2025 DCIS Italy Exchange Program

Dear Families, Friends, and Travelers – Welcome to the 2025 DCIS Italy Exchange Program!  To learn more,  you have two webpages at your disposal. The Pre-Enrollment page shares exciting highlights and important info that you will want to know before signing up. Once enrolled, you'll begin using the Post-Enrollment page which offers a greater level of detail.  Please be sure to review the information thoroughly and get excited for an unforgettable trip to Italy! 
Travel Dates: March 20, 2025 - March 31, 2025
Dates are tentative
Group Organizer(s):
WTT Contact:
Program Tuition: $2,690 USD
Airfare not included in program tuition
Estimated Airfare: $1,200

Tuition Calculator

There are two options for payment, including an interest-free monthly installment plan.  Follow whichever option works best for your family. If we are within 90 days of travel, only the pay in full option is possible.

Program Tuition: $2,690

Pay in Full

$2,690.00

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:

$438.00

per month

* This is an approximate price. Your exact total will be confirmed when your enrollment is processed.

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

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!

Take a bicycle tour through the Roman hillside

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 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. 

DayLocationDescriptionLodging
March 20USA - RomeFly from USA to Rome, Italy.Airplane
March 21RomeWe arrive in the Eternal City in the evening. After dropping our bags at the hotel. We will walk around and explore the city. On our way to dinner we’ll walk by the Trevi Fountain. Once we are back at our hotel, we will have a short orientation meeting to prepare for the days ahead!Hotel Rome
March 22RomeThis morning we will visit another country! We will spend our morning marveling at the Vatican's Sistine Chapel, St. Peter's Square, St. Peter's Basilica, and the Vatican Museums. We’ll take a break for lunch and then head over to the Spanish steps and continue into the Villa Borghese park to get a view from Rome from the terraces that overlook the city.Hotel Rome
March 23RomeToday we head off to explore the Colosseum, the massive stone amphitheater and an iconic symbol of the Roman Empire! We will also visit the Roman Forum and the other Imperial Fora. Next, we’ll head over to the Testaccio Market for lunch to savor homemade ravioli, gelato, meats and cheese, fried risotto and all kinds of pasta! In the afternoon, we’ll explore Rome’s Jewish Ghetto stopping by the Campo de’ Fiori, translated literally from Italian the “Field of Flowers Square” . We'll also visit the Pantheon and Piazza Navona; crowned by the Fountain of the Four Rivers by Bernini, as well as by an Egyptian obelisk and two other fountains.Hotel Rome
March 24Rome - FlorenceAfter 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.Hotel Florence
March 25FlorenceThis 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!Hotel Florence
March 26Florence - Sister SchoolToday the group will travel to DCIS sister school. The next couple of days the school will participate in the school's itinerary.Sister School Homestay
March 27Sister SchoolSister school itinerary.Sister School Homestay
March 28Sister SchoolSister school itinerary.Sister School Homestay
March 29Sister SchoolSister school itinerary.Sister School Homestay
March 30Sister SchoolSister school itinerary.Sister School Homestay
March 31Sister School - USAArrivederci Italia!Your own bed, eventually!

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.

Below are the accommodations we anticipate using on your program, subject to 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.

B&B Hotel Firenze City Center

The B&B Hotel Firenze City Center is located in the very center of the city in the Santa Croce district, and a ten minute walk from the Basilica in Florence. This three star hotel includes Wi-Fi, air conditioning and private bathrooms. Students will be split between double and triple rooms based on gender.

Safety and Support


 EASY FUNDRAISING & PAYMENT
EASY FUNDRAISING & PAYMENT
24/7 GLOBAL EMERGENCY LINE
24/7 GLOBAL EMERGENCY LINE
HIGHLY VETTED PARTNERS
HIGHLY VETTED PARTNERS
EXPERT LEADERSHIP
EXPERT LEADERSHIP
PRIVATE GROUP GUARANTEE
PRIVATE GROUP GUARANTEE
COMPREHENSIVE CURRICULUM SUPPORT
COMPREHENSIVE CURRICULUM SUPPORT
DEDICATION TO CULTURAL ENGAGEMENT
DEDICATION TO CULTURAL ENGAGEMENT
ALL-INCLUSIVE PRICING
ALL-INCLUSIVE PRICING

My experience with your organization was exceptional. The communication was prompt, courteous, and thorough. The trip was very well planned and the educational focus made me feel this such trip had a great value. My daughter has grown and matured in a wonderful way because of this trip.

Jim
Parent of Teagan, 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.

 

Need to Raise Money? We Have You Covered.

Walking Tree Travel is proud to team up with Equal Exchange, a worker-owned cooperative that distributes organic coffee, tea, sugar, bananas, avocados, cocoa, chocolate bars, and more.  There is no limit to the amount you can earn, so the sooner you can start, the better!

Learn more here.

WTT coffee
Resource center

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.

Learn More

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