Events & Reunions

When: Monday, April 05, 2010 - Monday, April 19, 2010 (iCal)

Description

Travel to the lands of Shaman kings, Buddhist monks, geishas, and hill tribes in Southeast Asia and Yunnan Province. Visit Java’s ancient Borobudur Temple; the stunning Angkor Wat; cruise Ha Long Bay; meet a Naxi family in Lijiang, China; see the treasures of Korea’s Shilla Kingdom and the perfection of Japan’s Zen traditions. 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 pre-trip extension: Bangkok, Thailand

Optional post-trip extension: Xi’an and Beijing, China

Cost

From $29,950 per person, plus airfare to starting location.

Contact

For more information, contact Usha Nand 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 - Bangkok, Thailand

Arrive in Bangkok. We will meet our travel companions and the expedition staff, and attend a welcome dinner.

Days 2 & 3 - Yogjakarta & Borobudur, Java

Our journey begins with a flight to Java and a visit Borobudur—a 1,200 year-old temple ringed with Buddha statues – where we will marvel at Prambanan, an enormous Hindu temple whose main shrine soars above the surrounding compound. Then, we will savor Indonesian cuisine during lunch at a historic Javanese house. Dinner is at a festive “Night Market.”

Days 4 & 5 - Cambodia’s Angkor Wat

Today and tomorrow, we have the ability to design our own itinerary with the option to explore Angkor Wat, Angkor Thom, Ta Prohm, and The Bayon temples, visit Banteay Srei, the Citadel of Women, or go to the lost jungle temple of Beng Mealea and explore the rarely seen Rolous temple complex.

Days 6 & 7 - Hanoi & Ha Long Bay, Vietnam

Fly by private jet to Hanoi and visit Ho Chi Minh’s wooden house-on-stilts and the curiously-shaped One Pillared Pagoda built in 1049. Then, cruise the serene Ha Long Bay to see a spectacular seascape of limestone pillars and floating villages.

Days 8 & 9 - Kunming & Lijiang, Yunnan Province, China

Our journey continues to Kunming where we will transfer to Lijiang to see ancient wooden homes, meet a Naxi family, and visit Mu’s Palace. Or, we may choose to remain in Kunming to see the Stone Forest, browse the flower markets, and more.

Days 10 & 11 - Pagodas & Palaces of the Great Shilla Kingdom, South Korea

Today, we will fly to Pusan and transfer to Gyeongju to see the enormous tombs of the Shilla rulers and their golden treasures at the Gyeongju National Museum. Then, we will meet the Bulguk-sa Buddhist Temple monks and stay with them overnight if we so choose. Before departing, we will visit the Sakyamuni Buddha in the Sokkuram Grotto and explore the famous Jagalchi Fish Market.

Days 12, 13 & 14 - Cultural Treasures of Japan

In Japan, we will marvel at the historic temples, shrines, and gardens of Kyoto and Nara, including Nijo Castle, Todai-ji Temple, and the Golden Pavilion. Or, we may choose to enjoy one night in a traditional Kyoto inn and try our hand at calligraphy or ikebana flower arrangement instead of visiting Nara. Tonight, attend a farewell dinner.

Day 15 - Return Home or join the Optional Post-Tour Extension to Xi’an China

Today, connect with individual commercial flights home from Osaka or Tokyo, Japan. Or join the optional post-trip extension to Xi’an, China, for the China Interval program or the China Post-Tour.

Optional Pre-Tour Extension - Thailand:

Depart the U.S.A. and arrive in Bangkok where we will meet our expedition leader and our travel companions for dinner. Our time in Thailand includes a cruise by riverboat through bamboo forests of Chiang Rai, elephant trekking through teak jungles and visits to some of the hill tribes of the region, after which we will return to Bangkok and join our travelers for the Sacred Places of Asia expedition.

China Post-Tour Extension

We may choose to continue our journey with a visit to Xi’an and see the Yangling Tomb, Qin terra-cotta warriors, and the Muslim Quarter. Then, we will fly to Beijing and visit the Forbidden City, the Great Wall, the Temple of Heaven, and Tiananmen Square before returning to the U.S. Alternatively, join the next Hidden Corners Around the World journey, The Ancient Silk Road, April 20–May 4, 2010.

China Interval for Continuing Travelers

For those of us who choose to join the next Hidden Corners Around the World journey, The Ancient Silk Road, we will stay 2 nights at the Sofitel on Renmin Square and join an exclusive sightseeing program before continuing our journey to the Silk Road.