Program Overview
France is the very first country to which Travel For Teens began running programs and, thanks to our local knowledge and insider connections, there is no better way to discover this European gem than with us! Organized by Basis and Travel For Teens, this program will bridge the gap from the language lessons in the classroom with what it means to be French.
Your immersion in France begins in City of Light, Paris, where iconic history and world-class culture meet at every turn. After settling into your central hotel, you will wander through the charming medieval streets of the Marais and take an evening stroll past Notre Dame. Over the next few days, you will step into royal splendor on a guided journey through the opulent Palace of Versailles, admire world-famous Masterpieces inside the Louvre and the Musée d’Orsay, and get hands-on experience mastering the art of French macaron baking. As day turns to night, you will climb the illuminated Eiffel Tower, explore the bohemian hilltop neighborhood of Montmartre up to Sacré-Cœur, and glide beneath sparkling bridges on a romantic bateau mouche cruise along the Seine.
Leaving the capital behind, your journey takes you west into breathtaking landscapes steeped in romance and military history. You will marvel at the majestic island abbey of Mont Saint-Michel before engaging in a lively evening scavenger hunt within the historic walled city of Saint-Malo. Next, an expert guide will lead you through Normandy’s iconic World War II sites, including Sainte-Mère-Église, Pointe du Hoc, the D-Day landing beaches, and the American Cemetery. From there, you will zip south aboard the high-speed TGV train into the fairytale Loire Valley to tour grand architectural wonders like Château de Chenonceau and Château d’Amboise, capping off your stay with a scenic bicycle ride along the picturesque banks of the Loire River.
The final stretch of your adventure ventures deep into southwestern France’s gastronomic and prehistoric heartland, Dordogne. You will wander through the cobblestone alleys and rich food markets of medieval Sarlat-la-Canéda before stepping back thousands of years into human history inside the Lascaux IV cave art complex alongside an expert archaeologist. After exploring dramatic cliffside fortresses like Beynac and quaint river villages like La Roque-Gageac, your trip culminates with a coastal grand finale at Arcachon. Here, you will conquer the massive Dune du Pilat—Europe’s tallest sand dune—enjoy fresh local seaside lunches, and celebrate all your adventures together during a cozy, family-run farewell dinner.
Trip Itinerary
DAY 1: DEPART FROM THE USA
Group flight departs for Paris, France!
DAY 2: BIENVENUE A PARIS
- Meet TFT Trip Leader at the airport and private transfer to the hotel
- Drop Bags at the hotel and refresh
- Lunch
- Early Afternoon – walking tour of the Marais to familiarize ourselves with this historic neighborhood of Paris. Not a rushed tour either, given that we will be jet-lagged
- Return to the hotel to check into our rooms
- Dinner – at a local Cafe or Bistro that is near the hotel and students/chaperones can order off the menu.
- After dinner, stroll past Notre Dame before returning to the hotel.
DAY 3: VERSAILLES & PARIS
- Breakfast
- RER to Versailles
- Guided tour of Versailles
- Afternoon: Musée d’Orsay – 3 hours, guided, focused on Impressionism
- Late afternoon free time with the option to visit Les Invalides to see Napoleon’s tomb
- Return to the hotel
- Dinner
- Evening: Climb the Eiffel Tower
DAY 4: LOUVRE & COOKING LESSON
- Morning: Louvre guided tour
- Lunch
- Early Afternoon: Macaron cooking lesson.
- Late afternoon: Option to shop at Les Galeries Lafayette to see the Haussmann architecture and the famous Tiffany stained glass domed ceiling.
- Evening: Guided walking tour of Montmartre including a visit to Sacré-Cœur (if you skip the Galeries Lafayette.
- Independent Dinner at Montmartre (let the students break into smaller groups with a chaperone or the Trip Leader)
- Evening Suggestion: After dinner, a Bateaux Mouches ride on the Seine
DAY 5: PARIS → ST. MALO
- Board coach for Le Mont St. Michel
- 3 hours for an unhurried visit once we arrive.
- Late afternoon free time in St. Malo.
- Scavenger hunt in the evening after dinner.
DAY 6: NORMANDY
- Breakfast and board coach.
- Departure to Normandy.
- Guided visit of St. Mere Eglise, Pont du Hoc, D-Day beaches, American Cemetery.
- At 4pm when the cemetery closes, transfer to Caen.
- TGV to Tours – Dinner on the train.
DAY 7: LOIRE VALLEY - Château de Chenonceau
- Wake in Tours
- Visit Château de Chenonceau
- Evening left open in a small Loire village.
DAY 8: LOIRE VALLEY
- Morning: Château d’Amboise tour
- Lunch
- Afternoon: Bike ride along the Loire River
- Evening: Free time.
DAY 9: LOIRE VALLEY → DORDOGNE/PERIGORD
Travel south to Sarlat-la-Canéda (medieval town, real food capital of France – foie gras, walnuts, markets).
Evening: free wander of Sarlat’s old town.
- Morning: Château d’Amboise tour
- Lunch
- Afternoon: Bike ride along the Loire River
- Evening: Free time.
DAY 10: LASCAUX & VILLAGES
- Morning: Lascaux IV (cave art) with an archaeologist-trained guide.
- Afternoon: the village of La Roque-Gageac or Beynac, river walk, château on the cliffs.
DAY 11: ARCACHON & DUNE DU PILST
- Take an excursion to Arcachon and Dune du Pilat
- Visit the Dune du Pilat
- Enjoy lunch in Arcachon
- Explore Arcachon on your own
- Farewell dinner at a family-run restaurant.
DAY 12: RETURN TO THE USA
Fly home, happily exhausted
Registration Instructions
- Begin by clicking the ‘Register Now’ button on your school’s webpage
- You will be taken to the MyTFT portal. Choose the option to ‘Create an Account’ and enter your email address and a password.
- Once your account is created, you will be directed to a screen where you will be asked to fill out information about you as the guardian. Then, click the blue ‘Update’ button at the bottom of the screen.
- Next, put in your trip’s unique identifier code (BF27).
- Search the code in the box with the magnifying glass icon and select your school’s trip.
- After selecting your trip, you’ll be prompted to begin the registration process! Please follow the instructions to complete your registration.
Travel with us and discover why we are consistently winning awards for Top Youth Travel Organization.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Travel For Teens?
Travel For Teens started in 2003 as a small, family-run business providing teens with an authentic experience in Paris.
Today, the TFT family has flourished and operates over 100 different programs in over 40 countries! Our values and mission remain the same no matter our growth – inspiring youth to ignite a passion for travel and discovering new cultures beyond the traditional tourist path.
Who can go on this trip?
The trip is open to French students at Basis Independent Silicon Valley. Space is limited and is awarded on a first-come, first-served basis.
Chaperones will be BISV faculty & staff.
The trip is open to French students at Basis Independent Silicon Valley. Space is limited and is awarded on a first-come, first-served basis.
Chaperones will be BISV faculty & staff.
How much is tuition and what does it include?
Tuition for the trip is $7695, which INCLUDES round-trip airfare, all breakfasts, dinners, accommodations, transportation, entrance to museums/events, taxes and tips.
Tuition does NOT INCLUDE meals not listed in the itinerary, Trip Cancellation Insurance (Travel Protection Plans), COVID-related expenses (PPE equipment, testing), beverages other than filtered water at meals, laundry, souvenirs, shopping, visas and visa application fees, personal and medical expenses, activities and admissions that are not program-related or referenced in the itinerary, excess baggage fees, damage to hotels, expenses related to unforeseen circumstances (e.g. transportation delays or natural disasters).
Tuition for the trip is $7695, which INCLUDES round-trip airfare, all breakfasts, dinners, accommodations, transportation, entrance to museums/events, taxes and tips.
Tuition does NOT INCLUDE meals not listed in the itinerary, Trip Cancellation Insurance (Travel Protection Plans), COVID-related expenses (PPE equipment, testing), beverages other than filtered water at meals, laundry, souvenirs, shopping, visas and visa application fees, personal and medical expenses, activities and admissions that are not program-related or referenced in the itinerary, excess baggage fees, damage to hotels, expenses related to unforeseen circumstances (e.g. transportation delays or natural disasters).
What is the payment timeline?
$850 deposit. Equal monthly installments due the first Monday of the month from October 2026-March 2027.
$850 deposit. Equal monthly installments due the first Monday of the month from October 2026-March 2027.
If I cannot afford the payment schedule listed above, does Travel For Teens provide flexible payment plans?
Yes, Travel For Teens is willing to customize a payment plan for any participant who needs a little flexibility in the payment schedule. Please email help@travelforteens.com for details on payment plans.
Yes, Travel For Teens is willing to customize a payment plan for any participant who needs a little flexibility in the payment schedule. Please email help@travelforteens.com for details on payment plans.
How much is trip cancellation insurance?
A standard trip protection plan $516, and a standard plan with cancel for any reason and interrupt for any reason coverage is $776. There is a premium coverage that also includes interruption for any reason for $838.
For more information on insurance, please see this page.
A standard trip protection plan $516, and a standard plan with cancel for any reason and interrupt for any reason coverage is $776. There is a premium coverage that also includes interruption for any reason for $838.
For more information on insurance, please see this page.
How much is airfare? How do the flights work?
Travel For Teens will reserve a group contract for all participants traveling round-trip to Paris (CDG) and the connecting flight from the sound of France. The exact flight path will be determined closer to departure. TFT reserves the right to adjust the trip cost difference with a tuition supplement.
Participants will not be permitted to deviate from the group flights i.e. all participants must take the chaperoned group flight to and from the trip.
Travel For Teens will reserve a group contract for all participants traveling round-trip to Paris (CDG) and the connecting flight from the sound of France. The exact flight path will be determined closer to departure. TFT reserves the right to adjust the trip cost difference with a tuition supplement.
Participants will not be permitted to deviate from the group flights i.e. all participants must take the chaperoned group flight to and from the trip.
After I register, what happens next?
Once your deposit of $850 is paid, you will receive an email that confirms receipt of your deposit and registration.
All forms to be completed by parents and physician as well as packing lists, travel tips, travel insurance information, and other important information can be found on the MyTFT portal (hard copies of the essential legal/medical forms can be mailed to participants upon request). Our contract and release must be signed by all custodial parents (or guardians) and the participant. We will host a second meeting in advance of your departure to go over all last minute questions and details.
Once your deposit of $850 is paid, you will receive an email that confirms receipt of your deposit and registration.
All forms to be completed by parents and physician as well as packing lists, travel tips, travel insurance information, and other important information can be found on the MyTFT portal (hard copies of the essential legal/medical forms can be mailed to participants upon request). Our contract and release must be signed by all custodial parents (or guardians) and the participant. We will host a second meeting in advance of your departure to go over all last minute questions and details.
Where do we stay?
We will be staying in three-star hotels. The names of the accommodations are available to all families once they have signed up.
Single rooms can be requested and will cost an additional fee per person per single.
Note: singles must be requested at the time of registration to be guaranteed.
We will be staying in three-star hotels. The names of the accommodations are available to all families once they have signed up.
Single rooms can be requested and will cost an additional fee per person per single.
Note: singles must be requested at the time of registration to be guaranteed.
What are the safety qualifications for our staff?
Our staff members undergo a rigorous hiring process. They receive the same background check as school educators, an extensive training process to go over all safety precautions and protocols, and are required to be certified in CPR and First Aid. We exclusively hire responsible, multi-talented individuals who are safety-minded and are as passionate about teen travel as we are.
Do I need to speak the language?
No, our skilled staff members will help you get around and even teach you a few fun phrases!
Are participants allowed to have their cell phones on the program?
We do allow participants to bring their phones, but we ask that they use it solely as a camera when we are out and about during the day. We want everyone to focus on living in the moment and fully experience each new destination we are visiting without being absorbed in their phones. We ask that participants look at their journey with us as a way to disconnect. When we have downtime at our hotels in the evenings it is okay for participants to use their devices to connect with friends and family back home.

