Overview
The classic "first big Europe trip", for teens in grades 9–10. It starts with three days in London — the London Eye, the royal sights, a West End show — and three in Paris, from the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre to a Seine cruise and a day at Versailles.
Then the tour heads into the mountains: Annecy for lake swimming and whitewater rafting, and Zermatt below the Matterhorn, where teens who already ski or snowboard can do so on the summer glacier. Italy fills the last part — the Cinque Terre, a gondola in Venice, two beach days in Rimini and three days in Rome with the Colosseum, the Vatican and the Trevi Fountain.
This is one of the operator's larger-group tours — usually 28 to 48 teens — travelling by chartered, air-conditioned coach. It is the first 22 days of the 30-day European Discovery, which continues to the Amalfi Coast, Florence and Milan.
What's included
The itinerary
- Day 1 Flight to London — The official start: the group flies overnight from New York. Teens joining from Europe meet the group in London the next day.
- Days 2–4 London, England — A ride on the London Eye, a guided tour past Buckingham Palace, Big Ben and the Tower of London, Covent Garden and Piccadilly Circus, an afternoon in Shoreditch, a West End musical, Harrods and Carnaby Street.
- Days 5–7 Paris & Versailles, France — The Eiffel Tower, the Arc de Triomphe and the Champs-Élysées, Notre-Dame, the Mona Lisa at the Louvre, a cruise on the Seine, the Latin Quarter and Montmartre, and a day at the Palace of Versailles with its Hall of Mirrors and gardens.
- Days 8–10 Annecy, France — A lakeside town in the French Alps: cycling along the lake, swimming in its clear water, and whitewater rafting on the Isère river in the Tarentaise valley.
- Days 11–12 Zermatt, Switzerland — A car-free mountain village below the Matterhorn: summer skiing or snowboarding on the glacier (weather permitting, intermediate level and up), a gondola ride for the views, and fondue and hot chocolate.
- Days 13–14 Cinque Terre, Italy — Hiking between the five cliffside villages, a beach day, and an evening of group activities by the sea.
- Days 15–16 Venice, Italy — A gondola ride, a glass-blowing workshop on Murano, the lanes and small shops on the way to Piazza San Marco, and the Doge's Palace.
- Days 17–18 Rimini (Adriatic Riviera), Italy — Two easy days at a classic Italian beach resort — sand, the promenade and some downtime mid-tour.
- Days 19–21 Rome, Italy — The Colosseum, the Roman Forum and the Pantheon; St Peter's Square and the Sistine Chapel; the Spanish Steps, Piazza Navona and the Trevi Fountain; and a toga party.
- Day 22 Rome, Italy — Goodbyes and flights home from Rome.
Where teens stay
Hotels and resorts the whole way, chosen for safety, location and comfort. Rooms are doubles or triples shared with other teens in the group, and everyone has their own bed (in a triple, one of them may be a rollaway or a sofa bed). The stops: a hotel in Kensington in London; a central hotel in Paris; a hotel in Annecy; a traditional mountain-style hotel at the foot of the Matterhorn in Zermatt, a short walk from the cable car; a hotel in the centre of La Spezia for the Cinque Terre; a hotel on the Grand Canal in Venice, a few minutes from the Rialto Bridge; a seaside hotel in Rimini; and a hotel in central Rome. The exact hotel at each stop is confirmed before departure.
Meals
Breakfast (a buffet at the hotel) and dinner are included every day — dinners are either with the whole group or in smaller groups at a restaurant the teens choose. Lunch is not included: teens eat in small groups at local cafés and bistros, so plan for it in their spending money. Vegetarian, kosher-style, gluten-free and lactose-free diets and most allergies can be catered for if you tell us in advance.
More photos
Frequently asked questions
Which departure is right for my child?
Groups are put together by US school grade, so each departure has teens of a similar age. Grades 9–10 (roughly ages 14–16): Jun 27–Jul 18, Jun 29–Jul 20, Jul 1–22. The grade is the one your child is in during the 2026–27 school year — we'll help you match it to your school system. Dates are the operator's official start and end dates.
How do flights work if we live in Europe?
The official dates count from the group's overnight flight out of New York, so the trip itself begins in London on day 2. Families in Europe usually book their own flight to London and the staff meet their child at the airport and handle the transfer — as long as the flight lands within the operator's arrival window, so please check with us before booking anything non-refundable. At the end, teens fly home from Rome; the leaders help with check-in and stay at the airport until flights in the set window have left. Most of the staff continue with the 30-day group, so on this shorter version there's no chaperoned flight back to New York.
What exactly is included in the price?
Accommodation, breakfast and dinner every day, all the activities in the itinerary, airport transfers for flights within the set time windows, tips and local taxes. Not included: flights to and from the trip, lunches and snacks, spending money, laundry (once a week at a local wash-and-fold service), the operator's application fee, and travel insurance — optional, but we strongly recommend it.
Is there a discount for enrolling early?
Yes — at the moment the operator takes US$400 off the tuition for early enrolment, so the 22-day trip costs US$12,399 instead of US$12,799. It's a limited-time offer and the operator can end it at any point, so ask us whether it still applies before you decide. The price shown on this page is the full tuition.
Can my child really ski in July?
Yes — Zermatt has a glacier that stays open for skiing and snowboarding in summer. Two caveats: it depends on the weather on the day, and it's only for teens who already ski or ride at an intermediate level or better. Everyone else enjoys the gondola, the views and the village. (*That's what the asterisk on the highlight means.)
How is this different from the smaller-group trips?
European Discovery is an "active teen tour": a bigger group (usually 28–48 teens) on a chartered coach, staying in hotels and resorts and covering the big-name sights at a steady pace. The operator's small-group trips have up to about 26 teens and use more public transport. Both have the same structure — it's mostly a question of style.
Is there a longer version?
Yes — the 30-day European Discovery follows the same route and then continues to the Amalfi Coast and Capri, Florence and Pisa, and Milan with a day in Portofino.
Who else will be in the group?
Mostly American teens — on most programs around 85% of participants come from the US, and the operator tries to limit how many teens from any one other country join each group. For an international teen that means a genuinely English-speaking group, which is a big part of the appeal.
How good does my child's English need to be?
At least a confident beginner level — the operator recommends A2 or above, since everything on the trip happens in English. Your child can ask for an English-speaking roommate, and one-to-one English conversation time with a staff member can be arranged daily or a few times a week.
Can my child come on their own?
Yes, and many do. The first days are built around icebreakers and getting-to-know-you activities, roommates are assigned and rotated, and the staff actively help everyone settle into the group.
Are phones allowed?
Yes. Teens can bring their phone, so you can call or message them directly. The operator also runs a communication centre that's staffed every day of the summer, with someone on call around the clock for emergencies.