Westminster Alumni Travel
Return to May Term
Westminster alumni and friends are invited to join a week-long travel program designed for adult learners who want to experience a condensed May Term Study Experience. Travelers will interact with community partners, discover local traditions, and engage with social change organizations.
Guided by Westminster faculty and IPSL Global Engagement community partners, each carefully curated itinerary offers an exciting mix of educational activities and fun excursions. Planned activities are focused on engaging you with the host community while remaining committed to socially responsible and sustainable travel practices.
Group size is limited to allow for a small and intimate global experience. The Alumni Travel Program is intended for adults and is open to Westminster graduates and their invited guests (family and friends) who are 18 years and older.
Upcoming Trips
Legends and Libations: An Alumni Journey Through Greece
May 24–June 1, 2025
$4,180
Taste the history, explore the culture, and immerse yourself in all that Greece has to offer.
Legends and Libations: An Alumni Journey Through Greece
Come taste the history, explore the culture, and immerse yourself in all that Greece has to offer on the inaugural Westminster University Alumni Travel Program.
This once-in-a-lifetime opportunity invites you to dive into experiential learning with food and archaeological tours, wine tasting, pasta and cheese classes, and treks to iconic sites like Mount Olympus. You’ll have the chance to learn alongside Honors College faculty Richard Badenhausen and Alicia Cunningham-Bryant in one of the most breathtakingly beautiful places in the Mediterranean. Join us as we take the engaging Westminster classroom on the road and learn together with locals about Greece old and new.
Tour Leaders
Richard Badenhausen, Ph.D
Dean, Honors College
Alicia Cunningham-Bryant, Ph.D
Associate Professor, Director of Fellowship Advising
Itinerary
Day 1: Saturday, May 24
Arrive in Thessaloniki where you’ll be greeted at the airport and transported to the hotel located near the seafront with nearby shopping, cafés, and bars. During the day, you’ll have free time to rest and begin to explore the neighborhood around the hotel before joining the group for the first official group dinner and program orientation.
Meals: Breakfast and lunch on your own, dinner provided
Day 2: Sunday, May 25
On the first full day, the group will visit the Gerovassiliou winery and museum. You’ll have a private tour and taste ancient Greek varietals. In the afternoon, we’ll take a guided walking tour of Thessaloniki with a local expert, have free time to wander and explore on your own, and then enjoy a city bay boat ride to view the coastline from the sea.
Meals: Breakfast included at the hotel, lunch and dinner on your own
Day 3: Monday, May 26
Continue your exploration of the Greek culinary scene with a guided food walk and tasting in the local market. You’ll try local varieties of olives, olive oils, cheese, pastries, and more. In the afternoon, you’ll enjoy a presentation and discussion on “Ancient and Modern Mediterranean Diets: Food in Archaeology and Through the Millenia.” Enjoy free time in the evening for shopping and selecting your own restaurant from one of Thessaloniki’s amazing dining options.
Meals: Breakfast at the hotel, lunch during the market tour, dinner on your own
Day 4: Tuesday, May 27
Explore Westminster’s community engagement partners in Thessaloniki, including visiting a local refugee center where staff will share how they support refugees in Greece and how Westminster students can participate in service-learning opportunities. In the afternoon, you’ll meet with local instructors to learn about the mediterranean diet and outdoor leadership opportunities. Dinner will allow you to continue your conversations with the instructors.
Meals: Breakfast at the hotel, lunch on your own, dinner provided
Day 5: Wednesday, May 28
Visit the historic mountain village settlement of Paleos Panteleimonas and participate in a Greek cooking class. You’ll get to view the traditional Macedonian architecture of northern Greece and on the way back to Thessaloniki, there will be a chance to swim in the turquoise waters of the Aegean Sea (weather permitting).
Meals: Breakfast at the hotel, lunch provided in the village, dinner on your own
Day 6: Thursday, May 29
No visit to northern Greece is complete without a day trip to Mount Olympus. You’ll have the opportunity to do some easy walking trails and learn about conservation and ecology through Ecogenia, the first NGO in Greece to promote sustainability through civic engagement, training, and employment. You’ll return to Thessaloniki in time for dinner on your own.
Meals: Breakfast at the hotel, lunch provided, dinner on your own
Day 7: Friday, May 30
Spend the morning exploring Thessaloniki on a guided archeological walking tour with a local expert. You’ll have the afternoon free for shopping, relaxing, or taking in last-minute sites.
Meals: Breakfast at the hotel, lunch and dinner on your own
Day 8: Saturday, May 31
Choose your own adventure for the last full day in Thessaloniki. Some potential activities include a day trip to Meteora, visiting the thermal baths, taking a bike tour around the city, strolling the waterfront, enjoying a cooking class or sailing cruise, or visiting museums such as the Museum of Byzantine Civilization or the Macedonian Museum of Contemporary Art. The group will gather one last time for a farewell dinner to celebrate and reflect on the week.
Meals: Breakfast at the hotel, lunch on your own, farewell dinner with the group
Day 9: Sunday, June 1
On departure day, airport transportation will be provided from the hotel to SKG airport.
Meals: Breakfast at the hotel, lunch and dinner on your own
*Itineraries are subject to change due to factors outside the control of Westminster University. Equivalent opportunities will be provided as substitution in the event of unforeseen circumstances.
Activity Level and Accessibility
Participants should expect to walk up to 5 miles per day, including stairs, and to experience prolonged periods of standing. All participants are responsible for transporting and handling their own luggage. Due to different standards of accessibility outside the United States, many sites visited are not handicap accessible. Please reach out to Westminster Alumni Relations with questions about fitness level expectations or accessibility.
Costs and Deadlines
The 2025 Greece travel program is limited to 16 participants, so reserve your spot today. A non-refundable $300 deposit is required by March 1, 2025 and will go toward the total trip cost of $4,180 per person (double occupancy) or $4,650 per person (single occupancy). The remainder of the balance is due by April 15, 2025.
Included:
- Airport transfers to/from Thessaloniki Airport (airport code SKG) on May 24 and June 1 and all local transportation
- 8 nights lodging in vibrant downtown Thessaloniki near its famous seafront, a few minutes walking distance from shopping, cafés, restaurants, and bars
- Breakfast at the hotel and some lunches and dinners (see daily itinerary for meal information)
- Planned excursions include:
- Winery and winery museum visit with a tasting of ancient Greek varietals
- Guided walking tour of Thessaloniki with harbor tour
- Guided local food tour through old markets
- Presentation of "Ancient and Modern Mediterranean Diets: Food in Archeology and through the Millenia" (topic subject to change)
- Visit to a refugee center to meet with collaborators and leaders
- Presentations by local experts, including an agronomist, an outdoor leadership instructor, and a mediterranean diet specialist
- Day trip to Paleos Panteleimonas, including a cooking class, meal, and swimming (weather permitting)
- Olive oil tasting and sensory analysis
- Day trip to Mt. Olympus with visit to local ecological organization, light hiking, and swimming (weather permitting)
- Local Greek cheese and wine pairing
- Archeological walking and museum tour
- Comprehensive medical and emergency evacuation insurance
- Curated reading list
- Online orientation session before travel
Not Included:
- Airfare to and from Greece
- Meals that are not specifically noted in the itinerary
- Trip cancellation, delay, interruption, and lost luggage insurance
- Personal spending
Peru: Incan and Andean Wisdom
Oct. 11–18, 2025
$3,360
Explore Machu Picchu and other spectacular Incan sites with knowledgeable and experienced local guides.
Peru: Incan and Andean Wisdom
Explore Machu Picchu and other spectacular Incan sites with knowledgeable and experienced local guides. Converse with Quechua potato farmers, weavers, and community members from villages high in the Andes. Learn about ancient and contemporary wisdom of Andean peoples and how this way of understanding the world can help us all live better lives. Enjoy delicious Peruvian cuisine in a variety of restaurants and get to know locals and fellow travelers.
Tour Leaders
Peggy Cain, Ph.D
Professor
Itinerary
Day 1: Saturday, Oct. 11
Arrive in Cusco, Peru where you’ll be greeted at the airport and transported to a charming hotel in historic Cusco. During the day, you’ll have free time to rest and begin to explore the historic neighborhood around the hotel before joining the group for an optional dinner.
Meals: All meals on your own
Day 2: Sunday, Oct. 12
You’ll have a guided tour of 5 archeological sites in and near Cusco: Qoricancha, Sacsayhuamán, Qenqo, Puca Pucara, and Tambomachay, as well as the Cusco Cathedral. In the afternoon, you can rest or explore the historic city of Cusco. In the evening, a welcome dinner will be provided and, after dark, you’ll learn about Incan astronomy, weather prediction, and cosmovision at the Cusco Planetarium. Enjoy telescope viewing of planets (weather permitting).
Meals: Breakfast at the hotel, lunch on your own, dinner provided
Day 3: Monday, Oct. 13
After enjoying breakfast at the hotel, you’ll pack your bags and set out for the Sacred Valley. The first stop is Manos de la Comunidad, a B-corporation of weavers and artisans just outside of Cusco. You’ll be able to feed llamas and alpacas, observe weavers, learn about traditional dyes, and purchase items from the organization’s beautiful store. You’ll then head over to Sacred Valley for a guided tour of the Pisac archeological site and then go to a local community of Quechua farmers. You’ll have lunch with them and learn about their potato farming and community organizations. After dinner on your own, you’ll participate in a ceremony with a Quechua spiritual guide.
Meals: Breakfast at the hotel, lunch provided, dinner on your own
Day 4: Tuesday, Oct. 14
You’ll visit 2 rural, indigenous communities that have chosen different paths. One is the site of the new international airport where they have chosen to focus their community on tourism. The other has chosen to maintain traditional, indigenous agricultural practices and live according to their ancestral cosmovision. You’ll speak with members of both communities and learn about their differing choices. You’ll have a guided tour of the Moray archeological site, featuring huge circular terraces for agricultural experimentation, and the salt pools at Maras where local people channel salt-heavy spring water to harvest salt.
Meals: Breakfast at the hotel, lunch provided, dinner on your own
Day 5: Wednesday, Oct. 15
You’ll take a guided tour of the Inkarri Museum, which tells the history of many pre-Incan peoples. You’ll then visit the town of Ollantaytambo and take a guided tour of the archeological site that was built up the side of the mountain there. In the afternoon, you’ll ride the train to Aguas Calientes, the town below Machu Picchu. There will be free time to explore the town after our arrival.
Meals: Breakfast at the hotel, lunch provided, dinner on your own
Day 6: Thursday, Oct. 16
Thursday will be an early morning to head out for a guided tour of Machu Picchu, the famous archeological site located high atop a mountain and unknown by westerners until 1911. The spectacular site is surrounded by mountain ranges with glaciers and features incredible architecture and views. Following lunch and some time to walk around in Aguas Calientes (get your passport stamped for Machu Picchu), you’ll return to Cusco on the train, arriving in Cusco in the early evening. You’ll have time to explore Cusco in the evening.
Meals: Breakfast at the hotel, lunch provided, dinner on your own
Day 7: Friday, Oct. 17
You’ll have a guided tour of Casa Concha, a new museum which houses many artifacts collected by the U.S. archeologist Hiram Bingham, who explored Machu Picchu. The items have recently been returned to Peru from Yale University. You’ll have free time to explore the city, to shop, or to tour other sites on your own before you enjoy a traditional Peruvian show and farewell dinner.
Meals: Breakfast at the hotel, lunch on your own, dinner provided
Day 8: Saturday, Oct. 18
The final day is free time for you to explore Cusco. Our local guides will suggest activities for you such as the Bean to Bar chocolate workshop, a cooking class, or a visit to the local San Pedro market for last-minute shopping. Alternatively, you could enjoy another museum such as the Inka: PreColombino or the Popular or Contemporary Art museums. Airport transportation will be provided from the hotel in the afternoon to the Cusco airport for travel back to Lima and the U.S.
Meals: Breakfast at the hotel, lunch and dinner on your own
*Itineraries are subject to change due to factors outside the control of Westminster University. Equivalent opportunities will be provided as substitution in the event of unforeseen circumstances.
Activity Level and Accessibility
Cusco, Peru is located in the Andes Mountains at an elevation of 11,152 above sea level. Participants should be in good physical and cardiovascular health and not prone to altitude sickness. The itinerary will include walking up to 5 miles per day, including stairs, and prolonged periods of standing. All participants are responsible for transporting and handling their own luggage. Due to different standards of accessibility outside of the United States, most sites visited are not handicap accessible. Please reach out to Westminster Alumni Relations with questions about fitness level expectations or accessibility.
Costs and Deadlines
The 2025 Peru program is limited to 15 participants, so reserve your spot today. A non-refundable $300 deposit is required by July 1, 2025 and will go toward the total trip cost of $3,360 per person (double occupancy) or $3,640 (single occupancy). The remainder of the balance is due by Sept. 1, 2025.
Included:
- Airport transfers to/from Cusco Airport (airport code CUZ) on Oct. 11 and Oct. 18 and all local transportation
- Single or double hotel lodging in Cusco (4 nights), Sacred Valley (2 nights), and Aguas Calientes (1 night)
- Breakfast at the hotels, some lunches and dinners (see daily itinerary for meal information)
- Planned excursions include:
- Cusco city tour and visits to cathedral, Qoricancha, Sacsayhuamán, Qenqo, Pupa Pucara, and Tamomachay
- Cusco planetarium visit
- Ceremony with indigenous spiritual guide
- Manos de la Comunidad cooperative visit
- Visit to 2 different indigenous communities
- Visits to Morey Inca archeological site and Salineras de Maras
- Visit to Ollyantaytambo
- Guided tour of Machu Picchu
- Casa Concha Museum visit
- Comprehensive medical and emergency evacuation insurance
- Curated reading list
- Online orientation session before travel
Not Included:
- Airfare to and from Cusco, Peru
- Meals that are not specifically noted in itinerary
- Trip cancellation, delay, interruption, and lost luggage insurance
- Personal spending
"My recent trip to Thessaloniki, Greece with Westminster’s IPSL staff was life changing! All these activities helped us better understand the history, culture, and livelihoods of the Greek people. We simply wouldn’t have had this sort of access to the true Greek experience without the Westminster IPSL experts guiding us."
Julie Tille
Director, Center for Civic Engagement
Contact
Contact the Alumni Relations office with any questions.
-
Alumni Relations
Alumni Relations
Cancellation and Refund Policy
The Westminster Alumni Travel deposit is non-refundable.
Should a rare circumstance require Westminster University to cancel an alumni travel program before it begins, participants will be notified and offered a comparable program in which to participate, where possible. If for any reason a comparable program, as determined in the sole and absolute discretion of Westminster University cannot be offered, a full refund of any fees and the deposit will be issued to the participant.
Westminster University makes every effort to ensure that programs operate as described in the published material. Westminster University reserves the right to make changes, without prior notice, to the service, academic study, academic excursions, and/or housing offered to the participant.
All fees are due in full by the published final payment deadline. Westminster University makes financial investments at our program sites abroad for the benefit of participants. These financial commitments are non-refundable, even when a participant withdraws. Therefore, Westminster University is unable to issue a refund to any participant who withdraws within thirty days of the start of a program.
Each participant must sign the Contract of Participation. A participant who is in violation of that Contract, and who is dismissed as a result, will not receive a refund.