Rein Teen Tours Blog

Length: 26-28 Days

Italy and The Greek Islands

Our 22-day tour through Italy and the Greek Islands begins as we travel with our new friends to Milan, epicenter of fashion and one of the most visited cities in the world. We’ll climb to the rooftops of the iconic Duomo di Milano, visit the historic Sforza Castle, and pass by historic bridges and colorful buildings on our bike ride along the Naviglio Grande canal. Our next stop is breathtaking Venice, a city covering 118 islands connected by over 400 bridges. Enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime moonlit gondola ride along Venice’s canals, visit St. Mark’s Basilica, marvel at Doge’s Palace, and enjoy a late-night gelato in the famous Piazza San Marco.

Next up is fabulous Florence, bustling with industry, commerce, culture, and art. Marvel at the famous David at Galleria dell’ Academia, wander through the serene Boboli Gardens, learn to cook like a pro at our Italian cooking class, and enjoy the sunset views from Piazza Michelangelo. We’ll spend a relaxing day in the Tuscan countryside touring the quaint streets of Siena and the beautiful medieval village of San Gimignano. Our final stop in Italy is the Eternal City of Rome, home to unparalleled history and a treasure trove of amazing sites. We’ll check out the Colosseum where the gladiators once fought, stroll down the ancient Roman Forum, step inside the Pantheon, tour St. Peter’s Basilica, and watch the world go by as we spend time together on the Spanish Steps.

Onward to the fabled Greek Islands, a diverse and enchanting collection of unique islands scattered throughout the Aegean Sea. Our first stop is Santorini, famous for its caldera and considered one of the most stunning and iconic of the Greek islands. You’ll never forget the views of the whitewashed buildings and blue domes of Fira and Oia, two awe-inspiring towns perched along the cliffs of the caldera. Visit the black sand beaches of Kamari, relax at our resort’s pools, and get ready for a most beautiful evening during our sunset catamaran cruise. We’ll board our ferry for our next stop, the lush island of Naxos, offering a rich blend of history, culture, and stunning natural beauty. Enjoy sunning on postcard perfect Agios Prokopios Beach, stroll through the perfect whitewashed alleyways of the old town, visit bucolic mountain towns, learn how to make delicious local dishes at our Greek cooking class, and enjoy the sunset from the ancient Temple of Apollo.

Across the sea we go to our final island, picture-perfect Paros, known for its picturesque villages, beautiful beaches, and rich cultural heritage. We’ll relax on the soothing white-sand beaches, learn to ride the waves during our awesome wind-surfing lessons, walk through charming mountain villages, and enjoy time in the cosmopolitan towns of Parikia and Naoussa. The final stop on our incredible journey is the vibrant and bustling capital of Greece, ancient Athens. We’ll visit the awe-inspiring Acropolis, tour the ancient Agora, check out the hip and happening Plaka neighborhood, and stroll through Monastiraki Square.

We’ll enjoy our farewell dinner as we reminisce with our new friends about our amazing summer exploring Italy and the Greek Islands.

Tour & Service

*Runs in conjunction with our Headin’ West Teen Tour and Project California Community Service program

Project California

Project California

Choose one of the following Community Service Programs:

Volunteer with Children
Protect the Environment
Group Size
The Project California summer community service programs accommodate up to 40 participants, which fosters expanded social interactions and friendships within the group during evening activities and weekend excursions. Depending on the specific site, each service project will consist of 5-15 participants. This enables our teenagers to benefit from small group and one-on-one interaction at the service project.
Accommodations
During the week, the University of California Santa Barbara is our home away from home. Our dorm features an incredible array of facilities, including an Olympic-size swimming pool, computer room, recreation room with pool tables and ping pong tables, floor lounges with sofas and cable television, linen service, and laundry room.
Meals
During the week, the group will eat breakfast, lunch, and dinner in Portola Dining Commons, the dormitory dining hall. Portola is cafeteria-style, consisting of various stations with plenty of choices at each meal for all types of diets. Enjoy everything from made-to-order omelets to lasagna to delicious desserts. While traveling on weekends, breakfast and dinner are provided at our hotels and in various local restaurants.
Staff
Our summer community service staff members are teachers and graduate students who are committed to Project California’s ideals of volunteering and giving back to the global community. Rein Community Service staff members are always present at each service site. All staff members attend our professional training workshops where the emphasis is placed on the safety and well being of our teenage volunteers. Program leaders are trained in Basic First Aid and CPR.
Transportation
Rein Project California Community Service uses professionally driven buses and vans to transfer our participants to their various projects, activities and weekend excursions. There is no additional fee for transporting participants to and from the airport on arrival in California and departure from California.
Communication
The Rein Communication Center is available 24 hours per day, 7 days per week throughout the program. Teenagers are permitted to bring cell phones and our free wifi is available throughout our dormitory.

European Adventure

European Adventure begins as we travel together to Reykjavik, Iceland. Make lots of new friends and start bonding with fun Introductions and Ice Breakers at our orientation. We will explore the natural beauty of Iceland during our famous Golden Circle Tour where we’ll tour Thingvellier National Park and see the Great Geyser and Gullfoss Waterfall. Our expert rafting guides will sail through magnificent landscapes as we raft down Gullfoss Canyon. Enjoy the world famous Blue Lagoon Geothermal Spa where we will soak in the Hot Springs and reap the benefits of the mineral-rich waters. Get your cameras ready when we put on headlamps for our exciting and beautiful Lava Tube Trek! Our journey continues as we take our non-stop flight to Paris.

Bienvenue — Welcome to Paris! We’ll go to the top of the Eiffel Tower, view the Mona Lisa at the Louvre, and see the works of Monet and Van Gogh at Musee d’Orsay. Next we’ll hear the chimes at Notre Dame and drive along the Champs-Elysées to see the Arc de Triomphe. Take an evening cruise down the Seine River and visit Sacre Coeur in the bohemian artist village of Montmartre. After roaming the vast gardens at the Palace of Versailles our student European teen tour is off to Switzerland.

Our time in Switzerland begins as our teen tour drives to the majestic Swiss Alps to reach the village of Zermatt, nestled amongst beautiful alpine lakes and enchanting ice-blue glaciers. The teens will have Professionally Guided Summer Snow Skiing and Snowboarding on the Matterhorn or will take an Alpine Gondola Ride to experience a personal breathtaking view of this serene environment.

Benvenuti in Italia – Welcome to Italy! Our first stop is Venice, a breathtaking city built on 118 small islands that are separated by canals and linked by over 400 bridges. Enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime moonlit gondola ride along Venice’s canals and cross the Bridge of Sighs. Visit St. Mark’s Basilica, Doge’s Palace and enjoy a late night of Gelato and people watching in Piazza san Marco.

As they say…When in Rome…we’ll set foot in the Colosseum where gladiators once fought and stroll down The Ancient Roman Forum, the center of Roman commerce during ancient times. We’ll see Circus Maximus, step inside the Pantheon, walk down the Spanish Steps, toss coins over your shoulder into the Trevi Fountain, and then spend the evening in the charming Piazza Navonna. Walk through Vatican City and St. Peter’s Basillica on our guided tour, and marvel at Michelangelo’s artwork in the Sistine Chapel.

Excitement abounds as we take in the stunning views of cliffs, grottos and shimmering bays as we reach Sorrento, our beautiful resort town spread along the terraces that rise above the sea. Step onto our Hydrofoil Boat Ride as we head to the Island of Capri, where we’ll take a boat ride to the Blue Grotto, swim in the crystal clear sea, and enjoy a relaxing beach day. Sorrento is so fabulous, you’ll never want to leave. On our way to Florence, we will check out the archeologic ruins of Pompeii, a Roman town frozen in time from the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 A.D.

Florence is a city bustling with industry, craft, commerce, culture, art, and science. Some sights on our Guided City Tour include Ghiberti’s Bronze Doors, Michelangelo’s “David,” the Duomo, and the Ponte Vechio. Our teenagers will hear the best mixes of international dance music at our two-level International Dance Club. Enjoy delicious Italian Pasta Dinners that will tempt your palate and wake your taste buds. As we leave Florence we’ll stop at the Leaning Tower of Pisa, then it is off to the French Riviera.

Next, Rein Teen Tours European Adventure travelers are in store for glitz and glamour as we head to Monte Carlo, Monaco, where we’ll stay at the world-famous Fairmont Monte Carlo. Here we’ll enjoy our resort’s opulent pool overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. Enjoy a beach day along the beautiful blue-green waters of the French Riviera, also known as the Cote d’Azur. We will experience the unique vibe of Riviera Night Life in Monaco as we and indulge in delicious gourmet meals and soak up the vibe at this international playground of the rich and famous!

Our last seven days will be spent in Spain. Barcelona, the host city of the 1992 Olympics will be our home as we take in the cool fresh air of the Mediterranean coast and this epicenter of cultural energy. Tour Salvador Dali’s Museum in Figueras and enjoy a traditional paella dinner followed by an authentic Flamenco Dance Show. We’ll explore La Rambla, Barcelona’s most vibrant avenue with inviting shops, food markets, and unique performers. On our visit to Park Guell we’ll see one of the most colorful and playful works of the famous artist Antoni Gaudí, then we’ll walk around La Sagrada Familia to see Gaudí’s masterpiece basilica.

Relax and reminisce on the beach in Costa Brava as we swim and play on the sun drenched white sand beaches of the Spanish Riviera, along the sparkling blue Mediterranean Sea. Conquer Dragon Kahn, the only 8 loop roller coaster in the World, as we spend the day at Port Aventura & Ferrari Land, Spain’s largest theme park.

Our summer European teen tour ends with an incredible finale in Madrid, the capital metropolis of Spain. We’ll visit the Prado Museum and walk along the grounds of Palacio Real, the largest palace in Europe. Race your friends to the bottom of the hill at our indoor snow-tubing park, and tour Bernabeú Stadium, home of International Fútbol team, Real Madrid. Spend the last night with your summer teen tour group enjoying fun skits and songs at our farewell party that continues late into the night. Then it is time to board our regularly scheduled jet for our flight home, with new friends and unforgettable memories of our journey through Iceland, France, Switzerland, Italy and Spain.

Western Adventure

Western Adventure is one of Rein Teen Tours most popular summer teen tours. The tour starts in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, and then visits Mt. Rushmore, the Badlands National Park, Yellowstone National Park and the old western town of Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Summer teen tour travelers enjoy a resort stay at the Canyons Grand Summit Resort in Park City.

Time to hit the Southwest… Your teen tour’s next stop is Bryce Canyon National Park, the Grand Canyon and finally Sedona where we will enjoy the rugged Pink Jeep Off-Road Adventure. Next it’s a fabulous stay at the spectacular Luxor resort in glitzy Las Vegas.

Next we head to Sunny California for 12 days of fabulous teen tour adventure. Stay at our spectacular resort in San Diego, where we enjoy professional surfing lessons and visit the world-famous San Diego Zoo. When your teen tour hits Los Angeles, get ready for Hollywood excitement at Universal Studios and the fantasy of Disneyland. Our teen travelers enjoy action-packed days water-skiing and tubing in Lake Tahoe and sightseeing in San Francisco. After an exciting farewell party, board our regularly scheduled jet for our flight home with your new teen tour friends and memories of the greatest summer imaginable.