Events & Reunions
Travel-Learn: Desert Crossroads & the Himalaya by Private Jet
When: Sunday, March 21, 2010 - Saturday, April 03, 2010 (iCal)
Description
Visit the lands where caravans criss-crossed to trade silk, ivory, gems, and precious metals. Visit the tribes of Mali, the grand temples of Egypt, Jordan’s ancient city of Petra, India’s Taj Mahal, sacred Nepal, and Bhutan and discover the traditions of nomads, monks, maharajas, and kings. Travel with renowned photographer Bob Krist of National Geographic and other experts on one or more of the three interconnected programs – Desert Crossroads & the Himalaya, Sacred Places of Asia, and the Ancient Silk Road. The flexibility available in each of the journeys makes it easy to tailor the trips to our own interests. Additionally, our expedition will provide supplies to local communities that many people depend on, including medical clinics and schools.
Optional post-trip extension: Northern Thailand
Cost
From $34,950 per person, plus airfare to starting location.
Contact
For more information, contact Usha Sellers, Program Director, in the Office of Alumni Relations at usha.sellers@tufts.edu or 1-800-THE-ALUM (1-800-843-2586) or 617-627-5323.
Itinerary
Day 1 - London, England
Meet travel companions and the expedition staff at a welcome dinner in London.
Days 2 & 3 - Mali’s Dogon People, Tuareg Nomads & Timbuktu
Fly by private jet to Mopti and cruise the Niger River to see daily life in this busy port town with bustling riverside markets. Enjoy a welcome celebration with a festive Bobo performance before dinner, and then explore the remote cliffside villages of the Dogon people and observe their colorful masked dance. Or see the world’s largest mud-brick mosque at Djenné and take a local flight to fabled Timbuktu to meet the Tuaregs.
Days 4, 5 & 6 - Egyptian Antiquities at Luxor & The Siwa Oasis
Explore ancient Thebes and experience the majesty of Luxor Temple. Walk through the Great Hypostle Hall at Karnak and marvel at the treasures of the Luxor Museum. Sail on the Nile River in traditional felucca boats; see the Valley of the Kings; visit the tomb of Tutankhamun; and stop at the temple of Queen Hatshepsut. Or, instead of the full program at Luxor, spend one night at the Siwa Oasis.
Days 7 & 8 - The Lost City of Petra or Wadi Rum, Jordan
Step back 2,000 years in time as we stroll through the enchanting archaeological site of Petra—half-built and half-carved into the rose-red rock of a mountain by the ancient Nabataeans. Or, instead of Petra, visit the lunar-like landscapes of Wadi Rum and meet with Bedouins currently living in this storied desert valley.
Days 9 & 10 - The Taj Mahal
Fly to Agra, India to visit the Taj Mahal—an iconic and beautiful work of art that incorporates Persian, Hindu, and Islamic architectural styles.
Day 10 (continued) - Kathmandu, Nepal
Depart Agra and fly by private jet over the Himalaya to Kathmandu, Nepal where we will visit Durbar Square and the Bodnath Stupa.
Days 11, 12 & 13 - The Kingdom of Bhutan
Take a local flight from Kathmandu to Paro and visit the great Paro Dzong and the Paro Museum. Then transfer to Thimphu to see the Memorial Chorten, and visit the Folk Heritage Museum, the Textile Museum, and the National Library. Admire the 108 Chortens of Dochula Monastery, and savor a sumptuous spread of local cuisine at our farewell dinner. Travelers who wish to hike to Tiger’s Nest will transfer back to Paro.
Day 14 - Return Home
Return home from Kathmandu.
Optional Post-Trip Extension: Bangkok or Thailand
For those travelers who are not joining the next Hidden Corners Around the World journey, we may choose to extend our stay in Asia with a post-tour in Northern Thailand or a visit to Bangkok.
* Bangkok: Depart Kathmandu for Bangkok for a short visit to the city before returning home.
* Thailand: Transfer to Chiang Rai and cruise by riverboat through bamboo forests to our luxury camp. Go elephant trekking through teak jungles and visit some of the hilltribes of this beautiful, rarely visited region. Then return home via Bangkok.
Thailand Interval
For those travelers joining the next Hidden Corners Around the World journey, Sacred Places of Asia, we will stay 2 nights at the Peninsula Bangkok and join an exclusive sightseeing program at no additional cost.