Alumni Travel Program
Explore the world with RISD Alumni Travel
Experience history and cultural diversity across the globe with the Alumni Travel Program. Our trips are small groups of 24 people or less, led by expert guides with local knowledge that brings you off the beaten path to make your own discoveries. See the world with fellow creatives, RISD alumni and travel companions.
Our 2025 Travel Destinations
Moroccan Discovery, April 15-28, 2025
Shared departure with the University of Colorado, Boulder
On this singular small group tour, experience a 14-day exploration of dramatic contrasts that take you from seaside Rabat to the desert towns of Erfoud and Ouarzazate and through the snow-topped High Atlas. Along a journey featuring the many cultural treasures of Fez, Marrakech, Casablanca and five UNESCO sites. Encounter Roman ruins, an ancient caravan route, souks and medinas. Dine in a private home and in a family-run riad. Admire dramatic Todra Gorge and the village of Ait ben-Haddou, famed as a location for film shoots. Visit the world’s oldest continually operating university, and one of the world’s largest Islamic houses of worship, the magnificent Hassan II Mosque. Riding out on camelback to the Sahara, watch the sun set over the breathtaking dunes.
Level 3 Moderate
- Walk 2-4 miles per day, often uphill, on uneven terrain, or cobblestones
- Occasional long walks from motorcoach drop-off to sights and hotels
- Mounting and dismounting camels for ride through sand dunes in the Sahara
- Several long days of travel via motorcoach
Portugal, Through the Designer’s Lens, September 5–12, 2025
Price: $5,200 per person
Single Supplement: $1,040
Deposit: $600 per person
The RISD Alumni Travel Program is thrilled to announce a brand-new travel partnership and destination for 2025. Insider's Travel, a leader in small group bespoke tours, offers RISD alumni and guests an unforgettable 7-night trip from Lisbon to Porto through their artfully curated Portugal, Through the Designer's Lens.
Led by New York-based product designer Dana D'Amico 99 ID, explore Portugal's rich culture and design heritage. With stops in Sintra, Nazaré and Alcobaça you'll immerse yourself in the stunning architecture, breathtaking landscapes and culinary delights of the fabled cities and towns along the Portuguese coast.
Reserve your space today or contact info@insiderstravel.io for more information.
Journey through Vietnam, October 9-23, 2025 
Shared departure with UC Davis
15 days for $4,797 total price from Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle
($4,195 air & land inclusive plus $602 airline taxes and fees)
Encounter Vietnam’s breathtaking natural beauty, traditions, and people on this comprehensive 15-day small group journey. Get acquainted with Hanoi during a three-night stay, touring historic sites and sampling local cuisine. On a full-day Ha Long Bay excursion, explore this stunning waterscape by boat. Spending three nights in a beachfront hotel in Da Nang, tour the acclaimed Cham Museum and Hoi An’s Old Town, a UNESCO site. Enjoy a cooking lesson and experience daily life on a local farm. In Hue, explore the vast Imperial Citadel, take a cyclo ride and cruise on the Perfume River. Then experience river life with two nights in the Mekong Delta, journeying by boat to a floating market and exploring by sampan. A three-night stay in vibrant Saigon with touring and independent exploration concludes the journey. Discover Angkor Wat’s amazing temples and Phnom Penh with an optional 5-day/3-night post-tour extension.
Level 3 Moderate
- Walk 2-4 miles per day, often uphill, on uneven terrain, or cobblestones
- Occasional long walks from motorcoach drop-off to sights and hotels
Ghana, November 7–15, 2025
From $3,550 per person (double occupancy)*
Single occupancy from $4,220 per person
Deposit: From $1,775 per person (double occupancy)
RISD Alumni Travel Program is thrilled to announce another exciting travel destination for 2025. We have partnered with AEA, a leader in customized travel programs with over 19 years of experience, for an unforgettable journey through Ghana.
Through knowledgeable local guides, alumni and their guests will have an opportunity to connect with Ghana's people, history and creative spirit. Our group will meet local artists, visit galleries and participate in hands-on workshops celebrating Ghanaian crafts, textiles and culture.
Book now or contact AEA at Team@AEAstudyabroad.com for more information
Our 2026 Travel Destinations
India, January 11–27, 2026
17 days for $6,787 / per person
Total price from Boston or New York
$5,895 air & land inclusive plus $892 airline taxes and fees
Highlights:
- Tours of Old and New Delhi
- Dinner with a Jaipur family
- Tour of the Taj Mahal
- Two-night stay at Ranthambore Tiger Preserve
- Visit to the “Pink City” of Jaipur
- Visit to the Holy city of Varanasi
- Visit to the pilgrimage site of Sarnath temple and museum
Physical Activity Level: 2- Easy/Moderate
Easy/Moderate: A fair amount of walking most days, from 1-3 miles per day. Touring days may include full-day motor coach excursions or extended periods of standing and walking during city tours, museum visits, and/or outdoor activities. Travelers should be able to board transportation, walk over sometimes-uneven terrain including cobblestones, and climb a few flights of stairs, occasionally without handrails or assistance. Elevators are not always available at sights or all hotels.
Tour Specific Information:
- Walk 1-3 miles per day, often on uneven terrain
- Potential for substandard air quality on some days (especially in Delhi)
- Need to take shoes off to enter various temples and sites
- Several long days of travel via motorcoach
For more information about Odyssey Unlimited's India tours, please download their brochure PDF.
Cuba, March 4–11, 2026
8 days for $4052 / per person double occupancy
Price based departure from Miami
Includes Tour and Flights
Highlights:
- Artist studio visits in Havana & Trinidad
- Public & community art tours in Havana
- Guided tours of historical districts in Cienfuegos, Trinidad and Santa Clara
- Salsa lessons
- Cuban cooking class
- Cigar rolling demonstrations
For more information about this trip, please visit the Friendly Planet website.
Peru, April 27–May 7, 2026
11 days for $5,287 / per person
Total price from Miami
$4,595 air & land inclusive plus $692 airline taxes and fees
Highlights:
- Tour of Lima, including historic Casa Aliaga
- Visit to Larco Herrera Museum
- Historic Cuzco & the Inca ruins
- Pisac’s Quechua market
- Tour of Sacred Valley
- Two guided visits to Machu Picchu
- Full-day tour of Lake Titicaca, including visits to Uros and Taquile islands
Physical Activity Level: 4- Moderate/Challenging
Physical Activity Level Definition:
Moderate/Challenging: Substantial amount of walking most days, up to 4-6 miles per day and 1-3 miles of walking at one time. These trips feature long touring days and may include travel via various modes of transportation. Travelers are expected to board transportation without assistance as well as stand and walk over uneven terrain including cobblestones for extended periods of time. Some tours may include activities and travel at higher altitudes. Elevators are not always available at sights or all hotels.
Tour Specific Information:
• Substantial walking most days, up to 4-6 miles, including 1-3 miles at one time, often on uneven terrain
• Many stairs throughout tour, often 100+ at one time (Ollantaytambo, Machu Picchu)
• Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel has many stairs throughout the property
• High elevations in Cuzco (11,150 ft) and during excursion to Lake Titicaca (12,500 ft)
• Lengthy day of travel via motorcoach from Cuzco to Puno.
For more information about Odyssey Unlimited's Peru tours, please download their PDF brochure (coming soon)
Hong Kong & Seoul, September 25–October 3, 2026
10 days for $4499 / per person double occupancy
Price based on LAX departure
Includes Tour and Flights
Highlights:
- Tour Hong Kong Island, including a tram ride up Victoria Peak
- Visit the Man Mo Temple
- Travel to West Kowloon and explore the Promenade Park
- Visit the M+ Museum
- Explore the culinary offerings of each city with a tour of Sham Shui Po Market in Hong Kong and a Korean-style BBQ dinner, cooking and kimchi making classes in Seoul
- Museum & gallery visits
- Historic tours
For more information on this trip, please visit the Friendly Planet website.
Questions about our 2025 & 2026 destinations or the Alumni Travel Program? Please reach out to alumni@risd.edu
Travel Insurance
The RISD Alumni Travel Program highly recommends the purchase of travel insurance for your upcoming trip. Our trusted partner, Meyer and Associates, provides travel insurance options to meet your needs and budget, including:
- Trip cancellations or interruptions
- Trip delays or missed connections
- Medical expenses, including emergency medical evacuation
- Cancel or interrupt for any reason
- Pre-existing condition waivers
For additional information visit Meyer and Associates on the web or call 866-679-7836.
*dates are subject to change, minimum traveler enrollment must be met for trips to run
Image credits: Vietnam, India and Peru courtesy of Odysseys Unlimited. Portugal courtesy of Insider's Travel. Ghana courtesy of Academic Experiences Abroad. Cuba, Hong Kong and Seoul courtesy of Friendly Planet
