Greece: Coastal Conservation

Trip Name
Greece: Coastal Conservation

Who It’s For
High school students (completing grades 9–12)

2027 Sessions
Session 1: June 16 – July 1, 2027
Note: These dates reflect your teen’s departure from the U.S. and return to the U.S.
Exact flight times and meeting details will be shared after enrollment.

Location
Athens, Lefkada, and Kefalonia, Greece

Trip Length
16 Days

Service Hours
20–30

Tuition
$7,395

This is the plan—but plans can shift. Weather, group energy, and new opportunities sometimes lead us to make changes. No two trips are exactly the same, and that’s part of what makes the experience so memorable.

Days 1–2: Arrive in Athens
Leave the US on day 1 and fly overnight to Athens International Airport (ATH) arriving on day 2, where leaders are waiting to greet participants. After transferring to our hotel and settling in, we take a walk through the city and catch our first glimpse of the Acropolis.

Day 3: Explore Athens
We spend the day exploring the historic hills of Athens, visiting the Acropolis and learning about Greek history from our local guide. In the evening, we walk through the Plaka neighborhood and enjoy dinner at a traditional Greek taverna.

Day 4: Transfer to Lefkada & Prep for Kayaking
We leave Athens behind and head west by private bus to the coastal island of Lefkada. Our sea kayaking guides meet us there to begin preparations - checking equipment, organizing gear, and getting ready for our expedition.

Days 5–8: Sea Kayaking the Ionian Archipelago
We spend four days paddling around the Ionian Islands, camping on remote beaches, and exploring hidden coves and caves. We visit places like Skorpios and Thilia, snorkel along the coastline, and explore massive sea caves used in WWII. Each night, we cook meals over a beachfire and sleep under the stars.

Day 9: Ferry to Kefalonia & Island Exploration
We say goodbye to Lefkada and travel by ferry to Kefalonia, home to the next part of our adventure. After settling in, we explore some of the island’s caves and beaches and get ready to begin conservation work.

Days 10–15: Turtle & Marine Conservation
We spend five full days working with local scientists on sea turtle conservation. Early mornings are spent surveying beaches to identify and monitor nests, while afternoons involve observing turtles in the harbor, snorkeling over seagrass meadows, and collecting important ecological data. Alongside hands-on fieldwork, we learn about turtle biology, marine ecology, and conservation methods. We wrap up our final night with an RLT-style banquet before flying back to Athens.

Day 16: Fly Home from Athens
After an unforgettable adventure, we say our goodbyes and fly home.

For the majority of this trip, the group are camping in tents, at beautiful coastal campsites and beaches. When in Athens, we stay at at an Airbnb style, private home for two nights at the start, and a hotel for one night at the end.

Group Tents – Teens sleep in shared tents (2–4 per tent), organized by gender. In the air bnb and hotels, rooms are shared slumber-party style, divided by gender.

Rustic Facilities – Campsites are basic with access to toilets and short showers. Showers available every 1-2 days.

Setup & Breakdown – Everyone helps pitch tents, prep food, and pack up camp - teamwork is part of the adventure.

What to Expect – Starry skies, saltwater swims, and waking up steps from the beach. You’ll live simply and sleep close to the coastline.

Meals are fresh, flavorful, and eaten as a group. We often eat out at local cafes and restaurants as part of the experience, with some opportunities to cook together as a group.

Cook Crew – Teens rotate through helping prep meals and clean up together.

Simple + Fresh – Think Greek sandwiches, gyros, pasta, burgers, and grilled veggies. Meals are filling and delicious!

All Diets Welcome – We accommodate all allergies and dietary needs—vegetarian, gluten-free, dairy-free, etc.

Snacks + Hydration – Water breaks and snack stops are built in, especially on active days.

Flights
Families book flights to and from Athens, Greece (ATH).
Do not book flights until you receive the required travel windows from our team.

Escorted Flight Option
An optional group flight with an RLT leader is available from the New York area.

Additional Internal Flight There will be one additional internal flight on this trip, from Kefalonia to Athens. RLT will book this on behalf of the group, and apply the charge to a final invoice.

Unaccompanied Minor Info 
We’ll walk you through the process if your teen is flying as an airline-designated Unaccompanied Minor (for major airlines this is often kids who are 14 years old or younger, and are flying without a parent.) Every airline has different policies so it is important to coordinate with RLT and look into each airline’s specific policies. Generally speaking, we will have an RLT leader available to meet Unaccompanied Minors at the arrival airport for each trip.

Packing
Participants are responsible for bringing their own personal clothing, toiletries, and individual camping gear such as a sleeping bag and sleeping pad. For this trip, we also ask all participants to bring their own snorkel gear, as many people have personal preferences and it’s something they can continue to use in the future. The Road Less Traveled provides all group gear, including tents, cooking equipment, and any specialized activity equipment needed for the trip. A detailed packing list will be sent to families well in advance (and is available upon request at any time) to ensure your child is prepared. We encourage packing clothing that’s comfortable, durable, and made for adventure. Our list will also provide guidance based on weather, location, and planned activities to help participants bring the right items for a safe and enjoyable experience.

Luggage Note
We recommend one checked soft duffel bag (NOT a rolling suitcase) and a small carry-on backpack.

Forms & Waivers
Once enrolled, you’ll get access to your RLT portal with required forms: a health history, positive participation agreement, and more.  All must be submitted before the trip. We review every form to make sure we can support your teen.

Medical Clearance
No doctor’s appointment needed unless a new or complex condition has developed. We connect with each family individually about any medical needs that require more attention such as severe allergies, diabetes, etc.

Medications
All medications, whether prescription or over-the-counter, must be listed in your medical form. Trip leaders will manage and dispense meds as needed.

Behavioral Expectations
We’ll send a Positive Participation Agreement to review with your teen before departure. This helps set a shared standard for safety, respect, and inclusion.

Trip Insurance
Travel insurance is required for international trips. You can use any provider, but RLT does provide a recommended insurance provider.

Vaccinations
We follow CDC guidelines for international travel, and always recommend that families check in with their pediatrician prior to traveling abroad. Based on current CDC guidelines, no specific shots are required beyond routine immunizations. Please check that your teen is up to date on routine vaccinations, including a tetanus booster (Td or Tdap) within the past 10 years.

Passport
For US citizens traveling to Greece, passports must be valid 6+ months beyond the return date. For participants who carry passports from other countries, we strongly recommend looking into specific passport and visa requirements that may be in place.

Device-Free Philosophy
Phones are collected on Day 1 and returned at the end of the trip. No tablets, smartwatches, or personal electronics allowed.

Why?
Because disconnecting helps teens:

• Build deeper relationships

• Be present in their surroundings

• Gain confidence without constant tech

Cameras Welcome
Digital cameras or GoPros are great—anything that doesn’t connect to the internet. Trip leaders take photos and share a gallery post-trip.

Communication
We’ll send updates to families while the trip is running. In emergencies, our 24/7 on-call team is available.