Discovery Tours
Why take a school group away for a tour?
At Key Stage 3 and below, there is good reason to take groups away for social, as well as strictly educational, reasons.
A few days with your year 7s and 8s in a foreign country, but not too far from home, is an excellent way of building morale and friendships – it also lets the pupils see that their teachers do not exist only in the classroom.
If you are thinking of taking such a group, then take a look at our Discovery Tours which have been created for groups in the upper years of primary and the lower years of secondary school.
Choose your tour below
Amsterdam and the Dutch Coast
A visit to the beautiful city of Amsterdam with its network of canals and cycle routes has much to offer. From world-renowned art museums, to the chance to see the production of its famous cheeses and clogs, and there is of course the Walibi Holland theme park.
The Dutch youth hostel organisation has comfortable accommodation in both Amsterdam and in nearby seaside resorts; so you may enjoy these visits and spend some time on the clean, sandy beaches.
Belgium Ardennes
Belgium is an ideal destination for younger school groups. It is easily reachable from the UK, and its size means that much can be seen and done in a relatively short time.
This tour includes visits to Brussels and to the South, French-speaking part of the country.
Belgium offers good quality youth hostel accommodation, or we can offer a range of hotels for your group. It is also possible to choose between urban and rural accommodation locations. Call us to discuss your requirements.
Paris - Futuroscope
Although the destination for this tour is Futuroscope, the distance involved is such that we like to stay overnight in Paris on the way south.
The next morning, before the onward journey, your group can sample two of the delights of a visit to the French capital – a boat trip on the Seine and an ascent of the Eiffel Tower or the Montparnasse Tower.
Le Touquet and the Côte d’Opale
For a flavour of France at the lowest possible price, come and stay in Le Touquet or nearby in Stella Plage. So close to Britain that you can travel here in daylight, even from the North, and yet totally French.
You can use your time here to explore the coast, with its miles of broad sandy beaches and acres of sand dunes.
You might wish to visit the Bagatelle theme park or the exciting pool complex of Aqualud, right on the sea-front in Le Touquet.
Along the coast, Boulogne offers its attractive mediaeval quarter for you to explore and also Nausicaa – the giant aquarium where you can watch sharks swimming above your head.
A short drive inland from Le Touquet brings you to the site of the Battle of Agincourt. Further afield, but well within range of a day trip, are the battlefields of the First War and the beautiful city of Bruges.
Normandy
Many of the most important events of British history are indelibly linked to Normandy. The last successful invasion of Britain left Normandy in 1066 and the liberation of the western European mainland from the Nazis began in 1944 on the now famous beaches of Calvados. In the very heart of Calvados lies Caen, the capital of the region, where the ruins of William the Conqueror’s enormous stronghold can be found. Also well worth visiting is the Musée pour la Paix, a memorial museum to the Battle of Normandy which takes visitors on a fascinating journey through twentieth century history.
Also included is a visit to Rouen, the ancient capital of the region. Rouen has restored ancient streets and houses, including the Vieille Maison of 1466 and the Place du Vieux Marché where Joan of Arc was burned at the stake in 1432. There is a magnificent 13th century cathedral, the subject of a series of paintings by Monet, as well as many fine museums and churches, including St Ouen and St Maclou.
Paris
Paris, so easy to visit yet so different from home. The vibrant French capital has something for everyone – so much can be seen and done in a relatively short amount of time, making this an ideal choice at any time of year and as if there is not enough already to attract visitors to Paris, the chance to visit Disneyland® Paris at Marne La Vallée, 20 miles east of the city, makes a visit a must! The basic price of your tour includes a river trip on a Bateau Mouche and a tour of Paris with an expert guide. We will include in your final quotation all entrance fees for the programme of your choice.
Visits to the Tuileries Gardens, Sacre Coeur, Montmarte, Versailles, the Arc de Triomphe, Champs Elysees and shopping can be included in your itinerary.
Disneyland® Paris
Whilst enjoying the delights of Paris why not take the opportunity to experience the fabulous Disneyland® theme park! Covering an area of 5000 acres, equal to one fifth the size of Paris, and just 20 miles from the city, this vast entertainment centre offers something for all ages. Drawing on almost 40 years of experience, Disney’s ‘imagineers‘ have created the most fabulous and unique entertainment experience in all of Europe.The theme park will transport you to bygone days and distant places – through the realms of fantasy to the worlds of discovery!
Strasbourg
A beautiful city with an important role in the European Union and a wide range of interesting visits for younger groups.
The Black Forest
If the name Germany conjures up for you a picture of beautifully decorated houses with steeply pitched roofs, of cuckoo clocks and proudly worn national costume, then the image you have is of the Schwarzwald, the Black Forest.
Almost 200 kilometres long and 60 wide, this was a wilderness until well into the twentieth century, and even today there are huge areas of wild nature to explore and admire.
During your stay here you can visit France and Switzerland, both just a short drive away.