Trip Description

This Academic Trek combines the perfect blend of French language immersion, cultural exploration, action-packed adventure and community service to create an unforgettable summer experience. Guadeloupe is a slice of France nestled in the heart of the Caribbean’s French West Indies. The result is a unique fusion of French and Creole influences, with charming towns, delicious food and an easygoing pace of life. A French Overseas Department, Guadeloupe provides a great alternative location for language studies. You won’t hear English spoken here, so prepare for complete immersion in the French language on an amazing island adventure! Home stay in the picturesque seaside town of St. Anne. Hike rugged volcanic peaks and dense rainforests. Try your hand at surfing, sea kayaking and soaring through the forest on a zip-line. Shop in colorful markets and volunteer on a variety of service projects. Then sail to nearby Marie-Galante and/or Ile des Saintes to discover more of this quintessential French island paradise.

• Itinerary & Country Map

• Day 1–3
  Shaped like a butterfly, Guadeloupe is actually comprised of two islands — Basse-Terre which boasts towering mountains and lush tropical forests, and Grande-Terre with its white sandy beaches and thriving coral reefs. Eager to explore this natural playground, we head out on an overnight hiking excursion in Guadeloupe’s spectacular national park. Dwarfed by giant trees and ferns, we trek to stunning waterfalls and magnificent vistas. Next, we see why the Carib Indians called this place Karukera or ‘Island of Beautiful Waters’ as we kayak to our campsite on the deserted Island of La Biche. There is still time before the sun sets to put on your mask and snorkel and discover the underwater wonders of this tropical paradise. Around the campfire at night, we already feel like old friends as we eagerly discuss the next phase of our adventure.

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  Day 4–9
  St. Anne enchants us with its beautiful beaches, swaying palm trees and quaint town. Here we begin our language studies in earnest. We spend our mornings at our school, Media Langues Caraibes, studying and conversing with experienced language instructors in small groups. Afternoons are spent practicing our conversational French in real world settings and soaking up the festive island atmosphere. Visit vibrant local markets where women dressed in colorful Creole attire sell everything from fresh mangoes and papayas to local Caribbean crafts. With a group of local teens, participate in drumming, traditional art and cooking lessons which give us a finer appreciation for the Creole culture that is the lively combination of French and African influences.

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  Day 10–11
  Take a break from your language studies and set out for more adventure! Explore the natural wonders of Guadeloupe’s forests from a new vantage point as you fly from tree to tree on a zip line and high ropes canopy tour. Try your hand at surfing in the turquoise blue water off the shores of St. François. Our experienced French surfing instructors teach us one step at a time, and before long we feel the exhilaration of catching a wave.

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  Day 12–16
  Eager to continue our language exploration, we head back to St. Anne. This time we stay with host families who greet us warmly and welcome us into their homes. Our mornings are spent working on community service projects and our formal language instruction continues in the afternoon. Projects may include helping out at a day camp for local children or working with an organization that assists the needy. In the evenings, share stories from your day as you eat dinner with your family. For a few days you become a real part of the island community, living, working and playing alongside native speakers. You’re more comfortable speaking the language now than you ever imagined possible.

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  Day 17–21
  Hop aboard our 50-foot sailboat for our final adventure in the French West Indies. Set sail to nearby Marie-Galante, the largest of Guadeloupe’s outer islands that boasts a rural character virtually untouched by tourist development. You’ll feel like you’ve traveled back in time as you discover charming villages, spectacular white sand beaches and a landscape scattered with nineteenth century windmills. Ile des Saintes offers unspoiled tropical beauty and some of the best snorkeling in the area, the perfect place to spend our last days together. Our return voyage gives us the chance to reflect on our many experiences shared and how much we’ve learned in just a few short weeks.

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