We choose places with unique environments and habitats that offer diversity of life, rich culture, and opportunities for what we call “intellectual adrenaline” -- the chance to challenge onesself and engage with one’s physical surroundings
Amazing Places, Amazing People
Andalucía, Spain, Ireland, France, Morocco, Iceland, Costa Rica, Ecuador and the Galapagos, Italy : These are the destinations that embody our approach to experiential learning. We have core tenets that influence why we go to a place — the first is the people who live there. We only go to places where we have cultivated a rich network of local, visionary collaborators. Meeting and engaging with local people is one of the keys that makes the difference between a traditional tour and our more meaningful Expedition. In many ways, our collaborators are true visionaries – local people eager to engage young people in their remarkable stories. Whether it’s crafting artisan guitars, working to preserve culinary culture, or advocating for the environment, these visionaries inspire us with the work they do each day. The relationships we have established with them have become part of what makes our Expedition an unrivaled learning experience – one that cannot be achieved in any other way.
Examples of cultural connections:
Each Itinerary is unique and can be customized to fit teachers’ educational needs. We are constantly scouting and researching new destinations and improving our existing ones. If you have a destination in mind, let us know
, In the little white fishing villages by the Mediterranean, meet local students and form friendships that span across the world. Explore the ancient cities of Cordoba, Sevilla, and Malaga. Learn about the Islamic culture that ruled over Spain while discovering the mysterious Alhambra fortress in Granada. Discover Flamenco art with a local dancer and work with an archaeologist in the maintenance of Roman and Moorish sites. Trek down ancient Moorish trails and, aboard your kayak, explore coves and caves, learning about marine ecosystems
Stone Age people of the megalithic Bru Na Boine, travel across Belfast and learn about the tormented past of this fascinating city, hike the famine trail in Connemara, and understand how a natural disaster affected the people and pushed so many to leave their roots to create new ones abroad. Experience the traditional music scene in Dublin or Galway and travel to the shorelines of Sligo, where local historians will tell you about the Spanish Armada shipwrecked more than 400 years ago.
is mysterious, beautiful, and diverse, and its people are so welcoming. Interact with people in the beautiful and busy medina of Chefchaouen and Marrakech and ride a camel on a dune in the Sahara on the way to your tent. Your French- and English-speaking guides will help you learn and understand the local customs in order to become sensitive travellers and respectful adventurers. Experience the Moroccan life and indulge in the mind-blowing cuisine with couscous and tagine. Meet the local the women running a loom, a Berber Family in a small Atlas mountain village, or a community surviving around the Argan oil production. Connect to the strong Andalusi influence after the expulsion of the Jews and Muslims from reconquered Spain in the 16th and 17th century. Understand the impact of almost half a century of colonization by France and Spain.
, the “natural laboratory of evolution” is a place where biological oddities evolved as they adapted to the volcanic islands. Start by exploring Ecuador and spend time at a farm forest school. Then, fly to the Galapagos and explore different islands over the next few days. See evolution in action as “Darwin’s Finches” flutter by. Swim with penguins, giant marine iguanas, and acrobatic seals as you are mesmerized by all the colorful fish in such clear water. See and feel the effects of volcanic activity and snorkel through a maze of lava bridges. Our Naturalist guides help you make sense of it all and challenge you to continue to ask, as Darwin did . . . Why?
, is a true gem, from its incredibly rich and diverse environment to its amazing people. Experience sustainability in action at a hand-built Swiss family Robinson-type lodge up in the cloud forest. Hike through lush jungle to the Diamante Waterfall, where you will sleep outdoors and rappel down the waterfall’s face. Journey to the indigenous community of Terraba, where you will create cultural connections that will last a lifetime as you craft your own colorful mask. Have you ever had the opportunity to safely see very different animals just a few feet away? You will be blown away by the experience of witnessing one of the most impressive examples of wildlife diversity on the planet, including the nesting of sea turtles, intrepid monkeys, sloths, magical Quetzal birds, and bright yellow eyelash vipers, to name just a few. Take active participation in conservation with the natives and learn about sustainable farming solutions.
is ancient and modern. Explore the colorful and picturesque neighborhoods of Rome and in Via della Scrofa, learn the history of Alfredo and his world-famous pasta. Cook traditional pizza in Naples and hike the “dormant” Vesuvius volcano and then explore the remains of Pompeii. Hike the Lucanian Dolomites, and, in the Apulia region, spend a day with a shepherdess and learn how to make fresh mozzarella, ricotta, and burrata. Explore the crooked, crumbling, tumbling Matera, Italy's oldest town and a UNESCO heritage site, and discover the struggle of locals to maintain century old frescoes and heritage. Experience the region of Bari, and the beautiful village of Polignano a Mare, a spectacular location with craggy cliffs, its whitewashed houses in front of the azure ocean.
offers so many possibilities, from perfume making, to venturing the streets of Paris and learning about French Revolution, to following in the footsteps of Van Gogh and Impressionism artists in Auvers and in Provence. Meet French citizens and understand their elaborate culture. We strive for our students to become a little “French” during their Expedition, by picking up the language, recognizing various cheeses, and eating true croissants. For a unique experience, let us take you on a remembrance tour of the Great War battlefields with our specialist guides / historians, by retracing actual footsteps and understanding what millions of soldiers died for.
is one of the last undiscovered countries in Europe. Wild and beautiful, Iceland is not covered in ice as you may think, but quite the contrary. In reality, the country is one of lush meadows, wildflower fields, deep lakes, majestic waterfalls, hot springs, geysers, active volcanoes, and breathtaking glaciers. Circumnavigate the island together with your guide and meet the Icelanders, fascinating people, descendants of the Vikings and of their Irish slaves. These welcoming hosts have learned to live and thrive in this beautiful, yet wild, environment. Take a dip in pleasantly warm geothermal water in the middle of a black lava field and hike the epic Icelandic coastline, searching for and identifying the huge number of seabirds. Hike the glacier in the Vatnajokull National Park and explore the glacier lagoons on a kayak. Learn about the nation's strong fishing industry, and embark on a boat to try to spot Humpback, Menke or even Killer whales.
