AF USA Immersion trip 2027 Lyon

AF USA Immersion Trip - Lyon, France
April 1-10, 2027

REGISTRATION NOW OPEN!
REGISTRATION NOW OPEN!

The Federation of Alliances Françaises USA is pleased to offer our third language-immersion travel program to Lyon, France in the spring of 2027. This is a benefit of Federation membership, allowing smaller chapters in many states to offer a language-immersion experience to their

Lyon is the third-largest city in France, located at the meeting point of the Rhône and Saône rivers. It is famous for its rich Roman history, vast Renaissance old town, and status as the culinary capital of France.

In cooperation with the Alliance Française de Lyon (AFL), program participants will have the opportunity to enroll in a group class at the Alliance Française de Lyon in the morning and attend cultural activities in the afternoon. Travel partners are welcome to attend under certain conditions.

For A2-level to C2-level students (from advanced beginners to advanced learners)—sorry, we cannot accommodate beginners. (All participants will be tested to ascertain their language level.)
Two housing options: homestay (organized by the program) or hotel (booked on your own)
Mornings are dedicated to language learning and some afternoons will include cultural activities

Discover Lyon and the Rhône-Alpes region

Your stay includes an exceptional program of cultural experiences designed to bring the region to life:

Welcome breakfast with fellow participants
Guided tour of Lyon, including the Maison des Canuts museum and the Traboules of La Croix-Rousse
Full-day excursion to Annecy, including a tour of Old Annecy, lunch at a Savoyard restaurant and a Lake Annecy cruise
A 2.5-hour pastry workshop
Beaujolais Tour: a half-day guided tour of the medieval village of Oingt, a vineyard visit and wine tasting in a Beaujolais cellar

Please note: Unfortunately, for legal reasons, we are unable to accept registrants who are residents of
California, Florida, Hawaii or Washington state.

Program Schedule

Thursday, April 1

Afternoon arrival in Lyon - Homestay check-in / Hotel check-in

Friday, April 2

Morning: FAF USA Welcome reception at a café in downtown Lyon
Lunch on your own
Afternoon activity: Guided walking tour of downtown Lyon

Saturday, April 3

Free day to explore and sightsee on your own. Organizers will provide a list of interesting sites to select from.

Sunday, April 4

Day-long excursion : Annecy

Monday, April 5 - Friday, April 9

9am – 1pm: Group classes at AFL, followed by afternoon activities including:

An introduction to Lyon's silk-making industry - a guided tour of the Musée des Canuts and "les Traboules"
A pastry workshop
A visit to the Beaujolais wine region
A wine and cheese tasting event in an atelier fromager

Saturday, April 10

Homestay check-out
Program ends

Please note that the schedule and order of activities throughout the week may be subject to change due to unforeseen circumstances.

Program Details

L'Alliance Française de Lyon Founded in 1984, the Alliance Française de Lyon is the city’s leading French language school. It welcomes students from all over the world to learn French in a friendly and cosmopolitan environment.

Support Staff Murielle de Wekker, Ph.D.

Alliance Française de Charlottesville Executive Director

Chair, Immersion Trip Committee
Federation of AF USA

	Group Classes The AFL will assess your level of French once you are registered for the trip. Classes will take place every day of the week (Monday-Friday) from 9am – 1pm. The AFL will provide the course materials for the week.
	Housing Options Participants have the option to select a homestay experience or to stay at a hotel in town. The homestay experience is strongly recommended to maximize your full immersion in the French language during your stay in Lyon. Hotel accommodations are to be arranged by participants on their own. Homestays are set up and coordinated by AFL. The homestay option includes the following: 9 nights at a French family’s house. (Check-in on Thursday, April 1\| Check out on Saturday, April 10.) Breakfast and dinner are included (lunch on your own). The AFL will do its best to place homestay participants within a walking distance of the AFL, but there is no guarantee. If you attend the program with a travel partner who will not take classes at the AFL, you must select the hotel option.
	Support throughout your stay in Lyon Alliance Française de Charlottesville Executive Director Murielle de Wekker will be the support staff for the entirety of the program (Thursday, April 1 to Saturday, April 10). During the welcome reception, Murielle will be able to answer any questions you may have about the program, Lyon, travel logistics and other topics. Murielle will also hold morning office hours throughout the week and both Murielle and the AFL team member will accompany the group for all scheduled cultural activities in the afternoons. They will be your contacts for any emergency during your stay from Thursday, April 1 to the morning of Saturday, April 10.
	Local Transportation A local transportation card is included in the fee. It gives you unlimited access to Lyon buses and its tramway network during the time of your stay in Lyon (9 days included).
	Travel Partner Participation The Federation of AF USA welcomes travel partners of registered participants taking classes at AFL who would like to share the experience without taking morning classes at the AFL. Please note that certain conditions apply: The accompanying adult must select hotel accommodation (the homestay option is not available). The accompanying adult must speak some French above the A1 level and will be expected to speak in French during the whole program. Maximum of 2 travel partners for this trip. Each travel partner must complete and submit their own online registration form. The travel partner's participation fee includes the following: The welcome reception. All AFL cultural activities as listed on our website. (Please note that because of the immersive nature of the program, all activities will be conducted in French only). A public transport pass for the city of Lyon. The support of Federation staff during the program (touristic and logistical information; emergency support if needed). Excluded from the travel partner's participation fee but required to attend the program are: Proof of health and repatriation insurance including repatriation, health and liability coverage. All transportation to and from France. Transportation to Lyon. Accommodation. Meals. Miscellaneous expenses.

Immersion Trip Terms & Conditions

Click here to read Terms & Conditions Click here to read Terms & Conditions

Program Cost

$2,900 for homestay participants

$2,300 for hotel-based participants

$1,900 for travel partners

Payment by credit card in 3 installments

	Homestay Participants	Hotel-based Participants	Travel Partners
Registration fee Non-refundable deposit	$100	$100	$100
1st Installment: December 1, 2026 Invoice sent upon registration	$1,400	$1,100	$900
2nd Installment: February 15, 2027 Invoice sent after first payment	$1,400	$1,100	$900

Excluded from the program fee:

Transportation to and from Lyon (to be arranged on your own)
For homestay participants: lunches
For hotel-based participants: all meals and accommodation
As required by the AFL, participants must purchase insurance for the length of the program. It must include repatriation, health and liability coverage.
Chapter membership (the participant’s chapter must also be a FAF USA Chapter member)
Incidentals

Lyon Trip Cancellation and Refund Policy

$100 registration deposit is non-refundable.
If you cancel your participation for any reason between October 22 and December 1, 2026 the Federation of AF USA will refund 100% of your first payment minus a $200 penalty fee.
If you cancel your participation for any reason between December 2, 2026 and February 15, 2027, the Federation of AF USA will refund 25% of your first payment.
After February 15, 2027 no refund will be given for cancellations for any reason.
Once in Lyon, no refund, nor partial refund nor credit will be given for any portions of the program that are not attended by the participant, which includes tuition, cultural activities, the welcome reception, the local bus/tramway pass as well as meals (for homestay participants only).
All cancellations must be emailed to federation@afusa.org (we will NOT acknowledge any verbal/ over-the-phone cancellation request or voice mail).
Should the Federation cancel the trip, all payments will be refunded.
We will process your cancellation/refund request within one to seven business days. Your partial refund will be processed and mailed as a check.

Cancel by:
October 22 – December 1, 2026:	100% refund minus a $200 penalty fee
December 2, 2026 – February 15, 2027:	25% refund of your first payment
After February 15, 2027:	No refund

FAQ

1. Who organizes this program?

The program is organized by the Federation of Alliances Françaises USA in partnership with the Alliance Française de Lyon.

2. When will the trip take place?

The French immersion trip is scheduled for April 1 – April 10, 2027. Participants are advised to arrive by Thursday afternoon in time for the Friday morning welcome reception.

3. Who is this program for?

This program is designed for intermediate to advanced French speakers (levels A2 to C2).

⚠️ It is not suitable for beginners (A1 level).
All participants will complete a placement test after initial registration to ensure appropriate class placement.

4. What makes this program different from a guided tour?

This is a true cultural and linguistic immersion experience, not a sightseeing tour.

Participants will:

Speak French exclusively
Join regular classes alongside international students
Engage in structured cultural activities
Experience daily life in Lyon

The program is intensive and includes walking and full-day outings.

5. What does a typical week look like?

The program includes:

Morning language classes at the AFL
Cultural activities and excursions, such as:
- A full-day trip to Annecy
- An outing to the Beaujolais wine region
- A pastry-making workshop
- A cheese tasting workshop
Free time for independent exploration

Participants will be divided into groups when needed based on physical ability for certain outings.

6. Where will participants stay?

Participants may choose between:

Homestay with a French host family (recommended for deeper immersion)
Hotel or Airbnb accommodations

Homestay participants should be prepared to be flexible and to engage actively with their host families, especially during meals.

7. Are dietary restrictions accommodated?

Yes. Dietary restrictions can be accommodated in both homestay and hotel arrangements. Participants will provide this information to the AFL once they are registered.

8. Is the program physically demanding?

The program includes walking, public transportation, and full-day excursions. Participants should be comfortable with moderate physical activity.

9. What are the travel requirements?

Participants are responsible for:

Booking their own international and domestic travel
Arranging transportation to Lyon (train from Paris is common)

Travel tips and recommendations will be provided. Participants are encouraged to allow extra time for possible delays (e.g., strikes).

10. Do I need internet access while in France?

Yes. Participants must have:

Reliable internet access
WhatsApp installed and active for group communication

Information about affordable internet options in France will be provided after registration.

11. Is insurance required?

Participants must obtain civil liability insurance valid in France. Detailed guidance will be shared after registration.

12. How many participants will be accepted?

The program is capped at 25 participants to maintain quality and cohesion.

Priority will be given to:

Participants who were waitlisted last year
Early registrants

Demand is expected to be high.

13. Who can participate?

The program is open to participants from most U.S. states and from Puerto Rico. At this time, it is not open to residents of California, Florida, Hawaii, or Washington state.

California, Florida, Hawaii and Washington state have extensive and costly registration requirements for what they define as “sellers of travel,” including nonprofit organizations that organize relatively small trips like our immersion trip. While well intended, such requirements impose filing and legal costs that are prohibitive for an organization like ours. We’re very sorry that we cannot accommodate participants from these four states.

14. What is the registration and payment process?

Submit initial registration
Confirm French level (placement verification)
Receive invoice for the first payment installment
Complete payment according to the schedule provided

Invoices will be issued after initial registration confirmation.

15. Will there be preparation before departure?

Yes. The program includes:

Online social gatherings (after first full payment)
A mandatory pre-departure orientation session approximately 3 weeks before departure (March)
Ongoing email support from the program team

16. Who will support participants during the trip?

Murielle and an AFL team member will serve as on-site support staff throughout the program and will be available for questions and assistance.

17. How does this program support the Alliance Française network?

Proceeds from the program will contribute to a grants program benefiting the Alliance Française network in the United States. Alliance Française chapters whose members participate will also receive $100 per participant.

18. Who can I contact for additional questions?

Participants may contact the program organizers via email at any time (federation@afusa.org) for questions related to registration, payments, accommodations, or travel.

Voyages d'immersion

AF USA Immersion Trip - Lyon, France April 1-10, 2027