England, France and Central Europe
Program Length:
18 Days
Program Dates:
Please email or call 978-255-4601 for details.
Countries Visited:
England, France, Belgium, Holland, Germany and Czech Republic
Day by Day Itinerary
Day 1 - Overnight Flight
Board your overnight flight bound for London.
Day 2 - London
Arrive in London, meet your Travel Director and transfer to your centrally located hotel. Start exploring on an orientation walk around iconic landmarks such as Regent Street and Piccadilly Circus. Attend a welcome dinner this evening.
Day 3 - London
Enjoy a guided overview of the city. You will see, amongst many highlights Trafalgar Square, Tower Bridge, Big Ben, Hyde Park, St Paul's Cathedral and Buckingham Palace (including the Changing of the Guard if available) and Churchill’s War Rooms. Later, meet a local dignitary such as a former MP or British Ambassador. In the evening, enjoy a typical "fish and chips" dinner followed by a walk around Covent Garden.
Day 4 - London
Visit the Tower of London with a Beefeater as your guide. Also called Yeomen Warders, this force was charged with guarding the palace and the crown jewels. Later, participate in an acting workshop led by an actor from the Royal Shakespeare Company. Then stroll down the South Bank to Borough Market, London’s oldest and largest food market to sample foods from around the world. In the evening, enjoy a show at one of the 39 theaters in London’s West End.
Did You Know?
A centuries old legend has it that six ravens have to be present at the Tower of London at all times, otherwise the kingdom and the tower will fall. Currently there are seven ravens at the Tower, six plus a spare! Their names are Jubilee, Harris, Gripp, Rocky, Erin, Poppy and Merlina. See if you can spot any of the ravens on your visit to the infamous castle.
Day 5 - Paris
in the morning board the Eurostar high speed train that will take you under the English Channel to Paris. Upon arrival, enjoy a guided visit of Paris focusing on important Parisian sights such as the Arc de Triomphe, the Champs Elysées and the Opera House.
Day 6 - Paris
This morning climb to the top of the Eiffel Tower to marvel at the views of the city. Then meet some local Parisians to play a few rounds of Pétanque followed by a picnic with them. In the evening enjoy a stroll around Montmartre and the spectacular Basilica of Sacré-Coeur.
An Artist’s Haven
You’ll have to climb 270 steps to get to the top of the hill in Montmartre to visit Paris’ second most visited site, Sacré Coeur. From here you can also enjoy panoramic sweeping views of the city. including a birds eye view of the Eiffel Tower. Montmartre is a lovely area with fantastic restaurants and cafes, art galleries and museums. Van Gogh, Picasso, Degas, Toulouse-Lautrec are just a few of the great artists who lived or painted in Montmartre.
Day 7 - Paris
Morning visit to the Palace of Versailles. Learn about the life in the court of Louis XIV, Le Roi Soleil as you walk around the palace and the opulent gardens. You will have a picnic lunch in the elegant gardens before returning to Paris for a cooking lesson with a local chef.
Day 8 - Bruges
Today cross the border from France and in to Belgium. Your first stop will be in Brussels where you will see the Grand-Place, the Atomium and various European Union buildings. You will also visit the European Commission to learn about its role as the executive branch of the European Union. Continue to Bruges, a medieval town with cobble-stoned lanes and beautiful canals.
Day 9 - Bruges
Delve into the history of World War I as you visit the Flanders Battlefields. Visit Flanders Field Museum and the Menin Gate Memorial to the fallen soldiers of the war. Return to Bruges and visit the Choco-Story, the Chocolate Museum.
“The knowledge the students received, combined with the rich array of travel experiences, resulted in a better-than-imagined program that facilitated an authentic
experience of Europe.”
— Michelle M., Leader
Day 10 - Amsterdam
Cross another border today from Belgium to The Netherlands. Your first stop will be the town of Kinderdijk which is known for its picturesque 18th century windmills. See these windmills on a scenic bicycle ride. Continue to The Hague to visit the Peace Palace, home of the International Criminal Court
Day 11 - Amsterdam
Visit the Anne Frank House, and see the cramped annex where the young girl and her family hid from the Nazis for two years. The house is now a museum which has preserved the hiding place and contains an exhibition on the life and times of Anne Frank. In the afternoon, enjoy some time learning about and helping out in a local farm.
Day 12 - Amsterdam
This morning, tour the Dutch Resistance Museum and learn about the Nazi occupation of Holland from 1940-1945. Later in the day, visit the Bloemenmarkt, the world’s only floating flower market and spend some time shopping the different vendors and markets. This evening, see the city by night on a canal cruise.
Day 13 - Berlin
Board a train that will transport you from Amsterdam to Berlin. Upon arrival transfer to the hotel and begin to explore this historical and dynamic city that has risen from the scars of recent history to reclaim its splendor as the capital of a reunified Germany.
The City of Canals
Many people don’t realize that the Dutch capital is actually below sea level. This means that 75% of the city is made up of polders, marshlands protected by an intricate system of dikes. For many people, the canals are what define the Dutch city. With houses on one side of the canal and shops on the other, people are connected to their neighbors both literally and figuratively.
Day 14 - Berlin
Enjoy a guided visit with highlights that include portions of the Berlin Wall, the Brandenburg Gate, the Holocaust Memorial, Potsdamer Platz and Checkpoint Charlie. Enjoy a unique walking tour which explores Berlin’s vibrant street art scene. walking tour to see all kinds of street art in the city. Afterwards, participate in a street art workshop with a local artist who will teach you techniques to create your own piece of art to take home with you.
Day 15 - Berlin
This morning visit Sachsenhausen Memorial. Located 50 miles north of Berlin in Oranienburg, the former concentration camp was built by the Nazis in 1936 and was liberated in 1945. Your local guide will explain the role this camp played during the rule of the Third Reich and this dark and troubling part of German history.
Did You Know?
Berlin boasts a spectacular collection of 960 bridges (even more than Venice!). Many Berliners consider the double deck Oberbaumbrücke to be the most beautiful of all. Formerly a border crossing between East and West during the Cold War it now connects the unified boroughs of Friedrichschain to the west and Kreuzberg to the east, and serves as a symbol of Berlin and German reunification.
Day 16 - Prague
Travel to Dresden in the morning where you will visit the Volkswagen Transparent Factory. Featuring a glass roof and a full glass facade it is one of the most environmentally friendly car plants in the world. See the entire process of electric vehicle manufacturing during a tour of this fascinating factory. The plant in is being developed into the Center of Future Mobility, an innovative showcase of e-mobility and digitalization. Continue on to Prague for your overnight.
Day 17 - Prague
Enjoy a guided tour of this beautiful city. Amongst many highlights you will see the Malá Strana (Lesser Quarter) and the graceful Charles Bridge built in the 14th century. Next visit the Hradčany Castle complex high above the city. In the evening, take a boat cruise along the River Vltava to see the illuminated buildings of Prague.
Day 18 - Departure Day
Transfer to the airport for your return flight to USA.
Join this Program!
Students will join other teens from across the United States, accompanied by experienced, passionate and globally-minded U.S. certified educators. These inspiring leaders guide, nurture and mentor students on their journey to Global Citizenship.
What’s Included:
Roundtrip Airfare
Accommodations
Teacher Leaders
Full Time Local Program Director
Transportation to Included Activities
Breakfast and Dinner Daily
All Attractions and Activities
Guided Sightseeing by Local Expert Guides
All Tips and Gratuities
24-Hour Support
All Taxes and Fees
Global Citizen Certificate
Pre-Travel Preparation Meetings and Seminars
