On this episode of Along the Rock, host Kierstyn Long spoke with Brenda Helms, director of community education and alumni engagement at SVCC, about what travelers can expect from the 10-day adventure.
The upcoming tour was selected with spring in mind, allowing participants to experience blooming gardens, mountain scenery, and picturesque European towns during one of the region’s most colorful seasons.
The trip is scheduled for April 21-30, 2027, with eight full days spent overseas after travel. Participants will spend four nights in Bern, Switzerland, followed by four nights in Innsbruck, Austria, while also taking day excursions throughout the surrounding regions, including Bavaria.
Designed as an activity level three tour, the itinerary includes daily walking tours through historic cities and attractions. Travelers should be comfortable walking approximately 15,000 steps, or about two to two-and-a-half miles, each day. While the schedule includes plenty of sightseeing on foot, there are regular breaks for meals, coffee, and time to relax.
The cost of the trip is $5,299 per person based on double occupancy. The price includes airfare, ground transportation, hotel accommodations, transportation between Sauk Valley Community College and O’Hare International Airport, breakfasts, and a selection of lunches and dinners featured throughout the itinerary. The group travels together from the college to the airport and returns together at the end of the trip, simplifying the travel experience for participants.
Travelers are required to submit a deposit to reserve their space and may make payments leading up to the departure date. An optional travel protection plan is also available, providing cancellation coverage as well as medical benefits while abroad. The policy allows travelers to cancel up to 24 hours before departure, with reimbursement available minus the cost of the protection plan.
Those interested in securing the current pricing should reserve their spot before Oct. 15, the group’s seat reduction deadline. After that date, reservations will remain available on a first-come, first-served basis, but airfare increases could result in higher overall costs.
Anyone interested in learning more can attend a free informational preview at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 15, in the Helmick Riverview Conference Center on the first floor of Sauk Valley Community College. Representatives from Collette, the travel company coordinating the tour, will present a detailed itinerary, photos of the destinations, and answer questions about the experience.
Helms also reflected on her favorite trip with the college, naming Tuscany, Italy, as her top destination thanks to its vineyards, historic cities, and memorable experiences shared with fellow travelers.
For more information about the Switzerland, Austria, and Bavaria tour or other community education travel opportunities, visit Sauk Valley Community College or attend the upcoming travel preview.
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