<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0001181431-03-030773
<TYPE>3
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>1
<PERIOD>20031107
<FILING-DATE>20031113
<REPORTING-OWNER>
<OWNER-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>LILLIE MCCANN COLLEEN
<CIK>0001269877
</OWNER-DATA>
<FILING-VALUES>
<FORM-TYPE>3
<ACT>34
<FILE-NUMBER>000-33347
<FILM-NUMBER>03997016
</FILING-VALUES>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>110 SOUTH FERRALL STREET
<CITY>SPOKANE
<STATE>WA
<ZIP>99202
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
</REPORTING-OWNER>
<ISSUER>
<COMPANY-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>AMBASSADORS GROUP INC
<CIK>0001162315
<ASSIGNED-SIC>8200
<IRS-NUMBER>911957010
<STATE-OF-INCORPORATION>DE
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>1231
</COMPANY-DATA>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>110 SOUTH FERRALL STREET
<CITY>SPOKANE
<STATE>WA
<ZIP>99202
<PHONE>5095346200
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
</ISSUER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>3
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>rrd22399.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 3
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?><ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-11-07</periodOfReport>
    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001162315</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>AMBASSADORS GROUP INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>epax</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001269877</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>LILLIE MCCANN COLLEEN</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>110 SOUTH FERRALL STREET</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SPOKANE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>WA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>99202</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>0</isDirector><isOfficer>1</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle>CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER</officerTitle></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><derivativeTable><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>option (right to buy common stock)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>6.22</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>2003-11-05</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2009-11-05</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>common stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>5125</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>option (right to buy common stock)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>8.488</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>2001-08-11</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2010-08-11</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>common stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>3417</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>option (right to buy common stock)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>9.915</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>2001-11-03</value><footnoteId id="F2"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2010-11-03</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>common stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>1709</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>option (right to buy common stock)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>12.00</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>2003-03-01</value><footnoteId id="F3"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2012-03-01</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>common stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>16000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>option (right to buy common stock)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>19.50</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>2004-11-07</value><footnoteId id="F4"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2013-11-07</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>common stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>2625</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding></derivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">The options vest and are exercisable in 4 equal annual installments beginning 08/11/2001.</footnote><footnote id="F2">The options vest and are exercisable in 4 equal annual increments beginning on 11/03/2001.</footnote><footnote id="F3">The options vest and are exercisable in 4 equal annual increments beginning on 03/01/2003.</footnote><footnote id="F4">The options vest and are exercisable in 4 equal annual installments beginning on 11/07/2004.</footnote></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>/s/   Lillie McCann Colleen</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-11-12</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>



</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SUBMISSION>
