2024 Athenian School Northern Spain Cultural Journey
| Travel Dates: | March 18, 2024 - March 27, 2024 |
| Group Organizer(s): |
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| WTT Contact: |
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| Program Tuition: |
$3,490 USD
Airfare not included in program tuition
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| Estimated Airfare: | $900 |
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
$3,490.00
due today
All prices in United States Dollars.
Spain Cultural Journey North
The smell of paella, the rhythmic tapping of flamenco, the rugged peaks of the Pyrenees, the soft waves of the Mediterranean, the world class museums, the Moorish palaces, the medieval villages, and the people who seem to have more lust and passion for life than anywhere else; this is Spain! You will access all of this and more as you improve your Spanish language skills and escape the tourist path. We have carefully developed programs that include spending days hiking along the epic Camino de Santiago, learning to make olive oil at an old-world grove, enjoying tapas, exploring the colorful streets of Barcelona, and sketching our own versions of Dalí.
The above is a general description of activities on our programs in Spain. Please consult your itinerary for exactly what you all will be doing on your adventure.
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!
Have the adventure of a lifetime with your friends
Enjoy delicious Spanish pinxos (snacks)!!
Get a taste of Basque country in San Sebastian by boat along the Bay of Biscay
Walk along El Camino de Santiago
Enjoy the art, food and vivacious spirit that make Barcelona famous!
Learn to make traditional Spanish cuisine during a cooking class
Practice your Spanish language skills with locals
Explore the rich history of Bilbao
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 | Description | Lodging |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | USA - Barcelona | Today the group will travel from the USA to Barcelona, Spain, arriving the next day. | Airplane |
| 2 | USA - Barcelona | After arriving and getting settled, we'll check out Barcelona and visit La Sagrada Familia Cathedral, Las Ramblas and, if the group's up for it, Montjuic, a large hill that overlooks the entire city. Tonight we'll enjoy our first taste of local cuisine and discuss the upcoming trip in detail. | St. Jordi or similar |
| 3 | Barcelona - San Sebastian | After breakfast we will travel by train to San Sebastian and enjoy time on the beach as well as sea kayaking. In the evening, we will sample the famous "pintxos" of the Basque Country as we prepare to begin our walk along the camino the following morning. | A Room in the City or similar |
| 4 | San Sebastian & Donibane Pasaia | Today we will take a bus to Donibane Pasaia where will visit a boat/museum and learn about the unique history and seafaring traditions of the Basque Country. We will then spend the rest of the day walking on El Camino de Santiago along the Bay of Biscay, about 12.5 KM in total distance until we arrive back in San Sebastian. | A Room in the City or similar |
| 5 | San Sebastian | Today we will enjoy a bike tour! We will explore all that San Sebastian has to offer in addition to a visit to some of the smaller outlying towns along the coast. | A Room in the City or similar |
| 6 | San Sebastian - Orio | A second full day walking along El Camino de Santiago, arriving to Orio and Zarautz about 18KM in total distance. | Hotel Olatu or similar |
| 7 | Orio - Zumaia | A final full day walking along El Camino de Santiago, arriving to Zumaia about 24 KM in total distance. | Karakas Kar or similar |
| 8 | Zumaia - Bilbao | After breakfast we will bus to Bilbao and spend the day exploring one of the most charming cities in all of northern Spain. We will also make time to visit the world-famous Guggenheim Museum. | Ganbara Hostel or similar |
| 9 | Bilbao - Barcelona | We will have a relaxing morning in the old quarter of Bilbao and take a classic cable car up to Mount Artxanda to have lunch, take in some impressive views of the city and bid farewell to Bilbao before boarding an mid-afternoon train back to Barcelona for our final night. | Sant Jordi Gracia or similar |
| 10 | Barcelona | We will spend the final full day relaxing in Barcelona, chilling at the beach and wandering the gothic quarter. If the group is interested, we can check out the Casa Picasso Museum. In the evening, we will share a final dinner together and reflect on our adventure. | Sant Jordi Gracia or similar |
| 11 | Barcelona - USA | Today we'll head to the airport and board our international flight home. ¡Hasta luego! | 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.
St. Jordi Sagrada Familia
Centrally located in Barcelona, this hostel has a skateboard-theme and is great for young adults. This facility has air conditioning, free wifi, guest computers and security lockers. Students will be grouped in their rooms according to gender and availability.
Urban House
Urban House is a 4-star hotel with modern amenities. The property is minutes away from the beach, local restaurants and San Sebastián’s old town. The rooms can comfortably sleep up to 4 students with access to ensuite and shared bathrooms. Free Wi-Fi access throughout the building keeps everyone feeling connected. Students will be grouped in their rooms according to gender and availability.
Hotel Photo Zabalburu
Hotel Photo Zabalburu is located 1.3 km from the Roman Catholic church “Bilbao Cathedral” and features a bar, a flat screen TV and a cable flat-screen. Indautxu tube station is just a 10-minute walk and Abando train station is 1000 metres away. The venue is placed in the centre of Bilbao, a stroll away from Azkuna Zentroa Cultural Center. It is also 1.3 km from the hillside park “Parque Etxebarria”. Hotel Photo Zabalburu is a short ride from Bilbaout. There are 38 guestrooms equipped with flat-screen television, satellite television and lounge area. Hairdryers, showers and a bathtub are featured.
Karakas Kar
Karakas Kar is a small locally owned 3-star hotel in the city center. This estate is surrounded by nature and has a nice view of Orrua Senotia. This hotel can comfortably accommodate up to 4 students per room and has an ensuite bathroom in each room. Free Wi-Fi access throughout the building keeps everyone feeling connected. Students will be grouped in their rooms according to gender and availability.
Ganbara Hostel
This location is perfect for anyone who wants to walk through the Old Town district of Bilbao or venture further into Northern Spain. This hostel has free wifi throughout the property and access to a communal kitchen. 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 being my first experience with an international trip for my child I have nothing to compare it to. However I feel Walking Tree did an excellent job from conception to completion with informing me on costs, what to expect, safety concerns, and sharing the experience through their blog. While I was worried about how safe my child would be on a trip… on the other side of the world, she told me that she felt safer than school safe.
Stephanie
Parent of Brigid, traveler on Japan 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.