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A time-honored tradition since 1969, Cal Discoveries Travel creates memorable learning opportunities for thoughtful travelers.
Dive deep into a destination with the help of enrichment lecturers, who accompany many tours, and informative local lecturers from our tour operators.
Make new Cal connections, rekindle old ones, and delight in the enduring bond of your fellow Golden Bears throughout your trip.
Our 50+ years of experience in the travel industry means you can expect high-quality customer service from the minute you book with us until the day you return home.
Cal Discoveries Travel is committed to fostering travel experiences that are safe and inclusive for all participants.
We, along with our tour staff and partners, strive to create a friendly, welcoming environment built upon mutual respect and consideration. We ask all travelers to respect the personal boundaries of fellow travelers, lecturers, Cal Ambassadors, and tour staff throughout the journey. Inappropriate comments, unwelcome physical contact, or behavior that disregards another person’s comfort or personal space detracts from the experience and well-being of others.
We expect all participants to engage respectfully and to avoid language or conduct that could be hurtful, exclusionary, make others feel uncomfortable, or demean another person’s identity in any way. Please also be respectful in the use of names and pronouns.
Thanks for helping ensure that our programs remain safe, positive, enriching, and inclusive experiences for everyone. If you have any questions or concerns about this, please reach out to us, or, if your trip is already underway, to your Tour Director.
Join popular Cal professor Darren Zook on a sweeping journey through Mongolia, where ancient nomadic traditions, Buddhist heritage, dramatic desert landscapes, and modern national identity come together. From Ulaanbaatar’s monasteries and museums to the wild horse reserves of Hustain Nuruu and the vast, cinematic landscapes of the Gobi, this itinerary offers a rich blend of culture, history, wildlife, archaeology, and firsthand encounters with Mongolia’s enduring nomadic way of life.
Important note: Plan to arrive in Ulaanbaatar on July 18. Most flights from the U.S. cross the International Date Line and require a July 16 departure to arrive on July 18. If you find a faster itinerary that arrives in one calendar day, depart on July 17 instead.
SPECIAL GROUP SAVINGS: Save 5% on cabin fare when traveling with the California Alumni Association/Cal Discoveries Travel on this departure (conditions apply).
Experience the Galápagos aboard an elegant and nimble ship, well-equipped for up-close exploration. Encounter abundant wildlife—blue-footed boobies, marine iguanas, Darwin’s finches, pink flamingos, giant tortoises and more—all famously unafraid of human presence.
SPECIAL GROUP SAVINGS: Save 5% on cabin fare when traveling with the California Alumni Association/Cal Discoveries Travel on this departure (conditions apply).
Experience the wild grandeur of the White Continent on this new itinerary, bypass the traditional Drake Passage crossing on a two-hour flight to and from Antarctica, and discover all of the highlights without sacrificing the extra time. Travel with a diverse team of experts aboard our intimately scaled National Geographic Explorer, purpose-built for polar exploration. Venture into channels and coves framed by towering peaks. Watch for whales off the bow; Zodiac cruise around enormous icebergs; and hike, kayak, and even possibly cross-country ski or snow-shoe in complete tranquility. Choose an active agenda or surrender to the pleasures of relaxing downtime and shipboard camaraderie.
Witness one of the longest total solar eclipses of the 21st century from a prime location in Timgad, Algeria, a remarkably preserved UNESCO World Heritage Site known as the "Pompeii of North Africa." On August 2, 2027, the moon’s shadow will sweep across the sky here for nearly six minutes of totality, offering an extraordinary celestial spectacle under Algeria’s typically clear late-summer skies. Before and after this rare event, trace millennia of history at superbly preserved Roman and early Christian sites, wander atmospheric cities shaped by Arab, Berber, Ottoman, and French influences, and savor the flavors of North Africa in a country few travelers have truly explored.
NOTE: This itinerary is designed first and foremost as a journey of cultural immersion and destination-focused learning, with eclipse viewing included as a special highlight.
For centuries, London has entertained the world with its vibrant performing arts scene—follow these tips to immerse yourself in the London theater experience.
Travel the world without leaving the page. Our esteemed Tour Lecturers share their favorite travel reading selections with you.
Cal Discoveries Travel plans and operates educational travel opportunities around the world. We partner with UC Berkeley-affiliated lecturers to enhance the strong educational component of the trips. We invite you to dive deeper with these interviews to learn more about the lecturers, how they prepare for the trips, and the role they play while on tour.
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Meet the enrichment lecturers who accompany many of our tours and offer fascinating educational details to take your vacation to the next level.
