Upcoming Trips
Check below for up-to-date descriptions and details. At any point, feel free to email Jim Booth with inquiries!
Patagonian Frontiers
February 10-27, 2012
We invite you to head South next winter to arguably some of the most scenic places on our planet! Enjoy the rare privilege of face-to-face encounters with two of the world’s last great frontiers: the majestic fjords and glaciers of Southern Patagonia; and the stunningly dramatic scenery of Torres del Paine.
This 18-day journey begins with three nights in Buenos Aires followed by a flight to Ushuaia, the world’s southernmost urban center. Set sail on a three-night cruise aboard the M/V Stella Australis, a 100-cabin expedition ship built specifically for sailing the Patagonian Channels. Cruise through the Strait of Magellan and the Beagle and Murray channels to Cape Horn, followed by a call at Magdalena Island, home to more than 120,000 Magellanic penguins. Disembark in Punta Arenas and spend three complete days immersed in the natural wonders of Torres del Paine, a 700-square-mile World Biosphere Reserve of jagged mountain peaks, ice-blue glaciers, turquoise lakes, rushing rivers, and thunderous waterfalls. Experience Chile’s Lake District, including Vicente Rosales National Park, Osorno Volcano and Petrohue Waterfalls. This Southern adventure concludes with sightseeing and a private winery tour in the lively Chilean capital of Santiago.
We have only 24 spots for this intimate trip, so you’ll want to deposit as soon as you decide to join us. You can deposit directly to our tour operator, Odysseys Unlimited, at 888-370-6765.
- Cost begins at $6199 per person, which includes air from Miami (contact Odysseys Unlimited for air from other cities) -- please call for cabin availability
- Deposit: $500 per person (make checks payable to Odysseys Unlimited and send to Jim Booth, WU, 900 State St., Salem, OR 97301, or call direct with credit card)
- Final payment due: November 7, 2011
- Activity level: light to moderate
- Group size: 24
- Trip host: Jim Booth ‘64
Willamette Goes to Greece 
Join Willamette University College of Law Dean Emeritus Symeon Symeonides and our new Dean Peter V. Letsou for a luxury cruise to Greece next May 16-26, 2012!
We can think of no better tour guide than Symeon to lead this adventure, which will include 10 days at sea, leaving from Venice, Italy and traveling through to Croatia, Montenegro, the Greek Isles and on to mainland Greece. We have reserved space on the beautiful new ship “Riviera” through Oceania Cruises. Oceania offers high-end dining, amenities and shore excursions for a great price. Each night, Symeon will meet with our group to provide an overview of the geography, history, politics, religion and daily life of the location which we will visit the following day - this was the highlight of the 2009 cruise. A limited number of CLE credits will also be available. Please see www.azumano.com/groups/willamette for further details, or contact Cathy McCann Gaskin JD'02, Associate Director of Alumni Relations, at 800.930.ALUM (2586) or cmccann@willamette.edu.
Shakespeare in Ashland
June 14-17, 2012
Join Willamette’s annual “Alumni & Friends” trip to the Oregon Shakespeare Festival to see world-class theatre in Ashland, one of Oregon’s great cultural landmarks. In addition to the Shakespearean festival, now beginning its 77th season, Ashland boasts a variety of fine restaurants, galleries, antique stores, hotels, recreational opportunities, and more.
Exceptionally comfortable accommodations will be provided at the Plaza Inn & Suites, located within easy walking distance of Lithia Park and OSF’s three theatres. The tour includes lunch and dinner on the first day, breakfast at the historic Wolf Creek Inn on the way back, and one delicious stop for ice cream at Rice Hill (the highlight of the trip, for some).
The 2012 tour includes three remarkable Shakespearean plays: the tragic prototype of adolescent love and loss, Romeo and Juliet, directed by OSF veteran Laird Williamson and set in California of the 1840s; the conclusion to the Henriad tetralogy, Henry V, in which Prince Hal (played for the third time by John Tufts) assumes the mantle of power and leads his country into war; and an ancient tale of doomed love set in the midst of violent conflict, Troilus and Cressida.
The season also includes a new translation of Chekhov’s early tragedy, Seagull, adapted and directed by Artistic Director Emerita Libby Appel, and The White Snake, a world première, which recounts an ancient Chinese folk tale, directed by the Tony Award winner for best direction, Mary Zimmerman. Three days of remarkable theatre wouldn’t be complete without one manic farce, Animal Crackers, a cinematic romp made famous by the Marx Brothers and brought to life by the inspired zaniness of OSF’s most talented (and hilarious) actors. Pre- and post-play discussions will again be led by Dr. Patricia Alley, ’73, and will conclude at the Plaza Inn & Suites with an informal—and festive—review after the last performance.
Please join us for what promises to be another memorable excursion to southern Oregon in search of great American theatre, when, as the saying goes, we’ll happily see “six plays in three days.”
- Cost: $1095 double, $1425 single
- Deposit: $100
- Final payment due: May 1, 2012
- Group size: 25
- Trip host: Patricia Alley '73
Angkor Wat & the Mekong: A River Cruise in the Heart of Indochina
October 30-November 15, 2012 
We are very pleased to announce our first trip to SE Asia! We picked this trip for its itinerary, the time of year, and its fantastic value.
The past mingles with the present along the Mekong, the great river that flows through the ancient kingdom of Thailand and the former French colonies of Cambodia and Vietnam. For almost half of this trip, the Mekong will be our highway of discovery. Join us aboard the RV Saigon Pandaw, a river vessel modeled on the colonial steamers that once plied these waters, as we cruise from the deep jungles and golden-roofed temples of Cambodia to Vietnam’s bustling Mekong Delta. Exclusively chartered by our tour operator, the RV Saigon Pandaw’s shallow draft enables it to put ashore almost anywhere, so we can call at tiny villages, browse local markets, and visit hidden temples. We’ll also stay in Bangkok, one of the most dynamic cities of the ‘new Asia,’ and spend three nights at Angkor Wat, absorbing the wonders of this great Buddhist temple complex that rivals the pyramids in mystery and grandeur. We will conclude our tour in bustling Ho Chi Minh City, formerly the French Colonial city of Saigon. Pre and post trips are available.
This trip will include 27 sightseeing tours and cultural connections, 37 meals and roundtrip international airfare from the West Coast. We are limited on space, so please deposit early to save your place(s).
- Cost begins at $5,199 including air from selected West Coast cities
- Deposit: $500 per person (can pay by check or credit card directly to Vantage Deluxe Travel)
- Final payment due: July 30, 2012
- Activity level: Light to moderate
- Group size: 24
- Trip host: Jim Booth ‘64