View Trips by Region
Africa / America / Asia / Europe / Oceania / Polar / Oceans / World
Trip details are available online now for all the highlighted programs.
If you have questions on any of our trips, listed below, please call us
at 800-992-6749 or email compass@mit.edu and we'll send you trip information. Or you may use our handy Brochure Request Form and place your order today! Please note that trips and dates are subject to change.
Africa
Egypt & the Eternal Nile, April 6-22, 2012 (limited availability)
with MIT alumnus Dr. John Dobson '62, Oklahoma State professor emeritus
Begin in Cairo with visits to the Egyptian Museum, Pyramids of Giza, the Step Pyramids at Sakkara, and the open-air museum at Memphis. Cruise on Lake Nasser and then on the Nile from Aswan to Luxor.
Egypt & the Eternal Nile, September 28-October 13, 2012
Begin in Cairo with visits to the Egyptian Museum, Pyramids of Giza, the Step Pyramids at Sakkara, and the open-air museum at Memphis. Cruise on Lake Nasser and then on the Nile from Aswan to Luxor.
America
Galápagos Islands, July 28-August 6, 2012 (limited availability)
with MIT Professor Graham Walker
Explore this fascinating environment by sea and land. Snorkel among a colony of playful sea lions and colorful tropical fish; paddle a kayak past penguins and sea turtles; and hike across volcanic landscapes dotted with blue-footed boobies, iguanas, and tortoises.
Crater Lake & Rogue River Rafting, July 29-August 5, 2012
Experience the beauty of the Pacific Northwest along the shores of the wild and scenic Rogue River.
Columbia & Snake River Journey: Harvests, History & Landscapes, September 27-October 3, 2012 (limited availability)
Retrace Lewis & Clark’s rich history of exploration, discover diverse, lush landscapes and experience the region’s culinary treasures first-hand. Immerse yourself in the stunning Columbia River Gorge. Enjoy striking views of Mt. Hood, and lunch at a 102-year-old working farm.
Asia
China Family Program, June 22–July 6, 2012 (Waiting list)
Experience the sights, sounds and tastes of China, from cosmopolitan cities to rural villages. Interact with the people of China, learning martial arts from local students, visiting Chinese artists and learning their craft, and meeting with young Chinese pen pals as your children learn to make traditional dumplings together.
Waterways of Russia, August 19-29, 2012 (limited availability)
Cruise through the heartland of Russia along scenic rivers, lakes and canals to tenth-century Uglich, medieval Yaroslavl, the Fourteenth-century monastery of Goritsy, and the legendary open-air museum of Kizhi Island. Program also includes one night Moscow and two nights St. Petersburg. Early Booking Discount: save $1,000 per person until May 15, 2012.
Turkish Treasures, October 19-November 2, 2012 (limited availability)
After an exploration of Istanbul, travel a bit off the beaten path to Gaziantep, one of the oldest continually inhabited cities in the world. Enjoy a cruise on the Euphrates River. At Mt. Nemrut learn about King Antiochus, whose mountaintop burial site is adorned with evocative statues and temples. Explore Cappadocia, renowned for its surreal landscape and extensive underground cities.
Regal India: Rail Journey through Rajasthan, October 21-November 2, 2012 (waitling list)
with MIT Emeritus Professor Samuel Jay Keyser
Travel in the comfort of the newly renovated Palace on Wheels train and visit Rajasthan’s remote and legendary cities. This itinerary highlights include Delhi, Agra and the Taj Mahal, Jaipur, Udaipur, Jaisalmer, and Ranthambore, and Keoladeo Ghana National Parks.
Europe
Campus Abroad: Apulia Italy, April 10-18, 2012 (limited availability)
Spend seven nights in Italy’s coastal Apulia region, unpacking only once. Daily excursions include the towns of Bari, Lecce, medieval Travi, and Ostuni. Informative talks are given by local experts.
Campus Abroad: Holland & Belgium, April 24-May 2, 2012 (waiting list)
Highlights include the Keukenhof Gardens, Floriade, a visit to the Delta Project, tours of Bruges, Antwerp, and The Hague. Cruise on board the MS Amadeus Elegant.
Celtic Lands: Scotland, Wales, Ireland & France, April 30-May 9, 2012
Cruise onLe Boreal from the Orkney Islands, to the Isles of Skye, Mull, and Iona. Also visit Dublin and Northern France for the beaches of Normandy. Featured speakers Dwight David Eisenhower (historian and grandson of President Eisenhower) and Celia Sandy (historian and granddaughter of Sir Winston Churchill) give talks on D-Day and the Normandy landings and offer personal reflections.
Village Life in England's Cotswolds, May 5-13, 2012
Spend a week in the English countryside. By special arrangement, meet Lord Charles Spencer-Churchill, Sir Winston Churchill’s cousin, for a guided tour of Blenheim Palace. Also visit Oxford, the castle of Broughton, and the storybook villages of Bibury, Burford, Stow-on-the-Wold and Chipping Campden. Book by November 23, 2011 and save $600 per couple.
Village Life in Dordogne, May 24-June 1, 2012
with MIT Professor Jeffrey Ravel
Unpack once and explore the medieval pilgrimage site of Rocamadour, the cave paintings of Rouffignac, Lascaux, and Cap Blanc. Also, spend time exploring the home base of charming Sarlat-la-Canéda, one of the most beautiful and well-preserved medieval villages in France.
Classic Greek Isles, June 4-16, 2012
Athens, Delphi, and a cruise to the white-washed islands, during a seven-night voyage of the azure waters of the Aegean: Delos, Santorini, and Crete.
Campus Abroad: Ireland, June 5-15, 2012
with MIT Professor Alvin Kibel
Four nights Kilkenny, four nights Ennis, and two nights Dublin. Excursions include tours of the Irish National Heritage Park, Rock of Cashel, the Burren, the Cliffs of Moher, the island of Inishmore, and the Irish National Stud Farm.
Iceland: Land of Fire & Ice, July 20-28, 2012
with MIT alumnus David Scott Silverberg PhD '90
See Iceland’s extraordinary landscape of fire and ice, encountering wondrous sights at close range: abundant wildlife, world-renowned geological marvels and ancient cultural traditions. Cruise on board the 220-passenger MS Le Boreal.
Grand Danube Passage, September 11-25, 2012 (waiting list)
Begin with three nights in the Czech Republic’s vibrant capital of Prague and cruise through Austria’s Wachau Valley, and visit the Abbey in Melk, the town of Dürnstein, and Vienna. Other visits include Budapest, Kalocsa and Mohács, and Belgrade, Serbia. Early Booking Discount: save $500 per couple if reservation is booked by May 15, 2012.
Campus Abroad: Sicily, October 19-29
Stay four nights in Syracuse and four nights in Palmero. Excursions include Mt. Etna, Taormina for its famous Greek amphitheater, Noto, Erice, Segesta, and Cefalù. Talks by local experts complement daily excursions. Early Booking Discount: save $500 per couple if reservation is booked by May 29, 2012.
Oceania
Total Solar Eclipse in Australia: Sydney and the Daintree Rainforest, November 6-16, 2012 (LIMITED AVAILability)
with MIT Professor Edmund Bertschinger
Witness the total solar eclipse in Queensland Australia! This trip is complimented by tours of Sydney, and explorations of the Daintree Rainforest, Cape Tribulation National Park, and the Great Barrier Reef. An optional pre-trip extension to Kangaroo Island is available; and an optional post-trip extension is available to Ayers Rock.
Total Solar Eclipse in Australia: Sydney and Cairns, November 8-15, 2012 (wAITING LIST)
with MIT Professor Richard Binzel
Spend two nights in Sydney with free time to explore and a harbor cruise. Then we fly to Cairns. From here enjoy a full day excursion to the Great Barrier Reef, where there will be opportunities to swim and snorkel. We conclude our program with the thrill of witnessing the total solar eclipse.
Polar
Antarctica, December 7-20, 2012
Glide around enormous tabular icebergs by Zodiac, walk along beaches covered with thousands of penguins, and kayak amid abundant wildlife. Cruise across the Drake Passage and spend six days exploring the Antarctic Peninsula and its surrounding islands. Travel under the leadership of an experienced expedition team whose expert knowledge of Antarctica’s waters will ensure the program takes advantage of the unexpected. Book your reservation by June 30, 2012 and receive free round-trip charter airfare from Buenos Aires/Ushuaia. (cannot be combined with other offers)
Oceans
No programs currently available.
World
Private Jet: Experiences of a Lifetime, February 21-March 14, 2012
An epic 23-day journey by private jet. Destinations and activities include the pyramids in Egypt, gorilla trekking in Rwanda, game drives in South Africa, the Maldives, elephant trekking in Thailand, Bhutan, a sunset camel safari in India, and the lost city of Petra, Jordan.
Private Jet: Heaven and Earth, October 31-November 20, 2012
Circle the globe on an exceptional 21-day journey, exploring the lands of the sky worshippers and visiting ancient ruins of vanished civilizations in Tikal, Guatemala; Cusco and Machu Picchu, Peru; Easter Island, Chile; the heart of Aboriginal Australia; Borobudur, Indonesia; the Thar Desert, India; and the Lost City of Petra, Jordan.
To reserve your space on any of our programs, please call the MIT Alumni Travel Program at 800-992-6749 or email the Travel Program at compass@mit.edu. To receive more information on any of these trips, order a brochure online.
Programs and dates are subject to change—update 4/9/2012
