108
| SUNRAYS
JANUARY 2013
ONLINE:
SCTXCA.ORG
Enjoy the benefits of a
Collette
or
Premier
Vacation, or cruise
with
Always the Best Travel
or
Floating Fantasies!
Brochures and registration forms for all CA Sponsored Travel
are available for you in the Lifestyle and Activities Oce.
You can also find the information online under Activities
and Events. Call 948-7393 to have a brochuremailed to you.
To book a trip, return registration form to the Lifestyle and
Activities Oce. All published pricing is subject to change
and availability.
extended travel
Discover Panama
February 26 – March 6, 2013 Panama City
9
Days, 15 Meals, RT Air, Insurance, 3 Hotels,
Transfers from Sun City, $3169 pp Double
Occ; $4019 pp Single Occ, Deposit $425
Panama is a country of lush rainforests,
rich history, diverse wildlife and spectacular
coastlines. Your tour begins in cosmopolitan
Panama City where you meet your fellow travelers and explore
the ruins of the oldest Spanish settlement on the Pacific. Then
visit Casco Antiguo, the Old Quarter – a UNESCO World
Heritage site. Head to Miraflores Locks Visitor Center to
view the Panama Canal and learn about its rich past, present
and future. Follow the canal north into the rainforest. Visit
Soberanía National Park one of the world’s top bird watching
locations. Then board the Pacific Queen for a partial transit
through the Panama Canal. Disembark at Flamenco Marina.
Day six allows you to set off for an excursion to an Emberá
indigenous village. Board dugout canoes for a scenic ride up
the Chagres River to a settlement of Emberá, the “Keepers of
the Rainforest.” Your tour includes free time for relaxing on the
beach, enjoying the spa or amenities at your hotel, kayaking,
or taking a nature walk in the adjacent Punta Bruja Reserve.
Flavors of Thailand
April 19 – May 6, 2013
14
days, 24 meals, RT Air, Insurance, Hotel
Transfers (3 hotels)
$4119 pp Double Occupancy; $4469 pp Sin-
gle Occupancy; Call Jenny Phillips for avail-
ability, 948-7392.
Your trip begins with an overnight flight, ar-
riving in Bangkok, Thailand’s capital. Days 2 – 5 will be spent
touring Bangkok, a bustling city blending the cosmopolitan
with timeless tradition. Visit the Golden Buddha, Chatuchak
Weekend Market, and JEATH War Museum, to name a few
points of interest. Travel in a long-tail “klong” boat, ride the
notorious Death Railway, and stroll along the historic Bridge
over the River Kwai. Enjoy Day 6 in Bangkok at your leisure
before a short flight the next day to Chiang Rai. You will
have two days to explore this town including a visit to the
Hall of Opium and a boat cruise on the Mekong. Day 9 takes
you to Chiang Mai for four days of adventure including the
Sankampaeng Handicraft Village, a Khantoke dinner show
that highlights regional dances, and the remote villages of the
Akha and Lisu hill tribes. Travel thought the lush jungle to
see (and perhaps ride!) one of the majestic creatures at Maesa
Elephant Camp. On your last day in Chiang Mai, visit with
monks who practice Buddhism in Thailand, and soak in pan-
oramic views of the city from the mountain top. Finally, savor
a farewell dinner at an art gallery and restaurant overlooking
the river. Fly back to Bangkok on day 13 for a day at leisure
to relax, explore more of the city or shop for souvenirs.
Mysteries of India
April 4 – 18, 2013
15
Days, 25 Meals, RT Air from Austin, Insur-
ance, 3 hotels, RT Transfer from and to Sun
City, Baggage Handling, guided tour upon
arrival. $5,219 pp double occupancy; $6,319
pp single occupancy.
This is an Explorations Tour, sponsored by
the Smithsonian, which is a learning experience as well as
cultural tour and adventure. Experts will join the tour to
provide lectures and background on the locations and sites
you’ll visit. Groups limited to 20 passengers.
Your overnight flight brings you to Delhi, India’s capital city
that sports a rich history spanning over 2,000 years. You will
tour of Old Delhi visit Jama Masjid, India’s largest mosque.
Day four you fly to Udaipur where you will cruise by boat along
Lake Pichola taking in views of the Jag Mandir Palace and the
City Palace. On day six you fly to the “Pink City,” Jaipur and
visit the City Palace, finding gardens, courtyards, intricate
decorative art and carved doorways then Marvel at Jantar
Mantar, an astronomical observatory built in 1726. Day seven
will allow you the experience of riding an elephant to the top
of Amber Fort, India’s former seat of power. Then travel to
Ranthambore National Park, learning of Project Tiger’s efforts
at conservation in the country, a naturalist discusses the wild-
life of the country with a slideshow and discussion. Embark
on a game viewing drive by canter, an open air vehicle where
you can watch for marsh crocodiles, hyenas, sloth bears, and
even tigers. An early morning train brings you to Bharatpur.
Day eleven you visit the Taj Mahal at sunrise aboard a tonga
–
or horse carriage – that takes you to its gates. Then cruise
along the River Ganges past various Ghats and experience a
city tour of Varanasi including Vishwanath Temple; Benaras
Hindu University; and Bharat Mata Temple. Enjoy a morning
at leisure before flying back to Delhi.
England & Scotland
April 9 – 18, 2013
10
days, 11 meals, RT Air from Austin, Insur-
ance, 4 hotels, RT Transfer to and from Sun
City, Baggage Handling, guided tour upon
arrival. $3,885 pp double occupancy; $4,685
pp single occupancy.
Few places have as much to offer as England
and Scotland in terms of history, natural beauty, art and
hospitality. Days 2-3 will be spent in Edinburgh, Scotland,
where you will be able to visit Edinburgh Castle, Palace of
Holyroodhouse and tour the city. You will also enjoy a Scotch
CA SPONSORED TRAVEL
