Congrats, grads! What better way to celebrate the accomplishment of graduating high school or college than giving the gift of travel? Whether you’re a parent looking to reward your grad in a special way or classmates looking to celebrate your achievement, taking a trip together is the stuff lifelong memories are made of. Graduation vacation destinations can be a bonding, educational, and just-plain-fun shared adventure. It’s also a great way to invest in your graduate’s future. Read on to see some of our best graduation trip ideas.
It’s been a long journey to that hard-earned degree. Now it’s time to rejuvenate your mind, soul, and body in an eco-friendly paradise. Yep, visiting Costa Rica is one of the best graduation trip ideas! You’ll feel adventurous while seeing wildlife in the jungle, relaxed while lounging in natural, volcano-fed hot springs, and inspired while meeting local farmers and wildlife conservationists—all on the same trip! From misty cloud forests and lush jungles to volcanic landscapes and sun-kissed beaches, there’s something for everyone in Costa Rica for your family to love.
Explore the rainforests, volcanoes & wildlife of Costa Rica →
Embark on a journey of discovery as you and your family make your way from lively Lima, Peru’s capital city, to colonial Cuzco and on to the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu. As you travel on this small group Adventure Tour, you’ll uncover how Peru’s indigenous roots, Spanish influences, and pre-Columbian history blend to give the country its captivating character. Along the way you’ll learn how to weave alpaca yarn, soak in views of the Sacred Valley, and perhaps take a selfie with a llama.
See how ancient history and the modern day mix in vibrant Peru →
No one celebrated life’s achievements more grandly than the pharaohs of ancient Egypt. (King Tut was just a teen when he died, but his opulent tomb was filled with priceless treasures.) Your graduation celebration will take in over five millennia of history as you walk like an Egyptian through time with a professional Egyptologist to guide you along the way. When you’ve had your history fix, there will be plenty of time to explore Egypt’s tasty dishes, colorful bazaars, and wonderfully strong coffee.
Spend a week in Egypt uncovering royal tales and towering temples →
Sharing the world with family, whether you’re traveling with your kids, grandkids, or siblings, can be a life-changing, memory-making experience for everyone. Grandparents and grandkids alike will delight in the relaxed lifestyle and sunny shores of Greece’s storied islands. One of our favorite travel experiences to share with family is visiting sites overflowing with Greek mythology. Watch for the grads’ reaction when they learn that Nike didn’t start out as a sneaker, but as the goddess of victory. The whole family will have fun in one of the most fascinating places to go after graduation.
“I took my granddaughter on this tour after her school trip was cancelled,” said first-time traveler Denise. “We loved the islands and the tours. It was great to have everything planned.”
Make family memories on a celebratory tour of the Greek Islands →
Enjoying the journey is precisely what this graduation vacation destination is all about. We take care of all the details as you and your grad get acquainted with the best of England, Scotland, and Ireland. From cosmopolitan London to the medieval city of Edinburgh (via a train ride through the English countryside) to the Cliffs of Moher, you’ll soak in all the highlights. Don’t forget to raise a pint in an Irish or English pub, or a dram in Scotland, to celebrate your diploma!
“A very fun and relaxing vacation!” said traveler, James. “I loved that I had everything prepared. All I had to do is focus on having fun.”
Explore Great Britain and Ireland's emerald landscapes and cultural hubs.
Fabulous is the only way to describe this magnifico trio of places as one of the best destinations for graduation trips. With sprawling Baroque palaces and gondola-dotted canals, Venice evokes romance. The arts are ever-present in Florence. And in Rome, history, art, and romance come together in an intoxicating mix of ancient and modern. The people, the food, the way of life—celebration is at the heart of one of the very best graduation trip ideas.
“Remember when you were a kid and just got in the back seat and trusted where the car was taking you?” said traveler Arthur. “This is what a Go Ahead tour is like! And you can trust that this ‘car’ is going to fabulous places.”
Feel the pulse of Italy's vibrant culture on a tour of Rome, Florence & Venice →
Colorful, coastal Portugal is a great destination for first-time international travelers, especially if traveling with younger grads. The flight from the U.S. is shorter than to most worldwide destinations, the climate is mild, and the whole country seems geared for family-friendly fun. Portugal is small enough to visit its world-class cities and enjoy a beach day on the Mediterranean all on one trip. Anytime you can spend time at the beach, you know you’ve found one of the best places to go for a graduation trip.
“Portugal is an amazing country and Go Ahead Tours has managed to give travelers a glimpse of the best the country offers,” said traveler Joan of our Portugal: Porto, the Algarve & Lisbon tour.
Spend an evening at a Lisbon tavern listening to fado. We can’t think of a better way to officially celebrate graduation than an evening of soulful fado, Portugal’s musical national treasure. Fado traditionally captures the feelings of melancholy and hope, and perfectly symbolizes the nostalgia of your school years and the promise of the adventure that lies ahead. You can soak in the music over dinner while on tour, too.
Snap the perfect Instagram photo at the ocean’s edge. The views of the Atlantic Ocean are stunning at Cape St. Vincent, the southwestern-most point in mainland Europe (and once considered the end of the known world). It’s just the dramatic cliffs and nothing but ocean as far as the eye can see. Make sure to get the bright red-topped lighthouse in your photo to make it especially eye catching!
Soak in the scenery and sunshine on a graduation tour of Portugal
Wondering how to plan a graduation trip? If you can dream it up and have seven or more people to travel with, we can build it into a Customized Tour! And you can explore the world with a small group of your closest friends or family members. It’s easy to turn any of our 175+ tours into a summa cum laude Private Tour, or customize it and we’ll work with you to make it happen. The sky’s the limit!
Choose your tour dates, decide where you’d like to go, and we’ll do the rest, including providing a dedicated Tour Director. You’ll enjoy everything you get on all of our tours (staff-vetted hotels, guided sightseeing, authentic meals), plus some pretty amazing extras to help you get to the best places to celebrate a graduation.
“We reached out to Go Ahead Tours to see if they have any tours that visit Outlander sites in Scotland,” said traveler Lisa. “And they do! I started there and chose to create a Customized Tour to make it exactly the experience my group was looking for.”
Let us help plan your perfect graduation trip with a private Customized Tour →
We make planning graduations trips easy. Your kids, or grandkids, have already put years of work into getting a degree. It’s time to make the celebration fun and worry-free. At Go Ahead Tours, we know the best places to celebrate a graduation. We have more than 175 guided tours that make cool graduation trips. Best of all, we take all the work out of going on tour. We plan the itinerary, make all the travel arrangements (including booking flights), handpick the hotels, and provide a Tour Director and local guides. All you need to do is show up and enjoy one of the best graduation vacations ever!
You’ll create family memories that last a lifetime. A graduation trip with your kids or grandkids is more than just a cultural or educational experience. It’s an opportunity to spend precious quality time together. And you’ll find that at Go Ahead Tours, we have plenty of graduation vacation ideas.
“All the trips I hold dear to me are special because of the time I had with [my grandfather],” said traveler Deron of their four shared trips.“That’s what Go Ahead Tours does, it brings families together. Enjoy where you’re at, but enjoy the company of who you’re with more.”
Ready to start planning your graduation trip? Find your perfect tour with us.