2024 SMA France Cultural Journey
| Travel Dates: | June 10, 2024 - June 19, 2024 |
| Group Organizer(s): |
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| WTT Contact: |
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| Program Tuition: |
$2,990 USD
Airfare not included in program tuition
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| Confirmed Airfare: | $1,981 |
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: $2,990
Pay in Full
$2,990.00
due today
All prices in United States Dollars.
France Cultural Journey
Vive la France! A bucket list destination for any traveler, the country beckons with history, culture, and unique flare for life. Paris is legendary and vibrates with energy while the rolling hiles, pristine beaches, rustic chateauxs and towering cathedrals of the countryside provide calming balance. Regardless of where in the country you find yourself, le patrimoine, or the millennia of history and culture that imbues every corner of France, will leave you with a powerful sense of the place, even after a short visit.
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!
Marvel world-class collections of art in the museums of Paris
Explore the coast via Normandy and Caen
Improve your French speaking with locals
Have the adventure of a lifetime with your friends
Marvel at the Palace of Versailles
Climb the Eiffel Tower
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| June 10 | USA - Paris | The group will departe the US and take an overnight flight to Paris | Airplane |
| June 11 | Paris | Today you will arrive in Paris where you'll meet your program leaders at the airport. Upon arrival the group will check into the hotel and get settled. Depending on time of arrival we'll hold an orientation meeting, get settled in the hotel and do a bit of exploring around our neighborhood. | Citadines Montmartre Paris |
| June 12 | Paris | This morning we visit one of the most important museums in the world: the Louvre! Inaugurated in 1793, it boasts a collection of more than 300,000 pieces. We'll start early to miss the worst of the crowds. Afterwards we head to one of the most charming neighborhoods in Paris, Montmartre, also known as the painter's corner. It's small, steep streets constitute a network that connects of the city's oldest cabarets to the surroundings of the Basilica of the Sacred Heart. We'll check out some of the most well-known corners of the neighborhood, including the the Bateau Lavoir and the Cafe au deux Molins famous for the movie Amelie. | Citadines Montmartre Paris |
| June 13 | Paris - Versailles | After breakfast we will leave to Versalles Palace with our local guide. This one of the most visited French sites in Paris, for its architecture, its gardens and above all for its history. Symbol of the absolutist power of the French monarchs and especially of Louis XIV, the main architect of what is today the Palace and its Gardens. We will have a picnic lunch at Versalles before heading back to Paris. In the afternoon, we will head towards the “Champs de Mars”, where we can continue taking photos and climb the Eiffel Tower and enjoy the panoramic view that it offers us. | Citadines Montmartre Paris |
| June 14 | Paris | In the morning we'll visit the world famous Musee d’Orsay and get the chance to see Van Gogh's famous Starry Night and many other amazing works of art. Afterwards, we walk along the beautiful Tulleries Garden before heading up to the Opera and admire the beautiful Palais Garnier. We’ll grab the metro and travel to the Marche des Enfants Rouges food market where participants will be able to explore and find lunch in small groups. We end the day with a visit to l'Orangerie Museum and then dinner! | Citadines Montmartre Paris |
| June 15 | Paris | We’ll start the day with a fun and conversation exchange with a group of Parisian teenagers. Then, it's off to see more of the amazing sights. First we will get to see the Notre Dame Cathedral, a masterpiece of medieval art that is still recovering from a devastating fire; the Latin Quarter; the Sorbonne; the Pantheon of illustrious men where Napoleon's mausoleum is located; the Luxembourg Palace and Gardens. The afternoon will be an excellent chance to do some (window) shopping at one of the most exclusive shopping districts in the world; Champs-Élysées. We'll finish up the day up at the Arc de Triomphe. We'll have dinner at a restaurant before heading back to our hotel for a good night's sleep. | Citadines Montmartre Paris |
| June 16 | Paris - Caen | In the morning we'll depart by bus towards Caen, Normandy, arriving at the Atlantic coast by early afternoon. Once on the beach, students would have the chance to bike or stroll along along the D-Day beaches, stopping at the American Cemetery, Omaha Beach, and Utah Beach to learn about the events that led to the Allied victory in World War II. We'll have a picnic along the way. In the evening, we’ll head to the medieval city of Bayeux. We’ll have dinner and check into our lodging in Caen or Bayeux. | Grand Hotel du Luxembourg |
| June 17 | Caen - St. Malo | After breakfast, we will take a look at the famous Bayeux Tapestry from the 11th century, which depicts William the Conqueror’s conquest of England. Then we’ll hit the road, traveling southwest toward St. Malo. We’ll take a guided tour of the Mont St. Michel, an enchanting island monastery. In evening, we’ll take a guided sunset hike on the bay. Then we will leave to St. Malo, where we will find our hotel. | Mercure Saint Malo Balmoral |
| June 18 | St. Malo - Paris | Today we will visit a dairy farm or marine farm and learn about the importance of those industries in northwest France. Then, and will have free time to have lunch and check out the inner city and explore the oceanfront. In the evening we’ll head back to Paris by bus and check into the hostel where we’ll stay for the rest of the trip. | Citadines Montmartre Paris |
| June 19 | Paris - USA | Today we head to the airport for our flight back home. Bon voyage! | 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.
Citadines Montmartre Paris
The Citadines Montmartre Paris is located in a residential area in Paris near Place de Clichy at the foot of the Butte Montmartre. It offer furnished studios and rooms, just a 10-minute metro ride from the Champs Elysées. Its apartments are equipped with private bathrooms area and some of them have balconies. Citadines Montmartre Paris has a rooftop terrace that provides a view of the city. Citadines Montmartre Paris is just 200 metres from the Moulin Rouge and 1 km from the Sacré-Coeur Basilica. The property is a 15-minute metro ride from the Gare du Nord and Saint Lazare Station.
Grand Hôtel du Luxembourg
Grand Hôtel du Luxembourg is ideally located in the centre of Bayeux, near the Museum of the Bayeux Tapestry, and few kilometers away from the D-Day’s beaches. Rooms at the Grand Hôtel du Luxembourg are comfortable and well-equipped with modern amenities. This 17th-century mansion has been converted into a charming hotel with an outdoor heated pool which are accessible all year round.
Mercure Saint Malo Balmoral
Located in Saint-Malo, this hotel features contemporary guest rooms with a flat-screen TV. It is set opposite Saint-Malo Train Station and is less than a mile from the beach. All air-conditioned guest rooms are equipped with a work desk and free Wi-Fi access. Some private bathrooms at this Mercure feature an Italian shower. A buffet breakfast is served every morning, and can be taken on the terrace during summer.
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 a great opportunity for [my daughter]. Thank you for being so professional and for teaching her things we never could. It was awesome to work beside Smithsonian scientists and learn. Travel is such an education that cannot be taught in a classroom.
Kim
Parent of Emily, traveler on 2017 program to Panama
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.