The varied climates and situations we experience require you to have all items on the first day of your trip. Forgotten items will be purchased with your pocket money. Do not pack more than what is on the list. Your duffel serves as a storage locker. Fit everything in your soft-sided duffel. Remember to leave room for items you buy on the trip.
____Duffel: Wheels are preferable! We suggest a tough bag approximately 34” x 16” x 16” or smaller. You must be able to pick up this bag and carry it by yourself!
____Daypack: Bring one large “school type” daypack. To be used during the day to carry personal items.
____Sleeping bag: A medium weight, mummy style, nylon bag with synthetic filling (Polar Guard 3D, Lite Loft, Qualofil, etc.) or goose down made for backpacking and rated to 20°F. A stuff sack is required.
____Sleep Sheet: This is different from a sleeping bag. It is your own sleep sheet to use as a liner for your hotel or hostel bed. It is for your comfort and is very lightweight. GREAT TO HAVE! Sleep sheet example.
____SCUBA/Snorkel Gear: Mask, fins and wet suits are provided. Many students bring their own. Personal snorkel gear, when not on the boat, is useful but not required.
Weather: Temperatures will vary between 60°F-100°F. Be prepared to deal with sun, heat and more sun!
TRAVEL GEAR
____Passport
____2 sets of photocopies of your passport and flight tickets one to hand to your Trip Leader upon arrival and one to keep with you.
____“Therm-A-Rest” or foam ground pad for sleeping
____2 backpacking type water bottles of min 1 liter each (one of them can be a camel back)
CLOTHING:
You need a 10-day supply of clothing. If you bring too much it gets in the way. Bring lightweight clothes that wash and dry easily. We will do laundry once on the trip.
Inner layer
____Ten day supply of underwear
____Pajamas: boxers and a t-shirt
Middle layer
____4 pair of lightweight shorts, 2 pair should be athletic shorts
____6 short sleeve shirts
____1 long sleeve shirt
____1 pair of lightweight pants
____2 swimsuits 1 rash guard shirt (optional)
____2 city outfits for Athens and Rome
Outer layers
____Lightweight rain proof jacket. Breathable (Gortex or similar material) is best.
____Lightweight sweatshirt
FOOTWEAR
____3 pair of lightweight, athletic socks
____1 pair of hiking socks; wool-synthetic blend is preferred
____Water sandals that secure around your ankles (Tevas, Chacos, Nike)
____Light hikers or running shoes
____Flip Flops
TOILETRIES
____SPF 30+ sunscreen, chapstick with SPF
____Toiletries, medications, prescriptions, bandanna
____Mole skin or 2nd skin for blisters; buy at a pharmacy
____Two medium towels (bath and swim)
____Laundry bag and small pillow
____Insect repellent
____Anti-itch cream or Calamine lotion for insect bites
MISCELLANEOUS
____Baseball style cap or sun visor
____Cheap watch
____Headlamp or lightweight flashlight
____Mess Kit: fork, spoon, knife, plate, bowl, mug & mesh bag
____“Crazy Creek” camp chair
____Camera (Phone & camera must be separate devices!), batteries/charger, plug adapter for charger
____Journal
____If you wear contacts or glasses, please bring a spare pair of glasses with protective case. Yes, wearing contacts is okay!
____Sunglasses with secure strap (Chums or Croakies)
Information Regarding Your Trip---PLEASE READ THIS!
Identification: A passport which does not expire until 3 months after the trip is required. ID is often required to cash travelers checks. If possible bring along a picture ID, library card, school ID or state ID card. Passports will be held for you by your Trip Leader. Travel Permission Slip is MANDATORY(available online 3 weeks before your trip). No visas are required.
Mail: Yes, we will have mail stops in Europe. Please use mail stops for communication other than emergencies. Allow plenty of time for your mail to arrive at mail-stops. From the USA to Spain, Italy, and France mail takes more than 10 days to arrive unless it is “Global Priority” or “Express” mail.
Spending Money: A Visa ATM or Credit Card works best. Also bring Cash. Europe is expensive but we suggest bringing approximately $75 per week. This is for personal expenses and gifts. If you run out of money, you have spent too much. Unless there is an emergency, Bold Earth will not advance money.
Safety: On the whole you have very little to worry about but common sense is the best guide to dealing with potentially dangerous situations. The buddy system will be required 24 hours a day. We recommend a belt pouch (purchased at any luggage store) to hide your passport and other valuables.
Time: Italy is 8 hours ahead of Mountain Standard Time.
Health: Many health problems can be avoided by taking care of yourself. Wash your hands frequently, avoid exposure to the sun and wear insect repellent when appropriate. Tap water is almost always safe to drink in Europe. As with any illness, especially involving foreign travel, contact your doctor if need be.
Laundry: You wash your clothes once on the trip. We provide the suds, coins and know-how. Many participants have identical jeans, socks, hiking boots, etc. A good practice is to put your name on items which are not unique to you.
Reading List: The people, places and activities you will encounter on your trip are diverse and incredible. These are a few books offering background information. We suggest you consider reading these books before, during or after your adventure. Also, you might like to read Outside Magazine, available everywhere. For additional adventurous reading, check out Extreme Classics: The 100 Greatest Adventure Books of All Time.
The Odyssey, by Homer. Homer's ancient Greek account of the adventures of Odysseus has stood at the center of classical literature for centuries. It is a sweeping story of a great warrior who wanders the world, but also an intensely domestic tale of a loving husband's struggle to protect an enduring union with his faithful wife. Meticulously studied and commented upon by innumerable scholars, The Odyssey remains, nonetheless, a uniquely personal literary experience, startling each new generation of readers with its excitement, its drama, and its remarkably contemporary hero.
The Iliad, by Homer. Another literary classic, the Iliad is about the wrath of Achilles arising from an affront to his honour by the hubristic King Agamemnon during the Trojan War ... but, it is also about many other things, both human and divine. A notable cast of characters, including Achilles, Zeus and Helen of Troy.
Angels & Demons, by Dan Brown. Harvard symbologist Robert Langdon is shocked to find proof that the legendary secret society, the Illuminati - dedicated since the time of Galileo to promoting the interests of science and condemning Catholicism - is alive, well, and murderously active. Brilliant physicist Leonardo Vetra has been murdered. His final discovery, antimatter, the most powerful and dangerous energy source known to man, has disappeared - only to be hidden somewhere beneath Vatican City on the eve of the election of a new pope. Langdon embarks on a frantic hunt through the streets, churches, and catacombs of Rome, following a 400-year-old trail to the lair of the Illuminati, to prevent the incineration of civilization.
LEARNING • SERVICE • LEADERSHIP
