Compare Yucatan Peninsula Adventure by Intrepid Travel vs Adventures Online: Discover the Cotswolds, Oxford & Stratford by Road Scholar

Day 1 Playa del Carmen

Hola! Welcome to Playa del Carmen – a popular resort town famed for its coral reef and sparkling warm waters. You’ll meet your leader and fellow travellers at the welcome meeting at 6 pm tonight. If you arrive early, why not spend the day lounging on the beach with a good book? When the introductions are out of the way, experience your first Mexican meal of the trip at an optional dinner with the group.

Day 2 Merida

Depart early, travelling by private vehicle towards Merida, learning some Spanish phrases from your leader on the way. You’ll stop at Chichen Itza – one of the new Seven Wonders of the World, for a guided tour. This is perhaps the most famous Maya site in Mexico, dominated by the Temple of Kukulkan (El Castillo), a Mesoamerican step-pyramid. Then take a cooling dip in one of the region’s lesser-known cenotes: Yokdzonot. By visiting this sparkling natural pool you’ll be supporting the local Mayan community. After your swim, visit the local Piste community. You’ll spend time with the locals – perhaps trying out some of your Spanish – while sampling traditional Yucatecan cuisine. When you arrive in Merida – the charming capital of the Yucatan region – get your bearings on an orientation walk with your leader. Wander the centuries-old streets and take in the grand buildings, learn about the town’s Maya heritage and swing by Mercado 60 – a buzzing food market with great margaritas and live music.

Day 3 Merida

Your day is free for you to explore the many sights of Merida. You could visit the Regional Museum of Yucatan, located within the pretty Palacio Canton, chill out in the shady Plaza Grande, admiring the 16th-century cathedral or seek out slow-roasted, citrus-marinated pork dish and Yucatan speciality, cochinita pibil. Alternatively, take a trip to one of Mexico's best-preserved Maya sites in Uxmal. Spend two hours exploring the ruins and see the impressive so-called Pyramid of the Magician, marvel at the decorative details of the Governor’s Palace and take the opportunity to climb one of the pyramids for astounding views of the surrounding area. Merida is a people-pleaser when it comes to nightlife and has something for all tastes, whether you’re after a low-key bar, cultural show or some live music and dancing.

Day 4 Campeche

Leave the city of Merida behind and drive to the coast to spend the night in Campeche – a seaside town with photogenic streets lined with multi-coloured low-rise buildings. On the way, visit the town of Becal, known as ‘the Hat Town’, where your group will meet with an artisan who works in a cave to weave the traditional jipi hats. Learn about the process and why they work in caves, then enjoy an included lunch. When you arrive in Campeche, head out on a leader-led orientation walk to get your bearings. The rest of the afternoon is free for you to explore on your own. For dinner tonight, you’ll find good seafood almost anywhere, and other tempting restaurants at Portales de San Martin.

Day 5 Bacalar

Rise and shine for the long cross-peninsular drive to Bacalar today. Bacalar is said to be the first settlement of the Itza tribe, who would go on to create Chichen Itza. Today it’s a quiet spot to sit back, relax and take in the surrounding nature. When you're there, take a short leader-led orientation walk to get your bearings, followed by a free afternoon and evening to relax after a long travel day. Cerveza, anyone?

Day 6 Bacalar

Today, take some time to chill out in relaxed lakeside Bacalar. You’ll have a free day to do as you please. Maybe a relax on the banks of the lake or a swim are in order? Bacalar is known for its Lake of Seven Colours – thanks to the various stunning shades of blue it adopts throughout the day. There’s also the option to visit Cenote Azul today – a beautiful fresh water rockpool, perfect for swimming. The sparkling blue water and stalactites and stalagmites in the cave are a sight to behold.

Day 7 Tulum

Enjoy a free morning relaxing around Bacalar’s lake before heading in a private vehicle towards Tulum. Along the way, you’ll visit the Tulum archaeological ruins that sit on the cliffs of the Yucatan Peninsula. With a local guide, explore the pre-Columbian Mayan walled city which served as a major port for Coba. Carry on to the town of Tulum and when you arrive, take an orientation walk with your leader. There may be time to fit in a visit to another cenote or find a bar to keep working on that Spanish with the locals. Later, you might like to share an optional final meal with the group to say farewell and ‘salud’ to Mexico.

Day 8 Tulum

After breakfast, there are no activities planned for the day, but that’s no reason to stop exploring. Tulum is famous for its turquoise water, snorkelling spots, ancient ruins and general magnificence, so no-one can blame you for wanting to stick around for a few more days. If you would like to spend some more time in Tulum, just speak to your booking agent.

Day 1 Welcome, Orientation, Landscape, History, Hike, Characters From the comfort of your own home.

Today’s session will start at 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time and end at 3:00 p.m. Road Scholars are welcome to join for informal chat at 10:45 a.m.

11.00 a.m. Welcome, Orientation, Introductions. Our Group Leader will greet everyone and provide an overview of the program including Zoom protocols. We’ll then get to know our fellow Road Scholars with group introductions. Lecture. We will learn about the making of a Cotswold landscape, setting the scene from the stone it sits upon, to the millennia of people who have developed it, to the agricultural practices and habitats of today in this historical and thriving area of England. 11:50 a.m. We’ll get to know our fellow Road Scholars with group introductions.

12:15 p.m. Lecture. We’ll learn about the history of the Cotswolds from prehistory to its importance in the influential wool trade. 1:00 p.m. Break. 1:30 p.m. Virtual field trip. We will “explore” the Cotswolds from Chipping Campden to the city of Bath and see some of the fascinating places and beautiful vistas along the route. 2:30 p.m. Lecture. In this lighthearted talk about “puppy dog pies” and “stinking bishops,” we’ll hear some of the region’s fascinating culinary tales and distinctive products. 2:50 p.m. Wrap-up and notes for tomorrow. 3:00 p.m. Today’s session will end.

Day 2 Q&A, Cotswold Characters, Stratford & Shakespeare, Foods From the comfort of your own home.

Today’s session will start at 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time and end at 2:30 p.m. Road Scholars are welcome to join for informal chat at 10:45 a.m.

11:00 a.m. We’ll have a Q&A session to review yesterday’s material and the topics for today. 11.15 a.m. Lecture. We’ll learn about the pub names, place names and phrases that can be heard and found in and around the Cotswolds. Afterwards, we'll take a look at the people who have been inspired by and shaped by the Cotswolds from Laurie Lee to the Mitford Sisters. 12:30 p.m. Break.

1:00 p.m. Lecture. We’ll examine the relationship between Stratford and Shakespeare, a look at the man and the town. 2:00 p.m. We’ll take a look at food in Shakespeare’s plays. What are they really? 2:25 p.m. Wrap-up and notes for tomorrow. 2:30 p.m. Today’s session will end.

Day 3 Q&A, History of Oxford & Colleges, River Boat Ride, Oddities From the comfort of your own home.

Today’s session will start at 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time and end at 2:30 p.m. Road Scholars are welcome to join for informal chat at 10:45 a.m.

11:00 a.m. We’ll have a Q&A session to review yesterday’s material and the topics for today. 11:15 a.m. Lecture. We will review a timeline history of the city of Oxford, from the Danes through to the Mini Cooper. 11:45 p.m. Break.

12:15 p.m. Lecture. We focus on the famous Oxford colleges, from the Middle Ages to the present. We will learn how the English-speaking world’s first university was founded, what makes the college system so special, and take a look at some of the beautiful buildings and the famous characters who have inhabited them. 1:15 p.m. Virtual field trip. We will “explore” Oxford and along the River Isis “When Alice Went Under Ground” — following the route of Lewis Carroll and Alice’s boat trip. 2:00 p.m. There are numerous “Oxford oddities.” We’ll find out why students wear a carnation in their lapels and why they have “the bumps.” 2:25 p.m. Wrap-up and farewells. 2:30 p.m. This concludes our program.