Backpacking for Teens II

DAY 1: NEWARK (FOR THOSE WHO OPT TO TAKE THE GROUP FLIGHT)

As the group flight takes off, the trip officially begins!

DAYS 2 – 6: ITALY (FLORENCE, THE CINQUE TERRE)

The trip starts in stunning Florence, birthplace of the Italian Renaissance and home to Michelangelo's David, the world-famous Duomo, and the Uffizi Museum, which houses the best collection of Italian Renaissance art in the world. Here, we’ll learn about the lives and art of such artists as Donatello and Leonardo da Vinci, as well as writers like Dante and Machiavelli, and we’ll come to understand the importance of the Medici family, who not only revolutionized modern banking, but also nearly singlehandedly funded the Renaissance in Italy. Art and culture are not all that are in store for us in Florence, however. You’ll also have a workshop at a family-owned chocolate shop and learn the art of making chocolate by hand, as the owners have been doing for generations. Then we’ll spend some time shopping before enjoying the best pizzeria in the city and finishing with TFT’s famous Gelato Tour.

We leave Tuscany for the Cinque Terre, where we stay right in one of the five idyllic fishing villages perched on dramatic cliffs that plunge into the crystal-blue waters of the Mediterranean Sea. Of course, we’ll hike the trail that connects the towns, enjoying spectacular views of the sea and the vineyards that line the cliffs, and also sampling local specialties along the way like pesto and focaccia. We’ll dine on fresh seafood and relax on the beach in our seaside paradise.

DAYS 6 – 9: SWISS ALPS

Backpackers in the know head for the green valleys and dramatic alpine mountains of Switzerland. We’ll jump the train in the Cinque Terre for our next destination, the breathtaking Swiss Alps. The backpacker mecca of Interlaken, nestled in a valley in the mountains, is our base to explore this elegant country and culture. Outdoor sports and activities abound for those who wish to breathe in the fresh mountain air, and we’ll spend plenty of time getting to know traditional Swiss culture and history in the nearby towns.

DAYS 9 – 13: FRANCE (PARIS)

Paris is our next and final stop on this European odyssey. Our hotel is located just steps away from the official center of Paris, the Notre Dame cathedral, in one of the richest neighborhoods in the city. Visit the grandest art museum in the world, the Louvre, and shop till you drop in the boutiques and department stores. Shopping not your thing? No problem, you can so something else of interest to you. Our time in Paris is spent absorbing its intoxicating atmosphere, picnicking on the banks of the Seine, and enjoying the splendid offerings of French cuisine. 

Stroll the Champs Élysées, climb the Arc de Triomphe and ride to the top of the Eiffel Tower. Meet native Parisians and hang out on the Pont des Arts for some fun with young people from all over the world.