Upcoming Trips

Check below for up-to-date descriptions and details. At any point, feel free to email Jim Booth with inquiries!

2013 Trips

Gateway to the Black Sea

May 25 – June 6, 2013

Our first international trip of 2013 will be a spectacular river cruise from Budapest, Hungary to Bucharest, Romania. We will be among the first to travel aboard Vantage’s brand new ship, the River Splendor, which features all of the most modern comforts for European river travel. From ship wide wireless internet and free computer availability to flat screen TV with access to some US channels, the Splendor will provide us state- of-the-art river cruising convenience to go with the most spacious rooms available…and don’t forget you only unpack once!

The itinerary takes us to five Eastern European countries and includes eight sightseeing tours, lunch with Bulgarian university students, a home-hosted lunch with a Croatian family, and four cultural lectures. Also included are visits to three UNESCO World Heritage sites, the fantastic sail through the Iron Gates gorges of the Danube and, of course, the opportunity to wade in the Black Sea.

Your bucket list trip can be expanded with a pre-trip extension to Vienna, Austria for four days and/or a three night post extension to the fabled city of Istanbul, Turkey. With the extensions, you could actually visit seven countries in 20 days! Contact the Alumni Office for more information, or to reserve your space now.

Cost begins at $2,899 per person double occupancy (does NOT include air). Add $154 for port charges. All inclusive air (including airport transfers) from West Coast cities is $1,599.
Deposit: $500 per person (can pay by check or credit card directly to Vantage Deluxe World Travel)
Final payment due: February 25, 2013
Activity level: Light
Group size: 24
Trip host: Jim Booth ‘64

Deschutes River Rafting

July 5-7, 2013

This incredible journey down the Deschutes River will cover approx. 50 river miles over three days. Rafters will experience exciting rapids, beautiful scenery and great company along the way -- all while being taken care of by seasoned guides.

Aside from plenty of on-water time, you'll also have chances to relax, go on a hike, try your luck at fishing, read a book by the river, or catch up with old friends. Our guides will take care of all the cooking, too, which means that you'll wake up to the smell of coffee in the morning and be treated to some fairly high-caliber meals throughout each day.

The group will meet at 9 a.m. the first morning in Maupin, Ore., which is just two hours from Portland.

About the river

The Deschutes River originates high in the Cascade mountains from Little Lava Lake, stretching 250 miles through central/easter Oregon before flowing into the Columbia. The 'Lower Deschutes' refers to the hundred-mile section from the mouth of the Deschutes to Pelton Dam (near Lake Billy Chinook). This is our section of the river, and it offers beautiful scenes through a desert canyon filled with sage brush, osprey, and incredible basalt rock formations. Naturally, it boasts plenty of rapids fit for beginners and experienced river rafters alike.

River Drifters will be leading this trip, and bookings can be made online. Willamette has negotiated a special price of $310 per person. Children 12 and older are welcome.

French Waterways

Oct. 8 - 20, 2013

Our fall, 2013 trip will be a wonderful opportunity to experience the Burgundy and Provence areas of France by ship! The trip will be book-ended with hotel stays in Monaco and Paris, with the 9 nights in between spent aboard the brand new River Discovery II featuring luxurious cabins and gourmet meals. 3-night pre and post trips to Barcelona and Paris are available for those who want to get more out of their trip.

Vantage Deluxe World Travel will once again be our tour operator. They have earned this opportunity by doing an outstanding job on our previous trips to Egypt, South Africa and SE Asia. Their combination of itinerary, price and local program managers is as good as it gets for group travel. In addition, if you have traveled with Vantage in the last two years, you are eligible for a 3-5% discount on this trip.

Our tour will include 11 sightseeing tours, including visits to three UNESCO World Heritage sights. In addition, there will be numerous cultural connections that will assure you a genuine opportunity to enjoy and appreciate the French way of life. If you have been wanting to go to this part of France and/ or return to Monaco and Paris, this will is an especially well-planned opportunity.

Contact Kim Burris in the Alumni Office at kburris@willamette.edu or 503-375-5304 for more information or to reserve your space now. You may also contact Vantage directly at 800-994-6321 for Cheryl (ext. 7147) or Patrick (ext. 7011) who are there just for group customer service.

Cost: Begins at $3989 land only, which includes a $100 Early Booking Discount if you deposit by March 31, 2013. Air from Vantage ranges from $999 (JFK) to $1549 (PDX) and includes transfers, government fees and taxes and surcharges. Business class is available. Discounts are available for pre-payment.
Deposit: $500 per person (can pay by check made out to Vantage Travel or by credit card)
Final payment due: July 8, 2013
Activity level: Light
Group size: 30
Trip host: Jim Booth ‘64

2014 Trips

Machu Picchu & the Galapagos: Lost City of the Inca, Living Wonder of Nature

March 3-18, 2014

It is rare to have the opportunity to see two of the world’s greatest wonders in one trip, but this is your chance! We will explore South America’s most extraordinary works of nature and humankind in one spectacular small-group journey. Beginning in the heart of the Inca Empire, we’ll explore enigmatic Machu Picchu---where we’ll spend an overnight---as well as the Sacred Valley of the Inca and Cuzco, capitals of the Inca and Spanish-colonial empires. Then, following visits to Quito and Otavalo in Ecuador, we’ll spend an unforgettable four-night voyage among the Galapagos Islands, one of the most pristine natural areas on the planet. Our ship is a specially outfitted eco-cruise vessel that combines the stability and comfort of a large ship with a full array of naturalist-guided shore excursions and small-group wildlife encounters. This will be a truly unforgettable experience from beginning to end!

For the cost, this trip is an incredible value. Highlights will include 2 guided visits to Machu Picchu, 5 days of cruising the Galapagos Islands up close and personal with wildlife and nature, a Vistadome train ride through the stunning scenery of the Sacred Valley, 3 internal domestic flights, 28 sightseeing tours and cultural connections, and 30 meals during our 14 days in Peru and Ecuador.

And if you want more, a pre-trip is available for 4 days in the Peru’s Amazon rain forest. While spending 3 nights in the Amazon’s finest eco¬-lodge, you will experience this remarkable ecosystem, exploring one of the planet’s richest and most bio-diverse regions by boat and on guided walks.

Cost begins at $5,399 per person double occupancy land only. Air cost begins at $699 per person from Miami ($999 from San Francisco) and will include all government taxes and fees.
Deposit: $500 per person (can pay by credit card directly to Vantage Deluxe World Travel)
Final payment due: December 3, 2013
Activity level: moderate
Group size: limited to 18-26
Trip host: Jim Booth ‘64

Tuscany - Featuring Professor Emeritus Roger Hull

May 21-30, 2014

We invite you to join us for 9 full days in Tuscany with Professor Emeritus Roger Hull. This trip was extremely successful in 2008 and 2011, and we are happy to offer it with new enhancements. We would encourage you to go with old friends, and expect to make new ones as we participate in discussions of Italian art and culture, and learn about regional wine and cuisine. With the help of our excellent tour operator, AHI, we have carefully organized a relaxed program of walking tours, coach excursions, museum visits, and free time for individual exploration and contemplation.

We will spend the first six nights in the undiscovered town of Colle di Val d’Elsa in the heart of Tuscany. Daily forays will include visits to San Gimignano, Castellina, Monsanto, San Galgano, Massa Marittima and Siena. Our last two nights will be in Florence, where we will experience much of the magnificent art and architecture of this central Renaissance city.

We hope you can take advantage of this opportunity to experience a very special part of the world with the expertise of AHI and Professor Hull. We have 36 spots available, and assure you that the camaraderie will be yet another highlight of this spectacular trip.

Contact Kim Burris in the Alumni Office at kburris@willamette.edu or 503-375-5304 for more information or to reserve your space now.

Cost is $3,345 plus air and $295 VAT ($250 early booking discount if deposit by 7/31/13)
Deposit: $600 per person (can pay by check or credit card directly to AHI Travel)
Final payment due: March 1, 2014
Activity level: light to moderate
Group size: 36
Trip hosts: Professor Roger Hull and Jim Booth ‘64

Switzerland & the Heart of the Rhine & Moselle

August 12-27, 2014

Since 2008, we have offered at least one river cruise. This year’s opportunity to enjoy this most leisurely, yet educational, travel experience will feature a Basel, Switzerland to Amsterdam cruise along the scenic Rhine and Moselle rivers. We’ve picked the best time of year to experience the culture and cuisine of five countries aboard the newly refurbished ms River Navigator. One of Vantage Travel’s most popular river cruises, this trip sold out in record time last year.

This will truly be one of the most scenic and comprehensive tours you will take. Highlights include fabulous river views along the heart of the Rhine and Moselle river valleys, 14 sightseeing tours, cultural connections including wine tastings, lectures, and local entertainment on board, and visits to 5 UNESCO World Heritage sites. In addition, a pre trip to Lucerne, Switzerland with its breathtaking alpine views and/or a post trip to historic Bruges, Belgium are available extensions to this remarkable river cruise.

Cost begins at $3,699, not including air or port charges of $252. Air from New York is $1,549 and from Portland is $1,849 (includes all taxes and transfers). $100 discount per person if deposit by July 31, 2013. 10% pre-payment discount if paid before August 12, 2013!
Deposit: $500 per person (can pay by credit card directly to Vantage Deluxe World Travel)
Activity level: light to moderate
Group size: 30 (total of 134 for ship)
Trip host: Jim Booth ‘64

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