Overview
Explore two capitals of the ancient and modern worlds on this journey from Rome to Athens. Your students will visit the Colosseum, explore the ruins at Delphi, and investigate the vast archeological site at Pompeii. Your group can also look forward to learning about the Acropolis, embarking on a challenging scavenger hunt through the Plaka district, and experiencing the breathtaking sights from Capri’s Blue Grotto.
Itinerary
Day 1
Overnight flight to Italy (Rome)
Day 2
Arrive in Rome
Meet your Tour Director
Your 24-hour Tour Director will meet you at the airport and remain with your group until your final airport departure.
Rome city walk
Discover Rome’s iconic landmarks on a guided walk. At the Spanish Steps, see the “sinking ship” fountain, designed that way because of low water pressure that forced the artist to sink it below street level. Marvel at the Trevi Fountain’s Baroque grandeur, the Pantheon’s soaring dome, and Piazza Navona, where Bernini’s Fountain of the Four Rivers anchors the bustling square.
Day 3
Ancient Rome guided sightseeing tour
Step inside the Colosseum with a licensed guide, once the stage for gladiators, naval battles, and wild beast hunts, and explore the underground chambers where animals were kept. Continue to the Forum Romanum, the hub of Roman politics, religion, and commerce. Conclude at Piazza Venezia, framed by its grand palaces and the striking Victor Emmanuel Monument.
Day 4
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.
Authentic trattoria dinner
Day 5
Travel to Sorrento
Capri & Blue Grotto excursion
From the Bay of Naples, the island of Capri is less than an hour away by boat. Weather permitting, you’ll visit the Blue Grotto, where sunlight reflecting beneath the water bathes the cave in a shimmering silver-blue light.
Day 6
Travel to the ferry port (via Pompeii)
Pompeii guided excursion
Stop in Pompeii, the city where time stood still. Once home to 20,000 residents, it was buried by Mount Vesuvius nearly 2,000 years ago and lay hidden under 30 feet of ash and mud. Excavated over centuries, the site reveals daily Roman life through public spaces, political graffiti, taverns, and street signs.
Overnight ferry to Patras
Day 7
Travel to Delphi
Leap Activity
LEAP Temple Architecture
Explore ancient temple architecture and its influence on modern design. Then bring history to life through a creative activity: build a scene from a panel image, considering its context, characters, and message, and perform it as a believable story judged by theater critics.
Day 8
Delphi guided sightseeing tour
Explore the ruins of Delphi, once considered the center of the world. In the Temple of Apollo, a priestess inhaled vapors to deliver prophecies, inspiring leaders for centuries. Today, visitors may find their own inspiration in sweeping views from Mount Parnassus, rising more than 8,000 feet above.
Travel to Athens
Greek dinner in Plaka
Plaka treasure hunt
Take interactive learning to the next level with a Tour Director-led scavenger hunt in Plaka, the old quarter of Athens. After dinner, enjoy an adventure filled with activities and clues designed to spark curiosity and maximize on-tour experiential learning.
Day 9
Athens guided sightseeing tour
Explore Athens with your local guide, where ancient history and modern life meet. Visit the Acropolis, the heart of classical Athens, to see the Parthenon, dedicated to the goddess Athena, and the elegant Temple of Athena Nike. Admire sweeping views of the city before stopping at the 2004 Olympic site, a symbol of Greece’s enduring athletic spirit. Continue to Syntagma Square to watch the ceremonial changing of the guards at the Parliament, then to Omonoia Square, a lively gathering place surrounded by cafés and olive trees.
Athens city walk
In Athens, history is never far away. Walk with your Tour Director through the Plaka district, where winding streets reveal balconies filled with flowers and tavernas alive with traditional dancing. Then visit the Temple of Olympian Zeus, begun in the 6th century BC and finished by Hadrian in AD 132, and see Hadrian’s Arch, once marking the divide between ancient and imperial Athens.
Day 10
Return home
Optional Extension
Add a 3 Day Aegean Cruise + 1 Day in Athens
Set sail across the Aegean on a cruise with unforgettable stops in Greece and Turkey. In Mykonos, stroll among whitewashed buildings, colorful fishing boats, and lively beaches. Continue to Kusadasi to discover ancient treasures, then sail to Patmos to visit the Monastery of St. John, the capital of Hora, and the waterfront town of Skala. In Heraklion, explore Crete’s Minoan legacy before traveling on to Santorini, where cliffside villages overlook dramatic black-sand beaches. Your cruise includes two guided shore excursions: Ancient Ephesus Through the Ages and Heraklion’s Palace of Knossos. Conclude your extension with a guided excursion to Cape Sounion to see the Temple of Poseidon perched above the sea before heading home.
Already Included
WorldStrides Tour Director: A dynamic destination expert who makes learning come to life by leading your group's activities and discussions
Transportation to & from your destination
Hotel accommodations
Meals (unless otherwise noted on your itinerary)
Admissions to top attractions (details in itinerary)
Guided sightseeing tours & city walks (details in itinerary)
Tips for local guides and drivers
WorldAssist staff members available 24/7/365 should your group need extra help
Free high school credit for students who choose to complete WorldStrides free online coursework post-program
Professional development credits (CEUs) for educators
Scenes from Italy & Greece
Health & Safety
Additional health and safety measures may be available within your respective destination. Refer to your program-specific materials for complete details.
Payment Plans
Advantage Payment Plan
At program sign-up you can opt to pay in full, or break up the cost of your trip with the Advantage Payment Plan. This plan allows you to pay a small initial deposit, then have your remaining payments spread out into affordable monthly amounts.
EZPay
We offer an EZPay option, which is a simple way to pay for your WorldStrides program by scheduling hassle-free, automatic drafts from your checking account. With EZPay, you'll never be late or miss an installment.
Financial Assistance
Financial Assistance
WorldStrides provides over $2.5 million in financial assistance each year to thousands of families. Families with annual adjusted gross incomes of less than $85,000 may qualify. One simple call to Customer Service and you’ll know how much may be available for your trip even before signing up. Please note: financial assistance is given on a first-come, first-served basis.
Fundraising Tools
Our easy-to-use tools put students in the driver's seat of their own fundraising efforts. Students can send e-cards, share links on social media, and even send out printed letters through WorldStrides' Gift of Education program. In one click friends and family members can make a direct donation to the trip - with 100% of the money raised going to offset their trip price. Thousands of students pay for their entire trip each year through the Gift of Education.
Also, WorldStrides makes program-specific scholarships available as well as other scholarship resources. Ask your Account Manager for more information about scholarships and fundraising tools.