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
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 cliff-side village of Taormina, this specially-curated itinerary explores the region’s most storied villages, resplendent shores, and prized remnants of bygone civilizations.
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.
Join alumni and friends from October 14 - 23, 2025 for a 10-day, transcontinental voyage featuring breathtaking Portugal, Spain’s captivating Andalusia region, the fabled British territory of Gibraltar, and legendary Morocco. Retrace ancient trade routes at the crossroads of Africa and Europe on an itinerary that includes a 7-night cruise on the deluxe World Navigator and one night in UNESCO‑designated Rabat, Morocco.
Experience the soul-stirring natural beauty of Iceland, learn about its storied history and see its countless wonders — including the magical shape‑shifting aura of the elusive Northern Lights. Travel with alumni and friends from November 1 – 9, 2025 on a nine-day, eight‑night adventure.
Travel from the historic plazas of Madrid to the riverside splendor of medieval Porto with alumni and friends from November 6 – 15, 2025. Spend 7 nights aboard the deluxe AmaVida, cruising the Douro River, as it carves through northern Portugal, creating beautiful landscapes of sloping vineyards, farms and villages.
Please join alumni and friends from December 1 – 9, 2025, for a joyous winter sojourn along the Danube River. Cruise from Vienna to Nuremberg for an unforgettable seven-night adventure aboard the Viva Enjoy. Throughout your journey, delight in the timeless, cherished traditions of the Advent season at centuries-old markets in Vienna, Passau, Regensburg and Nuremberg. In the port of Linz, choose between two fascinating excursions, the Salzburg Tour or the “Silent Night” Tour, that wonderfully combine history, culture and music!
Travel with alumni and friends from December 5 – 19, 2025, on a special 15-day small group tour of Egypt. Led by an expert Egyptian guide, witness thousands of years of history on a unique, exciting itinerary.
With its vast, mystical beauty and cerulean icebergs, Antarctica has long captured imaginations and lured adventurers. Join alumni and friends on a 14-day odyssey from January 11 to 24, 2026. Begin in Buenos Aires and continue into the unique landscapes and surreal, fantastical wilds of the South Shetland Islands and Antarctic Peninsula, destinations that will fill you with wonder.
Join alumni and friends on a thrilling wintertime expedition to Yellowstone National Park from January 17 to 23, 2026. Witness packs of wolves in their pristine natural habitat as you travel in comfort aboard specially equipped vehicles, allowing for safe proximity to incredible wildlife. With expert naturalists as your guides, view wolves, bison, elk, an array of bird species, and other magnificent creatures that call the park home.
Travel with alumni and friends from January 28 to February 7, 2026, and immerse yourself in the age-old history of Eastern India. Visit grand temples and humble weavers’ cottages; learn about iconic faiths and watch local artisans; stroll through tiny villages, and take in the vast expanse of the fabled Ganges River.
Plan your winter escape now to travel with alumni and friends from February 1 to 9, 2026, aboard a deluxe three-masted yacht. Sail from St. Maarten to Curaçao, stopping at six unique islands — St. Barthelemy, Dominica, Bequia, St. Lucia, Grenada and Bonaire on this windjammer sailing cruise.
Discover the wonders of Cambodia and Vietnam from March 2 to 16, 2026 on this fourteen-night adventure with alumni and friends. Cruise the Mekong River from Siem Reap to Ho Chi Minh City, experiencing breathtaking ancient Angkor Wat, the beguiling cities of Phnom Penh and Ho Chi Minh City, and the storied Mekong River itself.
Discover French Polynesia’s unique history and ancient traditions on this unparalleled voyage through the colorful landscapes of the storied South Pacific from March 3 to 13, 2026. This ten‑night land and sea journey reveals the spectacular coastlines, vibrant coral reefs, lush interiors, and cultural mystique of Tahiti and the Society Islands of Moorea, Taha’a, Ra’iatea, Bora Bora, and Huahine.
Experience the allure of the legendary Cote d’Azur under the billowing white sails of the Wind Spirit. Travel with alumni and friends from April 21 to 30, 2026, and cruise aboard a deluxe, motorized sailing yacht with ocean views from every suite and stateroom. Immerse yourself in the best of the French and Italian Rivieras as you sail from Barcelona to the coast of Marseille, and to iconic destinations including Nice, Monaco, Portofino and the Cinque Terre.
Set sail with Alumni and friends from April 27 to May 9, 2026, on an intercontinental sea adventure aboard Exploris One. Cruise from the Canary Islands, an archipelago off the African Coast, to Morocco and the southern Iberian Peninsula. Traverse historic routes among the volcanic island landscapes of Gran Canaria, Tenerife, and Lanzarote. Explore Morocco’s imperial cities and Spain’s medieval palaces, ending with Portugal’s Age of Discovery landmarks.
Travel with the Columbia Alumni Association (CAA) from May 17 through 31, 2026, 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.
A total solar eclipse is a rare and spectacular astronomical event, occurring when the sun, moon, and Earth perfectly align and bathe the surroundings in ethereal twilight. You’re invited to join this one-of-a-kind, nine-night adventure. Travel from August 6 to 15, 2026, and experience this extraordinary phenomenon at sea while cruising roundtrip between Reykjavík, Iceland, and Greenland!