Stanford Travel/Study

STANFORD TRAVEL/STUDY

Picos de Europa Hike June 22 to July 1, 2012

Come join us on Travel/Study’s new Picos de Europa Hike and tramp through the heart of a stunning landscape of mountain scenery and remote villages in this wild, unspoiled region of Asturias, Spain. Steep limestone peaks reign over grassy valleys, glacial lakes and plunging waterfalls. Our hiking trails lead us to several high mountain passes that reveal vistas of the Somiedo Valley below, dotted with ancient stone huts once used for summer cheese production and where cattle, sheep and horses still graze and the nearby forests teem with wildlife. Explore the capital of Asturias, Oviedo, renowned throughout Spain as a center of early Christianity. Enjoy simple, yet charming, lodgings, and feast on the hearty traditional country food every day.

FACULTY LEADER

Dr. Channing Robertson, PhD ’70, is the Bowes Professor of Chemical Engineering at Stanford. His award- winning work emphasizes fluid mechanics and transport phenomena. He has spent much of his career designing and developing advanced drug delivery systems for therapeutic applications. In 2001, he was selected by Upside magazine as one of the “100 People Who Have Changed the World.” A seasoned traveler, Dr. Robertson was the faculty leader for the famous Travel/Study ski trips in the mid-90s. On our program Professor Robertson, a true renaissance man, will lecture on a variety of topics — from regional geology and geography to Spanish food and wine.

Stanford Travel/Study • Frances C. Arrillaga Alumni Center • 326 Galvez Street • Stanford, CA 94305 (650) 725-1093 • [email protected] • alumnistanford.edu/goto/travelstudy

ITINERARY

Friday & Saturday, June 22 & 23 U.S. / ASTURIAS, SPAIN / SENA DE LUNA Depart the U.S. on overnight international flights, arriving in Asturias on June 23. Upon arrival, transfer by coach to Sena de Luna where we spend the first three nights of our trip. This evening, enjoy a special welcome reception before dinner. HOTEL DÍAS DE LUNA (D)

Sunday, June 24 SENA DE LUNA / BABIA Today’s walk leads us through the idyllic countryside of Babia, a remote corner of the province of León, to the village of Torre de Babia. Surrounded by rolling rock and primitive pastoral barriers, Torre de Babia offers a view into Spain’s rural past. This afternoon return to Sena De Luna by road. HOTEL DÍAS DE LUNA (B,L,D) Approx. Walk/Hike Times: morning, 3.5 hours; afternoon, 2.5 hours

Monday, June 25 SENA DE LUNA / LA CUETA Today’s long dramatic walk starts from the end of the previous day’s excursion. Climb high into the heart of the Cangas del Narcea range and enjoy spectacular views of undulating rock formations, and river valleys below. Cross into a remote valley and descending to the village of La Cueta. Return to Sena de Luna by road. HOTEL DÍAS DE LUNA (B,L,D) Approx. Walk/Hike Time: 7.5 hours

Tuesday, June 26 SENA DE LUNA / VALLE DEL LAGO / POLA DE SOMIEDO Return to the end of our previous day’s walk this morning and hike into the famous Valle del Lago (4,100 ft.) where a sublime viewpoint dominates the glacial lake. From here make a long descent to the quaint town of Pola de Somiedo where we spend the next three nights. Surrounded by a natural barrier of cragged rock formations, Pola de Somiedo has long been sought after by insurrecting armies, which has created a rich human history. The area is thought to have been first settled by a pre-Roman civilization and subsequently inhabited by nomadic herders. One can taste the cultural history in this town by its Leonese mountain cuisine. HOTEL TBA (B,L,D) Approx. Walk/Hike Times: 6.5 hours

Wednesday, June 27 POLA DE SOMIEDO / VALLEY OF THE SOMIEDO Drive to an ancient Roman mountain pass that traverses the mountain. From here, hike on a trail through high pasturelands, passing various glaciated lakes before arriving once again in the valley of the Somiedo. HOTEL TBA (B,L,D) Approx. Walk/Hike Time: 6.5 hours

Thursday, June 28 POLA DE SOMIEDO / REBEZU MOUNTAINS / SANTA MARIA DEL PUERTO Our hiking route today turns south and climbs into the Rebezu mountain range, then follows a long ridge before descending to the tiny hamlet of Santa María del Puerto. Return to Pola de Somiedo by road. HOTEL TBA (B,L,D) Approx. Walk/Hike Time: 6.5 hours

Stanford Travel/Study • Frances C. Arrillaga Alumni Center • 326 Galvez Street • Stanford, CA 94305 (650) 725-1093 • [email protected] • alumnistanford.edu/goto/travelstudy

Friday, June 29 POLA DE SOMIEDO / CORNÓN MOUNTAINS / VILAR DE VILDAS / OVIEDO Today’s path passes through some of the most dramatic scenery in all of Spain. Climb further to the Peña Blanca and the Cornón mountains to the west. From here descend steeply through several summer villages to the hamlet of Vilar de Vildas. In the afternoon we continue to the ancient city of Oviedo by road, our home for the next two nights. Enjoy the evening at leisure to explore the city. HOTEL RECONQUISTA (B,L) Approx. Walk/Hike Time: 6.5 hours

Saturday, June 30 OVIEDO Spend the day exploring the extraordinary city of Oviedo, renowned throughout Spain as a center of early Christianity. One of the most exciting discoveries is the pre-Romanesque architecture of a royal hunting lodge and churches of the 10th-century. This evening gather for a special farewell reception and recall your favorite memories from our journey with fellow travelers. HOTEL RECONQUISTA (B,D) Approx. Walk/Hike Time: city walking

Sunday, July 1 OVIEDO / ASTURIAS / U.S. Return to Asturias airport for flights home to the U.S. (B)

INFORMATION

DATES June 22 to July 1, 2012 (10 days)

SIZE This program is limited to 28 participants.

COST* $4,795 per person, double occupancy $5,695 per person, single occupancy *Association nonmembers add $200 per person.

WHAT TO EXPECT The terrain of the Somiedo region in Spain’s Picos de Europa consists of tall limestone mountains that are interspersed with grassy valleys and many small lakes and tarns. There are also areas of marginal farmland. This is excellent hiking country where the trails include farm tracks that wind across the valleys. The paths are sometimes rocky or have exposed roots and can be muddy or wet at times. The weather in this region should be warm, but may be overcast at times; with the possibility of rain. We consider this to be a strenuous, physically demanding program. Daily walks range from approximately eight to fifteen miles in length. These walking trails can be rugged and have altitude gains and/or losses of 1,200 to 3,500 feet. On most days hikers will be asked to carry their own water supplies and picnic lunches. You should plan to walk with a single group for the entire day. To participate fully in this walking tour, you need to be physically fit, agile and used to

Stanford Travel/Study • Frances C. Arrillaga Alumni Center • 326 Galvez Street • Stanford, CA 94305 (650) 725-1093 • [email protected] • alumnistanford.edu/goto/travelstudy exercise of this type repeated over several days. To get the most out of this Walk, you should be intellectually curious, ready to participate in an intense academic experience and comfortable traveling as part of a group. We welcome travelers 15 years of age and older on this program.

INCLUDED • 2 nights of deluxe hotel accommodations in Oviedo • 6 nights of simple hotel accommodations in Sena de Luna and Pola de Somiedo • 8 breakfasts, 6 lunches and 7 dinners • Welcome and farewell receptions • Bottled water on excursions • Wine with lunch and dinner • Gratuities to hotel staff, porters, guides and drivers for all group activities • All excursions as described in the itinerary • Transfers and baggage handling on program arrival and departure days for travelers arriving and departing at recommended times • Minimal medical, accident and evacuation insurance • Educational program with lecture series and pre-departure materials, including recommended reading list, a selected book, map and travel information • Services of our professional tour manager to assist you throughout the program

NOT INCLUDED • International and U.S. domestic airfare • Passport and visa fees • Immunization costs • Meals and beverages other than those specified as included • Independent and private transfers • Trip-cancellation/interruption and baggage insurance • Excess-baggage charges • Personal items such as email, telephone and fax calls, laundry and gratuities for nongroup services

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

DEPOSIT AND FINAL PAYMENT A $1,000 per-person deposit is required to hold your space. Complete and return the attached reservation form or sign up online at alumni.stanford.edu/trip?picos2012. Final payment is due 120 days prior to departure. CANCELLATIONS AND REFUNDS Deposits and any payments are fully refundable, less a $500-per-person cancellation fee, until 120 days prior to departure. After that date, refunds can be made only if the program is sold out and your place(s) can be resold, in which case a $1,000-per-person cancellation fee will apply.

INSURANCE Stanford Travel/Study provides all travelers who are U.S. or Canadian citizens with minimal medical, accident and evacuation coverage under our group-travel insurance policy. We strongly encourage that you subscribe to optional baggage and trip-cancellation insurance. A brochure

Stanford Travel/Study • Frances C. Arrillaga Alumni Center • 326 Galvez Street • Stanford, CA 94305 (650) 725-1093 • [email protected] • alumnistanford.edu/goto/travelstudy offering such insurance will be mailed with your confirmation. The product offered in this brochure includes a special Waiver of Pre-Existing Conditions and coverage for Financial Insolvency and Terrorist Acts if you postmark your insurance payment within 15 days of the date listed on the confirmation letter.

ELIGIBILITY We encourage membership in the Alumni Association; the program cost for nonmembers is $200 more than the members’ price. For more information or to purchase a membership, visit www.stanfordalumni.org/membership or call (650) 725-0692.

RESPONSIBILITY The Stanford Alumni Association, Stanford University and our operators act only as agents for the passenger with respect to transportation and exercise every care possible in doing so. However, we can assume no liability for injury, damage, loss, accident, delay or irregularity in connection with the service of any automobile, motorcoach, launch or any other conveyance used in carrying out this program or for the acts or defaults of any company or person engaged in conveying the passenger or in carrying out the arrangements of the program. We cannot accept any responsibility for losses or additional expenses due to delay or changes in air or other services, sickness, weather, strike, war, quarantine, force majeure or other causes beyond our control. All such losses or expenses will have to be borne by the passenger as tour rates provide arrangements only for the time stated. We reserve the right to make such alterations to this published itinerary as may be deemed necessary. The right is reserved to cancel any program prior to departure in which case the entire payment will be refunded without further obligation on our part. The right is also reserved to decline to accept or retain any person as a member of the program. No refund will be made for an unused portion of any tour unless arrangements are made in sufficient time to avoid penalties. Baggage is carried at the owner’s risk entirely. The airlines concerned are not to be held responsible for any act, omission or event during the time passengers are not onboard their plane or conveyance. Neither the Alumni Association, Stanford University nor our operators accept liability for any carrier’s cancellation penalty incurred by the purchase of a non-refundable ticket connected with the tour. Program price is based on rates in effect in June 2011 and is subject to change without notice to reflect fluctuations in exchange rates, tariffs or fuel charges. As a condition of participation, all confirmed participants are required to sign a Release of Liability.

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Mail completed form to Stanford Travel/Study, 326 Galvez Street, Stanford, CA 94305-6105 or fax to (650) 725-8675 or place your desposit online at alumni.stanford.edu/trip?picos2012. Please submit your payment only once to avoid mulitple charges to your account.

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