About Us

Program | Tour Operators

Why travel with Cal Discoveries?

We know that you have a multitude of choices when traveling. Here are a few details to determine if Cal Discoveries would be a good fit for you.

  • Customer service - The people at the Cal travel office have over 35 years of experience in the travel industry. You will be treated with respect, have your questions answered, and enjoy an amazing travel experience from start to finish when you make your reservations on a Cal Discoveries trip.
  • Affinity - many of our travelers enjoy being with people who have UC Berkeley in common. Make new connections and rekindle old. Enjoy the enduring bond of other Cal friends throughout the trip.
  • Lifelong learning - An educational component is a significant part of our program. Often, faculty lecturers accompany our trips and we partner with tour operators who provide informative local lecturers to enhance your vacation. Travel in and of itself is a learning experience. Broaden your understanding of cultures, history, politics, and the natural world by traveling with Cal Discoveries.

A recent traveler on our Alaska trip had the following to say about his experience:
"The Alaska trip I took was enhanced by being in the company of educated individuals. I wanted to do some "touristy" stuff, of course, such as buying a few souvenirs, but the "educational/ scientific curiosity" aspect of the trip was well established and appreciated. On the tour bus or on the train, one could bet that one could engage any one of the fellow tour participants in a reasonably intelligent two-way conversation. For those two reasons, and many others, the Cal Alumni trip was a pleasure and the time flew by." -Richard W.

Goal

The goal of the Cal Discoveries Travel Program is to provide the University of California community with an exciting combination of discovery, learning and adventure in educationally oriented travel. All participants are expected to enjoy traveling as part of a group and to be tolerant of the occasional changes, delays or minor mishaps that are part of any kind of travel.

Program

The Cal Discoveries Travel Program is designed from proposals by specialized wholesale tour operators. Whenever appropriate, we add Cal-specific components; faculty lecturers, visits to research sites, contacts with other Cal Alumni groups, pre-departure briefings and special events, etc. All participants are expected to enjoy traveling as part of a group and to be tolerant of the occasional changes, delays or minor mishaps that are part of any kind of travel.

California Alumni Association is registered as a California Seller of Travel (registration number 2090031-50).

Tour Operators

Cal Discoveries is composed of tours submitted to the California Alumni Association by the finest specialized wholesale tour operators who are registered as California Sellers of Travel. California licensed Sellers of Travel who participate in the Cal Discoveries program are as follows:

Tour OperatorCST Registration Number
AHI Travel 2028271-40
Avalon Waterways 2017032-20
Betchart Expeditions Inc.2036304-40
Bushtracks Expeditions2022311-40
Classic Escapes2075326-40
Distant Horizons2074630-40
Gohagan & Company2031868-40
Golden Gate Tours2015420-40
High Country Passage2070901-40
Lindblad ExpeditionsPending
MIR2082306-40
Odysseys Unlimited2077973-40
OrbridgePending
Royal Adventures2009579-40
Siemer & Hand Travel1004239-10
Travel Dynamics International2043599-40
Worldview Tours2002060-10