2025 Strath Haven Spain Cultural Journey
| Travel Dates: | June 18, 2025 - June 27, 2025 |
| 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: | $1,000 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| June 18 | USA - Barcelona | Today the group will travel from the USA to Barcelona, Spain, arriving the next day. | Airplane |
| June 19 | Barcelona | After arriving to Barcelona and settling into our rooms, we'll do a bit of exploring and get our first glimpse of Barceloneta, where we'll have dinner. Afterwards, we'll hold an orientation meeting to discuss the details of the days ahead. | Barcelona Hotel |
| June 20 | Barcelona | Today we encounter the Sagrada Familia, a basilica without equal and one of the most unique works of architecture known to man. Designed by Gaudi, this 19th-century church, which is still under construction, is an architectural marvel and a UNESCO World Heritage site. We'll visit with a local guide to make the most of our time. After lunch, we'll take in the sights, sounds, and human statues of Las Ramblas before having dinner at La Boquería, Barcelona's famous food market. | Barcelona Hotel |
| June 21 | Barcelona - San Sebastian | After breakfast we will travel by bus 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. | San Sebastian Hotel |
| June 22 | San Sebastian & Hondarribia | Today we will take a bus to Hondarribia and learn about the unique history and seafaring traditions of the Basque Country. We will visit "barrio de La Marina" with its fishermen's houses and boats anchored in the estuary of the Txingudi River, which invites you to enjoy seafood taverns where we will probably enjoy a delicious lunch. At the afternoon we come back and explore the San Sebastian city on a bike tour! and in addition to a visit to some of the smaller outlying towns along the coast. | Hondarribia Hotel |
| June 23 | San Sebastian - Bilbao | After breakfast we check out and drive to Bilbao but first we will do a route the most beautifill towns from the Basque Country on the way. Along with out local guide we will first stop at Getaria where we will get depp into the Basque Country as almost 90% of their citizents speak Basque (their native language). Then we will make another stop for lunch at Lekeitio. To finish the day in Mundaka another fishing villageThe town presides over the mouth of an estuary that creates one of the treasures of this protected area: its marshes. We continue to Bilbao we check in and rest for another incredible day. | Bilbao Hotel |
| June 24 | Bilbao - Santander | 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 drive to Santander. | Santander Hotel |
| June 25 | Santander - Madrid | After breakfast we will visit the Capital of Cantabria along with our guide. Before leaving to Madrid we will stop at Dunas de Liencres, and with a stunning view of its dunes. Drive to Madrid, and check in. | Madrid Hotel |
| June 26 | Madrid | On our last full day we explore with our friendly local guide the Prado Museum, which boasts one of the most renowned collections of art in the world. In the afternoon we will visit Parque del Retiro, once the king's private hunting grounds. In the afternoon, we will spend our last few hours doing some last minute shopping and strolling around the city to check some other interesting neighborhoods like Mercado San Miguel. We end our day with a celebratory final dinner before heading back to our hotel to prepare for out international departure tomorrow. | Madrid Hotel |
| June 27 | Madrid - USA | Hasta luego! Today we will head to the airport to take our flight back to the US. | Your own bed |
Fundraising
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.
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.
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.
TOC Hotel Madrid
TOC is a spacious and hip hotel located in the heart of Madrid, just minutes away from the metro and major tourist attractions. This is a modern and hi-tech hotel with a friendly staff and a great breakfast! Travelers will have their own beds, distributed between double, triple and quadruple rooms.
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.
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.
Group Flight
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
- Warmer jacket
- Warm hat
- Scarf and Warm gloves (optional)
- 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
- STUDENT ID
- Spanish/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.
Hillary Mora
Spain Country Director
Group Roster
Below is a list of the travelers enrolled on the program.
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
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.