From the soul of Greek democracy to the heart of the Roman republic, this program offers you an unforgettable odyssey. Homer, Virgil, Cicero and Plato will be our guides as we explore the ruins and examine great literature. By reading from Homer’s The Iliad and Odyssey, re-enacting Greek plays, and participating in symposium discussions, you discover hidden insights that transcend time. As Winston Churchill proclaimed, “The farther back, you can look, the farther forward you are likely to see."
Early Jul.–Early Aug.
Late Jun.–Mid Aug.
*Program dates include online sessions to prepare students prior to travel and synchronous interviews to complete final assessments after travel. Dates are subject to change.
Contact us for course equivalencies in your school board.
♦ Indicates course requires prerequisite(s)
All MEI programs depart from Toronto's Pearson Int'l Airport.
✈ This program also offers an option to depart from and return to Calgary on a flight accompanied by a teacher. This option has an additional fee (see application form for details).
| Program Cost † |
|---|
| $5,442.25 |
| Travel Cost |
| $4,452.75 |
| Total |
| $9,895.00 USD + Airline surcharges, taxes, and fees |
Pricing subject to change.
† See "What's Included" section below.
Explore this program's detailed itinerary for a sense of the journey ahead!
We open our odyssey in the Eternal City, where the ghosts of Romulus, Caesar, and Augustus echo through the streets as we investigate what is perhaps the world’s finest open-air museum. Whether writing morning notes on the steps of St. Peter’s Basilica, performing Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar in the Roman Forum or sampling the world’s best gelato at the Trevi Fountain in Rome, we journey through time as we investigate the city’s rise and fall.
While in the picturesque Amalfi coast, we will use Maiori as our home base and together we will walk the “path of the lemons” to the picturesque coastal town of Minori. Then on our way to Greece, we stop for a visit at Herculaneum, a city buried under volcanic ash, one of Italy’s most significant archaeological sites.
Our first stop in Greece is the legendary Peloponnese region, where we explore the pre-historic mountaintop citadel of Mycenae, from which Agamemnon launched his fateful assault on Troy, before heading on to the seaside town of Tolo. Crystal-clear waters, the freshest calamari, and genuine small-town Greek hospitality make this a favourite stop on our journey across the Mediterranean world. Leaving the coast behind, we then visit Epidaurus. Once the most important centre for healing in the ancient world, it is still home to the acoustically perfect theatre that hosts Greek plays during the summer months. We continue our tour of the ancient world with a visit to the monumental temple of mighty Zeus and birthplace of the original Olympic games. Here, students have the unique opportunity to lace up and run the original Olympic stadium’s track.
We close our Odyssey together in Athena’s favourite city—Athens. Home to the birthplace of Western democracy, philosophy, art, architecture, literature and history, our academics focus on Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey. We spend our days exploring the Theater of Dionysus, the ruins of the Temple of Zeus, and the Acropolis, while our evenings are spent exploring the Plaka and enjoying rooftop dinners in this ancient polis.
Online Post-trip Sessions
Upon your return, you will have time to complete additional research and your Final Culminating Assessment. This time allows you to reflect on and integrate your travel experiences into the course material. The MEI staff have found this evaluation style enjoyable and the most authentic way for students to demonstrate their knowledge and academic skills. After your assessment, you will complete your course exams online. Once your marks have been reviewed, MEI Academy will send your transcript to your home school to add to your academic records.
Day 2–8:
We open our odyssey in the Eternal City, where the ghosts of Romulus, Caesar, and Augustus echo through the streets as we investigate what is perhaps the world’s finest open-air museum. Whether writing morning notes on the steps of St. Peter’s Basilica, performing Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar in the Roman Forum or sampling the world’s best gelato at the Trevi Fountain in Rome, we journey through time as we investigate the city’s rise and fall.
Day 8–12:
While in the picturesque Amalfi coast, we will use Maiori as our home base and together we will walk the “path of the lemons” to the picturesque coastal town of Minori. Then on our way to Greece, we stop for a visit at Herculaneum, a city buried under volcanic ash, one of Italy’s most significant archaeological sites.
Day 12–20:
Our first stop in Greece is the legendary Peloponnese region, where we explore the pre-historic mountaintop citadel of Mycenae, from which Agamemnon launched his fateful assault on Troy, before heading on to the seaside town of Tolo. Crystal-clear waters, the freshest calamari, and genuine small-town Greek hospitality make this a favourite stop on our journey across the Mediterranean world. Leaving the coast behind, we then visit Epidaurus. Once the most important centre for healing in the ancient world, it is still home to the acoustically perfect theatre that hosts Greek plays during the summer months. We continue our tour of the ancient world with a visit to the monumental temple of mighty Zeus and birthplace of the original Olympic games. Here, students have the unique opportunity to lace up and run the original Olympic stadium’s track.
Day 20–24:
We close our Odyssey together in Athena’s favourite city—Athens. Home to the birthplace of Western democracy, philosophy, art, architecture, literature and history, our academics focus on Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey. We spend our days exploring the Theater of Dionysus, the ruins of the Temple of Zeus, and the Acropolis, while our evenings are spent exploring the Plaka and enjoying rooftop dinners in this ancient polis.
| Program Cost † |
|---|
| $5,442.25 |
| Travel Cost |
| $4,452.75 |
| Total |
| $9,895.00 USD + Airline surcharges, taxes, and fees |
Pricing subject to change.
† Program cost does not include non-refundable $95 registration fee.
† All students travelling with MEI Academy are required to purchase Medical and trip cancellation and interruption Insurance.
We were talking about visual learning in class today and this summer, I learned that visual learning isn’t just using building blocks to understand multiplication in math…it is SEEING the Theatre of Dionysus while you learn about it. Visual learning is WALKING THROUGH the Colosseum while you talk about gladiators. I miss seeing where things actually happened.
Student, The Odyssey 2019
I’d never been so engaged with course material before going abroad with MEI. There’s something special about feeling physically connected to the things you are learning. It was truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and I would recommend to anyone who is considering!
Student, The Odyssey 2017
MEI academy has opened up my eyes to the world around me and taught me so many things. Academically, this program has pushed me to dig deeper in readings, and even when studying history and culture. In my studies, I now grasp details and focus on their purpose, which opens up so many new opportunities for opinions and theories. Secondly, I developed so many valuable skills and personality traits that I never imagined I would. Independence is the biggest thing, travelling for 5 weeks and personally being responsible for all your belongings sounds expected. However, you learn to become so aware and dependable, I could never have learned it a better way than just through experience and making mistakes. At MEI academy, you are also constantly surrounded with social opportunities because you are living with friends and other students, I learned lots about balancing school and social life and this will help me when I head to university in the fall. Finally, I learned the importance of being yourself and being kind to everyone around you. On trips such as this you do not want to waste time being shy or reluctant, because you will want that time back once your comfortable with each other. Overall, this experience exceeded my expectations and after hearing all my stories, my younger sister Jazmine has now signed up for a trip this summer!
Student, The Odyssey 2015
This trip was amazing! I had three incredible and intelligent teachers who really cared. They taught me more in 35 days than in three years of high school. I have always loved history and MEI gave me a place to learn about it where it actually took place with other people who were equally as interested. More than that I was able to meet great friends who I will have for a lifetime and made memories I will always cherish.
Student, The Odyssey 2017
My MEI was unreal! All of my teachers were very knowledgeable and put in so much effort for the student’s success. The lectures and assignments were very interactive and like nothing I had ever experienced before. Throughout this trip, everyone became a family and I have gained lifelong friends and memories that I will cherish forever! The entire trip was a blast and I would 10/10 recommend this to any future students, who love to travel and want to push their education further.
Student, The Odyssey 2018
The decision to partake in an MEI trip was one of the best I have ever made. I pushed myself academically, made life-long friends, and learned how to live away from home, all the while having a great time! The instructors pushed us to exceed our self perceived limits, yet were extremely welcoming and friendly. No classroom will ever beat learning about history where the events actually occurred. It was an experience that I will absolutely never forget.
Student, The Odyssey 2018
I had an mazing experience in Greece with MEI. All the teachers were genuinely interested in our wellbeing and making sure we all had an enjoyable experience. All the places that we stayed at were amazing and well set up and you could clearly see all the planning that went into our trip. Not once did I feel uneasy or unsafe. I can confidently say that I grew both as a student and a person on this trip. I actually really enjoyed all of our assignments and lessons and felt as though they really fit the places we were visiting. The people were great and I will cherish the memories that I made on this trip for many years to come!
Student, The Odyssey 2021
MEI Academy has undoubtedly changed my life. This was my second trip with the academic academy, and my expectations were once again exceeded. Working with teachers so dedicated to their job was refreshing and extremely beneficial to my experience. Travelling overseas as a student may be nerve-wracking, however MEI Academy places great significance on the health and safety of each student. The world really is our classroom and I have found it to be the most effective learning environment. Imagine sitting down for a lesson about ancient Greece just outside the Acropolis- there is simply no better way to learn. I will forever cherish the lessons I learned and the friendships I gained this past summer.
Student, The Odyssey 2021
This was an outstanding program for my 17 year old daughter and the 4 friends she went with. The ability to experience other countries, cultures, and history broadened her horizons and allowed her to grow academically and personally in an independent way. The way the program was structured, fostered all students attending to meet new people and bond as a group. She was able to explore new cities in a safe supervised way and still spread her wings to be independent.
The teachers were wonderful updating the program Instagram numerous times a day so parents could live vicariously through their children. I loved seeing everything they were doing from the perspective of what the educators saw the students achieving. The teachers were passionate about the subjects they were teaching the students and my daughter learned far more than she ever would have on a recreational trip to Europe. As a teacher myself I was so impressed with the professionalism and skill of the teachers attending.
The cost was worth every penny and sometimes I couldn’t believe everything they were able to do with what we paid. We ensured our daughter worked her part time job to pay for part of her trip which was an important learning experience too. I highly recommend this trip for a bright, hardworking, and curious student.
Parent, The Odyssey 2025
If you are thinking about going on an MEI trip DO IT!!! I met people that caused me to think that maybe the world isn’t doomed. The teachers taught me more about myself, life, and academics than I have learned in any single YEAR of high school. I took an English course but I learned about philosophy, world cultures, and history too. The price may seem daunting but if you really break it down, it’s quite a deal. You see everything you could want to see, the hotels are all amazing (location and hospitality), the food is amazing, and you get more than what you paid for in the course. 1000/10 recommend! Don’t be scared just do it, it will change your life.
Student, The Odyssey 2025
Programs are open to all secondary school students registered in public, private, or separate schools worldwide. Students require a minimum mark of 78% to 80% in the relevant courses.
