TOUR PROGRAM July 2017 – June 2018

Broaden your mind

academytravel.com.au new tours

The Venice Rome: Study Tour Naples, Capri Florence, Biennale & Rome Ravenna & Venice

8 15 18 19

Morocco & Stockholm to Burgundy, Great Musical Southern Spain St Petersburg: Provence & Cities: Prague, a Baltic Journey The Riviera Vienna & Budapest

24 30 33 36

Imperial China: The Southern USA: Washington, Egypt: Great History & the Arts Washington to Chicago & New Pyramids to New Orleans York: Study Tour Abu Simbel

40 46 50 53 2 www.academytravel.com.au contents

Broaden your mind Italy 8

Dear Traveller, Europe 21

I’m delighted to present to you our latest catalogue, detailing the 53 tours Music & Theatre 34 we have on offer from July 2017 through to June 2018. There’s also a sneak preview of our July-December 2018 tours towards the end of the brochure. Asia Pacific 39 Leafing through the pages I’m immensely proud of the diversity of tours on offer, the unique character of the itineraries and the terrific team of The Americas 45 Academy Travel tour leaders. We’ve come a long way since we commenced operations in 2005 with a handful of tours to Italy. Africa & the Middle East 52 The theme of this brochure is ‘broaden your mind’ – a reminder of the Upcoming tour program 56 timeless adage about the purpose of travel. Our small-group tours aim to do just this, and to do this in a number of ways. The first is through the destinations we travel to. New tours for 2017-2018 include Stockholm to Fitness Requirements 58 St Petersburg, Burgundy to Provence and Chile, Argentina and Peru. It’s also great to see destinations such as Taiwan and Egypt back in the program The Next Steps 59 after a break of several years. A second way we aim to broaden travellers’ minds is through the way we academytravel.com.au Our website approach destinations. We’ve a specialist art-lovers tour to the Venice contains Biennale, an art and history themed tour of Tasmania, two performing arts detailed tours to New York, music tours throughout Europe and our popular 10-14 itineraries, day residential and ‘two city tours’, such as those in Venice or Palermo maps and tour and Naples. A new concept for 2017-18 is our study tours, designed for leader profiles. keen learners. Daily lectures and detailed site visits are the focus, with a Our site also minimum of other distractions – look for our Rome and Washington to features an online booking form. New York study tours in this catalogue. The third ingredient is our expert tour leaders, a small team of enthusiastic More information and dedicated specialists. If you’re a regular Academy Traveller, you’ll be able Detailed itineraries for to travel again with your preferred tour leaders, secure in the knowledge all tours are available that their leadership will add huge value to your travel. by calling us or by downloading from And the final ingredient? You. Without the loyal support of regular Academy our website. Travellers and new clients who hear about our program through word-of- academytravel.com.au mouth recommendations, we simply would not be able to offer the range and diversity of tours on offer in this catalogue. We’re immensely grateful of your continued support. Sold out tours Thank you for your interest. We hope you find a tour that’s right for you. Northern Spain & Portugal: Bilbao to Lisbon Robert Veel, and the entire Academy Travel team October 6-25, 2017 Japan unmasked: art, history & culture tailored small November 3-18, 2017 Front: Spanish artist Jaume Plensa’s Together group Journeys installation for the 2015 Venice Biennale. Plensa has constructed one of these great heads, just Ph0ne: +61 2 9235 0023 inside Andrea Palladio’s 16th-century church on email: [email protected] the island of San Giorgio Maggiore, Venice. Web: academytravel.com.au Inset: Detail of the onion domes on Saint Basil’s Cathedral in Moscow, Russia. › Expert tour leaders Brochure production: Damien Flint › Maximum 20 in a group Design: Pro Bono Publico › Carefully planned itineraries Tour Product Managers: Stuart Barrie, Nick Gordon, Robina Frosinini, Hannah Kleboe, Mark Lalor and Robert Veel.

More details at academytravel.com.au 3 Why choose academy travel?

Great Like-minded Long itineraries groups stays All itineraries feature a carefully Share your journey with fellow Perhaps the most appealing feature thought out balance of walking tours, travellers with similar interests to of our program. No whistlestop gallery and museum visits, scenic yours. A maximum of 20 participants tours, no 7.00am departures, day excursions, dining and performances. – not too small and not too large – after day. In most destinations we creates a convivial atmosphere. enjoy three or four nights to really “One of the best tours I get to know the place. have been on – mainly due “Loved the myriad of “The mix of history, art and to the itinerary and cultural different sites every day architecture was perfect evenings – much more than – a real “adventure’. Also, and the tour moved at a I expected, so a big thank really enjoyed our eclectic pace that allowed us to have you to Academy Travel” yet harmonious group – a decent amount of time at North East USA: great patrons & their our lunches and dinners – collections, 2016. we all shared a passion for each site, while still fitting Renaissance history/art.” in all sites.” Grand Tour of Spain, 2016. Florence & the Italian Renaissance, 2016.

4 Maximum 20 in a group Special Expert tour Years of Events leaders experience A private viewing of the Sistine Our tour leaders combine academic Academy Travel was founded in 2004. Chapel or the Museum of Modern expertise with a genuine passion The directors and many of our tour Art in New York? Tickets to sold-out for the places they visit. Under their leaders each have over 20 years’ shows at the Berlin Philharmonic expert guidance you see rather than experience in creating, managing Orchestra? Many of our tours feature just look, hear rather than just listen and leading group cultural tours. top-flight events not usually offered and understand rather than just To ensure quality we have our own on group tours. observe. Your travel experience is office in Rome, Italy, and a network of transformed. trusted suppliers around the world. “I loved the whole two- week programme – it was “This tour was an absolute “Academy Travel has diversified to cover all joy. Robert Gay is a superb been a wonderful organiser interests. Highlights for me tour leader and his talks and organisation of the were the opera at the Met greatly enhance my cultural tours that we (great seats, thanks!) and enjoyment of the tour. enjoy so much!” the private tour of the Neue I look forward to my Venice: City, Republic & Empire, 2016. Gallery on 5th Avenue.” n e x t t o u r.” Berlin to Vienna: a musical Christmas New York: music, theatre, art & food, 2016. & New Year, 2017.

More details at academytravel.com.au 5 Our experts Academy Travel’s team of expert tour leaders offers genuine academic expertise, enthusiasm and the ability lead the way to communicate their knowledge to interested travellers.

Ben Churcher Chris Carter Has a wide range of experience as an Has an Honours and Master’s degree in educator, and an archaeologist. Since archaeology and has recently completed 1994 Ben has led tours to Jordan, a PhD. He has led tours to Central and Greece, Syria, Egypt, China & Morocco. South America for over 20 years. Upcoming tours: Pages 39 & 54 Upcoming tours: Page 45

Dr Estelle Lazer Dr Jeni Ryde An archaeologist who has worked on Has a wide-ranging knowledge of site at Pompeii for seven seasons and Italian history and cultural traditions. has an international reputation for her Jeni has a PhD focusing on Tourism, research on the city’s skeletal remains. Heritage and Renaissance Studies. Upcoming tours: Pages 13, 17 & 28 Upcoming tours: Pages 13, 17, 22 & 25

Dr Kathleen Olive Lindy Montgomery Has a PhD in Italian Studies, speaks A graduate of both the University of fluent Italian and lectures on the art, Sydney and the Sydney Conservatorium history and culture of Europe. Kathleen of Music, where she taught musicology has an outstanding knowledge of Italy. for 13 years. Upcoming tours: Pages 10, 12, 33, 41 & 43 Upcoming tours: Page 36

Dr Matthew Laing Dr Michael Neuman Is a historian and political scientist with a Is a former Professor at the University PhD from the ANU. Matthew leads tours of New South Wales, where his work to the United States and Scandinavia and in urban history, specialising in Spain, lectures for Academy Travel. has won international awards. Upcoming tours: Pages 46, 48, 49, 50 & 51 Upcoming tours: Page 26

Robert Gay Robert Veel Is one of Australia’s leading music Holds a Bachelor of Arts and Masters of tour leaders and music educators. Education. He is a director of Academy He has designed and led more than Travel and leads tours to Europe, 80 performance-based tours to Scandinavia, the US & Australia. Europe and the US. Upcoming tours: Pages 11, 16, 20 & 30 Upcoming tours: Pages 34, 37 & 38

Thomas Abbott Dr Tom Ford Holds a degree in art history, specialising Holds a PhD in history and has written in the architecture of Berlin, the art of extensively on classical music. Tom is 18th-century Germany and the Bauhaus. currently PR and media manager (classics He has led many tours in Germany. and jazz) for Universal Music Australia. Upcoming tours: Page 23 Upcoming tours: Page 35

6 Carefully planned itineraries Christopher David Rosier Bradley Is a specialist on the Qing Dynasty. Has an honours degree from Liverpool David has undertaken lecture tours to University and specialises in the history Australia and leads tours to China that and art of North Africa and Arabia. focus on imperial art and culture. Upcoming tours: Page 52 Upcoming tours: Page 40

Dr John Tidmarsh Judy Tenzing The former president of the University Has a degree in South Asian History. of Sydney’s Near Eastern Archaeology She has a lifelong passion for travel Foundation, and a former lecturer and over 30 years experience as a tour in the Department of Archaeology. leader on the sub-continent and in Asia. Upcoming tours: Pages 27 & 55 Upcoming tours: Pages 42 & 44

Lucia Gahlin Dr Matthew Is a UK-based Egyptologist with a Dal Santo wealth of experience as an educator, Is a historian and freelance writer researcher, archaeologist and museum with Honours degrees from both curator. She has lead regular tours to Sydney and Cambridge Universities. Egypt since 1994. Upcoming tours: Pages 21 & 30 Upcoming tours: Page 53

Michael Turner Dr Nick Gordon A classical archaeologist, an antiquarian, Has a University Medal and a PhD in garden historian and lecturer. The former History and lectures on European art. Senior Curator of the Nicholson Museum Nick is also a practising painter and at the University of Sydney. brings this passion to the visual arts. Upcoming tours: Pages 9 & 31 Upcoming tours: Pages 8, 14, 15, 19, 29 & 32

Stuart Barrie Sue Rollin Is a director of Academy Travel and Holds degrees in Near Eastern history has over 20 years’ experience in travel, and archaeology, South Asian studies including leading groups through western and interpreting. Sue has led tours in Europe, Russia and the United States. India, Central Asia and the Middle East. Upcoming tours: Page 47 Upcoming tours: Page 24

“Dr Matthew Laing, our tour leader, was especially good. “I was particularly impressed with Dr Estelle Lazer, Very nice, went to lots of trouble to arrange anything we our tour leader. Knowledgeable, friendly, sensitive to wanted and to accommodate everyone. Nothing was too individual needs – she was also highly respected by much trouble. Also, his knowledge of American politics was the Sicilian locals. Very impressive.” especially interesting given the time we were travelling.” Sicily & the Aeolian Islands, 2016. Frank Lloyd Wright: Chicago to New York, 2016.

7 The Venice Biennale with the Venice International Film Festival

$5,840 pp, twin share August 31 – September 8, 2017 $1,610 single supplement

Experience • The remarkable world of contemporary art by leading artists from around the globe • The less well-known sites of Venice and its surrounds: quiet islands, hidden gems and Roman ruins • The Venice International Film Festival, the oldest and one of the most prestigious events of its kind • The renowned architecture of Venice, including the Arsenale, only open to the public during the Biennale • The Regata Storica – Venice’s annual pageant and gondola race along the Grand Canal

Overview Enjoy three great festivals in Venice over nine days. During the Biennale, many of the fine Renaissance palaces of Venice open as centres of modern and contemporary art. We explore the 2017 Biennale from our quiet hotel in the heart of the city, interspersing these visits with trips to Venice’s modern and contemporary galleries and hidden gems. The tour coincides with the Venice International Film Festival, which we visit to take in a selection of what’s on, and Venice’s annual gondola race along the Grand Canal. Your tour leader Highlights Dr Nick Gordon has a > Well-paced visits to the Biennale’s University Medal and a exhibitions, located in historic buildings PhD in History from the > Modern art at the Peggy Guggenheim University of Sydney, lectures Collection and Ca’ Pesaro in Venice on European art, and has > World Heritage-listed Roman ruins, led many popular tours to mosaics and glassware at Aquileia, one of Europe for Academy Travel. the greatest cities of the Roman Empire He is also a practising painter and brings this > The Venice International Film Festival, passion to the visual arts in general. the world’s oldest film festival Getting there > The best of today’s art in one place, including Tracey Moffatt’s solo exhibition Emirates offers the best connections to Rome in the new Australian Pavilion and Venice. Contact us for competitive quotes. > T ranquil lagoon islands, including San Lazzaro degli Armeni and Torcello, where we enjoy a meal at Locanda Cipriani Fitness requirement

Itinerary VENICE Days 1–3: Settle in to our hotel in central Venice, 8 nights explore the national pavilions in the Biennale’s Giardini and exhibitions in the city, and visit the Venice Film Festival. Grand Canal Ca' d'Oro Days 4–6: Witness the Regata Storica, and visit Rialto Bridge the Roman ruins at Aquileia. Explore the extensive exhibitions in Venice’s historic Arsenale. St. Mark's Square Arsenale Days 7–9: Continue with the Biennale and visit Gallerie dell'Accademia Peggy Guggenheim Venice’s modern and contemporary galleries. San Giorgio Maggiore The tour ends with an evening meal on the peaceful island of Torcello.

8 Expert tour leaders Great Gardens of Italy Frascati to stresa

$8,855 pp, twin share $2,250 single supplement September 3-19, 2017

Discover • The history and design of some of Italy’s finest gardens, from the Renaissance to the 20th century • Small Italian towns, with stays in Frascati, Orvieto, Fiesole and lakeside in Bellagio and Stresa • An impressive selection of Italy’s most beautiful and well-known gardens and landscapes • Excellent regional food and wine, from simple country inns to five-star luxury at Villa d’Este on Lake Como • Varied landscapes, from the rolling hills of Tuscany to the stunning lakes of Como and Maggiore

Overview This new 17-day tour visits more than 20 of the best-known and best-loved gardens and landscapes in Italy – gardens conceived, created and maintained with passion, and all with stories to tell. Enjoy Etruscan and Roman landscapes and stylised Mannerist gardens of the Renaissance. Discover the exuberance of the baroque and the romantic giardini inglesi of the 19th and 20th centuries. There are grand gardens – Villa Pisani, host to doges, kings and emperors – and there are small intimate gardens – Villa Le Balze with its distant views of Florence and itsduomo . Highlights Your tour leader > The timeless ruins and romantic beauty Michael Turner is an art of Ninfa, south of Rome and garden historian. > The hilltop town of Tivoli, home to Villa The former Senior Curator Adriana, the sprawling estate of Emperor of the Nicholson Museum Hadrian, and the 16th-century Villa at the University of Sydney, d’Este, a Renaissance villa famous for its he now lives in Sussex. landscaped gardens and lavish fountains He is a Fellow of the Society > Etruscan landscapes at the Banditaccia of Antiquaries in London and a member of necropolis near Cerveteri, and the town the English Historic Gardens Society. of Orvieto > History and culture in Florence and Padua Getting there > The wonder of Lake Como, a consummate Emirates flies into Rome and out of Milan pairing of natural and man-made beauty at times that coincide with the tour. Contact > Isola Bella, the crowning glory of the us for competitive quotes and bookings. Borromeo Lake Maggiore empire Fitness requirement

Itinerary Stresa (3) Bellagio (3) Days 1–3: Arrive Frascati to visit Ninfa and the gardens of Tivoli. Milan Padua (2) Days 4–5: From Orvieto, visit archaeological sites and gardens at Cerveteri, Villa Lante and Italy the Sacro Bosco. Days 6–8: En route to Fiesole visit La Foce. In Florence tour the private gardens of Villa Fiesole (3) Torrigiani, Villa Gamberaia and Villa Le Balze. Days 9–10: Stroll the botanic garden in Padua and the nearby baroque villa of Barbarigo. Orvieto (2) Days 11–13: From Bellagio, cruise Lake Como to visit Villa Melzi, Villa Carlotta and Villa Balbianello. Rome Frascati (3) Days 14–17: Explore the Borromean Islands from Stresa and cruise Lake Maggiore.

More details at academytravel.com.au 9 In the footsteps of Caravaggio Milan to Naples

$8,760 pp, twin share September 13-29, 2017 $1,950 single supplement

Explore • A broad survey of Caravaggio’s Italian masterpieces • The colourful life and criminal exploits of Caravaggio, Italian art’s most celebrated rogue • The virtuosity of other Italian artists, including the Mannerists in Parma and Florence, and Bernini and Raphael in Rome • Art and architecture, from little-visited Gothic Naples to Renaissance Florence and elegant Milan • Stunning landscapes and culinary delights of Italy’s leading gastronomic regions

Overview Explore the work of exceptional artist Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio. His chiaroscuro technique, accentuating the dramatic contrasts between light and shade, control of the oil medium, and infusion of emotional intensity and the theatre of everyday life ensure that his works continue to captivate art lovers. This tour surveys the majority of Caravaggio’s works in Italy, from his early days as a painter of natura morta (still life), to his mature works in Rome and Naples. Your tour leader Highlights Dr Kathleen Olive has more > Private visit of Leonardo’s Last Supper than 15 years’ experience and Palazzo Colonna, a grand and leading tours to Italy. privately owned Roman family residence She has a PhD in Italian > T our Lake Iseo, the rising star of Italy’s Studies, regularly presents Lake District popular courses at Sydney > Outstanding museums, including the University’s Centre for Pinacoteca Ambrosiana in Milan and Continuing Education and at the WEA, the Galleria Borghese in Rome Sydney, and speaks fluent Italian. > R egional masterpieces in difficult- to-access places, from Correggio and Getting there Parmigianino in Parma to Pontormo’s Emirates have flights into Milan and out Visitation outside Florence of Rome at times that coincide with the > The virtuosity of Caravaggio’s work tour. Contact us for competitive quotes in situ, in Naples and Rome and bookings. Connect this tour with Rome to Turin: Italy’s western shores on page 12 Fitness requirement

Lake Iseo Itinerary Milan (4) Days 1–4: Arrive Milan, see Leonardo’s Last Supper Caravaggio and tour the Brera. Visit the town of Caravaggio, Parma the artist’s birthplace, and tour Lake Iseo. Days 5–8: Travel to Florence via elegant Parma, admire masterpieces in the Uffizi and spend a day Florence (4) in the Tuscan countryside. Days 9–12: In Rome, where Caravaggio Porto Ercole established his reputation and notoriety, explore Rome (4) the contexts in which he worked and his indelible influence on Western art. Italy Days 13–17: The tour ends in vibrant Naples, Naples (4) where the artist was received with acclaim. See his final works in churches, chapels and galleries.

10 Maximum 20 in a group Malta & Sicily aboard the Sea Cloud II

$12,440 pp, twin share POA single supplement October 1-17, 2017

Discover • The 5,000 year old prehistoric civilizations on Malta • The exploits of the Knights of St John on Malta • The flowering of ancient Greek civilization on Sicily, in cities such as Siracusa and Agrigento • The centuries of sophisticated Arab civilization on Sicily from AD 800-1,000 • The multi-ethnic kingdom of the Norman rulers of Sicily • The active volcanoes and stunning landscapes of Etna and the Aeolian Islands

Overview The Sea Cloud II We are pleased to offer, for the third time, this 17-day tour featuring a seven-day cruise The Sea Cloud II is a luxurious 3-masted on the luxury 50-cabin sailing yacht Sea Cloud II. Malta and Sicily offer a wealth of sites barque, traditionally crafted in teak, that include prehistoric archaeology, Greek colonies of the 8th-3rd centuries BC, the period but with modern features. White cloth of Roman dominance, the Middle Ages and the modern age. As well as the ancient sites, sails and understated elegance create encounter masterpieces of medieval Arab, Norman and Byzantine society and the exuberant a unique environment that is at once baroque art and architecture of later periods. nostalgic and luxurious. Although most of the journey takes place under motor, Highlights Your tour leader on some days the crew climb the rigging > The Neolithic temples of Tarxien and Robert Veel is a director to set the square sails and jibs and you Ggantija on Malta of Academy Travel and experience the thrill of ocean yachting. > The city-fortress of Valletta, constructed has 20 years’ experience by the knights in the 16th century designing and leading > C aravaggio’s paintings in Malta and Sicily educational travel programs to Europe, Scandinavia, the > A fternoons under sail on Sea Cloud II, with US & Australia. He holds a outstanding service, fine food and wine Bachelor of Arts and Masters of Education. > Sailing around the volcanoes of Stromboli and Vulcano, viewing active eruptions Getting there > Outstanding archaeological museums Emirates offer flights direct to Malta and in Siracusa and Agrigento home from Rome. It is also possible to travel > The UNESCO World Heritage mosaics of via many major European cities to Malta. Monreale and the Palatine Chapel in Palermo Please contact us for options and prices. > Oper a or concert at the Teatro Massimo in Palermo (if available) Fitness requirement

Itinerary Day 1: Arrive Malta and settle in. Days 2–5: Travelling around Malta, including Lipari Valletta, Mdina and the island of Gozo. Days 5–11: Six-night cruise on Sea Cloud II, Palermo (3) Taormina disembarking in Siracusa. Ports-of-call include Trapani Trapani, Palermo, Lipari and Taormina, plus a Sicily full day at sea. Days 11–12: Explore the archaeological sites Agrigento (1) Siracusa (2) and baroque architecture of Siracusa. (6) Days 13–14: Travel to the Greek temples at Agrigento via the Roman villa at Piazza Armerina. Days 15–16: Travel to Palermo for further Valletta (4) sightseeing in the capital. Malta Day 17: Depart Palermo.

More details at academytravel.com.au 11 Rome to Turin Italy’s western shores

$8,750 pp, twin share October 2-18, 2017 $1,950 single supplement

Discover • The ancient civilisation of the Etruscans, rulers of central Italy in the centuries before Roman dominance • The island of Elba, controlled by the Medici princes and the short-lived home of the exiled Napoleon • The medieval maritime republics of Pisa and Genoa, with their distinctly oriental art and architecture derived from trade and cultural exchange • The colourful coastal scenery of the Riviera di Levante and the Cinque Terre • The Savoy rulers of Turin, patrons of art, architecture and music

Overview Explore the history and natural beauty of Italy’s western shores on this 17-day tour, beginning in Lazio, near Rome, and moving up along the Tyrrhenian coast, through to Turin. Visits to leading archaeological sites, galleries and museums are combined with boat and land excursions through the fine scenery. Food and wine play a central role in Italian culture, and we have included several memorable meals, accompanied by regional wines. Your tour leader Highlights Dr Kathleen Olive has more > Visit some of the most important and than 15 years’ experience best-preserved Etruscan sites in Italy leading tours to Italy. > A day trip by private boat to the Cinque She has a PhD in Italian Terre and time in the Ligurian fishing Studies, regularly presents village of Camogli popular courses at Sydney > Stay on the island of Elba, enjoying its University’s Centre for fine coastline and Napoleonic sites Continuing Education and at the WEA, > Visit the elegant medieval Tuscan town Sydney, and speaks fluent Italian. of Lucca Getting there > Explore one of Carrara’s internationally renowned marble quarries Emirates flies into Rome and out of Milan > Pisa beyond the Leaning Tower, including daily. Contact us for competitive quotes superb medieval art galleries and and bookings. Renaissance sites > The remarkable private art collection Connect this tour with In the Footsteps of at the Pinacoteca Agnelli, located within Caravaggio: Milan to Naples on page 10 Fitness requirement the Fiat automotive complex

Itinerary Milan Days 1–3: Arrive in Lazio and visit Ostia Antica Turin (4) and the Etruscan sites of Tarquinia and Cerveteri. ITALY Tour the towns around Lake Bracciano.

Genoa Camogli (4) Days 4–5: On Elba, tour the island, dotted with villages, ports and Napoleonic villas. Portofino Cinque Terre Days 6–9: Examine Pisa’s glorious maritime past. Pisa (3) Lucca Day trips to Lucca and Carrara. Days 10–12: The seaside town of Camogli is the

Piombino ideal location to explore the Italian Riviera. Day Elba trips to Genoa and the Cinque Terre. Porto Azzurro (2) Days 13–17: Travel to Turin to sample the best Terme di Stigliano (3) of European art at the astounding Pinacoteca Rome Agnelli.

12 www.academytravel.com.au Sicily & the Aeolian Islands Jewels of the Mediterranean

$8,420 pp, twin share October 13-29, 2017 $1,500 single supplement April 6-22, 2018

Explore • The thriving colonies of the ancient Greek world – wealthy, cultured centres of literature and art • Ancient Phoenician, Carthaginian and Roman societies, and their struggle to control the Mediterranean • The lasting legacy of medieval Arab and Norman rule, expressed in the mosaics and architecture of Palermo • The distinctive period of ‘Sicilian Baroque’ architecture • Dramatic countryside, including active volcanoes • The natural beauty and traditional lifestyle of the Aeolian Islands

Overview This 17-day tour around Sicily has been designed to give the first-time visitor an overview of the island’s diverse and fascinating history, art and traditions. Explore prehistoric, Greek and Roman sites across the island. Enjoy the dramatic scenery of Sicily and the Aeolian Islands, with their volcanoes and steep coastlines. Visit medieval Norman cathedrals with fine Byzantine mosaics. Sample some of Sicily’s excellent wines and Arab-influenced cuisine. An optional five-day extension to Malta is also available. Highlights Your tour leaders > A private boat trip of the Aeolian Islands Dr Estelle Lazer (October tour) is from Lipari to Stromboli and Panarea an archaeologist of international > Outstanding archaeological museums acclaim. She has led numerous in Siracusa, Agrigento and Lipari trips to southern Italy for > The Sicilian Baroque architecture of Academy Travel. Noto and Ragusa Dr Jeni Ryde (April tour) is > The 4th-century mosaics in the Roman a former Senior Lecturer at villa at Piazza Armerina Western Sydney University. Her > The UNESCO World Heritage mosaics PhD focused on the Renaissance, of Monreale and the Palatine Chapel heritage tourism and museology. in Palermo, undertaken by Byzantine masters for their Norman rulers Getting there > An excursion to the summit of Mt Etna Emirates offers regular flights to Rome. Contact us for competitive quotes. October tour – Limited places remaining Fitness requirement

Itinerary Stromboli Optional pre-tour five-day extension to Malta. Lipari Islands (3) Days 1–4: Arrive Siracusa and tour the (Aeolian Islands) archaeological sites and baroque architecture. Palermo (4) Messina Days 5–6: Travel to the Greek temples at Agrigento Segesta via the Roman villa at Piazza Armerina. Selinunte Cefalu Mt Etna Days 7–10: Sightseeing in the capital of Palermo, Sicily Taormina (3) including the cathedral at Monreale. Visit the tiny Piazza Armerina island of Mozia. Agrigento (2) Catania Days 11–13: Continue on to Cefalù and take a private boat trip from Lipari to Stromboli Siracusa (4) and Panarea. Ragusa Noto Days 14–17: In Taormina, visit the fine Greco- Roman theatre and enjoy superb views of Mount Etna.

More details at academytravel.com.au 13 Venice City, Republic & Empire

$7,120 pp, twin share October 23 – November 6, 2017 $1,760 single supplement

Explore • The history of Venice and its key role in the Mediterranean during the Crusades and the Renaissance • The unique art and architecture of Venice, visiting centuries-old sites and world-class museums • The all-important and all-encompassing relationship between Venice and the sea • Venice’s outstanding musical tradition in both opera and baroque music • The excellent food and wine of the Veneto region • The Renaissance architecture of Andrea Palladio

Overview Unpack your bags for 15 days and discover the city that ruled the Mediterranean for 1,000 years. Enjoy accommodation in a carefully selected four-star hotel in central Venice, just a few minutes from St Mark’s Square. Travel on day excursions to Ravenna, Padua and the villas of the Veneto. Dine in some of Venice’s best restaurants and explore the remote islands of the lagoon. The late autumn travel period means fewer crowds and cruise ships. Your tour leader Highlights Dr Nick Gordon has a > Welcome lunch at the legendary Locanda University Medal and a Cipriani on the island of Torcello PhD in History from the > Da y trip to view the 5th and 6th-century University of Sydney. Byzantine mosaics of Ravenna For ten years, he has > A private after hours visit to St Mark’s lectured on European Basilica history, from antiquity to > The art of Carpaccio, Bellini, Titian, the 19th century, at universities in Sydney. Veronese, Tiepolo and others in palaces, He continues to lecture on European art confraternities and churches and history and has led tours for Academy Travel since 2007. > Day trip to Padua to view Giotto’s Scrovegni Chapel and the ancient university Getting there > The private art collections of the Ca’ d’Oro and the Punta della Dogana Emirates has daily flights from most Australian cities to Venice, stopping > Da y trip to Vicenza and the beautiful at Dubai. Please contact us for quotes. Renaissance country villas of Andrea Connect this tour with Malta & Sicily Palladio aboard Sea Cloud II on page 11 Fitness requirement

Itinerary Day 1: Arrive Venice and settle in. Vicenza Days 2–3: Orientate yourself with a trip around the lagoon and visits to key state Venice (14) history museums. Day 4: Day trip to Ravenna. Padua Days 5–7: Explore medieval and early Renaissance Venice – the world of the merchants and Crusades. ITALY Day 8: Day trip to Padua. Days 9–12: Investigate Renaissance art and Ravenna architecture in Venice. Day 13: Day trip to Vicenza and Palladio’s villas. Day 14–15: Explore baroque and modern art.

14 Carefully planned itineraries Rome Study Tour

$4,910 pp, twin share $1,130 single supplement January 5-16, 2018

Get to know • Roman antiquity, from the Etruscans to the Christians • The transition to the Middle Ages: Rome’s role in shaping European culture • The glory of Renaissance and baroque Rome, from Michelangelo and Raphael to Caravaggio and Bernini • Rome beyond the tourist trail, including Ostia Antica and the house and studio of Giorgio de Chirico • The neighbourhoods of Rome, where contemporary culture lives alongside its ancient inspiration

Overview Rome’s contribution to Western culture is difficult to overestimate, but most visitors do not penetrate the city’s complex, interwoven layers. This 12-day study tour provides you with a detailed examination of Rome’s history, art and culture, from antiquity to the present, through an extended series of lectures and guided site visits. This tour is ideal for the independent traveller: group visits are carefully balanced with time for independent exploration. Highlights Your tour leader > Superb collections of antiquities, including Dr Nick Gordon has a the Vatican Museums, the Capitoline University Medal and a Museums and Palazzo Massimo PhD in History from the > The spectacular works of Caravaggio and University of Sydney. Bernini throughout the city and in the For ten years, he has Galleria Borghese lectured on European > Excursions to Ostia Antica, Hadrian’s Villa, history, from antiquity to and the masterful baroque Villa d’Este the 19th century, at universities in Sydney. > Detailed lecture series providing you with He continues to lecture on European art extensive knowledge of the city and its past and history and has led tours for Academy Travel since 2007. > Walking tours visiting Rome’s hidden gems and masterpieces by Raphael, Bramante Getting there and Borromini Emirates and Singapore offer daily flights > Modern Rome, including a visit to the from Australia to Rome. Please contact us house and studio of Giorgio de Chirico Connect this tour with Egypt: Great for competitive quotes and prices. Pyramids to Abu Simbel on page 53 Fitness requirement

Study Tours Itinerary ROME Academy Travel study tours are designed to Days 1–3: Explore Rome’s origins and its 11 nights provide in-depth intellectual stimulation for extraordinary rise to greatness, through visits the independent traveller. The tours feature: to archaeological sites, including Ostia Antica, • Daily background lectures and world-class museums. Galleria Borghese • Morning guided site visits Days 4–6: From imperial splendour to the coming of Christianity. Explore underground Giorgio de Chirico • Several afternoons for individual exploration Rome to witness how the city and its culture or optional visits with the tour leader transformed and see the splendour of the Vatican City • Longer walking tours of historical cities, medieval church. Palazzo Massimo Piazza Navona and use of public transport for short Days 7–12: Rome’s Renaissance revival and Pantheon journeys baroque glory – walking Caravaggio’s Rome, Capitoline Museum • Self-contained accommodation where visiting the Galleria Borghese and the Vatican possible, allowing you to live like a local Museums, home to the Sistine Chapel. Trastevere Excursion to Hadrian’s Villa and Villa d’Este.

More details at academytravel.com.au 15 Palermo & Naples art, history & culture in Italy’s southern capitals

$6,450 pp, twin share January 9-22, 2018 $1,150 single supplement

Discover • Mediterranean history, art and architecture, showcasing more than 3,000 years of civilisation • Classical archaeology at leading Greek and Roman sites in Sicily and on the Bay of Naples • The lasting legacy of medieval Arab and Norman rule, expressed in the mosaics and architecture of Palermo • The ‘southern Renaissance’ of the 18th century, culminating in the period of Bourbon rule, which made Naples a major European centre of culture

Overview A feast for the senses, this 14-day tour begins with six nights in Palermo where centuries of diverse cultures, from the ancient Greeks to the Normans, come together. We explore the layers of the city’s cultural heritage and venture out with day trips to Segesta and Cefalù. We then travel to Naples, our base for the next six nights, where we explore the ancient sites of Vesuvius, Herculaneum and Paestum. We travel along the scenic Amalfi Coast and visit the galleries of Capodimonte and the Naples National Archaeological Museum. Your tour leader Highlights Robert Veel has led groups > Well-preserved Greek and Roman culture to Italy since 1990. Years at Segesta, Paestum and Herculaneum of travel and work in Italy > Impr essive Arab-Norman mosaics in have given him an intimate Palermo and Cefalù knowledge of the country > Little-visited but world-famous artworks and its history that goes at Capodimonte and in the footsteps of well beyond the tourist Caravaggio experience. Robert holds a Master’s degree > Private visit to Palazzo Lanza Tomasi, home from the University of Sydney, where he of Prince Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa, taught medieval and Renaissance history author of the Sicilian literary masterpiece for 15 years. He speaks fluent Italian. The Leopard Getting there > Palermo and Naples’ excellent gastronomic scenes, including tastings of local specialties Emirates flies to Rome daily from most > Only two-hotel stays: six nights at each Australian cities. > Off-season travel: low visitor numbers Fitness requirement and mild weather

Itinerary Day 1: Arrive in Palermo.

Rome Days 2–6: View Greek architecture in Segesta Italy and Arab-Norman Byzantine mosaics in Palermo. Visit the home of author Giuseppe Tomasi di Naples (6) Lampedusa (The Leopard). Herculaneum Paestum Days 7–13: Take the overnight ferry to Naples. Explore the ancient sites of Vesuvius, Herculaneum and Paestum. Travel along the scenic Amalfi Coast and visit the galleries of Capodimonte and the National Archaeological Museum. Dine at excellent restaurants, follow in Palermo (6) Caravaggio’s footsteps and enjoy a performance Cefalù Segesta at the historic Teatro San Carlo. Day 14: Transfer to Rome airport for flights home.

16 Expert tour leaders Puglia to Pompeii Classical Southern Italy

$7,970 pp, twin share $1,750 single supplement March 8-24, 2018

Experience • The history and classical archaeology of southern Italy on display at Paestum, Pompeii and Herculaneum • Thousands of years of history ranging from the Greek colonists and the Romans in the classical age to the Arabs, Normans, Germans, Aragonese, Spanish, Bourbon and French • The rich diversity of landscapes, from rugged mountain ranges to stunning Mediterranean scenery • The excellent regional food and wine traditions of southern Italy

Overview This 17-day tour will appeal to those looking to take ‘the road less travelled’ through the regions of Puglia and Basilicata, and on to the famous archaeological sites of the Bay of Naples. We explore sites ranging from the cave dwellings of Matera to ancient Greek colonies, fine Norman castles and cathedrals and the striking scenery of the Salentine peninsula. Along the way we enjoy the fine food and hospitality that is traditional in southern Italy, a region still delightfully free of mass tourism. An optional four-day extension to Capri and Amalfi is also available. Highlights Your tour leaders > The ‘Southern Baroque’ architecture of Lecce Dr Jeni Ryde is a former > Unique ‘sassi’ cave dwellings in Matera, Senior Lecturer at Western one of Italy’s most remote cities Sydney University. > The medieval castles and cathedrals of Dr Estelle Lazer is an Puglia, built by Norman and German rulers archaeologist with an > The battlefield of Cannae, where Hannibal international reputation for defeated the Romans in 216 BC her years of work onsite at > Hidden artistic and architectural gems Pompeii. Estelle will be with of Naples seen by relatively few tourists the group in Pompeii and Naples. > Paestum, Pompeii and Herculaneum – Getting there Europe’s premier archaeological sites > Capodimonte, one of Italy’s finest art galleries Emirates flies to Rome daily from most Australian cities. Contact us for competitive > Italy’s most important archaeological quotes and bookings. museum in Naples

Fitness requirement

Itinerary Day 1: Arrive in Lecce. Days 2–3: Enjoy three nights in Lecce, visiting Italy Otranto and Brindisi. Rome Days 4–5: Tour Taranto and the ‘sassi’ of Matera. Trani (3) Days 6–9: Spend three nights in Trani, seeing Roman Brindisi and medieval sites and sections of the Appian Way. Naples (5) Days 10–12: Travel via Melfi to Vietri sul Mare and Matera (2) Paestum Lecce (3) spend a full day at the Greek temples of Paestum. Vietri sul Mare (3) Days 13–16: Enjoy five nights in Naples, exploring Pompeii, Herculaneum, Capodimonte and the National Archaeological Museum. Day 17: Transfer to Rome airport for flights home, or continue on the optional four-day extension to Capri and Amalfi.

More details at academytravel.com.au 17 Naples, Capri & Rome Archaeology, art & history

$6,575 pp, twin share March 16-28, 2018 $1,575 single supplement

Enjoy • Art, architecture and culture, far beyond what most tourists see • Mediterranean history, art and architecture, showing more than 3,000 years of civilisation • Some of the world’s leading archaeological sites at Paestum, Pompeii and Herculaneum • The legacy of ancient Rome in Italy’s later history and culture, from the Renaissance to the 20th century • Visits to Rome’s most distinctive sites, including Trastevere, the Spanish Steps and the Pantheon

Overview Explore the fascinating history and natural beauty of central Italy on this 13-day, residential- style tour of Naples and Rome. Beginning on the Bay of Naples, tour the leading archaeological sites and museums. Pause on the island of Capri to marvel at its natural beauty, before continuing on to Rome. Visit world-class galleries and museums, private villas and palaces, and difficult-to-access sites like the Sistine Chapel for a private viewing. Enjoy the best of city touring and regional cuisine, and the ease and comfort of superior, centrally-located hotels. Getting there Highlights Emirates flies to Rome daily from most > The world’s leading archaeological sites Australian cities. Contact us for competitive at Paestum, Pompeii and Herculaneum quotes and bookings. > Beyond the grit of Naples to uncover a city of breathtaking art, architecture and panoramas Connect this tour > The legacy of ancient Rome on Italy’s later with Florence, Ravenna & Venice on page 19. history and culture, from the Renaissance Consider combining both of these tours, to the 20th century Naples, Capri & Rome and Florence, Ravenna > V isits to Rome’s most distinctive sites, & Venice to create a 26-day program touring including Trastevere, the Spanish Steps the major cities and cultural highlights of and the Pantheon Italy. Travel from Naples to Venice with 4 days in between each tour to celebrate > Spectacular coastlines and dramatic Easter in Italy. countryside > E xcellent food and generous hospitality, Connect this tour with Florence, as is the tradition of the people and Ravenna & Venice on page 19 Fitness requirement vibrant culture of southern Italy Itinerary Days 1–5: Arrive Naples and explore the Rome (5) ancient sites of Herculaneum, Pompeii and Paestum. Travel along the Amalfi Coast and visit Capodimonte and the National ITALY Archaeological Museum. Days 6–7: Ferry across to Capri to visit Villa San Michele and Tiberius’ Villa Jovis. Take a boat trip around the island. Days 8–13: Travel to Rome to examine the Naples (5) city’s ancient history at major sites, such as the Colosseum, and Renaissance icons, such as the Palazzo Doria-Pamphilj. Contemplate Capri (2) Caravaggio and Bernini at the Borghese Galley Paestum and take an exclusive tour of the Sistine Chapel.

18 Maximum 20 in a group Florence, Ravenna & Venice Art, Architecture & History

$6,575 pp, twin share $1,575 single supplement April 2-14, 2018

Experience • The world’s greatest concentration of masterpieces from the Middle Ages and Renaissance in Florence • Florence beyond the Renaissance from local traditions to contemporary architecture • The history of Venice and its key role in the Mediterranean during the Crusades and the Renaissance • The unique art and architecture of Venice, visiting centuries-old sites and world-class museums • The excellent food and wine traditions of Tuscany and the Veneto

Overview This 13-day residential-style tour offers time to appreciate fully the history and culture of Italy’s premier art cities Florence and Venice. See world-class galleries and museums, private villas, palaces and gardens, visit difficult-to-access sites, like a private after-hours visit of St Mark’s Basilica to witness the illumination of the mosaics. Enjoy excellent dining in carefully selected restaurants, designed to showcase the best of Florentine and Venetian gastronomic traditions. Highlights Your tour leader > Priv ate visit to explore the secret Dr Nick Gordon has a passageways of the Palazzo Vecchio University Medal and a > The impressive garden at Villa Gamberaia PhD in History from the in Settignano University of Sydney, > View the splendid 5th and 6th-century lectures on European Byzantine mosaics of Ravenna art, and has led many > Italy’s leading art museums, including popular tours to Europe the Uffizi and the Venice Accademia for Academy Travel. He is also a practising painter and brings this passion to the visual > Three centuries of Venetian painting: arts in general. Carpaccio, Bellini, Titian, Veronese and Tiepolo Getting there > Private after-hours visit of St Mark’s Emirates flies into Bologna and out of Venice Basilica to witness the illumination at times that coincide with the tour. Contact of the Mosaics us for competitive quotes and bookings. Connect this tour with Naples, Capri & Rome on page 18 Fitness requirement

Itinerary Days 1–5: Examine masterpieces in the Uffizi Venice (5) and explore the secret passageways of the Palazzo Vecchio. Admire the garden at Villa Gamberaia, and sample a storied Tuscan wine ITALY at a stunning contemporary vineyard. Days 6–7: In Ravenna, admire the mosaic- encrusted churches and, further north, elegant Palladian villas. Bologna Days 8–13: Orient yourself in Venice with a Ravenna (2) trip around the lagoon and visits to key museums and art galleries. Enjoy a private evening visit to St Mark’s Basilica for the illumination of the mosaics. Florence (5)

More details at academytravel.com.au 19 Lakes & Villas of Northern Italy $8,670 pp, twin share April 19 – May 3, 2018 $1,940 single supplement

Explore • Italy’s genius for art and architecture in spectacular lakeside and country sites • Italian history and art, from medieval towns to villas and 21st-century estates • Some of the world’s most beautiful gardens, still in the hands of Italy’s leading families • The Renaissance villas of Palladio • The stunning colours and landscapes of pre-alpine Italy • The best of northern Italy’s regional cuisines, famous for prosciutto, parmigiano and prosecco

Overview This 15-day tour begins on the shores of Lake Como. We follow a circular route around northern Italy, visiting the foothills of the Apennines in Emilia-Romagna with its medieval towns and contemporary villas, and then travelling to the Veneto where we admire the Renaissance country houses of architect Andrea Palladio. The tour concludes on Lake Maggiore. Our itinerary makes the most of the spectacular colours of pre-alpine Italy and its gardens, and enjoys the culinary delights of the region at a gentle pace. Your tour leader Highlights Robert Veel has led groups > Welcome lunch at Villa d’Este, and fine to Italy since 1990. Years regional cuisine in superior restaurants of travel and work in Italy > Lak e Como, famed for its natural beauty have given him an intimate and the elegant villas along its shores knowledge of the country > The Apennine foothills, with medieval and its history that goes towns and contemporary villas well beyond the tourist > Verona: explore villas, gardens and the experience. Robert holds a Master’s degree medieval city from the University of Sydney, where he > Excursions to Lake Garda and Lake Orta taught medieval and Renaissance history for 15 years. He speaks fluent Italian. > Excellent regional cuisine and wine, including lunches in country restaurants Getting There and in the scenic Valdobbiadene, home of prosecco Emirates offers the best connections for this tour, flying into and out of Milan. > The Borromean Islands and the gardens Connect this tour with Corsica & Sardinia: of Lake Maggiore history & landscapes on page 28 Fitness requirement

Itinerary Days 1–4: Arrive in Milan, transfer to Bellagio. switzerland Enjoy Lake Como by boat and visit 18th and 19th-century villas on its shores, including lunch at the Villa d’Este. ITALY Days 5–6: Explore the hill towns and medieval Stresa (3) Lake Como Asolo (3) castles of Emilia-Romagna. Lake Bellagio (4) Days 7–11: Admire Palladio’s country houses, Maggiore Verona (2) palaces and theatre from Asolo; explore Milan Lake Garda Vicenza medieval Verona, Lake Garda and its surrounds. Days 12–14: Experience the extraordinary villas and gardens on Lake Maggiore from Stresa and enjoy the tranquillity of Lake Orta. Cremona (2) Day 15: Transfer to Milan airport.

20 www.academytravel.com.au St Petersburg & Moscow $10,190 pp, twin share $1,995 single supplement September 29 – October 15, 2017

Get to know • A rich and tumultuous history stretching back hundreds of years • Vast repositories of art and culture in Russia’s incredible array of museums and galleries • Sumptuous palaces built for the tsars and designed by architects to rival the best in Western Europe • The resilience of a people who have survived catastrophic wars and revolution • Ancient wooden towns of the Golden Ring around Moscow

Overview Delve into Russian culture, history and art on this comprehensive 17-day tour. Spend seven nights in St Petersburg exploring the city’s famous landmarks, art museums, churches and palaces, with a day trip to Catherine the Great’s palaces. Immerse yourself in Moscow’s Red Square, visit the Kremlin’s cathedrals and Armoury Collection and the Tretyakov Gallery. Spend three nights in Suzdal, with visits to the Golden Ring towns of Sergiev Posad and Vladimir. Highlights Your tour leader > Seven nights in St Petersburg visiting Dr Matthew Dal Santo is the Hermitage, the Fabergé Museum, a historian with Honours Yusupov Palace and cathedrals degrees from both Sydney > Full-day excursion to the magnificent and Cambridge universities. palaces of Catherine the Great He was a Fellow in History > Red Square and the treasures of the at Trinity College, where he State Armoury in Moscow received his PhD, and speaks > Masterpieces of Russian art at the numerous languages, including some Russian. Tretyakov Gallery Getting there > Ser giev Posad, home of the Russian Emirates offers flights from Australian cities Orthodox Church via Dubai to St Petersburg and home from > Three nights in Suzdal exploring the Moscow. Contact us for competitive quotes wooden architecture and churches and bookings. of the Golden Ring

Fitness requirement

Itinerary Day 1: Arrive in St Petersburg. Days 2–8: Over seven days explore the city’s extraordinary landmarks, galleries, churches, St Petersburg (7) palaces and museums, including a day trip to Catherine’s palaces at Pushkin. Pushkin RUSSIA Day 9: Travel in luxury by fast train to Moscow. Days 10–14: Over four days discover Red Square, Suzdal (3) the Kremlin, the Tretyakov Gallery and Moscow’s Vladimir museums. Moscow (6) Days 15–17: Stay three nights in the charming Golden Ring town of Suzdal, with visits to Sergiev Posad and Vladimir.

More details at academytravel.com.au 21

Northern Spain & Portugal Bilbao to Lisbon

October 6-25, 2017 (Tour full) $8,630 pp, twin share April 27 – May 15, 2018 $1,950 single supplement

Discover • An architectural tradition that extends from Visigothic, Gothic and Romanesque cathedrals to striking contemporary structures • Medieval pilgrimage along the Camino to Santiago de Compostela • The celebrated regional food of Spain’s north, the fine wines of the Rioja and Rías Baixas regions and the port wine of Porto • A varied landscape of turquoise coastlines, lush river valleys and rugged interiors • The legacy of explorers in the many layers of history and art in Lisbon

Overview This journey takes us through the fascinating regions of Northern Spain via Porto to Lisbon, centre of the Portuguese Age of Discovery. We marvel at the architecture of Bilbao and sample world-class wine in Rioja, then explore Spain’s medieval history in Castilla and León and the Asturias regions, including the charming city of Oviedo. In lush Galicia we witness the devotion of medieval pilgrims on the Camino Francés and the spectacular cathedral at Santiago de Compostela. We then travel to Lisbon via Porto and the Duoro Valley, where we explore a city of outstanding art collections, spectacular monuments and vibrant neighbourhoods. Your tour leader Highlights Dr Jeni Ryde is a former > Frank Gehry’s extraordinary design at Senior Lecturer at Western the Guggenheim in Bilbao Sydney University. Her > Wine-tasting at the avant-garde Bodega PhD focused on the Ysios winery in the Rioja Renaissance, heritage > The exquisite Romanesque and Gothic tourism and museology. churches, cathedrals and monasteries in She has travelled and around Burgos, León and Oviedo extensively through Portugal and Spain. > A mountain walk and lunch in the clear air of the majestic Picos de Europa in Asturias Getting there > Fine tapas in San Sebastián, and Spain’s most Emirates flies to Barcelona, and home from renowned seafood restaurant in Galicia Lisbon. A connecting flight is necessary from > An exceptional range of museums and Barcelona to Bilbao with Vueling Airlines. galleries in Lisbon Contact us for competitive quotes and bookings. Connect this tour with Grand > A full day in Sintra exploring exquisite Tour of Spain on page 26 Fitness requirement palaces decorated with tiles

Itinerary Santiago de Oviedo (3) Days 1–3: In Bilbao, visit the Guggenheim, Compostela (3) Bilbao (3) Leon (2) the fine arts museum and San Sebastián. Burgos (2) Days 4–6: Explore the Rioja wine region, including Burgos cathedral, Romanesque monasteries and Porto (1) Visigothic churches. Days 7–8: Follow the Pilgrims’ Way to León spAIN and enjoy a stay at an iconic parador. Portugal Days 9–10: Visit the Romanesque churches Lisbon (5) in Oviedo, take a market tour and taste some of the local cider. Days 11–13: Visit Santiago de Compostela, and enjoy seafood and wine in Rías Baixas. Days 14–19: Travel to Portugal and enjoy a night in Porto followed by five nights in vibrant Lisbon.

22 Carefully planned itineraries

Berlin & Beyond Berlin, Leipzig & Dresden

$7,250 pp, twin share October 9-22, 2017 $1,750 single supplement May 21 – June 3, 2018

Experience • A dynamic city that dominated 20th-century history and is one of the great cultural capitals of Europe • Museums of art and antiquities of the highest importance • An internationally-acclaimed centre of contemporary art, design and architecture • A famous musical heritage, with outstanding ensembles such as the Berlin Philharmonic and three major opera houses • The fascinating history of nearby Potsdam, Dresden and Leipzig

Overview This two-week residential-style tour allows you to take an in-depth look at Berlin, and also the nearby cities of Potsdam, Dresden and Leipzig. Daily walking tours, background talks and guided visits trace the history and development of Berlin from its earliest days through the glory days of the Prussian and German Empires, to the darker days of the early 20th century and its renaissance since 1989. Highlights Your tour leader > V isits to Berlin’s major galleries, including Thomas Abbott was born the Pergamon Museum, the Egyptian in the US but has lived Museum and the Gemäldegalerie in Germany since 1988. > W alks through the historic neighbourhoods He holds a degree in art of both east and west Berlin history and has led many > A full day in Potsdam, visiting Frederick cultural tours throughout the Great’s Sanssouci and the many other Germany, specialising in the architectural gems of this beautiful town architecture of Berlin, the art of 18th-century > A trip through the scenic countryside near Germany and the Bauhaus. Dresden, including Pillnitz Palace, and the Getting there charming old town of Renaissance Leipzig Etihad Airways flies in and out of Berlin > Farewell meal atop the Reichstag with daily. Contact us for competitive quotes and views across Berlin bookings.

Fitness requirement

Itinerary Days 1–3: Explore medieval Berlin in the GERMANY Berlin (9) Nikolaiviertel, cruise the Spree River to the elegantly restored Charlottenburg Palace and Potsdam tour the world-class Gemäldegalerie. Day 4: Excursion to Potsdam to examine the extensive complex of palaces, gardens and pavilions. Days 5–6: Two days on Museum Island, including the antiquities of the Pergamon Museum. Days 7–10: Spend two days each in Leipzig Leipzig (2) and Dresden. Days 11–14: Modern Berlin at the Bauhaus Archive, New National Gallery, and the Hamburger Dresden (2) Bahnhof Museum of Contemporary Art.

More details at academytravel.com.au 23 Morocco & Southern Spain $9,645 pp, twin share October 9-25, 2017 $1,925 single supplement

Discover • A fascinating convergence of Moorish and European influence • Archaeological sites of Volubilis in Meknes and Chellah in Rabat • The stunning Rif Mountains and blue- washed Berber town of Chefchaouen • Charming and timeless villages founded by North African tribes around Arcos in southern Spain • Highly decorated Mudéjar-style palaces, a symbiosis of Christian and Islamic influences • An array of museums and gardens, culminating in the Moorish masterpiece at the Alhambra

Overview Explore the connections between Europe and North Africa on this new 17-day itinerary. In Morocco visit the kasbahs and medinas of renowned towns such as Fes and Rabat, whose bright streetscapes contrast with the rugged mountains of the interior at Chefchaouen and on the Mediterranean coast of Tangier. In the heart of Andalucian southern Spain we discover Seville, Cordoba and Granada, the heart of the Moorish south of Iberia, with deep and longstanding links back to Morocco. Your tour leader Highlights Sue Rollin is well known > In labyrinthine Fes, stunning Islamic through her lecture tours architecture and a city seemingly stopped and she has led many in time tours for ADFAS. Sue is an > UNESCO World Heritage Roman ruins archaeologist, interpreter at Volubilis and lecturer, having taught > Seville’s Gothic cathedral and exquisitely at University College, decorated Real Alcázar London, and Cambridge University. > The breathtaking Mesquita of Cordoba, Getting there a blend of Visigothic and Islamic art > The 13th-century Alhambra in Granada, Emirates offers daily flights from Australia to last stronghold of the Moors in Spain Casablanca and out of Madrid or Barcelona. > A culinary paradise, from tagines to tapas A flight from Granada can be arranged to connect with flights departing from Barcelona or Madrid. Connect this tour with Barcelona & Madrid on page 25 Fitness requirement

Itinerary spain Cordoba (2) Days 1–2: Arrive Casablanca, visit the Chellah, Seville (3) Granada (2) Kasbah and Mausoleum of Mohammed V in Rabat. Arcos (2) Days 3–4: Explore Meknes, the Roman city of Volubilis and the museums and madrasas in Fes.

Tarifa Days 5–7: Travel to Chefchaouen and stay in Tangier (2) cosmopolitan Tangier. Days 8–9: Ferry to Spain and the pueblos blancos Chefchaouen (1) of Arcos de la Frontera. Days 10–12: See Seville’s Real Alcázar and cathedral, and enjoy a flamenco performance. Rabat (2) Fes (2) Days 13–14: Visit Cordoba’s mosque-cathedral Casablanca Morocco and the Alcázar. Days 15–17: Explore Moorish Granada, including the Alhambra.

24 Expert tour leaders Barcelona & Madrid

$4,975 pp, twin share $1,250 single supplement October 25 – November 2, 2017

Explore • The winding streets of Barcelona’s Gothic Quarter (Barri Gòtic) • The distinctive modernista architecture of the Catalonian capital, from cathedrals and palaces to parks and hospitals • The art of Romanesque, Renaissance and baroque Spain, including Velásquez, El Greco and Goya • Imperial Spain and its legacy in the architecture and wealth of its two major cities • Cities of three religions: a historical co-existence of Christian, Muslim and Jewish cultures

Overview Spain’s two largest cities are as diverse as they are rich in culture and history. In Barcelona we find a city that looks to the North of Europe for its cultural influences. Here Spain’s own version of Art Nouveau, Modernism, took root and innovative artists like Picasso and Miró flourished. A short train ride away imperial Madrid offers austere royal residences and some of the finest traditional art collections in Europe. Neighbouring Toledo and Segovia showcase Roman remains, a fairytale Alcázar palace and a superb Gothic cathedral. Highlights Your tour leader > The Romanesque frescoes at the National Dr Jeni Ryde is a former Museum of Catalunyan Art in Barcelona Senior Lecturer at Western (MNAC) Sydney University. Her > The modernist architecture of Gaudí’s PhD focused on the Sagrada Família and Domenèch i Renaissance, heritage Montaner’s Hospital de San Pau and the tourism and museology. Palau de la Música She has travelled extensively > Montserrat monastery towering above through Portugal and Spain. Barcelona and a sparkling wine cava tasting and degustation lunch Getting there > The art collections of the Prado, the Thyssen- Emirates has flights into Barcelona and out Bornemisza and the Reina Sofia museums of Madrid. Please contact us for competitive > Philip II’s monastery-palace of El Escorial, quotes and bookings. the epitome of Spanish imperial power Connect this tour with Morocco & Southern Spain on page 24 > A day trip to cliff-top Toledo and an insight into its Visigothic, Arabic and Jewish roots Fitness requirement

Itinerary Days 1–5: Barcelona – city tour, MNAC museum (National Museum of Catalunyan Art) and the FRANCE Miró Foundation. Modernist sites of Sagrada Família, the Hospital de San Pau and the Palau de la Música. Day trip to the monastery of Montserrat with sparkling wine cava tasting SPAIN and farewell lunch. Segovia Montserrat Days 5–9: Madrid – guided tours of the Prado and Reina Sofia galleries and an extended visit Madrid (4) Barcelona (4) to the Thyssen-Bornemisza, a day trip to the El Escorial monastery with a traditional suckling Toledo pig lunch in Segovia and a full day in Toledo.

More details at academytravel.com.au 25 Grand Tour of Spain Granada, Cordoba, Sevilla, Madrid & Barcelona

$8,660 pp, twin share April 8-25, 2018 $2,250 single supplement

Experience • The Moorish kingdoms of Andalucía in Spain’s south • The history of Spain in the 16th century, the most powerful empire on earth • The art of Renaissance and baroque Spain, including Velásquez, El Greco and Goya • The excellent regional food and wine traditions of Spain • The distinctive culture and modernista art and architecture of Catalonia in Spain’s north, from Gaudí to Picasso

Overview Take a comprehensive tour of Spain, designed to give the first-time visitor an overview of the country’s diverse and always fascinating history, art and traditions. Begin with the medieval Moorish worlds of Granada, Cordoba and Sevilla, then explore royal Madrid and the exuberant city of Barcelona. Visit major art galleries, palaces and religious sites. Enjoy exceptional dining in carefully selected restaurants, designed to showcase Spain’s outstanding culinary traditions. Your tour leader Highlights Dr Michael Neuman is a > The 13th-century Alhambra in Granada, former Professor at the a complex of palaces and water gardens University of New South > The renowned Mesquita (mosque) of Wales, where his work in Cordoba, a blend of Visigothic and Islamic art urban history, specialising in > Visiting the mighty cathedral and Spain, has won international wandering the lanes of Sevilla, the city awards. He completed his of Carmen and Don Juan PhD at the University of California at Berkeley > The art collections of the Prado and focusing on Spanish urban history, politics, Thyssen-Bornemisza museums in Madrid and urban planning. > Philip II’s monastery-palace of El Escorial, Getting there the epitome of Spanish imperial power > The extraordinary Alcázar of Segovia We recommend Emirates flights into Madrid > Antoni Gaudí’s Sagrada Família in or Barcelona, with connecting flights to Barcelona, together with other works Granada with Vueling or Iberia. Contact us for competitive quotes and bookings. Connect this tour with Northern Spain & Portugal on page 22 Fitness requirement

Itinerary Days 1–3: Visit Moorish sites in Granada and explore Spain’s Roman heritage. Barcelona (4) Days 4–6: Travel to Cordoba via small towns spAIN in Andalucía. Explore the Mosque and other remarkable sites. Madrid (4) Days 7–9: Three nights in Sevilla exploring museums, architecture and simply relaxing. Days 10–13: High-speed train to Madrid, where Cordoba (3) we visit galleries and palaces, take a trip to El Escorial and have a full free day. Sevilla (3) Granada (3) Days 14–17: Travel to Barcelona, centre of Catalonian art and culture.

26 Maximum 20 in a group Greece Agamemnon to Alexander

Tour price to be advised May 5-22, 2018

Discover • Minoan culture and history, considered Europe’s first civilisation • Greece’s defining symbol of cultural achievement, at the acropolis in Athens • Mycenaean civilisations dating back to the 8th century BC • The legends and mythology of ancient times, including the story of Jason and the Argonauts • Ancient Olympia and its legacy of the Olympic Games, whose values have carried through to the modern era • Macedonian kings Philip II and Alexander the Great, whose exploits altered the shape of history

Overview Explore Ancient Greece’s rich history on this 17-day tour focussing on two of the most remarkable eras, the Aegean Bronze Age and Macedonian ruler Philip and his son Alexander the Great. In Crete, we explore the sprawling palaces of the Minoan Age. We then travel to Athens and the Peloponnese, entering the world of Mycenaean kings with their forbidding palaces and monumental burials. We continue via the great classical sites of Olympia and Delphi before arriving at Thessaloniki, gateway to ancient Macedon. Highlights Your tour leader > The palace of Minos at Knossos, home to Dr John Tidmarsh is the the legendary Minotaur former president of the > Athens’ incomparable museums, acropolis University of Sydney’s and agora Near Eastern Archaeology > The palaces of Agamemnon at Mycenae, Foundation and a former the citadel of Tiryns and the beautifully lecturer in the Department preserved Palace of Nestor at Pylos of Archaeology. He has led > Delphi, home to the famous oracle numerous tours to Iran, Oman, Turkey, Syria and Jordan. > The stone pinnacles of Meteora, crowned by Byzantine-era monasteries Getting there > The Macedonian capital of Pella, birthplace of Alexander, with its opulent houses and Emirates and Etihad offer daily flights fine mosaics from Australia to Athens, with onwards connection through Aegean Airlines to > Vergina, where Alexander’s father Heraklion and return from Thessaloniki. Philip was assassinated, his spectacular unplundered tomb revealed in 1977 Fitness requirement

Itinerary Thessaloniki (3) Days 1–3: Arrive Heraklion and explore the palaces of Knossos, Malia and Phaistos.

Days 4–5: Fly to Athens, admire the acropolis Volos (2) and the Archaeological Museum. Days 6–7: Drive to Nafplio to visit Mycenae, Deplhi (2) GREECE Sparta and Tiryns. Athens (3)

Days 8–9: The Palace of Nestor and the Olympia (1) Venetian castle at Methoni. Nafplio (2) Day 10: The Sanctuary of Zeus at Olympia. Pylos (2) Days 11–12: Continue to the seat of the oracle at Delphi. Days 13–14: Travel to Volos via Meteora. CRETE Days 15–17: Drive to Thessaloniki and explore Heraklion (3) the Macedonian kingdom of Pella and Vergina.

More details at academytravel.com.au 27 Corsica & Sardinia History & landscapeS

$7,650 pp, twin share May 5-17, 2018 $1,580 single supplement

Experience • Two Mediterranean islands whose diverse landscapes, cultures and history belie their proximity • Fascinating evidence of past settlements dating back millennia • World Heritage-listed sites and museums and spectacular coastal and mountain scenery • Vibrant contemporary cultures which have remained defiantly independent, despite centuries of invasion and occupation • A culinary heritage which blends history and tradition with the best of local produce

Overview The islands of Corsica and Sardinia each have a unique history stretching back millennia. They have distinct languages, culture and identity. This tour offers an exploration of these two Mediterranean islands which, despite centuries of invasion, plunder and settlement, retain a proud independent spirit. In their beautiful setting, we discover the diverse histories of each island, from their ancient sites through to their rich contemporary cultures. Extended stays on each island combine site and museum visits with time for independent sightseeing. Your tour leader Highlights Dr Estelle Lazer is an > The pre-historic site of Filitosa with its archaeologist with an collection of extraordinary stone warriors international reputation > Bonifacio, perched on the precipitous for her years of work onsite limestone cliffs of southern Corsica, and at Pompeii. She has expert Ajaccio, birthplace of Napoleon Bonaparte knowledge of classical art, > Boat excursion along the stunning west archaeology and mythology. coast of Corsica, including the Scandola When not leading tours, Estelle researches Nature Reserve and teaches at the University of Sydney and > Distinc tive nuraghe, the prehistoric conical other institutions. stone towers for which Sardinia is famous, Getting there and ancient port cities at Nora and Tharros > The Castello district in Cagliari, Sardinia’s Emirates flies into Nice and out of Rome at capital, dating back to the 13th century times that coincide with the tour. Contact us > The fascinating medieval melting pot for competitive quotes and bookings. Connect this tour with Lakes & of Alghero, with its Catalan-Gothic Villas of Northern Italy on page 20 Fitness requirement monuments Itinerary Italy Days 1–3: There is a group flight from Nice to Corsica Ajaccio to commence the tour. Explore Ajaccio, Ajaccio (3) the birthplace of Napoleon, and take a boat trip to the Scandola Nature Reserve. Days 4–6: Visit the megalithic site at Filitosa en Bonifacio (3) Santa Teresa Gallura route to the harbour-side citadel of Bonifacio. Days 7–9: Ferry across to Sardinia, admire the Costa Smeralda on the way to Alghero. Alghero (3) SARDINIA Days 10–12: Travel to Cagliari via Nora, Tharros and Anghelu Ruju. Explore the UNESCO World Heritage site of Su Nuraxi at Barumini. Cagliari (3) Day 13: There is a group flight to Rome.

28 www.academytravel.com.au Amsterdam to Paris from van Eyck to van Gogh

$8,630 pp, twin share $2,310 single supplement May 11-27, 2018

Get to know • More than five centuries of European masterpieces, from the Middle Ages to the modern era • Innovation and the relentless pursuit of beauty in the works of Van Eyck, Rembrandt, Rubens, Vermeer, Van Gogh • How the considerable wealth and the exchange of goods and ideas from around the world in the merchant cities of northern Europe created a dynamic cultural scene • The broader history and development of some of Europe’s richest, most vibrant and historically cosmopolitan cities

Overview The Low Countries have extraordinary artistic traditions which have withstood and evolved with some of the most significant upheavals in European history. On this tour, Dr Nick Gordon takes you from Amsterdam to Delft, Brussels, Bruges and Paris, exploring the art and architecture that flourished in these dynamic environments. We also visit smaller centres such as Utrecht and Ghent, while enjoying exceptional museums and galleries and exquisitely preserved medieval and Renaissance cityscapes. Highlights Your tour leader > The refurbished Rijksmuseum, housing Dr Nick Gordon has a the world’s finest collection of Dutch University Medal and PhD in painting, with masterpieces by History from the University Rembrandt and Vermeer of Sydney. Having taught at > Stays in beautifully preserved medieval university for 10 years, he now and Renaissance cities, including Bruges leads tours exclusively for and Delft Academy Travel. An intimate > Master paintings in some of Europe’s knowledge of art gained from being a painter finest galleries, including the Louvre and complements his academic background. the Mauritshuis > Visits to many less well-visited galleries, Getting there seeing the extraordinary works overlooked Emirates and Singapore Airlines offer flights by most travellers from Australia to Amsterdam and home from > Modern masterpieces by northern masters Paris. Contact us for competitive quotes. – Van Gogh, Magritte and Escher Fitness requirement

Itinerary Days 1–4: Explore Amsterdam, once the centre of an empire extending from Brazil to Japan. Netherlands Days 5–7: Visit art sites in Utrecht and The Amsterdam (4) Hague, as well as Rotterdam and Delft. Delft (2) Days 8–10: In Brussels, visit superb Old Masters and modern galleries, admire Gothic and Art Nouveau architecture and tour Wallonia. Bruges (3) Brussels (4) Days 11–13: Visit Ghent to see the famous BELGIUM altarpiece by the Van Eycks, before exploring Bruges and Tournai. Days 14–17: Cap off our tour with visits to the FRANCE Louvre, Cluny and the Musée d’Orsay in Paris. Paris (3)

Fitness requirement More details at academytravel.com.au 29 Stockholm to St Petersburg a baltic journey

May – June, 2018 Tour price to be advised

Discover • The remarkable interaction of peoples of the Baltic: Vikings, missionaries, merchants and maritime empires • The golden age of Sweden in the 16th and 17th centuries, encompassing Sweden, Finland and Norway • Tsarist Russia’s empire in the Baltic: the Grand Duchy of Finland, Estonia and Latvia • A striking tradition of architecture and design, stretching from the birth of Modernism in the early 1900s to cutting-edge contemporary work • Superb European art in galleries in Sweden and St Petersburg

Overview This new tour explores the eastern Baltic in depth, from the days of the medieval Hanseatic trade network and the centuries of struggle for dominance between Sweden and Russia, into the modern era, where great design and architecture make for compelling destinations. The itinerary includes two crossings of the Baltic, a train journey into Russia and opera at the Riga Festival. An extension tour to Moscow is also available. Your tour leaders Highlights Robert Veel, a founding > Stockholm’s Vasa museum, a testament director of Academy Travel, to the country’s former maritime glory, has a BA and an M.Ed from and the delightful Drottningholm Palace the University of Sydney outside the city and has lectured in cultural > The beauty of the Stockholm archipelago, history and led tours for surrounding the city and admired on our over 20 years, including Baltic crossing several to Scandinavia and Iceland. Russia > Great Art Nouveau architecture in Riga, expert Dr Matthew Dal Santo will join the and the perfectly preserved medieval old tour for the St Petersburg segment. town of Tallinn Getting there > An opera at the annual Riga Festival > Stunning modern and contemporary Finnair offers well-priced flights via Helsinki. buildings in Helsinki, including Alvar Emirates has direct flights into Stockholm Aalto’s Nordic modernism and home from St Petersburg. Contact us > The glories of imperial Russia in St for competitive quotes. Petersburg: palaces, gardens, cathedrals and great art galleries Fitness requirement Itinerary FINLAND Days 1–4: Explore Stockholm’s royal and maritime history, plus its modern architecture and design. SWEDEN Helsinki (4) Days 4–5: Overnight ferry from Stockholm to Riga. St Petersburg (3) Stockholm (3) Days 5–6: In Riga, investigate the heritage of this Tallinn (2) former Hanseatic port and enjoy an opera at the Riga Festival. 1 ESTONIA Days 7–8: Drive to Tallinn, the superbly preserved RUSSIA Estonian capital and tour the old town. Days 9–12: Ferry to Helsinki. Visit Russian and Riga (2) LATVIA Swedish imperial sites and sample Finland’s remarkable design and architectural scene. Days 13–17: Train from Helsinki to St Petersburg. Visit galleries and palaces from Russia’s imperial period.

30 Carefully planned itineraries Gardens of Southern England $8,650 pp, twin share $2,550 single supplement June 6-20, 2018

Explore • The exquisite countryside of midsummer England, experienced through visits to fine gardens, stately homes, country houses and castles • The gardens of passionate professional gardeners and writers, from Lancelot ‘Capability’ Brown to Gertrude Jekyll, and Vita Sackville-West to Christopher Lloyd • The gardens of equally passionate amateurs, including Henry Hoare at Stourhead and Sir Roy Strong at The Laskett • The history of the English garden from 1700 to the present day

Overview This tour surveys the work of the passionate men and women who, over the past three hundred years, have created some of the best-loved gardens in the south of England – from the magnificent 18th-century Arcadian landscapes at Rousham and Stourhead, with their temples, lakes and grottoes, to idyllic Kelmscott Manor, the Arts and Crafts country home of William Morris. We also visit Britain’s oldest botanic garden, in Oxford, as well as one of its newest and most influential gardens, at Highgrove House. Highlights Your tour leader > The private gardens of Their Royal Michael Turner is an art Highnesses The Prince of Wales and and garden historian. The Duchess of Cornwall The former Senior Curator > Stourhead, the most beautiful 18th-century of the Nicholson Museum Arcadian landscape garden in England at the University of Sydney, > Blenheim Palace, steeped in more than he now lives in Sussex. 300 years of history, and its beautiful He is a Fellow of the Society parkland landscaped by ‘Capability’ Brown of Antiquaries in London and a member of > Chartwell, the beloved home of Sir the English Historic Gardens Society. Winston Churchill Getting there > Jewels of the Arts and Crafts movement: Kelmscott Manor, Hidcote, Sissinghurst Singapore and Emirates fly to London daily. and Great Dixter Contact us for competitive quotes and bookings. > The gardens of romantic Hever Castle and the beautifully situated Arundel Castle > The gardens of the Bloomsbury Group Fitness requirement

Itinerary Days 1–4: Tour begins in Oxford. Visit the beautiful Oxford Botanic Garden, Kelmscott ENGLAND Manor, Rousham and Blenheim House. Days 5–7: From our base in Bath we visit the Oxford (4) Laskett Gardens, Stourhead, Royal Highgrove and other estates. London Days 8–10: Travel to Royal Tunbridge Wells from Royal Tunbridge where we visit Sissinghurst, Great Dixter and Bath (3) Wells (3) Chartwell, Winston Churchill’s estate. Lewes (4) Days 11–14: From Lewes, enjoy several wonderful castles, homes and gardens in the Sussex Downs. Day 15: Transfer to London for flights home.

More details at academytravel.com.au 31 Scandinavia & Iceland The Nordic World

$10,720 pp, twin share June 11-25, 2018 $2,430 single supplement

Get to know • The fjords of Norway • Denmark’s royal traditions, from Hamlet’s castle at Helsingor (Elsinore) to Frederick and Mary • Iceland’s unique blend of Celtic, Viking and Nordic culture, shaped by its remarkable volcanic landscape • Modern art and design, including the art of Edvard Munch, the architecture of Jørn Utzon and the opera houses of Henning Larsen • The history of Scandinavia, from the voyages of the Vikings to the Kingdom of Denmark, and the emergence of modern Nordic culture

Overview This new 15-day tour takes you from Copenhagen, to Oslo, Bergen and Iceland, and explores the region’s distinctive cultural traditions, from the Vikings of the Middle Ages to the emergence of a unique modern culture expressed through the art of Edvard Munch and cutting-edge architecture and design. Equally impressive is the natural beauty of the region, from the golden fields of southern Sweden, to the fjords of Norway and the pristine coastlines and wild, volcanic landscapes of Iceland. Your tour leader Highlights Dr Nick Gordon holds a > Modern art and architecture in University Medal and a PhD Copenhagen, Oslo and Bergen in European history from > Jørn Utzon in Copenhagen the University of Sydney. He > Helsingør castle, the setting of has taught European history Shakespeare’s Hamlet at university for ten years > The fjords of Norway and the art of and continues to lecture on Edvard Munch art and history. He has led tours for Academy > Southern Sweden, from the World Travel since 2007. Heritage-listed cathedral of Lund to the Getting There mysterious standing stones of Ales > The unique atmosphere of Reykjavik, British Airways offers flights to Copenhagen the world’s most northerly capital city and from Reykjavik via Heathrow. Contact us for competitive quotes. > The landscapes of Iceland, including the Snaefellsnes Peninsula, where Jules Verne set his Journey to the Centre of the Earth Fitness requirement Itinerary Days 1–5: Explore Copenhagen and its Iceland surrounds, including Elsinore Castle, Utzon’s Bagsvaerd Church and the Louisiana Art Budir (1) Museum. Enjoy a day trip to southern Sweden, Reykjavik (4) visiting Lund and the standing stones of Ales. NORWAY Days 6–9: Discover Oslo with its modern Bergen (2) architecture, fine art collections and Viking Oslo (2) history. Experience the natural beauty of the 1 Norwegian Fjords and relax in Bergen. Copenhagen (4) Days 10–15: Fly to Reykjavik and discover its Denmark unique history and culture. Explore the geysers, volcanos and the rugged isolated coastlines of Iceland. Experience the untouched beauty of the Snaefellsnes Peninsula by coach and snowcat.

32 Expert tour leaders Burgundy, Provence & the RIVIERA Medieval & Modern

Tour price to be advised June, 2018

Discover • The extraordinary art and history of southern France with its landscapes that inspired Van Gogh and Picasso • Medieval France, from the birth of Romanesque art and architecture at Cluny and Vézelay, to the Dukes of Burgundy and the popes in Avignon • Its excellent regional galleries and museums, including Picasso at Antibes, the Fondation Maeght, and Lyon’s Musée des Beaux-Arts • Provence, Burgundy and the Côte d’Azur: home to some of France’s most beautiful hamlets, countryside and fine gastronomy

Overview This new 17-day tour begins in Burgundy, a region renowned for its charming villages, vineyards and majestic medieval architecture. Travelling south through Lyon to the Côte d’Azur, we admire fine Roman ruins, including the Pont du Gard, visit exceptional regional art galleries, and enjoy the exuberant atmosphere and inspirational colour of the French Riviera. Highlights Your tour leader > Stunning art galleries in less-visited cities, Dr Kathleen Olive has a from Dijon’s Musée des Beaux-Arts to PhD in Italian Studies Arles’ Fondation Vincent van Gogh and the from the University of Fondation Maeght in St-Paul-de-Vence Sydney, and has taught > Atmospheric Romanesque architecture, the history of medieval from Cluny to Vézelay and Berzé-la-Ville and Renaissance Europe at > Roman ruins in Lyon, Nîmes and Arles universities in Sydney since > A cruise on the Rhone river from Lyon 2001. She is one of Academy Travel’s most respected tour leaders. > Medieval Avignon, including the celebrated Palais des Papes Getting there > Van Gogh’s world in Arles; Picasso, Matisse, Chagall and Cocteau on the Emirates flies into Geneva and out of Nice at French Riviera times that coincide with the tour. Contact us for competitive quotes and bookings.

Fitness requirement

Itinerary Vezelay Days 1–5: Arrive Beaune to tour Dijon, Cluny, Vézelay Dijon and Autun. Visit Beaune’s Hôtel Dieu, home to Beaune (5) Rogier van der Weyden’s Last Judgement, and Switzerland Dijon’s Palace of the Dukes of Burgundy. Geneva Days 6–8: Tour the Roman ruins of Lyon, admire contemporary Lyonnais art and cuisine, and cruise Lyon (3) the Rhone river. Excursions to the medieval towns FRANCE and chateaux of Brancion and Cormatin. Days 9–12: Explore the papal palace of Avignon, travel to Nîmes, its Roman ruins and the Pont du Avignon (4) Gard, and walk in Van Gogh’s footsteps in Arles. Saint Paul Nice Nimes de Vence Days 13–17: From Antibes, explore Marseilles and Arles the Côte d’Azur, with art galleries and museums Antibes (4) Marseille dedicated to Bonnard, Picasso and Chagall.

More details at academytravel.com.au 33 Amsterdam to Dresden music in northern Europe

$9,775 pp, twin share September 28 – October 14, 2017 $1,850 single supplement

Experience • Orchestral music and opera of the highest quality in some of Europe’s finest venues • The rich choral tradition of northern Germany and Flanders • In-depth background to the music you will hear in live performance • Visits to leading art museums, such as the recently refurbished Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, the Mauritshuis in The Hague and the famous ‘Green Vault’ in Dresden

Overview This new tour visits both familiar and less well-known centres of music-making in northern Europe. From outstanding compositions of the Renaissance and Baroque periods to modern masterpieces, our itinerary is built around a carefully selected set of eight performances. The music program is complemented by city walking tours, visits to composer museums, and talks by our expert tour leader. An optional five-night extension to Berlin is also available. Your tour leader Performances Robert Gay is one of Eight performances will be included as Australia’s leading follows: music tour leaders and > A concert by the Royal Concertgebouw music educators. He has Orchestra of Amsterdam designed and led more > A performance by the Dutch National than 80 performance- Opera – winner of the 2016 Opera Awards based tours. For 30 years, > A concert by the Gürzenich Orchestra in he has presented music history courses at the Cologne Philharmonie and an opera the Centre for Continuing Education at the at Cologne Opera University of Sydney. > A concert by the Gewandhaus Orchestra Getting there of Leipzig, conducted by Herbert Blomstedt Etihad Airways flys into Amsterdam and > Three performances of orchestral music home via Berlin. Contact us for competitive and opera at the Semperoper Dresden quotes and bookings. Limited places remaining Fitness requirement

Itinerary Days 1–4: In Amsterdam, attend performances, NETHERLANDS visit the Rijksmuseum and take a day trip to Berlin The Hague and Delft. Days 5–7: Travel to Cologne via the medieval Amsterdam (4) Delft city of Aachen, where Charlemagne held court. Explore Cologne, and visit Beethoven’s birth

Leipzig (3) house museum in Bonn. Days 8–9: Drive to Weimar via Marburg’s Cologne (3) Dresden (4) perfectly preserved medieval upper town. Explore Bonn Weimar (2) Goethe’s Weimar and visit Bach’s Eisenach. Aachen Marburg Days 10–12: Travel to Leipzig for more performances. Days 13–17: The tour ends in Dresden for more GERMANY art and music. Or continue on the optional five- night extension to Berlin.

34 Maximum 20 in a group London music & theatre

$9,150 pp, twin share $2,380 single supplement January 18-30, 2018

Enjoy • Ten performances of the highest quality opera, ballet, stage drama and orchestral music, including all four major London orchestras • Historic performance venues, including Covent Garden and Wigmore Hall • Visits to some of London’s best galleries and historic houses • Back ground talks on all performances and post-performance discussions • Accommodation in historic Bloomsbury

Overview For lovers of music, theatre and art, January is a great time to visit London. Yes, it’s cold, but the concert and opera season is in full swing, theatre companies have launched new productions and the major galleries are featuring exhibitions by leading contemporary artists and old masters. Best of all, the city is not at all crowded. Our 13-day program is packed with a range of musical and theatrical performances, including all the major London orchestras. Your tour leader Performances Dr Tom Ford holds a PhD in Ten performances of opera, orchestral music, history from the University chamber music and drama are included. of Adelaide. He has written Details to be announced July 2017. Based extensively on classical on previous years, the performance line-up music, and is currently the will include: PR and media manager > The London Philharmonic Orchestra, (classics and jazz) for Wagner’s Das Rheingold Universal Music Australia, based in Sydney. > P eter Shaffer’s Amadeus 2018 at the National Theatre Getting there > Paul Lewis Piano Recital at Royal Festival Emirates flies to London daily. Contact us Hall for competitive quotes and bookings. > Two operas at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden > A t least two performances by London’s leading orchestras, such as the London Philharmonic, the London Symphony, the Fitness requirement BBC Symphony and the Philharmonia > A performance by the Royal Shakespeare Company in its London winter season LONDON Itinerary > One or two major West End plays or 12 nights Day 1: Arrive in London. musicals – new productions selected Days 2–4: Visit the Tate Britain, the Wallace from the current season The Wallace Collection and the Handel House Museum. > One or two recitals at the iconic Collection British Museum Attend a West End play, opera at Covent Garden Wigmore Hall Handel House Museum and the London Symphony Orchestra. Royal Academy of Arts Covent Tower Days 5–8: Visit the Royal Academy of Arts and Garden Bridge Tate Kenwood House, day trip to Oxford and enjoy the Modern Westminster Royal Ballet and the Royal Shakespeare Company. Victoria & Albert Days 9–12: Visit the Victoria and Albert Museum Museum Tate Britain and the Tate Modern. Hear performances by the BBC Symphony Orchestra, the London Philharmonic Orchestra, the Philharmonia and a recital at Wigmore Hall. Day 13: Visit the British Museum.

More details at academytravel.com.au 35 great musical cities praGuE, vienna & budapest

$9,440 pp, twin share April 16-30, 2018 $1,950 single supplement

Enjoy • Orchestral music and opera of the highest quality in Central Europe’s most celebrated music venues • The rich musical traditions of Austria, Hungary and the Czech Republic • In-depth background to the music you will hear in live performance • Visits to wonderfully preserved baroque theatres in Cesky Krumlov and Prague • The delightful city of Bratislava on the Danube and the breathtaking scenery at Cesky Krumlov in southern Bohemia • The many glorious Art Nouveau buildings in Prague

Overview This 15-day tour visits three of the great music capitals of Central Europe: Vienna, Prague and Budapest. As well as attending a series of fine performances, this musical pilgrimage takes you to the places where some of the great composers lived and worked. In Budapest, there are museums dedicated to Liszt and Bartok; in Vienna, an astonishing number of sites associated with Mozart, Beethoven and Schubert; and in the countryside near Prague, the birthplace of Dvorak. We will also visit two beautifully preserved baroque theatres, one in Cesky Krumlov and the other the celebrated Estates Theatre in Prague. Your tour leader Performances Lindy Montgomery is Eight or nine performances will be included a graduate of both the – details available May 2017. University of Sydney and We plan to include the following: the Sydney Conservatorium > An opera at the Estates Theatre, Prague of Music, where she taught > An opera at the National Theatre, Prague musicology for 13 years. > A concert by the Czech Philharmonic Lindy possesses a fine Orchestra at the Rudolfinum soprano voice and has featured as a soloist with the Pinchgut Opera and the Australian > Two operas by the Vienna State Opera Brandenburg Orchestra. > A concert by the Vienna Symphony Orchestra at the Musikverein Getting there > An orchestral concert at the Konzerthaus Emirates flies into Prague and out of Budapest > T wo performances by the Budapest at times that coincide with the tour. State Opera

Fitness requirement

Itinerary Days 1–4: In Prague, attend outstanding Prague (4) performances and visit a range of sites both in the city and the surrounding countryside. CZECH Day 5: Stay overnight in Ceske Budejovice and take a day trip to nearby Cesky Krumlov Ceske Budejovice (1) in the Czech Republic. Days 6–10: In Vienna, in addition to Cesky Krumlov SLOVAKIA performances, visit venues where Mozart, Bratislava Vienna (5) Beethoven and Schubert lived and worked. Days 11–15: Visit Bratislava en route to Budapest, attend performances and enjoy walking tours AUSTRIA Budapest (4) of both Buda and Pest, the Bartok and Liszt HUNGARY museums, and the Empress Elisabeth’s castle at Gödöllö.

36 www.academytravel.com.au Music in Germany Munich to Hamburg

$9,750 pp, twin share $1,850 single supplement April 19 – May 5, 2018

Experience • Germany’s immense musical heritage, expressed both in its famous composers and the high standard of its orchestras and opera houses • The dynamic capital city of Berlin, revitalised since the fall of the Berlin Wall and brimming with galleries and museums • The refined Saxon cities of Leipzig and Dresden, once part of East Germany, with well-preserved historic sites, theatres and museums • The distinctive region of Bavaria in Germany’s south, with prosperous cities, fine food and alpine scenery

Overview Academy Travel’s annual musical pilgrimage to Germany explores the rich cultural heritage of Berlin, the Saxon cities of Leipzig and Dresden, and the prosperous cities of Bavaria, including Bayreuth and Munich. The itinerary is built around at least nine performances of opera and orchestral music, including the new Elbphilharmonie concert hall in Hamburg. We also visit sites associated with some of the great German composers – Bach, Beethoven, Mendelssohn, Schubert, Schumann and Wagner – and enjoy a selection of Germany’s fine art galleries and museums. Your tour leader Performances Robert Gay is one of Nine performances will be included – Australia’s leading music tour details available October 2017. leaders and music educators. We plan to include the following: He has designed and led > An opera by the Bavarian State Opera more than 80 performance- > A concert by the Munich Philharmonic based tours. For 30 years he at the Gasteig Concert Hall has presented music history > An opera at the Semper Oper, Dresden courses at the Centre of Continuing Education at the University of Sydney. > A concert at the Staatskapelle Dresden, with Musical Director Thielemann Getting there > A possible orchestral concert at the Emirates flies into Munich and out of Hamburg Leipzig Gewandhaus at times that coincide with the tour. Contact > A concert by the Berlin Philharmonic us for competitive quotes and bookings. at the Philharmonie > A concert by Berlin’s Deutsche Symphonie- Orchester at the Konzerthaus Fitness requirement > An opera by the Deutsche Oper or the Komische Oper Itinerary > A concert at the Elbphilharmonie Lubeck Hamburg (3) Days 1–4: In Munich, attend performances > A performance at the Hamburg Opera and enjoy walking tours and excursions to and Ballet Neuschwanstein Castle and Nymphenburg Palace. Berlin (4) Days 5–6: Travel though Bavaria, via Regensburg GERMANY on the Danube, to Bayreuth.

Leipzig Days 7–10: In Dresden attend performances, enjoy Dresden (4) galleries and walking tours. A day trip to Leipzig. Days 11–14: Visit Sanssouci Palace en route to Karlovy Vary Bayreuth (2) Berlin; explore renowned galleries and museums, Czech uncover the city’s dramatic history and enjoy at least three performances. Regensburg Days 15–17: The tour ends in Hamburg, Munich (4) where we attend a performance at the new Elbphilharmonie concert hall.

More details at academytravel.com.au 37 Music in Scandinavia including the Bergen International Festival

$11,495 pp, twin share May 21 – June 5, 2018 $1,595 single supplement

Get to know • The fascinating relationship between Nordic music and the region’s culture, tradition and landscape • Excellent performances by the region’s orchestras and opera companies • Outstanding contemporary Nordic architecture and design in opera houses and concert halls • Stunning scenery, from Stockholm’s island-strewn harbour to the fjords and mountains around Bergen • Norse mythology as a source of inspiration for Nordic and German composers, including Wagner

Overview This 17-day tour explores the landscape, history and music of Finland, Sweden and Norway. These northern lands have a strong and distinctive musical tradition, expressed not only through their composers – including famous names like Grieg and Sibelius – but also through the many fine conductors, singers and instrumentalists who hail from these parts. Nordic music is often inspired by folk literature and traditions, and travelling through the landscapes that have evoked these ideas will undoubtedly enhance your appreciation of the haunting music of this region. Your tour leader Performances Robert Gay is one of At least eight performances will be included, Australia’s leading music tour comprising a combination of operas and leaders and music educators. orchestral concerts. Full details will be He has designed dozens of available in late 2017. music courses and led more Helsinki, Finland than 80 performance-based Two performances at the new Helsinki tours around the world. Music Centre For 30 years he has been presenting music history courses for the Centre for Continuing Stockholm, Sweden Education at the University of Sydney. Two performances at the Royal Swedish Opera Getting there Oslo, Norway Finnair offers well-priced flights from Two performances at the new Opera House Australia direct to Helsinki, for which you Bergen, Norway earn Qantas points. Connect this tour with Gardens of Two or three concerts at the Bergen Festival Southern England on page 31 Fitness requirement

Itinerary Days 1–4: In Helsinki, explore sites associated with Sibelius, as well as great architecture and design. Overnight ferry to Stockholm. NORWAY FINLAND Days 5–8: Explore Stockholm’s maritime history Bergen (4) Helsinki (3) and visit Drottningholm Palace. Oslo (3) Stockholm (4) Days 9–12: Fly to Oslo in Norway to view the 1 Viking Ship Museum, the art of Munch and others, and Oslo’s harbourfront opera house. SWEDEN Days 13–16: Take a train and boat journey to Bergen for three nights, to enjoy the Bergen Festival and sites associated with Grieg and Ole Bull. Day 17: Begin Iceland extension, or return home.

38 Carefully planned itineraries Western China on the Silk Road

$9,975 pp, twin share $1,995 single supplement September 7-27, 2017

Discover • Thousands of years of history, art and culture passed on through the dynasties • The ancient caravan routes along the Silk Road • Grottoes and caves containing remarkable Buddhist sculptures and murals • Museums filled with treasures dating from the Neolithic age to the modern era • The contrast between Islamic culture in the western districts and Tibetan Buddhism in Gansu Province

Overview The exotic Silk Road within China is rich in historical and cultural highlights. From the might of imperial China in the east, epitomised by the Terracotta Warriors, past brilliantly decorated Buddhist monasteries such as the Mogao Grottoes, to the eastern markets at Turpan, Ürümqi and Kashgar – this tour will be both a journey through the changing face of China today, as well as an examination of its deep and awe-inspiring history and culture. Highlights Your tour leader > The Great Wall outside Beijing, a lasting Ben Churcher has a wide monument to the achievements of China range of experience as > The overwhelming sight of over 8000 an educator, a traveller, Terracotta Warriors lined up in rows a historian and an ready for battle archaeologist. He holds an > Remarkable Buddhist sculptures and Honours degree in Ancient over 1000 square metres of murals History and a Diploma of carved into the mountain face at the Education from the University of Sydney. Maijishan Grottoes Ben has led numerous tours along the Silk > The ubiquitous red sandstone of the Route, and throughout the Middle East and Flaming Mountains Gorge in the Mutou North and East Africa. Valley outside Turpan Getting there > A day immersed in the bustling Sunday markets at Kashgar Singapore Airlines offers daily flights into Beijing and out of Chengdu. Contact us Limited places for competitive quotes. remaining Fitness requirement

Itinerary Days 1–3: In Beijing explore the Forbidden City CHINA and visit the Great Wall. Urumqi (1) Days 4–6: Fly to Xi’an for the Terracotta Warriors Turpan (2) and other sites. Beijing (3) Dunhuang (2) Days 7–10: Buddhist sculptures at Tianshui. Kashgar (3) Travel to Lanzhou. Visit the Bingling Grottoes Lanzhou (3) and Islamic Linxia. Gansu Museum then Xiahe Xiahe (2) Xi’an (2) and the Labrang Lamasery. Tianshui (1) Days 11–13: Fly to Dunhuang and visit the famous Chengdu (1) Buddhist Caves. Days 14–17: Cross the Taklamakan Desert to Turpan. Explore Turpan and Ürümqi before flying to Kashgar. Days 18–21: Explore remote Kashgar. Fly to Chengdu.

More details at academytravel.com.au 39 Imperial China History & the Arts

$9,925 pp, twin share September 25 – October 12, 2017 $1,845 single supplement

Explore • Beijing, the seat of imperial governance established as the capital by Mongol conquerors • An emperor’s extraordinary legacy of protection in the afterlife, with an army of Terracotta Warriors • The confluence of traditional Chinese culture and European art deco in post-imperialist Shanghai • Exquisite palaces and gardens built by a succession of Ming and Qing Dynasty emperors • An emerging contemporary art culture against a backdrop of imperial tradition

Overview China, a civilisation rich in historical achievements and artistry, is predominantly defined by its imperial heritage. Our 18-day tour spans 2000 years of dynastic rule as we seek to understand how emperors sought to immortalise their reign, commencing with the imperial treasures at the Forbidden Palace and National Museum in Beijing. Visit the world’s most extravagant ‘afterworld’ in Xi’an. Explore the silk court costumes in Suzhou and the post- imperial republican years in Shanghai, culminating in forward-looking Hong Kong. Your tour leader Highlights David Rosier is a lecturer > Beijing’ s imperial treasures at the specialising in the history Forbidden City and the National Museum and art of imperial China. > An army of 8000 life-size terracotta soldiers, For 14 years he and his chariots and cavalry horses in Xi’an family lived in Hong Kong. > Shanghai’s art deco heritage, Missionary An expert on Qing Dynasty Row, the Bund Promenade and the former Chinese court costume, he Hong Kong and Shanghai Bank has led many tours to mainland China and > Suzhou’s imperial silk and embroidery Hong Kong. industry and two of China’s revered Getting there classical gardens > A personal tour of the world’s most Cathay Pacific offers daily flights from comprehensive imperial textile collection, Australia to Beijing and out of Hong Kong. at the owner’s private home Contact us for competitive quotes and > Priv ate visits to collections not accessible bookings. to the public Fitness requirement

Itinerary Great Wall Beijing (5) Days 1–5: Imperial sites in Beijing, including the Forbidden City and National Museum, the Great Wall and Qing Tombs. Days 6–8: Fly to Xi’an and see the Terracotta Warriors and Wild Goose Pagoda. Xi’an (3) Days 9–10: Explore art deco in Shanghai and Suzhou (3) visit the furniture collection at the Shanghai Shanghai (2) Museum. CHINA Days 11–13: Visit elegant classical gardens and discover the famous textiles of Suzhou and Nanjing.

Hong Kong (4) Days 14–18: Fly to Hong Kong to enjoy private and public art collections, cultural and site visits on the island and Kowloon.

40 Expert tour leaders Japan unmasked art, history & culture

$11,485 pp, twin share (Tour full) November 3-18, 2017 $2,755 single supplement May 11-26, 2018

Get to know • The contrast of a contemporary metropolis against the backdrop of Edo period Tokyo • Serenity in some of Japan’s finest landscaped gardens and shrines • A bygone era at the well-preserved wooden teahouses of Kanazawa’s entertainment district • The floating world of the geisha in Kyoto’s Gion district • An abundance of art, history and culture dating back to the 6th century • A unique cuisine using the freshest produce that perfectly reflects the seasons

Overview Uncover Japan’s rich history, art and culture on our inaugural 16-day tour. Explore old and new world Tokyo. Visit one of Japan’s best landscaped gardens in Kanazawa. Understand the devastation of the atomic bomb in Hiroshima and the tranquillity of Miyajima. Spend seven nights in Kyoto exploring temples, shrines and museums and glimpse the geisha’s floating world. Complemented by day trips to Nara and Arashiyama, this tour offers a comprehensive insight into the beauty and mystique of this wonderful land. Highlights Your tour leader > The hustle, bustle and bright lights of Dr Kathleen Olive has led Tokyo, its galleries, museums and shrines tours to Europe, Turkey > Kanazawa’s famed Kenrokuen Garden, one and the USA, and is a of the best landscaped gardens in Japan popular teacher of art and > Speeding through the countryside on the architectural history at the shinkansen or bullet train University of Sydney and > The moving display of human resilience the WEA. She looks forward at Hiroshima’s Peace Memorial to adding Japan to her repertoire. > Day trips to Nara, and the bamboo grove Getting there and garden at Arashiyama Qantas, Japan Airlines and ANA offer daily > Se ven nights discovering Zen temples, flights to Tokyo, with return connections stone and moss gardens and an incredible through Tokyo from Osaka. Contact us for array of art and culture in Kyoto competitive quotes and bookings.

Fitness requirement

Itinerary Days 1–4: Arrive Tokyo and explore the gardens, temples, shrines, art galleries and museums.

Days 5–6: Bullet train to Kanazawa; visit the Kanazawa (2) Japan wooden tea houses, Kanazawa Castle and Kenrokuen garden. Tokyo (4) Kyoto (7) Days 7–8: Travel to Hiroshima Peace Memorial, Nara the Torii Gate and shrine on Miyajima. Hiroshima (2) Osaka Day 9: Bullet train to Kyoto; explore Kiyomizu Temple and the geisha district. Days 10–12: Art, history and culture of Kyoto’s temples, shrines, museums and galleries. Days 13–14: Day trips to Arashiyama and Nara. Days 15–16: Walk through Nishiki market and depart from Osaka.

More details at academytravel.com.au 41 Burma

$9,460 pp, twin share December 29, 2017 – January 13, 2018 $2,065 single supplement

Experience • A nation gradually emerging from years of military rule • A rich cultural and artisanal tradition of silk weaving, world-class lacquerware and skilled puppeteers • A wealth of Buddhist culture evidenced by the multitude of stupas and exquisite carved teak monasteries • Colonial history and architecture from the era of the British Raj • A remarkably friendly and easy-going nation made up of over 135 ethnic groups eager to share their history and culture

Overview From its ancient origins in settlement by Hindu Sakyas from India, through millennia of spiritual and political change, Burma has emerged with all that is quintessentially Burmese intact and as enchanting and enriching as it has always been. This tour takes you into the heart of old Burma – the sleepy town of Nyaungshwe on the edge of Lake Inle, the last royal capital of Mandalay, the vast Buddhist pagoda-studded plain of Bagan, and the splendour of the great pagodas of Yangon. Your tour leader Highlights Judy Tenzing has over 30 > A magical sunset at the golden-domed years’ experience as an Shwedagon Pagoda, the greatest in Burma administrator and tour > New Year’s Eve on Lake Inle exploring the leader in India, Nepal, monasteries, pagodas, villages and floating Bhutan and Burma. Judy gardens all built on stilts over the lake has a degree in South > The extraordinary complex of crumbling Asian History and regularly stupas at Indein in Shan state presents courses at Sydney University’s > Roaming through the National Botanic Centre for Continuing Education on the Gardens in Maymyo, with its stunning history and culture of this remarkable region. four-acre orchid garden Getting there > An overnight cruise down the famed Ayeyarwady River Singapore Airlines offers daily flights to > The amazing pagoda-studded plains of Yangon. Contact us for competitive quotes Bagan, each structure unique in design and bookings. and decoration Fitness requirement

INDIA Itinerary Days 1–2: Explore Yangon’s colonial China architecture and the Shwedagon Pagoda. BURMA Days 3–5: Fly to Lake Inle and explore the communities living on stilted houses. (1) Maymyo (2) Days 6–7: Wander amongst the botanic Mandalay (3) Bagan (3) gardens and colonial architecture of Maymyo. Nyaungshwe (3) Days 8–10: In Mandalay visit teak monasteries, pagodas and the Royal Palace. Day 11: Cruise the Ayeyarwady River to Bagan. THAILAND Days 12–14: In Bagan surveying some of the hundreds of pagodas scattered on the plains. Yangon (3) Days 15–16: Return to Yangon.

42 Maximum 20 in a group Tasmania history, art & landscape

$3,975 pp, twin share $985 single supplement February 17-24, 2018

Discover • Outstanding colonial heritage, with some of Australia’s oldest private and public architecture • The complex history of Tasmania, involving early indigenous contact and the full articulation of the convict system • A vibrant visual arts scene, ranging from important 19th-century painters to remarkable contemporary art • Pristine World Heritage-listed landscapes of forest, river and ocean • Wonderful food and wine, now gaining global attention

Overview Tasmania has a distinctive history, culture and landscape which makes it quite different from Australia’s other states and territories. This tour offers a unique itinerary which combines the island’s well-known attractions with sites of particular interest to specialised travellers. Staying in Launceston, on the Freycinet Peninsula and in Hobart, with day trips to surrounding areas, we visit historic homes and gardens and travel though stunning landscape. Art lovers are well treated, with an in-depth look at colonial artist John Glover and a visit to the renowned Museum of Old and New Art (MONA) on the Derwent River near Hobart. Highlights Your tour leader > T asmania’s colonial sites, including Dr Kathleen Olive has led Clarendon Estate and World Heritage- tours to Europe, Turkey listed Port Arthur and the USA and is a > Tasmania’s leading public art galleries popular teacher of art and in Launceston and Hobart architectural history at the > Cruise from Coles Bay to Wineglass Bay, University of Sydney and offering a unique perspective of the the WEA. Freycinet Peninsula’s sheer cliffs and abundant wildlife Getting there > A day trip to the Huon River Valley, visiting Jetstar/Qantas offer direct flights to pristine rainforests, gardens and wineries Launceston from Sydney and Melbourne > Fine regional wine and produce while and return flights from Hobart. These can dining at some of Tasmania’s excellent be booked online. restaurants and vineyards Fitness requirement

Itinerary Days 1–3: The tour begins in Launceston, visiting historic homes and villages, exploring the farm Launceston (3) of colonial artist John Glover and touring the Tamar Valley and the hills towards the Cradle Mountain region. We also visit wineries and two excellent restaurants. Ross Days 4–5: Travel down to the Freycinet Peninsula and cruise Wineglass Bay. TASMANIA Days 6–8: In Hobart we continue our Freycinet (1) exploration of colonial artists, take day trips to the Huon Valley and the Tasman Peninsula, and visit MONA. Hobart (3)

Port Arthur

More details at academytravel.com.au 43 Taiwan Cultural treasures & majestic landscapes

$6,200 (approx) pp, twin share April 15-24, 2018 $2,100 (approx) single supplement

Uncover • An indigenous culture pre-dating the arrival of the Chinese in the 17th century • The cultural legacy, including elaborate tea ceremonies, of the Japanese who ruled the island for 50 years • Stunning scenery of mountain peaks, lakes and gorges, formed through volcanic activity on the edge of the Pacific’s ‘Ring of Fire’ • An array of architecture, from Dutch forts, centuries-old Daoist and Confucian temples, to Japanese Meiji-era buildings

Overview Taiwan has been ‘off the radar’ for tourism since the tumultuous events of 1949, when Chiang Kai Shek and his nationalist compatriots separated themselves from the Communists on the mainland. Discover the place that 16th-century Portuguese explorers named ‘Ilha Formosa’, the beautiful island, on our 10-day tour. Unlike mainland China, where warfare, revolution and an economic boom have transformed the country, large sections of Taiwan retain Chinese traditions and culture with a wealth of art, architecture and beautiful landscapes to enjoy. Your tour leader Highlights Judy Tenzing has over 30 > Historic ancient temples, colonial forts years’ experience as an and Meiji-era architecture in Old Tainan administrator and tour > The pristine environment of Sun Moon leader in India, Nepal, Lake, surrounded by steep mountain peaks Bhutan and Burma. Judy > The art of Taiwanese tea-making at an has a degree in South Assam tea farm Asian History and regularly presents courses at Sydney University’s > The extraordinary Chung Tai Chan Centre for Continuing Education on the Monastery near Puli, headquarters of a history and culture of this remarkable region. popular Zen Buddhist order > A spectacular drive hugging the Chingshui Getting there Cliffs and into the valley of Taroko Gorge Cathay Pacific and partner Dragon Air offer > Taipei’s National Palace Museum, Taiwan’s flights into Kaohsiung and out of Taipei via celebrated cultural institution, home Hong Kong. to over 500,000 artefacts and artworks, including the Jadeite cabbage Fitness requirement

Taipei (3) Itinerary What does Taiwan offer? Days 1–2: Arrive into Kaohsiung and transfer > The culture of the indigenous to Tainan to explore the city. inhabitants Taroko Gorge (1) Day 3: Admire Lukang, and continue on to > Well-preserved traditional Chinese Sun Moon Lake. culture, architecture and streetscapes Lugang Days 4–5: Explore sites around the lake, > The cultural and architectural legacy Sun Moon Lake (3) spending a full day at the Chung Tai Chan monastery and museum. of the period of Japanese rule, TAIWAN Day 6: Traverse the Central Range to Taroko 1895–1945 Gorge and experience Taiwanese indigenous > Outstanding mountain scenery, Tianan (2) culture. with sharp peaks rising to nearly Days 7–9: Drive to Taipei. Ascend the Taipei 101 4000 metres Kaohsiung skyscraper, and visit Chiang Kai Shek Memorial > Two superb museums Hall and the National Palace Museum. > A destination not affected by Day 10: Depart Taipei. mass tourism

44 www.academytravel.com.au Chile, Argentina & Peru

$11,420 pp, twin share $2,785 single supplement September 25 – October 13, 2017

Discover • Elegant squares and piazzas, a legacy of Spanish colonialism • The tango, Argentina’s dance of passion • The legacy of the Spanish in the churches, monasteries and delightful town squares • Historic Inca sites and culture around Cusco and Ollantaytambo • The superb cuisine of these regions now making their mark on the world culinary stage • The vibrant capitals of Santiago, Buenos Aires and Lima

Overview Our tantalising new 19-day tour showcases the history, culture and breathtaking scenery of South America. Admire the snow-capped peaks of the Andes, marvel at Iguazu Falls and enigmatic Machu Picchu. Explore colonial Cusco, bustling Lima and charismatic Santiago. Feel the beat of the tango in Buenos Aires; taste the emerging wines of Chile and try a mix of fine New World cuisine and classic dishes. En route we examine a fascinating array of sites associated with the Inca, colonial conquistadors and modern immigrants. Highlights Your tour leader > Soaring snow-capped peaks of the Andes Chris Carter holds a first – the world’s longest mountain range class Honours degree > See the mighty Iguazu Falls from both the in archaeology from Argentinean and Brazilian sides the Australian National > The colonial heritage of the city centres and University. He has worked as a plazas of Santiago, Buenos Aires and Lima professional archaeologist and > Impressive Inca fortifications at has taught extensively in the Sacsayhuaman and the sun temple of field. He is currently involved with prehistoric Coricancha in Cusco sites in the Atacama region of northern Chile. > Admire the colonial town of Getting there Ollantaytambo built on Inca foundations Qantas flies into and out of Santiago four > Marvel at the glorious mountain estate of times a week, coinciding with the tour Machu Picchu built at the height of the dates on current schedules. Contact us for Inca Empire competitive quotes and bookings. Fitness requirement

Itinerary Peru Days 1–3: Arrive and tour Santiago, Chilean wineries. Lima (2) Aguas Calientes (1) Days 4–6: Fly to Buenos Aires, experience the Sacred Valley (3) Cusco (3) tango and visit the Rio Paraná Delta. Days 7–8: Fly to Puerto Iguazu and view the falls from both the Brazilian and Argentinean sides. Days 9–10: Sights in Lima. Days 11–12: Fly to Cusco, visit Sacsayhuaman Chile and Coricancha. Puerto Iguazu (2) Days 13–14: Markets, churches and Inca ruins, culminating in Machu Picchu. Argentina Day 15: Train to the Sacred Valley, sites in Ollantaytambo. Buenos Aires (3) Days 16–17: Return to Cusco. Santiago (4) Days 18–19: Fly to Santiago and depart.

More details at academytravel.com.au 45 The Southern USA Washington to New Orleans

$9,950 pp, twin share October 9-23, 2017 $3,500 single supplement

Get to know • The early history of the United States, from the first arrival of Europeans to the Civil War • The experience of African Americans in the South, arriving as slaves and emerging as a fundamental influence on the nation’s history and culture • The fine Georgian architecture of the South Carolina plantations • The coastal landscapes of the Atlantic seaboard • The exuberant cultural life of New Orleans, an amalgam of Cajun and Creole cultures

Overview From Gettysburg to gumbo, Academy Travel’s new 16-day itinerary explores the essence of America’s South. Beginning in Washington and ending on the banks of the Mississippi in rural Louisiana, we explore some of the earliest colonial settlements on the Atlantic seaboard, the history and immense cultural influence of African Americans in the region, the tumultuous experience of the Civil War, and of course the diverse communities and wonderful musical life of New Orleans. There’s also great food, superb art and fine scenery to be enjoyed. Your tour leader Highlights Dr Matthew Laing has a > Thomas Jefferson’s fine Virginia estate, comprehensive knowledge Monticello, a fascinating window on the of the history and society life and times of one of the USA’s most of the United States and important founding fathers has travelled the length and > The famous Civil War battlefield of Gettysburg breadth of the country for > Outstanding regional art galleries in research, personal interest Richmond, Virginia, and Charleston, and as a tour leader. South Carolina > The fine neo-classical colonial architecture Getting There of Charleston, South Carolina We recommend Qantas flights via Dallas or > A day trip to Savannah, Georgia, the Los Angeles for this tour. Please contact us ‘southern gothic’ setting for Midnight in for fares and booking information. the Garden of Good and Evil > Historic sites in New Orleans, the bayou Connect this tour with Frank Lloyd Wright: of Cajun country and evenings of jazz in Chicago to New York on page 47 Fitness requirement intimate venues

Itinerary Days 1–4: Explore Washington’s early history, southern roots and take a day trip to Gettysburg. USA Days 5–6: Travel to Richmond, Virginia, via Jefferson’s Monticello. Visit Jamestown and Washington (4) Williamsburg, and tour the Virginia Museum Charlottesville Richmond (2) of Fine Arts. Days 7–10: Explore Charleston, with a day trip to Savannah in neighbouring Georgia. Charleston (4) Days 11–13: Fly to New Orleans, Louisiana. Savannah Enjoy the city’s history, art and music. Days 14-15: Travel the banks of the Mississippi New Orleans (3) Nottoway Plantation (1) to Cajun country. Spend the final night of the tour on an historic plantation and visit a swamp! Day 16: Transfer to New Orleans for onward flights.

46 Carefully planned itineraries Frank Lloyd Wright Chicago to New York

$11,790 pp, twin share $2,710 single supplement October 22 – November 5, 2017

Experience • Masterpieces of architecture in the USA by Frank Lloyd Wright, Mies van der Rohe and Philip Johnson • Stunning galleries and performance spaces by Frank Gehry, Richard Meier and Renzo Piano • Extraordinary interiors at Fallingwater, Robie House, the Johnson Wax Administration Building, Darwin Martin House, Farnsworth House, the Glass House and Taliesin • Amazing art collections, such as Chicago’s Art Institute and New York’s MoMA

Overview Follow the Frank Lloyd Wright trail from his early beginnings in Chicago and his prairie style homes, to his tragic yet inspirational home in Spring Green, Wisconsin, and the city of Buffalo with the Darwin Martin complex. Enjoy the natural beauty of Niagara Falls, discover Pittsburgh and admire Wright’s most famous work, Fallingwater. In New York, appreciate the development of post-modern architecture. The tour features private guided visits to homes and major galleries and enjoys the wealth of art, culture and history in America. Highlights Your tour leader > A private interior visit to Fallingwater, Stuart Barrie has a passion Wright’s most famous work for 20th-century American > Private interior visits to Farnsworth House, history and the architecture Taliesin, the Johnson Wax Administration of Frank Lloyd Wright. He Building, Darwin Martin House, Graycliff has led many tours to the and Johnson’s Glass House USA. Stuart holds a Masters > A cocktail reception in Robie House, the degree from the University finest example of Wright’s prairie style of New South Wales and is a co-founder of > Docen t-led tours of the Art Institute of Academy Travel. Chicago and a before-hours tour of New York’s MoMA Getting there > Walking tours of New York We recommend either Qantas or United, who both have daily flights to Chicago > Theatre performance in Chicago and a and from New York. Discounted fares are Connect this tour with Broadway musical in New York regularly offered. The Southern USA on page 46 Fitness requirement

Itinerary Days 1–4: In Chicago, enjoy sights such as Millennium Park, the Art Institute, Wright’s Canada Home and Studio, Robie House and the Johnson Wax Administration Building. Madison (2) Days 5–6: Travel by coach to Wisconsin to see Mies’ Farnsworth House and take an in-depth Buffalo (2) tour of Taliesin estate. Chicago (4) New York (4) Days 7–8: Fly to Buffalo to view the Darwin Pittsburgh (2) Martin House and tour Niagara Falls. USA Days 9–10: Coach to Pittsburgh to see Fallingwater, Wright’s masterpiece. Days 11–15: Fly to New York to enjoy architectural walking tours, Johnson’s Glass House, Wright’s Guggenheim and a Broadway musical.

More details at academytravel.com.au 47 Thanksgiving in New York music, theatre, art & food

$9,950 pp, twin share November 15-27, 2017 $2,930 single supplement

Sample • The unique atmosphere of New York in the fall, with seasonal food and the leaves turning gold in Central Park • Special Thanksgiving events – the most important annual festivities in North America • A stimulating range of new season performances of stage drama, musicals, opera and symphony • An expert’s account of the history and architecture of New York over the decades • Newly opened exhibitions at galleries including the Metropolitan Museum of Art and MoMA

Overview Enjoy Thanksgiving in the Big Apple and a host of other events on this special tour. As well as the regular offerings on our New York performing arts tours – opera, symphony, private visits to galleries such as MoMA etc – we’ve included seasonal events that are only on offer at this special time of year, such as the Thanksgiving Day Parade and the legendary Radio City Rockettes. There’s also some great new season stage drama and musicals on offer. Accommodation, as always, is in spacious premium plus rooms in the perfectly located Warwick Hotel on 54th Street. Your tour leader Highlights Dr Matthew Laing has a Performances PhD in US political science > Franco Zeffirelli’s spectacular production of from the ANU, specialising Puccini’s Turandot at the Metropolitan Opera in leadership. He currently > The New York Philharmonic Orchestra works as a researcher at performing Saint-Saëns and Rachmaninov Monash University. Matthew > The new Broadway musical Bandstand has travelled extensively > A piano recital at Carnegie Hall in the United States and has led several successful tours there for Academy Travel. > Junk , Ayad Akhtar’s new play, set in 1980s NY > An evening at the Jazz at the Lincoln Center Getting there Theater Qantas and United Airlines fly regularly to > The Radio City Music Hall’s Rockettes’ the East Coast. Contact us for competitive Christmas Spectacular quotes and bookings. > A new stage play, selected from the 2017-18 season Fitness requirement Fine Dining > Lunches at the Morgan Library and Guggenheim Museum dining rooms Guggenheim Museum > Lunch at the Michelin two-star restaurant Neue Museum The Modern, inside MoMA Lincoln Center Theater Frick Collection > Degustation dinner at the Michelin three- MoMA Warwick Hotel star restaurant Eleven Madison Park Broadway Art, Architecture and History High Line Morgan Library > A private out-of-hours viewing of the Museum NEW of Modern Art with a museum lecturer YORK 12 nights > Charming small galleries, including the Frick Collection and the Neue Museum Whitney > Private guided tour of the refurbished Museum Whitney Museum of American Art in Chelsea Brooklyn Heights > Architectural walking tours of midtown art deco, Brooklyn Heights and the High Line

48 Expert tour leaders New York music, theatre, art & food

$9,950 pp, twin share $2,930 single supplement March 14-26, 2018

Enjoy • Eight outstanding performances: opera, orchestral concerts, plays and a Broadway musical • New York’s marvellous architectural heritage, with a focus on art deco, modern and contemporary • A breathtaking array of visual arts, ranging from the European Old Masters to 20th-century classics and the cutting-edge contemporary scene • A survey of New York’s food scene, from historic venues to Michelin three-star establishments • New York’s excellent small museums

Overview Join us for a fortnight in the world’s most dynamic cultural city, attending the very best in opera, symphony concerts and drama while visiting some of the world’s top art and history museums and dining in a selection of the city’s best restaurants. Accommodation is in spacious premier-plus rooms at the Warwick Hotel on 54th Street in midtown Manhattan. The location is perfect for theatre and concert goers, being within walking distance of major performance venues, art galleries and some of the city’s architectural icons. Highlights Your tour leader Performances Dr Matthew Laing has a > Puccini’s Madama Butterfly at the PhD in US political science Metropolitan Opera from the ANU, specialising > Br oadway legend Michael Feinstein in leadership. He currently in Standard Time at Carnegie Hall works as a researcher > Renowned violinist Itzhak Perlman and at Monash University. pianist Martha Argerich in recital at Matthew has travelled Carnegie Hall extensively in the United States and has led several successful tours there for > The New York Philharmonic Orchestra Academy Travel. in concert > A new season Broadway musical, Getting There selected from the 2017-18 season Qantas and United Airlines fly regularly to > Two stage plays at Broadway theatres, the East Coast. Contact us for competitive selected from the 2017-18 season quotes and bookings. Fine Dining > Lunch at the Morgan Library dining room Fitness requirement > Lunch at the Michelin two-star restaurant The Modern, inside MoMA > Degustation dinner at the Michelin three- star restaurant Eleven Madison Park Guggenheim Museum Art, Architecture and History Neue Museum

> A private out-of-hours viewing of Lincoln Center Theater Frick Collection the Museum of Modern Art with a museum lecturer Carnegie Hall Warwick Hotel MoMA > Charming small galleries, including the Broadway Frick Collection and the Neue Museum

> A day exploring Brooklyn’s fine museums Morgan Library and architecture High Line > Architectural walking tours of midtown NEW YORK art deco, Brooklyn Heights and the 12 nights High Line

More details at academytravel.com.au 49 Washington, Philadelphia & NY Study tour

$6,600 pp, twin share April 19-30, 2018 $2,400 single supplement

Get to know • The history of early colonial settlements, the search for religious freedom, and the slave economy • The American Revolution and the founding fathers’ vision for modern democracy • Art and architecture in America: from extraordinary collections of European Old Masters to the birth of distinctly American styles and the cutting-edge contemporary scene • American politics, from the emergence of the United States as a global power to the changes and tensions that have created the Trump era

Overview Join us as we explore the dramatic story of modern America’s foundation, independence and evolution into a global superpower. Staying in three key historical cities, we visit sites ranging from George Washington’s plantation estate to the battlefield of Gettysburg and the modern architectural and artistic landmarks of New York. Daily background talks followed by site visits ensure an intellectually enriching journey that will appeal to those with an interest in history, society and the arts. Your tour leader Highlights Dr Matthew Laing has a > The great galleries, monuments and PhD in US political science museums of Washington DC from the ANU, specialising > George Washington’s slave plantation in leadership. He is currently at Mount Vernon, south of the capital a researcher at Monash > Gettysburg – site of one of the decisive University, gives public battles of the tragic Civil War lectures on US history and > Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell, politics, and has travelled extensively in the where America’s founding fathers United States. He has led several successful made history tours to the US for Academy Travel. > The Philadelphia Museum of Art and Getting There the Barnes Collection, two of America’s finest galleries Qantas and United Airlines fly regularly to > Architectural and historical walking tours the East Coast. Contact us for competitive of downtown and midtown Manhattan quotes and bookings. > Private viewing of the Museum of Fitness requirement Modern Art in New York

Itinerary Study Tours Days 1–4: In Washington we explore the Academy Travel study tours are designed to monuments that symbolise the ideals on which provide in-depth intellectual stimulation for New York (5) the US was built, visit Washington’s Mount the independent traveller. The tours feature: Vernon plantation and enjoy the stunning USA • Daily background lectures galleries and museums of the capital. • Morning guided site visits Days 5–7: Travel to Philadelphia, with an extended Philadelphia (2) stop in Gettysburg, visit Amish communities • Several afternoons for individual in eastern Pennsylvania and follow the story of exploration or optional visits with the America’s independence in Philadelphia. tour leader Days 8–12: Travel to New York, where the focus • Longer walking tours of historical switches to the vibrant 20th century, Modernism cities, and use of public transport for short journeys Washington (4) and the emergence of the US as a superpower. • Self-contained accommodation where possible, allowing you to live like a local

50 Maximum 20 in a group Frank Lloyd Wright Chicago to Fallingwater

$8,970 pp, twin share $1,640 single supplement May 5-16, 2018

Admire • American modern architecture in the 20th century, from Louis Sullivan and the “Chicago School” to Frank Lloyd Wright and beyond • W right’s transformation of the American home, using inspiration from the prairie landscape of the American Midwest and a Japanese-influenced aesthetic • Extraordinary interiors at Fallingwater, Robie House, the Johnson Wax Administration Building, Darwin Martin House, Farnsworth House, and Taliesin • The amazing art collection of Chicago’s Art Institute

Overview Follow the Frank Lloyd Wright trail from his early beginnings in Chicago and his prairie style homes, to his tragic yet inspirational home in Spring Green, Wisconsin, and the city of Buffalo with the Darwin Martin complex. Enjoy the natural beauty of Niagara Falls and discover Wright’s most famous work, Fallingwater, outside Pittsburgh. The tour features private guided visits to homes and major galleries and enjoys the wealth of art, culture and history in America. Highlights Your tour leader > A private interior visit to Fallingwater, Dr Matthew Laing has a Wright’s most famous work PhD in US political science > Private interior visits to Farnsworth House, from the ANU, specialising Taliesin, the Johnson Wax Administration in leadership. He currently Building, Darwin Martin House, Graycliff works as a researcher at and Kentuck Knob Monash University. Matthew has travelled extensively > A cocktail reception in Robie House, the in the United States and has led several finest example of Wright’s prairie style successful tours there for Academy Travel. > Docen t-led tour of the Art Institute of Chicago and a theatre performance Getting there > In-depth tour of Taliesin estate – Wright’s We recommend either Qantas or United who home for 30 years and the scene of both have daily flights to Chicago and from tragedy and triumph Pittsburgh. Discounted fares are regularly offered, so please contact us for competitive quotes and bookings. Fitness requirement

Itinerary Days 1–4: In Chicago, enjoy sights including Millennium Park, the Art Institute of Chicago, Wright’s Home and Studio, Robie House and Canada Mies van der Rohe’s Farnsworth House. Day 5: Coach to Milwaukee to see Johnson Wax Administration Building, Research Tower, Wingspread, Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church. Buffalo (2) Days 6–7: Continue to Madison for a full estate Madison (2) Milwaukee (1) tour of Taliesin and to visit the first Usonian home, Jacobs House I. Chicago (4) Pittsburgh (2) Days 8–9: Fly to Buffalo to view the Darwin Martin House, Graycliff and to tour Niagara Falls. Days 10–12: Coach to Pittsburgh to see USA Fallingwater and Kentuck Knob.

More details at academytravel.com.au 51 Iran Ancient Persia & the Silk Road

October 7-25, 2017 $11,295 pp, twin share (April 2018 tour) April 27 – May 15, 2018 $1,920 single supplement (April 2018 tour)

Uncover • The rich diversity of landscapes, cultures and peoples which make up modern Iran • Memorable archaeological sites of the ancient Persian Empire • The stunning art and architecture of Iran’s Safavid and Qajar-era mosques and palaces in the legendary cities of Shiraz and Isfahan • The crosscurrents of Eastern and Western cultures at key Silk Road sites • The enchanting world of Persian gardens and Sufi poetry • A remarkably friendly, cultured and inquisitive population

Overview Our 19-day tour begins in Tehran, with an introduction to the fine arts and traditional culture of Iran. From here we travel to Zanjan and Ecbatana over the Zagros Mountains, and visit the Renaissance-era city of Isfahan. We view Iran’s remaining Zoroastrian shrines and intricate mosques in Yazd, then continue to Kerman and Shiraz, the city of poets. Here we see some of Iran’s most exceptional historical monuments, such as the magnificent relief carvings of Persepolis and Pasargadae, before returning to 21st-century Tehran. Your tour leader Highlights Christopher Bradley has > The Crown Jewels Museum and Golestan an Honours degree from Palace in Tehran Liverpool University, with > The imposing Mausoleum of Öljeitü a particular interest in and ancient Ecbatana the history and art of the > Safavid Palaces, Islamic mosques and Middle East. He regularly squares of Isfahan leads tours to Iran and > Zoroastrian and medieval sites in Yazd lectures to ADFAS, NADFAS, at universities, > Gardens, fortresses and royal tombs and for the Royal Geographical Society. around Shiraz Getting there > Achaemenid Persepolis and Cyrus the Great’s legacy at Pasargadae Emirates and Etihad offer daily flights from Australia to Tehran.

October tour – Limited places remaining Fitness requirement

Itinerary Zanjan (2) Days 1–3: Visit Tehran’s Qajar Palaces and museums. Tehran (4) Days 4–5: See the Mausoleum of Öljeitü and Hamadan (2) Takht-e Soleyman near Zanjan. Days 6–7: Drive to Hamadan and ancient Ecbatana. IRAN Days 8–10: Explore Safavid Palaces, Islamic mosques and architecture in Isfahan. Isfahan (3) Days 11–12: Delve into Zoroastrianism with Yazd’s fire temples and towers of silence. Yazd (2) Days 13–14: Investigate remnants of the Kerman (2) Sasanian Empire around Kerman. Days 15–17: Travel to Shiraz and visit Persepolis and Pasargadae. Shiraz (3) Days 18–19: Fly to Tehran and visit the carpet museum before departure.

52 www.academytravel.com.au Egypt from the Great PyramidS to Abu Simbel

$8,975 pp, twin share $1,325 single supplement January 18 – February 4, 2018

Discover • A land steeped in history dating back over four thousand years • The intriguing world of the pharaohs, mummies, funerary rituals and mysterious tombs • Stories from the daily life of ordinary people at rarely visited non-royal tombs and art sites • The importance of the life-giving waters of the mighty River Nile • Howard Carter’s legacy of amazing discoveries from Tutankhamun’s tomb, at the Egyptian Museum • The incredible feat of engineering at the Ramses II Temple at Abu Simbel

Overview Delve into Egypt’s incredible ancient history on this 18-day tour. Explore the land of the pharaohs, colossal statues, vast pyramids and magnificent temples, travelling the full length of the Nile Valley visiting the highlights of ancient Egypt, and some of the rarely-visited sites. We cover 3000 years of ancient Egyptian history, from the pyramids of Egypt’s Old Kingdom, through to the Roman temple of Philae, making a comprehensive exploration of the pyramids, rock-cut tombs, temples and towns of ancient Egypt along the way. Highlights Your tour leader > Old Kingdom sites and New Kingdom Lucia Gahlin is a UK-based tombs at Saqqara, including the Step Egyptologist and has a Pyramid of Djoser wealth of experience as > Giz a’s iconic Great Pyramid, the Sphinx an educator, archaeologist, and solar boat museum museum curator and > Middle Kingdom sites in Amarna, rarely author. She is an Honorary visited by tourists, with visits to active Research Associate at archaeological digs University College London’s Institute of > Lux or’s museums and the Valley of the Archaeology, and teaches Egyptology for Kings and Nobles, the Luxor Museum the University of Exeter. and Karnak Temple Getting there > Cruising the Nile from Luxor to Aswan, stopping at temples and sites along Emirates and Etihad offer daily flights from the journey Australia to Cairo. Contact us for competitive Connect this tour with Rome: Study quotes and bookings. Tour on page 15 > A day trip to the Ramses II Temple at Abu Simbel Fitness requirement

Itinerary Days 1–4: Arrive Cairo and explore the museums, pyramids and tombs at Saqqara and Giza. Days 5–7: Drive to Minya and see Middle Kingdom Cairo (5) tombs at Beni Hasan, Amarna and Abydos. Days 8–11: Travel to Luxor: visit the Valley of the El Minya (2) Kings and Queens, the Temple of Hatshepsut and Karnak. Days 12–14: Cruise the Nile, stopping at Luxor Abydos (1) Temple, Edfu and Kom Ombo. Luxor (4) 3 Days 15–16: Disembark in Aswan and visit Egypt Aswan (2) the Temple of Philae, Aswan Dam and Elephantine Island. Abu Simbel Days 17–18: Fly to Abu Simbel, then back to Cairo for departure.

More details at academytravel.com.au 53 Morocco

$7,870 pp, twin share March 26 – April 13, 2018 $1,445 single supplement

Explore • A remarkable country that has been the crucible for Islamic influence in the region for more than a millennium • Exceptional scenery, from the Atlantic coastline to the Atlas Mountains and the Sahara Desert • Beautiful, remote villages along the Todra Gorge and Dades River • Distinct cultural regions, including the Europeanised north and the Berber interior • A diverse inheritance, from Roman ruins, to medieval fortifications, Islamic kasbahs and cities

Overview This comprehensive tour brings you the diverse delights of Morocco, from stunning scenery to fabulous Islamic architecture, ancient cities and inviting locals. From cosmopolitan Casablanca, we travel along the Atlantic coast visiting Rabat, Roman Volubilis and bustling Fes, before crossing the Atlas Mountains to the kasbahs and oases of the northern Sahara. Returning to the Atlantic coast, we stay in Marrakesh, famous for its vibrant souks, foodstalls and palaces, and Essaouira, a medieval port still nestled inside its walls. Your tour leader Highlights Ben Churcher has a wide > The bustling and picturesque markets range of experience as an of Fes and Marrakesh educator, traveller, historian > Rabat on the river Bou Regreg, a most and archaeologist. He wonderfully located capital city holds an honours degree > The UNESCO World Heritage-listed Roman in Ancient History and ruins at Volubilis, overlooking rolling plains a Diploma of Education > The Atlas Mountains, home of the Berbers from the University of Sydney. and stands of Cedars of Lebanon Getting there > Majestic kasbahs and verdant oases on the fringe of the Sahara Desert Emirates and Etihad have daily flights > Peaceful Essaouira on the shores of to and from Casablanca. Contact us for the Atlantic competitive quotes and bookings. > The spectacular Todra and Dades gorges > Beautiful, secluded towns such as Connect this tour with Boumalne Dades, and Ouarzazate, the Essential Iran on page 55 Fitness requirement ‘Gate to the Desert’

Itinerary Days 1–4: Arrive in Casablanca and explore Morocco’s Atlantic coast, touring Casablanca and Rabat. Rabat (1) Days 5–7: Travel inland, staying at Meknes and Fes (3) Fes and visiting the Roman ruins of Volubilis. Casablanca (3) Meknes (1) Ifrane (1) Days 8–12: Cross over the Atlas Mountains and explore the western edge of the Sahara Desert, Morocco including the spectacular scenery of the Todra Marrakesh (3) Erfoud (2) Gorge. Boumalne Dades (1) Days 13–15: Travel to Marrakesh, tour the city Essaouira (2) and enjoy a free day in a city of souks. Ouarzazate (1) Days 16–19: Travel to Essaouira, exploring the city and its complex history, then return to Casablanca for our departure.

54 Carefully planned itineraries ESSENTIAL Iran

$11,185 pp, twin share $1,695 single supplement April 15 – May 2, 2018

Uncover • The rich diversity of landscapes, cultures and peoples which make up modern Iran • The abundant and spectacular remains, testament to Iran’s power and influence in the ancient world • The truly stunning art and architecture of Islamic Iran, seen at its finest in the legendary cities of Shiraz and Isfahan • The enchanting world of Persian gardens and Sufi poetry • A remarkably friendly, cultured and inquisitive population, eager to engage with the world outside Iran

Overview Over 18 days we travel through the marvellous spring-time mountain and desert landscapes of Persia and visit some of the most remarkable monuments in the ancient and Islamic worlds. We explore awe-inspiring Achaemenid palaces and royal tombs, mysterious Sasanian fire temples, enchanting mud-brick cities on the desert fringes, and fabled Persian cities with their enchanting gardens, caravanserais, bazaars and stunning cobalt-blue mosques. Perhaps more importantly, however, we encounter the unsurpassed friendliness and hospitality of the Iranian people, which leave most travellers longing to return. Highlights Your tour leader > T ehran’s array of museums and palaces, Dr John Tidmarsh is the including the Crown Jewels Museum former president of the > The imposing Mausoleum of Öljeitü University of Sydney’s and the Sasanian watch towers, palaces Near Eastern Archaeology and fire temples at Takht-e Soleyman Foundation and a former > The gardens of Shiraz, where Persia’s lecturer in the Department poets are celebrated of Archaeology. He has led > Great classical sites at Persepolis, numerous tours to Iran, Oman, Turkey, Syria Pasargadae and Firuzabad and Jordan. > The desert city of Yazd, with its evocative Getting there Zoroastrian towers of silence and medieval sites Emirates and Etihad offer daily flights from Australia to Tehran. Contact us for > The UNESCO World Heritage city of Connect this tour with competitive quotes and bookings. Morocco on page 54 Isfahan, centre of the ‘Renaissance’ Abbasid period Fitness requirement

Itinerary Days 1–3: Explore Tehran’s extraordinary palaces Zanjan (2) and museums. Tehran (4) Days 4–5: Drive to Zanjan and examine the Sasanian ruins of Takht-e Soleyman. Hamadan (2) Kashan Days 6–7: Continue to Hamadan and explore Ecbatana. IRAN

Days 8-11: Fly to Shiraz and investigate Isfahan (3) Persepolis and Firuzabad.

Days 12–13: Travel to Yazd, visiting Pasargadae Yazd (2) and the Zoroastrian fire temples. Days 14–16: Enjoy the Maidan, mosques, palaces and Armenian Quarter of Isfahan. Days 17–18: Return to Tehran via Natanz and Shiraz (4) Kashan before departure.

More details at academytravel.com.au 55 Upcoming tour program

July – December, 2018

Sneak peek! Our program for the second half of 2018 is now being finalised and includes an exciting range of new destinations, along with repeats of some of our more popular tours! Further information for each tour, including a detailed itinerary, will be released 9-12 months before departure dates. If you are interested in finding out more about a tour listed below, please contact us directly or register your interest on our website.

Italy Europe Music & Theatre Malta to Venice aboard the Paris: study tour English Summer Opera Festivals Sea Cloud II July 2018 July 2018 September 2018 Tour leader: Dr Michael Adcock Tour leader: Robert Gay Tour leader: Dr Kathleen Olive Gardens of Scotland Chicago to New York: Operas Sicily & the Aeolian Islands July 2018 & Orchestras September 2018 Tour leader: Michael Turner October 2018 Tour leader: Dr Estelle Lazer Tour leader: Robert Gay Switzerland to Rome: along the Florence & the Italian Renaissance Pilgrims’ Way Musical Christmas & New Year: October 2018 September 2018 Salzburg, Prague & Vienna Tour leader: Dr Nick Gordon Tour leader: Dr Nick Gordon December 2018 – January 2019 Tour leader: Robert Gay Puglia to Pompeii: Classical St Petersburg & Moscow Southern Italy September 2018 October 2018 Tour leader: Dr Matthew Dal Santo Tour leader: Dr Estelle Lazer Turkey: Classical, Byzantine Venice: City, Republic & Empire & Ottoman October 2018 September 2018 Tour leader: Dr Kathleen Olive Prague, Budapest & Vienna: the art & culture of the Habsburgs September 2018 Tour leader: Christopher Menz

Corsica & Sardinia: history & landscape October 2018

Grand Tour of Spain: Granada to Barcelona October 2018 Tour leader: Dr Jeni Ryde

Portugal October 2018 Tour leader: Dr Jeni Ryde

Northern Spain: Bilbao to Santiago October 2018

56 Expert tour leaders Asia Pacific The Americas Africa & the Broken Hill & Lake Mungo Modern Architecture: Los Angeles Middle East to Chicago September 2018 Ethiopia’s Classical Highlights Tour leader: Chris Carter October 2018 Tour leader: Stuart Barrie September 2018 Bendigo to the Yarra Valley: Tour leader: Chris Bradley Victoria’s great regional galleries Frank Lloyd Wright: Chicago Iran in depth October 2018 to Fallingwater Tour leader: Dr Nick Gordon October 2018 October 2018 Tour leader: Dr Matthew Laing Tour leader: Dr John Tidmarsh Japan unmasked: art, history & culture New York: music, theatre, art & food Essential Iran November 2018 November 2018 November 2018 Tour leader: Dr Kathleen Olive Tour leader: Dr Matthew Laing Tour leader: Dr John Tidmarsh

Tasmania: history, art & landscape November 2018

More details at academytravel.com.au/adfas 57

Fitness Requirements of our tours

It is important both for you and for your fellow travellers that you are fit enough to be able to enjoy all the activities on an Academy Travel tour. We have assigned a star grading to each tour to give you an indication of the level of physical fitness required for participation. There are three levels of grading. Please see below for the participation criteria of each grading. You will also find a star grading listed on each tour page in the brochure. Academy Travel’s tours tend to feature extended walking tours and site visits, which require greater fitness than coach touring. We ask you to consider carefully your ability to meet the physical demands of the tour. If you have any questions about these gradings, or you are concerned about your ability to meet the requirements of the trip, we urge you to contact us for further information and to consult your medical practitioner for an realistic assessment of your travel fitness.

Grade one Grade two Grade three Participation criteria Participation criteria Participation criteria for a Grade One tour for a Grade Two tour for a Grade Three tour Grade One tours are appropriate Grade Two tours are designed for Grade Three tours are our most for travellers in good health with people who lead active lives and physically demanding. To participate good mobility. You should be able to can comfortably participate in up on this tour, you should be able to participate comfortably in up to three to five hours of physical activity per comfortably undertake in up to seven hours of physical activity per day on day on most days, including walking hours of physical activity per day, over most days, including walking at an easy tours, challenging archaeological several days. Activities may include pace, sometimes on uneven terrain, sites, climbing stairs, embarking and travelling long distances, walking climbing stairs and standing in galleries. disembarking trains and/or boats, and a on difficult terrain, climbing stairs, more demanding tour schedule with one embarking and disembarking trains and/ You should be able to: night stops or several internal flights. or boats, exposure to high altitudes and • k eep up with the group at all times long days of touring. These tours may • w alk for 2-3 kilometres at a moderate You should be able to: include one night stops and early starts. to slow pace • k eep up with the group at all times You should be able to: • stand for a reasonable length of • w alk for 4-5 kilometres at a moderate time in galleries and museums pace with only short breaks • k eep up with the group at all times • neg otiate stairs and escalators • stand for a reasonable length of • w alk for 5-7 kilometres at a moderate pace with only short breaks • g et on and off a coach with steep time in galleries and museums stairs unassisted • t olerate uncomfortable climatic • stand for a reasonable length of time in galleries and museums • mo ve your luggage a short conditions such as cold, humidity distance if required and heat • t olerate varying climatic conditions • walk up and down slopes such as humidity and heat • neg otiate steps and slopes on • enjo y a reasonable level of physical archaeological sites, which are often and respiratory fitness uneven and unstable • t olerate a diet that can be A note for older travellers • g et on and off a large coach with significantly different from a typical If you are more than 80 years old, or steep stairs, train or boat unassisted, Australian diet, and where some have restricted mobility, you will find a possibly with luggage dietary requirements cannot be met number of our itineraries challenging. • mo ve your luggage a short distance • w alk up and down slopes On a Grade Two tour it is unlikely if required • neg otiate steps and slopes on that you will be able to undertake all archaeological sites or mountain activities and get the full value of the paths, which are often uneven tour. Grade Three tours are unsuitable and unstable for travellers more than 80 years old, • g et on and off a large coach with unless you are exceptionally fit. We steep steps, train or boat unassisted, kindly ask travellers more than 80 years possibly with luggage old to contact Academy Travel before • mo ve your luggage a short distance submitting a booking form, so that if required we can provide specific advice on the physical requirements of the tour in which you are interested.

58 Maximum 20 in a group The NEXT STEPs itineraries, bookings, airfares

We’ve tempted you with one of our tours, Meet our client so what happens next? services team Our consultants are here to look after all Detailed itineraries Welcome letter and updates matters relating to your travel. If you are For each tour, we publish a 10–12 Once we have received your booking interested in a tour or would like to book page itinerary providing day-by-day we will send you a letter confirming all your place, get in touch with one of our descriptions of the tour program details of your booking and any special consultants below on 02 9235 0023 or and other important information. requests. We will keep you updated on 1800 639 699 outside of Sydney. This is published 9–12 months before special tour-related events and other departure. Bookings are only accepted matters as they arise. Jemma York once the detailed itinerary is published. Groups travel manager Pre-departure Booking on a tour About a month before your tour begins [email protected] Each person booking on a tour must we’ll send you a comprehensive package complete and sign a booking form and with your travel documents, tour notes and send it to us together with a deposit practical information. If you prefer you can of $500. Booking forms are attached to arrange a meeting in our Sydney office to Frederick Steyn all detailed itineraries and can also be go through your documents in person with Groups travel manager downloaded from our website. your travel consultant. [email protected] Travel consultant Beyond the tour: Other services Each of our tours has a dedicated, Outstanding small-group journeys are just professional consultant who will one of the services Academy Travel offers. Kathy Wardrop manage all aspects of your booking We are a full-service travel agency and Groups travel manager from rooming and special requests to can also organise your international [email protected] airfares, travel insurance and additional flights, additional travel before or after accommodation. Your consultant is your tour, private airport transfers and your one-stop point of reference for travel insurance. all matters relating to your travel. We organise group airfares for tours to Lynsey Martin difficult-to-reach destinations such as Travel administrator Russia, Iran and Uzbekistan. [email protected] For travel to Europe and the US we offer competitive individual fares in economy, business or first class. Why begin your tour jet-lagged? We can arrange pre-tour accommodation so you can relax for a few extra nights in the first hotel before your tour begins.

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