Road Scholar

Highlights

• Discover Rocky Mountain National Park’s pristine and less-traveled southern portion known as Wild Basin
• Hike the headwaters of the Big Thompson River to Cub Lake and the amazing alpine glacial valleys Glacier Gorge and Loch Val
• Explore areas where elk, coyotes, deer, snowshoe hares and many other mammals inhabit year round

Highlights

• Enjoy the Christmas markets in the Old Town and Wenceslas Squares, where musicians perform and mulled wine, chestnuts, potato pancakes and sausages are among the delicacies you’ll find
• Marvel at Prague’s historic sites on expert-led walks that bring you over the Charles Bridge, into picturesque Lesser Town and through the Jewish quarter
• Greet the New Year in a traditional Bohemian restaurant with a discussion of Czech folklore, food, music, dancing and laughter

Highlights

• Observe the pristine natural beauty with an option of an intense hike or a gentle walk
• Along the trail, naturalists and historians interpret the history and scenery of Vermont and Québec
• Discuss Québec unique history, politics and culture while sampling the region’s great wines and cheeses

Highlights

• With a local naturalist, visit Bale Mountains National Park, home to more endemic species than any terrestrial habitat in the world
• Learn about the rock-hewn churches in Lalibela, which some Ethiopians believe were built by angels
• Marvel at the scenic Simien Mountains, a UNESCO World Heritage Site

Highlights

• Join a local environmental educator for an introduction to the flora, fauna and history of the Laurel Highlands
• Ride through Ohiopyle State Park, the historic coal patch town of Whitsett and the 3,294’ long Big Savage Tunnel
• In Pittsburgh, ride the Duquesne incline to the top of Mount Washington for a spectacular view of one of the country’s most beautiful skylines

Highlights

• Hike the famed Inca Trail from Pisacucho to Machu Picchu
• Experience the “Lost City of the Incas” through an on-site lecture or an optional hike to the summit of Wayna Picchu
• Learn about the remarkable Incan agriculture system in the Sacred Valley

Highlights

• Raft down a section of the Yampa River experiencing white water and beautiful scenery along the way
• Enjoy beautiful mountain views and Aspen forests during a horseback ride
• Learn about hot-air balloons, build your own prototype, then soar above the Yampa Valley in the basket of the Wild West Hot Air Balloon

Highlights

• Learn about the incredible wildlife of the Galápagos Islands with the most knowledgeable, experienced naturalists
• Use high-tech onboard tools like video microscopes, hydrophones and splash cams to discover the marine environment around you
• Marvel at the mysterious beauty of Machu Picchu, the iconic mountain sanctuary left behind by the great Inca Empire