ALPS ADVENTURE AND SERVICE PROGRAM
JULY 5 - JULY 18, 2025 (LIMITED AVAILABILITY)
JULY 22 - AUGUST 4, 2025
LENGTH 14 Days
COMPLETING GRADES 7-9
SERVICE HOURS 10-15
ARRIVE Geneva International Airport (GVA)
DEPART Milan Airport (MXP)
TUITION $6,295
Join the adventure this summer as we spend 2 weeks exploring Southern France, The Alps, and Western Italy. 7th - 9th graders can kayak, climb, raft, hike, scramble, and camp out in the mountainous scenery of the Alps. In Italy, we give back to our natural surroundings as we work alongside local service organizations working hard to protect the environment. A trip for adventurous teens who want to start exploring internationally.
TRIP HIGHLIGHTS
CLICK ON THE IMAGES TO LEARN MORE!
TRIP OVERVIEW
ACTIVITIES
Canyoning: Through the Alpine rivers
Via Ferrata: A real vertical challenge!
Rock climbing: Learn and develop your climbing, belaying and rope-work skills
White water descent: Rafting the white water rapids of The Alps
Hike: Explore the mountains and stay overnight in a rustic mountain cabin
High ropes adventure: Zipline, Spider’s Net, Log Staircases, Tightrope Wires and more!
Kayak or stand up paddle-boarding: Relax and absorb the mountain views from the water
Wool workshop at a shepherd's museum: An authentic alpine experience
Taste: Authentic French and Italian delicacies as we sample pastries and find fresh produce to hone our cooking skills
SERVICE
A Certificate of Community Service indicating the total number of hours worked, and a group Presidential Volunteer Service Award will be issued upon successful completion of the program. Service work carried out could include some of the following:
We will be planting native plants in an ecological restoration project, clearing hiking trails, and providing additional assistance to ongoing environmental restoration projects. We will be doing this in conjunction with a small local town, which will have a direct impact on the communities in rural Italy.
WHAT IS INCLUDED AND EXCLUDED IN TRIP TUITION
The trip tuition listed above includes accommodations, activities, meals, and group gear. The tuition does not include personal gear and clothing, travel insurance, spending money, and travel expenses such as airfare to and from the start and end of the program, unaccompanied minor fees, and baggage fees.
ACCOMMODATIONS AND SHOWERING
Accommodations are tent camping for the majority of the trip. Tents are provided and we aim for it to be 2 participants in a 3-person tent or 3 participants in a 4-person tent with luggage. There will be a few nights’ accommodation in a private home (Airbnb-style) when we are in Italy.
Bathrooms and showers can be rustic, so please be prepared. In an effort to save time and conserve water resources in the areas we are traveling, participants will have access to showers every 1-2 days even when showers are readily available. Bathrooms are a mix between flush toilets and latrines.
FOOD
Participants on this trip will plan, prepare, and eat meals as a group. Split up into smaller cook crews, each crew will have the chance to prepare a meal approximately once per day. This process is supervised by staff who offer advice on nutrition, and menu planning, and ensure safe food storage, preparation, and handling.
About half of the meals are prepared on camp stoves. Meals are nutritious and filling, but the camping component of the program often necessitates a simpler menu than a restaurant or home cook might allow. Some meals are prepared in Airbnb-style accommodations with access to a full kitchen where more complex meals can be prepared. While students and staff plan and prepare the meals, an effort is made to incorporate local ingredients and cuisine from the local culture. A few meals will be prepared by our in-country community partners.
We are able to accommodate all dietary requirements and preferences.
TRAVEL
Families are individually responsible for booking their own airfare or making their own travel arrangements to get their students from home to the Geneva International Airport (GVA) on the first day of the trip, and from Milan Airport (MXP) to home on the last day of the trip. RLT will provide exact windows of time that we require all students to arrive and depart within. It is imperative that no one make any travel arrangements until RLT directs them to do so.
A leader-escorted round-trip flight will be available from the New York City area (but is not required) for those travelers who wish to fly with a leader. Booking information for the escorted flight will be available after enrollment.
PASSPORT REQUIREMENTS
For all international travel, we require participants to have a passport that is valid for a minimum of 6 MONTHS past the end date of your participant's RLT trip. If your participant's passport is due to expire within those 6 months, please work on updating your participant's passport as soon as possible upon enrollment. According to the State Department, routine passport renewal will take 10-13 weeks and expedited processing, which costs an additional $60, will take 7-9 weeks. It is your responsibility to ensure your participant's passport is up to date and meets these requirements. We encourage families to familiarize themselves with the U.S. Department of State website for all up-to-date and accurate passport recommendations.
TRAVEL INSURANCE REQUIREMENTS
The Road Less Traveled does not provide its own insurance. However, we require participants to purchase travel insurance through a third party for all international programs. For additional details, please visit our FAQ page or you may contact a member of our team at info@theroadlesstraveled.com or 773-342-5200.
VACCINE & MEDICATION INFORMATION
We always encourage families to review the CDC websites for France and Italy regarding recommended vaccinations and medications for international travel. More information will be provided to enrolled families from our Admissions Team in the Spring.
TECHNOLOGY
As part of the RLT experience, our trips are electronic-free. While it is encouraged to travel with cell phones, leaders will collect phones and any other personal devices after all participants arrive on the first day. It can feel tough initially to not have access to your phone, but it really helps everyone in the group to connect and have a really great trip experience. This includes phones, iPods, tablets, gaming devices, music devices, smartwatches, etc. All electronics will be held by RLT leaders, kept safe and dry for the duration of the trip, and returned at the end of the program. All cameras, go pros, etc. are acceptable and can be kept with you! If you do not have a camera, please note that leaders will also be taking photos throughout the program, and these photos will be shared through an online gallery.
"RLT is a very organized, well-run organization with a great mission, and excellent clear communication with parents. I like that the programs are not "fancy" - they prioritize friendships, respecting the environment, enjoying the outdoors, and learning the pleasure of service work and helping others. I'd highly recommend the programs to others"
- SUMMER 2024 ALUM PARENT -
SAMPLE ITINERARY
*Please note the itinerary listed below is the intended itinerary for this trip. No two trips are exactly the same. All itineraries are subject to change to ensure the best possible program experience. Weather, group dynamics, new opportunities, and the unpredictability of travel all shape the final trip itinerary - and it's all part of the adventure!
Travel days (Days 1 and 2)
Leave the US on Day 1 flying overnight to arrive on Day 2. Once the whole group is together we transfer to our campsite near Ancelle. We set up camp and plan for the week ahead.
High ropes adventure and paddleboarding (Day 3)
We kick off the trip with an adrenaline-filled high ropes course. Zoom down a zip wire, climb up a spider net, negotiate the wobbly log staircase, and tiptoe across the tightrope wire. This woodland adventure course is designed to challenge you vertically, horizontally, and personally! We have a more relaxed afternoon, eating picnic lunch by the lakeshore before getting on the water to explore and cool off on our paddleboards.
Mountain hike and overnight stay in Alpine cabin (Days 4 and 5)
Les Fermons is a hamlet located in the beautiful Champoléon Valley and the starting point for the hike into the Refuge du Tourond. As we hike, our local guide will show us the local wildlife (ibex in particular) and share some secrets about the plants and flowers growing in the mountains! In the evening, we’ll have a rustic dinner prepared for us by our local mountain guide. The group will sleep in dormitories overnight. The following morning we hike back down to Ancelle, and continue to explore the local area and trails.
Shepherd's Museum, wool workshop, and rafting (Day 6)
Today we visit a Shepherd's Museum and take part in an interactive wool workshop. We discover the unique world of alpine shepherding and have a go at making your own piece of felt from raw wool. We learn about some of the agricultural history of the area, and why animal fleeces were so important. Later in the day, we go white water rafting as we navigate the drops, rapids, and waves as a group - guaranteed fun and adrenaline!
Via Feratta and canyoning (Day 7)
Another adrenaline-filled adventure day awaits! In the morning we tackle Via Ferrata. This consists of ladders and thick wires positioned strategically over rock faces. We will wear a harness and helmet, clip into them, and then climb. A great test of your head for heights and a very unique alpine challenge as we scale natural rockface. After a picnic lunch and a quick outfit change to wetsuits (provided by us), we start our canyoning experience! We walk up to the canyon exploring how the river has carved its way through the landscape. We spend our afternoon sliding down natural rock toboggans into beautiful, pristine alpine waters, jumping into deep pools, and abseiling down dramatic waterfalls!
Chill out and explore day (Day 8)
After a busy first half of the trip, we take a more relaxed day to recharge and explore. We amble through local villages, stop for ice cream, do laundry, and prepare for the next half of our adventure, Italy!
Transfer to Turin, Italy (Day 9)
Cross the border into Italy after a scenic mountainous drive. We settle into our new accommodation and prepare for our service projects. In the evening we explore the town of Turin by bike with our informative local guide. We discover the history of Italy's royal family, their famous castle, Valentino Park, and Mole Antonelliana, along with other hidden gems that are favored by the locals.
Service projects (Days 10-12)
Over the next few days, we learn about local environmental issues being faced and help out with hands-on service projects to protect the natural surroundings. Further details of this service work will be released closer to the time, as it depends on the local needs at the time of the trip.
Explore Milan (Day 13)
We explore the city on our last full day of the trip. We finish with our famous last night RLT banquet and celebrate our individual and group success over the past 14 days.
Homeward bound (Day 14)
We'll depart Milan in the morning after our final goodbyes and head home.
SOCIAL MEDIA
Check out and follow @therlt on Instagram for a behind-the-scenes look at photos from past participants and leaders.
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