Greece: Island Turtle Conservation

Rustic Pathways maintains a median of one staff member per 4.37 students (4.37:1), with no program exceeding 7 students per staff member (7:1).

New Program Leaders go through a four-month selection process, and every Program Leader holds current CPR and First Aid certification.

Greece is 7 hours ahead of New York in summer.

• After the final scheduled activity of the day, students have their phones.
• Routine help: call +1 440-975-9691, Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET.
• Emergencies: use the 24/7 number in your pre-departure materials.

Most students join on their own, and some join with friends or siblings. Roommate requests are accepted during enrollment for students coming together. Program Leaders run icebreakers on day one, and friendships form quickly.

Cancellations within 24 hours of enrollment receive a refund of all amounts paid to Rustic Pathways.

Cancellations before midnight ET on March 31, 2027, receive a full refund of the program tuition. The enrollment fee and any airfare already booked become non-refundable.

For cancellations after March 31, 2027, see the enrollment terms.

If your family experiences a serious, documented emergency, contact us. We review these situations on a case-by-case basis.

U.S. students can join a chaperoned group flight from Newark (EWR) to Athens (ATH) with a Rustic Pathways Flight Leader. Families can also book their own flights into and out of Athens. International students fly independently, and staff meet them in Athens.

The flight from Athens to Kefalonia is included. Flights to and from Greece, including the group flight, are not included in tuition.

Flying independently? See the arrival and departure dates below.

Whichever option you choose, Rustic Pathways staff meet every student at Athens airport on the arrival date and see them off on the departure date.

Option 1: the chaperoned group flight

Cost: Chaperoned group flight fee, plus airfare.

• A Rustic Pathways chaperone meets students at Newark (EWR) and flies with the group to Athens (ATH), and home from Athens (ATH) to Newark (EWR) on the departure date.
• Getting to and from Newark (EWR): Rustic Pathways can book the connecting flights between your home airport and Newark (EWR), or your family can. Students fly that leg on their own, with an airline unaccompanied-minor service if the airline requires one.
• Every student on the group flight pays the chaperoned group flight fee, even if your family books the connecting flights.

Option 2: independent flights with support

Cost: Flight Support Fee, plus airfare.

• You choose the flights and Rustic Pathways books them, into and out of Athens (ATH).
• Students fly on their own, and you get 24/7 travel support if plans change.

Option 3: book your own flights

Cost: No Rustic Pathways fee, just airfare (for students not on the group flight).

• Your family books and manages the flights, into and out of Athens (ATH).
• Students fly on their own. Changes and rebooking are between your family and the airline.

Arrival and departure windows

Students who are not on the group flight land within the arrival window and leave within the departure window, about four hours each. Your Personal Travel Advisor shares the exact times before you book. Flights outside the windows carry an additional fee.

Flights during the program

• Athens (ATH) to Kefalonia, and back to Athens at the end: included in tuition, and staff fly with the group.

Independent travelers must arrive in Athens (ATH) and depart from Athens (ATH) on these dates. Flight times can change, so confirm with your Personal Travel Advisor.

In Athens, at the airport. The group flies to Kefalonia, where nights 2 to 7 are spent, and returns to Athens for the last night and the flight home.

U.S. citizens do not need a visa for Greece. Other passports may need one: check your nationality on the EU’s list of visa-free countries.

Rustic Pathways Program Leaders supervise students from the moment staff meet them at Athens airport until they depart for their flight home.

• A median student-to-staff ratio of 1 staff member for every 4.37 students, never exceeding 7:1.
• Program Leaders are housed on site and available overnight.
• Two-Deep Leadership: No staff member is ever alone one-on-one with a student.
• Each student has a personal check-in with a Program Leader within 24 hours of arrival.
• Families receive a Safe Arrival email within 12 hours of arrival in Greece.

Yes. Students room with same-gender peers: two or three to a room in Kefalonia, with private bathrooms and air conditioning, and four to eight to a dorm room with a private bathroom for the last night in Athens.

Personal Travel Advisors review all medical forms and plan with families to manage medication, allergies, and dietary requirements on the program.

Program Leaders are first-aid and CPR certified, and teams keep lists of medical facilities for every major program location.

Students do not have unsupervised time in public areas. Free time is structured, with Program Leaders always nearby. At night, students stay in their rooms with their roommates. Program Leaders are housed on site and conduct nightly room checks.

Rustic Pathways follows Trip Before Scroll: staff store phones and connected devices securely during daytime programming and hand them back after the final scheduled activity.

Students keep them overnight, subject to quiet-hours and lights-out rules. Travel-day, medical, and accessibility exceptions apply.

Rustic Pathways welcomes all students and works with families to provide appropriate support. Learn about Rustic Pathways’ inclusion policy.

The enrollment fee is a one-time fee, separate from tuition, covering enrollment, pre-departure advising, and trip planning. It begins at $100 and increases closer to the departure date.

The enrollment fee is refundable for cancellations within 24 hours.

Medical insurance with coverage in Greece is required. Travel insurance is strongly recommended, not required.

Neither is included in program tuition. Rustic Pathways recommends Arch RoamRight: get a quote.

Yes. Rustic Pathways offers a 4-Pay payment plan that splits program tuition into four payments over six weeks. This plan is only available for enrollments more than 90 days before departure and only for U.S. bank accounts.

Need-based financial aid and merit scholarships are also available. Explore scholarships and financial aid.

$150 to $200 per week is recommended for shopping, snacks, or souvenirs. Meals, scheduled activities, and gratuities are included in program tuition.

Each session is limited to 16 students, ages 14 to 18. Program Leaders group similarly aged students together for activities.

Yes. Non-U.S. students can join this program. International students fly to Athens to arrive within the designated arrival window for their session.

Rustic Pathways staff meet them at the airport and ensure safe departure within the designated window at the end of the program.

Visa requirements depend on the passport, so ask an advisor.

Students work with Wildlife Sense, a conservation organization that conducts long-term sea turtle population studies on Kefalonia, Greece. Marine biologists lead the fieldwork and evening presentations, helping students learn about sea turtle conservation and research.

Dawn nesting-beach surveys and nest checks, beach clean-ups, snorkel surveys of seagrass habitat, and harbor turtle surveys, alongside Wildlife Sense biologists. Students start with guided activities and take on more independence as they show they are ready. Afternoons and some days add free time, the Cave of Melissani, a Greek dance class, and a boat day.

Moderate: swimming, snorkeling, and walking on sand. Some surveys start before sunrise, with a bus leaving early.

Yes. Vegetarian, vegan, pescatarian, gluten-free, dairy-free, and other diets, plus common food allergies can be accommodated. Dietary needs and allergy information are collected after enrollment and shared with meal providers and project partners in advance.

No. Program Leaders accompany students, and Wildlife Sense biologists lead the fieldwork.

Yes. The itinerary may change due to weather, safety concerns, transportation issues, or site availability. Program Leaders may adjust activities and schedules to keep students safe and ensure a positive program experience.