10 days
Heidelberg, Freiburg, Lucerne, Zurich
Germany is currently leading the way when it comes to making meaningful energy saving changes. And Switzerland isn’t far behind. Together, these Alpine advocates are using solar, wind and biomass resources in an effort to make more sustainable choices. Visit the kind of solar parks that make these ideologies possible, and even take a two-hour solar energy powered boat cruise.

🔹 Curated experiences: Every program is intentionally designed to feature guided learning, cultural engagement, and independent exploration experiences to drive global competency development, denoted on each itinerary with a blue diamond. Learn more about these experiences.
  • Day 1: Fly overnight to Germany

  • Day 2: Frankfurt • Darmstadt • Heidelberg

    Meet your Field Director at the airport

    Travel via Darmstadt, known as a high-tech center with various industries, on your way to Heidelberg 

    Stop to take a photo at Hundertwasser's Waldspirale, a colorful U-shaped building that features more than 1,000 windows (no two are alike), rounded corners, and gilded onion domes

    Enjoy dinner in Heidelberg

  • Day 3: Heidelberg

    Tour Heidelberg with your Field Director

    Ride a funicular up to Heidelberg Castle, and stand beside the enormous wine barrel—it’s so large that a dance floor was once built on top of it for visitors’ amusement

    🔹 Cultural engagement: Enjoy a boat cruise powered by solar energy 

  • Day 4: Heidelberg • Freiburg

    Travel to Freiburg

    Spend a half day participating in activities at the Innovation Academy, where you can learn firsthand about the area’s many innovations in renewable energy, solar power, and ecological agriculture

    Enjoy dinner in Freiburg

  • Day 5: Freiburg

    Take a solar energy-themed guided tour of Freiburg, which prides itself on being an eco-city and only permits construction of low-energy buildings on municipal land

    Industry Engagement: Attend a lecture at the Innovation Academy, a non-profit association that focuses on the issue of climate protection

  • Day 6: Freiburg • Lucerne region

    Travel via Breitnau to the Lucerne region

    Visit Hofgut Sternen or Bioenergy Breitnau where you will learn about green energy practices

    🔹 Cultural engagement: Take a walking tour of Lucerne 

    With your Field Director you will see:

    • Lion Monument, a sandstone statue commemorating the Swiss Guards slain in the 1792 Paris storming of the Tuileries 
    • Kapellbrücke, a covered bridge dating back to medieval days adorned with colorful murals overhead

    Enjoy dinner at your hotel in the Lucerne region

  • Day 7: Lucerne region

    🔹 Guided learning: Take a tour of the Grimsel Power Plant and get an up-close view of Switzerland’s alternative power source

    Add this in-depth excursion:
    Swiss Alps experience

    Swiss Alps experience

    This exciting half-day adventure takes you to the top of one of the Swiss Alps, the majestic mountainous backdrop of Lucerne. Journey to the base of the mountain by boat and ride a cog railway to the top. You’ll reach the summit and be rewarded with a splendid panorama of Lucerne, its lake, and the glorious snow-capped Alps. On a clear day, you can see for more than 200 miles! You’ll get back to the foot of the mountain by way of a gondola ride. (Please note: Mountains can be cold, even in summer; warm clothes and appropriate shoes are recommended.) 

    Enjoy dinner at your hotel in the Lucerne region

  • Day 8: Lucerne region

    Take an excursion to Entlebuch 

    🔹 Guided learning: Take a guided tour of the Entlebuch Biosphere, a natural reserve at the foot of the Alps which includes the valley of the Little Emme River between Berne and Lucerne

    🔹 Independent exploration: Spend the afternoon exploring Lucerne on your own

    Enjoy dinner at your hotel in the Lucerne region

  • Day 9: Lucerne region • Zurich

    Travel to Zurich, the largest city in Switzerland and one of the world's largest financial centers 

    Take a walking tour of Zurich with your Field Director and see its quaint Old Town, its waterfront promenades, and take in its eclectic mix of architectural styles

    🔹 Independent exploration: Spend a half day exploring Zurich on your own

    Enjoy dinner in Zurich

  • Day 10: Depart for home

  • Day 1: Fly overnight to Germany

  • Day 2: Frankfurt • Darmstadt • Heidelberg

    Meet your Field Director at the airport

    Travel via Darmstadt, known as a high-tech center with various industries, on your way to Heidelberg 

    Stop to take a photo at Hundertwasser's Waldspirale, a colorful U-shaped building that features more than 1,000 windows (no two are alike), rounded corners, and gilded onion domes

    Enjoy dinner in Heidelberg

  • Day 3: Heidelberg

    Tour Heidelberg with your Field Director

    Ride a funicular up to Heidelberg Castle, and stand beside the enormous wine barrel—it’s so large that a dance floor was once built on top of it for visitors’ amusement

    🔹 Cultural engagement: Enjoy a boat cruise powered by solar energy 

  • Day 4: Heidelberg • Freiburg

    Travel to Freiburg

    Spend a half day participating in activities at the Innovation Academy, where you can learn firsthand about the area’s many innovations in renewable energy, solar power, and ecological agriculture

    Enjoy dinner in Freiburg

  • Day 5: Freiburg

    Take a solar energy-themed guided tour of Freiburg, which prides itself on being an eco-city and only permits construction of low-energy buildings on municipal land

    Industry Engagement: Attend a lecture at the Innovation Academy, a non-profit association that focuses on the issue of climate protection

  • Day 6: Freiburg • Lucerne region

    Travel via Breitnau to the Lucerne region

    Visit Hofgut Sternen or Bioenergy Breitnau where you will learn about green energy practices

    🔹 Cultural engagement: Take a walking tour of Lucerne 

    With your Field Director you will see:

    • Lion Monument, a sandstone statue commemorating the Swiss Guards slain in the 1792 Paris storming of the Tuileries 
    • Kapellbrücke, a covered bridge dating back to medieval days adorned with colorful murals overhead

    Enjoy dinner at your hotel in the Lucerne region

  • Day 7: Lucerne region

    🔹 Guided learning: Take a tour of the Grimsel Power Plant and get an up-close view of Switzerland’s alternative power source

    Add this in-depth excursion:
    Swiss Alps experience

    Swiss Alps experience

    This exciting half-day adventure takes you to the top of one of the Swiss Alps, the majestic mountainous backdrop of Lucerne. Journey to the base of the mountain by boat and ride a cog railway to the top. You’ll reach the summit and be rewarded with a splendid panorama of Lucerne, its lake, and the glorious snow-capped Alps. On a clear day, you can see for more than 200 miles! You’ll get back to the foot of the mountain by way of a gondola ride. (Please note: Mountains can be cold, even in summer; warm clothes and appropriate shoes are recommended.) 

    Enjoy dinner at your hotel in the Lucerne region

  • Day 8: Lucerne region

    Take an excursion to Entlebuch 

    🔹 Guided learning: Take a guided tour of the Entlebuch Biosphere, a natural reserve at the foot of the Alps which includes the valley of the Little Emme River between Berne and Lucerne

    🔹 Independent exploration: Spend the afternoon exploring Lucerne on your own

    Enjoy dinner at your hotel in the Lucerne region

  • Day 9: Lucerne region • Zurich

    Travel to Zurich, the largest city in Switzerland and one of the world's largest financial centers 

    Take a walking tour of Zurich with your Field Director and see its quaint Old Town, its waterfront promenades, and take in its eclectic mix of architectural styles

    🔹 Independent exploration: Spend a half day exploring Zurich on your own

    Enjoy dinner in Zurich

  • Day 10: Depart for home


Learning outcomes on this program

Confidence • Curiosity • Global perspective • Empathy • Adaptability • Relatability • Self-Awareness


EF Global Learning Model Post-Study Abroad Learning Resources
Academic resources

With this program, you get access to our Global Learning Resources, which include:

  • Discussion questions
  • Sample assignments
  • Journal prompts
  • Webinars
  • EF's Global Competency Assessment, a pre- and post-program assessment to measure competency development
See the resources you get
EF Global Learning Model Post-Study Abroad Learning Resources
Academic resources


With this program, you get access to our Global Learning Resources, which include:

  • Discussion questions
  • Sample assignments
  • Journal prompts
  • Webinars
  • EF's Global Competency Assessment, a pre- and post-program assessment to measure competency development

See the resources you get


Your experience includes

  • Round-trip airfare

    Your price includes round-trip airfare for your whole group

  • Accommodations

    Safe, comfortable hotels with private bathrooms will be waiting for you at your destination.

  • On-tour transportation

    Land transportation

  • Regional-style meals

    Daily breakfasts and select local dinners are included in your program. Generally, we leave lunch up to you so your group has an opportunity to explore its own tastes.

  • End-to-end support

    Your team helps to secure administrative approval and academic credit, provides recruiting tools and helps establish your program's ongoing presence on campus.

  • EF Global Learning Toolkit

    To capitalize on moments for building empathy, awareness, and adaptability in a global environment, we offer a number of different tools designed to help educators facilitate student growth abroad and on campus, including academically enriched travel programs, industry engagement opportunities, global learning resources, and a Global Competencies Assessment tool.

  • Full-time Field Director

    Your Field Director is with your group 24/7, providing deep local insight while handling all program logistics.

  • Expert Local Guides

    Your expert Local Guides are natural historians, adding cultural insight and enhancing teaching moments wherever your curriculum takes you.

  • Guided sightseeing

    Gain insider knowledge and cultural perspective from licensed local guides who join your group for select experiences on tour.

  • Entrances

    Heidelberg Castle wine barrel, Green energy visit, Green energy project, Solar boat cruise, Grimsel Power Plant, Entlebuch Biosphere

  • Worldwide support, safety and security

    EF has over 500 schools and offices in more than 50 countries worldwide. We provide 24-hour emergency support service along with a comprehensive $50 million liability policy that covers you and your institution while abroad.

  • Flexible payment options

    Give more students the opportunity to study abroad by offering them two different payment plan options, along with our TripFunder website to help fundraise for the program.


Programs in real life

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Programs in real life

EF College Study Tours Instagram page     Instagram →

EF College Study Tours Facebook page     Facebook →

EF College Study Tours blog page     Blog →

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