Hiking Programs in Western Europe

I truly went inside Iceland, I did not just do the superficial or touristy stuff, I felt that I truly went inside and deep into Iceland. I went from the most common city, to some truly unique places. I truly lived Iceland.

I had an unforgettable time with sea turtles! Met the best people and the staff was great. It was so hands-on and so rewarding. Met my new friend Katie which was great. My only knock was that sometimes it could feel a little clicky between different groups.

Rustic Pathways responded to this reviewNovember 07, 2024

Hey Lauren! Thanks so much for traveling with us. We're so happy that you made a lifelong friend! And thanks for the feedback. We'll report it back to our team to see how we can improve on our group dynamics. And we hope you travel with us again soon!

This was an amazing program start to finish. I learned so much about marine life in Greece while helping out. The views were amazing and I loved Darren and Gem, the leaders. Great experience all around.

Rustic Pathways responded to this reviewNovember 02, 2024

Hey Evelyn! We're so glad you were able to explore Greece with us. We know Darren and Gem enjoyed their time with your group too. We hope you join us again on another trip soon!

This has been my favorite program out of the 4 that I've done with RP. Every moment that I spent in Italy was rather unforgettable. I had so much fun and I’ve met people that I consider lifelong friends now. Highly recommend it.

Rustic Pathways responded to this reviewAugust 15, 2024

Hi Brian! We're glad that you had such an unforgettable time in Italy and that you made such great friends. Also a BIG thank you for joining us in Italy for your fourth Rustic adventure. We hope to see you next summer!

This is a good program for nature lovers and animal lovers. I got to spend time on the sandy beaches, and work with endangered Sea Turtles. The PLs were super nice, and interacting with other kids was cool as well

Rustic Pathways responded to this reviewAugust 15, 2024

Hi Mishaal! Thank you so much for joining us in Greece. We're glad to hear you enjoyed the beautiful beaches and getting to meet the other students. We hope to see you next summer too!

I had so much fun exploring and being in Italy. I met so many amazing people and loved my PLs. Exploring Italy was better than I had imagined and I loved trying new foods, exploring the cities, and shopping with my friends.

Rustic Pathways responded to this reviewAugust 02, 2024

Exploring and shopping in Italy with new friends?!! Say no more, Alisa! That sounds like the perfect time. We're glad you had so much fun on our Italy program. We hope we see you again next summer!

The best Rustic trip I’ve been on out of 3. It was just totally awesome and I loved that we had so much opportunity to do and try new and amazing things. My PL’s were awesome and my group was so fun!!

Rustic Pathways responded to this reviewAugust 02, 2024

Hey! We're so happy that you had the best time this summer, Lila! Our Program Leaders are pretty awesome, and we're happy you tried new things too. We hope next summer brings you back to Rustic!

Being a student on Sea|Mester was the most incredible experience of my life. I did the South Africa to Antigua voyage on Vela, and it exceeded any and all expectations I could have possibly had. I got to visit places that I never thought I would get to go. I met people that started out as strangers, but quickly became family to me. Prior to Sea|Mester, I had very little sailing experience and no diving experience and I think that that is a common turn off for people that come across this program, but you have no need to be worried if you're in that boat (haha). The staff does an exceptional job teaching you the ropes, making you feel safe, and making you feel like the boat is your home. If you're a hands on learning that thrives on getting outside of your comfort zone, adventure, and travel then this program is for you. I can not effusive enough how much Sea|Mester and my crew changed my life. If you're presented with the privilege to be a student on Sea|Mester... do it. If Sea|Mester taught me anything, it's to say yes even when you're scared. The greatest adventure of your life could be waiting for you.

My Putney Iceland trip was an amazing experience I will never forget. I made many great friends and memories I will never forget. Through Putney’s guidance I was also able to see great personal growth in myself.

My son went on the OnTour European Experience trip last summer. This has been the most incredible experience he has had the privilege and opportunity to participate in. The culture he gained was incredible and Westcoast was amazing to deal with. The trip was incredibly well organized, professional and compassionate. This was truly the experience of a lifetime and I would highly recommend it to anyone who is considering this for their teen.

I did the trip from Palau to Thailand in 21 and it was so much fun. I learnt so much, made so many great friends and got to see and experience some of the coolest stuff I’ve seen to date. The staff are all very cool, approachable and great teachers. I got 12 credits and it didn’t even feel like a semester because it was so fun. If you like adventure, travel and the ocean I couldn’t recommend this program more.

Upon arriving in Madrid, I already could feel this would be one of my life's different and best months. The trip was full of fun adventures and unique and new experiences. I created bonds with people that I will forever be appreciative of. Every single person I met on this trip left a long-lasting impact on me. I learned lessons of gratitude, Spanish history, and culture, the Spanish language, and the diversity of Spain. The lessons I learned during my time abroad I have taken back to my home with and I will never let them go. I created bonds with people that will last forever. The hardest part of this trip was saying goodbye, not only to the people I had spent my month with but to the many various places I had created lifelong memories.

Upon beginning the program, there are many resources available for my family and I to get all the information I needed. Along with this, we had a personal online helper, which we could email about any questions – I definitely used that to my advantage. Applying for the program was fairly easy through their website. The in country staff was amazing and cooperative with the students along with my personal leaders who were very caring. I made many friendships with a variety of American and Spanish people. The immersion of culture was a quick paced environment, but enjoyable nonetheless. I was able to meet many residents of the village I stayed in, this helped me further my Spanish and push me out of my bubble. I was able to learn many new words and try a variety of different foods. I am so happy to have had this experience!

I left America with one family and returned with two. At the beginning of the trip, my main goal was simply to make friends and lasting memories during the month abroad. Those goals stayed the same throughout, but I left with a deeper love and gratitude for the new people in my life. The group of kids I left the airport with soon became the ones I’d laugh, cry, and experience newfound independence with. We all got lost together, tried new things together, and got homesick together. We occasionally would bicker just like siblings, but it only made us understand each other more. In terms of my host family, I couldn’t have asked for a better one. My sisters saw me as one of their own, and their mother and grandmother were always there to ensure I was comfortable, happy, and loved. While in Spain, I learned the importance of gratitude and how many ways there are to show your love to someone. If I were to do the program again, I can’t think of a better group to do it with.

Everyday I learned so much about Spanish culture and architecture as we visited many cathedrals and other beautiful sights. I had amazing food and met some nice people as well. It was a great combination of hiking, exploring, and socializing!

My 16 year old son loved this program in Granada. The staff did a great job from the application prcess through to the return. Arcos has two programs in Granada, Spain--one that is a traditional language immersion program and one focused on outdoor exploration. My son chose the outdoor program ad he loved learning about Granada by hiking and biking in the Sierra Nevada, swimming in waterfalls and exploring caves. Granada is a safe city that allows teens to feel independent in a fun enviornment. I highly recommend this program!

ARCOS did a great job! I had a great time! My host mom was really kind and had the best cooking, and the program directors were enthusiatic and really fun to be around! I would definitely recommend this experience to any of my friends. It helped me improve my Spanish and make friends around the world!

As the parent of high school students who have traveled with Global Works as well as another group, I would highly recommend Global Works Study. From the first encounter, asking questions, getting information, navigating the process, etc. it was all simple and detailed. I was able to ask questions and get responses quickly and accurately. Once my son was on the trip, updates were frequent and were written by the students, with photos attached! Flights were easy to book and the group leaders were easy to find at the meeting airport location. Loved that the group leader called us before the trip to introduce herself and ask if we had any questions. My son's (16 years old, going into Junior year of high school) said his favorite part was the homestay...made friends for life!

Our 16-year-old daughter LOVED this program! From the counselors to the kids (all of whom she had never met before), the writing program, and the cultural exploration – she loved every minute in Ireland and has not stopped talking about it. She is not typically one to go on and on about something but she still (9 months later) gushes about her time with her "Putney friends" in Ireland. The counselors did a fantastic job quickly bringing the group together to create a vibe where the kids felt comfortable and would share creatively – no small feat when you only have 12 days together. The fact that she is still in touch with many of the kids tells me so much. She got a tremendous confidence boost and came home even more inspired to pursue a career in writing. I couldn't recommend a program more highly – I felt informed every step of the way and was confident she was in great hands while overseas. Thank you, thank you!

My Global Works trip was a life changing experience. I went on the Spain Language and Leadership trip. The three week trip was amazing. We formed friendships and learned how to better our global community. Our trip started in Madrid and ended in Barcelona. In between, we visited medieval castles in Segovia and kayaked in Sebucor. We worked on an organic farm in Almuyeas and learned the importance of growing produce with no pesticides, better for the environment and us! We also learned how to make bread, a fun process with a delicious end result. Next we went to the Valencia and learned about how rice patties had destroyed a natural biome of the wetlands. We saw first hand the pollution of the wetlands but did our share to clean up the trash in the water. It may not sound so, but we also had fun. We rewarded ourselves with a dip in the beautiful ocean, which was warm and the color of blue beach glass. The next day, we made traditional Valenciano paella and took a Flamenco dance class. Our trip ended in the beautiful city of Barcelona. We had the amazing opportunity to see a live Flamenco show, which was awesome, especially after having taken a class a few days earlier. The next day we visited the Sagrada Familia, Gaudi's masterpiece, which has been under construction for 128 years, and still not finished. It was stunning and the stained glass windows that reflected color into the Cathedral itself were my favorite part. Between discovering Spain and its incredible culture and food, practicing and improving my Spanish, and meeting new people and making incredible friends, this trip was an experience of a lifetime, one I will cherish and remember forever. I loved my counselors and thought they were great trip leaders, keeping us engaged, informed, immersed in Spanish language and always amused. My group was fantastic and there were lots of hugs and tears at the airport. I can’t wait for my next Global Works trip!