3 Things Most Families Don't Know About Our France & Italy Trip
France & Italy: Alps Adventure is a 14-day trip through the southern French Alps and northern Italy for students completing grades 7 to 9.
The trip moves through mountain hiking, an alpine refuge overnight, Via Ferrata, canyoning, whitewater rafting, environmental service, and time in Turin and Milan. It is active, scenic, and built around learning how to move through mountain places with a group.
Here are three things families may not know before reading the full itinerary.
1. The Via Ferrata day is paired with canyoning
Day 7 is a double adventure day.
Students climb alpine rock faces using secured cables and ladders on a Via Ferrata course. It is a structured way to move through steep mountain terrain, with students learning how to use the system, follow instructions, and manage exposure.
Later that day, the group suits up in wetsuits for canyoning. Expect natural rock toboggans, jumps into pools, and abseiling down waterfalls.
That combination makes Day 7 one of the most active days of the trip. Students should be ready for heights, water, instruction, and a full day outside.
2. Students spend a night in an alpine refuge
Days 4 and 5 take the group into the mountains.
Students hike from Les Fermons into the Champoléon Valley with a local guide, keeping an eye out for alpine wildlife like ibex. At the top, the group stays overnight in a remote mountain refuge.
The refuge is part of the experience.
It is not a hotel. It is an alpine cabin with bunk beds, communal meals, and mountain views. Students share space, eat together, and wake up already in the mountains before hiking back down and continuing along Ancelle’s mountain trails.
For many students, this is the part that makes the Alps feel different from a day hike. They are not just visiting the mountains for a few hours. They are sleeping there, carrying what they need, and moving with the rhythm of the group.
3. The Italy portion includes three days of environmental service
After the first half of the trip in France, the group crosses into Italy and settles into a new base near Turin.
Days 10 to 12 are focused on environmental service projects with local partners. The exact work is finalized based on community needs at the time, but past examples include the focus as supporting efforts to protect Italy’s natural spaces.
The France & Italy trip includes 10 to 15 service hours.
That service stretch gives the second half of the trip a different pace. Students are no longer only moving through the landscape. They are also helping care for it.
What the trip looks like
Day 3 starts with a high ropes course, including zip lines, spider nets, and rope bridges in the trees. After a lakeside picnic, the group paddleboards and cools off in the water.
Day 6 begins with a visit to a local Shepherd’s Museum and a wool workshop, where students try felt-making. In the afternoon, the group goes whitewater rafting.
Day 8 is slower by design: local village exploration, downtime, laundry, and preparation for the next phase of the trip.
Day 9 is the transfer to Italy, followed by an evening bike exploration of Turin’s parks, castles, and landmarks like the Mole Antonelliana.
Day 13 closes the trip in Milan, with time in the city and the final RLT banquet.
Day 14 is travel home.
What families should know before applying
Trip length and grade range. This is a 14-day trip for students completing grades 7 to 9.
Tuition. $6,595 for our 2026 France & Italy trip.
Service hours. 10 to 15 hours of service work.
Location. The trip takes place in the southern French Alps and northern Italy.
Travel. Session 1 flies into Geneva, Switzerland, and out of Milan, Italy. Session 2 runs in reverse, flying into Milan and out of Geneva. The activities stay the same, but the order flips.
Escorted flight option. An optional group flight with an RLT leader is available from the New York area.
Accommodations. Students stay in a mix of tents, one mountain refuge, and Airbnb-style group housing. The trip includes 6 nights in shared tents, 1 night in a remote mountain refuge, and 5 nights in a private group house in rural Italy.
Bathrooms and showers. Campsites are scenic and simple, with access to rustic bathrooms. Short showers are available every 2 to 3 days.
Food. Meals are planned and prepared together in a mix of settings. Students rotate through cook crew, helping plan, prep, cook, and clean with leader support. Expect meals like pasta, stir-fries, pancakes, grain bowls, wraps, and local specialties, especially in Italy.
Packing. RLT recommends one checked soft duffel bag, not a rolling suitcase, plus a small carry-on backpack. Students bring personal clothing, toiletries, and individual camping gear such as a sleeping bag and sleeping pad. RLT provides group gear, including tents, cooking equipment, and specialized activity equipment.
Passport. A valid passport is required and must be valid for at least 6 months beyond the trip’s end date.
Trip insurance. Trip insurance is required for international programs.
Phones. This program is phone-free. Leaders collect phones and personal electronics on Day 1 and return them at the end. Digital cameras and GoPros are welcome as long as they do not connect to the internet.
Questions families often ask
Does my student need climbing experience?
No climbing experience is listed as required. The Via Ferrata day uses secured cables and ladders, and students receive instruction for the activity.
How physically active is this trip?
Expect the program as moderately active. Students should be ready for hiking, rafting, paddleboarding, Via Ferrata, canyoning, biking, service work, and group travel days.
Where do students sleep?
Students sleep in shared tents, a remote mountain refuge, and a private group house in rural Italy.
What kind of service do students do?
Students work on environmental service projects with local partners in Italy. The exact work is finalized based on community needs at the time.
Does the trip always run in the same direction?
No. Session 1 starts in Geneva and ends in Milan. Session 2 starts in Milan and ends in Geneva. The same trip runs in reverse order.
How to talk to your student about this trip
Before they go, you might say:
“You’ll spend two weeks moving through the French Alps and northern Italy. You’ll hike to a mountain refuge, do Via Ferrata, go canyoning, raft, paddleboard, bike through Turin, work on environmental service projects, and finish in Milan. You’ll be off your phone and helping with group responsibilities.”
After they come home, ask:
“What was the mountain refuge like?”
“What did the Via Ferrata feel like?”
“What happened during canyoning?”
“What kind of environmental service did your group work on?”
“What did you notice moving from France into Italy?”
Explore the France & Italy trip
For dates, tuition, itinerary, accommodations, packing details, paperwork, and the technology policy, see the full France & Italy itinerary.