Portugal & Greece: Surf, Turtles, and Service

Arrive at Newark Airport (EWR) where you’ll meet your Rustic Pathways Flight Leader, who will help get you checked in and through security before traveling with your group to Portugal. Get acquainted with fellow Rustic travelers before boarding your flight. Get some rest on the flight because this is going to be a great week!

Touch down in Lisbon and meet your Program Leaders who will guide you throughout this adventure. Begin your journey with a visit to a vibrant local market, where you can experience the sights, sounds, and flavors of Portuguese culture. Afterward, enjoy a delicious traditional Portuguese lunch before heading to the villa base house in Setúbal.

At the base house, you’ll learn about the week ahead, expectations for your adventure, and local culture. Relax, play fun games, and enjoy pool time as you get settled. You’ll share rooms with 2-3 other students, separated by gender. Our spacious and comfortable accommodations will be where we can recharge and connect during our exciting adventure.

Kickstart your journey with surf lessons at Costa da Caparica’s beautiful beaches. Expert instructors will help you catch your first wave. In the afternoon, team up for a beach cleanup, actively contributing to marine conservation efforts.

Continue your surf lessons, honing your skills in the morning waves. Later, delve into a marine conservation workshop where you’ll learn about the impact of climate change on Lisbon’s coastal ecosystems and brainstorm your own sustainability initiatives.

Explore Lisbon’s streets, from the historic Alfama district to the modern LX Factory. We’ll uncover hidden gems and immerse ourselves in the vibrant atmosphere. Try the famous custard tart called Pastel de Nata, and spend some time shopping for unique souvenirs. We’ll indulge in a traditional feast at a local restaurant for dinner.

Set off on a scenic boat tour around Arrábida, Troia, and Setúbal. Dive into the clear waters or try stand-up paddle boarding before savoring a delicious lunch. In the afternoon, relax and explore the stunning beaches of Parque Natural da Arrábida, enjoying beach games and the beauty of Portugal’s coastline.

Begin your day with a visit to Regaleira Palace, a UNESCO World Heritage Site renowned for its stunning architecture and mysterious underground tunnels. Next, enjoy a yummy traditional lunch in a charming local village, savoring authentic Portuguese flavors. After lunch, take a leisurely stroll along a local beach, soaking in the beauty of the coastal scenery.

Continue your journey to Cabo da Roca, the westernmost point of mainland Europe, where breathtaking cliffs and panoramic views await. From there, step into the Enchanted Forest, a magical place said to be where elves reside. After returning to our villa, we’ll gather for a heartfelt Rustic Ties ceremony, reflecting on your journey and the connections you’ve made along the way.

Wrap up your adventure with a final morning before heading to the airport with your Program Leaders. Now it’s time to make your way to Greece!

Meet the rest of the group arriving today! At the basehouse, unpack, relax and then let’s head to the beach to grab lunch and enjoy getting to know our new friends.

We’ll spend the next 6 nights in our beachfront basehouse. Rooms are shared with two students per room with private bathrooms.

We head out on the water on a boat tour to explore the beaches and coast of Kefalonia. This is a great chance to soak up the sun and sea, and also to get to know your new travel buddies much better. At the end of the day, we’ll retreat to our base house for more fun activities to bond and get excited for the turtle conservation service ahead.

We’ll start the morning with an orientation with our turtle conservation service partners. You’ll learn about the projects you’ll work on this week and get a clear understanding of what you will be doing. We’ll do our first turtle monitoring outing where we’ll work to spot sea turtles in the harbor and along the shore. Then, we come back for a quick workshop to learn about the sea turtle population of Kefalonia.

After a full first day, unwind at your accommodations and enjoy a delicious dinner.

We jump into service with a nesting beach survey in the early morning. This is to check for nests and make sure they are safe from predators.

After lunch we’ll dive into the crystal clear water to continue our service. We’ll snorkel to map out seagrass meadows and help create accurate maps for conservation scientists. In the evening explore the town and then rest at our accommodations after a full day.

Please Note: Before participating in any snorkeling activities, students will complete a brief swim test to ensure safety.

We start early in the morning with a nest check and a beach clean up for today’s service. After lunch break into groups to continue habitat monitoring while snorkeling.

We’ll spend the morning wrapping up our conservation service with monitoring on land. Then, in the afternoon, we take a well-earned break to cross the island and visit the magical Cave of Melissani. The cave was named after the nymph Melissanthi and is filled with a lake and forest inside of it. Excavations have found items dating back to the 3rd and 4th century BC.

Today is our last day of service. We’ll wrap up with a nest check and turtle monitoring while snorkeling. At the end of the program, we have the Rustic Ties closing ceremony. The group conducts an intentional reflection on their experience, highlighting all the memories they want to bring back with them. It gives each traveler a chance to find the most meaningful moments of this Greek adventure and hold them in their hearts.

We have a slow morning and get one last visit down to the beach to say goodbye to Kefalonia. Then your Program Leaders take you to the airport where you’ll catch your flight back home. You’ll arrive in Newark ready to share pictures, memories, and souvenirs from your magical Greek and Portugal adventures.