Southern Europe
- How is this adventure different from the rest?
- Do I need to speak French or Italian to go on this adventure?
- Do I have to get to Rome on my own?
- Where will I be sleeping?
- What is the weather like?
- Can my family meet me in Paris at the end of the adventure?
- What is the hiking like?
How is this adventure different from the rest?
This adventure is a unique balance of cultural experiences and time in the backcountry. Spending this much time along the Italian coast and in the mountains of France, Italy, and Switzerland will be a most memorable experience. As we travel through these countries we will be immersed in the local culture all the while taking in some of the most amazing Mediterranean and mountain scenery in the world.
Do I need to speak French or Italian to go on this adventure?
Your leaders will speak French or Italian, or both. You do not need to speak a foreign language in order to go on this international adventure. However, if you speak French or Italian (or even German!) you will have ample opportunity to speak these languages. Enrolling in this adventure is a unique way to learn a new language, or enhance a language you may already be studying.
Do I have to get to Rome on my own?
No. We offer an optional escorted flight that leaves from Newark, New Jersey that flies to Rome. The trip officially begins in Rome, but every year about 85% of students choose to take the optional escorted flight. This option is available from Paris back to Newark as well. If you choose to meet the group in Rome on the first day, you will be met at the airport by one of your leaders.
Where will I be sleeping?
While we are in towns and cities we will either sleep in tents at a campground or in hostels. While we are sea kayaking we will stay in tents on the beach, and while we are backpacking we will be sleeping in refuges. Refuges exist because in most parts of Europe they don’t allow camping in the backcountry. They have built huts along the trails designed for travelers just like us. These huts have beds and bathrooms with hot showers and many of them are full of mountain history. This unique way to travel is a once in a lifetime experience.
What is the weather like?
In Rome and along the Italian coast, the weather will be hot and sunny, with a cool breeze blowing off the Mediterranean. In the mountains the weather behaves much like it does in our own Rockies. The sun shines very bright and it is very warm. In the afternoon clouds may form and we will get the occasional afternoon shower. It usually clears up after that and the sky will open up so we can sit back and enjoy watching shooting stars from our high alpine perch.
Can my family meet me in Paris at the end of the adventure?
Yes. Several families each year decide to use the countries visited by ARCC adventures as destinations for family vacations. If you and your family plan to do this, give us a call at the ARCC office and we can arrange meeting places and times.
What is the hiking like?
As with most ARCC trips, on this adventure we assume that students have little or no backpacking experience. Therefore, we always give a backpacking orientation and we begin our hiking sections with a short day (often a couple of miles). Our longest day in Tuscany is a little over 7 miles, and in the Alps our longest day is the final one - 9 miles. On average, we hike about 5½ miles a day, and have layover days built into the itinerary. Our pace is leisurely, with plenty of time for snack breaks and taking in the abundant scenery.