring Frank Lloyd Wright’s houses in Oak Park and other venues around the city. Days 5–7: We fly from Chicago to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Our first stop is the Carnegie Museum of Art, housing benefactor Andrew Carnegie’s collection of ‘masterpieces of tomorrow’, mainly mid-19th and early 20th-century works. A highlight of the tour is our full-day excursion to Frank Lloyd Wright’s Fallingwater. Completed in 1939, its dramatic setting over a river and its revolutionary modernist architecture made it instantly famous. Days 7–11: A four-hour coach trip takes us to Washington DC, where we spend four days exploring the great monuments and galleries of the nation’s capital. Highlights include the National Gallery, with its superb collections of American and European art, the Capitol and Hillwood House, the beautiful and somewhat eccentric home of entrepreneur Marjorie Merewether Post. We also take a long day trip to neighbouring Virginia to tour Thomas Jefferson’s inspired residence and plantation of Monticello, a site that reveals much about the great man. Days 11–18: A full week in New York gives us a chance to visit both some famous sites and some less-well-known ones. Walking tours led by local experts from the Municipal
Carefully planned itineraries
Arts Society introduce us to the architecture, history and development of the city. As well as famous art museums such as the Metropolitan and the Frick Collection, we also tour the recently opened Museum of Art and Design and walk the innovative ‘high line’ above the Chelsea district. A private beforeopening viewing of the Museum of Modern Art, a Broadway musical and a night at the Metropolitan Opera round out the program. Day 18: Return flight to Australia in the evening or commence three-night Boston extension tour.
Canada
Chicago
New York Pittsburgh Washington
USA
getting there Qantas, Delta and Virgin Australia offer flights from Australian cities to the USA. Please contact us for competitive fares on these airlines or another airline of your choice.
Southern USA April 15 – 30, 2013
$7,8 9
0
per p er $2,0 son, twin sh 60 s a ingle re (land co n supp leme tent only) nt
Itinerary and highlights
Overview
Day 1: Arrive New Orleans in the evening and transfer to hotel.
The Southern and Southwestern United States offer a broad range of natural, historic and artistic sites that will both delight you and broaden your understanding of the diverse range of people and traditions that make up this part of the country, far from the major centres of the north. Our 16-day tour offers a series of snapshots of life in the South and the Southwest. We begin in New Orleans, with its exceptional music and distinctly Caribbean atmosphere. In Dallas we visit some of the best art galleries in the United States, housed in fine modern buildings. In Santa Fe we experience the beauty of the American desert and encounter traditional Pueblo Indians as well as the writers and artists such as Georgia O’Keeffe, who ‘discovered’ this corner of the country in the first decades of the 20th century. We then travel to Arizona to visit the Grand Canyon, one of the world’s most exhilarating natural sites. The tour ends in Las Vegas, where world-class entertainment sits side by side with over-the-top architecture.
Days 2–5: From our base in New Orlean’s atmospheric French Quarter we explore the history, architecture, museums and galleries of this unique city. We also visit the villas of the 19th-century Garden District and take a day trip along the Mississippi to visit some imposing antebellum plantations. We also sample New Orleans’ vibrant jazz music scene. Days 5–8: On arrival in Dallas we visit Dealey Plaza and the Sixth Floor Museum, site of the assassination of JF Kennedy. Dallas and neighbouring Fort Worth contain an astounding range of cultural institutions and some impressive modern architecture. We visit the Dallas Art Museum, the Nasher Sculpture Garden, the Museum of Modern Art and the much-
loved Kimble Art Museum in Fort Worth. An evening has been set aside for the Dallas Opera or the Dallas Symphony, and we also visit the vast Dallas Cowboys Stadium, home to a contemporary art collection. Days 8–13: A five-night stay in Santa Fe, New Mexico, gives us a feel for the Southwest. Santa Fe boasts stunning and varied desert scenery. We explore the Pueblo Indian and Spanish colonial heritage, together with the galleries and museums of this major art centre. From Santa Fe we take excursions to Taos, the Rio Grande, the Los Alamos Nuclear Laboratory and Georgia O’Keefe’s ranch, Abiquiu. Days 13–15: An afternoon rail journey takes us to Arizona. We spend two nights on the southern rim of the Grand Canyon, with a full day to enjoy the views, walk the rim or take a helicopter ride over the canyon. Days 15–16: We drive to Las Vegas via the desert and the Hoover Dam. On our last evening we attend one of the many outstanding shows on offer in this unique city. The final morning is free before a farewell lunch and an evening transfer to the airport for homeward flights.
USA Las Vegas Santa Fe Grand Canyon Dallas New Orleans
MEXICO
getting there
Your tour leader This tour is led by Robert Veel. See page 4 for details.
Qantas, Delta and Virgin Australia offer flights from Australian cities to the USA. Please contact us for competitive fares on these airlines or another airline of your choice.
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Sri Lanka: A Photographer’s Paradise November 23 – december 11, 2012
,9),9app0rox. $5 ly prox. nt on
conte nt, ap (land uppleme e r a h s s single , twin erson $1,650 per p
Overview
Itinerary and highlights
One of Asia’s hidden gems, Sri Lanka is a country full of unspoilt natural beauty, wildlife sanctuaries, tea plantations, World Heritage-listed ancient sites and beautiful beaches. The island has a great deal to offer the avid photographer. From the food to the culture, arts and warm hospitality, Sri Lanka is truly a land of serendipity. This 18-day itinerary begins with the ancient cities of Dambulla, Sigiriya and Anuradhapura where we see amazing rock formations, cave temples filled with Buddhist imagery and archaeological ruins. In Kandy we visit one of Buddhism’s most sacred sites and possibly run into a few elephants at the Temple of the Sacred Tooth. We spend a night at a tea plantation in the hills and go on safari in Yala in search of elusive leopards. Finally we explore the colonial town of Galle, famous for its fort, spices and colonial Dutch, Portuguese and British architecture.
Day 1: Arrive in Negombo.
your tour leader Robin Nichols is well known through his regular classes and photography tours to locations around the world. He has been a professional photographer for more than 30 years. Robin’s good sense of humour and approachable style have made him a popular teacher and tour leader.
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Expert tour leaders
Days 2–4: We travel to the ancient city of Anuradhapura, the capital for 1000 years. The sprawling complex contains a rich collection of architectural and archaeological sites. It was here that Buddhism was introduced to Sri Lanka. Days 5–7: Heading to Kandalama for three nights, we see the 12-metre standing Buddha carved out of the rock at Aukana, and photograph the extraordinary art in Dambulla caves. The World Heritage-listed site of Sigiriya is famous for its frescoes and terraced gardens dating to the 5th century. A full day is spent in the second ancient capital of Polonnaruwa, where we visit the museum and the royal palace. Days 8–9: Our next two days are spent in Kandy visiting the Sacred Temple, which houses Sri Lanka’s most important religious relic and was also used as a royal palace. We also visit the Peredinya Botanic gardens. Day 10: We ascend to the hill station town of Nuwara Eliya, a cool retreat for the British plantation owners. We visit a tea plantation and photograph the colonial architecture. Days 11–12: Two nights in Yala allow us to embark on a full-day safari into the National Park, where it is possible to see leopards, elephants, deer and buffaloes. Days 13–15: Galle is a World Heritage-listed site, a fort begun by the Portuguese but completed by the Dutch and British. It was a major trading port and served as a base for the Dutch East India Company.
A relaxing three days are spent wandering the fort area, which is a unique photographic destination full of boutique shops, cafes, museums and old houses. Days 16–17: Our final two nights are spent in the present-day capital of Colombo, where we undertake a walking tour photographing the colonial architecture and visit the National Museum. Day 18: Flights depart Colombo in the early hours of the morning.
getting there Singapore and Malaysian Airlines flights service Colombo daily from Australian cities via Singapore and Kuala Lumpur. Please contact us for competitive fares.
SRi Lanka Anuradhapura
Dambulla
Negombo Colombo
Kandy Nuwara Eliya
Yala Galle
Laos and Angkor: Royal cities of Indochina november 25 – december 10, 2012
$4,7 00
per p er $1,10 son, twin sh ar 0 sin gle s e (land con upple ment tent only)
Itinerary and highlights
Overview
Day 1: Flights leave Australian cities in the afternoon. The group assembles at Bangkok Airport, and spends the night at a hotel at the airport.
Although rapidly emerging destinations, Laos and Cambodia still offer a refreshing travel experience and a genuine sense of discovery. This 14-day tour surveys these two fascinating countries, not known to the West until the French explorations of the late 19th century. In Laos we begin in the mountainous north, spending four nights in Luang Prabang, a World Heritage-listed site on the banks of the Mekong, brimming with fine historic temples, French colonial architecture and great natural scenery. From here we head to the sleepy capital Vientiane, and then south to the remote Mekong River islands, where we visit Khmer archaeological sites and enjoy the traditional villages of a region where time seems to have stood still. In Cambodia we visit the outstanding World Heritagelisted site of Angkor, one of the world’s great archaeological sites, requiring several days to be fully appreciated.
Days 2–6: We fly to Luang Prabang and spend four days touring this beautiful town, which enjoys an idyllic setting on the banks of the Mekong, surrounded by mountains. We learn about the architecture, art and traditions of the dozens of historic Buddhist temples that adorn this former capital. The town also boasts some of the bestpreserved French colonial architecture in Indochina, much of it converted into excellent restaurants, cafes and shops. During our stay we also take a boat trip along one of the tributaries of the Mekong and visit an elephant sanctuary.
Luang Prabang Vientiane
Laos M
o ek
ng
R
ive r
THAILAND Angkor
CAMBODIA
Pakze
Days 6–8: A short stop in the capital city, Vientiane, gives us the opportunity to visit the fine Wat Sisaket temple, see the collection of Buddhist sculpture at Haw Pra Kaew and learn about Lao textiles, a centuries-old tradition. Days 8–11: We fly to Pakze in the south of Laos. From here we travel to the remote island of Don Daeng, directly across the Mekong from the 6th–8th century ruins of Wat Phu, an early Khmer site. We also visit the ‘4,000 islands’ region, close to the border with Cambodia. Here the Mekong opens out to many kilometres wide, and on the river islands we can witness village life that seems to have been barely touched by the 20th and 21st centuries. Days 11–14: We fly to Siem Reap in Cambodia’s north. This pleasant (if rapidly expanding) town is close to the extensive ruins of Angkor, capital of the powerful Khmer Empire from the 8th to the 16th centuries. We visit remote temple groups as well as the main sites of Angkor Wat, Angkor Thom and the Bayon. Day 14: We fly to Bangkok and home, or commence an optional two-day extension tour to the Cambodian capital, Phnom Penh.
Don Daeng
getting there Qantas and Thai Airways offer daily services to and from Bangkok. Please contact us for competitive fares with these or another airline of your choice.
Your tour leader Darryl Collins holds a Master of Arts degree from the Australian National University, specialising in Asian art. He first travelled to Cambodia as part of a team from the National Gallery of Australia. He has been a resident of Cambodia for more than 10 years and has led many specialist tours to the region.
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Music Festivals: Salzburg, Schwarzenberg and Lucerne august 23 – september 6, 2012
70nly) o $8d c,o3 ntent ent
plem re (lan in sha single sup w t , n erso 50 per p $1,0
Overview Be quick! Two places only remaining on this tour! This 14-day tour is designed to appeal to those with a passion for orchestral, chamber and instrumental music. The itinerary incorporates 11 performances at three important music festivals in Austria and Switzerland — the Salzburg Summer Festival, the Schubertiade in Schwarzenberg in the Austrian Alps and the renowned Lucerne Festival. Participants will hear orchestral, chamber and operatic performances of the highest calibre, surrounded by outstanding Alpine scenery.
Your tour leader For more than 20 years, tour leader Robert Gay has presented music history courses for the Centre for Continuing Education at the University of Sydney. Over the same period he has designed and led more than 60 musical and cultural tours to Europe and America. His enthusiasm is infectious and his knowledge of music history vast.
Itinerary and highlights
ELEVEN OUTSTANDING Performances
Day 1: We assemble at Munich airport, then take a coach to Salzburg in Austria.
• Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Sir Simon Rattle, with works by Brahms and Lutoslowski • Handel’s opera Giulio Cesare, with Cecilia Bartoli, Andreas Scholl, Anne Sofie von Otter and Il Giardino Armonico • Duets by Schumann and Mendelssohn, with Dorothea Roschmann (soprano) and Angelika Kirschlager (mezzo) • Chamber works by Haydn, Mozart and Brahms (clarinet quintet), with the Modigliani Quartet and Sabine Meyer (clarinet) • Piano works by Beethoven and Chopin, performed by Leif Ove Andsnes • Lieder by Schubert, performed by Angelika Kirschlager (mezzo) • Schubert’s Die schöne Müllerin, sung by Christophe Pregardien (tenor) • Lieder by Schubert and chamber works by Schonberg and Richard Strauss, with Thomas Quasthoff (baritone) • Three concerts by leading European orchestras at the Lucerne Festival (details to be advised)
Days 1–3: We have the Salzburg Festival, with the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra and Handel’s Giulio Cesare, plus a walking tour of Salzburg and time to relax. Day 4: We travel by coach through the Austrian Alps to Dornbirn, our base for the Schwarzenberg Schubertiade, visiting the small city of Innsbruck en route. Days 4–7: At the Schwarzenberg Schubertiade we attend six concerts of chamber, soloist and vocal works in the village of Schwarzenberg. There will also be an excursion to the pretty town of Lindau in southern Germany. Day 8: We travel by coach to Lucerne, spending most of the day on the island of Mainau, on Lake Constance. Days 8–13: At the Lucerne Festival we attend two orchestral concerts by leading European orchestras, plus one smaller-scale concert. There will also be visits to the Richard Wagner museum and small, private art galleries in the city. We will also take a day trip to Zurich to visit the Kunsthaus, Zurich’s excellent art gallery, and other sites. Day 14: We transfer to Zurich airport, where the tour ends.
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Maximum 20 in a group
Getting there Singapore Airlines, Thai Airways and Emirates offer daily flights from Australia to Munich and home from Zurich. Please contact us for competitive fares with these or another airline of your choice.
Art and History in London september 9 – 24, 2012
$6,9 50
per p er $2,1 son, twin sh 70 sin ar gle s e (land con upple ment tent only)
Overview
By seeing London, I have seen as much of life as the world can show. Samuel Johnson (1709–84) Many Australians have visited London, but how many of us can say that we have truly explored in depth the magnificent heritage of history, art and architecture that the city offers? Long ignored in favour of continental Europe, New York and other cheaper and seemingly more exotic destinations, the strong Australian dollar now makes the city more affordable than ever. We are pleased to present this residentialstyle tour for the first time. Under the expert guidance of Londoner and art expert Angus Haldane, this 14-day tour peels back the rich layers of history and society from medieval London through the Elizabethan period to the glorious days of the 18th and 19th centuries, when London was the centre of the Empire. There is a strong focus on the visual arts, especially painting and architecture, on this tour. The itinerary includes some familiar icons such as the Tower of London and the British Museum, but at its heart are visits to places that are not on the regular tourist beat, full of great art and fascinating history. This includes tours of grand private residences such as the Duke of Northumberland’s Syon Park and the neo-Palladian Chiswick House, whose gardens have just had a multimillion-pound restoration.
highlights Tour leader Angus Haldane is a specialist in painting, and is closely connected with the professional art world in London. Through Angus we have arranged ‘behind the scenes’ visits to a leading gallery and auction house. As well as sites within Greater London, excursions to Cambridge, Henry VIII’s Hampton Court, Bath and Greenwich round out the tour. Accommodation is at the Radisson Edwardian Bloomsbury Hotel, a fourstar superior property in an outstanding central location. The British Museum is a few steps from the hotel, the galleries of Trafalgar Square a 15-minute walk, the Royal Opera at Covent Garden 10 minutes away, Mayfair and Piccadilly about 20 minutes. Right outside the hotel are regular bus connections to the museums of South Kensington. The neighbourhood abounds in restaurants, cafes and small shops. Small group! Maximum 12 places on this tour.
• A survey of medieval London, including the Tower, Westminster Abbey and Windsor Castle • An exploration of Tudor and Elizabethan London, including Hampton Court and the Globe Theatre • A detailed look at Sir Christopher Wren, Nicholas Hawksmoor and the rebuilding of London after the Great Fire. Includes a day trip to Greenwich, St Paul’s Cathedral and a range of churches by Hawksmoor • A look at London and the rise of the British Empire in the 18th century. Includes Syon House, Chiswick House and Sir John Soane’s house • A performance of a new drama production at one of London’s leading theatres • An evening at the Royal Opera in Covent Garden • The British Museum and a walking tour of 19th-century London • Great public art galleries, including the National Gallery, the National Portrait Gallery, the Tate and the Tate Modern
Your tour leader
Getting there Qantas and Singapore Airlines have daily flights to London on the A380. Please contact us for competitive fares with these or another airline of your choice.
London resident Angus Haldane studied classics at Oxford University. His postgraduate qualifications from London’s Courtauld Institute are in Byzantine and Renaissance art. Angus leads tours both for Academy Travel and for some of the UK’s leading cultural tour operators.
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Grand Tour of Spain september 15 – october 3, 2012 April 7 – 23, 2013
,8),9app0rox. $6 ly prox. nt on
conte nt, ap (land uppleme e r a h s s single , twin erson 1,800 per p $
Overview
Itinerary and highlights
Spain’s remarkable history makes it a compelling destination for travellers. Its origins go back to at least the 11th century BC, when it was an important Roman province, while seven centuries of Moorish Islamic civilisation have created an artistic legacy of glittering palaces and mosques. By the 16th century Spanish rulers controlled most of Europe and the New World, heralding an explosion of building and artistic patronage. In the 19th and early 20th centuries a new dynamism and independent spirit emerged, expressed in exuberant modernista art and architecture. Our 17-day tour commences with three nights each in the southern cities of Granada, Cordoba and Sevilla, home to Roman and Moorish treasures. Over three days in Madrid we visit outstanding galleries and royal palaces of the imperial period. Travelling overland to Zaragoza and on to Barcelona we experience some of Spain’s vast countryside. The tour ends in Barcelona, a thoroughly modern city, but one with ancient roots.
Day 1: We assemble in Granada in Spain’s south.
YOUR Tour leader Dr Kathleen Olive holds a doctorate in Italian studies from the University of Sydney and has taught in both Australian and America. Her expertise covers the history, society, art and architecture of medieval and Renaissance Europe. She has led numerous tours for Academy Travel and the University of Sydney.
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Days 2–3: We explore the medieval heritage of Granada, including the Jewish and Moorish residential districts, and tour the Alhambra – a complex of palaces and Islamic water gardens. Days 4–6: We drive to Cordoba via the small town of Baeza, regarded as having the best Renaissance-period architecture in Spain. In Cordoba, we explore one of the great centres of the medieval Islamic world. Sightseeing includes the famous mosque built by the Moorish rulers in the 8th–10th centuries and the Alcazar. We also visit the excellent regional art and archaeology museums. Days 7–9: We travel the short distance to Sevilla for a three-night stay. Sevilla is Andalucia’s biggest city, home to a vast cathedral, medieval palaces, historic residential neighbourhoods and fine gardens.
Days 15–17: We enjoy the vibrant atmosphere of Barcelona, exploring the architecture of Gaudì and the art of Picasso, before we transfer to Barcelona airport for our homeward flight.
Getting there Singapore Airlines flies daily to and from Barcelona. Regional airline Spanair offers flights on to Granada. Please contact us for competitive fares on these or another airline of your choice.
Days 10–12: We take the comfortable and efficient high-speed train from Sevilla to Madrid where we visit three major art museums: the Prado, the Centro de Arte Reina Sofia (home to Picasso’s Guernica) and the Thyssen Bornemisza Collecton. Days 13–14: We travel to the Monastery of El Escorial outside Madrid, built by the Emperor Phillip II and a supreme statement of the power and prestige of Spain in the 16th century. We also visit the beautiful small city of Toledo, perched on a hilltop overlooking the Rio Tajo.
www.academytravel.com.au
Barcelona
spAIN Madrid
Sevilla
Cordoba Granada
Croatia: Istria, the Dalmatian coast and Montenegro september 20 – october 7, 2012
$6,5 90
per p er $1,4 son, twin sh 50 s a ingle re (land co supp leme ntent only) nt
Itinerary and highlights
Overview
Day 1: Flights leave Australian cities in the afternoon and evening.
Croatia offers an irresistible combination of stunning natural scenery and the legacy of a fascinating and diverse cultural heritage. The region has been the site of great Roman palaces, bustling Venetian trading ports and a seaside playground of the Austrian-Hungarian Empire, and once formed part of the Byzantine and Ottoman Empires – each of which has left a lasting influence. Over 18 days we will explore the fascinating historical, cultural and geographic landscape of the region. Travelling from north to south, we will witness the shift from the Europeanlooking Istrian peninsula and Dalmatia to the regions more influenced by Byzantine and Ottoman cultures. Montenegro, now opening up to visitors, offers superb natural scenery, which we enjoy in a day trip from Dubrovnik. Accommodation is in centrally located four- and five-star hotels.
Days 2–6: The group assembles at Venice airport in the early afternoon. A coach transfer takes us across the Croatian border and south to Porec, our base for three nights. From here we tour the Istrian peninsula, inspecting Roman ruins at Pula and the cobblestone streets, historic buildings and 6th-century mosaics of Porec. Days 6–8: After touring hill towns on the peninsula and Krk Island we arrive at the resort town of Opatija, a fashionable holiday spot for the Viennese when the region was part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. We spend a day relaxing among the fin-du-siecle villas and the waterfront promenade. Days 8–10: Continuing down the coast, we enter Dalmatia. We travel the length of the rustic island of Pag (known for its wonderful
Venice
Opatija
Porec
Beram
Croatia
Pula
Days 10–14: A four-night stop in Split gives us plenty of time to enjoy this important city and its surrounds. On our journey there we stop at the impressive 16th-century cathedral at Sibenik. As well as the ruins of the Roman Emperor Diocletian’s palace in the centre of Split, we also visit the ruins of the former Roman capital of Salona, the 13th-century village of Trogir and Hvar Island. Days 14–17: The final part of the tour takes us to the resort town of Dubrovnik for four nights. From here we visit Mostar, a mountain town in neighbouring BosniaHerzegovina famous for its medieval bridge, destroyed and then reconstructed in the recent Balkan War. We also take a day trip to the scenic Bay of Kotor in Montenegro. Plenty of time is allowed to relax and enjoy Dubrovnik’s stunning historic centre, a fortress tucked into a rocky bay on the Adriatic. Day 18: An early-morning flight takes us to Frankfurt, where the tour ends.
Zadar
Split Dubrovnik
italy
goats’ cheese) and stay in Zadar for two nights. The walled port of Zadar has some ancient and medieval ruins, and we also visit the important medieval town of Nin.
Mostar
Getting there
Montenegro
Emirates offers a daily service from Australian capital cities direct to Venice. Please contact us for competitive fares with Emirates or another airline of your choice.
Your tour leader Croatian-born archaeologist Anita Yousif works as a heritage consultant in Sydney. She completed her undergraduate studies in archaeology at the University of Belgrade and holds an MPhil in archaeology from the University of Sydney. She has a thorough knowledge of the history and archaeology of Croatia as well as its culture and traditions. This is Anita’s fourth tour to Croatia for Academy Travel.
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Black forest to berlin Music in germany october 1 – 19, 2012
,5te0nt o0nly) $8 n ent nd co
re (la plem in sha single sup w t , n o s 0 r e 0 p per $1,6
Overview
NINE Outstanding performances
Academy Travel is pleased to present its popular music tour through Germany for the sixth time. For the 2012 tour, there is a strong emphasis on orchestral, choral and operatic music by German composers, with major works by Beethoven, Brahms, Wagner and Mahler. Nine outstanding performances are included with artists and ensembles including Sir John Eliot Gardiner, Riccardo Chailly, Jonathan Nott, the Berlin Philharmonic, the Leipzig Gewandhaus, the Dresden Staatskapelle and the Monteverdi Choir. The itinerary comprises five nights in Baden-Baden in the Black Forest Region, two nights in Frankfurt, three nights in Leipzig, two nights in historic Dresden and three nights in Berlin. As well as performances, we enjoy sightseeing in the Black Forest region, a cruise along the Rhine, and visits to castles and palaces and the historic towns of Heidelberg, Leipzig and Dresden.
Our music tours to Germany are designed around performances of the highest level, intended to appeal to discerning concertgoers. There are nine included performances on the tour. Venues include the Baden-Baden Festspielhaus with its outstanding acoustics, the Frankfurt Opera house, the Gewandhaus in Leipzig, the historic Semperoper in Dresden and Berlin’s Philharmonie. We have reserved the best available seats for all performances.
Your tour leader For more than 20 years, tour leader Robert Gay has presented music history courses for the Centre for Continuing Education at the University of Sydney. Over the same period he has designed and led more than 60 musical and cultural tours to Europe and America. His enthusiasm is infectious and his knowledge of music history vast.
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In Baden-Baden • Mahler’s The Song of the Earth and the Adagio from the unfinished Tenth Symphony, with the Bamberg Symphony Orchestra conducted by Jonathan Nott, with soloists Doris Soffel and Klaus Florian Vogt • Beethoven Missa Solemnis, with the Monteverdi Choir and English Baroque Soloists, conducted by John Eliot Gardiner • Mahler’s Symphony No 5 and Brahms’s Four Serious Songs, with the Bamberg Symphony Orchestra conducted by Jonathan Nott, with soloist Michael Volle
In Dresden • Beethoven’s Fidelio • A French opera gala evening In Berlin • Wagner’s Die Walküre by the Staatsoper Unter Den Linden at the Schiller Theatre • A performance by the Berlin Philharmonic (details to be advised)
Getting there Singapore Airlines, Thai Airways, Etihad and Emirates have daily services to and from Frankfurt, with connecting flights to Berlin. Please contact us for competitive fares.
Berlin
GERMANY
In Frankfurt • Puccini’s La Bohème at the Frankfurt Opera In Leipzig • Shostakovich’s Cello Concerto No 2 and Brahms’s Symphony No 1, with the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra conducted by Riccardo Chailly, with soloist Lynn Harrell
Carefully planned itineraries
Leipzig Dresden
Frankfurt Heidelberg Baden-Baden
Paris and the loire May 11 – 26, 2013
$6,9 50
per p er $1,8 son, twin sh 50 s are (la ingle supp nd conten t only leme nt )
Itinerary and highlights
Overview
Day 1: The group assembles at Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris. We then transfer to Angers and settle in. Days 2–4: We explore the historic heart of Angers and its formidable 13th-century fortress, visit the chateaux at Brissac and Saumur and view the tombs of the Plantagenets at the Abbey of Fontevraud. Days 5–8: We make our way to Tours via the magnificent chateau of Azay-le-Rideau and the gardens of Villandry, restored to their
From the Massif Central the River Loire runs for more than 1000 kilometres, but it is the short stretch it follows through the valley beyond Orleans that has become known as ‘the garden of France’. Here, attracted by the lush landscapes and gentle light, inspired by Renaissance ideals and following the lead set by Francois 1er at Amboise and Blois, the French aristocracy populated the riverbanks with elegant chateaux. This 16-day tour traces the development of these chateaux from fortified castles to extravagant folly, then follows the architectural trail to Paris, where we visit some of the great urban residences of the 20th century. Our itinerary combines tours of some of the iconic as well as lesser-known chateaux with visits to superb gardens and museums and a chance to sample the gastronomic and viticultural heritage for which the area is renowned. Three- and four-star hotels throughout.
Getting there Singapore Airlines, Thai Airways, Etihad and Emirates have daily services to and from Paris. Please contact us for competitive fares.
Paris
FRANCE
Blois
Angers Tours Loire Valley
Renaissance splendour. With four nights in Tours we have time to explore the city’s historic centre and the chateau of Langeais, regarded as one of the best-preserved examples of medieval architecture in France. We also visit romantic Chenonceau, justifiably one of the most popular of the Loire chateaux, and spend time in Chinon, whose old town has retained its medieval and Renaissance character. Its 11th-century chateau has links to a roll call of kings as well as Joan of Arc and the Knights Templar. We also have a chance to sample some of the wines for which the Loire is famous. Days 9–11: We travel to Blois via the chateau of Chaumont, which will be hosting the International Garden Festival, France’s equivalent of the Chelsea Garden Show. In Blois we tour the royal chateau with its exuberant spiral staircase as well as Chambord, one of the great classical palaces, and Cheverny, an elegant privately owned chateau set in beautiful gardens. Days 12–15: We make our way to our boutique hotel in Saint Germain in Paris, our base for the next four nights. We visit the Musée Carnavalet, a showcase of the history of Paris housed in two former mansions; the Musée Cognac-Jay, a display of art and antiques collected by the founders of La Samaritaine department store; and the Nissim de Camondo and Jaquemart-André museums, remarkable personal collections housed in opulent Belle Époque mansions. Day 16: We transfer to the airport for our flights home.
Your tour leader Odette LivingstoneSmith has an MA in art history and for 15 years taught at universities in Surrey and London. She moved to Paris 22 years ago and now resides in the Loire Valley. A fluent French speaker, Odette has led tours for Academy Travel to France and Italy and has lectured on study tours and cruises in Europe, South Africa and Australia. As well as French culture she is interested in Mediterranean civilisations of all periods.
13
Music in Germany
Berlin, Leipzig, Dresden, Frankfurt, Baden-Baden may 3 – 20, 2013
50 $8d c,o3ntent onlye)nt
m (lan hare upple gle s win s t in , s n o ers 00 per p $1,6
Overview Our annual offering of top-level musical performances in Germany continues in 2013. Once again, an exceptional lineup of artists and ensembles presents a varied range of works, with a focus on the German musical tradition from Handel to Richard Strauss, including some rarely performed works such as Wagner’s early opera Rienzi. The best available seats at five operas and four orchestral concerts are included in the tour price. A sightseeing itinerary of some of Germany’s outstanding cultural treasures sits side by side with the musical program. This includes six full days visiting the museums and palaces of Berlin, the important small city of Weimar, historic Dresden, the major musical and literary centre of Leipzig, the Rhine River Valley and the Black Forest.
Your tour leader For more than 20 years, tour leader Robert Gay has presented music history courses for the Centre for Continuing Education at the University of Sydney. Over the same period he has designed and led more than 60 musical and cultural tours to Europe and America. His enthusiasm is infectious and his knowledge of music history vast.
14
Expert tour leaders
NINE Outstanding performances In Berlin • New production of Wagner’s Der fliegende Holländer at the Staatsoper, with Michael Volle in the title role • Handel’s Agrippina, also at the Staatsoper, an early comic work written for Venice • A performance by the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra (details to be advised) In Leipzig • Riccardo Chailly conducts the legendary Gewandhaus orchestra in an all-Brahms concert, featuring the Violin Concerto (with violinist Leonidas Kavakos) and the Fourth Symphony In Dresden • The premiere of Halevy’s rarely performed grand opera La juive at the Semperoper
itinerary The itinerary comprises six nights in Berlin, three nights each in Leipzig and Dresden, one night in Weimar, two nights in Frankfurt and three nights in Baden-Baden. Accommodation is in centrally located fourand five-star hotels.
Above: Wagner’s hero, Rienzi, pleads for justice
Getting there Singapore Airlines, Thai Airways, Etihad and Emirates have daily services to and from Frankfurt, with connecting flights to Berlin. Please contact us for competitive fares.
• Handel’s Orlando, conducted by Rene Jacobs In Frankfurt • Wagner’s rarely performed early work Rienzi at the Frankfurt opera In Baden-Baden • Kent Nagano leads the Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester in Richard Strauss’ symphonic poem Don Quixote and Brahms’ First Symphony • Helmuth Rilling, one of Germany’s bestknown choral conductors, leads the BachCollegium Stuttgart and soloists in Brahms’ Nänie, based on a text by Schiller, and Mendelssohn’s Die erste Walpurgisnacht, based on a text by Goethe
Berlin
GERMANY Leipzig Dresden
Frankfurt
Baden-Baden
Wagner’s Ring Cycle in Paris june 16 – 27, 2013
$8,8 00
per p er $2,5 son, twin sh 00 s a ingle re (land co supp leme ntent only) nt
Itinerary and highlights Day 1: We arrive and settle in to our central Paris hotel. Day 2: After an introductory talk, we travel to the gardens on the western side of the city, visiting the Jardin de Bagatelle, sharing a welcome lunch in Bois du Boulogne and touring the Chateau du Malmaison. Day 3: We enjoy a background talk, followed by a walking tour of the Marais district. In the evening we attend Das Rheingold. Day 4: This morning our background talk is followed by a morning walking tour from the Palais Royale to the Place des Victoires. After a free afternoon, we attend Die Walküre in the evening.
Clockwise from top left: Egils Silins (Wotan), Torsten Kerl (Siegfried), Janice Baird (Brünhilde), Stuart Kelton (Siegmund)
Day 5: A mid-morning excursion to Epernay for a champagne degustation lunch is followed by an afternoon visit to Rheims cathedral. Day 6: We have a full day at leisure, before an evening orchestral performance or recital (details to be advised). Day 7: We visit Chartres to view its fine medieval cathedral. Day 8: We enjoy a background talk in the morning followed by a visit to the medieval masterpieces in the Museé du Cluny, before taking a walking tour through the elegant sixth arrondissement to Saint-Germaindes-Prés. In the evening we attend Siegfried. Day 9: We spend the day visiting the Louvre. Day 10: We take a full-day excursion to Giverny to view Monet’s garden, then visit the provincial city of Rouen. Day 11: After a background talk we have a free morning. In the afternoon/evening we attend a performance of Götterdämmerung. Day 12: We transfer to the airport for our flights home.
Your tour leader This tour is led by Robert Gay. See page 14 for details.
getting there Singapore Airlines, Thai Airways, Etihad and Emirates have daily services to and from Paris. Please contact us for competitive fares.
Overview 2013 marks the bicentenary of the birth of German composer Richard Wagner. Theatres around the world are celebrating by mounting performances of the Ring Cycle, the most challenging assignment in the operatic world. Academy Travel has previously conducted Ring Cycle tours to Vienna and New York. For this special year we have selected Paris, Europe’s most charming capital. The new production at Paris’ Bastille Opera House promises to be a memorable one, led by the dynamic young Swiss conductor Philippe Jordan, and with an original staging by experienced German duo director Günter Krämer and designer Jürgen Bäckmann. While each opera in the cycle will be performed individually in Paris in early 2013, these June performances comprise the only complete run of the entire cycle in Paris. The impressive international cast includes Janice Baird as Brünhilde, Egils Silins as Wotan, Torsten Kerl as Siegfried, Martina Serafin as Sieglinde and Australian tenor Stuart Skelton as Siegmund. Background talks will help us get the most out of performances. The chance to spend an extended period in Paris was one of the reasons we have selected these performances. We included visits to a select range of Parisian attractions, excursions to Chartres, Rheims, Giverny and Rouen and plenty of time to relax and enjoy late spring in Paris. Accommodation is in the boutique four-star Hotel Royal SaintHonoré, located close to Place Vendôme, Paris’ most elegant square.
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Scotland june 8 – 23, 2013
50rox. p $7t o,n9 , ) ly ap rox.
pp ten ent, a d con re (lan supplem a h s le sing , twin erson 1,900 $ per p
Overview
Itinerary and highlights
Scotland offers a range of fascinating sites that appeal to the eye, the mind and the heart, and we are delighted to offer this tour for the first time. The itinerary has been carefully designed to seamlessly combine historic, cultural and natural sites, and is led by historian Dr Carole Cusack, a specialist in medieval society and religion. The tour has a relaxed pace, with several four- and five-night stays. It features the museums, cathedrals and palaces of the cities as well as journeys through Scotland’s renowned countryside and time in smaller centres in the north and the western isles. We’ll explore prehistoric sites, the influence of the Scandinavian world, the castles and monasteries of the Middle Ages, the great battlefields of legend and some remarkable modern sites, such as those associated with Charles Rennie Macintosh. Travelling in June, we’re assured of long daylight hours and mild temperatures. Accommodation is in comfortable, welllocated hotels.
Day 1: We assemble at Glasgow airport, transfer by coach to Edinburgh and settle in. Later we take a walking tour of central Edinburgh and gain a historical overview. Days 2–6: A five-night stay in Edinburgh allows us to explore the city’s main monuments and galleries, including the castle, Holyrood house and the National Gallery. There are also excursions to nearby St Andrews, Dunfermline, Linlithgow and Stirling. Days 6–10: We fly to Kirkwall on the Orkney Islands for a four-night visit. Here Scotland’s prehistory and Scandinavian connections come to the fore, and we visit sites such as Skara Brae, the Broch of Gurness and the Ring of Brodgar, as well as some fine palaces and medieval churches. Days 10–11: A short flight takes us to Inverness in Scotland’s north. Here we visit the site of the Battle of Culloden and take a short cruise on Loch Ness. Days 11–14: We travel to the island of Mull via Glencoe and Oban. After our ferry ride to the island we visit the grave of NSW governor Lachlan Macquarie and the Tobermory distillery. Highlights of our stay on Mull are the legendary monastery island of Iona and Duart Castle, ancestral home of the Clan Maclean.
your tour leader Dr Carole Cusack is an Associate Professor of Religion at the University of Sydney. Her research interests include medieval Christianity and European mythology. She has travelled extensively and led previous tours for Academy Travel.
16
Maximum 20 in a group
Days 14–17: The last leg of our journey takes us via Loch Lomond to Glasgow, a vibrant city. Our sightseeing here incudes the excellent Burrell collection and Pollok House, the cathedral and a number of sites linked to the designer Rennie Macintosh. Day 17: We return to Glasgow airport for our flights home.
getting there Emirates has daily services to and from Glasgow. Please contact us for competitive fares.
Kirkwall
Inverness
SCOTLAND Mull
Dunfermline Glasgow
St Andrews
Edinburgh
st petersburg and moscow september 16 – october 2, 2013
$7,9 50
per p e $1,9 rson, twin 00 s s ingle hare (land c supp leme ontent on nt, ap ly prox. ), approx.
Itinerary and highlights
Overview
Days 1–2: We arrive in St Petersburg and settle in.
We welcome the return of popular tour leader Marina Campbell to our program with this 18-day exploration of Russia’s two principal cities and their environs. The program in St Petersburg includes the incomparable Hermitage, the Russian Museum, Dostoyevsky’s home, Peter and Paul Fortress and the magnificent St Isaacs Cathedral. Day trips from St Petersburg take us to Pushkin, where we will visit the lavish Catherine Palace, a baroque masterpiece, and Pavlovsk, the lovely 18th-century neoclassical palace, which contains one of the most beautiful garden ensembles in Europe. Our sojourn in Moscow includes the ancient Red Square, the Kremlin’s cathedrals and its famous Armory Collection, the Pushkin Museum, the Tretyakov Gallery and an evening performance at the legendary Bolshoi Theatre. Our last days in Russia are spent in Suzdal, the most beautiful and bestpreserved town of the Golden Ring, a group of ancient towns that preceded Moscow as the political and cultural heart of Russia.
Days 2–8: Based in the historic quarter of St Petersburg, bounded by the Nevsky Prospekt and the Neva River, we explore this great city of art in depth. Our starting point is the Hermitage, a temple of Western art housed in the former residence of the Tsars, the Winter Palace. We also visit some of the splendid 18th- and 19th-century palaces in and around St Petersburg, including those of Catherine the Great, Pavlovsk Park and Rasputin’s Yusupov, all reflecting the power of Russia’s aristocracy and its fascination with the West. St Petersburg is also the site of some of the most momentous events in Russia’s history, and we visit the church of Saints Peter and Paul, burial place of the Tsars, and a number of other sites associated with the Tsars, the 1917
St Petersburg Petrodvorets
Pushkin
RUSSIA Suzdal
revolution and the 1941–44 siege of Leningrad. We also enjoy performances in the Mariinsky Theatre and the RimskyKorsakov house museum. A full free day has also been included. Days 8–14: We travel by fast train to Moscow, where we begin our stay with a visit to the Red Square, symbolic heart of the city and embellished with its most important monuments. The Kremlin, once seat of the Tsars as it now is of President Putin, is the symbol of state power. We spend a full day here exploring its treasury of decorative arts and historic architecture. We also explore major galleries, tour the eye-popping Moscow Metro and enjoy an evening performance at the Bolshoi theatre. There is also a full free day in Moscow. Days 15–18: We travel to Suzdal via the beautiful Trinity Monastery of St Sergius at Sergiev Posad, Russia’s holiest of holy places. Suzdal, founded in 1054, is one of several protected historical towns to the north of Moscow. From Suzdal we take an excursion to the small town of Vladimir, founded by Vladimir Monomakh in 1108. Day 18: We transfer to Moscow airport for our flights home.
Vladimir Moscow
getting there Emirates has daily services to St Petersburg and from Moscow. Please contact us for competitive fares.
Your tour leader Marina Campbell was born in Russia and returns regularly for study, work and pleasure. She holds an MA in Russian studies from the University of NSW and has spent many years teaching at the University of Sydney. She has led many successful tours to Russia and Central Europe.
17
Grand Tour of Italy september 17 – october 6, 2012 april 5 – 22, 2013
,5te0nt o0nly) $6 n ent nd co
m (la hare upple gle s win s t in , s n o 0 ers per p $1,70
Overview
Itinerary and highlights
This 18-day tour is designed for travellers wanting a relaxed but comprehensive journey through Italy’s remarkable cultural heritage. The itinerary surveys the history, art and architecture of the Italian peninsula from the time of the Romans to the early 20th century. We begin with the impressive Roman sites of Pompeii and Herculaneum on the Bay of Naples. Four nights in Rome culminate in a private viewing of the Sistine Chapel – a unique opportunity to admire Michelangelo’s masterpiece. We then explore the Italian countryside in Umbria before spending three nights in Florence. The tour concludes with three nights amid the remarkable art and architecture of Venice. Illustrated background talks and extensive tour notes will help us to understand and appreciate this enduringly popular destination.
Days 1–4: We assemble at Rome airport and travel south to Vico Equense on the Sorrento Peninsula. From this small town perched on the cliff above the Bay of Naples we explore Italy’s classical heritage, visiting Pompeii, Herculaneum and the 6th-century BC Greek site of Paestum. We also travel down the spectacular Amalfi coast and visit the resort town of Sorrento. Days 5–7: We return to Rome. From our centrally located hotel we visit important Roman sites such as the Forum, Colosseum and Pantheon, as well as enjoying the squares and fountains that give the city its special charm. The undoubted highlight of our stay is the private after-hours viewing of the Sistine Chapel. Days 8–11: After the big-city experience of Rome, we head to the medieval village of Bevagna for the next four nights. Bevagna gives us a taste of the timeless traditions of rural Italy. From Bevagna we visit Assisi, Spoleto and the town of Montefalco. We also enjoy some excellent food.
Your tour leaders Our 2012 tour is led by Carolyn Andrew, with guest lectures by internationally renowned archaeologist Dr Estelle Lazer and experenced tour leader Robert Veel. Dr Nicholas Gordon leads the 2013 tour. He holds a PhD in Italian history from the University of Sydney and has led tours to Italy since 2007.
18
Days 12–14: We head for Florence via the medieval city of Siena. Over three nights in Florence we tour the palaces, churches and streetscapes of the city, famous as the place where Renaissance culture emerged in the 15th century. Highlights include the famous painting collection of the Uffizi Gallery and the architecture of Filippo Brunelleschi, to be found all around the city. Days 15–17: We travel to Venice via Ravenna, whose stunning 5th- and 6th-century mosaics remind us of the enormous influence of the Orient on medieval Italy. The final three nights of our tour are spent in Venice, visiting important artistic and architectural sites and simply enjoying the unique atmosphere of this most beautiful of cities. Day 18: Flights depart Venice for Australia in the mid-afternoon.
Venice
Italy
Ravenna
Florence
getting there Emirates has daily flights from most Australian cities to Rome and departing from Venice, stopping at Dubai. Please contact us for competitive fares on Emirates or another airline of your choice.
www.academytravel.com.au
Bevagna
Rome
Naples
Sorrento
Sicily & the aeolian Islands october 4 – 21, 2012 may 3 – 19, 2013
$6,9 50
per p er $1,2 son, twin sh 50 s ingle are (land c o supp leme ntent only nt )
Itinerary and highlights
Overview
Days 1–3: We arrive in Rome and fly to Catania. The first three nights of our tour are spent in Syracuse. One of the largest cities of the ancient world and the largest Greek colony in Sicily, Syracuse and surrounding towns have important ruins and distinctive ‘Sicilian Baroque’ architecture.
Greek temples, Byzantine mosaics and Arab architecture combine with local colour and spectacular volcanic scenery to make Sicily an exceptional destination, and we are proud to offer this popular tour for the fifth year running. Beginning with the major Greek sites of Syracuse and Agrigento, this 17-day journey then takes us into the Arab and Norman world of Palermo, east to Marsala and the Carthaginian site of Mozia and on to the Aeolian Islands, where we explore Lipari and cruise to the islands of Stromboli and Panarea. Our journey concludes with four nights in Taormina, in the shadow of Mount Etna and a celebrated European holiday destination for more than two centuries.
Days 4–5: We travel to Agrigento via the 4th-century Roman villa at Piazza Armerina, with its extensive floor mosaics. A full day is spent among Agrigento’s impressive Greek temples, dating from the 6th century BC. Days 6–9: Our focus for the next four days is on western Sicily. We drive to Palermo via the Punic/Greek ruins of Selinunte. Four days in Palermo provide an opportunity to admire the Arab-influenced ‘Norman Sicilian’ buildings and mosaics of Sicily’s capital city, including the famous monastery of Monreale. We also visit
Stromboli Lipari Islands (Aeolian Islands) Palermo Segesta Selinunte
Messina Reggio di Calabria
Cefalu
Sicily
Catania
Ragusa
Days 10–12: We travel along Sicily’s northern coast to Cefalù, a small town boasting a Norman church with Sicily’s finest mosaic. A short sea-crossing takes us to Lipari, heart of the Aeolian Islands and our base for the next three nights. Lipari has been settled for millennia and its museum contains outstanding early pottery and other works. We also take a full-day private boat excursion to the island of Panarea and the volcano of Stromboli, rising 1000 metres out of the Tyrrhenian Sea. Days 13–15: Departing Lipari we take a detour to the mainland to visit the highly regarded 5th-century BC ‘Riace bronzes’ housed in Reggio di Calabria. We then head to Taormina, an elegant town perched above the ocean enjoying superb views to Mount Etna. We visit the fine GraecoRoman theatre in Taormina and the city of Catania before concluding our sightseeing with a journey to the summit of Etna, some 3200 metres above sea level. Days 16–17: We fly to Rome and overnight at an airport hotel before boarding our flights to Australia.
Mt Etna
Piazza Amerina Agrigento
Marsala and the tiny island of Mozia, once a thriving Punic settlement.
Siracusa Noto
getting there Thai Airways, Cathay Pacific and Emirates have regular flights from most Australian cities to Rome. Please contact us for competitive fares.
Your tour leaders Dr Kathleen Olive (2012 tour) holds a PhD in Italian from the University of Sydney. She has outstanding knowledge of Italy’s cultural heritage. Dr Estelle Lazer (2013 tour) is an archaeologist with an international reputation for her years of work onsite at Pompeii. She has expert knowledge of the art, archaeology and mythology of Sicily.
19
Adriatic to the Alps: food and wine of northern italy october 12 – 28, 2012
50 $7d c,o2ntent only)nt
me (lan hare upple gle s win s t in , s n o ers 50 per p $1,3
Overview
Itinerary and highlights
We are delighted to once again offer this unique 16-day journey that takes you well off the regular tourist beat to explore some of northern Italy’s most beautiful regions. In the course of the tour you’ll discover some of Europe’s finest natural ingredients – prosciutto from San Daniele, prosecco from Valdobbiadane, truffles, cheeses and Barolo wine from Piemonte – and dine in some excellent local restaurants. At the same time you’ll learn about the history, art and traditions of the region. The journey begins on the shores of the Adriatic, travels via the Dolomites to the heart of the Veneto region, across Lombardy to the Italian lakes and then south to Turin and the foothills of the Julian Alps. The tour culminates in a visit to the biennial Salone del Gusto, Europe’s largest and most highly regarded food and wine event.
Day 1: Flights depart Australian airports in the afternoon.
your tour leader For more than two decades Leonie Furber has been actively involved in food and wine education through her Convivial Times tours and through the Slow Food movement. She has extensive knowledge of the food and wine of Italy, and a great network of local contacts to take you behind the scenes. On this tour she teams up with experienced Italian tour manager Elizabetta Amadi.
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Days 2–7: The group assembles at Venice airport and transfers to the provincial city of Udine for five nights. From here we explore both small villages and significant historic sites such as Aquileia, the Roman city famously sacked by Attila the Hun in 452 AD. We also visit two excellent local restaurants, enjoy a degustation of crisp Friuli white wines and sample fine prosciutto in the village of San Daniele. Udine is an elegant small city, with interesting Venetian architecture and an art gallery boasting works by Tiepolo and Caravaggio. Days 7–10: A scenic drive past the Dolomites takes us to the beautiful hill town of Asolo, perched above the Veneto plain, where we spend three nights. From here we visit the nearby village of Valdobbiadene, where Italy’s best sparkling white prosecco is produced, and tour several of the villas of the Renaissance architect Andrea Palladio in and around Vicenza. Days 10–12: We travel to Lake Garda to tour the Valpolicella wine-producing district and continue to the shores of Lake Como. Here we enjoy the spectacular scenery, gardens and lakeside villas of one of the prettiest corners of Europe. Days 12–15: We spend the last four nights of the tour in Turin, capital of the Piemonte region. This elegant city was once ruled by the Savoy family, who went on to become the kings of a unified Italy. We take a walking tour of the city, visiting the Royal
Carefully planned itineraries
Palace, its gardens and the outstanding Egyptian museum. We also take a day trip to the village of Alba, famous for its truffles, and the nearby wine centres of Barbaresco and Barolo. We spend a full day at the Salone del Gusto, attended by up to 40,000 producers and consumers of fine food. Day 16: We transfer to Milan’s Malpensa airport, where the tour ends. Subject to interest, we will also offer a three-day extension tour to Milan.
getting there Emirates offers direct flights to Venice and home from Milan via Dubai. Please contact us for competitive fares with Emirates or another airline of your choice.
austria switzerland
Lake Como
Udine Asolo
Milan
Turin
Valpolicella
italy
Venice
Florence and the Italian Renaissance december 27 – january 8, 2012/3
$5,2 50
per p er $1,0 son, twin sh 50 s are (la ingle supp nd content leme only) nt
Itinerary and highlights
Overview
Days 1–2: We settle in and examine Florence’s early history at the Museo di Firenze com’era, the Palazzo Davanzati and the Palazzo Strozzi.
From the 11th to the 16th centuries – a period that encompasses the high Middle Ages and the Renaissance – Florence was one of Europe’s largest and most dynamic cities. The unique amalgam of commercial enterprise, wise republican government, great families and individual virtuosity created a society like no other at the time. Today’s visitors are rewarded with a host of great art, architecture and history, made all the more rewarding if visited for an extended period under expert guidance. We are delighted to again be able to offer this popular two-week ‘residential’ tour to Florence led by Dr Kathleen Olive. A program of walking tours, museum and gallery visits in the city is complemented by four excursions to important sites in Tuscany. Accommodation is in a perfectly located four-star hotel, and seven lunches/dinners in selected local restaurants are included.
Day 3: We have a full day in Siena, visiting the Palazzo Pubblico and then enjoying lunch on the main piazza. In the afternoon we take a guided visit of the cathedral and the cathedral museum. Day 4: Today we visit major works by Masaccio and other quattrocento artists in the Brancacci chapel, Santa Maria Novella and Santa Trinita. Day 5: A full-day coach excursion to the medieval city of Arezzo includes a visit to Piero della Francesca’s fresco cycle of the Legend of the True Cross. We then continue to Monterchi and visit the civic museum at Sansepolcro, both containing masterpieces by Piero. On our return we stop for dinner at a countryside restaurant at Vallombrosa.
Florence
ITALY San Gimignano Volterra
Days 6–9: Through a number of walking tours we consider civic architecture at places such as the Palazzo Vecchio and Orsanmichele. We also consider religious architecture and patronage at the cathedral, the Romanesque church of San Miniato, Santa Croce, the Annunziata, Brunelleschi’s Ospedale degli innocenti and Fra Angelico’s work at San Marco convent. There is also a free day for individual sightseeing. Day 10: Today we visit Pienza, a planned Renaissance town, as well as touring the fine landscape of the Val D’Orcia, stopping at vineyards and small towns. In the early evening we attend vespers and dine at the remote monastery of Monte Oliveto Maggiore. Days 11–13: Over three days we consider the impact of the Medici family on Florence, visiting first the famed Uffizi Gallery to enjoy masterpieces by Giotto, Botticelli, Leonardo and others. We then tour Medici sites in town, including the church of San Lorenzo, the Medici Palace and the vast Pitti Palace, before spending a day touring the Medici estates in the countryside. Day 14: We transfer to Florence airport in the afternoon for departing flights, arriving in Australia the next day.
Siena Pienza
Val d'Orcia
getting there Various airlines service Florence via Europe and major Italian airports. Please contact us for competitive fares.
Your tour leader Dr Kathleen Olive holds a PhD in Italian language and literature from the University of Sydney. She has an intimate knowledge of Florence and other sites in Tuscany, based on years of research and travel. She is also one of Academy Travel’s most respected and popular tour leaders. Kathleen will provide background talks, expert onsite commentary and detailed tour notes.
21
Venice: city, republic and empire march 15 – 28, 2013
50 $5d c,o7ntent onlyn) t
e re (lan plem in sha single sup w t , n erso 00 per p $1,3
Overview
Itinerary and highlights
Most visitors to Venice stay only a few days and see only the main sites – enough time to admire the beauty, but insufficient to truly understand this great city. Much more time is required to fully appreciate the city that ruled a Mediterranean trade empire for more than 1000 years. This 15-day journey offers an opportunity to explore Venice in a way that few tourists do. Walking and boat tours explore Venice’s history from the 6th to the 20th centuries, the city’s pivotal role as a link between Europe and the East, as well as the painting, architecture and music that make Venice a world-famous centre of culture. Day trips to Ravenna, Padua and the Renaissance villas of the Veneto complete the picture, showing how the city’s culture extended to terra firma. This 2013 tour is a repeat of the highly successful tours we have offered each year since 2006.
Day 1: We assemble at Venice Airport.
Your tour leader
Day 9: We travel inland to Padua. With its ancient university – one of the first in Europe – and Giotto’s frescoes in the Arena chapel, Padua is a major centre of culture and for centuries has had close links with Venice.
Robert Veel holds a Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Education from the University of Sydney. He led his first tour to Italy in 1990 and since then has designed and led more than 25 tours to Italy, Turkey, Asia and the United States.
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Expert tour leaders
Days 2–3: During our first days in Venice we explore the early history of the lagoon, visiting the island of Torcello, the medieval Arsenal (still a naval shipyard) and the museum of the city’s history. Day 4: A long day excursion takes us to Ravenna, where we admire the 5th- and 6th-century mosaics commissioned by the Byzantine Emperor Justinian and others. Days 5–8: During this central part of the tour we explore the period from the 11th to the 16th centuries, when Venice’s power and prestige were at their height. We take a comprehensive tour of St Mark’s Basilica, visit a merchant’s house on the Grand Canal and explore the vast Doge’s Palace, the administrative centre of the Venetian Empire. There is also a free day for individual exploration.
Day 10: Our walking tour today encompasses some of Venice’s best Renaissance art. Highlights include works by Bellini and Carpaccio in the San Zaccharia district, the church of the Frari, housing Titian’s majestic Assumption of the Virgin, and the Scuola di San Rocco, with 57 canvases by Tintoretto.
Day 11: Our day excursion to the Veneto mainland examines the fashion for country villas among the Venetian nobility in the 16th century. We visit Palladio’s Villa Rotonda at Vicenza and his Villa Barbaro at Maser, frescoed throughout by the artist Veronese. Days 12–14: Our final days in Venice cover the later period. We visit the museum of the 18th century, housed in the Ca’ Rezzonico, tour the monumental churches of Palladio in the city and visit the Accademia Galleries, which showcase 400 years of Venetian painting. Day 15: We return to Australia.
getting there Emirates has daily flights from most Australian cities to Venice, stopping at Dubai. Please contact us for competitive fares on Emirates or another airline of your choice.
Malta and sardinia march 28 – april 10, 2013
$6,5 00
per p er $1,70 son, twin sh are (la 0 sin n gle s upple d content only) ment
Itinerary and highlights
Overview
Day 1: We transfer from Valetta airport to our five-star hotel in the mid-afternoon.
The islands of the Mediterranean never fail to impress, combining archaeological sites, millennia of cultural exchange between East and West, rugged mountain scenery and pristine coastlines. We are pleased to present this new tour, which combines the cultural entrepot of Malta with the ancient culture and traditions of Sardinia. The first week is based in Valetta, Malta, from where we visit the nearby island of Gozo as well as touring the museums, cathedrals and palaces of the capital. Our visit takes place over Easter, and there will be the opportunity to witness some of the traditional celebrations. On Sardinia we spend time in the vibrant, small capital city Cagliari and then travel north to Alghero. Background talks and onsite information will help you get the most from these sites.
Days 2–7: Our sightseeing follows a historical sequence, beginning with the prehistoric temples of Hagar Qim and Tarxien and continuing to medieval fortified towns before we explore Valetta, with its Baroque cathedral, art gallery and history museum, covering in particular the British period in Malta. The cathedral is particularly famous for its vast canvas by Caravaggio, depicting the beheading of John the Baptist. On our final day we visit the nearby island of Gozo, whose main town is dominated by a medieval cathedral and where there are also prehistoric temples. Time has also been set aside to enjoy the natural scenery of Malta, with a visit to the island’s Blue Grotto, the Dingli cliffs and the botanic gardens of St Anton.
Rome
Italy
Day 7: We fly to Cagliari, Sardinia, via Rome. Days 7–11: Our base for the next four nights is Cagliari, the capital of the island. It is a lively port city, and we explore the archaeological museum and ancient settlement of Nura near the city. From Cagliari we take a day trip to see prehistoric structures, known as ‘Nauraghi’ in the local dialect. These large stone buildings date from the second millennium BC and their purpose is still debated by experts. We also spend a day visiting a range of Phoenician sites at Sulcis and Tophet. Days 11–14: A full-day overland trip takes us to Alghero on the remote western side of Sardinia. On the way we visit the Punic/Roman port of Tharros. As well as spending time in the town of Alghero and visiting its archaeological museum, we take a day trip to the 3000-year-old ruins at Monte d’Accoddi and some more Nauraghi structures. Day 14: We take a morning flight to Rome to connect with our flights home.
Alghero
SARDINIA Cagliari
getting there Malta
Emirates has daily services to Malta and from Rome. Please contact us for competitive fares.
Your tour leader Dr Estelle Lazer is an archaeologist with an international reputation for her years of work onsite at Pompeii. She has expert knowledge of the art, archaeology and mythology of Sicily. When not leading tours, Estelle researches and teaches at the University of Sydney and other institutions. She has led tours and university summer schools to Rome, the Bay of Naples and Sicily for Academy Travel since 2005.
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The City of rome
Small ship Cruising
APRIL 24 – MAY 1, 2013
00 are $e2r p,e9rson, ntwt inonslyh) p conte om (land single-ro 0 $80 lement supp
OVERVIEW A seven-day city break Described variously as ‘the world’s capital’ or ‘the dustbin of history’, few of us would doubt that the city of Rome is one of the most enduring achievements of Western civilisation. The vast range of historic sites, stretching from Etruscan prehistory to the late 20th century, create an unrivalled sense of historical continuity between ancient and modern society. The works of art and architecture to be found within the city are of exceptional quality and priceless value. The juxtaposition of all this in the narrow laneways and piazzas of the old city creates a destination of unique character and charm. Under the expert guidance of Dr Nicholas Gordon, you will gain a detailed knowledge of the history, art and architecture of the city and enjoy the vibrant atmosphere of a major European capital. This tour may be taken independently or combined with our Grand Tour of Italy or Sicily and the Aeolian Islands tours.
Highlights • A detailed examination of the Forum with a classical scholar, and a tour of the Capitoline Museums, built on the site of Rome’s first settlement • Magnificent private residences, such as the Villa Farnesina and the Palazzo Doria-Pamfili, adorned with Renaissance and Baroque art • The Galleria Borghese, where classical sculpture sits side by side with dramatic 17th-century sculptures by Bernini • A special focus on the paintings of Caravaggio, to be found in sites around the city • A full day at the Vatican Museums and St Peter’s Basilica
Your tour leader Dr Nicholas Gordon holds a PhD in Italian history from the University of Sydney. Since 2007 he has led several tours to Italy for Academy Travel.
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Maximum 20 in a group
In the second half of 2013 we are introducing a new line of tours which combine an element of cruising with explorations on land. We are working with smaller ships, selecting cruises which have a clear cultural theme and avoiding travelling in the summer peak cruising months. We have organised private shore excursions, background talks and other exclusive activities, all of which are included in the tour price.
Istanbul, the Black Sea and Ukraine September 21 – October 3, 2013 $7,450 per person, twin share $3,400 single-room/cabin supplement We spend five nights in Istanbul, staying in a centrally located five-star hotel, before joining an eight-day cruise around the Black Sea on the deluxe Silver Spirit, part of the Silversea Line. The cruise takes us from Istanbul to Yalta, Sevastapol and Odessa in Ukraine, Constantia in Romania and Nessebur in Bulgaria. The itinerary combines an exotic mix of Byzantine, Ottoman Turkish and Russian Orthodox cultures with the relaxation of a luxury cruise.
Venice and the Adriatic October 1–14, 2013 $8,350 per person, twin share $3,500 single-room/cabin supplement Your tour leader: Dr Kathleen Olive We spend five nights in Venice, followed by a deluxe sevennight sailing cruise of the Adriatic aboard the 50-cabin Sea Cloud II. The tour explores the world of medieval and Renaissance Venice and its maritime empire on the Adriatic coast. The cruise visits Split, Dubrovnik and the Istrian peninsula. The journey on the Sea Cloud II is certainly part of the experience, with several passages taken under sail.
=LAKES AND VILLAS OF NORTHERN ITALY april 25 – may 11, 2013
$7,4 90
per p er $1,8 son, twin sh 50 s are (la ingle supp nd conten t only leme nt )
Itinerary and highlights
Overview
Day 1: We assemble at Milan airport and transfer to Bellagio on the shores of Lake Como, without doubt one of Italy’s most beautiful towns.
Since Roman times, well-to-do Italians have sought to ‘get away from it all’ by building beautifully sited and exquisitely designed countryside residences. The design and construction of these villas often involved the finest artists and architects of the day. This 17-day tour explores Lake Como, Lake Maggiore and Lake Garda in northern Italy, as well as the regions of the Veneto and Emilia Romagna. Rather than big cities and blockbuster galleries, the tour takes you to lakeside towns, attractive regional centres and small villages, with visits to privately owned villas and gardens. The itinerary features several Renaissance country houses of the renowned Renaissance architect Andrea Palladio. The tour is timed to make the most of the spectacular spring colours of pre-Alpine Italy. Accommodation is in four-star boutique hotels, with threeand four-night stays throughout. The itinerary is gently paced; busy days are interspersed with quieter ones.
Days 2–5: We visit the 18th- and 19th-century villas that line the shores of the lake, whose fine gardens enjoy the water setting with the Alps rising behind. Highlights include a private boat tour and lunch at the exclusive Villa D’Este. There is also the option of a day trip to Milan to view da Vinci’s Last Supper. Days 6–8: Over three nights in the spa town of Salsomaggiore we explore the littlevisited hill towns of Reggio-Emilia. Medieval castles dot the hills and vineyards line the slopes. The region is considered to have the finest food in Italy, and we enjoy lunch at a couple of excellent country restaurants, before heading to the Veneto.
switzerland ITALY Lake Como Lake Maggiore
Lake Garda
Days 14–17: We travel via the astounding 16th-century Carthusian Monastery at Pavia to Lake Maggiore in the region of Piemonte. We visit the tiny Borromean Islands, where a noble Milanese family built an exquisite ‘maritime’ villa, whose terraced garden descends to the lake. We also travel by ferry to Locarno in Switzerland to take the scenic ‘hundred valleys’ train ride back to Italy. The tour concludes at Milan airport.
Verona Vicenza
Cremona
Days 11–13: We spend three nights in the village of Sirmione, on a narrow promontory jutting into Lake Garda, protected by a moat and drawbridge. We visit the remains of the Roman villa there, as well as touring sites in and around Verona, a prosperous town with a famous Roman amphitheatre.
Asolo
Bergamo
Milan
Days 9–10: The charming village of Asolo in the hills of the Veneto is our base for the next three days. Our focus is on the classical-style country houses, theatres and palaces created by the architect Andrea Palladio for his noble Venetian patrons in the 16th century. Highlights include the World Heritage-listed Villa Barbaro and the Teatro Olimpico in Vicenza.
Mantua Salsomaggiore
getting there Singapore Airlines, Emirates and Etihad have daily flights to and from Milan. Please contact us for competitive fares.
your tour leader Dr Kathleen Olive holds a PhD in Italian language and literature from the University of Sydney. She has an outstanding knowledge of Italy’s cultural heritage, developed through years of research and travel.
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Classical & Ottoman Turkey october 13 – 31, 2012 April 20 – May 6, 2013
,8te9nt o0nly) $5 n ent nd co
m (la hare upple twin s 0 single s , n o s er 5 per p $1,6
Overview
Itinerary and highlights
Turkey has for centuries been a crossroads of religions and cultures, literally and figuratively connecting the East with the West. Its impressive variety of sites includes Hellenistic and Roman ruins, glittering Byzantine mosaics and churches and the fine imperial mosques and palaces of the Ottomans. Our 18-day journey begins in Istanbul, one of the great cities of world history. We then head to the pre-historic site of Çatal Huyuk and then Konya before visiting the unique landscape of Cappadocia in central Anatolia, with its rock-hewn churches and troglodyte cities. Our next stops are Kusadasi and Assos on Turkey’s Aegean Coast, where Graeco-Roman sites abound, including Ephesus, Pergamon and Troy. After a visit to the Gallipoli peninsula we cross the Sea of Marmara back to Istanbul. The carefully planned itinerary features extended stays and uses domestic flights to reduce overland bus travel.
Day 1: Flights leave Australian cities in the afternoon.
Your tour leader Archaeologist Judy Roberts has a BA in archaeology and ancient history with Honours in classical archaeology from the University of Sydney. She has lived and travelled extensively in Turkey as well as in Europe, and has a passion for history and archaeology and a thorough knowledge of the restaurants, cafes and bazaars of Istanbul. This is Judy’s fourth tour to Turkey for Academy Travel.
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Days 2–6: We arrive in Istanbul in the morning. Over four nights we explore the evolution of Constantinople/Istanbul, from its ancient origins to the Emperor Constantine’s creation of a ‘new Rome’ in the 4th century, the decline and sacking of the city by the Venetians and the Ottoman Turk conquest of 1453. Testament to this tumultuous history are the great 6th-century church of the Hagia Sophia, the massive city walls, the Great Palace of the Byzantine Emperors and the huge imperial mosques, such as that built by Suleiman the Magnificent in the 16th century. We also explore and enjoy the unique setting of the city on the Bosphorus, the border between Europe and Asia. Days 6–9: We visit the religious centre of Konya, with its 14th- and 15th-century mosques, and the Neolithic settlement of Çatal Huyuk, an impressive archaeological site. We then head to Cappadocia to enjoy the unique landscape of cliffs, gorges and rock-hewn dwellings that have made the area a World Heritage-listed site. Days 9–13: A long day’s travelling takes us first to the capital Ankara to visit the fine Museum of Anatolian Civilizations before flying to Izmir and on to Kusadasi. Kusadasi is our base for visiting the extensive ruins of Ephesus, the Roman provincial capital of Asia Minor, and the impressive site museum. We also visit smaller sites such as the sanctuary of Apollo at Didyma, Miletus and Priene. There is also a free day at this seaside resort.
www.academytravel.com.au
Days 13–16: We travel up the Aegean coast to the spectacularly sited ancient city of Pergamum and on to Assos. This small, well-preserved seaside village is adjacent to an archaeological site. We make a day trip to Gallipoli from here. Days 16–18: We visit the ruins of the fabled city of Troy, a complex archaeological site, before heading back to Istanbul by ferry across the Sea of Marmara. A free day in Istanbul wraps up the tour. Day 18: We depart from Istanbul.
Getting there
Emirates and Singapore Airlines offer regular flights to and from Istanbul. Turkish Airlines also offers a code-share flight via Singapore. Please contact us for competitive fares.
Gallipoli
Istanbul
Assos Lake Egirdir Kusadasi
Konya
TURKEY Neveshir
Nefertiti’s Egypt january 4 – 20, 2013
$5,9 50
per p er $950 son, twin sh are single supp (land conte leme nt on nt ly)
Itinerary and highlights
Overview
Days 1–3: Based for three nights in a five-star hotel in Cairo, we explore the spectacular Giza plateau, whose pyramids, Sphinx and temples have come to symbolise ancient Egypt. We also explore the Old Kingdom sites of Memphis and Sakkara.
We are delighted to offer this popular tour for the sixth year in a row. Whereas most tours rush through Egypt in eight or nine days, this 17-day tour allows us to explore the wonders of this ancient land at a relaxed pace, with three- or fournight stays in most places and free time for individual exploration or relaxation. Illustrated background talks will help us to understand and appreciate the vast legacy of ancient Egyptian civilisation. The itinerary includes iconic sites such as the Great Pyramids and the temples and tombs of Luxor, as well as less-visited sites such as those around El Minya and Amarna, a site particularly associated with Akhenaten and his Queen, Nefertiti. A highlight of the tour is a four-night cruise up the Nile from Luxor to Aswan. From Aswan there is a day trip to the spectacular temples of Abu Simbel, before returning to Cairo. Five-star accommodation throughout (except El Minya).
Days 4–5: We head along the Nile and deep into the desert, exploring less-visited sites such as Beni Hassan, Amarna and Hermopolis. Each of these sites in different ways deepens our knowledge of change and development in ancient Egypt. Our base is the small town of Minya on the banks of the Nile. Days 6–8: We arrive in the town of Luxor from the north, exploring the ruins at Abydos and Dendera before settling in to our hotel. Over the next two days we explore the massive ruins of Karnak and the renowned tombs of the Valley of the Kings and Queens
El Minya
Luxor Aswan
Abu Simbel
Days 9–12: We enjoy a four-night upriver Nile cruise onboard a five-star cruise boat. For the first night we remain docked at Luxor, viewing the temple of Rameses III and an ancient workers’ village. Our cruise then heads south towards Aswan, taking us to the sites of Edfu, whose GraecoRoman temple illustrates the later period of Egyptian civilisation well, and to Kom Ombo, which hosts an impressive double temple. The last night of our cruise is spent at Aswan, from where we tour the High Dam and the atmospheric temple on the island of Philea. Days 13–14: From Aswan we fly to the temple of Rameses II at Abu Simbel. Abu Simbel is the southernmost point on the Nile to which we travel, and for many people the 20 metre high statues carved into the surrounding rock face will be the visual highlight of the tour. Days 15–17: We fly from Aswan to Cairo and explore the Cairo museum before joining our return flights home.
Cairo
Egypt
(the tombs are open on a rotating basis). There is also the option of a balloon ride over the Valley of the Kings (at an extra cost).
Getting there Emirates has daily flights from most Australian cities to Cairo, stopping at Dubai. Please contact us for competitive fares on Emirates or another airline of your choice.
Your tour leader Cathy Campbell’s fascination with Egypt began as a child. She has an MA in Egyptology from Macquarie University and is currently undertaking doctoral research at the University of Sydney. Her special interests are Egyptian art, Egyptian religion and the New Kingdom. Cathy has both designed and led all of Academy Travel’s previous Nefertiti’s Egypt tours.
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Ethiopia january 24 – February 7, 2013
,2te0nt o0nly) $6 n ent nd co
m (la hare upple twin s 5 single s , n o s er $97 per p
Overview
Itinerary and highlights
From the Queen of Sheba to the rule of Emperor Haile Selassie in the 20th century, Ethiopia has carved out for itself a unique identity among African nations. It was one of the first Christian countries in the world and still has a Christian majority. This classic itinerary has been devised for travellers to witness the remarkable legacy of Ethiopia’s unique history. Our tour begins with three nights in the capital Addis Ababa. We visit waterfalls near the source of the Blue Nile, explore the 18th- and 19th-century castles of Gondar and bushwalk in the spectacular Simien Mountains. There are three nights in the ancient capital of Axum, home of the Queen of Sheba and, reputedly, the Ark of the Covenant. Our final stop is the spectacular rock-cut churches of Lalibela, 1000 years old and truly world-class attractions. This tour is offered in conjunction with ADFAS, the Association of Australian Decorative and Fine Arts Societies. The itinerary will appeal to more adventurous travellers and requires good walking fitness. Accommodation is clean and comfortable, but fairly basic.
Days 1–2: We arrive in Addis Ababa and settle in.
Your tour leader Christopher Bradley has an Honours degree from Liverpool University and specialises in the history and art of North Africa and Arabia. He first visited Ethiopia in 1977 and has led specialist tours there since 1993.
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Days 2–3: We visit Ethiopia’s national museum, which boasts the 3.2-million-yearold skull of our ancestor ‘Lucy’, discovered in 1974, the Holy Trinity Cathedral and the Hamlin College of Midwives, established by Australians. Days 3–5: We fly south to Bahar Dar, beautifully situated on the shores of Lake Tana, where we see some of Africa’s colourful birdlife and walk to the spectacular Tissat Falls. Travelling by boat to the Zighe peninsula, we visit coffee plantations, villages and monasteries decorated with colourful murals. Days 5–7: We travel overland to Gondar, capital of Ethiopia in the 17th and 18th centuries. Over two days we explore the World Heritage-listed Royal Enclosure with its castles, palaces and gardens, as well as other sites associated with the royal period. Days 7–8: We head to the rugged Simien Mountains, a remote area where we walk, spot baboons and other wildlife, visit small villages and witness traditional country life. Days 8–12: We spend three nights at Axum, the most ancient centre of Ethiopia. Our sightseeing includes the St Mary of Zion Cathedral, the religious centre of the country, the reputed location of the Ark of the Covenant, the monolithic stele in a nearby archaeological zone, the mountains of Tigrey and the palace and baths of the Queen of Sheba.
Carefully planned itineraries
Days 12–15: The final leg of our journey takes us to Lalibela, famous for its unique rock-hewn churches. We explore these and other sites, including the highlands to the west of Lalibela. Days 15–16: We fly back to Addis Ababa, where we spend our final night before transferring to the airport for our flights home.
Getting there Emirates has daily flights to and from Addis Ababa. Please contact us for competitive fares.
Axum Simien Mountains Gonder Bahar Dah
Lalibela
Addis Ababa
ETHIOPIA
Jordan and lebanon: A Levantine Odyssey april 5 – 22, 2013
$7,9 00
per p er $1,8 son, twin sh 00 s a ingle re (land c o supp leme ntent only ) nt
Itinerary and highlights
Overview
Days 1–2: We arrive in Beirut and settle in to our hotel.
Archaeologist and popular tour leader Dr John Tidmarsh leads this exploration of two Middle Eastern countries, which boast thousands of years of civilisation and complex interaction with the West. The journey begins in Lebanon, a country rapidly regaining its reputation as a mustsee destination for history and archaeology enthusiasts. Beirut and the smaller cities along the Mediterranean have the added appeal of vibrant contemporary cultures, with good food, traditional souks and thriving arts and crafts. Jordan boasts outstanding archaeological sites, including Petra and Jerash, as well as Byzantine churches and mosaics, crusader castles, atmospheric mosques and World Heritagelisted forts. The mountains of Lebanon, the desert landscape of Wadi Rum, the Mediterranean littoral and the Dead Sea provide a constantly changing physical environment in which to enjoy the impressive archaeological, historical and cultural sites.
Days 2–8: Lebanon is a small country, so we are able to base ourselves in Beirut for seven nights and take day trips to a range of sites. We first explore the city of Beirut, located on the coast and housing an archaeological museum, markets and significant modern architecture. We then venture to the Phoenician port of Byblos, the crusader ports of Sidon and Tyre, which also have ancient origins, and the spectacular ruins of Baalbek. We also visit the ‘Cedars of Lebanon’ district and the palaces and villas of the Chouf Mountains, a summer retreat for residents of Beirut. Day 8: We fly to Amman, capital of Jordan, in the early afternoon and settle in to our hotel.
Beirut
lebanon
Days 9–13: Based in Amman for five nights, we tour the city, including the excellent museum located at the citadel and the Roman theatre. We also take three day trips: one to the outstanding Roman ruins at Jerash and the medieval Arab castle at Aljoun; the second to the Australian archaeological excavations at Pella (of which John is co-director); and the third to the desert castles of Qasr Kharaneh, Quasr Amra and Qasr Azraq. Days 13–16: We head south to Petra, Jordan’s most renowned site and one of the best-preserved archaeological parks in the world. Two full days are devoted to exploring this enchanting ancient city. Days 16–17: We take an overnight trip to Wadi Rum, touring the desert by four-wheel drive and sharing a dinner under the stars. Days 17–18: Our last night is spent at a luxury resort on the Dead Sea, where there will be an opportunity to explore the rocky, salty shores and take a dip before our farewell dinner. We then transfer to Amman airport for our flights home.
Amman Dead Sea
Getting there Petra
jordan Wadi Rum
Emirates and Etihad have daily services to Beirut and from Amman. Please contact us for competitive fares on these or another airline of your choice.
Your tour leader Dr John Tidmarsh is president of the University of Sydney’s Near Eastern Archaeology Foundation and co-director of the University’s excavations at Pella in Jordan. He has also excavated in Greece and Cyprus. John has led numerous tours to Jordan, Oman, Iran, Turkey and Syria.
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Coming up July – December 2013
Bronze Age and Classical Greece
Grand Tour of Germany
Bulgaria and Romania
Southern France and Corsica
Cyprus, Crete and Rhodes
Renaissance courts of Northern Italy
Vienna, Budapest and Prague: a music tour
Grand Tour of Italy
September 3–19, 2013 with Ben Churcher Visit Mycenaean sites on the Argolis peninsula as well as Sparta, Corinth, Olympia and Delphi, before concluding with an extended stay in Athens.
September 10–26, 2013 with Odette Livingstone-Smith A study in contrasts – taking you from the sophisticated elegance of the Cote d’Azur to the dramatic scenery of Corsica, France’s Mediterranean isle.
September 4–24, 2013 with Thomas Abbot Join us on a survey of Germany from antiquity to the 20th century, through Trier and the Rhine Valley, Munich and southern Bavaria, Bamberg, Bayreuth, Dresden and Berlin.
September 15–30, 2013 with Judy Roberts Explore the world of the three largest islands in the Eastern Mediterranean, with an archaeological record stretching back 10,000 years.
September 6–23, 2013 with John Osborne Travel deep into the heart of Eastern Europe, with visits to ancient archaeological sites as well as unique medieval painted churches, castles and fine scenery.
September 14–29, 2013 with Dr Kathleen Olive This 18-day tour takes you from Milan through the provincial centres of Mantua, Ferrara and Urbino and on to Florence and Tivoli, on the outskirts of Rome.
Sicily and the Aeolian Islands
September 20–October 5, 2013 with Robert Gay The focus of this tour is on the rich musical traditions of the Austro-Hungarian world. The centrepiece is a week in Vienna enjoying performances.
September 26–October 11, 2013 with Carolyn Andrew This is our most popular tour, with three- and four-nights stays in Rome, rural Umbria, Florence and Venice, and including a private after-hours viewing of the Sistine Chapel.
Grand Tour of Spain
Cuba: then and now
The fabulous Bay of Naples
North-East USA
Taiwan: cultural treasures & magnificent landscapes
Burma
October 12–29, 2013 with Robert Veel Our popular introduction to the Iberian peninsula explores the history, art and architecture of Cordoba, Seville, Granada, Madrid and Barcelona.
November 10–25, 2013 with Stuart Barrie Beginning with the outstanding architecture and galleries of Chicago, our popular tour takes you to Pennsylvania and Washington before concluding with a week in New York.
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Expert tour leaders
October 14–27, 2013 with Janine McLeod Cuba’s dramatic history, varied cultural influences, vibrant musical tradition and lush tropical landscape make it a compelling place to visit.
November 16–30, 2013 with Robert Veel Enjoy this tropical island, a ‘bell jar’ of Chinese art and culture with well preserved historic towns, two world-class museums and some of Asia’s best mountain scenery.
September 27–October 13, 2013 with Jeni Ryde Explore the fine scenery, active volcanoes and the meld of Greek, Roman, Byzantine, Arab and Norman cultures in this unique destination.
October 16–30, 2013 with Dr Estelle Lazer and Jeni Ryde Explore 3000 years of civilisation, with Greek, Roman, French and Spanish influences, amid spectacular scenery. Includes two nights on the island of Capri.
December 1–17, 2013 with Judy Tenzing Burma is an intriguing mix of vibrant Buddhist culture and faded colonial legacy. Our tour includes Yangon (Rangoon), Mandalay, Bagan and a cruise along the Irrawaddy River.
making a booking We’ve tempted you with one of our tours, so what happens next?
Physical requirements of our tours
Detailed itineraries
What is not included in the tour price?
For each tour, we publish a 10–12 page itinerary providing day-by-day descriptions of the tour program and other important information. This is published 9–12 months before departure. Bookings are only accepted once the detailed itinerary is published.
• International air travel from and to Australia • Personal travel insurance • Visa costs, if required • Meals not specifically stated as included • Drinks with some group meals • Personal expenses
Undertaking long-distance flights and participating in a two- to three-week travel program, no matter how relaxed, requires physical stamina. Over the years we have learned that it’s not the age of our travellers that matters, but their level of physical fitness. Your level of physical fitness will greatly affect what you get out of a tour. Before booking on a tour we ask you to consider your ability to meet the physical requirements and fully enjoy everything the tour has to offer. All of our tours require the ability to: • walk as a group for 90 minutes or more at a moderate pace with only short breaks • walk four or five kilometres on some days • get on and off a large coach unassisted • move your luggage a short distance if required. Some tours have specific physical requirements. • Tours to archaeological sites require you to walk up steep slopes, clamber over stones and walk on uneven paths. • Tours with long stays in a single place generally have more walking and involve the use of local public transport, with steps, barriers and crowds. • Music tours involve many late nights at performances, sometimes in succession. • Tours to some destinations require you to tolerate a diet that is very different from a typical Australian one. • Tours to North Africa, Iran and Turkey involve quite long bus journeys on some days. Wherever possible we try to minimise this. • Long-haul destinations such as Europe and the United States require extra time to adjust to time changes and recover from the flight. We suggest you consider a stopover en route or arriving a few days before the tour start date to make sure you are fully prepared for the tour. If you have any questions about the physical requirements of a tour, please contact us to discuss them in more detail. If you have a chronic condition or are recovering from a major illness we encourage you to speak to your GP about your fitness to undertake the tour. If we are concerned about your ability to meet the requirements we may contact you to discuss this further.
Booking on a tour Each person booking on a tour must complete and sign a booking form and send it to us together with a deposit of $500. Booking forms are attached to all detailed itineraries and can also be downloaded from our website.
Welcome letter and updates Once we have received your booking we will send you a letter confirming all details of your booking and any special requests. We will keep you updated on special tour-related events and other matters as they arise.
Pre-departure meeting Held about a month before departure in our Sydney offices, this is a great chance to meet your tour leader and fellow travellers. If you are unable to attend the meeting we will send you all the information in writing.
What is included in the tour price? • Pre-departure meeting held in Sydney • Detailed tour notes, reading lists and pre-departure briefing materials • All accommodation in selected hotels (hotel names are given in the detailed itineraries) • All breakfasts and several lunches or dinners in hotels or local restaurants • Any short-haul flights that occur within the tour program (economy class) • All ground transport by private coach • All cruise fares on small ship cruising tours, including all meals while onboard • All entrance fees to sites listed on itineraries • Best available tickets to all performances on music tours • All tips to local guides, drivers and restaurants (for included meals) • Services of the academic tour leader from arrival to departure • Tour managers (as well as tour leaders) on some tours • Background talks during the tour
Air travel Advertised prices are for land content only. However, all tours are scheduled to start and finish at places and times which coincide with air travel from and to Australia with a selected airline. For tours to Europe and North America we offer competitive individual fares with the selected airline for that tour. For tours to more difficult-to-reach destinations such as the Middle East, North Africa and Central Asia we pre-book group air travel with reputable international airlines. Upgrades to business- and first-class air travel are also available on request.
Cancellation fees If you decide to cancel your booking, the following charges apply. • More than 60 days before departure: $500 • 60–45 days before departure: 20% of total amount due • 44–15 days before departure: 50% of total amount due • Less than 15 days before departure: 100% of total amount due
Will the tour price change? If the number of participants on a tour is significantly fewer than budgeted, or if there is a significant change in exchange rates, Academy Travel reserves the right to amend the advertised price. If this occurs you will be given the option of cancelling your booking and obtaining a full refund.
Will the itinerary or airline change? Occasionally circumstances beyond the control of Academy Travel make it necessary to change airline or hotel or to make slight amendments to daily itineraries. We will inform you of any changes as soon as they occur.
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Level 1, 341 George Sreet Sydney NSW 2000 Australia
Ph: +61 2 9235 0023 Fax: +61 2 9235 0123 www.academytravel.com.au
Why choose academy travel? Great Itineraries
like-minded groups
Long stays
Special events
Expert tour leaders
All itineraries feature a carefully thought-out balance of walking tours, gallery and museum visits, scenic excursions, dining and performances.
Share your journey with fellow travellers who are in tune with your way of seeing the world. A maximum of 20 participants – not too small and not too large – creates a convivial atmosphere.
Perhaps the most appealing feature of our program. No whistlestop tours, no 7am departures, day after day. In most destinations we enjoy three or four nights to really get to know the place.
A private viewing of the Sistine Chapel or the Museum of Modern Art in New York? Tickets to soldout shows at the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra? Many of our tours feature unique events only available through a specialised tour.
Our tour leaders combine academic expertise with a genuine passion for the places they visit. Under their expert guidance you see rather than just look, hear rather than just listen and understand rather than just observe. Your travel experience is transformed.
www.academytravel.com.au