2024 Oakwood Italy Cultural Journey
| Travel Dates: | April 5, 2024 - April 13, 2024 |
| Group Organizer(s): |
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| WTT Contact: |
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| Program Tuition: |
$3,100 USD
Airfare not included in program tuition
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| Estimated Airfare: | $1,200 |
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: $3,100
Pay in Full
$3,100.00
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:
$1,300.00
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!
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
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
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, but given the unpredictable nature of international travel we must remain flexible in our planning. Changes to a schedule are uncommon but if inclement weather pushes us off course or an unexpected opportunity arises which travelers are excited about, we reserve the right to adjust programming in the best interest of the group.
| Day | Location | Description | Lodging |
|---|---|---|---|
| April 5 | US - Italy | Fly from the US to Italy. | Airplane |
| April 6 | Venice | Upon arrival, we will meet your programs leaders and start the adventure! We'll head out to see sights like the famous Doges Palace, Canal Grande, the Ponte Rialto and St. Mark's Basilica and Square. Tonight we will have a our first group dinner to enjoy local delicacies. | Venice Hotel |
| April 7 | Venice | We will start our day with a gondola ride and take in the amazing canals of Venice. Next, it's off to the Island of Murano where we’ll learn about the unique glass blowing techniques that have been used for centuries by the local craftsmen and even try it ourselves (safely). We will return for a relaxing dinner. | Venice Hotel |
| April 8 | Venice - Florence | After a ride on one of Italy’s high speed trains we'll arrive in Florence and start our day with a walking tour, visiting the Duomo, Ponte Vecchio and many other piazze and monuments. We'll also make time to visit the Uffizi, one of the most important museums in the entire country. | Florence Hotel |
| April 9 | Florence | This morning we’ll have a walk through town on our way to the "New Market" where we'll explore, shop and have lunch. Afterwards, we’ll head to the Santa Croce church as well as Piazza Michelangelo to take in Florence from above. In the evening, we'll enjoy a cooking class that will culminate in our dinners! | Florence Hotel |
| April 10 | Florence - Siena Farm Stay | We will say goodbye to Florence and take a private bus to Siena where we will have a walking tour of the small but once very powerful city. After that, we will head to an amazing organic farm which produces organic olive oil and wine. We will have a walking tour of the farm and the natural surroundings. In the evening, we will make our own pizza from the farm owners secret recipe using ingredients from the farm! | Azienda Agricola Le Vezure |
| April 11 | Siena - Rome | Today we will take our bus to the eternal city of Rome. We will head straight to the Colosseum and Forum, and have a guided tour of this historic wonder of the world. We will then go up a glass elevator in the Vittoriano, and view the Forum and the Colosseum from one of the most unique positions of Rome! We will then have a Roman pasta dinner and of course a Gelato for dessert. On our way back to the hotel, we will stop by the Trevi fountain and throw our penny into it. | Rome Hotel |
| April 12 | Rome | Today we will have a day to wonder around Rome and visit its highlights. We will visit pizza Navona, piazza di Spagna and its famous steps. We will admire the beautiful park of villa Borghes. We will enter the Pantheon and see its incredible architecture. We will have some time to go shopping and of course to have some gelato! We will then finish the day off with a wonderful pasta dinner. If we have time we will head to the Vatican and see St Peters light up at night. | Rome Hotel |
| April 13 | Rome - USA | Depending on the time of departure, we will visit The Vatican before making our way to the airport for our flight home. | 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 locally-operated, three-star equivalent hotels and guest houses which are centrally located, clean and safe.
Ostello Bello Firenze
Ostello Bello Firenze is in San Lorenzo neighbourhood, in the heart of the Florence. Starting from the hostel you can easily visit the entire city and and all point of interest. This accommodation has air-conditioned private and semi-private rooms, dorms are also available. to accommodate our participants. In addition, the hotel has a beautiful terraces, a shared kitchen and a lounge area. Free Wi-Fi keeps guests feeling connected at all times. Students will be grouped in their rooms according to gender.
Le Verzure Azienda Biologica
This farm is flanked by olive groves and vineyards, with a wonderful view of Montalcino and the Merse Valley. Located near the Etruscan ruins of Murlo, in the small village of La Befa and surrounded by Mediterranean bush. This farm offers walks in their vineyards, a stop in our small artisanal cellar and the tour of their wine and olive oil production. The farmhouse has two independent apartments furnished in a traditional Tuscan style, as well as the main house, recently renovated paying respect to the original structure, that can accommodate up to nine people. The property also counts with a swimming pool for guests.
Hotel Astoria Garden
This hotel is a 5-minute walk from Rome Termini Station and only 2 metro stops away from both the Coliseum and the Trevi Fountain . It offers air-conditioned rooms with TV and a private bathroom. The private garden is full of exotic plants and palm trees. The restaurant serves a buffet-style breakfast. Free Wi-Fi keeps guests feeling connected at all times. Students will be grouped in their rooms according to gender.
Hotel Alinari
Located just across the square from Florence train station, this hotel offers easy access to the airports and other places in Italy. The sights of the historic center, such as the Accademia Gallery, Uffizi Galleries and the Ponte Vecchio, are all easily reached by foot in less than 15 minutes. All the rooms have private bathroom, air-conditioning, colour tv. Free Wi-Fi keeps guests feeling connected at all times. Students will be grouped in their rooms according to gender.
Il Giglio Rosso
Colorful, spacious, and dedicated to the preservation and appreciation of local art, this bed and breakfast in the heart of Florence provides unique accommodations for our students. Free Wi-Fi access throughout the building keeps everyone feeling connected. Students will be grouped in their rooms according to gender and availability.
Rome Garden Hotel
The Rome Garden Hotel is the perfect accommodation that marries peace and relaxation, characteristic of a reserved and suggestive location, with the commodity of a central position, in the heart of the bustling metropolis of Rome. The hotel is located in the vicinity of Porta Pia on Via Nomentana, in the elegant area of the consular and diplomatic premises. It’s a Patrician villa of the XIX century, entirely modernized and surrounded by a private garden and only a few steps from the splendid frame of Villa Torlonia. It is also the perfect location for art lovers, with the nearby park of Villa Borghese and its prestigious gallery, which houses the famous sculptures of Bernini, being easily reachable on foot from the hotel.
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
Our daughter is planning a high school junior year as an exchange student abroad, and your program was partly a ‘test the waters” of her being abroad. It was a tremendous success, thank you!
Barney
Parent of Della, traveler on 2017 program to Thailand
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.