Travel Abroad 2008-2009

Travel the world with your fellow alumnae. These tour packages combine the best of first class travel with first class scholarship. Tour exotic locations with an expert guide who will provide insight on the people, culture, history and places. If you are interested in traveling with Sweet Briar, please consider joining us for one of the following tours:

The Medieval Art and Architecture of Southwest France
September 29-October 4, 2008

The Virginia Center for the Creative Arts (VCCA) and the Sweet Briar Friends of Art invites alumnae to join them in the province of Languedoc, France for “A Cultural Tour Through the Eyes of an Artist and a Medievalist.” The tour will be accompanied by sculptor Craig Pleasants and Sweet Briar Professor of Medieval Art History Tracy Hamilton. Enrollment is limited to 18 passengers. For more information, please click here to visit the VCCA website.

Alumni Campus Abroad in Tuscany ~ Cortona
October 22-30, 2008

From the innovations of the Etruscans to the enlightenment of the Renaissance, Tuscany is a region steeped in history and human achievement. Let the charming village of Cortona be your base as you travel through the surrounding Tuscan hill country, admiring the beauty of the land. In Siena, navigate narrow cobblestone streets lined with Gothic buildings, visit the city's magnificent Duomo, and stroll the Piazza del Campo, one of the loveliest squares in Italy. Then, journey to tiny Montepulciano, set in the heart of Chianti Country. In Umbria, explore two walled cities—medieval Assisi, home to the exquisite Basilica of St. Francis, and Perugia, an ancient Etruscan city-state. Finally, experience the brilliant artistic and architectural heritage of Florence, the Cradle of the Renaissance.

Monarch Migration in Mexico with Dr. Lincoln Brower
February 10-18, 2009

Each autumn the delicate and beautiful monarch butterfly undergoes one of the most extraordinary annual migrations on our planet. Up to a billion monarchs embark on a 2,500 mile journey across eastern North America to their ancestral wintering grounds in the forest sanctuaries in the spectacular trans-volcanic range in central Mexico. In this quiet, beautiful region of high peaks and dense forests, the butterflies gather together by the millions in extraordinarily dense clusters on the conifers where they spend five months. At the end of March, the survivors fly back to the southern US to lay their eggs on the freshly sprouting milkweeds, and several generations are produced from the Gulf Cost states to southern Canada. For scientists around the world this annual migration is one of nature's greatest mysteries.

Sweet Briar College and The Alumni Association of Princeton University jointly present this expedition to Mexico to witness the remarkable overwintering spectacle of the monarch butterfly. Under the leadership of renowned biologist Dr. Lincoln Brower, a professor of biology at Sweet Briar College and a graduate of Princeton (BA 1953), participants will visit the beautiful mountain sanctuaries where the monarchs over winter. Dr. Brower has been described by National Geographic as “the continent's foremost authority on monarch migration.” For more than forty years he has researched the questions of how and why different generations of monarchs return to these same forest highlands each year.

From the butterfly sanctuaries in Angangueo, the group will travel west, to spend two nights in the lovely colonial town of Pátzcuaro. Participants will be treated to lunch at a private hacienda, the location of La Cruz Habitat Protection Project. Here we will learn about how this conservation project is helping farmers reforest their lands and reduce pressure on the fir trees that the monarchs need for over wintering.

Be one of the privileged few to witness the mysteries of the monarch butterfly.

Coastal Life: Cruising Thailand and the Malay Peninsula
February 18 to 28, 2009

Join us on this tantalizing new itinerary and discover the exotic treasures of Thailand and the Malay Peninsula, while sailing the fabled waters of the Andaman Sea aboard the exclusively chartered S.Y. Star Clipper. You will stroll through the bustling markets of the glittering imperial city of Bangkok and encounter a unique world of pristine beaches, tropical jungles and grand temples. Call at Singapore and the ancient ports of the Malay Peninsula, where centuries of trading among Malay, Arabian, Indian, Chinese and Dutch seafarers have created an enticing mélange of cultures, religions and cuisines. Discover the sublime beauty of idyllic islands, savor the bold flavors of Thailand's legendary food and experience the diversity and hospitality of Southeast Asia's people during an exclusive Village Forum with local residents.

South Africa: Three Kingdoms (with an optional extension to Cape Town)
May 29-June 11, 2009

The history of southern Africa is a story rich in struggle, courage, self-sacrifice, tragedy, and endurance. Join us on a journey of cultural discovery to three kingdoms – Lesotho, Swaziland, and KwaZulu-Natal – and through the lands where the mighty Zulu clashed with British imperial power and the tenacity of the Boers in a conflict that would shape the fate of all South Africans for more than a century to come.

A Sweet Briar enrichment lecturer will accompany you as you visit a traditional Basotho homestead, explore legendary battlefields like Spioenkop, Tugela Heights, Isandlwana and Rorkes Drift, and discover local crafts and traditional medicines in a Swazi market. There will be plenty of great moments for nature lovers as well, at Phinda Reserve (site of one of the most ambitious wildlife reintroduction programs in African history) and amidst the legendary biodiversity of Kruger National Park. Throughout, stay in accommodations specially selected for their combination of comfort, grace, and local flavor.

An optional post-extension to Cape Town offers the opportunity to explore Table Mountain, the Cape of Good Hope, the winelands, New Rest Township and more.

Swiss Alps & Italian Lakes
June 28-July 6, 2009

Literary luminaries in the 19th century heralded the idyllic treasures of Switzerland and Italy in praise-filled travelogues. Since then, not much has changed in this pristine part of Europe. Elegance reigns supreme in the hideaway village of St. Moritz where weathered wooden chalets bedecked with red geranium boxes stand in bright contrast to lushly turfed valleys and snow-capped peaks. From Pontresina, see the region from atop Alp Languard and marvel at Roseg Glacier. Sunshine dances on the turquoise waters of Lake Como and in its namesake village, renowned for fine silks. The Borromean Islands boast opulent villas, colorful gardens and peaceful fishing villages, while cosmopolitan Milan abounds in priceless works of art and magnificent architecture—a true legacy from past centuries. Come let this extraordinary Alpine region inspire you as well!

Click here to download brochure.

Village Life in England's Cotswolds
October 12-27, 2009

Time has passed with an unusually gentle hand over the rolling hills and small villages of England's Cotswolds, a delightful region of lush pastoral landscapes, medieval castles and deep-rooted cultural traditions. On this exclusive sojourn, immerse yourself in the heart of the English countryside and discover this region's enchanting natural beauty and priceless historic treasures. Stroll across the fabled quads of Oxford, marvel at the grandeur of Gloucester Cathedral, and experience the traditions of villages like Broadway and Chipping Camden where life has remained little changed for centuries. Take a special private “behind-the-scenes” tour of Sir Winston Churchill's birthplace at Blenheim Palace hosted by Lord Charles Spencer-Churchill. Throughout your stay, enjoy charming accommodations at the Queen's Hotel, a splendid 150 year-old example of Regency style architecture situated amidst immaculately groomed gardens of Cheltenham. Also, to further enhance your enjoyment and understanding of the Cotswolds region, this carefully planned itinerary features a full program of lectures and presentations about regional art, history and culture and a specially arranged Village Forum with local residents.

Click here to download brochure.

Turkey & the Turquoise Coast
October 12-27, 2009

Turkey —where Europe and Asia, past and present, meet to form “the cradle of civilization”—is yours to discover. Your journey begins in Istanbul, Turkey's cultural and spiritual heart. Here you'll see the city's magnificent edifices: the legendary Blue Mosque, Saint Sofia, and Topkapi Palace, one of the world's richest museums. Then travel south via the sacred World War I battlefield of Gallipoli and ferry across the Dardanelles to Troy. Explore another of Turkey's ancient sites, Pergamum, which boasts a wealth of Greco-Roman ruins including a famous library that Antony is reputed to have given to Cleopatra. Continue on to Ephesus, one of the best-preserved classical sites in the world. Its 25,000-seat Grand Theater has excellent acoustics and splendid views. Visit a carpet factory and enjoy lunch with a local family en route to Marmaris, where you'll board your privately chartered gulet yacht. During the next five days, you'll cruise the blue waters along the exquisite Turquoise Coast and discover hidden sights including quaint fishing villages, striking Roman ruins, a Greek ghost town, and a 6th-century Byzantine monastery. Our tour ends in the seaside resort of Antalya, with visits to ancient Perge and the Antalya's Archeological Museum. There is an optional 5-day/4-night post-tour extension for those who wish to explore the remarkable rock formations of Cappadocia and visit Ankara, Turkey's capital.

TRAVEL INSURANCE

For more information about how to protect your travel investment and avoid costly travel medical expenses with Travel Insurance Select, click on the logo below. Travel Insurance Select is recommended for our Sweet Briar Travel Program and may also be purchased from this site for your personal trips. Enroll early (within 15 days of paying your trip deposit) for maximum benefits.

All dates and itineraries are subject to change.
For further information, contact Melissa Coffey , our travel coordinator in the Alumnae Office. 
Tel: (434) 381-6243 or (800) 381-6131; fax: (434) 381- 6132; e-mail: mcoffey@sbc.edu