OLLI Travel

This adventure begins in Sante Fe for four nights of exploring the capital city. Attendees visit the Loretto Chapel, spend time marveling at the modernist works of Georgia O’Keeffe, and stroll along famous Canyon Road exploring the many galleries, artist studios and boutiques, while immersing themselves in the confluence of European American, Native American, and Mexican heritage.

The following two nights are in Taos, where local experts share stories of the sacred traditions of the Ancient Pueblo Peoples. Attendees visit the Kit Carson Home & Museum, and enjoy free time in Taos’ downtown historic district. The trip ends in Albuquerque with a ride on the Sandia Peak Tramway, a visit to the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center, and exploration of Old Town Albuquerque’s narrow streets and ancient adobe houses.

Attendees treat themselves to a week of wellness in Hverageroi, the hot spring capital of Southern Iceland and enjoy the NLFI, Integrated Health Center for a full week. This center won an award as the most innovative European Health Spa. This is a working rehabilitation and wellness center where Icelandic and European people come for wellness treatment. Attendees study the integrated model of health care used at the clinic for the past 50+ years. This same model is being integrated into care standards at the University of Vermont Medical Center and the University of Vermont College of Nursing and Health Science.

Classes in mindfulness, imagination therapy, nutrition, healthy sleep, balance/fall prevention, and the Icelandic health care system are available. Attendees exercise daily in the warm water with pool walking, aquatic exercise, swimming, and water yoga. Classes in yoga, balance training, and dance are available. Each person selects an individual treatment including a geothermal mud bath, a mineral bath, acupuncture or a massage.

Attendees learn about the region and culture from locals. Guides will lead trips to see the wonders of the region including the Golden Circle, the Þingvellir National Park, Gullfoss Falls, Stokur Geysir, Selfoss the Blue Lagoon, Fontana Hot Springs, and the Hekla Volcano.

This trip follows a gastronomic trail of tapas, innovative art, architectural wonders and centuries-old culture through Spain and Portugal. Attendees visit cosmopolitan metropolises, sleepy seaside villages, quaint towns set amid rolling green hills and atmospheric medieval citadels along the way. Art and food are integral. Attendees see the masterpieces of Picasso, Dali and Gaudi. They also experience the passion of flamenco, taste some of the best port in the world and are graced by the style and sophistication of Madrilenos and Lisboetas. This history- and culture-packed adventure flaunts the very best of Spain and Portugal.

The tour commences in Madrid, the Spanish capital since 1562 located in the heart of the Iberian Peninsula then moves to the southern Spanish Province of Andalusia for walking through the winding whitewashed Juderia (Jewish quarter). The journey continues to Granada, the land of a thousand castles which lies in the foothills of the snow-capped Sierra Nevada Mountains and contains one of the greatest relics of the Islamic occupation of Spain, the Alhambra, a sprawling hilltop fortress.

Next attendees visit Seville. Major landmarks include the ornate Alcázar castle complex, built during the Moorish Almohad dynasty, and the Gothic Cathedral, the site of Christopher Columbus’s tomb and a minaret turned bell tower, the Giralda. On departing Seville, there are stops in Jerez, Algarve, and the Alentejo region stopping off in the beautifully preserved medieval town of Evora, a World Heritage site and old Roman settlement. The tour concludes in Lisbon – Portugal’s hilly, coastal capital city.

From extraordinary paintings and sculptures to frescoes and architectural masterpieces, Tuscany is considered one of the greatest repositories of art in the world. Attendees discover fine art, traverse the extraordinary countryside and indulge in the delicacies of the region’s celebrated cuisine and fine wine.

The trip begins with visits to the charming walled town of Cortona, through the pink stone town of Assisi, hailed as the center of Umbrian spirituality, and Matelica where the first human settlements date back to the 1st millennium BCE. The tour continues to Arezzo, a city made for slow travel, famous for its goldsmithery, antiques and more, and believed to be one of the 12 most important Etruscan cities.

Attendees also experience Florence, the cradle of the Renaissance, and visit the world-famous Uffizi Museum and Accademia Gallery, home to Michelangelo’s David. They spend the day at an 11th century castle with a privately-guided tour of the estate, an explanation of their wine-making process, a pasta-making class, lunch, and wine tasting.

Next is Siena, where its spiritual and secular medieval monuments still sit in harmony filled with collections of Sienese art, and then a visit to the farm of the Grand Dukes of Tuscany, now a corner of paradise, for a tour around the property and its ancient and modern wine cellars.

This trip is centered in the lively neighborhood-based French Quarter Festival, when the Crescent City’s music scene is prolific! Attendees learn about jazz, brass bands, Mardi Gras Indians, Cajun, and Zydeco music, as well as the history and culture of this most unique of American cities.

The trip also includes some wonderful meals showcasing the great regional cuisine, an opportunity to participate in a service activity, and a boardwalk through the bayou where we’ll see wildlife (gators!). There is also time for exploration of the French Quarter, Garden District, and other neighborhoods.

This trip begins by bus from Vermont to Montreal, and then by the lovely Canada Rail train to Quebec City. Attendees explore the German-style Christmas Market, enjoy delicious cuisine, art, museums, and explorations of the architecture and history of Quebec. Members have time for walking and adventures on their own or in smaller groups.

Attendees travel by bus, train, and boat to Denali National Park, the charming town of Talkeetna, Anchorage, and Seward/Kenai Peninsula. There are lectures by experts on wildlife, culture, ecology, native peoples; visits to many interesting museums, botanical gardens, glaciers, National Parks, and preserves; exceptional scenery to photograph or just experience; and more.

Attendees take advantage of this special moment in history to explore a place that has remained isolated for decades. For those who want to experience Cuba before the inevitable changes that increased tourism and foreign involvement are bound to bring, there is simply no better time than NOW.

Attendees explore the true essence of Cuba as they delve into the daily lives of naturalists, historians, and artists while seeing this nation through the eyes of its people.

They journey through the history-infused, cobblestone streets of Old Havana and spend time in the Museum of the Revolution, the headquarters of the Cuban government for 40 years. In Havana, attendees visit the Fine Arts Museum of Cuba containing Cuban art collections from the colonial times up to contemporary generations. The trip also includes a visit to Ernest Hemingway’s home in Cuba where he wrote some of his most famous books, and time with musicians in the colonial city of Cienfuegos.

Attendees continue to Trinidad, a UNESCO world heritage city with amazing colonial architecture. Highlights include the Nicho Waterfall, a tour of a tobacco plantation for a taste of iconic Cuban culture, and a visit to the Che Guevara Museum and Mausoleum.

This trip is an opportunity to see Provence through the eyes of locals. Attendees stay in a French home in a small village in the Luberon, visit the local open air markets, a winery, a goat cheese farm, an 800 year old abbey. There’s opportunities to walk near Mont Ventoux, visit a pottery maker, a lavender field and an olive grove. Attendees can cook with locals or try out their favorite restaurants. This is a unique opportunity to get an insider’s view of one of the prettiest areas of France.

The trip is based in the Luberon Region in the beautiful perched village of Saignon. Daily optional French Instruction is available along with private tours of local attractions including museums, food, flower, and antique markets, lavender and olive farms, Roman ruins, small villages and larger cities such as Avignon and its famous Palais des Papes. And, of course, the food and wine: locally sourced and produced, and prepared and presented to showcase the culinary glories of Southern France.

Travel to the region of the world where civilization began. This trip is based in Western Turkey and includes visits to legendary palaces, exploration of the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia, and visits to spice bazaars and marketplaces with fresh and delicious food. Attendees also explore unique art and music, attend a special cooking class, and attend a lecture by a local faculty member. After spending 5 nights in Istanbul, the trip continues to the beautiful Aegean coast to the ancient healing center, the Temple of Hadrian, the ancient city of Ephesis and many other historic sites in the ancient seaside villages of this region. There is also a visit to the Greek Island of Samos, via ferry for a day.

Participants enjoy eight days experiencing a diverse and vibrant culture focusing on music, food, art, and historical treasures.

Guides take attendees off the tourist path to explore the extraordinary cultural treasures of Oaxaca. The trip is based in Oaxaca City, home to museums, nearby archeological sites, botanical gardens, and music of many genres from classical, to jazz, to traditional. Attendees experience formal concerts in venues like the beautiful Teatro Acala, and/or the contemporary Teatro Benito Juarez. Late at night, they listen to jazz at the Collectivo Centrale, and other hot spots where traditional brass and string bands perform. Other nightlife options include community dancing in the town square or Zócalo, outdoor  outdoor movies in Spanish and English, and just roaming this enchanting colonial city.