DISCOVER DENALI NATIONAL PARK BY COACH AND TRAIN 

June 9-14, 2024 | from $3995 + air

Click here for trip brochure. And here for optional excursions. 

Click here to learn more and to reserve your place today!

Journey into the scenic wilds of America’s most northern state through Alaska’s rugged forests and wildlife. Your destination: the magnificent six-million-acre Denali National Park and Reserve.

Familiarize yourself with the park, walking its trails with a guide, and choose from optional excursions to personalize your adventure.

Keep binoculars close at hand: this dazzling and vast wilderness is home to Dall sheep, eagles, wolves, migrating caribou, and grizzly bears—and catching sight of them is a thrill not soon forgotten.

A final highlight of this adventure includes an afternoon traveling aboard the historic Alaska Railroad with superior viewing from your upgraded glass-dome seat.

Learn More here!

Click to see optional excursions.

Reserve today online, by calling 866-639-0079, or by contacting program host Britt Yates Jones ’84 at 325-670-1377 / travel@dltq.net.

PLAN WITH CONFIDENCE! Reservations made 121+ days prior to the departure date may be cancelled within 30 days from the reservation date for a full refund. 

GREAT EUROPEAN JOURNEY

12-day, 10-night “Grand Tour” of Europe featuring an incredible combination of river, rail, lake, and mountain travel from Amsterdam to Zermatt.

July 10-21, 2024 | from approximately $4,295 plus air

Click here for Trip Brochure.

Visit our Partner Site for all Details and to Sign Up!

Journey through the Netherlands, Germany,  France, and Switzerland, cruising the Moselle and Rhine rivers on this 10-night itinerary, which includes a 6‑night river cruise and 4 nights in the Swiss Alps—featuring the Matterhorn and Mount Pilatus. Ride aboard 3 legendary railways—the Gornegrat Bahn for views of the Matterhorn; the Glacier Express from Andermatt to Zermatt; and the Pilatus Railway, the world’s steepest cogwheel railway. Also enjoy a scenic cruise on Lake Lucerne. Enhance your “Grand Tour” with the Amsterdam Pre-Program Option. We are proud to partner with professional alumni travel company Gohagan to bring you this experience.

12 Day Itinerary

1   Depart home city

2   Amsterdam, the Netherlands/ Embark Amadeus Queen

3   Cologne, Germany

4   Cochem

5   Koblenz/Rüdesheim

6   Mannheim for Heidelberg

7   Strasbourg, France

8   Basel, Switzerland/Disembark Amadeus Queen/Bern/Lucerne

9   Lucerne

10  Lucerne/Zermatt

11   Zermatt

12   Zermatt/Geneva/Return to home city

Itinerary Highlights

• Retrace the “Grand Tour,” a traditional European holiday taken by aristocratic young ladies and gentlemen of the 17^th, 18^th, and 19^th Centuries.
• Explore Cologne’s Old Town and see the UNESCO World Heritage-designated Kölner Dom.
• Enjoy a walking tour of charming Cochem with a visit to the Imperial Reichsburg castle.
• Cruise through the UNESCO World Heritage-designated Middle Rhine Valley to see Lorelei Rock.
• Travel from Mannheim to Heidelberg, a highlight of the historical “Grand Tours.”
• Walk through the UNESCO World Heritage-designated La Petite France in Strasbourg.
• Tour Switzerland’s capital city of Bern, including its beautifully preserved, UNESCO-inscribed Old Town.
• Reach Mount Pilatus’ 7,000‑foot summit by panoramic gondola for a 360-degree vista.

All-Inclusive

• Transfers and luggage handling abroad if you made your air arrangements through
  Gohagan & Company. (If you made your own air arrangements, transfers and luggage handling are not included.)
• Experienced, English-speaking local guides for included excursions.
• Gratuities to local guides and drivers on included excursions and transfers.
• Captain’s Welcome and Farewell Receptions.
• Hospitality desk.
• Experienced Gohagan & Company Travel Directors at your service.

Amadeus Queen Exclusively Chartered Deluxe River Boat

• 84 spacious river-view suites and staterooms.
• Deluxe amenities of a luxury hotel.
• Complimentary house wine and beer served with lunch and dinner.

The Legendary Railways of the Swiss Alps

• The Gornergrat Bahn is Switzerland’s oldest electrified cog railway where—in the span of 5 miles—you will climb nearly 5,000 feet from Zermatt to lofty Gornergrat.
• Lucerne’s Pilatus Railway offers breathtaking views of Swiss farms and forests along its 3-mile route from the summit of Mount Pilatus to the shores of Lake Lucerne.
• The Glacier Express is an engineering marvel that penetrates the mountain barrier separating the cantons of Valais and Uri.

Click here for full Trip brochure.

Amsterdam Pre-Program Option Lined with iconic canals and stately 16^th- and 17^th‑century merchant houses, Amsterdam is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the quintessential conclusion to your “grand tour” of Europe. Take a full‑day excursion to quaint Edam and historic Hoorn. Enjoy accommodations for 2 nights in an ideally located luxury hotel. Click here for Pre-Program Details.

The Pre-Program Option is available at an additional cost. Details will be provided with your reservation confirmation.

IN THE PATH OF CARTIER FALL CRUISE

Boston-Nova Scotia-Quebec-Montreal
September 25 – October 6, 2024

11 nights aboard Nautica | Oceania Cruises

Starting price $4,799 | includes roundtrip airfare and a stateroom choice of 6 free shore excursions or $600 shipboard credit.

Click here for complete Cruise information and to view availability!

Click to review the Cruise brochure!

Immerse yourself in wild and natural wonders on this 11-night cruise aboard Oceania Cruises’ Nautica.

Embark in Boston and set sail for Portland, Maine. Explore the charm of Portland as you meander through its lively downtown area or enjoy the lovely waterfront and parks.

Cruise to Saint John where you can catch a glimpse of Reversing Falls—a mesmerizing tidal phenomenon. Get a taste of Nova Scotia in Halifax and Sydney with local fare.

Old Quebec is a historic neighborhood of Quebec City, the capital city of the Canadian province of Quebec.

Bask in the natural beauty of Havre Saint Pierre and the astonishing rock formations of the Mingan Archipelago.

Continue your journey through wild wonders in Sept-Iles and hike to the lookout point of Grand Basque Island before visiting Baie Comeau.

In Saguenay, indulge your flair for the French—enjoy a flamboyant performance at the Théâtre Palais Municipal depicting the founding of the area.

Before completing your tour in Montréal, stop in Quebec City for high tea at the iconic Château Frontenac.

Montreal Post-Program Tour Don’t just wave at your port city from the deck—extend your trip with an overnight land stay and city exploration. Spend more time with your feet on the ground and immerse yourself in local culture with engaging tours led by an expert travel guide.

PLAN WITH CONFIDENCE! Cancellations made 121+ days before departure may be made for $150pp. Contact trip Britt Jones at (325) 670-1377 | travel@dltq.net, or call our tour operator Go Next Travel at (800) 842-9023.

Click here for Cruise information and to view availability.

MEDITERRANEAN FALL CRUISE
“RENAISSANCE TRIUMPHS “

Rome-Tuscany-Provence-Barcelona
November 4-14, 2024

11-night cruise aboard Oceania Cruises’ Nautica.

Great starting price of $3,099 | includes roundtrip airfare and a stateroom choice of 6 free shore excursions or $600 shipboard credit.

Check out the Cruise Brochure!  And click here for full trip information and to view availability!

Take in art, architecture, history, and romance inspired by the Renaissance and the Enlightenment periods on this 10-night cruise aboard Oceania Cruises’ Riviera. Begin in timeless Rome and set sail along the sunny Mediterranean.

Escape to Naples to see Pompeii, a preserved ancient Roman city once buried under the ashes of nearby Mt. Vesuvius.

French Riviera city street

Cruise the terracotta cliff-lined waters of the Amalfi Coast and visit Valletta to see the celebrated St. John’s Co-Cathedral.

Take in Italian Renaissance masterpieces in Florence and Pisa.

Experience the culture and history of Genoa as you meander the twisting caruggi (narrow streets) before relaxing amidst the stunning views and sophisticated architecture of Nice.

Immerse yourself in the captivating landscapes of Provence as the aroma of lavender fields and breathtaking views of the coastlines and mountainous areas sweep you away.

Before journey’s end in beautiful Barcelona, pop into Palma de Mallorca’s plentiful art galleries and admire the fascinating exhibits on display.

Rome Pre-Cruise Tour | Barcelona Post-Cruise Tour Don’t just wave at your port city from the deck—extend your trip with an overnight land stay and city exploration. Spend more time with your feet on the ground and immerse yourself in local culture with engaging tours led by an expert travel guide. Click HERE for the optional pre-cruise extension to ROME.  HERE is info about the post-cruise extension to BARCELONA.

PLAN WITH CONFIDENCE! Cancellations made 121+ days before departure may be made for $150pp. Contact trip Britt Jones at (325) 670-1377 | travel@dltq.net, or call our tour operator Go Next Travel at (800) 842-9023.

 Contact Britt Jones at (325) 670-1377 | travel@dltq.net, or call our tour operator Go Next Travel at (800) 842-9023.

Click here for full trip information and to view availability!

Check out the Cruise Brochure!

An Exciting Experiential Adventure

DISCOVER EGYPT AND THE NILE VALLEY
March 9 – March 21, 2025

14 days incl. 4 nights cruising the Nile River aboard a Dahabiya | from $6995 + flight

Join us for a historical and cultural immersion into Egypt’s ancient treasures and timeless wonders.

From iconic landmarks to architectural marvels that have captivated the world for millennia, this land of pharaohs and pyramids is undeniably a crucial part of human history. Among the countless highlights—you’ll embark upon a private dahabiya sailing the tranquil Nile River, gaining rare access to ruins and temples during less occupied times.

On land, stay at five-star hotels, each a sanctuary of comfort and luxury. This unhurried journey reveals Egypt’s monumental historical events, staggering technological achievements, and compelling human stories.

Click here for Trip Brochure.

Click here for Real-Time Information and to claim your spot.

Highlights

What’s Included

Leave the planning to us and fully enjoy the journey. The Traveling Range Riders program is dedicated to giving travelers enriching cultural experiences to enhance lifelong education while strengthening their connection with each other and Hardin-Simmons University.

With HSU, you’ll have the opportunity to explore regions in every corner of the world. Our itineraries offer an exciting blend of exotic destinations and traditional locales and are led by experienced guides and, whenever possible, an HSU host. We work with the most respected travel vendors in the industry to bring you high-quality opportunities to broaden your travel and intellectual horizons.

While the HSU connection is an important component of our program, our trips are open to all travel enthusiasts – alumni, family members, and friends alike – who want to take part in educational travel opportunities, ensuring a richer, more diverse experience for all!

A minimum number of participants is required to secure the services of an HSU host. We make every effort to send a host from HSU on as many departures as possible as we know this greatly enhances the travelers’ experience and makes the trip unique. If this is important to you in making your decision to travel with our program, please call us to confirm our faculty/staff hosted tours and for more information.

Brochures or other available information may be requested from the HSU Traveling Range Riders office (travel@dltq.net, 325-670-1377). You can also request information through our form: Traveling Range Riders Information Request (wufoo.com)

Brochures for each trip will be mailed by the tour operator approximately 6-9 months prior to departure. However, each tour operator makes their own decision about how many brochures to mail, so not everyone in our travel pool receives every brochure. In most cases, there is no need to wait for a brochure to reserve space on a tour. Many tours fill quickly, and we encourage you to call the tour operator to help you make your decision.

For upcoming trip information, call or email Program Director Britt Jones ’84 (brittj@dltq.net 325-670-1377), click here to request a brochure about any (or all) upcoming trip, or click here to be added to our mailing list.

Most of our travel partners offer special discounts throughout the year. In many cases, these special discounts are an Early Booking Discount price. Book early to get the best price and to take advantage of special amenities (see each trip brochure for more details).

To register for the various travel opportunities listed on our website, you can either contact the respective tour operator for that program. or contact Program Director Britt Jones ’84 (brittj@dltq.net 325-670-1377). Contact information for the tour operators will be outlined in individual trip brochures.

All trip pricing is per person based on double occupancy, or two people sharing a room or cabin, unless specified by the “no single supplement” text and icon. Many of the trips offered will require a single supplement for those who wish to travel alone. On most tours, a limited number of single rooms are available.

To lock in low airfares, our tour operators have negotiated special rates with major airlines that may require you to take non-direct flights. Please feel free to discuss “land only” options with the tour operator should you desire a more direct flight or want to use frequent flyer miles. HSU’s Traveling Range Riders program has no control over air travel and sometimes challenging airport infrastructures. Important to remember: If you book your own flights, you are responsible for making connections with the main group.

While we are optimistic that all of our tours will receive high reservation numbers, there is no way to predict the response to a particular tour. Our group sizes could range from as small as 2 people to as large as 50. If it’s one of our HSU exclusive, faculty-led tours, the group size will be kept to a maximum size of 24. You can always call the HSU Traveling Range Riders office to check the status of a trip’s group size before or after you book a tour.

Tour participants are subject to cancellation penalties as outlined in the individual trip brochures. Cancellation penalties are structured to coincide with advance payments that our tour operators must make to their suppliers, and the penalties are strictly enforced due to these contractual commitments.

Because our tour operators have different cancellation policies, please make sure that you understand all cancellation penalties prior to making your trip deposit. Each tour operator has a unique cancellation and refund policy.

Please review each trip brochure carefully prior to reserving space on a tour.

We also strongly encourage purchasing trip cancellation insurance.

We strongly recommend that you purchase travel insurance to ensure coverage in case of illness, injury, medical evacuation, delay or unforeseen emergency. We also strongly encourage purchasing trip cancellation insurance.

Americans will need a Travel Authorization to visit Europe starting in mid-2025.

The rules of travel to most European countries have changed. Starting in mid-2025, some 1.4 billion people from over 60 visa-exempt countries are required to have a travel authorization to enter 30 European countries for a short stay. ETIAS travel authorization is linked to a traveler’s passport. It is valid for up to three years or until the passport expires, whichever comes first. If you get a new passport, you need to get a new ETIAS travel authorization. With a valid ETIAS travel authorization, you can enter the territory of these European countries as often as you want for short-term stays – normally for up to 90 days in any 180-day period. However, it does not guarantee entry. When you arrive, a border guard will ask to see your passport and other documents and verify that you meet the entry conditions.

Real ID – Are You Ready

On May 7, 2025, U.S. travelers must be REAL ID compliant to board domestic flights and access certain federal facilities.  More Information.

U.S. Dept of State

Information for Travelers

U.S. Customs & Border Patrol

Know Before You Go Video
Information for Returning Travelers
Travel Tips Ensure Smooth CBP Processing Experience

TSA Pre-Check vs Global ID 

Global Entry vs TSA Pre-Check – what are the differences?

Travel Insurance Coverage

Hardin-Simmons highly recommends each traveler consider travel insurance. Our tour operators have relationships with certain insurance providers, which they will share with travelers, and an internet search will reveal other possible providers.

Avoiding Jet Lag

There is no singular cure for jet lag. Before departure, get ample rest, as being well-rested when you depart will allow you to better ward off jet lag symptoms. During your flight(s), be certain to drink plenty of water to counteract the dehydrating effects of air travel.

The goal is to adjust to your new time zone as quickly as possible, so follow this simple rule of thumb: if you are arriving in the morning, sleep on the plane so you will have energy for the day; if you are arriving in the evening, stay awake during the flight so you can sleep soundly at your destination.

Britt’s favorite app for helping avoid jet lag: Timeshifter® | Apps for Jet Lag & Shift Work

Keep your data safe while traveling!