ISLAND LIFE IN TAHITI AND FRENCH POLYNESIA
February 1 to 9, 2009
From approximately $2795 per person (plus airfare)
Experience the sublime paradise of the South Seas aboard the incomparable S.Y. STAR FLYER, an intimate sailing vessel that calls to mind the sleek, swift clipper ships that plied the waters of the Pacific during the 19th century. Following in the wake of Captain James Cook, Robert Louis Stevenson and Paul Gauguin, immerse yourself in the beauty of Tahiti and French Polynesia and discover the legendary warmth and hospitality of their people. View ancient stone temples on tranquil Huahine; explore the birthplace of legendary navigator, Hiro, on the island of Taha’a; savor the seductive charm of Bora Bora, “the Pearl of the Pacific;” and visit Moorea, the tropical Eden that inspired James Michener to write Tales of the South Pacific. To enhance your travel experience, this program features exclusive lectures by a local expert on the ecology of French Polynesia and opportunities for swimming and snorkeling in the pristine waters of the South Seas. You may extend your South Seas journey with the Papeete Pre-Cruise Option as well as the Moorea Post-Cruise Option.
VILLAGE LIFE IN THE ITALIAN LAKE DISTRICT
May 16 to 24, 2009
$2925 per person (plus airfare)
Savor la dolce vita – “the sweet life” – in Italy’s legendary Lake District for one week while discovering the renowned art, magnificent architecture and storied history of a region whose beautiful and romantic alpine setting has inspired some of Western Civilization’s greatest creative minds from Virgil to Hemingway. While spending seven nights in the lakeside village of Cernobbio in the charming Hotel Regina Olga, explore the rich historical and cultural heritage of Lombardy and the Lake District through educational lectures, meetings with local citizens and specially arranged guided tours. From Lake Como, take a private cruise to the charming town of Bellagio; witness the stunning beauty of the Villa Balbianello; and walk through the world famous gardens of the Borromean Islands on legendary Lake Maggiore. In Milan, stroll through one of the world’s most famous shopping districts and marvel at the genius of Leonardo da Vinci’s magnificent Last Supper. You will also meet with local citizens at the exclusive VILLAGE FORUM and learn the secrets to preparing authentic Italian cuisine during a hands-on culinary class and meal at the Centro Studi Alberghiero Casnati cooking school.
THE GREAT JOURNEY THROUGH EUROPE
June 24 to July 7, 2009
From approximately $3195 per person (plus air)
Immerse yourself in the cultural and scenic treasures of Europe’s heartland on this unique cruise and rail itinerary tracing the Rhine River from the North Sea to the Swiss Alps. Board the deluxe M.S. AMADEUS PRINCESS in Amsterdam and travel upstream for five nights through Holland, Germany and France, passing Gothic cathedrals, medieval castles, terraced vineyards, rustic villages of half-timbered houses and the legendary Lorelei Rock. Disembark in Basel, Switzerland, and travel overland by road and rail to the pristine alpine resort of Zermatt, nestled beneath the craggy peak of the Matterhorn, and the beautiful lakeside town of Lucerne. During your stay in Switzerland, experience the soaring majesty of the Alps on three of Europe’s most spectacular rail journeys—the Gornergrat Bahn, the Glacier Express and the Mt. Pilatus Railway—and enjoy two nights in Zermatt in a chalet-style hotel and two nights in Lucerne in a deluxe hotel. A special Amsterdam Pre-Program Option is also offered.
ISLAND LIFE IN ANCIENT GREECE
September 20 to 28, 2009
From approximately $2995 per person (plus airfare)
Join us on this distinctive voyage across the Aegean Sea to Turkey’s historic coast and the Greek Isles and experience a region steeped in fascinating history, stunning beauty and deep-rooted cultures. Sail in the wake of Achilles and Agamemnon to legendary Troy aboard the exclusively chartered M.S. Le Diamant, one of the finest ships to cruise the eastern Mediterranean, and stroll through the ruins of Ephesus, the most intact Greco-Roman city in the world. Explore Greece’s most fabled islands, including Santorini, renowned for its pristine beaches and Delos, mythical birthplace of deities. Gain unique insight into life in the Aegean during an exclusively arranged VILLAGE FORUM with local residents, and enhance your understanding of the region’s history and cultures through educational lectures and a comprehensive series of excursions. We also invite you to join a two-night Pre-Program Option in mystical Istanbul, crossroads of East and West, and/or a two-night Post-Program Option in the ancient Greek capital of Athens.
Contact the Gohagan travel company at (800) 922-3088 or visit www.gohagantravel.com for complete travel tours and other destinations offered. Be sure to mention you are an AAUW member to take advantage of early booking discounts.
