2020 Thunder Basin Italy Program
| Travel Dates: |
June 3, 2020 -
June 16, 2020
Dates are tentative
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| Group Organizer(s): |
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| WTT Contact: |
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| Program Tuition: |
$3,490 USD
- or -
$3,390 USD with discount if paid in full
Airfare not included in program tuition
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| Estimated Airfare: | $1,500 |
| Deadline(s): | Enrollment deadline forthcoming |
Tuition Calculator
There are two options for payment, including an interest-free installment plan. Follow whichever works best for your family. If we are within 90 days of travel, only the pay in full option is possible.
Program Tuition: $3,490
Pay in Full
Pay in full at the time of enrollment and receive a $100 discount off your program tuition! Payment with the discount would be:
$3,390.00
due today
Payment Plan
Pay a $500 deposit at the time of enrollment and establish an interest-free monthly payment plan. If you enroll today, your estimated* monthly payments would be:
$66.45
per month
All prices in United States Dollars.
Italy Cultural Journey
Italy is a traveler’s dream and an item on everyone’s bucket list. No other country in the world contains as many historical sites and artifacts that provide a glimpse at the very root of western civilization. Where else can you stand and see the place where the basis for modern government was forged? Where else can you see so many timeless and priceless pieces of ancient art and architecture in just a few days?
Natural history, as well as human history, is on full display in the massive peninsular nation with stunning views of the Dolomites and Alps in the north, idyllic Mediterranean countryside along the coast, and broad pastoral landscapes of rolling hills in between. Italians are an incredibly varied and diverse people, but the one constant is their openness and sense of hospitality towards travelers. And, of course, once you have tried true Italian food, there’s no going back to anything else!
Cultural Journeys
Cultural Journeys allow travelers to gain insights into the heritage, history and modern realities of their destination by offering a broad diversity of experience. We rely on the expertise of our local staff to plan itineraries which not only explore the prominent sites but also make time for the lesser-known local gems and are intentional about regular interaction with local people.
Program Highlights
Check out some of the featured experiences of your program!
Witness your classwork come to life!
Wander the streets of Florence, one of the most charming cities in the world!
Explore the world's smallest country, Vatican City!
Have the adventure of a lifetime with your friends
Visit Siena's world-renowned cathedral and crypt
Spend a night on a farm in the Tuscan hills
Take a bicycle tour through the Roman hillside
Tour a local olive farm
Learn to make true Italian food in a private cooking class
Head to Murano Island and witness Venice's famous glass blowing
Visit Mt. Vesuvius and tour the ancient ruins of Pompeii
Wander through the Roman Colosseum
Explore La Basilica di Santa Croce, where greats like Niccola Machiavelli, Galileo Galilei, and Michelangelo are buried
The Itinerary
We do everything possible to run safe, engaging, and immersive programs for our travelers and given the unpredictable nature of international travel we must remain flexible in our planning. Changes to a schedule are uncommon but, we reserve the right to adjust programming in the best interest of the group.
| Day | Location | Activity | Lodging |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | USA - Milan, Italy | Fly from USA to Milan, Italy. | Airplane |
| 2 | Milan | We'll likely arrive in the morning and transfer to our hotel before striking out on a guided tour of the city center during which we'll go on top of the Duomo, where you can see the Alps and the rest of the city. We'll have some great street food for lunch and visit the rest of the city sites like the Scala Theater and the Via Monte Napoleone (the street of Italian fashion) and have an ice-cream before retreating to our hotel to rest after our long journey. | Milano Hotel |
| 3 | Milan - Verona | Visit The Last Supper in the morning and the beautiful church that sits adjacent. Then we'll head to Verona, home of Romeo and Juliet. Visit Juliet's house and the very famous Roman Area which is still used for concerts. We'll then see the rest of the city including the many beautiful Piazze (squares) and the Castelvecchio, a 14th century castle turned into a museum. | Verona Hotel |
| 4 | Venice - Florence | This morning we head to Murano Island, which is dedicated to the manufacture of Venice's famous art of "blowing glass" which we will see live. After lunch, we'll head for Florence! | Florence Hotel |
| 5 | Florence | After the beautiful train ride through the Tuscan alps we'll arrive to Florence and start our day with a guided walking tour, visiting the Duomo, Ponte Vecchio and the rest of the piazze and monuments. Then head to the Uffizi Gallery, one of the oldest and most famous art museums in Europe and the world. We'll also make time for the Galleria dell' Accademia, which hosts the original David. | Florence Hotel |
| 6 | Florence | Have breakfast at the hotel and continue our exploration of the capital of the Rinascimento (Renaissance). We will enter the monuments like Cupola del Brunelleschi, which is still the tallest building of Florence and was designed by Giotto and Brunelleschi. We will then visit the famous market and have some delicious street food, then head to La Basilica di Santa Croce, where people like Niccola Machiavelli, Galileo Galilei, Michelangelo rest in peace. Not only will we see the tombs of the Italian greats, but also great paintings such as the Giotto. Finally, we will head to see the copy of the David of Donatello, which is situated in front of one of the most beautiful public offices in the world, Palazzo Vecchio, which is actually the city hall of Florence. | Florence Hotel |
| 7 | Siena | After breakfast we'll take a train to Siena, the city of the world-famous Palio horse race. For more than 700 years, rival neighborhoods of Siena have been participating in a horse race. We’ll have a short lesson on to explain the Palio and get the unique opportunity to tour the city and witness the preparations. Our country director for Italy, originally from Denver, has been a resident in Siena for 16 years and he’ll be able to guide us with a local perspective. | Hotel Siena |
| 8 | Siena - Rome | This morning we'll take the train to Rome. Upon arrival we'll stop off at the hotel, then visit the Vatican city, the Sistine chapel and the Vatican Museum. We will then eat some traditional pasta and go for a night stroll in the eternal city, probably in the Trastevere area near the river. | Rome Hotel |
| 9 | Rome | We will wake up early and be out of the hotel by 8:30 to have a full day experience of Rome. We will start with a walking tour of the city before lunch. After lunch, we will decide whether to go to a museum or continue our walking tour and see the ancient ruins of the city that the guided tour didn't show us. We will certainly see the Coliseum, Hadrian's Tomb, the Trevi Fountain, the famous steps of Piazza di Spagna, and finish the day off with dinner in a restaurant with a beautiful view of the Eternal City. | Rome Hotel |
| 10 | Naples | We will catch the first high speed train to Naples and see what is one of Italy's most unique cities. We will have a quick walk around the city and have an amazing lunch by the seaside. We will then have an underground tour of Naples where we will see the city from beneath to help us understand what is above it! We'll finish the day with some relaxing time by the sea side before catching the train back to Rome! | Rome Hotel |
| 11 | Rome | Get ready for our last day! We'll have a quick discussion about our program and reflect on everything we have seen and learned. We'll start our day by seeing Piazza del Popolo and Piazza Venezia e Vittoriano which are the piazza of the people and the piazza of the once king of Italy, respectively. We'll then head to the Foro Roman which was the ancient center square of Rome and is surrounded by several important ancient government buildings. We will then walk to the Bocca della verit which is a round, mask-like structure. You can put your hand in its mouth and legend has it that if you were to lie while your hand were in its mouth, you would find your fingers chopped off! To finish the day off we will head to the Terme di Caracalla, the ancient thermal baths of Rome. We will then finally sit down have a nice final pizza dinner and gelato before heading back to the hotel. | Rome Hotel |
| 12 | Rome - USA | Bus transfer to Fiumicino Airport, then say arrivederci to Italy as we board our flight home to the US! | Your own bed, eventually! |
Accommodations
In order to provide a safe and memorable experience, we follow strict guidelines when choosing program accommodations. Walking Tree partners with hotels and guest houses which are centrally located, clean and safe. We vet and inspect the accommodations to ensure they uphold the ethos of our programs, are great values for our travelers and nice places to rest after enriching days of travel.
Hotel Palazzo Delle Stelline Milan
Hotel Palazzo Delle Stelline is set in a former convent in the historic center of one of the best neighborhoods of Milan, next to the Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie where the famous Leonardo da Vinci fresco, The Last Supper, resides. The rooms offer modern amenities, such as free Wi-Fi and overlook the quiet courtyard. Students will be grouped in their rooms according to gender and availability.
Oasi Verde
As the name suggests, this bed and breakfast’s verdant surroundings give the place the sensation that one has escaped from the city for a more natural, relaxing accommodation. In reality, it is conveniently located near several of Rome’s historic sites and is a great base from which to explore this incredible city. Free Wi-Fi access throughout the building keeps everyone feeling connected. Students will be grouped in their rooms according to gender and availability.
Safety and Support
EASY FUNDRAISING & PAYMENT
24/7 GLOBAL EMERGENCY LINE
HIGHLY VETTED PARTNERS
EXPERT LEADERSHIP
PRIVATE GROUP GUARANTEE
COMPREHENSIVE CURRICULUM SUPPORT
DEDICATION TO CULTURAL ENGAGEMENT
ALL-INCLUSIVE PRICING
This was our daughter’s 2nd trip with Walking Tree. In 2016, she took her school’s first trip with Walking Tree to Ecuador, and absolutely loved it. Once again, the Walking Tree representative was excellent. My daughter said Ben really made the trip, and worked hard to keep the group happy. Other positives: communication before the trip, website outline, daily blogs and trip photos. Very professional organization. We feel very secure sending our student out into the world with Walking Tree.
Andrea
Parent of Olivia, traveler on California Cultural Journey
Your Adventure Includes
Estimated Airfare
In order to give our travelers the best possible price, we break out airfare from the Program Tuition. We will still handle all booking and ticketing via our flight partner who has access to special fares not available to the general public. Once confirmed, you will be invoiced for the flight roughly 75 days prior to travel.
Program Tuition Excludes: Travel insurance, baggage fees, passport/visa fees, laundry, souvenirs, and activities not listed on itinerary.
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Resource Center
Why should high school students travel abroad? What happens if a participant gets sick? How quickly do we need to enroll? We’re sure you have plenty of questions and we’ve got you covered! Visit our Resource Center to discover the answers to your most pressing questions and contact us anytime with additional questions.