Study Abroad in Grenoble: Cultural Travel
2-day visit to London (Included in fee)
The semester begins with a 2-day visit to London en route to Grenoble. Students have the opportunity to visit London, recover from jet lag and meet and travel with fellow AIFS students to campus.
Tuesday, September 1 or January 12 Morning arrival in London where the flight will be met by an AIFS representative. Transfer to hotel. Balance of the day free for rest and relaxation.
Wednesday, September 2 or January 13 Morning sightseeing tour with a professional guide who will point out some of London's most famous landmarks including Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey, the Houses of Parliament and the Tower of London. Afternoon and evening free.
Thursday, September 3 or January 14 Transfer to airport for flight to Lyon and transfer by bus to Grenoble.
Includes hotel, breakfasts, airport transfers, sightseeing tour and local guide. Lunch and dinner are not included.
Day visit to Geneva, Switzerland (Included in fee)
Saturday, September 26 or April 10 Morning departure by bus for Geneva. Situated on the banks of Lake Geneva, surrounded by superb mountain scenery, Geneva is a cosmopolitan city that successfully blends modernity with tradition and is a major center of the Swiss banking industry. Students have a guided tour of the Palais des Nations and the Red Cross Museum, followed by free time to explore the city including: the old town, the floral clock, the Jet d'Eau and the St. Pierre Cathedral.
Includes transportation and entrance fees as indicated. Lunch is not included.
3-day visit to Provence (Included in fee)
Friday, October 2 or April 23 Depart from Grenoble for wine tasting in the celebrated vineyards of Chateauneuf-du-Pape and a picnic lunch at the Roman aqueduct of Pont du Gard. Spend the afternoon exploring the historic city of Avignon and the Palais des Papes. Dinner in a provençal restaurant. Overnight in Avignon.
Saturday, October 3 or April 24 Tour of Les Baux de Provence and the Roman City of Arles. Overnight in Aix-en-Provence (fall) or Saintes Maries de la Mer (spring).
Sunday, October 4 or April 25 In the fall, guided tour of Aix, following in the footsteps of Cezanne, visiting markets and tasting local specialities. In the spring, spend the day in Saintes Maries de la Mer, on the edge of the Mediterranean, surrounded by salt marshes and rice fields, to discover the local culture and traditions.
Includes transportation, accommodations, museum entrances, two dinners and two breakfasts. Lunch is not included.
Optional Weekend trip to Burgundy ($395)
Saturday, February 27 Early morning departure from Grenoble. First stop in the medieval hilltop village of Pérouges with a guided visit of the ramparts and winding streets. Group lunch. An afternoon visit to the delightful Château de Pierreclos, in the heart of the Beaujolais and Macon vineyards. Evening and group dinner in Dijon.
Sunday, February 28 Morning walking tour of Dijon, ancient capital of the Dukes of Burgundy, with its timbered buildings, impressive architecture and, of course, its reputation for exquisite cuisine (mustard, gingerbread, etc). In the afternoon, we will visit the magnificent Hospices de Beaune, constructed in the 15th century, followed by a guided tasting, with a professional sommelier, in the cellars of a local wine producer. Early evening return to Grenoble.
Trip includes accommodation, transport, breakfast on Sunday, lunch and dinner on Saturday and visits as indicated.
4-day trip to Paris (Included in fee)
Each semester, AIFS organizes a trip to Paris to give students the opportunity to explore the capital of France.
Thursday, November 19 or March 18 Students take the TGV train from Grenoble to Paris. In the afternoon, visit the Latin Quarter with the Luxembourg Gardens, the Sorbonne and the medieval towers of Notre Dame Cathedral. Dinner at a traditional French brasserie.
Friday, November 20 or March 19 Morning visit to the Opera Garnier and tour of the fashionable streets around the Ritz Hotel. In the afternoon, discover the treasures of the Louvre, then spend the evening on a cruise along the River Seine.
Saturday, November 21 or March 20 Morning visit to the Marais district, including Paris' oldest square, la Place des Vosges, and the impressive Picasso Museum.
Sunday, November 22 or March 21 Visit the hills of Montmartre, admire the Eiffel Tower or discover the stained-glass windows of the Sainte Chapelle.
Students receive an allowance for dinner. Includes museum entrance fees, transportation to, from and within Paris, hotel, breakfast and dinner.
Dates are confirmed at the beginning of the program and those given should be used as a guide.
