Central Europe School Trip Overview
From the highest peaks of the Alps to Munich’s bustling Marienplatz, this adventure offers something for any young traveler looking to go off the beaten path. Students love getting to visit three countries and comparing how they differ and what they have in common. We’ll begin in the tranquil mountain town of Interlaken, where we’ll soak up the views and get the adrenaline pumping with adventure activities like canyoning. From there it’s onwards to Munich, where students will walk in the footsteps of history at Dachau Concentration Camp and appreciate traditional Bavarian culture. This trip of a lifetime finishes in Salzburg, famous for its fresh alpine air and as a filming location for The Sound of Music. What better way to introduce students to German culture than by showing them these three beautiful countries?
Our mission is to provide an authentic experience rooted in “teaching teens to be travelers, not tourists.” Language students will have the opportunity to immerse themselves in German and practice what they have learned in the classroom. Students can order their own food at meals, chit-chat with shopkeepers, and haggle with street vendors. Our staff members will help students discover that foreign languages are an exciting tool they can use whenever they travel abroad.
Our guides will help students step outside their comfort zone, appreciate other cultures, and discover the joys of traveling. They’ll give them the tools they’ll need as they explore the world, wherever their travels might take them. Thanks to our years of experience in leading young travelers around Europe, Travel For Teens are experts in engaging and inspiring student travelers. Join us on this one-of-a-kind cultural experience and leave them with memories to last a lifetime!
Did You Know? Teachers travel for free! Enroll just six paying participants and your trip is covered. Learn more about the Benefits for Teachers.
During this trip, you and your students will…
- Watch the beautiful Alps go by as you travel by train through Switzerland and Germany
- Hike and ride cable cars through quaint Alpine villages
- Marvel at a waterfall cascading through the inside of a mountain
- Get the adrenaline pumping on a canyoning adventure
- Soar high above the lakes on a once-in-a-lifetime paragliding adventure
- See firsthand the impact of World War II on Germany and the German people as you visit Dachau and Hitler’s Eagle’s Nest
- Get to know Munich like a local on a bike tour through the city
Detailed Trip Itinerary
Learn more about what each day is like on tour! Click on the day to discover the different sites and activities you will experience
DAY 1: Hello Switzerland!
Flight from your preferred airport to Zurich.
DAY 2: Swiss Alps - Interlaken
Welcome to Switzerland! You’ll be met at the airport by your TFT guides, who will accompany you for the duration of your journey. Upon your arrival in Zurich, we’ll take a short train ride to Interlaken, our home base during our time in Switzerland. Get acquainted with the city on a walking tour of downtown before enjoying your first dinner of Swiss cuisine–fondue, anyone?
DAY 3: Alpine Adventures
We’ll spend the day exploring the charming Alpine villages that are nestled in the valleys of the mountains around Interlaken. Take trains and cable cars between the towns, stopping for lunch and to chit-chat with the friendly locals. You may choose to walk through fields of wildflowers to get from one village to the next and be sure to admire the natural beauty found everywhere. For the more adventurous, climb across the Birg Thrill Walk–a 200-meter walkway made of rope, railings, and glass–and the Skyline Walk, a glass platform jutting out over the mountain valleys. The day will culminate with a visit to the peak of Schilthorn Mountain and Trummelbach Falls, which are found inside the mountain.
DAY 4: Swiss Adventures
Start the morning by getting the adrenaline pumping on our awesome canyoning adventure! After lunch, students will have the choice of riding the cable car up to Harder Kulm Mountain for views over Lake Thun and Lake Brienz, or of going on an incredible paragliding excursion*. Later in the evening, cruise along the lake at sunset while enjoying a dinner of homemade barbecue.
*Paragliding is not included in tuition
DAY 5: Discover Germany - Munich
As we catch the train from Interlaken to Munich, it’s time to visit our next country–Germany! We’ll explore the capital of Bavaria, where many of the most famous German traditions originated. Stroll through the trendy neighborhood around Marienplatz and enjoy dinner at an authentic beer hall. Students can also climb to the top of the Alter Peter Church belltower for the best views over the city.
DAY 6: Dachau, WWII History, & the English Garden
We’ll spend the morning engaging with one of the darkest moments in German history as we visit the Dachau Concentration Camp. Although it’s a difficult subject to talk about, students find this to be one of the most worthwhile experiences of the whole trip. After we return to downtown Munich, we’ll have lunch and take a bike tour of the city. The tour will include a stop at the Chinese Tower in the English Garden for a snack at one of the city’s trendiest beer gardens.
Day 8: Head to Austria!
It’s time for the third and final country on our journey: elegant Austria! En route to Salzburg, we’ll pay a visit to Hitler’s Eagle’s Nest. In one of history’s weird turns, Adolf’s Hitler’s fortress has now become a restaurant with unparalleled views of the surrounding mountains. In the evening, we’ll arrive in Salzburg and enjoy our first Austrian dinner.
Day 9: Discover Salzburg: Sound of Music & Mozart
Explore the small city of Salzburg by foot on our walking tour that will hit up all the main sights. See where Mozart was born, visit several filming locations of The Sound of Music, including the gazebo where Rolf and Liesl sing “16 Going On 17,” and the perfectly-manicured Mirabell Gardens. Students will have the choice of visiting the Salzburg Fortress or the Toy Museum before having time for last-minute souvenir shopping. We’ll celebrate the end of an incredible trip with an upscale final dinner.
DAY 10: Goodbye Europe
Your TFT guides will accompany you to the airport and assist you with check-in for your flight. Wave goodbye as you head through security and sit back and relax on your flight home.
The TFT Difference
We Never Combine Groups
Your tour should be special and just for you and your students! We will never combine two or more groups on the same bus or tour. We will lead a trip with as few as six people and a teacher. Your Trip Director travels with you for the duration of your program.
Stress-Free Planning and 24/7 Support
We are there for you every step of the way, and our support begins the moment you decide to do a TFT trip! We will provide you with a team member who will help bring your tour to life, along with everything you need to help get students to sign up for the adventure! On the tour you will have 24/7 dedicated staff with you to ensure everything runs smoothly and because we know travel is full of surprises, solve anything that may pop up along the way.
Photos and Email Updates
Your trip is special and you and your students should have those memories captured forever! Expect frequent personal email updates and hundreds of photos from your TFT staff shared with you and your students’ families so everyone can follow along on the journey. We are the only teen travel program to offer this in-depth trip communication and it truly makes all the difference!
Central Accommodation and Local Meals
Authenticity is engrained in everything we do. We stay at locally owned accommodation in the city center so you don’t waste your valuable time commuting. We dine at charming authentic restaurants to get a real flavor (literally!) for the local culture. The best way to travel is like a local. So ditch the tour bus and have a real traveler’s experience with us!
Photo Gallery
Authenticity is engrained in everything we do. Eat, stay, and travel like a local.
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