2026 Travel Dates
Italy & Greece | ||
June 16 – July 1, 2026 | Available | Enroll Now |
June 23 – July 8, 2026 | Available | Enroll Now |
June 30 – July 14, 2026 | Available | Enroll Now |
July 14 – July 29, 2026 | Available | Enroll Now |
Combine the popular Northern Italy Adventure and Island Turtle Conservation programs for one epic experience!
Start your journey exploring the highlights of Northern Italy: the sights, the foods, the history, and more. Then make the jump to the Greek Island of Kefalonia and dive into the life of a marine conservationist as you help protect endangered sea turtles.
Choose this combination program and we’ll take care of providing you with an extra day of exploring Italy and your flight that takes you to Greece to join your new group.

In 2025, Rustic Pathways received GoAbroad’s Top Rated Provider recognition for high school travel in Greece.
Service projects support UN Sustainable Development Goals |
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Countries:
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Department:
- Student Travel
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Duration:
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16 Days
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Ages:
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14-18
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Cost:
- $6,890 plus Airfare
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Service Hours:
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30
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Program Types:
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There’s nothing quite like wandering through an Italian market in the morning and helping protect sea turtles on a Greek island by afternoon. This program is the best of both worlds. It’s an experience that blends adventure, purpose, and a whole lot of unforgettable moments.
Quote by: Nicholas Pompa Italy & Germany, Country Director
Service Projects
Italy
Each student will provide about 8 hours of community service. They’ll work on eco-conservation projects in the Euganean Hills outside Padua.
The hills formed about 35 million years ago from volcanic activity. The area now includes a regional park that’s visible from Venice. Amid the hills are hot springs and numerous vineyards.
Leaders in the area use the park to promote sustainable tourism and offer environmental programs for school children. Rustic’s service work will enhance these efforts. Specific student tasks will depend on local needs. Projects may include removing invasive species or working on hiking trails.
While completing these jobs, the teens will learn about the location’s history and geography. Plus, program managers are coordinating with local groups to organize projects that can be completed in conjunction with Italian teens.
Greece
Each student will provide about 20 hours of community service while on the program. The students will do surveys to track sea turtles and their nests. They’ll do beach cleanups to protect nesting grounds and monitor current nests. They’ll also learn about other important environmental factors, including seagrass and local marine life.
Sea Turtle Basics
Kefalonia Island is a stopping ground for endangered loggerhead turtles that migrate there every spring for food, mating and nesting. Hundreds of turtles come each year, and on the island, survey teams regularly walk along the beaches to protect nests and monitor those that are incubating or hatching. They also monitor sand dunes and vulnerable seagrass meadows, which are essential nesting and feeding grounds for turtles.
Sea turtles play a vital role in the ocean’s ecosystem. Among their roles is to act as a sort of mobile reef. Their carapaces, or shells, are home to species that serve as a food source for other marine life.
Threats to Survival
Sea turtles face many threats. These include fishing nets, boating traffic, and pollution from plastic and other debris and chemicals. There have also been issues with people feeding them fish, which is not good for their health. Their natural diet primarily consists of various crustaceans and mollusks.
Food
Italy
Breakfast on most days will be fresh, local Italian pastries, fruit, yogurt, or cereal at the base house. A few of the days students will have the option to visit patisseries and experience Italian breakfast culture.
Most lunches will be eaten on the go during activities, service, or exploring different locations. These meals will typically include pizza, pasta, panini, or stops at local markets to create picnics.
Dinners will be a combination of eating out at Italian restaurants, local pizza, and local cuisine prepared family-style by chefs at our base house. When exploring places like Verona, Venice, Milan, and Lake Garda there will be frequent snack stops to try gelato, pastries, fresh local fruit, cappuccino, espresso, and all the classics.
Greece
The students will have grab-and-go breakfast foods each morning at the hotel. This may include items such as bread, fruit and eggs.
Lunches and dinners will vary depending on whether the students are on a boat or on land. During the program, they’ll have the chance to try some Greek specialties, such as Greek salads or skewered meat souvlaki.
However, there will be other food choices as well. The students may have the opportunity to try some fantastic poolside pizza. Plus, Kefalonia Island is known for its locally caught fish, including tuna and red snapper. Local produce is also often on the menu.
If you have a dietary restriction, please let us know in advance so that suitable arrangements can be made. We strive to give all students the chance to explore culinary options while on the road.
My Rustic Pathways trips have positively impacted my young life in many ways.
– Ryan Barish, Rustic Pathways Alumni
What’s Included in Your Program
Program Leaders & Guides
English Speaking Rustic Pathways international and local leaders
Airport Transportation
Meet and greet with private transportation to and from the airport
Comfortable Accommodations
All nights of accommodation
All Meals Included
Breakfast, lunch, and dinner throughout your stay
Ground Transportation
All transportation between program locations and activities
All Activities
Every activity, entrance fee, and experience in your itinerary
24/7 Support
On-call support throughout the program for peace of mind
Emergency Coverage
Included emergency evacuation assurance plan
All Fees & Tips
Airport taxes, departure fees, donations, and guide tips
What’s Not Included in Your Program
International Flights
Souvenirs
Additional Snacks
Visa Expenses
Passport Fees
Packing the right gear (and the right amounts) is the first step to an incredible travel experience. Follow these tips to pack like a pro:
- Travel light. Pack only the essentials. You’ll need less than you think!
- Make sure your luggage complies with TSA regulations, especially your carry-on.
- Pack an empty water bottle and fill it up after security.
- Don’t forget the Big Five: Water bottle, Sunscreen, Bug spray, Rain jacket, Closed-toe shoes
A school backpack is ideal as it will be used for daily activities and outings.
- Passport and Wallet
- Photocopy of passport
- Consent to Travel Letter (for students under 18, recommended by the U.S. State Dept. but not required)
- Warm coat/jacket
- Extra pair of clothing (shirt/sweater, pants, underwear)
- Sunglasses
- Book and/or journal
- Pen
- Phone
- Camera
- Chargers
- Electrical adapter/converter (220 volt – European two round pin plug)
- Water bottle
- Medication
- Headphones
40-50 liter duffel bag or backpack is ideal
Clothes
- Snorkel Mask + Snorkel
- Rash Guard / Sun hoodie (1-2)
- Socks (8-10)
- Underwear (12-15)
- T-shirts (8-10)
- Long-sleeved shirts (2-3)
- Sweaters (1)
- Light pants (2-3)
- Shorts (4-5)
- Active wear (e.g. athletic pants and sweatshirt) (1-2)
- One nice outfit for hotel meals, etc.
- Pajamas
- Swimsuits (2-3)
- Flip flops or sandals
- Hat for sun protection
- Shoes (1-2 pairs, one pair for walking/hiking and one comfortable pair for city exploring)
- Water shoes
- Small microfiber towel
- Laundry bag
Toiletries
(Travel size bottles in Ziploc bags)
- Shampoo
- Conditioner
- Body wash
- Face wash
- Toothbrush
- Tooth paste
- Deodorant
- Sunscreen
- Bug spray
- Feminine hygiene products
- Contacts & solution or spare glasses
- Foam earplugs / eye mask
- Personal med kit
- Wet Wipes
- Razor/shaving cream
- Hand sanitizer