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Travel Program

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Vassar Travel Program

Vassar Travel Programs turn the world into your classroom, offering unforgettable adventures led by Vassar’s expert faculty. These thoughtfully curated trips blend exploration with intellectual discovery—from ancient cities to natural wonders, each destination comes to life through the Vassar lens. Along the way, alums can reconnect with old friends, forge new friendships, learn from distinguished scholars, and, on special trips, share the experience with current students.

Check out the exciting itineraries for our upcoming trips.

Photo: Marc Mariani of The Grand Tour

Palais Garnier in Paris, a lavish hall adorned with gold trim, ornate chandeliers, and ceiling frescoes, with symmetrical columns and mirrors lining the sides beneath a vaulted painted ceiling.

La Paris Musicale!: Music and Art in the City of Lights

October 13–21, 2025

Spend a truly magical week in Paris this fall, enjoying music, art, and (bien sûr!) excellent food and wine with fellow Vassar alums. Led by Kathryn Libin, Mary Conover Mellon Professor of Music, this experience includes:

  • Private concerts at distinguished venues
  • Immersive exploration of Paris’s rich history and culture through specially curated walking and private guided tours of the Musée d’Orsay and other museums
  • A visit to the grand Domaine de Chantilly, home to the finest private collection of paintings outside the Louvre

Tour cost: $7,980 per person, double occupancy (additional single room supplement $1,350). International airfare not included.

View the full Paris itinerary and reserve your place.
Frida Kahlo House in Mexico City, a vibrant cobalt blue exterior wall with green-paned windows framed in red, surrounded by lush potted plants and shaded by trees in a courtyard with red tile flooring.

Mexico Today: Colors, Culture, and Cuisine

January 12–21, 2026

Escape winter and join faculty hosts Colleen Ballerino Cohen, Professor of Anthropology and Women, Feminist, and Queer Studies, and Chair of Anthropology and Leslie Offutt, Associate Professor Emerita of History, on a culinary and cultural adventure to Mexico. Travelers will explore three awe-inspiring cities—Mexico City, Puebla, and Oaxaca—immersing themselves in rich culture, enjoying amazing food experiences, and discovering the region’s artistic treasures. Highlights of the trip include:

  • Visiting a chocolate mill and a mezcal distillery, and participating in a cooking class and farewell dinner with a renowned chef
  • Exploring the artistic legacies of Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo, attending a performance of the Ballet Folklórico, and taking part in a food tour of the San Juan Market in Mexico City
  • Sampling rich moles, seeing the finest Indian Baroque churches, and touring a talavera tile factory in Puebla
  • Meeting renowned craftspeople in their village workshops and exploring remarkable archaeological sites in Oaxaca

Tour cost: $6,995 per person, double occupancy (additional single supplement $1,295). International airfare not included.

View the full Mexico itinerary and reserve your place.
Chora in Andros, Greece, a coastal village of whitewashed buildings with terracotta roofs perched on rocky cliffs above crystal-clear blue water, backed by rolling hills under a bright sky.

Impressions of Life: An Island-Hopping Greek Adventure

June 13–24, 2026

Visit the ancient sites and picturesque villages of four of Greece’s most beautiful islands—Andros, Naxos, Santorini, and Crete. Along the way, savor distinctive regional cuisine and discover the remarkable history of the islands. This unique journey is hosted by Michele Tugade, Professor of Psychological Science on the William R. Kenan, Jr. Chair, whose inspiring research explores how wellness and lifestyle contribute to happiness and longevity. Explore these stunning islands in-depth and experience Greece in a rewarding way.

An optional pre-trip stay in Athens is offered from June 11–14, 2026.

Tour cost: $6,590 per person, double occupancy (additional single supplement: $1,590). International airfare not included.

Full itinerary coming soon!

Read about recent Vassar Travel Programs

Venice Biennale adventure with Bart Thurber, Mary-Kay Lambino, and four current students!

Bob Brigham and Monica Church lead an alum spring break trip to Vietnam.

Travel Insurance

The Vassar Travel Program offers quality travel insurance through Meyer and Associates.

Upon receipt of your tour registration, Vassar will send insurance information to you directly. Please note that the purchase of insurance is time sensitive to the date that your trip deposit payment is received. Insurance information will be sent to you both by email and postal mail.

Of course, the choice of whether to purchase insurance is yours, but the Vassar Travel Program wants to make sure each Vassar traveler is offered quality insurance. We believe it is very important to protect your travel investment. Meyer and Associates offers a wide range of insurance options. We strongly urge travelers to purchase the package that offers trip cancellation coverage at the minimum.

For detailed information and to purchase travel insurance, contact Meyer and Associates or call (800) 635-7801.

We’d like to hear from you!

Questions about the Travel Program? Please feel free to contact Kristy Grimes, Director of Advancement Events and Programs, at kgrimes@vassar.edu.

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