Continue your Columbia education through new intellectual, cultural, and geographical horizons with the CAA Travel Study Program, one of the many benefits offered to Columbia alumni. Join alumni and friends for epic adventures to destinations like Antarctica and the Galapagos. Take a small ship river or ocean cruise, or jump on one of our small group experiential programs exploring nature, local food, culture, and history.
- All trips are open to the entire Columbia Alumni community and their guests
- Trips are often shared with cosponsoring alumni associations
- All tours are led by professional travel directors and feature English speaking guides
Please scroll down for all of our announced trips. Please click here to request a brochure, or to join our subscriber list.
Questions? [email protected] or call 866-325-8664
Join alumni and friends from January 18 - 29, 2025, for an odyssey to the White Continent, where discovery and adventure converge, and polar wilderness awaits your exploration. Every moment of this specially curated itinerary immerses you in stark and surprising landscapes that define this breathtaking region. As you traverse Antarctica's icy expanse, witness the majestic beauty of untouched vistas—a true testament to the raw power of nature. This unforgettable journey offers up-close encounters with a diverse array of wildlife—from penguins waddling along the snow to fur seals lounging on ice floes—that call this pristine environment home.
Travel with the Columbia Alumni Association from February 1 - 11, 2025, on an eleven-day journey through Costa Rica. Set out on a relaxed, yet comprehensive exploration of the diverse natural history of this Central American country, and discover staggering biodiversity in four distinct regions, from the cloud forest to the rainforest, and the Central Valley to the Pacific Coast.
Just 90 miles from Florida yet seemingly worlds away, Cuba weaves a spell with its tropical beauty, faded grandeur, and irrepressible spirit. Travel with friends old and new from February 2 - 8, 2025 on a six-night, behind-the-scenes journey through Havana. Experience a country that has captured the global imagination—a nation frozen in time yet filled with infectious energy, exceptional hospitality, brilliant pastel hues, salsa rhythms, and groundbreaking art.
a few spots are open for a late addition to your winter travel plans
Travel with the Columbia Alumni Association (CAA) from February 13 - 27, 2025, on a special fifteen-day small group journey through Vietnam, a country that captivates travelers with its enduring traditions, breathtaking natural beauty, and warm hospitality.
Travel in the company of alumni and friends from February 21 - March 1, 2025 and witness one of the greatest feats of the modern age—the Panama Canal, a stunning example of engineering prowess. This nearly 50‑mile passage through the narrow Isthmus of Panama continues to astonish even the most veteran traveler. The nine-day, eight-night itinerary also showcases some of the pristine rainforests and islands of Costa Rica and Panama.
Travel with alumni and friends from February 28 to March 14, 2025* on an unforgettable journey through India’s interior. Explore the vibrant tapestry of India’s culture and history while exploring iconic landmarks and UNESCO World Heritage Sites, joining wildlife game drives and connecting with residents in local villages.
Not only did the Dutch wrest a portion of their land from the sea, but they succeeded in building upon it an enchanted realm carpeted by vibrantly hued flowers and traced with storied waterways unparalleled anywhere else in the world. Come celebrate the beauty of Holland and old-world Flanders in springtime and travel with alumni and friends from April 8 - 16, 2025, on this comprehensive itinerary.
Experience the excitement of sailing the Eastern Mediterranean aboard Emerald Azzurra from April 9 - 18, 2025. Cruise the striking blue waters from Cyprus to the Greek island of Rhodes and Turkey’s pristine Lycian Coast. These less-traveled yet spectacular destinations stand at the crossroads of Europe, Asia, and Africa. Led by expert guides, discover how these lands were shaped by ancient Greeks, Lycians, Romans, Crusaders, Byzantines, Jews, and Ottoman Turks.
Immerse yourself in the natural beauty and storied history of Japan and South Korea on a carefully crafted itinerary that reveals each country's cultural treasures and divine mystique. Travel with alumni and friends from April 13 - 25, 2025 on a journey with unparalleled access to the region’s vast architectural riches, bountiful landscapes, and venerable heritage.
Embark on a transcontinental journey with the Columbia Alumni Association (CAA) from April 25 - May 5, 2025. Featuring legendary Morocco, the fabled British territory of Gibraltar, Spain’s captivating Andalusia region, and Portugal's breathtaking Algarve coast, you’re invited to retrace ancient trade routes at the crossroads of Africa and Europe with alumni and friends.
Travel with the Columbia Alumni Association (CAA) from May 1 through 12, 2025, on a twelve-day journey to the island of Sicily. Experience Sicily’s diverse landscapes and cultural treasures, while staying in unique, centrally-located hotels.
Travel with alumni and friends from May 11 to 26, 2025 on a comprehensive 14-night itinerary exploring the best of the United Kingdom and Ireland. Immerse yourselves in incredible destinations—from lush landscapes in Tresco and Wales to the windswept archaeological sites of the Scottish isles; from the warm, gregarious city of Dublin to the breathtaking natural beauty of the Lake District.
Venture into a world where medieval charm meets modern sophistication, where every cobblestone street tells a story, and every vineyard whispers secrets of centuries past. Travel with alumni and friends to Dordogne from May 23 - 31, 2025, a captivating region in the heart of southwest France overflowing with history, architecture and enchanting beauty.
Join alumni and friends from May 31 to June 11, 2025, for an exceptional European journey. Bask in Switzerland’s sensational scenery over three nights in the Swiss Alps, then wend your way along the Rhine and Moselle Rivers for seven nights through France, Germany and the Netherlands.
Travel with the Columbia Alumni Association (CAA) from June 10 - 25, 2025, on a special sixteen-day small -group journey to Peru and Ecuador. Explore two of South America’s treasures: the enigmatic ruins at Machu Picchu and the fascinating Galapagos Islands.
Travel with alumni and friends from June 11 to 19, 2025 to remote Scottish and Danish Islands in the Northern Atlantic on this specially curated 9-day program. The fascinating history and cultures of these rugged destinations — along with their wild, windswept beauty—makes them the perfect destinations to explore during the white nights of summer.
Sicily, Malta, and the Amalfi Coast have possessed an almost mythical appeal since Homer and Virgil first extolled their virtues. From the awe-inspiring ancient ruins of Pompeii, a city frozen in time, to the ancient cliffside village of Taormina, this specially-curated itinerary explores the region’s most storied villages, resplendent shores, and prized remnants of bygone civilizations.
Travel with the Columbia Alumni Association from June 27 to July 5, 2025, and cruise for seven nights aboard the deluxe World Navigator.
Take an adventure with alumni and friends on a journey from July 18 - 26, 2025 and explore the American West’s magnificent National Parks, tracing legends and storied monuments along the way.
Join alumni and friends from July 20 - 30, 2025, for an extraordinary opportunity to explore the countries of Scandinavia and the Baltic Sea. Experience six countries over eleven days and nine nights, as you cruise aboard the five‑star World Navigator.
Travel with the Columbia Alumni Association from August 13 to 26, 2025, on a special fourteen-day small-group journey to South Africa, Zimbabwe, Botswana, and Zambia. Encounter some of the planet’s last unspoiled natural refuges in Southern Africa’s great wildlife sanctuaries
Explore one of Earth’s last frontiers on a once-in-a-lifetime educational voyage from August 30 - September 9, 2025. Join alumni and friends for an expert-guided Arctic expedition along Greenland’s western coast, where glaciers calve icebergs into pristine fjords and Indigenous communities preserve ancient ways of life.
Experience a nine-day French sojourn during fall harvest season. Have an adventure with alumni and friends from September 6 to 14, 2025 as you travel through Provence and the wine regions of Burgundy and Beaujolais.
Journey with alumni and friends into the wilds of Africa and explore the diverse sights of four countries during a private train expedition from September 10 - 24, 2025. Explore a tapestry of cultural wonders and enjoy thrilling wildlife encounters in legendary national parks.
Travel with alumni and friends from September 11 - 20, 2025 on an enriching, eight-night cruise that circumnavigates the Emerald Isle. Enjoy ports of call in Ireland and Northern Ireland. From windswept coastal beauty to authentic culture and irresistible cuisine, you’ll be captivated by the magic of Ireland!
Take a journey to the cradle of civilization from September 26 - October 4, 2025, and explore the treasures of ancient Greece and Turkey. Cruise round-trip from Athens for seven nights to the fabled islands and ports aboard the Wind Spirit.
Explore the Galapagos Islands with alumni and friends from October 11 - 18, 2025. This exciting journey features an intimate cruise through the archipelago with up-close access to endemic species, plus a day of guided tours in Quito, the capital city of Ecuador. Expert naturalists guide you through the wonders of this national park, whale sanctuary, and marine reserve.