Alumni Trip To India

Peacocks, Palaces, and Portals

May 13 – June 1, 2026

Enter the Indian subcontinent through the multiple portals of old and new Delhi — a city that has witnessed the great Mughal and Hindu empires, British rule, and the birth of Indian democracy. Watch the sunrise kiss the marble silhouette of the Taj Mahal, the eternal monument of love. Learn about a different form of love through an Emperor’s experiment with faith and inclusion at Fatehpur Sikri. Catch the shimmering peacock colors and hues of the legacies that various Maharajahs have left behind, in the pink city of Jaipur, the blue city of Jodhpur, and the white city of Udaipur.

Experience the unfolding magic of the itinerary through carefully planned cultural excursions, artistic performances, fun and informative interactions with locals, and sample an array of taste-bud titillating cuisine.

There’s more — with some luck, we may see wild tigers within the amazing walled fortress forest reserve of Ranthambore, leopards against the backdrop of the Aravalli hills, and if the monsoon blesses us, even get to watch the peacocks dance.

Itinerary Visit Trip Website

Important Trip Details

Attendance Capacity

Capacity for this trip is 30 alumni and guests, along with two Allegheny faculty members and an English-speaking travel executive who will accompany the group for the duration of the tour.

Guests must be 21 years or older. Alumni are responsible for their guests.

Activity Level: Moderately Active

Travelers must be able to cover considerable walking distances and stand unassisted for extended periods of time. Participants can expect three or more miles of walking on some days, often over uneven terrain, in crowded markets and public spaces, and up and down stairs in historic monuments. Removing shoes at temples, and climbing in and out of safari jeeps with minimum assistance, is also expected.

Prepare for dry heat that can reach 110 degrees. However, we will not be outdoors during the hottest times of the day.

For safety and wellness reasons, this trip should not be taken by individuals who are pregnant, or have mobility issues, serious pre-existing physical/mental health conditions, or life-threatening dietary allergies. If you need considerable assistance walking, or require wheelchair assistance, we apologize, but this tour cannot offer accommodations for the same.

Pricing

Pricing:

From $5,700 per person, based on double occupancy
Single room supplement $2,700

Please note that quoted prices are estimated based on current costs and a minimum of 20 participants and are subject to change. Does not include round trip international airfare.

Price Includes:

Eighteen days of the private Allegheny tour with Allegheny faculty members and a travel executive from the travel agency in India.
Eighteen nights of accommodations at world class palace hotels and 5-star equivalents. All hotels have air-conditioning, free wireless, and western amenities.
Buffet breakfasts each day and daily curated dining experiences covering diverse cuisines.. Lunches at the safari locations (Ranthambore and Jawai), are also covered.
Faculty-designed itinerary and activities. Faculty co-leaders will provide tour information sessions, via Zoom, in fall 2024 and spring 2025 (details TBA). In Spring 2026 there will be online pre-departure sessions (details TBA) to prepare you for the tour. Faculty will also hold group sessions when in India to address questions, unpack shared experiences, and add their own brand of magic to the tour.
An accompanying veteran travel executive for the tour duration; all entrance fees, all interactions and performances, site visits with expert local guides, wildlife safaris, experiences detailed in the itinerary, and local tolls and taxes in India.
Private air conditioned coach for the duration of our tour in India; domestic flights (Jaipur to Jodhpur; Udaipur to Delhi); safari rides, boat rides, and tuk- tuks.
Two bottled waters, per person, on a daily basis.
Gratuities for performers and speakers at interactive sessions, local guides, travel executive, coach driver and attendant, and safari drivers.
Global Medical Plan, providing accident and sickness coverage to alumni and guests. Policy information can be found here.

Price does not include:

Round-trip international airfare
Ground transport at country of origin between residence and airport
Cost of passport (if you need a new one)** and tourist visa
Recommended travel vaccines and medicines
Cell phone charges, use of hotel business centers or amenities (spa, laundry service, room service, mini-bar etc.), or hotel phone costs
Extra meals/beverages not covered by the itinerary
Gratuities for hotel bellhops, or the restaurant waitstaff when we buy our own lunches
Shopping and Personal Expenses
Camera and Filming Fees at Certain Sites
Any Medical, Legal, or Extra Travel and Accommodation Fees incurred by Individuals.

** Passport must be valid until 04 Dec. 2026 and have 3-4 blank pages.

Payment Schedule:
All payments are via check, in U.S. Dollars, and non-refundable. The tour cost includes the electronic banking fee for transfers to our travel agent in India.

Between October 10, 2024 and August 20, 2025 — Initial non-refundable deposit of $1,500 per person to confirm your spot. Paid reservations are on a first-come-first-served basis until spaces are filled. If the group is full, interested parties can add their names to a waiting list, without a deposit.
November 15, 2025: Next installment of $2,000 per person.
February 20, 2026: Balance payment of $2,200 per person. Single occupancy supplement of $2,700 should be added to the final installment, if you prefer not to have a roommate.

How To Make a Payment

Make the check out to “Allegheny College” and add “India Alumni Trip” in the memo line.

Mail checks to:
Sara Pineo
Allegheny College, Box 44
520 N. Main Street
Meadville. PA 16335

Include a slip of paper with your name, and your guests’ names in full, as well as your email addresses. If anyone requires a single room, please include that information and note that an extra supplement of $2700 will be due for each of those single room reservations at the time of the final payment.

Any questions regarding payments can be directed to Sara Pineo at spineo@allegheny.edu.

Helpful Travel and Timeline Links

Airline and Travel Documents
Important Deadlines for Submissions Related to the Tour
Payment Timeline
Health Information
Contact and Communication Information

Contact

For any additional questions, email Sara Pinio.

Faculty Leaders

Ishita Sinha Roy, Professor of Media and Cultural Studies

At Allegheny College, Dr. Sinha Roy’s research and teaching interests focus on global media, media-ted identities, marketing, and branding. She won teaching awards at the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, where she previously taught, and is a recipient of the Thoburn Prize for teaching excellence at Allegheny College. Ishita has served as the college’s faculty global studies liaison, and was the co-principal investigator on a Mellon Grant for internationalizing the campus. She co-taught Cohort IV of the Global Citizen Scholars program (2020-22) on campus, on the theme of “Empowering Women Worldwide.” Since 2006, Ishita has co-directed several global learning seminars for Allegheny students, with various faculty collaborators, to non-western emerging economies. These include South Africa, east Africa, Japan, Sri Lanka, countries in South-East Asia, and different regions in India. Her recent book Manufacturing Indianness (Peter Lang, 2019) examines India’s nation-branding efforts through various media initiatives. Learn more about Ishita here.

Beth Watkins, Professor Emerita of Theater

Beth Watkins received her M.F.A. in Directing from the Department of Drama and Dance at the University of Texas at Austin. She taught acting, directing and devising in the theatre program at Allegheny for 35 years before retiring in 2022. Beth continues to be actively involved in community theater in Meadville, PA.

In addition to teaching and inspiring theater students, Professor Watkins served as the Associate Dean for Faculty Development, and was also the Chair of the Communication Arts/Theater department.

During her tenure, she co-led several undergraduate study tours to London/Stratford-upon-Avon with Professor Emeritus and Shakespeare scholar Jim Bulman, and joined Ishita on a study tour with Allegheny College students to India in 2019. Beth is convinced that travel is central to a liberal arts education– it broadens experiences, introduces us to different cultures, and teaches us how to be global citizens. Her interest in theatre and puppetry has been strongly influenced by Kathputli marionette puppetry in Rajasthan.

Registration

Currently this trip is fully registered. You can complete the form to have your information added to a waiting list.

Join the Waiting List