Overview
Visit Italy and Switzerland with your students. Arrive in Engelberg, Switzerland and spend 10 days exploring the Swiss Alps and the lakes of Italy, winding through Venice, Verona, and Florence before ending your trip in Rome.
Itinerary
Day 1
Start tour
Overnight flight to Switzerland (Engelberg)
Day 2
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.
Day 3
Lucerne Tour Director-led sightseeing
Explore Lucerne with your Tour Director, set against the Alps and green pastures. Walk the Old Town’s cobblestones to Chapel Bridge, a 14th-century wooden bridge decorated with murals, and see the Lion Monument, a sandstone tribute to Swiss Guards lost in 1792. Visit the ornate Jesuit Church and take in the charm of Weinmarkt and Kornmarkt Squares.
Mount Titlis excursion (optional)
At an altitude of 10,000 feet, Mount Titlis is the highest glacier in central Switzerland. Discover the inside of the glacier and make your way down 20 meters below the surface. Travel the Ice Flyer Chairlift and get a bird's eye view of the glacier - and breathtaking views across the Alps.
Day 4
Travel to the Italian lakes region via Lugano
Day 5
Venice excursion
Venice guided sightseeing tour
Discover Venice, a city built on more than 100 islands in a lagoon off the Adriatic. Begin in St. Mark’s Square and tour St. Mark’s Basilica, completed in 1094 and home to the relics of Venice’s patron saint. Continue with a guided visit of the Gothic Doge’s Palace with its ornate arches before continuing to a glass-blowing demonstration, showcasing the centuries-old tradition of Venice’s most famous craft.
Day 6
Travel to Florence via Verona
Casa di Giulietta visit
Explore the 13th-century home and legendary balcony linked to Shakespeare’s "Romeo and Juliet." View period costumes and artwork in its museum, Juliet’s statue, and romantic notes from global visitors.
Roman Arena visit
Step back in time as you explore this well-preserved, ancient amphitheater and learn about its cultural significance in Roman entertainment and architecture, and how it hosts musical performances today.
LEAP Patron of the Renaissance
Imagine you’re a Medici. Suppose you’re a Sforza. Use this innovative activity to explore the motives of the patrons of the Renaissance.
Day 7
Florence guided sightseeing tour with Whisper headsets
Accademia visit, Baptistery Doors, Chiesa di Santa Croce, Duomo, Ponte Vecchio
LEAP Cucina Fiorentina!
Cooking class with dinner
Day 8
LEAP Great Renaissance Debate
Greet six renaissance giants including Giotto, Galileo, and Isabella d’Este, and debate who made the greatest impact on civilization.
Travel to Rome
Rome guided sightseeing tour
Colosseum visit with Whisper headset, Arch of Constantine, Forum Romanum visit
Day 9
Vatican City guided walking sightseeing tour with Whisper headsets
Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel visit, St. Peter’s Basilica visit
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 10
Return home OR Extend your stay
Board your flight home or choose to extend your trip with additional days in Rome. Immerse yourself in the Eternal City, exploring its rich history, iconic landmarks, and vibrant culture at your own pace.
Already Included
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 and Switzerland
Health & Safety
Additional health and safety measures may be available within your respective destination. Refer to your program-specific materials for complete details.
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.
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.
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.