Educational Tours in California for Schools
These school travel programs range across California, from marine science in Monterey and San Diego to Gold Rush history, Yosemite field science and Silicon Valley, on student trips of 3 to 9 days.
Each program is a starting point. We adjust the dates, length and focus to your school’s learning goals. Open any program to see the day-by-day itinerary, or use the filters to narrow the list.
Who are California educational tours designed for?
They are designed for middle and high school groups, with programs from 3 to 9 days.
Days follow each sample itinerary and may include travel to or from the destination. Nights count from the U.S. departure to the departure from the destination, so an overnight flight out is included and the flight home is not. Your proposal confirms the dates and overnight plan.
20 programs found
Southern California Cultures
- Days
- 7
- From
- $3,255
USD per student · airfare extra
Cultural geography in Los Angeles and Ventura: three nights in Los Angeles, two in Ventura, one in Los Angeles.
Los Angeles 3 · Ventura 2 · Los Angeles 16 nights
Los Angeles Film and Creative Industries
- Days
- 6
- From
- $2,790
USD per student · airfare extra
Explore how films are made and interpreted, then apply those ideas to a student production.
Los Angeles 55 nights
California College Exploration
- Days
- 8
- From
- $3,720
USD per student · airfare extra
An eight-day Sunday-arrival pattern puts Berkeley on Monday, Stanford Tuesday, UCSB Thursday and UCLA Friday. Wednesday is the intercity coach day; Saturday is a counselor session and optional shore time. Campus access and term dates must be confirmed.
San Francisco 3 · Santa Barbara 1 · Los Angeles 37 nights
Los Angeles Science, Art and Coast
- Days
- 7
- From
- $2,815
USD per student · airfare extra
Seven days from one Los Angeles base, with separate days for Exposition Park, Hollywood and Griffith Observatory, the Westside, Long Beach and the historic downtown.
Los Angeles 66 nights
Central California Marine Science
- Days
- 7
- From
- $3,255
USD per student · airfare extra
Marine science from a single Monterey base, with time for depth.
San Jose 1 · Monterey 4 · San Jose 16 nights
Central Coast Ecology and Agriculture
- Days
- 6
- From
- $2,410
USD per student · airfare extra
Six days from a Monterey base, linking ocean science with Carmel Mission and Salinas Valley farming.
Monterey 55 nights
Monterey Marine Science Short Trip
- Days
- 3
- From
- Price by quote
USD per student · airfare extra
Three days for regional coach groups, with the Aquarium, Pacific Grove Museum and Point Lobos.
Monterey 22 nights
California History and Gold Country
- Days
- 4
- From
- $1,995
USD per student · airfare extra
Explore railroad expansion in Old Sacramento and pan for gold at Coloma. Two full learning days connect migration and mining with their consequences for people and rivers.
Sacramento 33 nights
California Government, Gold and Railroads
- Days
- 6
- From
- $2,410
USD per student · airfare extra
Follow California’s growth from government and settlement to gold discovery, mining towns, and railroads. A Sacramento base gives each part of the story its own day.
Sacramento 55 nights
California Civics and Public Decisions
- Days
- 5
- From
- $2,010
USD per student · airfare extra
Study a bill at the Capitol, compare public records with museum interpretation, and test a legal argument in a mock trial.
Sacramento 44 nights
Northern Mines and the American River
- Days
- 5
- From
- $2,325
USD per student · airfare extra
Compare hard-rock and hydraulic mining, investigate fish conservation, and connect Folsom Dam with the American River watershed. Travel north through Auburn to Grass Valley and Nevada City.
Sacramento 1 · Auburn 1 · Grass Valley 24 nights
Southern Gold Country Caves and Towns
- Days
- 6
- From
- $2,790
USD per student · airfare extra
Compare two limestone caverns, surface mining machinery, and the streets of Gold Rush towns. An Angels Camp base gives each cave a separate day, with time for geological observation.
Sacramento 1 · Angels Camp 45 nights
San Diego: Ocean, Shore and Estuary
- Days
- 6
- From
- $2,410
USD per student · airfare extra
Compare open water, rocky shore, and wetland habitats through aquarium teaching, a floating classroom, and repeated field observations.
San Diego 55 nights
San Diego: Coast and California History
- Days
- 6
- From
- $2,410
USD per student · airfare extra
Follow the Pacific’s influence on San Diego through La Jolla, historic ships, wildlife conservation, Old Town, and Chicano Park.
San Diego 55 nights
San Diego: STEAM and Maritime History
- Days
- 4
- From
- Price by quote
USD per student · airfare extra
Trace flight, propulsion, and human invention from an aircraft carrier and historic ships to Balboa Park’s science and cultural museums.
San Diego 33 nights
San Diego: Wildlife and Plant Adaptations
- Days
- 5
- From
- $2,010
USD per student · airfare extra
Compare animal habitats at the city zoo and Safari Park, then investigate plant adaptations in Encinitas.
San Diego 44 nights
Silicon Valley: Computing and Innovation
- Days
- 6
- From
- $2,790
USD per student · airfare extra
Test forces at the Golden Gate Bridge and Exploratorium, trace computing in Mountain View, and develop a prototype at The Tech Interactive in San José. Six days use one San Francisco Peninsula hotel base.
San Francisco Peninsula 55 nights
San Francisco: Cultures and Environment
- Days
- 6
- From
- $2,790
USD per student · airfare extra
Read migration history in Chinatown and North Beach, investigate the bay from the Exploratorium and Embarcadero, and compare Muir Woods ecology with Mission District public art.
San Francisco 55 nights
Yosemite Field Science
- Days
- 7
- From
- $3,420
USD per student · airfare extra
Seven days connect Yosemite Valley geology, Mariposa Grove fire ecology, and conservation history, with four nights in Yosemite Valley or El Portal and a Fresno night at each end.
Fresno 1 · Yosemite Valley / El Portal 4 · Fresno 16 nights
Yosemite Valley and High Country
- Days
- 9
- From
- $4,400
USD per student · airfare extra
Nine days include the valley and southern Yosemite fieldwork, plus separate days for Glacier Point and the Tenaya Lake–Tuolumne Meadows high country. Six field nights keep the same Yosemite Valley or El Portal base.
Fresno 1 · Yosemite Valley / El Portal 6 · Fresno 18 nights
Browse all 20 programs
More ways to browse school programs
See all school programs on one page, or request a proposal for your group.
By learning goal
By group and trip style
Pricing and inclusions
Displayed prices are starting estimates in USD per student, excluding airfare. Your proposal confirms the final price for your dates, group size, itinerary and lodging.
Included in Program Tuition
- Accommodation, with one bed per student
- Meals and drinking water
- Airport transfers, in-country transport and scheduled activities
- Guides, entrance fees and required community donations; no tipping
Plan for separately
Airfare, travel and medical insurance, personal spending, passport or visa fees, and vaccinations.
Complimentary teacher tuition
One teacher receives complimentary Program Tuition for every eight paying students. Teacher airfare and insurance are extra.
Every school group has at least two trained Program Leaders and a written Program Risk Management Plan. Safety and supervision details.
Request a school travel proposal
Send your shortlist, approximate dates, group size and learning goals. You don’t need a final itinerary to get started.
We reply by email within one business day and send initial options within 48 hours. No commitment, and no sales call unless you ask for one.
School travel team · With Rustic Pathways since 2012
+1 440-975-9691
groups@rusticpathways.com
School approval documents and fundraising templates are available on request.