Heifer Study Tours: Travel to a Better World

Our tours are small, specialized expeditions through spectacular geography and unique ecosystems to visit remote villages and isolated peoples. But a Heifer Study Tour goes beyond sightseeing. It is a journey into the daily lives of extraordinary people. As you visit with the farmers and families who are working with Heifer to improve their lives and protect the earth, you learn more than you could have imagined.

A Study Tour takes you beyond your ideas about poverty, and shows you what the human spirit is capable of overcoming.

2009 Heifer Study Tours

Africa

Tanzania
Trip Dates: September 6-18, 2009
Begins and ends in Arusha
$4,200 + air; 10-12 people
Total Payment & Application due August 7, 2009 - DEADLINE EXTENDED! 

Study Tour please completely fill out the Tanzania Application and Pre-tour Questionnaire, and return both documents along with the deposit to the Study Tours office so we can process your application. You may also want to read the Itinerary and Tanzania Overview to get a better understanding of what the tour will involve.

This trip is LAND ONLY to allow you the option of airlines and best fares as well as the opportunity for pre/post trips on an independent basis. U.S. Domestic and International air transportation to and from Tanzania are not included. However, all transportation within Tanzania for the duration of the trip are included. Once accepted, participants will need to make their own flight arrangements. For air and travel guidance, please read our Tanzania Travel Information document. Please read our FAQ section for more details about Study Tours.

Tour Leader: Sarah Donaghy, Program Officer for Global Education
studytours@heifer.org

Asia/South Pacific

Nepal: Animal Well-Being
Trip Dates: October 4-14, 2009
Begins and ends in Kathmandu
$3,500 + air; 10-12 people
Total Payment & Application due September 4, 2009 - DEADLINE EXTENDED! 

Study Tour please completely fill out the Nepal Application and Pre-tour Questionnaire, and return both documents along with the deposit to the Study Tours office so we can process your application. You may also want to read the Itinerary and Nepal Overview to get a better understanding of what the tour will involve.

This trip is LAND ONLY to allow you the option of airlines and best fares as well as the opportunity for pre/post trips on an independent basis. U.S. Domestic and International air transportation to and from Nepal are not included. However, all transportation within Nepal for the duration of the trip are included. Once accepted, participants will need to make their own flight arrangements. For air and travel guidance, please read our Nepal Travel Information document. Please read our FAQ section for more details about Study Tours.

Tour Leader: Marleen New, Director of Corporate Marketing, Merchandising and Licensing
studytours@heifer.org

Viet Nam
Trip Dates: December 28, 2009 - January 7, 2010
Begins and ends in Ho Chi Minh
$2,400 + air; 12 people
Deposit & Application due October 28, 2009

If you are interested in this Study Tour please completely fill out the Viet Nam Application and Pre-tour Questionnaire, and return both documents along with the deposit to the Study Tours office so we can process your application. You may also want to read the Itinerary and Overview to get a better understanding of what the tour will involve.

This trip is LAND ONLY to allow you the option of airlines and best fares as well as the opportunity for pre/post trips on an independent basis. U.S. Domestic and International air transportation to and from Viet Nam are not included. However, all transportation within Viet Nam for the duration of the trip is included. Once accepted, participants will need to make their own flight arrangements. For air and travel guidance, please read our Viet Nam Travel Information document. Please read our FAQ section for more details about Study Tours.

Tour Leader: Sarah Tourville, Program Curriculum Coordinator
studytours@heifer.org

 Central/Eastern Europe

Carpathian Mountains (Poland, Slovakia & Ukraine)
Trip Dates: August 22 - September 2, 2009
Begins in Krakow, Poland and ends in Lviv, Ukraine
$3,000 + air; 12 people
Total Payment & Application due July 24, 2009 - DEADLINE EXTENDED! 

If you are interested in this Study Tour please completely fill out the Carpathian Application and Pre-tour Questionnaire, and return both documents along with the deposit to the Study Tours office so we can process your application. You may also want to read the Itinerary and Overview to get a better understanding of what the tour will involve.

This trip is LAND ONLY to allow you the option of airlines and best fares as well as the opportunity for pre/post trips on an independent basis. U.S. Domestic and International air transportation to and from Poland and Ukraine are not included. However, all transportation within these countries for the duration of the trip are included. Once accepted, participants will need to make their own flight arrangements to and from Poland and Ukraine. For air and travel guidance, please read our Carpathian Travel Information document. Please read our FAQ section for more details about Study Tours.

Tour Leader: Pat Stanley Keay, Community Relations Coordinator, Eastern Zone, for Heifer International
studytours@heifer.org

Georgia and Armenia (with Church of the Brethren highlights)
Trip Dates: September 17 - October 1, 2009
Begins in Tbilisi, Georgia and ends in Yerevan, Armenia
$3,500 + air; 12 people
Deposit & Application due July 17, 2009

UPDATE: Four scholarships of $1000 each are now available for college students and young professionals for this study tour. For more information on applying for this tour, contact sara.drew@heifer.org.

Jan West Schrock, Senior Advisor for Heifer International, and Kathleen Campanella, Partner and Public Relations Director for the Church of the Brethren Service Center and Heifer International Board Member, will co-lead this Study Tour. Jan West Schrock is the daughter of Heifer's founder, Dan West, and along with Heifer Georgia and Armenia staff, will be able to provide a unique insight into Heifer's work in this area.

Your trip to these two nations in the Caucasus will be an intensive educational experience in the world of sustainable community development. We will see, hear, and touch Heifer's work including youth and peace projects. You will see Heifer's 12 Cornerstones for Just and Sustainable Development in action and come away with a deep understanding and appreciation of the uniqueness and effectiveness of the Heifer model of "Passing on the Gift."

The Study Tour will begin in Tbilisi, Georgia for an orientation and the history of Heifer International. You will learn about the Church of the Brethren's relief work in Armenia following genocide in 1917-1921, a model that inspired relief and development efforts for the coming decades. You also will see the effects of development grants recently given through the Church of the Brethren Global Food Crisis Fund. You will visit many Heifer communities in both Georgia and Armenia, tour cultural and historical sites, worship with the Armenian Church, experience the Museum of Genocide and visit the Black Sea.

The cost of the Study Tour is $3,500 and includes accommodations, meals, in-country transportation, project visits, tour leaders and guides, workshops, cultural visits, SOS emergency evacuation insurance, and a Heifer rolling backpack.

If you are interested in this Study Tour please completely fill out the Georgia and Armenia Application and Pre-tour Questionnaire, and return both documents along with the deposit to the Study Tours office so we can process your application. You may also want to read the Itinerary and Overview to get a better understanding of what the tour will involve.

This trip is LAND ONLY to allow you the option of airlines and best fares as well as the opportunity for pre/post trips on an independent basis. U.S. Domestic and International air transportation to and from Poland and Ukraine are not included. However, all transportation within these countries for the duration of the trip are included. Once accepted, participants will need to make their own flight arrangements to and from Poland and Ukraine. For air and travel guidance, please read our Georgia and Armenia Travel Information document. Please read our FAQ section for more details about Study Tours.

Tour Leaders: Jan West Schrock and Kathleen Campanella
studytours@heifer.org

The Americas

Ecuador
Trip Dates: September 29 - October 8, 2009
Begins and ends in Quito
$2,000 + air; 14 people
Total Payment & Application due August 28, 2009 - DEADLINE EXTENDED! 

If you are interested in this Study Tour please completely fill out the Ecuador Application and Pre-tour Questionnaire, and return both documents along with the deposit to the Study Tours office so we can process your application. You may also want to read the Itinerary and Overview to get a better understanding of what the tour will involve.

This trip is LAND ONLY to allow you the option of airlines and best fares as well as the opportunity for pre/post trips on an independent basis. U.S. Domestic and International air transportation to and from Ecuador are not included. However, all transportation within the country for the duration of the trip is included. Once accepted, participants will need to make their own flight arrangements to and from Ecuador. For air and travel guidance, please read our Ecuador Travel Information document. Please read our FAQ section for more details about Study Tours.

Tour Leader: Michelle Izaguirre, Director of Heifer Ranch Learning Center
studytours@heifer.org

USA: Appalachia/Southeastern Region
Trip Dates: September 28 - October 4, 2009
Begins and ends in Asheville, North Carolina (includes travel to Tennessee and Kentucky)
$1,500 + air; 14-16 people
Deposit & Application due July 28, 2009

If you are interested in this Study Tour please completely fill out the USA Appalachia/Southeastern Application and Pre-tour Questionnaire, and return both documents along with the deposit to the Study Tours office so we can process your application. You may also want to read the Itinerary and Overview to get a better understanding of what the tour will involve.

This trip is LAND ONLY to allow you the option of airlines and best fares as well as the opportunity for pre/post trips on an independent basis. U.S. Domestic air transportation to and from North Carolina are not included. However, all transportation for the duration of the trip is included. Once accepted, participants will need to make their own flight arrangements to and from North Carolina. For air and travel guidance, please read our USA Travel Information document. Please read our FAQ section for more details about Study Tours.

Tour Leader: Jeff Dombroskas & Ginger Deason
studytours@heifer.org

Guatemala
Trip Dates: November 2-12, 2009
Begins and ends in Guatemala City
$2,100 + air; 12-14 people
Deposit & Application due September 2, 2009

If you are interested in this Study Tour please completely fill out the Guatemala Application and Pre-tour Questionnaire, and return both documents along with the deposit to the Study Tours office so we can process your application. You may also want to read the Itinerary and Guatemala Overview to get a better understanding of what the tour will involve.

This trip is LAND ONLY to allow you the option of airlines and best fares as well as the opportunity for pre/post trips on an independent basis. U.S. Domestic and International air transportation to and from Guatemala are not included. However, all transportation within the country for the duration of the trip is included. Once accepted, participants will need to make their own flight arrangements to and from Guatemala. For air and travel guidance, please read our Guatemala Travel Information document. Please read our FAQ section for more details about Study Tours.

Tour Leader: Katherine Lu, Director of Study Tours
studytours@heifer.org

Trip Length and Cost Estimates

Africa
10/16 days - $3,000 - 4,000

Asia/South Pacific
10/16 days - $2,500 - $3,500

Central/Eastern Europe
10/16 days - $2,500 - $3,500

The Americas
North America: 5/10 days - $1,000 - $1,500
Latin or South America: 10/14 days - $2,000 to $3,000

Prices include accommodations, meals, in-country transportation, project visits, tour leaders and guides, workshops, sightseeing, a Heifer rolling backpack, nametag and SOS emergency evacuation insurance. Our trips are LAND ONLY to allow you the options of airlines and best fares as well as the opportunity for pre/post trips on an independent basis. Our tours do not include domestic or international air transportation to and from the country destination.

We recognize that travel is not without risk, and we take the safety of our passengers very seriously. If deemed advisable, we reserve the right to cancel or interrupt a trip at any time.

Trip itineraries are subject to change at any time, even after a trip commences.

For more information about a specific trip, please contact studytours@heifer.org.