🇦🇹 Erasmus+ Youth Exchange in Austria 🌾 Rural Life, Sustainability, Traditions & Intercultural Exchange at Rediscover Rural 🏔️

Many young people leave rural areas believing cities offer better futures. But what if that assumption is wrong — or at least incomplete? This youth exchange in the Austrian mountains is built around exactly that question, bringing together young people from six countries to explore rural traditions, sustainability, entrepreneurship, and the real potential of countryside life.

Rediscover Rural: The Beauty, Traditions & Future of Countryside Life is an Erasmus+ Youth Exchange taking place in Rettenegg, Austria, from 30 May to 08 June 2026. The project brings together participants aged 18 to 30 from Austria, North Macedonia, Italy, Türkiye, Greece, and Romania — with 6 participants and 1 group leader per country.

What Is This Project About?

The project aims to change the way young people perceive rural life by showing its real potential and opportunities. Through hands-on experiences, intercultural exchange, and non-formal learning, participants will challenge stereotypes about rural communities and discover how countryside life can offer a creative, fulfilling, and sustainable future.

Who Should Apply?

🔹 Age: 18 to 30 years old (group leaders: 18+)

🔹 Interested in rural life, sustainability, traditions, and nature

🔹 Open to intercultural exchange and teamwork

🔹 Ready to actively participate in all activities — including preparation and follow-up dissemination

Preparations Before Arrival

🌍 Intercultural Evening — prepare a fun, creative, and interactive presentation of your country's culture through food, drinks, traditions, music, and more

🎯 Topic-Related Activities — find interesting videos, games, exercises, or educational activities related to the project topic

⚡ Energizers — prepare a few morning or afternoon energizers to boost group energy

💻 Digital Equipment — bring laptops, cameras, smartphones, or tablets for multimedia activities

The Venue — Die Lams Hotel, Rettenegg

📍 Rettenegg is a small town approximately 1.5 hours from Vienna and Graz, surrounded by mountains and traditional Austrian houses.

🏨 Die Lams Hotel — spacious venue with a large outdoor area and beautiful nature

🛏️ Shared rooms of 3 to 5 people — each room has a private bathroom with shower and toilet

🍽️ 3 meals per day and 2 coffee breaks provided — help with meal preparation is part of the programme

🌿 Alcohol and drug-free project — sustainable consumption approach throughout

🧩 Shared spaces including a working area, dining room, game room, professional kitchen, and board games corner

Getting There

✈️ Fly to Vienna (VIE) or Bratislava (BTS) airports

🚌 From the airport: take bus, metro, or train to Vienna HBF (main train station)

🚍 A private bus departs from Vienna HBF at 20:00 on arrival day — be on time, there are no other options to reach the venue

🚍 Departure bus leaves Rettenegg at 6:00 AM and arrives at the airport between 8:30 and 9:00 AM — book flights accordingly

⚠️ The original travel budget is reduced by €69 per person to cover the organised bus roundtrip between Vienna and Rettenegg.

Travel Reimbursement Limits (per person, both ways)

🇦🇹 Austria — €56 (green travel)

🇲🇰 North Macedonia — €240

🇮🇹 Italy — €240

🇹🇷 Türkiye — €240

🇬🇷 Greece — €240

🇷🇴 Romania — €240

⚠️ Only economy class flights with hand luggage are reimbursed. Extra luggage, extra services, and taxis are not covered.

⚠️ Reimbursement is made by bank transfer within 3 months after the project, upon submission of all original tickets, boarding passes, and invoices.

⚠️ All tickets must be approved by your sending organisation before purchase.

⚠️ The project does not cover health or travel insurance — bring your European Health Insurance Card (EU citizens) or private health insurance (non-EU citizens).

What to Bring

🪪 Passport or ID

👕 Comfortable clothes for activities and appropriate for the weather

🧴 Towels and personal care items

💻 Electronics — camera, laptop, chargers, notebook, and pens

💊 Any necessary medications

♻️ Reusable water bottle or mug

💬 Curious about how Erasmus+ Youth Exchanges are planned and what happens behind the scenes before participants even arrive? This guide takes you inside the full process: https://youthworkshub.org/15107/