Spaces on Young Alumni Travel Program to Spain

Our Young Alumni Wolf Treks trip to Spain (Iberian Discovery - Sept. 13-21, 2008) still has openings. It will be a small group of young alumni travelers from three universities, which will give the group maximum flexibility. The trip schedule was designed with young professionals in mind, departing on a Saturday and returning eight days later on a Sunday. The itinerary begins in Madrid and takes you to Granada, Toledo, Costa Del Sol (with an option to visit Gibraltar) and Seville. The land-only cost is $1,498 per person, based on double occupancy. Our tour company can book your air or you can book your own. To learn more, click here. Make your reservation with a $500 deposit, and you will be billed for the remainder of the trip cost (which is due immediately because the departure date is only 75 days away). Please contact Kathy Hart at 800-627-2586 or Orion Worldwide Travel, our tour operator, at 800-846-6998 (ask for Amy Cibor) if you have questions.

Speedy Passport Processing

The processing time for passports have been significantly reduced since last summer when I waited 10 weeks to get my renewal request processed. Amidst a flood of angry letters and calls to members of Congress, the U.S. Department of State increased the staff of the Passport Services Office to handle the increased volume that came when laws were looming to require passports for all international travel, including Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean. The date for the implementation of that requirement was pushed ahead to 2009, and the state department hired more staff. An alumni staff member recently received his passport in five days with normal service. This was not a renewal, and he did not pay for expedited service. The U.S. Post Office is not encouraging expedited service for passport applications or renewals unless you need the passport in less than a month. But if our staff member's experience is any indication, you can expect even faster service.

Wolf Treks Travel: Exotic North India

Visit the Taj Mahal at sunrise, watch tigers in Ranthambore National Park and experience the colorful markets of North India's cities. This journey will take you to Delhi, Agra, the lakeside jewel of Udaipur and traditional villages near Jodhupur and Jaipur. It will encompass majestic forts, ornate temples and richly decorated palaces that were witness to the complex history of the region. You may extend your journey to Varanasi, the sacred city on the River Ganges, and to the great temple complex of Khajuraho. Return home enriched by your stay in this land of diverse heritage and enduring traditions.

To learn more, click here to download a brochure with an itinerary, hotel information and pricing. Make your reservation by July 20, 2008, and save $300 per couple/$150 per person. Pay in full by the same date to save an additional savings of $300 per couple/$150 per person. To get a brochure in the mail, contact Kathy Hart.

2009 Wolf Treks Trips

From Australia to Alaska and Chile to China, the Alumni Association’s Wolf Treks Travel Program has a destination sure to pique your interest. In 2009, Wolf Treks offers 25 worldwide destinations and two in the United States. There’s sure to be a destination that fits your budget and style. All of our trips are educational and provide a knowledgeable guide well-versed in the destination’s history and culture. For those who seek active travel, we offer three options for walking or biking that combine health and education.

Last year, more than 150 alumni traveled with the Pack. All of our post-trip surveys were favorable and 35 percent of our travelers are repeat customers. Some alumni have taken more than four Wolf Treks journeys. Our travelers praise our tour operators for the quality of the guides, accommodations and food, planning, ease of travel and the camaraderie they build with fellow travelers.

Come join us in 2009 for a Wolf Treks journey! To get on our brochure and electronic travel mailing list, send an e-mail with your name, mailing address and e-mail address to alumni_travel@ncsu.edu.

Tahiti: Jan. 23 to Feb. 4
North India: Feb. 5 to 21
Australia & New Zealand: Mar. 1 to 14
Paris: Mar. 7 to 15
Egypt: Mar. 27 to Apr. 12
Argentina and Chile: Apr. 7 to 19
Treasures of Peru: Apr. 13 to 23
Normandy: Apr. 20 to 28
Barge and Bike Holland and Belgium: Apr. 24 to May 2
Galapagos: Apr. 30 to May 11
Walking the Emerald Isle: May 2 to 11
Cruise the Baltic Sea & Norwegian Fjords: May 26 to June 7
Cruise the Mediterranean: June 13 to 21
National Parks of the West (Albuquerque to Jackson Hole): June 17 to 26
Village Life in Dordogne: June 18 to 26
Bohemia: June 23 to July 1
Alaska: July 23 to 31
Scotland: Aug. 16 to 25
Classic China and the Yangtze River: Sept. 21 to Oct. 5
Walking through Tuscany: Sept. 22 to Oct. 1
Lake Garda and Swiss Alps: Sept. 24 to Oct. 1
River Cruise: Burgundy and Provence: Sept. 27 to Oct. 9
Serengeti and Zanzibar Explorer: Sept. 27 to Oct. 6
Portrait of Italy: Oct. 3 to 19
The Blue Voyage (Turkey): Oct. 10 to 25
Yuletide Traditions in Salzburg & Vienna: Nov. 28 to Dec. 6
Israel: Dec. 12 to 21