Overview
The first half of this trip is the Greek islands. After a day at the Parthenon and the Acropolis Museum, the group crosses the Aegean by ferry to Naxos for beaches, the old town under its Venetian castle, an introductory SCUBA dive and a cooking class in a village. Then Santorini: the cliff-top town of Fira, a boat out to the Nea Kameni volcano with a swim in its hot springs, a sea-kayak trip along the red and black sand beaches, and dinner in Oia as the sun goes down over the caldera.
A short flight takes the group to Italy for the second half. Florence brings Michelangelo's David, the leather markets, a hands-on cooking class and an adventure day in a Tuscan river canyon with ziplines and stand-up paddleboarding. On the Amalfi Coast the group stays in Sorrento, swims by the grottos of Capri and spends a beach day in Positano, and the trip ends in Rome with the Colosseum, the Vatican and the Sistine Chapel, a day at Pompeii and a toga party.
Departures are split by school grade, with separate dates for 9th–10th graders and “ON TOUR” dates for 16–18 year-olds. Groups are bigger than on most of this operator's small-group trips (usually 24–36 teens), and on some dates part of the group joins only for the first ten days — the 10-day Greek Islands trip — while the rest carry on to Italy.
What's included
The itinerary
- Day 1 Flight to Athens — The official start: the group flies overnight from New York. Teens joining from Europe meet the group in Athens the next day.
- Day 2 Athens, Greece — Welcome activities, the Parthenon and the Acropolis, the Acropolis Museum and the shops and markets of the Plaka.
- Days 3–5 Naxos, Greece — Ferry to Naxos: the old town and Venetian castle, beach time, an introductory SCUBA dive and a Greek cooking class in the village of Galini.
- Days 6–8 Santorini, Greece — Fira and the cable car, a boat trip to the Nea Kameni volcano with a swim in its hot springs, dinner in Oia, and a guided sea-kayak and snorkelling trip along the coloured-sand beaches.
- Day 9 Athens, Greece — Back to Athens for a last Greek sunset and souvenir hunting in the Plaka.
- Days 10–13 Florence, Italy — Flight to Italy. The Duomo, Michelangelo's David at the Accademia, the leather markets, an Italian cooking class, plenty of gelato, and a day in a Tuscan river canyon with ziplines and stand-up paddleboarding.
- Days 14–16 Amalfi Coast, Italy — Based in Sorrento: a boat to Capri with a swim by its sea grottos, a beach day in Positano, and evenings around Sorrento's busy main square.
- Days 17–19 Rome, Italy — The Colosseum, the Pantheon and the Roman Forum, St Peter's Square and the Sistine Chapel, the Spanish Steps, Piazza Navona and the Trevi Fountain, a Roman toga party — and a day trip to Pompeii.
- Day 20 Rome, Italy — Goodbyes and flights home from Rome.
Where teens stay
Hotels the whole way, with rooms shared with other teens in the group: central Athens hotels in a smart residential area full of small museums and cafés; modern hotels on Naxos built in the island's traditional style, close to the beach and the main town; resort hotels in the middle of Santorini; hotels in central Florence within walking distance of the Duomo; a hotel in the heart of Sorrento; and hotels in central Rome close to the main monuments. 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 16, Jun 29–Jul 18. Grades 9–11, later departure (roughly ages 14–17): Jul 20–Aug 8. Grades 11–12, “ON TOUR” (roughly ages 16–18): Jun 28–Jul 17, Jul 1–20. 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 Athens on day 2. Families in Europe usually book their own flight to Athens 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. One internal flight — Athens to Italy, US$345 — is booked by the operator and charged on top of the tuition. (There's also a chaperoned group flight back to New York, mainly used by American participants.)
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, the internal flight, 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$400 off the tuition for early enrolment, so the 20-day trip costs US$9,899 instead of US$10,299 (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.
Does my child need to be a certified diver for the SCUBA day?
No — it's an introductory session with a local dive operator, no experience needed. Dive operators do refuse participants with some medical conditions, so if your child has asthma, ear problems or anything similar, tell us early and we'll check before you book.
What's the difference between this and the 10-day Greek Islands trip?
The first nine days are the same Athens–Naxos–Santorini route. On the 10-day trip teens fly home from Athens on day 10; on this one the group flies on to Italy for Florence, the Amalfi Coast and Rome. On some departures the two travel together until day 10.
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.