20 International and Domestic Travel Opportunities for Educators

It’s well known that summer vacation is a teacher benefit.

Educators spend their summers in different ways but all have one goal in common: relax and prepare for the upcoming school year.

Travel and study programs recognize this unique opportunity to engage educators in one-of-a-kind professional development opportunities—many far from home. These excursions all have the purpose of expanding educators’ horizons so they may expand multicultural learning in the classroom.

We scoured the internet for travel opportunities specific to educators and found 20 international and domestic options. Start planning for summer 2026 now!

International

Bookbag Tours
Location: Kenya, Egypt, Peru
Audience: Any full-time teacher
Format: Tour

Gain professional development through an immersive tour that empowers educators with hands-on global experiences to bring back to the classroom.

Brussels Study Tour
Location: Brussels, Belgium
Audience: Any full-time teacher
Format: Study

Through this study abroad experience, educators learn about the European Union, gaining firsthand knowledge of Europe they can later implement into their curricula.

Ecology Project International
Location: Belize, Costa Rica, Mexico, Yellowstone
Audience: Environmental science/biology teachers and students
Format: Tour

This program pairs teachers and students to help scientists collect data and work with endangered wildlife. Programs include whale ecology, winter ecology, sea turtle ecology and more.

ESUTLab
Location: England
Audience: English teachers 
Format: Study

Live and learn on the famed campuses of Oxford and Edinburgh or discover Shakespeare in the context that brought his works to life — exploring his hometown in Stratford or performing on the stage of the Globe Theatre in London.

French for All Summer Institute 
Location: France
Audience: French teachers
Format: Study

This summer program trains educators in curriculum development, classroom management and use of resources specific to French Dual Language and Immersion programs.

Fulbright Teachers for Global Classrooms Program
Location: Participating countries include Brazil, Colombia, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Morocco, Peru, Philippines, Senegal and Uruguay
Audience: Any full-time teacher
Format: Study

This year-long professional development program includes an online course, a global symposium in Washington, D.C. and a two- to three-week international field experience.

Fund for Teachers
Location: Worldwide 
Audience: Any full-time teacher
Format: Study

PK-12 educators have an opportunity to design their own professional learning, which includes choosing a country for their studies to take place.

Global Exploration for Educators Organization
Location: Participating countries include Central Europe, Iceland, Morocco, China and more
Audience: Pre-K, K-12, college-level educators, administrators, retired educators and non-educator guests
Format: Tour

GEEO wants more teachers to study abroad and share their experiences with students with the goal of better understanding the world and its cultures.

Grosvenor Teacher Fellowship
Location: Rotating international locations
Audience: Any full-time teacher
Format: Study

An opportunity through National Geographic, GTF selects educators to go on expeditions to bring geographic awareness into their classrooms and communities.

Keizai Koho Fellowship Tour
Location: Japan 
Audience: Social studies teachers
Format: Study/Tour

Fellows participate in lectures and visit cultural sites throughout Japan for two weeks with the requirement to create a lesson plan using what has been learned during the study tour.

NEA Global Learning Fellowship 
Location: Rotating international selection 
Audience: Any full-time teacher
Format: Study

This opportunity helps teachers encourage more global competency in the classroom.

Teach Earth Fellowship
Location: Opportunities across five continents 
Audience: Science teachers
Format: Study

Expeditioners work with scientists to help conserve the Earth, putting teachers at the center of global research and conservation efforts.

Traveling Teachers
Location: Various international opportunities 
Audience: Any full-time teacher
Format: Tour

These affordable trips come with itineraries balanced with exploration, relaxation and education. All trip packages are created and led by teachers.

Transatlantic Outreach Program
Location: Germany 
Audience: STEM and social studies educators
Format: Study/Tour

TOP provides curriculum and study tour experiences relevant to contemporary Germany for specific multiplier groups in North American educators working in social studies and STEM.

Domestic  

Division of Education Professional Development Programs
Location: Various U.S. states
Audience: Humanities 
Format: Study

The NEH Division of Education supports professional development programs for K-12 educators, higher education faculty and humanities professionals to study various humanities topics.

EARTH (Education and Research: Testing Hypotheses)
Location: A different state each year
Audience: Science teachers 
Format: Study

A workshop series, EARTH connects educators with scientists and engineers to understand and integrate modern data sets into classroom lessons.

Gilder Lehrman
Location:  Illinois, New Jersey, New York, Texas, Virginia
Audience: History teachers
Format: Study

History educators have an opportunity with world-renowned scholars to help deepen their understanding of the United States.

Seed Your Future 
Location: Chicago
Audience: High school STEM educators 
Format: Study

Teachers working in STEM-related subject areas are invited to apply for this expenses-paid opportunity to explore horticulture, floriculture and other areas of green industries.

Teachers at Sea West Coast
Location: Alaska, New England, Mid-Atlantic, Pacific Islands, Southeast, West Coast
Audience: Any full-time teacher
Format: Study/Tour

Teachers join a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration research and survey ship to obtain a clearer insight into our ocean planet, a greater understanding of maritime work and studies, and to increase their environmental literacy.

White House History Teacher Institute 
Location: Washington, D.C.
Audience: History teachers
Format: Study

This immersive, five-day professional development program connects teachers with the White House Historical Association to conduct discussions with historians, visit local sites and more.

If you’re considering following your dream of teaching, Rutgers Alternate Route can offer you the support and training you need to succeed. Be sure to follow Rutgers Alternate Route on Twitter and sign up for Alternate Route’s monthly newsletter for more information and stories from the field of education.