The One Greek Word That Has Us All Dreaming of 2026
- Road Scholar named Greece its 2026 Campus of the Year, inspired by meraki — doing something with soul, creativity and love.
- Expert instructors offer deeper context through history, archaeology and local insight.
- Find your kefi by tasting regional food, hearing local music and embracing the sigá-sigá pace.
- Explore Greece through mainland learning adventures, island journeys and small-ship voyages.
Around here, as you can imagine, the topic of travel stays front and center. But lately, one location keeps rising to the top of every conversation and every planning meeting: Greece.
As we talked about why we’re so collectively captivated, we realized it all comes down to one perfect Greek word: meraki.
Meraki means pouring your soul, your creativity, your love into what you do. The opposite of just going through the motions, it’s the energy that gets you up your first morning in a new place, the generations you tap into in a family recipe, the passion you feel in the retelling of local history or the care etched into a handcrafted object.
In Greece, meraki is everywhere. And that spirit — that deep, joyful, soulful way of experiencing the world — is why we couldn’t be more thrilled to name Greece our 2026 Campus of the Year.
One of the reasons our learning adventures in Greece are so captivating is because our instructors embody the same spirit of meraki. They’re historians, archaeologists and local experts who lead you to places you wouldn’t find on your own. They share the context behind a ruined wall, the story tied to a mountain peak or the memory from a village that shaped their perspective. They help you understand why each site you experience matters.
Syros, Greece
And when you learn with that kind of energy, you find your kefi.
Kefi captures joy, presence and connection. You feel it while getting to know new friends over a shared meal, witnessing an Aegean sunset for the first time or when you realize you’re walking on cobblestones worn smooth by centuries of footsteps.
Participants in Athens, Greece
The goal isn’t just to check Greece off your list, but to find your kefi. Here are a few places where you might sense your kefi rising:
- Food with roots. Sample regional feta, olives, bread or seafood while hearing how geography shapes flavor and technique.
- Music with history. Hear the opening notes of a bouzouki and learn how rhythms link islands, mountains and cities.
- Sigá-sigá. This phrase means “slowly, slowly.” Locals use it as permission to breathe, observe and stay present.
- Landscape as memory. Look at a ridge or coastline through the story of a myth or a battle and see how land and history build on each other.
- Everyday life. Visit a market, speak with vendors, notice the pace and the social ties that keep communities strong.
For a deeper dive into the history, culture, and practical travel tips for your journey, explore our complete Travel Guide to Greece.
Santorini, Greece
Choose Your Own Greek Odyssey
Whether you want to walk in the footsteps of philosophers on the mainland, sail between sun-drenched islands on an Adventures Afloat program, or discover the unique history of Northern Greece, there are many ways to experience our Campus of the Year.
We’re excited to welcome you to our 2026 Campus of the Year.
Come find your kefi with us. Explore all our learning adventures in Greece.
