Overview
Three very different landscapes in one summer. The trip starts in the Pacific Northwest — a jet boat, laser tag and Multnomah Falls around Portland, a treetop obstacle course and dune buggies in Oregon, then Seattle's Space Needle, Pike Place Market and a cooking class.
From Seattle the group flies to Alaska for five days around Anchorage, Denali and Fairbanks: a boat cruise past glaciers, gold panning, the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center, the aerial tram up Mount Alyeska, whitewater rafting on the Nenana River at the edge of Denali National Park and a visit to a sled-dog kennel.
The last two weeks are in Hawaii — surf lessons and a catamaran snorkel trip on Maui, sea turtles and Volcanoes National Park on the Big Island, and a week on Waikiki in Honolulu with the Diamond Head hike and a submarine dive. Groups of 28 to 48 teens; every flight during the trip — to Alaska, to Hawaii and between the islands — is included.
What's included
The itinerary
- Days 1–2 Portland, Oregon — Fly into Portland; the trip starts with icebreakers. A jet-boat ride on the Willamette River, a surrey bike along the waterfront, a game of laser tag, Multnomah Falls and Voodoo Doughnuts.
- Days 3–4 Eugene & the Oregon coast — A treetop obstacle course of balance beams, swings and wobbly bridges, then the university town of Eugene and a dune-buggy tour through the huge sand dunes on the Oregon coast.
- Days 5–7 Seattle, Washington — Whirlyball, a cooking class with professional chefs, the Great Wheel on the waterfront, the Space Needle, the fishmongers of Pike Place Market, the Gum Wall and the Museum of Pop Culture.
- Days 8–12 Anchorage, Denali & Fairbanks, Alaska — A flight north. A boat cruise past tidewater glaciers and wildlife, panning for gold, the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center and its bears, elk and bald eagles, the Alyeska aerial tram for views over the mountains, whitewater rafting on the Nenana River with Denali National Park as the backdrop, and a visit to a sled-dog kennel to learn how the dogs are raised and trained.
- Days 13–16 Maui — A flight to Hawaii. A beachfront resort on Kaanapali, a double-deck catamaran trip to snorkel at Coral Gardens, a surf lesson, the surf town of Paia and a luau on the resort's seaside terrace.
- Days 17–19 Big Island — A flight to Kona. Snorkelling with tropical fish and green sea turtles in the resort's saltwater lagoon, paddleboards and boogie boards, dinner at the Kings' Shops and Queens' MarketPlace, a visit to Volcanoes National Park to see Kilauea — one of the world's most active volcanoes — and Mauna Loa, and an evening in the old town of Kailua.
- Days 20–26 Honolulu, Oahu — A week at a big beach resort on Waikiki with five pools and a long lava-tube waterslide: a banana-boat ride from Koko Marina, Dole Whip at the Dole pineapple plantation, the Diamond Head hike and a submarine dive to a coral reef full of marine life. Farewells and flights home from Honolulu on day 26.
Where teens stay
Hotels and resorts, in rooms for two or three teens with a bed each: an all-suite hotel near Portland airport; a hotel in Eugene; a modern hotel in downtown Seattle near Lake Union; an all-suite hotel with an indoor pool in midtown Anchorage; a hotel in Fairbanks or a lodge at the entrance to Denali National Park; a beachfront resort on Kaanapali beach on Maui with waterfall pools, a rope bridge and a private balcony in every room; a resort on the Kohala coast of the Big Island, where boats carry guests between the buildings, with a saltwater lagoon and three pools; and a large beach resort on Waikiki in Honolulu with five pools and a long lava-tube waterslide. The exact hotel at each stop is confirmed before departure.
Meals
Breakfast and dinner are included every day, at restaurants the operator picks for teen groups — anything from hibachi grills, barbecue and Italian places to food halls and the occasional famous chain, with a dessert stop now and then. Lunch is not included: teens eat in small groups at local cafés and restaurants, so plan for it in their spending money. Vegetarian, kosher-style, gluten-free (coeliac) 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 8–11 (roughly ages 13–17): Jun 27–Jul 22, Jun 30–Jul 25, Jul 2–27. The operator spreads these grades across the three dates to build age-compatible groups, so ask us which date suits your child. 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 and arrival work?
The trip starts in Portland, Oregon and ends in Honolulu, so you book a flight into Portland (PDX) and a flight home from Honolulu. Please check the operator's arrival and departure time windows with us before buying anything non-refundable. Staff meet your child at the airport and take them to the group at no extra cost, and teens flying in from overseas can arrive the night before the official start with the extra hotel night included. From Europe, most routes connect through a large US airport, where your child goes through immigration before the onward flight. On the last day the leaders help with check-in and stay at the airport until flights in the set window have left; flights back to Europe are usually overnight, so your child lands home the next day. The flights to Alaska, to Hawaii and between the islands are booked by the operator and included in the price. Honolulu has no direct flights to Europe, so the way home connects through the US mainland (or Asia) — allow for a long journey.
What exactly is included in the price?
Accommodation, breakfast and dinner every day, all the activities in the itinerary, all flights during the trip (to Alaska, to Hawaii and between the islands), 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 (a laundromat stop about once a week — the operator supplies the detergent and shows first-timers how it works), 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$500 off the tuition for early enrolment, so the 26-day trip costs US$12,199 instead of US$12,699. 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 should my child pack for Alaska and Hawaii in one trip?
Alaska in July is cool and often wet, so warm layers and a waterproof jacket go in alongside the swimwear and sun cream for Hawaii. The operator sends a full packing list before departure, and there's a laundromat stop about once a week, so one week of clothes is enough.
How is it different from the Hawaiian Spirit?
Both use the same resort hotels on Maui, the Big Island and Oahu and visit Portland, the Oregon coast and Seattle. The Hawaiian Spirit (20 days, grades 8–10) starts in Hawaii and ends in Seattle; Hawaii & Alaska (26 days, grades 8–11) starts in Portland, adds five days in Alaska and ends in Honolulu.
Does my child need a visa or an ESTA?
Families arrange travel documents themselves. Teens with a passport from a Visa Waiver country — Czechia and most of the EU included — need an approved ESTA (the online US travel authorisation) before they board, so apply well ahead. Teens from other countries need a B-2 visitor visa, not a student visa. If a teen living outside North America is refused a visa before 1 June, the operator offers a move to another program, a roll-over to the following summer, or a refund minus US$450.
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.