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Alumni Tour 2027

The “Colors of Indulgence” Alumni Tour in 2027 (May 12 -June 04) offers a curated selection of cities across India with unparalleled UNESCO World Heritage sites and monuments, and diverse cultural and culinary experiences. Enjoy nature at its best, as you unwind on golden beaches, glide through emerald lagoons and backwaters, and take a cooling respite in spice-scented hills. Discover the living legacies of ancient Buddhist, Jain, and Hindu monks, Mughal emperors, European traders and colonizers, Arabian settlers, and Jewish immigrants — all with an unforgettable Indian twist. This is a journey where every color, every flavor, every sound, and every texture has been curated for the discerning traveler. Timeless experiences, iconic architecture, palate-teasing cuisine, and restorative rituals blend seamlessly, creating a voyage that is as opulent as it is unforgettable.

Colors of Indulgence

May 12 – June 4, 2027 — A Curated Tour of India

Our journey begins in Delhi, where centuries converge in stone and story. Explore UNESCO World Heritage monuments from the pre-Mughal era, stately colonial avenues, and the contemplative halls of the National Gandhi Museum. Try your hand bargaining at vibrant bazaars, and learn what defines a blessing in a Sikh temple. Feast on dishes from master chefs, some of whom have resurrected secret recipes from royal kitchens, while others have infused Indian cuisine with a global fusion of flavors.

In the red sandstone splendor of Fatehpur Sikri, another UNESCO World Heritage site, discover a Mughal Emperor’s vision of a synthesis of various faiths that is reflected in the architecture. Experience the radiance of that secular inclusiveness within the marble mausoleum of Sufi saint Salim Chishti. When we reach Agra, our group joins a privileged few for a private viewing of the sunrise over the Taj Mahal. As the first golden rays of dawn illuminate the monument’s ivory-white marble, the intricate pietra dura inlays shimmer with jewel-like brilliance, producing a breathtaking choreography of light and color. At the majestic Agra Fort stand in the chamber where Shah Jahan was imprisoned by his son Aurangzeb, but allowed to gaze across the river Yamuna, at his eternal testament to love, until the day he died.

In the western city of Aurangabad, we stop at the Bibi ka Maqbara, also called the ‘Poor Man’s Taj Mahal’, that Aurangzeb’s son commissioned, as an homage to his mother. At the UNESCO World Heritage sites of the Ajanta and Ellora caves, step back in time to the 2nd century BCE. As we wander past intricately sculpted reliefs, serene statues, and vibrant murals, reflect on the devotion of the cohorts of Buddhist, Hindu, and Jain monks and artisans who dedicated their lives to creating these masterpieces — knowing they might never witness the completion of their sacred work.

Bathed in golden light along India’s western coast, Goa is a sensuous blend of sun, sea, and soul. Once a thriving Portuguese enclave, its Indo-European heritage lingers in whitewashed churches, azulejo-tiled villas, and languid plazas where time seems to dance with the dust motes. In Old Goa, find the baroque grandeur of the Basilica of Bom Jesus — a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Nearby, Crayola colored villas in the Latin quarters stand festooned with bougainvillea, while the sound of waves are a siren call to Goa’s beautiful beaches. Here, life moves with the ebb and flow of the tides.

In the Southern State of Kerala (“God’s own country”), Kochi is a coastal mosaic of cultures shaped by centuries of maritime trade. Arab, Chinese, Portuguese, Dutch, and British influences linger in its architecture, cuisine, and cosmopolitan spirit.

In historic Fort Kochi, colonial-era bungalows and leafy lanes lead to the iconic Chinese fishing nets silhouetted against the sunset. The elegant interiors of the Paradesi Synagogue in historic Jew Town and the bare-bones simplicity of the oldest European church in India, the St. Francis Church—where Vasco da Gama was once buried—are reminders of the city’s religious and ethnic diversity.

Cradled in the mist-kissed ranges of the Western Ghats, Munnar is a serene highland retreat where rolling emerald tea estates ripple across the hills like velvet. Once a favored summer escape of the British Raj, its cool mountain air and sweeping vistas offer a refreshing contrast to Kerala’s tropical coast. Winding roads lead through fragrant tea and spice plantations, where visitors can trace the journey from leaf to cup or plate. Waterfalls punctuate the hillsides, and wild elephants come down from the surrounding forests to drink and bathe in the nearby rivers.

Our final stop, Kumarakom, is an emerald tapestry of canals, coconut palms, and mirrored skies. Boats glide down the backwaters in liquid silence, while herons lift gently into the dawn. Beneath swaying palms, the world feels distant, reduced to water, wind, and light. Kumarakom is not merely a destination—it is a quiet exhale.

At our eco-resort, treat your sore muscles to an Ayurvedic massage. Savor the exquisite local organic fare, and enjoy evening tea service brought in by canoe. Trade travel stories with your new friends in the pool. Sip cocktails and watch fiery sunsets sizzle over the Vembanad lake.

Preserve these memories of indulgence in living color.

Itinerary 2027 Tour Hotels

Learn More: Upcoming Information Sessions

Join the 2027 Alumni Tour faculty leaders at an upcoming virtual information session over Zoom. Presentations will be less than 45 minutes, with an opportunity for Q&A following each session. All sessions occur at 7:00 p.m. Eastern time.

March 5, 2026 Session Registration March 16, 2026 Session Registration March 26, 2026 Session Registration

Important Trip Details

Attendance Capacity

This tour is designed for 30 participants — alumni and their guests. The group will be accompanied by two Allegheny faculty members and an English-speaking travel executive who will provide their expertise for the duration of the tour.

Guests must be 21 years or older and physically and mentally fit. Alumni are responsible for their guests.

Activity Level: Easy / Moderate

Expect a fair amount of walking on most days, from an average of 1-3 miles per day, during scheduled activities. Touring days may include full-day motorcoach 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. They must be able to climb in and out of jeeps with minimum assistance. Elevators are not available at many of the sites.

This tour is NOT suitable for individuals in wheelchairs or with mobility issues, or for pregnant women, for their own well-being, or those who have life-threatening dietary allergies that we cannot monitor. Those with serious medical conditions (e.g. severe congestive heart failure, COPD, advanced Multiple Sclerosis, or Parkinson’s, cancer that is not in remission, etc.), or with high anxiety, severe depression, or trauma disorder, should not consider this tour.

All participants: A mandatory medical information form must be completed and signed by your physician and/or specialist clearing you for the tour.

Pricing

Room Choices

Double occupancy: $8,400 per person
Single rooms available for a supplement of $3,900

Please note that quoted prices are estimated based on current costs and a minimum of 30 participants. This tour cost does not include round trip international airfare.

Price Includes

Twenty one days and 20 nights of the private Allegheny tour
Four domestic flights in India and all ground transfers (even for international flights)
Private air-conditioned coach for the duration of our tour in India; jeep safari to see elephants, boat rides, and tuk- tuks.
An accompanying veteran travel executive from the travel agency in India.
Twenty one days of accommodations at 5-star world-class luxury hotels. All hotels have air-conditioning, free wireless, and western amenities.
Daily buffet breakfasts, and daily bespoke dinners covering diverse cuisines. Lunches at Kumarakom (India), are also covered.
Faculty-designed itinerary and activities. In Spring 2027 there will be online predeparture sessions (details TBA) to prepare you for the tour. Faculty will also hold group sessions during the tour to address questions, unpack shared experiences, and add their own brand of magic to the tour.
All entrance fees and tickets, all interactions, and performances, site visits with expert local guides, desert safari, all experiences detailed in the itinerary, and local tolls and taxes.
Bottled water during daily excursions for participants.
Gratuities for performers and speakers at interactive sessions, local guides, and safari drivers, accompanying travel executive, and drivers/attendants.
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 and ground transfers in the U.S.
Cost of passport (if you need a new one)** and tourist e-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, rooms service staff, and 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.
Travel cancellation and baggage loss insurance

** Passport must be valid until December 2027 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 March 5, 2026 and May 1, 2026 — Initial non-refundable deposit of $1,500 per person to confirm your spot. Paid reservations are based on the order of sign-ups and email confirmation will be sent to prospective participants in that order, until spaces are filled. Please wait to send your reservation deposit until after you’ve received a confirmation from Sara Pineo. If the group is full, interested parties can add their names to a waiting list, without a deposit.
November 15, 2026: Next installment of $3,000 per person.
March 01, 2027: Balance payment of $3,999 per person. A single occupancy supplement of $3,900 should be added to the final installment, if you have requested not to have a roommate.

How To Make a Payment

Make the check out to “Allegheny College” and add “2027 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 $3900 will be due for each of those single room reservations at the time of the final payment.

Credit card payments carry a 4% transaction fee and can be made by calling Sara Pineo at (814) 332-4392. Please mention this is for the “2027 Alumni Tour.” Please also clarify who the payments cover. Thank you.

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

Helpful Travel and Timeline Links

Contact

For any additional questions, email Sara Pineo.

Information Session Recording

View the Information Session Recording video.

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 has earned teaching awards at the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, and at Allegheny College. Ishita was the college’s faculty global studies liaison, and the co-principal investigator on a Mellon Grant for internationalizing the campus. Since 2006, Ishita has been a co-director on several global learning seminars for Allegheny students, with a primary focus on non-western emerging economies, such as South Africa, East Africa, Japan, Sri Lanka, countries in South-East Asia, and different regions of India. Most recently, in 2026, she co-facilitated an Allegheny alumni tour across northeast India. Dr. Sinha Roy hopes this tour will be a one-of-a-kind bespoke journey that opens windows to worlds within worlds, and a different experience of globalization.

Lauren French, Associate Professor of Biology and Neuroscience

Dr. Lauren French has served on the faculty at Allegheny College in Biology and Neuroscience since 2001. Her academic area of expertise is in Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience. Her research addresses what makes individual neurons unique from one another, how they “talk” to each other to transmit information in the nervous system, and how drugs and toxins affect their function.

Lauren has traveled extensively across various countries in Europe, Hawaii, Mexico, Japan, Thailand, Burma and Tanzania. In addition, Lauren has co-led an Global Learning Seminar to the Turks & Caicos Islands, and participated in a faculty global learning excursion to Israel.

She looks forward to this tour as a living experiment to see how different participants fire up, like neurons, when provided new and exciting stimuli, and how they communicate and forge new connections with one another.

Registration

Early registration information will be provided to those who participate in the Zoom information sessions in March.