My Way Alpine for 18 year olds

Have you checked with the RS office to see if 18 years olds are able to travel without their parents on a tour? If so, have they traveled internationally, and in groups with non-family members before? There is a lot of navigation and social skills required on a tour, and I'd think even more so on a My Way tour. I'm eager to know what you find out, and whether this idea has wings. Keep us posted!

Good point on if they are allowed on the tour without family at 18. I will definitely reach out to check on that and report back. My son has traveled to rural Costa Rica on a school trip without family. My daughter has only traveled to Philadelphia on her school trip so not internationally. Thank you for the reply!

Even if they are allowed is this something your kids would want to do on their own, potentially with a whole lot of adults and not many young people? No offense to the RS crowd but the ages definitely skew older and that not might be the most fun for them, unless they are really wanting to go to the tour locations on their own. Btw there are other tour companies that cater to the younger set.

Also the My Way tours do not have much structure so they would need to sort out all their on the ground logistics themselves, along with any unexpected travel drama they could face (busy time of year to travel). If they have limited travel experience that might not be the best option.

I am so pleasantly surprised with the thoughtful input here. This is exactly the perspective I was looking for. We are shifting the plan and my husband is planning to travel with them. They are not your typical set of fresh high school grads and are quite mature. However, this is really throwing them to the deep end. My daughter is the one who came across this particular trip and they both think it looks fantastic. Thank you all again!!

I think you've absolutely made the right call. My kids started school travel trips in 8th grade and had done a lot of family travel both domestic and internationally by high school graduation, but I wouldn't consider sending them on a My Way at 18. Sure you would more likely encounter more families on a summer My Way than other tours but RS tours skew to older and they would really need to be totally prepared to do everything on their own with a My Way (unlike a planned school trip). Soon enough they'll be in college doing a study abroad and you will be begging them to find some time to squeeze you in for a week during their trip because they are all consumed by their own lives and their college life. You don't get the time back. Dad going with them will be wonderful memory making. And let them get busy making plans for this trip to get their feet wet for independent international travel.

What a memorable graduation gift for them, regardless of what your family ultimately decides!
I was on the Apline Europe tour last year and there was a granddaughter about your twins' age in our group who seemed to have a great time.
The itinerary is fantastic! There's helpful support/advice from the tour manager, but the expectation is members will have done their own research (so, this trail or that one, for example, vs having the hike arranged and guidec).
But there's not that much to arrange on your own. I got tickets ahead of time for The Iceman exhibit, an easy walk from the Balzano hotel. Maybe lift tickets at Chamomix? Or the castles.
As a solo traveler I appreciate that there's someone who could help in an emergency. But it's not a "hand holding" kind of help along the way.
If you consider a guided tour format they would have more integrated support. You could look at Intrepid. Their "basix" level caters to 18-35 so they would definitely be on the younger end:
https://www.intrepidtravel.com/us/basix
My instincts say the My Way combination of older travelers with not a lot of guidance (beyond arranged transportation and hotels) could go either way, vs other options. The tour manager does give a walking tour and recommendations at each new arrival and that may be enough for them, vs being led around the entire time..
Congratulations to your family!

On my Alpine tour, there were 3 kids 8- and 10-year-olds with their parents, and sisters who were 19 and 22, plus adults of all ages. Everyone found lots to enjoy and no complaints were heard. It is recommended to do some planning ahead of the trip so they have a pretty good idea of what will be to their liking, and getting tickets in advance for King Ludwig's castles if they want to see them. The tour manager explains what is available to do a day or two in advance and helps people choose. A good place to start is by looking at the scrapbooks from previous tours. They are chock-full of information and tips.

I have to tell you, I'm impressed that your kids are interested in something like this. It's really great, since I was more of a "rather go to cool clubs in Berlin" kid :-)

I know that there are special trips in the Alps that appeal primarily to young people, but unfortunately I don't have any further information about them. I've heard that crossing the Alps by mountain bike or on foot is particularly popular with this generation. The German Alpine Club has special youth groups, but you probably have to be a member to go on a trip with them.

We are shifting the plan and my husband is planning to travel with
them. They are not your typical set of fresh high school grads and are
quite mature. However, this is really throwing them to the deep end.

I think this is a great solution. The difference between a school guided trip and a My Way tour are pretty significant, traveling with your husband will be a little backup so they learn valuable overseas travel skills that will prepare them to launch out on their own in the coming years.