2024 Forest Ridge France Cultural Journey
Travel Dates: | April 26, 2024 - May 5, 2024 |
Group Organizer(s): |
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WTT Contact: |
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Program Tuition: | $4,600 USD |
Important Reminders
Passport check
Insurance Reminder
Fundraiser
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What to Expect
Please read through all of the information below. More details will be added as your departure draws closer.
Itinerary
We do everything possible to abide by itineraries as originally planned, but decades of experience teachers that we must flexible in our planning. Changes to a trip’s schedule are uncommon, but Walking Tree reserves the right to make adjustments to programming in the best interest of the group.
Day | Location | Description | Lodging |
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April 26 | Seattle - Nice | The group will travel from the USA to France in an overnight flight. | Airplane |
April 27 | Nice | Welcome to France! Upon arrival to Nice, the group will transfer to the hotel and settle in. This evening, we will have our orientation meeting before heading out for a group dinner, also having some time to walk around and explore the neighborhood. | Hotel Albert 1er |
April 28 | Nice | After a well deserved night of rest, we will have breakfast at the hotel and head out to explore the city. We will begin our day with a walking tour around the old town of Nice and the cathedral to help us get our bearings and learn about the city's rich history. After the tour, the group will take the bus to go to the Matisse museum. For lunch, the group will be given some free time to choose where they want to eat. After we reconvene, we will board the bus to visit the Villefranche sur mer. After spending some free time, we will go back to Nice to board the petite train and visit the Castle Hill and La tour Bellanda to have some beautiful view of Nice. Travelers will have the freedom to choose their own meal tonight alongside some free time. | Hotel Albert 1er |
April 29 | Nice - Montecarlo | After breakfast, we will take a train to Montecarlo, Monaco where we will spend our day. We will begin exploring Montecarlo by having a free time. We will reconvene after lunch and have a walking tour starting with the iconic Casino Square. We'll marvel at the luxurious architecture and wind our way through the enchanting Jardin Exotique, home to a diverse collection of succulents. We'll also explore the charming Old Town of Monaco-Ville where the Prince's Palace stands proudly overlooking the Mediterranean.We will go inside to marvel at the beauty of the palace. Afterwards, we will visit the Monaco Cathedral and pay respects to Grace Kelly at her final resting place. For those who would like to explore the F1 circuit, we will take a leisurely stroll around the famous Circuit de Monaco by walking the narrow streets and seeing the iconic corners and turns that make this street circuit one of the most challenging and prestigious in Formula 1. We will have free time to visit and eat dinner by ourselves. This evening, we will take the train back to Nice. | Hotel Albert 1er |
April 30 | Nice - Aix | We will load our vans and head to our next destination, Aix. After driving for a couple of hours, we will reach Aix-en-Provence, where we will be staying for the next couple of days and using it as a base for our upcoming excursions around the area. Upon arrival, we will check in and settle into our rooms. The afternoon will be free to explore in smaller groups. We will take a stroll along Cours Mirabeau, and towards the end of the cours, we will be able to see the Fountain of the Four Dolphins. If there is enough time, we will explore the Old Town and Aix Cathedral. In the evening, the group will get together to enjoy a group dinner in town before heading back to our hotel to prepare for tomorrow's adventure. | Grand Hôtel Roi René Aix en Provence Centre - MGallery |
May 1 | Aix - Arles - Saint-Rémy-de-Provence | Another day, another excursion! Today we will drive to Arles. After some free time in town to get lunch, we will go to Camargue where we will have horseback riding around the scenic Camargue. Here, we will get a chance to see the famous white Camargue horses roaming freely in the fields amongst other animals characteristic of the region. We will get some free time in town where we will have a walking tour to get a chance to learn more about this town and visit some iconic sites such as its church, Eglise des Saintes-Maries, which holds a revered statue of Saint Sarah. | Grand Hôtel Roi René Aix en Provence Centre - MGallery |
May 2 | Aix - Camargue | Today, we will take a van to Arles and Saint-Rémy-de-Provence. During our excursion, the group will visit the ruins of the Ancient Roman city of Glanum in Saint-Remy. Afterwards, we will visit the Saint-Paul Asylum. The place hosts a collection of paintings that Vincent van Gogh made when he was a self-admitted patient. We will then have a free time at Saint Remy to get lunch and then we will recovene to have a walking tour. We will then have free time. In the afternoon, we will drive back to Aix, where the group will be able to get their own dinner before heading back to the hotel. | Grand Hôtel Roi René Aix en Provence Centre - MGallery |
May 3 | Aix - Marseille - Nice | The group will travel by van from Aix to Nice, making a stop in Marseille. Starting our morning with a scenic boat excursion along the Mediterranean coast. Absorb the stunning views of the Calanques and the Château d'If, immersing ourselves in the beauty of Marseille's maritime landscape. After the boat adventure, explore the historic Old Port. The group will have lunch on their own by indulging in local cuisine at the waterfront cafés. After lunch, we will have a walking tour and discover the vibrant Le Panier district's narrow streets, adorned with colorful facades and charming boutiques. Then, we will visit the Basilique Notre-Dame de la Garde for panoramic city views. We will conclude our day with a leisurely stroll along the Corniche Kennedy, relishing the Mediterranean breeze. We will have dinner on our own before heading back to the hotel to rest for our final day of the program tomorrow. | Hotel Albert 1er |
May 4 | Nice | On our final day in France, we will continue exploring Nice. After breakfast, we will visit The Palais Lascaris is one of the most beautiful museums in Nice. We will have free time for lunch, and then we will visit the Marc Chagall National Museum. In the afternoon, we will continue exploring in smaller groups, getting a final glimpse of the city and buying some last-minute souvenirs. This evening, we will complete some end-of-program activities before heading out for our final celebratory group dinner. We will then head back to our hotel to prepare for our international departure tomorrow. | Hotel Albert 1er |
May 5 | Nice - Seattle | Today, we will transfer to the airport by van to catch our international flight home. | Your own bed, eventually! |
Fundraising
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Learn more here.
Accommodations
In order to provide a safe and memorable experience, we follow strict guidelines when choosing group accommodations. Walking Tree partners with hotels and guest houses which are centrally located, locally operated, clean and safe. We inspect each partner hotel to ensure they meet these standards.
Hotel Albert 1er
Albert 1er is located in Nice, just a 2-minute walk from the beach and the Promenade des Anglais. This hotel is set in a building dating from the 1930s and offers free WiFi access. All air-conditioned rooms at Albert 1er are equipped with a satellite flat-screen TV, a refrigerator and a safety deposit box, while some also offer views of the garden or the sea. The private bathroom has a bath or shower, toilet and hairdryer.
Grand Hôtel Roi René Aix en Provence Centre – MGallery
Located just a 5-minute walk from Cours Mirabeau and the center of Aix-en-Provence, Grand Hôtel Roi René Aix en Provence Center – MGallery is a 4-star hotel featuring a heated seasonal outdoor pool open from April to the end of September. It also features a terrace, a fitness center and free WiFi access. Each air-conditioned guest room has been decorated in a contemporary style and includes a flat-screen TV with satellite channels and a safe. The private bathroom comes with either a bath or shower, bathrobes, a hairdryer, slippers and toiletries.
Group Flight
Type | Carrier Name | Carrier Code | Flight Number | Departure Airport & City | Departure Date and Time | Arrival Airport & City | Arrival Date and Time |
Outbound
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BA
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48
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April 26, 2024 at 7:40PM
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April 27, 2024 at 1:00PM
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Outbound
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BA
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354
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April 27, 2024 at 2:35PM
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April 27, 2024 at 5:40PM
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Inbound
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BA
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341
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May 5, 2024 at 7:10AM
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May 5, 2024 at 8:25AM
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Inbound
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BA
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53
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May 5, 2024 at 9:45AM
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May 5, 2024 at 11:30AM
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Once your flight schedule has been confirmed, the itinerary will appear here.
Walking Tree will secure a seat on the group flight for each participant unless otherwise instructed.
Travelers are responsible for checked baggage fees. Please visit the airline’s baggage webpage to learn if you should expect to pay anything.
We will provide a group manifest – complete with reservation codes and ticket numbers – to the Group Organizer/s before departure, and travelers will need to check in at the airport in order to receive their boarding pass and have documents verified. We recommend arriving no later than three hours prior to the scheduled departure, but contact your Group Organizer for specific details on exactly where and when to meet on the day of departure.
FLIGHT INTERRUPTION, DELAY OR CANCELLATION
Air travel can be unpredictable. Regardless of proper planning, there may still be instances when a flight is delayed or cancelled due to staffing shortages, weather, mechanical problems, etc. Please note that in such an event, Walking Tree Travel (WTT) is not financially responsible for unanticipated costs incurred by travelers en route. Our programs officially begin and end in the destination country, and because our staff doesn’t fly with the group, Group Organizers (the traveling faculty member/s) become the front-line advocate for the group in the event of a delay. In most cases of cancellations or delays, the airline will be the one who re-books travel or possibly arranges a hotel and food the night. Our primary role will be to keep families updated and provide support to the Group Organizer to reach a quick and effective resolution.
Host Community and Project Details
Packing List
What follows is a sample packing list but you know yourself better than we do so please adjust accordingly. We recommend you bring a larger piece of luggage like a roller, duffel bag, or backpack, as well as a smaller backpack that you can bring on daily outings, weekend excursions and shorter activities.
“Less is more” is a packing tip we encourage for all our travelers. The list below should cover everything you would need, but know yourself and what you are comfortable traveling with. We suggest bringing only as much as you would be able to carry on your own.
Finally, we recommend consulting a weather forecast for your destination.
Most importantly, be sure to remember your PASSPORT!
CLOTHES (quantities depend on your trip length) :
- Underwear
- Socks (a mixture of good active socks and casual socks)
- T-shirts (some quick dry)
- Long sleeve shirts
- Sweaters or sweatshirts
- Underwear
- Shorts
- Rain jacket
- Travel/athletic shorts that are breathable and light
- Comfortable, everyday pants
- Nice shirt/top to be worn to more formal dinners (girls might want a skirt or something a little nicer for such occasions)
- Durable athletic/walking shoes
- Sandals (optional)
- Hat
TOILETRIES: BRING THE BASIC TOILETRIES YOU NEED PLUS:
- Sunscreen (you will use a lot)
- Mosquito repellent
- Band Aids and Neosporin
- Hand Sanitizer
- Medication in properly marked original container
MISCELLANEOUS:
- Sunglasses
- Journal and pen
- Book
- Camera (digital, disposable, waterproof)
- Power Converter
- Alarm Clock and watch
- Debit card/US Dollars (we recommend about $50-$150, depending on amount of desired souvenirs, extra items etc.)
- Durable water bottle
- 1 quick-dry towel
- Flashlight/headlamp
- Batteries
- Deck of cards or other portable games
- Host family gift
- STUDENT ID
- French/English Dictionary
Support Team
At a minimum, one experienced Program Leader will travel on every trip. In addition to this full time leadership presence, Walking Tree has additional staff in all destinations and 24/7 support from our headquarters in Denver, Colorado. Below you’ll find the the team members involved in the preparation, planning and execution of your program.
Gabriel Duncan
Co-Founder of Walking Tree Travel and Business Lead - Denver, CO
Colby College – B.A. International Relations and Government
While at Colby, Gabriel spent a semester in Spain at the University of Salamanca studying contemporary Spanish politics and Spanish language. He also lettered for four-years on Colby’s lacrosse team and earned All-American honors. After graduating, Gabriel hit the road. He fished commercially in Alaska, taught in Chile and China, led programs for students in Spain and Costa Rica, and traveled to over 50 countries and all 50 states in the USA. Regardless of where Gabriel is located, he is constantly haunted by his naive faith and unconditional love for Denver sports teams.
Harriet Docena
France Country Director
Harriet caught the travel bug early in her life. Born in the Philippines, with 7,107 islands, both of her parents are avid travelers. Most of their weekends and holidays were spent roadtripping and traveling to new places. After finishing her degree in Fashion design and merchandising, she realized that the fashion world was not for her. That’s why in 2006, she left her job and worked as a photographer on cruise ships. For years, she traveled the world to places such as the Caribbean, Alaska, South America, Europe, the Mediterranean, Hawaii, and Asia. After working and traveling nonstop, she decided to choose a place where she can stay put and have a “normal life”. In 2010 she was lucky to be awarded a “skills and talents” visa in France and chose Paris to be her new home. Harriet is also an avid surfer which brought her to different surf spots and exotic locations around the world. As of this moment, she has visited 80+ countries and around 500+ cities. She doesn’t think she will ever stop traveling. Nowadays, you can find Harriet traveling around Europe, obsessed with her chihuahua and surfing when the European waters are not that cold.
Group Roster
Below is a list of the travelers enrolled on the program.
- 1 Aliya Alibhai
- 2 Ava Jensen
- 3 Ava Koryn Cherry
- 4 Daniela Castro Trejo
- 5 Ellia Lykken
- 6 Helen Wang
- 7 Holly Woodson
- 8 Hongwei Liu
- 9 Jia Zhao
- 10 Kaixin Bian
- 11 Kassidy Rowe
- 12 Madeline Dixon
- 13 Paige Maloney
Blog and Communication
During travel we work hard to keep families updated as frequently as possible with blog posts and photos, giving you peace of mind that your traveler is safe and thriving on their program. Students regularly contribute to these posts, providing families bak home a great way to vicariously track the progress of the trip. You will be notified when the first update is posted, after which we recommend checking in regularly via the black “Program Blog” button at the top of this webpage.
Assuming your school allows the use of cell phones, most destinations are wired enough to allow participants access WiFi at different moments in the program, allowing them to communicate directly with home. Ask your Walking Tree representative about the degree of connectivity on your program.
GLC Curriculum
Walking Tree has developed a curriculum of activities meant to help travelers get the most out of their trip before departure, during travel and after they return home. These simple and engaging activities are meant to spark discussion, frame experiences, and prepare participants to travel ethically and effectively both on this trip and on future adventures.For more information about student learning objectives and the format of the curriculum, click on the ‘learn more’ button below.
To view and complete the Pre-Program Activities, visit our online portal at the button below.
Standards of Behavior
In order to run a safe and successful program, it is vital that travelers are prepared to be on their best behavior and bring enthusiasm and interest to each and every day. A communal atmosphere of trust and mutual respect is the foundational. As such, all individuals participating on a Walking Tree program are required to take responsibility for their actions and adhere to a high standard of personal conduct.
IMMEDIATE DISMISSAL
- Possessing, consuming or distributing alcohol or illegal drugs.
- Associating with participants while they are in possession of alcohol or illegal drugs.
- Behaving in a way that consistently damages the group dynamic or jeopardizes personal or group safety. This includes consistently displaying a negative attitude, intimidating or excluding other participants, sneaking out, disobeying group leaders, and any other behavior that is not conducive to an atmosphere of trust and mutual respect.
GROUNDS FOR DISMISSAL OR IN-COUNTRY CONSEQUENCE
- Getting a piercing or tattoo.
- Stealing, or deliberately damaging or defacing any personal property, buildings or materials.
- Threatening physical or emotional harm, or brandishing a weapon.
- Possessing, consuming, or distributing tobacco or nicotine, including vape pens.
- Riding mopeds, motorcycles, or any other type of unauthorized vehicle.
- Being out of designated area or accommodations after curfew.
- Breaking group rules.
These standards of behavior are essential for the successful completion of your program. Please take the time to review these as a family and make sure everyone understands and agrees to them.
Health and Safety
We strongly recommend visiting the CDC France website to get the most updated information on health and vaccination considerations in your destination country. In addition, we encourage you to consult with your personal family physician so you can be as informed as possible when making important decisions about vaccinations and other necessary health-related preparations before travel.
Our in-country staff prepare meticulously for all programs. Walking Tree will register our programs and travelers with the U.S. Department of State Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) in case of emergency. In country staff also verify the safety records of our partner organizations, vendors, and transportation providers, thoroughly vet homestay families via in depth interviews and home visits, and keep up on important current events in the region.
Program Leaders are seasoned travelers who are CPR and First Aid certified, undergo thorough training in crisis management, and participate in a multi-day leadership training retreat. We do our best to prepare for any eventuality and have detailed emergency protocols for our leaders, in-country staff and U.S.-based staff.
We receive medical disclosures from all participants to ensure we are able to meet every students’ needs during the program. Please inform us immediately of any additional health issues that you did not list during your initial registration process. Program Leaders will also hold an online information session before your departure, as well as an arrival orientation in-country, in order to give participants important instructions on food safety, hygiene and preventing injury and illness. Leaders and in-country staff always respond immediately to any mental, physical or emotional health issues and follow comprehensive emergency protocols.
Insurance
While we work hard to ensure the safest experience possible for our travelers on program, experience teaches that travel is never without risk. For this reason, we recommend that all travelers consider a travel insurance policy with two additional provisions: Cancel for Any Reason (CFAR) and Bed Rest. Detailed explanations of both provisions can be found on the link below.
To provide travelers and families with a quality option, Walking Tree has partnered with Travel Insured International, one of the most respected providers in the industry. Begin by getting a quote here.
IMPORTANT NOTE: in order to secure coverage with CFAR included, you must purchase the plan within 21 days of your deposit/first payment. You must also insure 100% of your trip cost, so program tuition + flight.