Past Trips Taken by HSU's Traveling Range Riders
Find our past HSU Traveling Range Riders experiences on this page. As offerings change, our archive and galleries are a great way to know what you may see again in the future!
FALL COLORS ON MARK TWAIN’S MISSISSIPPI
Sep. 24-Oct. 2, 2023 • St. Louis to Red Wing • from $2,399
Discover the beauty of the Mississippi River in autumn! Join us for this eight-night adventure on Mark Twain’s Mississippi.
PLAN WITH CONFIDENCE! Receive a complete refund for cancellations made 121+ days before departure. Contact Britt Jones at (325) 670-1377 | travel@hsutx.edu, or call our tour operator Go Next Travel at (800) 842-9023.
Grass, water and autumn trees surround the Gateway Arch in Saint Louis, Missouri.
Click here for Complete Trip Information!
While the leaves turn yellows and reds, travel with HSU from St. Louis to Minneapolis.
Begin with a complimentary pre-cruise hotel stay in St. Louis, famous for its soaring arch. Your cruise begins in Alton, a city whose charming monuments dot the historic streets.
Embark the American Queen and cruise to Hannibal, the boyhood home of Mark Twain, famously known as the setting for many of his writings.
In Bettendorf, get a glimpse of Iowa— explore the history of this fascinating river town. Then head to Dubuque, where you can pay a visit to the Dubuque Museum of Art, Iowa’s oldest cultural institution.
In La Crosse, seek out a local brew pub to get a taste of the city’s long and storied history in the brewing industry. Before journey’s end, spend a day in Red Wing, a city whose pioneering story lives on in its many galleries and museums.
KENYA SAFARI: THE BIG 5
August 16 to 26, 2023 • From $4295 plus airfare
Spot for the “Big 5” during this 11-day journey featuring unparalleled access to Kenya’s national parks, reserves, and conservancies.
Along with the guidance of an Orbridge Expedition Leader and remarkable accommodations, this adventure provides a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to witness the spectacular array of wildlife in this part of the world.
Click here for Complete Trip Information!
HIGHLIGHTS
- Explore extraordinary national parks and reserves in Kenya—each featuring unrivaled wildlife and habitat diversity—with opportunities to observe the “Big 5” (endangered black rhino, leopard, elephant, Cape buffalo, and lion).
- Retreat to luxurious lodges and tented camps, each uniquely beautiful and authentic in décor.
- Enjoy daily game drives—accompanied by an Orbridge Expedition Leader and expert naturalist safari guides—aboard customized 4×4 vehicles.
- Visit the Ol Pejeta Conservancy, an organization dedicated to wildlife preservation and the economic growth and improvement of surrounding rural communities. Ol Pejeta is home to the largest black rhino sanctuary in East Africa, which also houses the only two remaining northern white rhinos in the world.
- Observe land and avian wildlife during game drives through Lake Nakuru National Park, described as the greatest ornithological spectacle in the world.
- Discover the Maasai Mara National Reserve—where approximately 95 species of mammals, amphibians, and reptiles, and over 400 bird species have been recorded.
- Join an optional hot-air balloon safari over the Maasai Mara (additional fee).
PLAN WITH CONFIDENCE! Receive a complete refund for cancellations made 120+ days before departure. Reserve today online, by calling 866-639-0079, or by contacting Britt Yates Jones ’84 at 325-670-1377 / travel@hsutx.edu.
IRISH INSPIRATION CRUISE
June 21-29, 2023 • 8 nights from $3,799 with airfare.
PLAN WITH CONFIDENCE! Receive a complete refund for cancellations made 121+ days before departure. Contact Britt Jones at (325) 670-1377 | travel@hsutx.edu, or call our tour operator Go Next Travel at (800) 842-9023.
Click here for Complete Trip Information!
Join us as we explore the gorgeous green coasts of Ireland on an 8-night cruise aboard Oceania Cruises’ Riviera. Begin your journey in Belfast and set sail for Dublin (Dún Laoghaire), the birthplace to some of the world’s greatest literary figures. Stroll through Waterford, a 1,110-year-old Viking town and the oldest city in Ireland.
Explore storied castles outside of Cork and Bantry Bay, a region where fishing villages and Irish pubs uphold strong traditions. Venture to the countryside of Galway to take in the dramatic Cliffs of Moher. Explore the town history of Killybegs and see the world’s largest knotted loom. Before making your way back to Belfast, visit Derry, known for the intact 17th century walls surrounding the city center.
Itinerary
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June 20:Depart for Belfast, Northern Ireland
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June 21:Belfast, Northern Ireland
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June 22:Dublin (Dún Laoghaire), Ireland
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June 23:Waterford, Ireland
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June 24:Cork (Cobh), Ireland
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June 25:Bantry, Ireland
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June 26:Galway, Ireland
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June 27:Killybegs, Ireland
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June 28:Derry, Northern Ireland
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June 29:Belfast, Northern Ireland
Anchor Port*Cruise itinerary is subject to change.
2nd in our National Parks Series!
SOUTHWEST NATIONAL PARKS
May 10-18, 2023 • from $4,695 plus airfare
Click here for Trip Information from our Trusted Tour Operator!
Click here for the Trip Brochure!
Join fellow travelers on a journey to the exceptional national parks and monuments of the Southwest. Travel to Grand Canyon National Park for awe-inspiring views from the park’s rim. Admire the beauty of light striking Antelope Canyon’s narrow sandstone walls. Share a peaceful evening with Navajo storytellers, and ponder cultures past and present at a petroglyph site during a river raft ride down Glen Canyon.
Continue to Utah where you’ll spend enjoyable time at Bryce Canyon and Zion National Parks—viewing rock formations and otherworldly landscapes that must be seen to be believed.
With the guidance of an expert Orbridge Expedition Leader and the comforts of a private motor coach, there is no better way to visit our national parks.
PLUS: Kick off your adventure in the Southwest by joining the optional pre-tour, Denver to Moab aboard the Rocky Mountaineer. Enjoy nature’s wondrous scenery in comfort and style during two days of rail travel in premium SilverLeaf class. After arriving in Moab, delight in guided touring at Arches National Park and Canyonlands National Park for two additional areas to explore.
Highlights:
- Stay at lodges inside Grand Canyon National Park and other properties carefully selected for their rich histories, beautiful locations, and superb service and accommodations.
- Spend additional time in Grand Canyon National Park or choose to join an optional helicopter flightseeing excursion over the Grand Canyon (additional fee).
- Discover the sunbaked natural structures and sacred lands of Monument Valley.
- Witness the towering red rock cliffs lining the Colorado River during a rafting excursion in Glen Canyon.
- Behold the radiant colors and fluid-like patterns inside the walls of Antelope Canyon.
- Visit a traditional Navajo hogan, and set out on a 4-wheel drive tour through Monument Valley.
- Observe the monolithic hoodoos in Bryce Canyon National Park.
- Follow the paths of Ancestral Puebloans and pioneers at Zion National Park.
PLAN WITH CONFIDENCE! Receive a complete refund for cancellations made 90+ days before departure. Reserve today online, by calling 866-639-0079, or by contacting Britt Yates Jones ’84 at 325-670-1377 / travel@hsutx.edu.
GREEK & TURKISH SPLENDOR: Eastern Mediterranean Cruise | September 3-14, 2022 • 10 nights from $3,699 including airfare | • BONUS $250 Shipboard Credit
Sign up today for this popular and captivating 10-night cruise aboard Oceania Cruises’ Riviera with HSU’s Traveling Range Riders and host Britt (Yates) Jones ’84.
Click here for the Trip Brochure.
Click here for More Trip Information from our Tour Operator!
Tour the classic treasures of the eastern Mediterranean on this 10-night cruise aboard Oceania Cruises’ Riviera.
Voyage through terracotta-lined seashores and see St. John’s Co-Cathedral in Valletta. Appreciate Byzantine icons, artifacts, and frescoes on display in Igoumenitsa, and in Argostoli see the sun-bleached ramparts of the St. George Castle ruins. Swim, snorkel, or stretch out in the sun in Chania.
Stop in Santorini, where the house-dotted cliffs are the perfect backdrop for a moment of reflection. In Athens and Ephesus, indulge your historic side as you make your way through ruins and relics. And take in the pleasures of Istanbul—meander the spice markets or make a stop at the Blue Mosque.
PLAN WITH CONFIDENCE! Receive a complete refund for cancellations made 121+ days before departure. Contact Britt Jones at (325) 670-1377 | travel@hsutx.edu, or call our tour operator Go Next Travel at (952) 918-8950.
Valletta pre-program option available.
NATIONAL PARKS & LODGES of the OLD WEST | July 14-22, 2022 • 8 nights from $4,995 plus airfare.
Free Expedition Library for all who reserve by December 17. RESERVE WITH CONFIDENCE! Full refunds for cancellations made at least 91 days before departure.
An acclaimed program, operating for more than 30 years and still selling out!
Click here for the Trip Brochure.
Click here for more Trip Information from our Tour Operator
Join fellow alumni and friends on a journey that celebrates the American West’s magnificent National Parks, tracing legends and storied monuments along the way.
From Mount Rushmore to Old Faithful and from Spearfish Canyon to the Snake River, you will see the best of the Old West, and traverse its beautiful vistas in style and comfort. Wonderfully historic hotels and lodges are a highlight of this program, including landmark lodging within the parks themselves.
Indulge in the geological phenomena of hot springs in South Dakota, and journey through Badlands National Park, known as nature’s surreal masterpiece, where impressive herds of bison roam, and dazzling, dramatic pinnacles rise over the largest undisturbed mixed-grass prairie in the United States.
BOOK TODAY WITH CONFIDENCE – full refunds are guaranteed for cancellations made at least 91 days before departure. Sign up online or by calling our tour partner at 866-639-0079 (Orbridge). Or contact trip host Britt (Yates) Jones ’84 at 325-670-1377 | travel@hsutx.edu.
Program Highlights:
Experience the diverse wonders of our national parks accompanied by an Orbridge Expedition Leader.
Overnight in landmark lodges that are national treasures themselves.
Enjoy a Jeep safari tour at Custer State Park—a wildlife reserve with scenic lakes, dramatic granite spires, and lush grasslands where bison herds roam.
Visit the world’s largest mammoth site, where scientists are excavating remains of Columbian and woolly mammoths from 26,000 years ago.
Marvel at the grandeur of Mount Rushmore and Crazy Horse Memorial.
See the dramatic effects of Yellowstone’s volcanically active caldera and visit otherworldly geothermal sites, including Old Faithful Geyser.
Explore Grand Teton National Park—host to flora and fauna that date back to prehistoric times.
What’s included: 8 nights accommodations; 8 breakfasts and 7 dinners, including special welcome and farewell dinners.
Lago Como ♦ Lago Maggiore ♦ Lago Orta
September 18-26, 2021 | From approximately $3895* plus air
Join HSU’s Britt Jones ’84 in Italy this September. Click here for Trip Brochure with details!
Northern Italy’s fabled Lake District beckons with its sublime landscapes of shimmering glacial waters, soaring Alpine peaks and bijou towns. Immerse yourself in the distinct bella figura Italian style that has inspired poets, composers, artists and philosophers for centuries.
Stay for one week in the heart of the quintessentially Italian città di Como, at the lakeside, belle-époque Palace Hotel, just steps from the local market. Cruise by private boat on Lake Como, Lake Maggiore and Lake Orta.
During expert-guided excursions, explore authentic villages and cultural treasures. Visit Bellagio, Villa del Balbianello, Stresa, Isola Bella, San Giulio and Sacro Monte di Orta, a UNESCO World Heritage site. In Milan, visit the Duomo and Teatro alla Scala, and enjoy a specially arranged viewing of Leonardo da Vinci’s The Last Supper.
Enriching lectures and the exclusive Village Life® Forum with local Lombardy residents provide personal perspectives of daily life and cultural heritage. 
This intimate and comprehensive soggiorno, at just the right pace, includes exceptional accommodations, specially arranged meals and all excursions.
Verona and Venice Post-Program Option available.
Palace Hotel – The ideally located, classic belle‑époque Palace Hotel is a delightful establishment with an ideal setting on the lungolago (lakefront promenade) overlooking Lake Como, just steps away from Como’s beautiful marble Duomo and the medieval, pedestrian-only town center. Venetian stucco artistry, Italian marble and antique furniture provide subtle touches of 19th‑century elegance throughout the hotel.
*The Travel Program outlined here is subject to the features, final pricing and terms and conditions set forth in the published Travel Program brochure.
With Pastor Stan Allcorn of Pioneer Drive Baptist Church, Abilene
March 3-12, 2020 • $3,746 per person. Includes round-trip air from DFW; $300 deposit per person required. Final Payment due 11/19/19. Space is limited.
If you have ever had the desire to see Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Nazareth, the Sea of Galilee, and many of the places you have read about all your life in God’s word, then please consider joining us for this incredible trip. It’s entirely possible that your life will never be the same!
Travel with HSU’s World Famous Cowboy Band to New Orleans for a lively memorable adventure!
February 21-24, 2020 • from $700 per person
Click here for Trip Flyer & Registration How-To
Perform with the Band or simply applaud with the audience for these popular HSU ambassadors as they take part in two Mardi Gras parades plus two other exciting performances during this high-energy four-day trip.
Included in the cost is admission to the WWII Museum and Mardi Gras World, a Jazz Cruise on the Natchez, a swamp boat tour of the bayou, six meals, and three nights in an interior-corridor hotel. You also receive basic traveler’s insurance to cover medical expenses and trip delays
Two packages are available! Ride the bus with the band from Abilene OR meet up with the band in New Orleans and shadow them using your own vehicle. Rates start at $700 per person for double occupancy and $1000 for a single room.
Registration closes after December 31, 2019.
- Create your account and register at: trips.TourOpsPro.com
- When prompted, enter the Trip Registration Code: HSAFF20NOLA **Registration Code is cAsE SenSiTiVE)
- There are two packages available, one riding the bus with the band from Abilene and a second that is just the ground package in New Orleans with transportation on own.
- You have the choice of making payments online through your checking account for no fee OR you can choose to use a credit card and that incurs a 4% convenience fee. Your choice.
- The system does not automatically bill travelers for the second installment. You will get payment reminder emails, but must log in to authorize the second payment.
September 30-October 7, 2019
$3,659 per person
Price includes 8 days • 10 meals • 4 lodges/hotels • Roundtrip airfare!
Join the Hardin-Simmons Traveling Range Riders as we journey through New England, soaking up the magnificent fall landscape and experiencing hallmarks of the area on this 8-day tour that brings you from the heart of Boston to the farms, coast, and mountains of the north.
Visit our trip-specific web page by clicking here.
“God blows on the leaves, they turn to gold, and we call it autumn.” ― Joyce Rachelle
Click image for full brochure.
10-Night Luxury Cruise to Alaska from Seattle
Aboard Oceania’s Regatta
July 16-26, 2019 • from $3,340 per person, double occupancy. Includes airfare!
Special pricing offers extended.
Call For Availability! 325-670-1377 or 800-460-3908.
Join HSU President Eric and Elise Bruntmyer as you sail the stunning islands of the Inside Passage; sample fresh-caught salmon in Ketchikan; explore contemporary Alaska in the capital city of Juneau; strike gold in Skagway; stand in awe of the Hubbard Glacier; immerse yourself in native cultures in Sitka; and celebrate British heritage in Victoria.
CALL FOR AVAILABILITY! 325-670-1377
Branson with the Band
A Travel with Students opportunity
April 11-14, 2019 $600-$1200, depending on package options
Join the World Famous HSU Cowboy Band in Branson, MO, where, over four days, they will perform eight times. Many of these venues are not on the usual tourist route. You will have the option of attending all, most, or several of the band’s concerts.
Two variants of Branson with the Band are being offered to Alumni & Friends:
~ Ground-Only: Make your own way to Branson and “shadow” the band using your own vehicle.
~ Travel-with-the-Band: This immersive experience includes roundtrip motorcoach transportation from Abilene.
Both packages include three nights’ lodging, entrance to Cowboy Band performance venues including Silver Dollar City Theme Park, Titanic Museum, Branson Belle; admission to The Haygoods show; breakfast daily, 2 lunches, 2 dinners. HSU and Green Light Group Tours provide liability and emergency medical insurance. When booking use registration code, HSU19ALUMNI
Helps:
How to Register: https://youtu.be/hnzJ-r9NyXY
How to Make a Payment: https://youtu.be/-ql4jAYoFI4
help@greenlightgrouptours.com
Florence • Verona • Lake Garda • Venice
May 30 – June 9, 2019 • price from $2,500, land only
Registration Deadline: November 1, 2018
Experience Italy alongside HSU students during a choral festival in Florence, Italy, and surrounding areas. HSU’s Dr. Clell Wright is directing the festival choir in a performance of the Schubert Mass in G. The trip is open to any and all who want to go. You are welcome to sing in the chorus or simply tag along. Either way, you’ll have a wonderful experience touring Florence, Verona, Lake Garda, and Venice.
If you chose to sing the Schubert, no prior rehearsals are required – familiarize yourself with the piece on your own, then participate in rehearsals after arriving in Italy. Purchase your copy of the score here: Schubert Mass in G. The HSU choir will also present a concert in Verona with a repertoire different from the Schubert. You may join the choir for this performance, provided you attend three days of rehearsals in Abilene immediately prior to departure.
Commemorate the 75th Anniversary of the historic D-Day Invasions aboard the exclusively chartered, Five-Star, small ship Le Boréal
Lisbon • Oporto • Santiago de Compostela • Bilbao • Mont-St-Michel • Normandy Beaches • London’s Tower Bridge
May 5- 14, 2019 • from $6,195 per person, double occupancy, land/cruise only
Discount Deadline Extended! Reserve soon to save $2,000 per couple (refundable deposit).
Explore the historical legacies and dynamic cultures of coastal Portugal, Spain, France and England, and commemorate the 75th anniversary of the historic D-Day landings. Visit three UNESCO World Heritage sites and conclude with a memorable cruise up the storied River Thames to London’s illustrious Tower Bridge. Special guest speaker Dwight D. Eisenhower II accompanies you to the hallowed beaches of Normandy. Find detailed itinerary notes by clicking here.
Click image for full brochure.
Aboard Oceana Sirena
Miami to Miami, Featuring: Havana • Cienfuegos • Santiago de Cuba • Punta Cana • Nassau
January 2–13, 2019 • from $2,949 per person with free airfare*
Just the name of Cuba conjures images of sugar-white beaches, salsa music, and 1950s-era cars. Sail the warm waters of the Caribbean with HSU during this fantastic trip aboard Oceania’s Sirena. Although Cuba is not fully open to Americans, by traveling with Hardin-Simmons, you will gain privileged access. Developing deeper friendships and encouraging one another while enjoying exceptional opportunities to learn and grow are central to HSU’s Traveling Range Riders trips. Don’t miss this chance to explore the with us!
Click image for full brochure.
October 21–29, 2018 • from $1,699 per person
Aboard the Luxurious American Queen®
From moss-draped oak trees and fragrant idyllic gardens to stately pillared mansions and storybook downtown districts, the American South conjures up an array of enchanting images.
Celebrate the region’s intriguing history and architectural elegance on a relaxing Lower Mississippi River cruise aboard the magnificent American Queen, the largest, most opulent steamboat in the world. Sit in on daily lectures by the Riverlorian, your onboard history and culture expert, and enjoy listening to professional vocalist and Outstanding Young Alumni Award recipient Deanna Julian ’00, a member of the on-board troupe.
