Worldwide Educational Tours, Small Group Tours, Small Ship River Cruises and Ocean-Adventure Cruises


	Wales: From Snowdonia to Cardiff *Destination:* Europe *Countries:* United Kingdom *Travel Style:* Cultural Tours & Journeys *Departure Dates:* 8/22/2009 Begin your journey in Snowdonia National Park in North Wales, where mountain enclose fertile valleys of deepest green. Visit a typical Welsh farm and ride on the narrow guage Ffestiniog Railway. Explore splendid castles that vividly recall the conquerors and defenders of centuries past: Harlech, Beaumaris, Dolwyddelan, Conwy, Caernafon. Journey to Cardiff on the coast of South Wales; stroll along Cardiff Bay, and tour the magnificent 17th-century Tredegar House. Visit the Big Pit Coal Mining Museum, and the Outdoor Museum of Welsh Folk Like. Return from you Welsh sojourn with insight as well as memories of this proud, beautiful land. More...	*Rates from:* 2795.00
	Prague & the Historic Cities of Bohemia & Moravia *Destination:* Europe *Countries:* Czech Republic *Travel Style:* Cultural Tours & Journeys *Departure Dates:* 7/22/2009 Revel in the historic beauty and the festive spirit of Prague, where the "New Town" was founded in the 14th century and the "Old Town" is a treasury of European Architecture. Prague is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, as are three other places you'll visit. Experience the spa towns of Karolvy Vary (Karlsbad) and Marianske Lazny (Marienbad), and visit the picturesque Bohemian town of Cesky Krumlov, built centuries ago on a bend in the Vltava (Moldau). You'll discover Moravia, another distinct region, during your days in Brno and Telc, and your visit to a Moravian wine cellar! There will be time for independent touring, when you can choose historic sites, art museums, scenic walks or the famed coffee houses. More...	*Rates from:* 3495.00
	Undiscovered Turky and the Turquoise Coast *Destination:* Europe *Countries:* Turkey *Travel Style:* Cultural Tours & Journeys *Departure Dates:* 4/24/2009, 7/10/2009, 10/16/2009 A trip of many dimensions in a country where one city may have been the site of ten successive civilizations! This 15-day journey takes you deep into Turkey’s archaeological past, far into its heartland and then onto a modern version of a traditional wooden sailing ship to cruise the Mediterranean coast, known as the “Turkish Riviera.” See Haghia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace and other cultural treasures in Istanbul, and experience the fragrance of a spice market. Visit Cappadocia, where a labyrinth of rooms carved into volcanic stone are covered with Byzantine frescoes. See Aphrodisias, Ephesus and other ancient sites, and end your Turkish odyssey with a cruise along the Mediterranean coast and a return to Istanbul. More...	*Rates from:* 3495.00
	Sicily - Cultural Crossroads of the Mediterranean *Destination:* Europe *Countries:* Italy *Travel Style:* Cultural Tours & Journeys *Departure Dates:* 5/8/2009, 9/4/2009 Centuries of diverse histories are preserved on—and within—the island of Sicily. The cities of this rocky volcanic island hug the coastline and are extraordinarily beautiful. Palermo, the capital, bears traces of Moorish and baroque Spain, the Arab-Norman fusion, and the Roman and Byzantine empires. See Palermo, the delightful village of Taormina, and a villa with magnificent Roman mosaics. Along with the tumultuous history, you’ll enjoy a Norman folk tale told with traditional Sicilian puppets, sample many regional specialties, and take in the beauty of this sparse land with its panoramic views of the seas that surround it. More...	*Rates from:* 3595.00
	The Markets & Countryside of Provence *Destination:* Europe *Countries:* France *Travel Style:* Cultural Tours & Journeys *Departure Dates:* 6/18/2009, 9/3/2009 This storied region in the south of France evokes the intense beauty seen and painted by Monet, Cézanne, Matisse and the other artists who fell under the spell of azure sea, green and ochre earth and brilliant light. Its castles and ancient villages also recall the tumult of the Middle Ages. Spend this journey through Provence delighting in the rich visual surroundings of city and countryside, visiting the historic sites and discovering the markets that are a feast for the senses. You may extend your trip to the great Catalan city of Barcelona. More...	*Rates from:* 3795.00
	Ancient Treasures of Greece *Destination:* Europe *Countries:* Greece *Travel Style:* Cultural Tours & Journeys *Departure Dates:* 4/12/2009, 10/4/2009 Marvel at the splendors of ancient Greece as you travel from Athens, site of the great Acropolis, south to the Peloponnese to enjoy time in the seaside town of Tolo and to participate in the Greek Easter celebrations. Here you will also visit Epidaurus and Nauplia, before heading north to Delphi, following the Sacred Way to the Temple of Apollo; to Meteora and its incredible Byzantine monasteries precariously constructed on cliffsides; and to Thessalonika, birthplace of King Phillip, father of Alexander the Great. End your tour with a visit to the renowned Aegean island of Santorini to visit the Minoan city of Akrotiri. More...	*Rates from:* 3995.00
	Art in Venice: Venice Biennale *Destination:* Europe *Countries:* Italy *Travel Style:* Cultural Tours & Journeys *Departure Dates:* 6/20/2009 The Venice Biennale is the oldest and largest of all international art exhibits. Since World War II the Biennale has been largely devoted to contemporary and avant-garde art. A world-wide array of innovative work will be exhibited in 2009 throughout the Giardini’s national pavilions, at the Arsenale and in other venues. The Aperto program of cutting-edge “fringe” exhibits, and the concurrent theater festival will be underway. On this nine-day cultural journey you have two full days for the Biennale, excursions to nearby Padua and Vicenza, and plenty of time to return to the festival or explore Venice on your own. More...	*Rates from:* 3995.00
	Berlin, Bach & the Treasures of Dresden *Destination:* Europe *Countries:* Germany *Travel Style:* Cultural Tours & Journeys *Departure Dates:* 9/13/2009 See the new Berlin from the expansive glass dome of the Reichstag, and the artifacts of centuries—even millennia—past, in the Pergamon Museum on the city’s fabulous Museum Island. Glittering palaces are part of Berlin, as is Daniel Libeskind’s extraordinary Jewish Museum. You’ll see Frederick the Great’s Sans Souci Palace in nearby Potsdam, Bach’s St. Thomas Church in Leipzig, and the Goethe house in Weimar, one of the major centers of German cultural life. Visit all these sites and more, travel back in time at Wartburg Castle, and enjoy a concert in one of Berlin’s new halls. You may add to this trip three days and nights in Prague. More...	*Rates from:* 3995.00
	Cultural Capitals of Russia: Moscow, Novgorod & St. Petersburg *Destination:* Europe *Countries:* Russia *Travel Style:* Cultural Tours & Journeys *Departure Dates:* 5/31/2009, 6/28/2009, 8/2/2009, 9/6/2009 Visit old Russia to see its traditional wooden architecture, monuments and treasures of the Czarist past, plus the modern world in its capital, Moscow. The distinctive architecture of its majestic cathedrals topped with onion domes and embellished with gilded icons, the Kremlins of old cities, palaces of Peter and Catherine the Great, world-renowned art collections at the Heritage Museum and finely crafted Fabergé pieces at the Armory will be remembered for a lifetime. Travel through the countryside past charming dachas, forests of white birches and learn more about the literary traditions of writers such as Puskin. More...	*Rates from:* 4295.00
	Hidden Treasures of Central Europe *Destination:* Europe *Countries:* Hungary, Poland *Travel Style:* Cultural Tours & Journeys *Departure Dates:* 7/10/2009 Begin your travels in Budapest, capital of Hungary, where diverse cultures have traversed the land for centuries. Visit the Old Town in Budapest, the picturesque riverside town of Szentendre and the traditional village of Hollókö. Stop at the historic Slovakian towns of Banska Stiavnica and Spis. Tour the Old Center of Krakow to see its treasures and monuments; spend time in Warsaw, Poland’s capital. Enjoy a dinner cruise on the Danube in Budapest, a nature walk in the scenic hills of Slovakia, and a boat ride on the Dunajec River. Join us for this enlightening journey through Central Europe and discover why this region has beckoned travelers for centuries. More...	*Rates from:* 4295.00
	Jewels of the Baltic Sea *Destination:* Europe *Countries:* Baltic States (Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania), Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia *Travel Style:* Cultural Tours & Journeys *Departure Dates:* 8/17/2009 Discover the jewels of the Baltic Sea—Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia—three proud countries whose venerable capitals are flourishing. In Vilnius, Lithuania, visit the castle district, Cathedral, and the 16^th-century University. Stop at the Hill of Crosses, a monument to the quest for political freedom, and the Jewish Quarter, which before World War II was a community of 100,000 people. Visit Riga, Latvia, a repository of architecture from Gothic to Art Nouveau. Tallin, Estonia’s capital, was one of Europe’s great cities, as its Old Town of beautifully preserved historic buildings attests. At the end of your Baltic journey, enjoy a day on your own in Helsinki. More...	*Rates from:* 4295.00
	The Markets & Countryside of Provence with Barcelona Extension *Destination:* Europe *Countries:* France *Travel Style:* Cultural Tours & Journeys *Departure Dates:* 6/18/2009, 9/3/2009 This storied region in the south of France evokes the intense beauty seen and painted by Monet, Cézanne, Matisse and the other artists who fell under the spell of azure sea, green and ochre earth and brilliant light. Its castles and ancient villages also recall the tumult of the Middle Ages. Spend this journey through Provence delighting in the rich visual surroundings of city and countryside, visiting the historic sites and discovering the markets that are a feast for the senses. You may extend your trip to the great Catalan city of Barcelona. More...	*Rates from:* 4590.00
	Explore the Face of Italy: Naples to Venice *Destination:* Europe *Countries:* Italy *Travel Style:* Cultural Tours & Journeys *Departure Dates:* 5/16/2009, 9/12/2009 Begin your journey on Italy’s spectacular Amalfi Coast. Visit Sorrento, Amalfi and mountaintop Ravello, taking in history, art and views of the breathtaking Mediterranean coast. Walk the roads of Pompeii to see how people lived 2000 years ago. In Rome, visit the Colosseum and the ancient Forum, view Michelangelo’s great frescoes in the Sistine Chapel, and sip coffee in one of the Eternal City’s fabled squares. Spend four days exploring Siena, Florence and the gentle Tuscan countryside, and two days in timeless Venice. This leisurely tour showcases Italy’s great beauty and diversity, offering the perfect combination of city and countryside. More...	*Rates from:* 5995.00