McCombs Adventure Program (MAP)
MAP is an optional pre-orientation adventure for incoming Texas MBA students. MAP provides an amazing opportunity for new first-year students to:
- Connect with future classmates – a lifeline throughout the program
- Relax and enjoy a great vacation before diving into the hectic life of a full-time student
- Spend time with seasoned Texas MBA veterans, the second-year trip leaders!
- Begin the McCombs experience with an advantage
2012 MAP trip locations:
International Trips: Nicaragua, Belize and Russia
Local (Austin Area) Day Trips: Wine Tasting in Fredericksburg and Tubing in New Braunfels
Space on MAP trips is limited and registration is confirmed on a first-come, first-served basis.
How to register for a MAP trip:
International MAP trip registration is no longer available. Registration for local (Austin area) day trips closes on June 15.
For more information, contact:
Thomas Ward, Program Coordinator, Global Connections and MAP
(512) 471-4143
Sample Trip Itineraries:
Nicaragua
Price Range
$2,325-2,500
Preliminary Itinerary
*Itinerary is subject to change. Download a PDF copy of the itinerary.
| Date | Activity | Accommodations |
|---|
| Saturday, July 28 |
Depart Austin for León
Continental Airlines #34
Depart Austin (AUS) at 1:35 p.m.
Arrive Houston (IAH) at 2:30 p.m.
Continental Airlines # 1421
Depart Houston (IAH) at 6:10 p.m.
Arrive Managua (MGA) at 8:31 p.m.
Transfer from Managua Airport to Hotel El Convento
Meals per airline |
León
Hotel El Convento |
| Sunday, July 29 |
Breakfast at hotel
Cerro Negro Volcano - 4 x 4's and hike
Afternoon cultural-historical tour of colonial León
Welcome dinner |
León
Hotel El Convento |
| Monday, July 30 |
Breakfast at hotel
Transfer to San Jorge and ferry to Ometepe Island
Transfer to hotel
Afternoon horseback ride |
Ometepe Island
Hotel Villa Paraiso |
| Tuesday, July 31 |
Breakfast at hotel
Morning hiking tour of Maderas Volcano
Transfer to dock and ferry to mainland
Transfer from San Jorge to San Juan Del Sur |
San Juan Del Sur
Hotel Victoriano |
| Wednesday, August 1 |
Breakfast at the hotel
Free day |
San Juan Del Sur
Hotel Victoriano |
| Thursday, August 2 |
Breakfast at the hotel
Free day |
San Juan Del Sur
Hotel Victoriano |
| Friday, August 3 |
Breakfast at the hotel
Mombacho Volcano for zip-line tour
Transfer to Granada
Lake Nicaragua - private boat tour of Las Isletas Archipelago
Group dinner |
Granada
Plaza Colon |
| Saturday, August 4 |
Breakfast at the hotel
Depart Granada for transfer to Managua and airport
Continental Airlines #1423
Depart Managua (MGA) at 7:15 a.m.
Arrive Houston (IAH) at 11:38 a.m.
Continental Airlines #35
Depart Houston (IAH) at 3:35 p.m.
Arrive Austin (AUS) at 4:23 p.m. |
|
Russia
Price Range
$3,625-3,950
Preliminary Itinerary
*Itinerary is subject to change. Download a PDF copy of the itinerary.
| Date | Activity | Accommodations |
|---|
| Saturday, July 28 |
Depart Austin for Moscow
Delta Airlines #1972
Depart Austin (AUS) at 9:30 a.m.
Arrive New York (JFK) at 2:05 p.m.
Delta Airlines #30
Depart New York (JFK) at 5:00 p.m.
Arrive Moscow (SVO) at 11:00 a.m.
Meals per airline |
|
| Sunday, July 29 |
Arrival in Moscow
Tour of St. Basil’s Cathedral and Red Square
Welcome dinner |
Moscow
Marriott Tverskaya Hotel |
| Monday, July 30 |
Breakfast at hotel
Tour of Kremlin and Armoury
Transfer from hotel to train station
Overnight train from Moscow to St. Petersburg |
|
| Tuesday, July 31 |
Arrival via train
Transfer from train station to tour and then hotel
Tour of Hermitage, St. Isaak’s Cathedral, and Church on Spilled Blood
City tour
Group dinner |
St. Petersburg
Petro Palace |
| Wednesday, August 1 |
Breakfast at the hotel
Tour of Peter and Paul Fortress |
St. Petersburg
Petro Palace |
| Thursday, August 2 |
Breakfast at the hotel
Free day
Transfer from hotel to train station
Overnight train from St. Petersburg to Moscow |
|
| Friday, August 3 |
Arrival in Moscow
Transfer from train station to day tour of Sergiyev Posad (Monastery & Toy-making)
Transfer to hotel
Dinner |
Moscow
Marriott Tverskaya Hotel |
| Saturday, August 4 |
Breakfast at the hotel
Airport transfer
Depart Moscow for Austin
Delta Airlines #31
Depart Moscow (SVO) at 11:40 p.m.
Arrive New York (JFK) at 1:55 p.m.
Delta Airlines #706
Depart New York (JKF) at 6:55 p.m.
Arrive Austin (AUS) at 10:10 p.m. |
|
Belize
Price Range
$2,725-2,825
Preliminary Itinerary
*Itinerary is subject to change. Download a PDF copy of the itinerary.
| Date |
Activity |
Accommodations |
| Saturday, July 28 |
Depart Austin for Belize City
American Airlines #1959
Depart Austin (AUS) at 9:10 a.m.
Arrive Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) at 10:15 a.m.
American Airlines #2193Y
Depart Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) at 1:05 p.m.
Arrive Belize City (BZE) at 2:55 p.m.
Transfer from Belize Airport to San Ignacio Resort
Meals per airline
Dinner at hotel
|
San Ignacio
San Ignacio Resort |
| Sunday, July 29 |
Breakfast at hotel
Depart hotel for Mayan Ruins Tour; Xunantunich and Cahel Pech Ruins |
San Ignacio
San Ignacio Resort |
| Monday, July 30 |
Breakfast at hotel
River Canoe Tour |
San Ignacio
San Ignacio Resort |
| Tuesday, July 31 |
Breakfast at hotel
Free day |
San Ignacio
San Ignacio Resort |
| Wednesday, August 1 |
Breakfast at hotel
Depart hotel for River of Caves Tour and Ziplining
Transfer to Belize City Municipal Airstrip
Internal flight from Belize Municipal to San Pedro, Ambergris Caye |
Ambergris Caye
SunBreeze |
| Thursday, August 2 |
Breakfast at the hotel
Snorkeling trip to Hol Chan and Shark Ray Alley |
Ambergris Caye
SunBreeze |
| Friday, August 3 |
Breakfast at hotel
Free day
Group dinner |
Ambergris Caye
SunBreeze |
| Saturday, August 4 |
Breakfast at hotel
Internal flight from Ambergris Caye to Belize City
Depart Belize City for Austin
American Airlines #2146
Depart Belize City (BZE) at 12:45 p.m.
Arrive Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) at 4:45 p.m.
American Airlines #1113
Depart Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) at 7:00 p.m.
Arrive Austin (AUS) at 7:50 p.m. |
|
Austin Day Trips
Not sure you can commit to an entire week of international travel? Then take this opportunity to explore around your new town! Both the Fredericksburg and New Braunfels trips are one day only and they leave from The University of Texas at Austin campus. If you aren’t from Texas, this is a great opportunity to see some more of the Lone Star State. If you are from Texas, we bet you’ll still have fun getting to know your classmates on these mini-adventures. Register for one or both and feel free to register your spouse or significant other as well (Austin area day trips only!).
Fredericksburg - Wine Tasting
Nothing like a little road trip to the Hill Country! You’ll visit three wineries to sample the area’s unique Texas wine and stop for lunch and some shopping in historic downtown Fredericksburg. The trip includes lunch, wine tastings, and roundtrip transportation from Austin. This trip will be offered on both Thursday, August 2 and Friday, August 3.
| Itinerary |
|
| 8:30 a.m. |
Check in at McCombs |
| 9:00 a.m. |
Depart for Fredericksburg |
| 11:00 a.m. |
Grape Creek Winery |
| 12:30 p.m. |
Lunch - Fredericksburg Brewing Company |
| 1:30 p.m. |
Shopping/museum downtown Fredericksburg |
| 2:30 p.m. |
Depart downtown Fredericksburg |
| 3:00 p.m. |
Becker Winery |
| 4:00 p.m. |
Woodrose Winery |
| 6:00 p.m. |
Arrive at Austin |
New Braunfels - Tubing
You’ll spend the day floating down the Guadalupe River – it doesn’t get much more laid back than this! The trip includes lunch, equipment rental, guide and roundtrip transportation from Austin. Participants must be able to swim. This trip will be offered on both Thursday, August 2 and Friday, August 3.
| Itinerary |
|
| 9:15 a.m. |
Check in at McCombs |
| 9:45 a.m. |
Depart for New Braunfels |
| 11:00 a.m. |
Lunch - Los Cucos Mexican Café |
| 12:30 p.m. |
Arrive for River Rafting |
| 4:00 p.m. |
Depart for Austin |
| 5:30 p.m. |
Arrive at Austin |
Price Range Per Trip
$100-$150 (depending on the number of participants)