Afternoon: Check in to hotel and Program Registration.

Dinner: Buffet Dinner- Prince Court Restaurant

Evening: Welcome, introductions and Program Orientation.

Lodging: Hawaii Prince Hotel Waikiki

Meals Included: Dinner

Breakfast: Buffet Breakfast – Prince Court Restaurant

Morning: Class: Introduction to Palau and Cultural Overview & a Peek Underwater

Lunch: Your choice to explore local fare.

Afternoon: Board midafternoon United flight from Honolulu to Guam; meal served in-flight

Meals Included: Breakfast

Evening: Arrive Palau late evening, transfer to hotel and check in.

In Transit: Cross International Dateline and arrive Guam. At approximately 7:00 pm, flight arrives in Guam; transfer to flight to Palau At approximately 8:00 pm, United Airlines flight departs for Koror, Palau; light snack on board (subject to change depending on airline policy).

Lodging: The Penthouse Palau Hotel

Note: There will be a brush up snorkeling lesson for those who are interested prior to the first snorkeling excursion

Breakfast: The Penthouse Hotel

Morning: Class: Marine Life in Palau. Depart on bus after classe for dock where will have lunch nearby.

Lunch: Lunch near the dock

Afternoon: After lunch, there will be time to pick up snorkel gear (if you did not bring your own set) & brush up snorkeling lesson in swimming pool for those who are interested. After that, head for our first snorkeling excursion. A short boat trip will take us to sheltered Nikko Bay for an introductory exploration of Palau’s fantastic marine environment with its spectacular variety of corals, fish species, and other marine life.

Dinner: The Penthouse Hotel

Evening: At leisure.

Lodging: The Penthouse Palau Hotel

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Note: Full day of snorkeling; The actual day we visit a particular snorkel site is dependent upon varying weather, tide, and other local conditions at the time and are subject to change.

Breakfast: The Penthouse Hotel

Morning: Full Day Field Trip: Snorkeling and History in the Rock Islands South and East Lagoon - You will have a full day motor boat trip exploring the spectacular Rock Islands, wondrously mushroom-shaped with their bases undercut by water erosion, fish grazing, and the scraping by tiny chitons. Here you will explore the abundant variety of marine and bird life, including a rare opportunity to snorkel in a marine lake. In Jellyfish Lake, you’ll swim among millions of jellyfish of all sizes as you learn about the evolution of these creatures that have virtually lost their sting due to the absence of predators and minimized carnivorous behaviors.

Lunch: Picnic lunch.

Afternoon: Snorkeling excursion continues. We'll arrive back at the hotel in the late afternoon

Dinner: The Penthouse Hotel

Lodging: The Penthouse Palau Hotel

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Note: Some walking

Breakfast: The Penthouse Hotel

Morning: Explore Palau International Reef Center. You will begin your visit with an orientation and discussion on the history of the facility and its current research programs followed by a guided tour to view the fascinating marine life exhibits with a special focus on the reef systems of Palau and Micronesia .

Lunch: On your own to explore local fare

Afternoon: Arrive The Penthouse Hotel - Free Afternoon – Lunch and Dinner are on your own to explore local fare. You might consider dining at Taj (Indian Food), Fuji (Japanese), Yanno’s (a local deli) or other restaurants. Keep an eye out for kangkum, a delicious Palauan leafy green – delicious served a variety of different ways. There are also a variety of things to do – explore Koror, interact with dolphins at Dolphin Pacific, do more snorkeling, visit the Etpison Museum, visit the jail to see their great local carvings, or have a cool drink at Abai Ice.

Dinner: On your own to explore local fare

Lodging: The Penthouse Palau Hotel

Meals Included: Breakfast

Note: Full day of snokeling; The actual day we visit a particular snorkel site is dependent upon varying weather, tide, and other local conditions at the time and are subject to change.

Breakfast: The Penthouse Hotel

Morning: Full Day Excursion: Snorkeling and History in the Rock Islands South and West Lagoon – Today you head back into the Rock Islands to continue your exploration of this spectacular area. You’ll snorkel many different spots and have the chance to see more of the beauty of this area above and below the water’s surface. Conditions permitting, planned stops today may include Ulong “Channel” where the current may support a drift snorkel; Soft Coral Arch; Cemetery Reef; and a quick stop at “Milky Way” to see and try a “wonder clay” from the ocean floor that can sell for $50+ a bottle in Asian countries.

Lunch: Picnic lunch.

Afternoon: Full day snorkeling excursion continues. Return to the Penthouse Hotel late afternoon.

Dinner: The Penthouse Hotel

Evening: At leisure.

Lodging: The Penthouse Palau Hotel

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Note: Some walking in the morning, 1/2 day snorkeling in the afternoon. The actual day we visit a particular snorkel site is dependent upon varying weather, tide, and other local conditions at the time and are subject to change.

Breakfast: The Penthouse Hotel

Morning: Travel by boat to Metuker ra Bisch (the Yapese stone money "rai" quarry) before making an entrance into Airai Village by way of the sea. Here we have received exclusive permission to enter the High Chief's Bai (traditional Palauan meeting house), and we are honored by the presence of the Airai chiefs who chant and interpret the stories engraved on the beams of the Bai.

Lunch: Local style lunch in Airai Village specially prepared for Road Scholars by the villagers.

Afternoon: Travel by boat for our afternoon snorkeling excursion. There will be a quick stop to view WWII aircraft relics, followed by more great snorkeling over Palau’s spectacular reefs. Please note that the stop at the WWII artifacts will be relatively short - although we think you’ll find them an interesting part of Palau’s history and marine environment, they are located in a bay which can have fairly murky water, and we know you’ll want to spend more time over beautiful reefs.

Dinner: The Penthouse Hotel

Evening: Free evening to relax or explore.

Lodging: The Penthouse Palau Hotel

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Note: Some walking in the morning, 1/2 day snorkel in the afternoon. The actual day we visit a particular snorkel site is dependent upon varying weather, tide, and other local conditions at the time and are subject to change.

Breakfast: The Penthouse Hotel

Morning: Field Trip: Belau National Museum – our excursion will introduce us to traditional Palauan culture and history through viewing of cultural artifacts such as the Palauan money bead and learning the history of the Palauan “Story Board”. We will return to the hotel, change for snorkeling excursion and depart for the dock before noon

Lunch: Picnic lunch

Afternoon: Snorkeling Excursion – One last peek under water before heading to Yap.

Dinner: Farewell to Palau Dinner at The Penthouse Hotel

Evening: Check out of Hotel and Depart for Airport Early morning United flight (approximately 1:45 am) departs from Palau to Yap.

Lodging: Overnight Flight

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Note: 1/2 day snorkel in the afternoon; The actual day we visit a particular snorkel site is dependent upon varying weather, tide, and other local conditions at the time and are subject to change.

Arrive To: Arrive from Palau to Yap at approximately 3:45 am. Early morning arrival in Yap; transfer to hotel and check in. Free morning to rest

Brunch: Yap Pacific Dive Resort

Afternoon: Snorkel Excursion – an introduction to Yap’s marine environment – keep your eyes open for great hard and soft corals, parrotfish, pipefish, lionfish, blue sea stars, pin-cushion sea stars, and many other species as you snorkel in Yap. After returning to the hotel, there will be a social hour and with optional activity: The Betel Nut – a chance to learn about the betel nut, the nut of the areca palm, which is so popular to chew in Yap and other places in the Pacific.

Dinner: Yap Pacific Dive Resort

Lodging: Yap Pacific Dive Resort

Meals Included: Brunch, Dinner

Note: Walking in the morning/1/2 day snorkel in the afternoon. The actual day we visit a particular snorkel site is dependent upon varying weather, tide, and other local conditions at the time and are subject to change.

Breakfast: Yap Pacific Dive Resort

Morning: Full Day Excursion: Snorkeling and Forbidden Island (Rumung)– We’ll begin with a half day snorkeling introduction to Yap’s marine environment – keep your eyes open for great hard and soft corals, parrotfish, pipefish, lionfish, blue sea stars, pin-cushion sea stars, and many other lucky, you may even see a manta ray (although probably not today)! Picnic lunch included on private beach.

Lunch: Picnic lunch on a private beach

Afternoon: We’ll then continue on our journey to the Forbidden Island (Rumung) to experience, via land and boat, a setting where few foreigners have trod. Since the 17th century, Rumung has been forbidden to all foreigners because the absolute preservation of culture and tradition has been paramount to this community. Recently, the barriers of entry were lifted to allow a few outsiders, by special invitation, to visit select areas of this truly historic spot. A symbolic artifact of the Yapese culture resides on the island – the two largest pieces of stone money within the island chain – both span approximately 12 feet and each weigh more than a few tons. PLEASE NOTE: Any photography of the Stone Money or the island itself is forbidden.

Dinner: Dinner is on your own to explore local fare

Evening: Free evening to relax or explore.

Lodging: Yap Pacific Dive Resort

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

Note: Walking

Breakfast: Yap Pacific Dive Resort

Morning: Spend a half day at a Yapese village where you will experience traditional village life and have an opportunity to interact and exchange with the inhabitants. You will also explore the rai (stone money) banks, see WW II artifacts, and walk along a historic stone path (weather and path conditions permitting) leading to traditional Men's Houses; includes food sampling of a variety of locally made dishes for lunch

Lunch: Picnic lunch

Afternoon: Return to the hotel by 2:00 pm. Free time to pack and prepare for tonight's departure. Late afternoon, we will have a cultural event: We end our stay in Yap with a very special expression of traditional Yapese Culture, including dances, stone money transportation, crafts used in daily life, food sampling, and other activities – bring your still and video cameras and get ready to have fun!

Dinner: Farewell Dinner – Yap Pacific Dive Resort

Evening: Late evening- Check out of hotel and leave luggage outside door for porter pick up.

Lodging: Yap Pacific Dive Resort

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Depart From: Arrive at Airport and check in for flight to Guam. Approx 1:30 am United Airlines departs for Guam; light snack on board Approx 3:30 am - Flight arrives in Guam – check in for next flight to Honolulu Approx 7:15 am Depart Guam on United Flight

Arrive To: **Cross International Dateline - subtract one day, set watches forward four hours** It is now DAY 12 AGAIN or (Tuesday, February 19, 2013) Approx 6:15 pm Arrive Honolulu- Independent departures from Honolulu

Lodging: Overnight Flight