Italy and Greece

977 Days until departure
June 13, 2029 - June 22, 2029
Trip ID: Olar-1806

The Explorica Experience

This program delivers the proven Explorica Experience that teachers and students know and love – now powered by greater flexibility through TourFlex and backed by the WorldStrides legacy of experiential learning and consistent quality.

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Tour Itinerary print itinerary

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Day 1 Overnight Flight to Italy (Rome)
Day 2 Ciao Rome
Meet your LEAP-trained Tour Director
Rome city walk
Spanish Steps, Trevi Fountain, Pantheon, Piazza Navona
Details: Rome city walk
Take a walk past Rome's most beautiful and unusual Baroque fountains. At the foot of the Spanish Steps, elegant cafes surround the central fountain. The water pressure here was so low that the artist had to sink the fountain into the ground to get any water going through it, so he went ahead and designed the fountain to look like a sinking ship. There's no shortage of water pressure at the nearby Trevi Fountain, a Baroque extravagance designed by master sculptor Bernini.
Details: Trevi Fountain
View the Trevi Fountain, where it is traditional to toss a coin into the fountain to ensure a safe return to the Eternal City.
Details: Piazza Navona
We will spend some time in the Piazza Navona area. Built on the foundations of Domitian's Circus, this magnificent square was designed by Borromini in 17th century. It is full of life and is highlighted by one of Rome's most spectacular fountains, the Four Rivers designed by Bernini. The square is often filled with local artists. The surrounding neighborhood is also one of the best places in Rome to get a tasty tartufo or gelato ice cream
Day 3 Rome
Ancient Rome guided sightseeing tour
Colosseum visit, Forum Romanum visit, Piazza Venezia
Details: Ancient Rome guided sightseeing tour
The ultimate symbol of Ancient Rome, the Colosseum still dominates the modern city. Tour the amphitheatre with your local licensed guide. Built by the emperor Vespasian in A.D. 72, the structure held almost 50,000 spectators but was so well organized that the entire place could be emptied within 15 minutes. Inside, the spectacles varied from gladiator battles to immense naval contests to wild beast shows, in which thousands of exotic animals like giraffes and ostriches were popped into the stadium through trap doors and left to fight Roman hunters. See the system beneath the floor that operated the trap doors and housed the animals, then continue on to the relative calm of the Forum. Ancient Rome’s commercial, religious and political center, the Forum held markets, temples and the Senate House. Near the Rostra, or speaker’s platform, you can still see game boards scratched into the marble by bored politicians--anyone up for a game of tic tac toe?
Details: Forum Romanum visit
Tour the ruins and excavations of the Roman Forum, which features the remains of magnificent temples, basilicas, and triumphal arches that once formed the heart of the Empire.
Day 4 Rome
Vatican City guided sightseeing tour
Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel visit, St. Peter’s Basilica visit
Authentic trattoria dinner
Details: Vatican City guided sightseeing tour
Visit St. Peter’s Basilica, with its vast colonnades that seem to embrace the world. Inside, admire Michelangelo’s soaring dome, rising 452 feet above the ground, and his renowned Pietà. Then step into the Sistine Chapel, where the artist reluctantly painted frescoes that today stand among the world’s greatest masterpieces. Please note that the Sistine Chapel portion of the visit is unguided and will be explored independently.
Day 5 Rome--Sorrento region
Travel to Sorrento region
Capri & Blue Grotto excursion
Details: Capri & Blue Grotto excursion
From the Bay of Naples the island of Capri is less than an hour away by boat. Weather permitting, you will take a boat to the Blue Grotto, where sunlight reflected from beneath the water bathes the cave in a silver-blue light.
Day 6 Sorrento region--Patras
Travel to the ferry port (via Pompeii)
Pompeii guided visit
Overnight ferry to Patras
Details: Pompeii guided visit
Pompeii is a vast archaeological site located in southern Italy’s Campania region. Once a thriving and sophisticated Roman city, Pompeii was buried in meters of ash and pumice after the catastrophic eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 A.D. Near the coast of the Bay of Naples, the well-preserved site features excavated ruins that visitors can freely explore.
Day 7 Patras--Delphi
Travel to Delphi
LEAP Temple Architecture
Details: LEAP Temple Architecture
Explore ancient temple architecture, its influence on modern design, and engage in creative activities like forming a scene based on a panel image and description, considering its historical context, characters, and message, to tell a believable story judged by theater critics.
Day 8 Delphi--Athens
Delphi guided sightseeing tour
Delphi site visit, Temple of Apollo
Travel to Athens
Greek dinner in Plaka
Plaka scavenger hunt
Details: Delphi guided sightseeing tour
Prophet from the past. Explore the impressive ruins at Delphi, which the Greeks considered the center of the world. Within the depths of the Temple of Apollo, a priestess would inhale intoxicating vapors that used to rise from the earth and, thus inspired, deliver the prophecies of Apollo. Modern visitors might find more inspiration in the view from Mount Parnassus, over 8000 feet high.
Details: Travel to Athens
Athens is one of the oldest and greatest cities of Western Civilization, with a recorded history that extends back 3,400 years. During the Classical Era, Athens was a center for the arts, learning, and philosophy. It was the home of Plato's Academy and Aristotle's Lyceum. Modern Athens is still a vibrant city with a rich culture that takes great pride in its long and complex history.
Details: Greek dinner in Plaka
Nestled beneath the Acropolis, Plaka is Athens' oldest neighborhood, known for its winding streets, neoclassical architecture, and vibrant atmosphere. A traditional Greek dinner in this historic district offers an opportunity to sample regional specialties while experiencing the customs, hospitality, and culinary traditions that are central to Greek culture.
Details: Plaka scavenger hunt
Take interactive learning to another level with a Tour Director-led scavenger hunt of Plaka, the old folk quarters of Athens! Enjoy an after-dinner adventure, complete exciting activities and solve fun clues. Each clue and every activity is built to maximize on-tour experiential learning.
Day 9 Athens
Athens guided sightseeing tour
Parthenon, Acropolis site visit, Temple of Athena Nike, Omonoia Square, Syntagma Square, Panathenaic Olympic Stadium
Athens city walk
Plaka district, Temple of Olympian Zeus, Hadrian’s Arch
Details: Athens guided sightseeing tour
Athens has grown from the birthplace of democracy into a lively modern capital. With a licensed local guide, explore the city’s ancient highlights, beginning at the site of the first modern Olympic Games and the Acropolis, the heart of classical Athens. The Parthenon, dedicated to Athena, dominates the hill, while the nearby Erechtheion stands out for its Caryatids, the sculpted women supporting its porch. From here, the views over today’s Athens are remarkable. Back in the modern city, stop at Syntagma Square to see the Parliament building and the Changing of the Guard, a ceremony marked by the traditional uniforms with pleated skirts and pom‑pom shoes. Continue on to Omonia Square, another major meeting point, surrounded by shops, cafés, and everyday city life.
Details: Acropolis site visit
Visit the Acropolis, which has overlooked Athens for over 2,000 years; habitation traces indicate that it was occupied as early as the Neolithic Age. View the Temple of Athena Nike, and its successor, The Parthenon. The Parthenon is the crowning achievement of the Doric order, built to demonstrate the wealth of Athens in tribute to its patron goddess, Athena.
Details: Syntagma Square
Syntagma Square, located directly in front of the Old Royal Palace, is the central square of Athens.
Details: Panathenaic Olympic Stadium
The Panathenaic Olympic Stadium is the only stadium in the world built entirely of marble and the site of the first modern Olympic Games in 1896. It was also used during the 2004 Athens Olympics for events such as the marathon finish and archery competitions. Its horseshoe shape follows the layout of the ancient stadium that once stood here, making it one of the city’s most iconic historic venues.
Details: Athens city walk
You’re never more than a few steps away from the past in Athens. Accompany your Tour Director to the Plaka, the historic district that borders the Acropolis. In its twisting narrow streets you’ll catch glimpses of an older city, from wrought-iron balconies bursting with geraniums to traditional Greek dancing in basement tavernas. Continue on to the Temple of Olympian Zeus, begun in the 6th century B.C. and finished in A.D. 132 by the emperor Hadrian. Its enormous columns provide a sense of the scale of the original temple. Nearby, the elaborate Hadrian’s Arch separated the ancient and imperial sections of the city.
Details: Hadrian’s Arch
View Hadrian's Arch, an enormous triumphal arch built by the Roman Emperor Hadrian, which is still a symbolic entrance to Athens.
Day 10 Flight home from Athens

Tour Includes

  • LEAP – Learning through Exploring and Actively Participating increases engagement, critical thinking, understanding of diverse perspectives, and personal growth.
  • WorldStrides Tour Director: An experienced education and destination professional, trained in LEAP, who engages students with hands-on learning opportunities.
  • Round-trip airfare and transportation to activities in the itinerary
  • Hotel accommodations
  • Breakfast daily except on arrival day
  • Dinner daily except on departure day
  • Guided sightseeing tours and city walks as per itinerary
  • Visits to select attractions as per itinerary
  • Discovery Journal (available upon request)
  • Traveling educators can earn professional development hours/CEUs.
  • Earn high school credit (grades 6–12) or college credit (grades 9–12) — available to travelers who complete the program and WorldStrides coursework.
  • Basic medical, dental, and emergency‑evacuation insurance during the trip
  • WorldAssist staff members available 24/7/365 should your group need extra help
  • Tips for local guides and drivers are included (except multi‑day bus drivers). Tour cost doesn’t include optional pre‑paid tips for the Tour Director or multi‑day bus driver unless the pre‑paid tip option has been purchased.
  • Tips to staff on Greek cruise
  • Note: Tour cost does not include airline-imposed baggage fees.
  • Note: Tour cost does not cover entry requirements or related fees. This includes, but is not limited to, REAL ID, passports, visas, and travel‑authorization fees.
  • Note: Tour cost does not include optional excursions and other individual and group customizations will be listed as separate line items in the total trip cost, if included. Listed inclusions may not apply if the program is customized.

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