Trek West USA +

Euro-Quest Mediterranean

DATES: July 3 - August 6

LENGTH: 35 Days

GRADES: Current 9th-12th

COST: $8,650
(Includes flights from NYC for Europe segment)

EXPERIENCE: Arizona, Utah, Nevada, California, Italy & Slovenia

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Explore the natural beauty of the Mountain States on Trek West and then travel to the Mediterranean coast and explore the treasures of Italy in Milan, Rome, Venice, Florence and Verona.

About the Experience

Spend three weeks traveling the American West - including California, Nevada, Utah and Arizona. See a totally new side of America, including the breathtaking national parks of Zion, Bryce, Yosemite, and the Grand Canyon National Parks. Then head to Italy for two more weeks of travel in the breathtakingly beautiful Mediterranean coast of Italy to the source of Western Civilization.

PART 1 / Trek West USA

Join us for an an authentic adventure in the great American West. Trek West USA is a three-week teen travel experience in California, Nevada, Utah, and Arizona. See a totally new side of America – from San Francisco, Los Angeles and Vegas to the breathtaking national parks of Zion, Bryce, Yosemite, and the Grand Canyon.

This is not your parents’ road trip! Trek West USA is more than a tour. It is a well-balanced combination of must-see touring, active outdoor adventures, meaningful Jewish experiences, and a unique opportunity to forge friendships as part of a close-knit group. No need to fly half-way around the world to experience an awesome summer on Trek West USA.

The Must-See's and the Hidden Gems. Trek West USA covers all of the must see highlights of the American West – Alcatraz, the Golden Gate Bridge, Hollywood, Malibu Beach, fabulous Las Vegas, and the Hoover Dam. We also make time for more off-the-beaten path experiences like walking through a redwood forest, exploring Silicon Valley, digging for gold in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, kayaking on Lake Tahoe, learning how to surf in Los Angeles, and staying at a dude-ranch in Utah.
Once-in-a-Lifetime Outdoor Adventures. The American West is about wide open spaces and stunning national park land. Live the great outdoors hiking to the base of Half Dome in Yosemite, rafting down the Salt River in Arizona, descending deep into the Grand Canyon, climbing to Angels Landing in Zion and swimming in the desert waters of Lake Powell. See a side of nature that you have only dreamed about, and challenge yourself along the way.
Living Jewish Values. As a BBYO Passport experience, Trek West USA is also an opportunity to explore your Jewish identity in a new context. Delve into the meaning of being "eco-kosher", fulfill the Jewish value of Tikun Olam (fixing the planet), and celebrate Shabbat in new and different ways with local Jewish communities.

A Taste of University Life

Interested in what living on a college campus is like? Many of the places we stay at on the road are college campus dorms. Trek West USA opens a window on university life by experiencing schools as diverse as the University of California - Berkeley, the University of Nevada Las Vegas, and the American Jewish University in Los Angeles.

PART 2 / Euro-Quest Mediterranean

Euro-Quest Mediterranean is a two-week teen travel experience that visits world-famous sites like the Colloseum, the Sistine Chapel, the leaning Tower of Pisa, the canals of Venice, the Vatican, and Michelangelo’s David sculpture.

Along the way, we walk in the footsteps of history in ancient Rome, explore the picturesque Tuscan countryside, hike in the Italian Alps, relax on the Mediterranean coast, and raft in the backcountry of neighboring Slovenia. Of course, we also make time to enjoy the delicious local Italian cuisine.

As a BBYO Passport experience, Euro-Quest Mediterranean is also about connecting with the unique history of the Jewish People in Italy. We visit centuries-old synagogues, spend a special Shabbat with the Jewish communities of Venice and Rome, and learn about the original ghetto of Venice and what it stood for.

Euro-Quest Mediterranean is a well-balanced combination of must-see touring, eye-opening Jewish experiences, and a unique opportunity to forge friendships with teens from around the world in beautiful land.

Trip Highlights

Itinerary Snapshot

WEEK #1 / Sedona, Grand Canyon & Bryce
After landing and getting oriented in Phoenix, the adventure begins as we head north to the red rocks of Sedona and a rafting trip down the Salt River. Then it's on to the truly Grand Canyon where we spend a memorable night along the canyon rim. From the Grand Canyon we continue north into Utah for a challenging (and rewarding) hike up to Angels Landing in Zion National Park followed by a unique Shabbat at the Ponderosa Ranch.

WEEK #2 / Bryce, Vegas & Los Angeles
Week two begins with Bryce Canyon, yet another national park treasure. From Bryce we start heading due west for Las Vegas, Nevada. Along the way we will visit the Hoover Dam and swim in Lake Mead. In Vegas, there will walk "The Strip" and catch and watch a show. From viva Las Vegas, we head straight for Los Angeles crossing the Mojave Desert along the way. LA is our home for the rest of the week. We will take a tour of Hollywood, relax at Malibu Beach, participate in a local service project, and spend a beautiful Shabbat in the Santa Monica hills at the American Jewish University.

WEEK #3 / Yosemite, Tahoe & the Bay Area
We begin our final week at Yosemite National Park where we will hike to the base of Half Dome and take in some of the most scenic views in the world. From Yosemite we travel through the Sierra Nevada Mountains to Lake Tahoe, where there will be time for kayaking, swimming and even digging for gold. We close out the Trek West USA experience in the San Francisco where we visit all of the highlights of the Bay Area and spend a final Shabbat together on the camps of UC Berkeley.

WEEK #4 / Milan, the Alps & Venice
Land in Milan and the journey begins in stylish Milan before heading north to the Italian Alps and the Boremeo Palace in the middle of Lake Maggiore. We continue eastwards to Verona - home of Romeo & Juliet - and then on to Venice where we will travel the canals by gondola and spend a special Shabbat in the historic Jewish Ghetto district.

WEEK #5 / Florence, Pisa & Rome
Week two begins with a side trip to neighboring Slovenia where we raft down the Soca River through some of Europe's most beautiful terrain. We then head due south to the Tuscan countryside and onto Florence and Pisa where we will climb a certain leaning tower. We conclude our experience in Rome, a city that is both ancient and stunningly modern, with visits to the Coliseum, the Pantheon, the Sistine Chapel at the Vatican, and much more.