Imagine exploring the world with fellow Blue Jays. Each year, the Johns Hopkins Alumni Association offers the opportunity to travel to bucket-list locations accompanied by other alumni and Hopkins faculty and staff.
Whether tripgoers are visiting the Galapagos Islands to observe the flora and fauna that inspired naturalist Charles Darwin or enjoying wine and arancini in Sicily, each journey offers a memorable experience.
Marguerite Jones, senior director of Alumni Services, says alumni journeys give guests a once-in-a-lifetime educational experience guided by academics and local experts.
Small tour groups and customized itineraries give guests experiences not always available on commercial tours. Alumni have gotten up close and personal with the polar bears of Churchill in Manitoba, Canada, and witnessed the largest mammal migration on Earth in Tanzania.
"The companies we work with specialize in affinity group travel and educational travel, so they know our market and audience," Jones says. "Each trip is composed of approximately 25 people, and each itinerary offers a high-quality experience where guests can sample the area's authentic cuisine and experience the local culture."
This year's 29 trip offerings include staying in a glass-domed cabin in Finland to see the northern lights, exploring northern Spain via walking tour, and cruising down the Danube River. Jones says new locations are always being added.
"Our groups are tailored to the well-educated traveler," Jones says. "We sometimes share departures with other universities, so the trips are a mix of faculty, local hosts, and alumni, who often bring a spouse or family member."
Jones says guests often renew old friendships with people from Hopkins as well as form new connections.
"The feedback we receive from alumni who have taken a journey is generally very positive," she says. "Once they've returned from a trip, they often start to explore where to go next."
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