Customized Educational Travel Programs
Frequently Asked Questions About Our Educational Tours in Greece
What is a customized educational tour of Greece?
A customized educational tour combines travel with structured learning. Depending on the program, students may explore archaeological sites, museums, botanical gardens, farms, universities, cultural institutions and other locations connected to their field of study in the mainland or/and in the islands.
Vikings Navita can adapt one of its suggested programs or design a new educational journey around your group’s academic interests.
Who are these educational travel programs designed for?
Our programs are designed primarily for colleges, universities, faculty-led groups, alumni groups, and other organized educational groups. The itinerary, accommodation, transportation and academic content can be adapted to the participants’ age, level of study and educational objectives.
Are the educational tours private?
Yes. These are private group programs. Your students, professors, staff members and invited participants will not be combined with unrelated travellers.
Private-group travel also allows the itinerary, pace and academic activities to be planned around your institution’s requirements.
Can you design a program around our course or academic subject?
Yes. A program can be developed around a particular course, subject or interdisciplinary theme.
Examples may include marine biology, archaeology, classics, history, mythology, art, architecture, botany, agriculture, Mediterranean culture and other special interests. The Grand Botanical Tour, for example, combines Greek flora, medicinal and aromatic plants, farming, history, mythology and archaeological heritage.
Can faculty members help design the itinerary?
Yes. We encourage professors and program leaders to share their course objectives, preferred destinations, required visits and the balance they want between academic work and cultural exploration.
The final itinerary can then be shaped around those priorities, subject to travel times, seasonal conditions and the availability of sites, lecturers and local partners.
Can lectures, specialists and field visits be included?
Yes. Depending on the subject, a program may include for example lectures, licensed guides, local specialists, academic speakers, museums, archaeological sites, botanical gardens, farms, production facilities and other relevant field visits.
Are specific lecturers and academic visits guaranteed?
Lecturers, specialists, institutions and field visits must be reconfirmed for the chosen dates. Availability may change because of academic schedules, seasonal operations, site restrictions or other circumstances.
When a proposed lecturer or visit is unavailable, we may recommend a suitable alternative connected to the program’s academic theme. The confirmed services will be stated in the final proposal.
Can students receive academic credit for the program?
Vikings Navita organizes the travel program, local services and agreed educational activities. However, academic credit, assessment, course requirements and grading remain the responsibility of the participating college, university or educational institution.
Can Athens, mainland Greece and the Greek islands be combined?
Yes. An educational itinerary may combine Athens with destinations in the Peloponnese, Central Greece, Northern Greece, Crete or other islands depending on season of the year and availability.
How long can an educational tour be?
The length is flexible and depends on the institution’s calendar, academic goals and budget. A program may be organized as a short spring-break study tour or as a more extensive journey lasting several weeks or more.
Is there a minimum group size?
The required group size depends on the itinerary, transportation, accommodation, academic services and budget. Programs require a minimum number of paying participants. The applicable minimum will be stated in your proposal.
What can be included in an educational travel program?
Depending on the itinerary, arrangements may include:
- Hotel accommodation
- Breakfasts and selected meals
- Airport, hotel and port transfers
- Private coach transportation
- Ferry tickets and cabins
- Air tickets
- Licensed guides
- Tour leader
- Lectures and specialist presentations
- Academic and cultural visits
- Local assistance during the program
Because each program is different, the final proposal will clearly state every included service.
Are flights and entrance fees included?
International flights are generally not included unless specifically stated. Entrance fees may be included or excluded depending on the program.
How is the price of an educational tour calculated?
The price depends generally on the number of participants, duration, season, destinations, accommodation category, transportation, meals, guiding services, lectures and specialist visits.
Custom academic appointments, private facilities or additional services may also affect the cost. Your institution will receive a detailed proposal based on its specific program requirements.
Can the itinerary change after it has been planned?
Clients may request changes to the proposed itinerary, and we will do our best to accommodate them, subject to availability, timing and the practical requirements of the program. Depending on the stage of planning or booking, requested changes may affect the final cost.
Changes may also occasionally become necessary because of weather conditions, ferry schedule changes, lecturer availability, site closures, strikes or other circumstances beyond the organizer’s control. In such cases, we will seek the most suitable alternative while protecting the program’s academic purpose and overall quality.
We always aim to avoid additional costs. However, when changes require new tickets, reservations or other arrangements, an extra charge may apply.
What information do you need to prepare a proposal?
It is helpful to send us:
- Your preferred travel dates
- Whether the dates are flexible
- Number of students and faculty members
- Desired program length
- Academic subject and learning objectives
- Destinations or sites of interest
- Preferred accommodation category
- Approximate budget
- Other requirements
The more detail you provide, the more precisely we can shape the program around your group.
Your Trip, Your Way: Educational Tour Inspirations
Here are a few customized educational tour ideas. They can be customized or even designed from scratch, to match your needs and interests. The experience starts with you.
Only members of the group you’ll form will participate.
See Past Tours
Art & Architecture of Ancient Greece (link to Tumblr) 2018, 2019, 2020
(Art & Architecture of Ancient Greece 2020 on Youtube)
Longevity Educational Tour in Greece, Ikaria.
(Sardinia, Italy. Longevity 2020 on Youtube)