Somers students see the world with 'Tusker Travels'

SOMERS, N.Y. - This year has been full of adventure for Somers students and Tusker Travels!

In February, they traveled to Costa Rica and Panama, starting the trip in Cartago and visiting the Guayabo National Monument, one of the most important archeological discoveries in Costa Rica. The next stop was the Puerto Limón region where they took a sightseeing tour of Cahuita National Park and snorkeled along the Caribbean Coast. Tuskers enjoyed a Calypso dance lesson and cooking class and truly learned to appreciate the local culture. They took a guided tour through the Veragua Rainforest and participated in an interactive drumming lesson and performance.

The Tuskers enjoyed spending time in the Bri Bri Indigenous Village, where they learned how to cultivate cacao and turn it into chocolate! They enjoyed a kayaking excursion at the stunning Punta Uva Beach, before continuing to the Gandoca-Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge. From there, they left Costa Rica and arrived in the Chiriquí region of Panama, where the Tuskers were able to fly through the Boquete Rainforest during a ziplining adventure. The final stop on the tour was Panama City, before heading home with unforgettable memories of their Tusker Travels trip!

This past April, a group of 39 students and eight chaperones embarked on a 9-day trip to France! Their adventures began in Paris, where highlights included a visit to the newly restored Cathédrale de Notre Dame and other historic buildings like the Arc de Triomphe, Musée du Louvre, and Palais de Versailles. Students and chaperones visited the Eiffel Tower as a surprise addition to the itinerary. Some chose to ride the elevator all the way to the top, but many decided to walk up as far as the stairs would allow – that’s 674 stairs! Tuskers experienced a beautiful sunset Seine River Cruise, and they visited many authentic pâtisseries to fuel their journey in the City of Light.

The TGV (high speed train) brought the Tuskers to the Southeastern region of Provence, where they were transported back in time. In Avignon, they walked across the Pont du Gard, an ancient Roman aqueduct, and in the Palais des Papes, they visited the former seat of the Catholic Church. While in Arles, they explored the Roman amphitheater, built in 90 AD, and strolled through the same streets that inspired many of Van Gogh’s paintings. Students also visited the beautiful village of Les Baux-de-Provence tucked away in the mountains, full of quaint shops, cobblestone streets, and the smell of fresh lavender.

To finish their journey, students visited the sunny French Riviera. Tuskers had a last-minute excursion to Cassis, where they embarked on a boat trip to Calanques National Park, and an evening tour of Cannes, home of the famous film festival. They had a floral-filled visit to a perfume factory in Èze, and trip to swank Monaco: they saw the F1 track, where the Monaco Grand Prix takes place, and enjoyed the rich architecture of the lavish city-state. Finally, they visited the historic Nice, having the chance to walk by rocky beaches on the Promenade des Anglais, hike to the top of the city to get a gorgeous view of the coastline, and even attend an Easter service in French at the baroque cathedral. The trip was filled with chances to learn about French culture and countless extraordinary experiences!

Tusker Travels has several trips planned in the next few years, and to see announcements about new travel opportunities, you can visit www.TuskerTravels.org or follow us on Instagram at @tuskertravels or on Facebook as Tusker Travels, Inc. You can start the enrollment process on our website, as well as read detailed itineraries of our upcoming tours.  Next year we have spots available in our February Break 2026 trip, “Cuisine & Culture in Southern Italy,” and for the following year, we have spots available in our Spring Break 2027 trip, “Experience Japan.” These educational travel opportunities are for students in grades 9 through 12 at time of travel.

Tusker Travels is excited to announce that our Director and President, Chrissy Lepkowski, will be starting a new adventure with EF's partner brand, EF Go Ahead Tours!  These tours are designed specifically for adults (21+) to enjoy an unforgettable experience traveling the world. The first Tusker Travels/EF Go Ahead collaboration will be a July 2027 trip to Northern Italy and the Italian Riviera – visit www.TuskerTravels.org to learn more.  Your journey begins here!