Overview
This trip strings together some of the best of Italy and mainland Greece. It starts in Milan with a climb onto the cathedral roof, then heads to the Italian Riviera to hike between the cliffside villages of the Cinque Terre and on to Perugia, a hilltop town in Umbria, for a hands-on Italian cooking class.
A short flight takes the group to Athens, and the second half is Greece at full speed: an activity day at Lake Plastiras on the way to the monasteries of Meteora, four days of sea kayaking, tubing, paddleboarding and island-hopping by boat around Sivota on the Ionian Sea, a race in the ancient stadium at Olympia, whitewater rafting on the Alfeios River, Greek dancing in Nafplio and, to finish, the Parthenon and the Acropolis Museum.
Departures are split by school grade, so your child travels with teens of a similar age — there are separate middle-school departures and “ON TOUR” departures for 16–18 year-olds. Groups are bigger than on most of this operator's small-group trips (usually 24–36 teens), with leaders travelling with the group the whole way.
What's included
The itinerary
- Day 1 Flight to Milan — The official start: the group flies overnight from New York. Teens joining from Europe meet the group in Milan the next day.
- Day 2 Milan, Italy — Welcome activities, then straight to the Piazza del Duomo — inside the cathedral and up on its rooftop terrace — a first gelato in the Galleria and a welcome dinner.
- Days 3–4 Cinque Terre, Italy — Hiking the coastal path between the five cliffside fishing villages, a beach day on the Riviera and evening group activities by the sea.
- Days 5–6 Perugia, Italy — Exploring the stone lanes, piazzas and markets of this hilltop town in Umbria, and cooking a full Italian meal at a cooking school.
- Day 7 Athens, Greece — Flight from Italy to Athens and a first evening in the old Plaka neighbourhood.
- Day 8 Meteora, Greece — A stop at Lake Plastiras to swim, canoe, mountain bike or try archery, then the sandstone pillars and clifftop monasteries of Meteora.
- Days 9–12 Sivota, Greece — Beach days on the Ionian Sea: a guided sea-kayak trip to a deserted beach, tubing and stand-up paddleboarding, a boat day around small islands with swimming and snorkelling, and an outing to Parga.
- Day 13 Olympia, Greece — The site of the first Olympic Games — a race in the ancient stadium, the Temple of Zeus and the altar where the Olympic flame is lit — with lunch in seaside Nafpaktos on the way.
- Days 14–15 Nafplio, Greece — Whitewater rafting on the Alfeios River, the climb up to the Palamidi Fortress, and a Greek dancing evening above the sea.
- Day 16 Athens, Greece — The Parthenon and the Acropolis, the Acropolis Museum, and souvenir hunting in the Plaka.
- Day 17 Athens, Greece — Goodbyes and flights home from Athens.
Where teens stay
Hotels the whole way, with rooms shared with other teens in the group: a central Milan hotel a short walk from the Duomo; a hotel in Genoa for the Cinque Terre days; a hotel in Perugia's historic centre; central Athens hotels around the Plaka; hotels looking out at the Meteora cliffs; small beach hotels near Sivota with sea or pool views, air-conditioning and Wi-Fi; a neoclassical hotel in Ancient Olympia; and a hotel close to Nafplio's old town. 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 7–8 (roughly ages 12–14): Jul 1–17, Jul 2–18. Grades 9–10 (roughly ages 14–16): Jun 27–Jul 13, Jun 29–Jul 15, Jun 30–Jul 16, Jul 1–17, Jul 2–18, Jul 6–22, Jul 8–24, Jul 16–Aug 1, Jul 19–Aug 4. Grades 9–11 (roughly ages 14–17): Jun 21–Jul 7. Grades 11–12 (roughly ages 16–18): Jun 26–Jul 12, Jun 28–Jul 14. 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 Milan on day 2. Families in Europe usually book their own flight to Milan 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 Athens; the leaders help with check-in and stay at the airport until flights in the set window have left. One internal flight — Italy to Greece, US$345 — is booked by the operator and charged on top of the tuition.
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 (done along the way at wash-and-fold services or laundromats), 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$300 off the tuition for early enrolment, so the 17-day trip costs US$7,699 instead of US$7,999 (the internal flight is charged on top either way). 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.
What's the difference between the 17-day and 25-day versions?
The first 16 days are the same. On the 25-day trip the group then takes the ferry to the islands for three days on Naxos (with a SCUBA introduction and a Greek cooking class) and three on Santorini (sea kayaking, the volcano and its hot springs) before flying home from Athens. On some dates the two travel together and the 17-day teens fly home when the others head for the islands.
What are the “ON TOUR” departures?
Departures for older teens in grades 11–12 (roughly 16–18). The route is the same, but the activities are pitched at a more mature group and teens get supervised time to explore in small groups — finding a café or a boutique on their own — within the structure parents expect.
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.