Program Overview
On this fun and educational tour designed by All Saints Episcopal Day School and Travel For Teens, explore the best parts of Scotland while learning about their ecological sustainable practices of the past, present, and future.
Starting in majestic Edinburgh, explore this imperial city with a stroll down the Royal Mile, a visit to Edinburgh Castle, and a climb to the top of Arthur’s Seat for a stunning panorama of Edinburgh. In the evening, go on a ghost tour and get to see the city in a different light!
Next, get transported to a fairytale driving through the Scottish Highlands, known for their incredible and wild scenery amid lochs and mountains. Spend a day at a sustainable ecovillage learning about their ecological building, renewable energies, water systems, and food practices. Take a boat cruise around Loch Ness & search for the Loch Ness monster! Visit the Isle of Skye, known for its dramatic landscapes, picturesque fishing villages, and medieval castles.
Open to all All Saints Episcopal Day School students in grade 8. Sign up today for a trip of a lifetime!
During this program, you will…
- Stroll along the Royal Mile and explore Edinburgh Castle
- Explore the city that was the inspiration for Harry Potter
- Ride through the unforgettable Scottish Highlands
- Take a boat cruise on Loch Ness in search of the Loch Ness monster
- Visit the Findhorn Ecovillage and learn about sustainable community practices first-hand
- Head out onto a full day trip to the Isle of Skye
- Climb Arthur’s Seat for the best view of Edinburgh from above
- Take a ghost tour through the most haunted parts of this Scottish city, going below ground through spooky vaults and secret passageways
- For those brave enough, sample a traditional dish, haggis
Trip Itinerary
DAY 1: DEPART FROM THE USA
Departure from New York, New York to Edinburgh (flight details TBD)
DAYS 2: EDINBURGH
Meet your TFT counselors at the airport after clearing customs and collecting your baggage. We’ll head to our hotel in downtown Edinburgh and get settled in. Following lunch, we’ll convene for our First Day Meeting, discussing trip rules, safety precautions, and the itinerary. We’ll explore Calton Hill, a UNESCO site with iconic views of Edinburgh, and enjoy our first Scottish dinner at a local pub.
DAY 3: EDINBURGH
We’ll start the day with breakfast at the hotel, followed by a tour of Edinburgh Castle. We’ll enjoy lunch on the Royal Mile before a visit to the Sustainable Scotland Network at the Edinburgh Climate Change Institute (to be confirmed). In the afternoon, you can choose between exploring the Queen’s Holyroodhouse Palace or indulging in some shopping on Prince’s Street. We’ll wrap up the day with a traditional Scottish dinner and a captivating ghost tour of Edinburgh.
DAY 4: EDINBURGH -> INVERNESS -> LOCH NESS
After an early breakfast, we’ll check out and journey to Inverness. Upon arrival, we’ll drop off our bags at our accommodation and have lunch before heading to Loch Ness. At Urquhart Castle, we’ll explore the medieval ruins on the banks of Loch Ness, followed by a boat cruise to search for the Loch Ness Monster. We’ll head back to Inverness for dinner to finish out the day.
DAY 5: SERVICE DAY
The day starts with breakfast at the hotel, and then we’ll head out for a volunteer project in the Highlands, working with Findhorn Ecovillage to organize a full-service day. We’ll have lunch at our service site and continue our work. Afterward, we’ll return to Inverness for a free late afternoon and dinner in the city.
DAY 6: ISLE OF SKYE
After an early breakfast, we’ll set off for a full-day excursion to the Isle of Skye, known for its rugged landscapes, fishing villages, and medieval castles. We’ll explore the island, have lunch, and continue our adventure before returning to Inverness for dinner.
DAY 7: INVERNESS -> EDINBURGH
After an early breakfast, we’ll make an early return to Edinburgh via train, with lunch along the way. At the hotel, we’ll drop off our bags and embark on a hike up Arthur’s Seat, Edinburgh’s highest hill, to take in stunning city views. The day continues with some final souvenir shopping and an upscale final dinner in Edinburgh. We’ll wrap up the evening by sharing our favorite trip memories.
DAY 8: RETURN TO THE USA
We’ll have our last breakfast at the hotel before catching our train back to the Edinburgh airport. From there, we’ll fly back to New York, welcome home!
Informational Meeting
A TFT representative will give a short presentation and answer your questions.
When: November 2, 2023
Time: 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Use this link to register for the meeting!
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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.
How much is tuition and what does it include?
Tuition for the trip is $4,295, which INCLUDES round-trip international airfare to Scotland, all breakfasts and dinners in Scotland, all accommodations, ground transportation, taxes and tips, all activities unless listed as optional on the Map & Itinerary page.
Tuition does NOT INCLUDE (not meant to be an exhaustive list): meals not listed in the itinerary, beverages other than filtered water at meals, COVID testing and PPE equipment (as applicable), phone calls home, deviations from the itinerary, 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, or additional expenses related to unforeseen circumstances (e.g. transportation delays/strikes or natural disasters), mandatory Travel Protection Plan
Tuition for the trip is $4,295, which INCLUDES round-trip international airfare to Scotland, all breakfasts and dinners in Scotland, all accommodations, ground transportation, taxes and tips, all activities unless listed as optional on the Map & Itinerary page.
Tuition does NOT INCLUDE (not meant to be an exhaustive list): meals not listed in the itinerary, beverages other than filtered water at meals, COVID testing and PPE equipment (as applicable), phone calls home, deviations from the itinerary, 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, or additional expenses related to unforeseen circumstances (e.g. transportation delays/strikes or natural disasters), mandatory Travel Protection Plan
How do the flights work?
Travel For Teens will reserve a group contract for all participants traveling roundtrip from New York, New York to Edinburgh, Scotland.
Travel For Teens will reserve a group contract for all participants traveling roundtrip from New York, New York to Edinburgh, Scotland.
Who can go on this trip?
The trip is open to all All Saints Episcopal Day School students in grade 8. Space is limited and is awarded on a first-come, first-serve basis.
The trip is open to all All Saints Episcopal Day School students in grade 8. Space is limited and is awarded on a first-come, first-serve basis.
What is the payment timeline?
Deadline to register: November 15, 2023
$750 trip deposit due within three business days of registration
Balance in three installments: December 15, 2023, January 15, and February 15, 2024
All payments may be paid via ACH (no fee) or by Credit Card (4% convenience fee added to all credit card payments other than the $750 deposit)
Deadline to register: November 15, 2023
$750 trip deposit due within three business days of registration
Balance in three installments: December 15, 2023, January 15, and February 15, 2024
All payments may be paid via ACH (no fee) or by Credit Card (4% convenience fee added to all credit card payments other than the $750 deposit)
Where do we stay?
We will be staying in three-star hotels throughout the program. The names of the accommodations are available to all families once they have signed up.
Single rooms can be requested and will cost $650 additional 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 throughout the program. The names of the accommodations are available to all families once they have signed up.
Single rooms can be requested and will cost $650 additional per person per single.
Note: singles must be requested at the time of registration to be guaranteed.
Trip Emails & Photographs
PHOTOGRAPHS
We will take dozens, if not hundreds, of photos each day. The best photos will be posted as regularly as possible (ideally every day) to a private photo-sharing platform (Waldo Photos) where you can follow along with the trip. We will send you an email to alert you when we post new photos. Low-resolution photos can be viewed for free during and after the trip. All of your High-Resolution matched photos can be purchased and downloaded in real-time during the trip or after the trip for $50.
EMAILS
The Trip Director will be in regular email contact every 24-48 hours, internet willing, with our families. Emails will include fun detailed updates about the day’s activities and are a great way for families to follow along with the journey. Email will be the best way to communicate messages to the Trip Director.
Safety, Sickness & Communication
SAFETY AND SICKNESS
The safety of our participants is our #1 concern, which is why we have only experienced trip leaders running the show. We offer 24/7 communication throughout our programs and have detailed risk management and safety policies in place. Please review our policies here.
For information regarding our specific policies with Covid-19 please review our Covid-19 protocols page here.
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.
What is the food like on a TFT program? Can you accommodate dietary restrictions?
In a word – delicious! At TFT, we believe food should be an integral part of the travel experience and always make an effort to eat at authentic establishments when we can. What better way to immerse yourself in the culture of a place than by sampling the local delicacies, and we encourage students to do so whenever possible! Just as we stay away from Americanized hotel chains, we try to avoid restaurants with menus that cater only to tourists because every good traveler knows the best food is found wherever the locals are eating!
We also love to have picnics al fresco and do this whenever possible, which is a great way to taste some local food while sitting out in the fresh air taking in the sights and sounds of our surroundings.
As always, we are willing and able to accommodate vegetarians, vegans, gluten allergies, and other dietary restrictions.
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.
What is the activity level of this trip?
This is an active trip. The goal of the trip will be to maximize each day. We aim to achieve a good balance of activity and downtime. You will need to be comfortable walking about 5 miles a day in total.