This trip has been completed. View photos of the trip.

January 25 – February 2, 2009 with Carolyn Dillian, Princeton Writing Program. Exchange the winter blues for the deep blue waters of the South Pacific.

Created by ancient submarine fires and sculpted by waves and wind over countless millennia, the enchanting isles of Tahiti, Bora Bora, and Moorea have beckoned travelers for centuries. Discover an earthly paradise where forest-clad mountains, fragrant with the scent of white-petaled tiare blossoms, rise dramatically from the azure waters of tropical lagoons and where the ancient customs and traditional hospitality of the islanders survive to the present day. Join Princeton on this land and sea journey, January 25 – February 2, 2009 aboard the S.Y. Star Flyer, a modern four-masted barquentine with state-of-the-art amenities that still evokes the great ocean voyages of the 19th century.

This sailing adventure begins in Papeete, Tahiti, in the Society Islands, and continues on to make port calls at the idyllic islands of Huahine, Tah'a, Bora Bora, Raiatea, and Moorea. Discover the riches of the small islands—explore a vanilla plantation, visit a black pearl farm, and learn about the food and craft specialties of each area. Meet with local residents as they share their perspectives and insights on life in Polynesia. And enjoy an aquatic program offering opportunities to swim, snorkel, and dive in the clear blue waters of the South Seas.

Optional extensions are available in Papeete before the cruise and on Moorea, after the main journey's end.

Please note: We will be sharing this voyage with alumni travelers from Harvard, Williams, and the University of California, Berkeley.

About the Study Leader
Carolyn Dillian, a lecturer in the Princeton Writing Program, will serve as study leader for this program.

Carolyn Dillian is an archaeologist with expertise in prehistoric North America and a research focus on long-distance trade and exchange. She has directed archaeological projects throughout North America, and has also worked in Africa. Her past fieldwork explored the selective use of a quarry in northeastern California as a raw material source for ceremonial objects in prehistory. More recently, she is using geochemical techniques to trace cross-continental long distance transport of rare stone artifacts from mid-Atlantic archaeological contexts. This recent research explores the role of the exotic in Native American trade and exchange and examines down-the-line systems as mechanisms for long-distance movement of stone materials. Prior to coming to Princeton, Dr. Dillian taught in the Anthropology Department at Rutgers University. She received her B.A. and M.S. from the University of Pennsylvania, and her Ph.D. from the University of California, Berkeley.

To make a reservation, fill out the form in the brochure or contact Princeton Journeys at (609) 258-8686 or journeys@princeton.edu.

View photos of the trip.

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