Program Overview
**Use your trip’s unique identifier code BG27 when registering**
On this trip, organized by Travel For Teens and Basis Independent Silicon Valley, you’ll discover the wonders of Germany and connect what you are learning with where it all happened.
This 9-day journey sweeps through five of Germany’s most iconic destinations, tracing the country from south to north and covering nearly every chapter of its extraordinary story. It begins in Frankfurt, Germany’s cosmopolitan financial capital, and quickly moves west to Rothenburg ob der Tauber — the best-preserved medieval walled city in the world, where cobblestone lanes, half-timbered houses, and the grand Marktplatz make you feel as if you’ve stepped directly into the 15th century.
From Rothenburg, the group heads south along the Romantic Road to Munich, where guided tours of Marienplatz, the Frauenkirche, and the BMW Welt showroom give students a taste of Bavarian culture in one of Europe’s most livable cities. En route to Heidelberg, a stop at the Aalen Limes Museum and the Romisches Freilichtmuseum brings Roman Germany vividly to life. Heidelberg itself — home to Germany’s oldest university and a fairy-tale castle perched above the Neckar River — is one of Europe’s most romantic cities.
The journey culminates on the Rhine River, where a cruise from Koblenz to Rudesheim glides past a procession of medieval castles, steeply terraced vineyards, and the famous Lorelei rock — an experience that encapsulates everything legendary about the German landscape. Nine days. Five cities. One unforgettable journey.
Trip Itinerary
DAY 1: DEPART FROM THE USA
Overnight Flight to Germany
DAY 2: GUTEN TAG, FRANKFURT & ROTHENBURG
- Arrive at Frankfurt Airport – meet your full-time TFT Trip Leader
- Depart Frankfurt and travel south toward the medieval town of Rothenburg ob der Tauber
- Check into the hotel and lunch in the old town
- Walking tour through Rothenburg’s historical center: the grand Marktplatz, the Renaissance Rathaus (Town Hall), and the iconic medieval fortification walls
- Dinner
DAY 3: ROTHENBURG TO MUNICH VIA THE ROMANTIC ROAD
- Morning visit to Romerpark Ruffenhofen – a reconstructed Roman canp from the 2nd century, one of the most evocative Roman sites in Bavaria
- Depart south along the legendary Romantic Road – Germany’s most celebrated scenic route, winding through Bavarian villages, rolling farmland, and silhouettes
- Arrive in Munich and check into the hotel
- During the afternoon, we will have a guided tour of Dachau Concentration Camp & Memorial – one of the most important and sobering historical sites in Europe. Guided reflection on the history will be part of the tour.
- Return to the hotel to rest
- Bavarian bratwurst dinner
- Evening debrief from the day
DAY 4: MUNICH: GUIDED CITY TOUR & MUSEUMS
- Munich guided walking tour through the historical city center
- Marienplatz – Munich’s central square, home to the famous Glockenspiel and the Gothic New Town Hall
- Frauenkirche – Munich’s iconic twin-towered cathedral, symbol of the city
- Residenz – the former Wittelsbach royal palace, the largest city palace in Germany
- BMW Welt showroom visit – an architectural landmark and showcase for one of Germany’s most iconic brands
- 1972 Olympic Park – walk the grounds of the legendary Munich Olympics stadium complex
- Afternoon visit to the Glyptothek Museum – neoclassical masterpiece housing one of Europe’s finest ancient Greek and Roman sculpture collections
- Dinner
DAY 5: MUNICH TO HEIDELBERG VIA STUTTGART
- Depart Munich and travel northwest toward Heidelberg via Stuttgart
- En route, stop at the Aalen Limes Museum, dedicated to the Roman frontier (Limes) that once marked the edge of the Roman Empire
- Visit the Romisches Freilichtmuseum Hechingen-Stein – an extraordinary open-air museum where the excavated remains of a 2nd-century Roman villa and farm are preserved exactly as uncovered
- Arrive in Heidelberg and check into our hotel
- Evening stroll along the Neckar River
DAY 6: HEIDELBERG: OLD TOWN & CASTLE
- Heidelberg walking tour – explore one of Germany’s most romantic and best-preserved old towns
- Heidelberg Castle – the magnificent Renaissance ruin towering over the city nd the Neckar Valley; enjoy panoramic views of the Altstadt below
- Walk the Hauptstrasse – one of the longest pedestrian zones in Germany, lined with baroque buildings and centuries of student culture
- Visit to Kupfalzisches Museum (Electoral Palatinate Museum) – Heidelberg’s main historical museum featuring Roman and medieval artifacts from the region
- Free time to explore and final dinner in Heidelberg
DAY 7: HEIDELBERG TO THE RHINELAND VIA COLOGNE
- Depart Heidelberg and travel north toward the Rhine via Cologne
- Visit to the Romano-Germanic Museum (Römisch-Germanisches Museum) – world-class collection of Roman artifacts excavated directly from the city of Cologne
- Stop at the Praetorium – the excavated Roman governor’s palace beneath the modern city; walk through the ancient corridors of a 2,000-year-old structure
- Optional: view of the Cologne Cathedral – the tallest twin-spired church in the world and a UNESCO World Heritage site
- Continue north along the Rhine to the Rhineland region
- Check into our hotel
- Dinner
DAY 8: RHINE CRUISE: KOBLENZ TO RUDESHEIM
- Board a classic Rhine river cruise at Koblenz – where the Rhine and Moselle rivers meet at the famous Deutsches Eck (Germany corner)
- Sail through the Upper Middle Rhine Valley – a UNESCO World Heritage landscape of towering castle ruins, medieval villages, and steeply terraced vineyards
- Pass the legendary Lorelei Rock – the famous cliff associated with German folklore and one of the most iconic sights on the Rhine
- Disembark at Rudesheim am Rhein – a charming town at the southern end of the Rhine Gorge
- Final Dinner
DAY 9: FLIGHT HOME FROM FRANKFURT
- Breakfast
- Transfer to Frankfurt airport
- Fly back to the Bay Area
- Parents pick up their children, who are 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 (BG27).
- 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.
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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 9th through 12th graders at Basis Independent Silicon Valley (BISV). Space is limited and is awarded on a first-come, first-served basis.
Chaperones will be BISV faculty & staff.
The trip is open to 9th through 12th graders at Basis Independent Silicon Valley (BISV). 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 $4595, 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), 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, checked baggage fees, damage to hotels, expenses related to unforeseen circumstances (e.g. transportation delays or natural disasters).
Tuition for the trip is $4595, 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), 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, checked 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 are due on the first Monday of the month from October 2026 to March 2027.
$850 deposit. Equal monthly installments are due on the first Monday of the month from October 2026 to 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 $305, and a standard plan with cancel for any reason and interrupt for any reason coverage is $454. There is a premium coverage that also includes interruption for any reason for $488.
For more information on insurance, please see this page.
Trip Insurance is mandatory for all participants, but you do not need to purchase it via TFT. Families who purchase it independently will be asked to upload proof of purchase of an independently purchased trip insurance policy in your parent portal.
A standard trip protection plan $305, and a standard plan with cancel for any reason and interrupt for any reason coverage is $454. There is a premium coverage that also includes interruption for any reason for $488.
For more information on insurance, please see this page.
Trip Insurance is mandatory for all participants, but you do not need to purchase it via TFT. Families who purchase it independently will be asked to upload proof of purchase of an independently purchased trip insurance policy in your parent portal.
How much is airfare? How do the flights work?
Travel For Teens will reserve a group contract for all participants traveling round-trip to Frankfurt. The exact flight path will be determined closer to departure. TFT reserves the right to adjust the trip cost difference with a tuition supplement, although we do not intend to do so.
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 Frankfurt. The exact flight path will be determined closer to departure. TFT reserves the right to adjust the trip cost difference with a tuition supplement, although we do not intend to do so.
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 hotels in every city with en suite bathrooms and every child will have their own bed. 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 hotels in every city with en suite bathrooms and every child will have their own bed. 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.