This tour has been postponed - New dates are September 30 - October 18, 2022.

Note: September 30th and October 1st are travel dates with the itinerary beginning October 2nd.

Tour of Vietnam and Bhutan: A Hiking, Touring, and Historical Adventure
(originally scheduled for Saturday, March 28 - Wednesday, April 15, 2020)

There are a few open spots left on this tour, if you are interested and would like more information, please contact our tour leader, Ann Highum at [email protected].

Ann Highum and Jerry Freund are excited about their next trip, sharing travel with a group of adventuresome and curious people. We are anxious to share our love for Southeast Asia and its people, culture, history, and natural beauty. In the past five years, we have traveled several times with Luther friends and alumni in Vietnam, Cambodia, and Thailand, along with one trip to Bhutan.

Vietnam and Bhutan are fascinating countries--safe for travel, culturally fascinating, and historically relevant. We were there in October 2018 and can’t wait to return! Bhutan, famous for its “happiness index” has been open for tourism for many years, but has always limited the numbers. Bhutan’s leaders have affirmed and are regulating their tourism industry so that both Bhutan and tourists benefit. It is a privilege to have the opportunity to offer this tour to hardy souls who want a unique adventure in both the northern part of Vietnam and then in Bhutan. We have collaborated with Lana Cao, a native Vietnamese woman who lives between the U.S. and Vietnam, for several wonderful tours so she will be with us again.

There will be a focus on learning on this tour, with local guest speakers and knowledgeable guides who will share their knowledge about each country with the group. The tour includes hiking in remarkable areas, observing different ethnic tribes to learn about their customs and cultures, staying in hotels and lodges in small villages/towns, and experiencing each country more fully than is possible in some other tours. It is important to note that each day, activities will include several hours of walking on uneven and hilly terrain in towns and villages. Most of the hiking experiences will also involve trails with challenging terrain, long uphill climbs, and up to eight miles on two of the hikes. Altitude is also a factor, although the highest areas we would visit are in the range of 7,000-9,000 feet.

We will visit spectacular places from mid-Vietnam (where the DMZ once divided north and south) to a cruise in the World Heritage site of Ha Long Bay, to mountainous villages in the north of Vietnam and then throughout central Bhutan, as described in the itinerary. Because of the beauty of both countries, we assure you there will be plenty of opportunities for stunning photos.

We have worked to make this affordable, as well as memorable, and hope you will consider joining us! Due to the unique nature of this tour, we’d like to talk to you about the physical demands and answer any of your questions. Due to our desire to provide an optimal travel experience, we are only taking 18 people in addition to our guide Lana and the two of us.

For questions and to register, please contact:
Ann Highum 563-380-9808 or [email protected]
Jerry Freund 563-380-9809 or [email protected]
Sherry Alcock, Executive Director of Alumni Relations, (800) 225-8664 or [email protected]