Geography School Trip to the Massif Central

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Discover how volcanic activity and fluvial processes have dramatically shaped the spectacular landscape on your trip to the Massif Central.

This geography trip to central France will be packed full of unforgettable experiences, from punting along a subterranean river in the Padirac caves to kayaking through a gorge on the Dordogne River.

You’ll head to the top of the Puy de Dôme, the youngest volcano in the Chaîne des Puys, and you’ll visit the largest dam on Dordogne to find out how France is harnessing the power of its rivers to produce electricity. You can even spend the day at the fantastic Vulcania theme park, where volcanology is brought to life.

You’ll stay in a purpose-built, self-contained centre, with incredible facilities for school groups. When you’re not exploring the surrounding landscape, you can try your hand at watersports, indoor or outdoor climbing and any number of sporting activities. And all this can be reached by coach from the UK.

Geography School Trip to the Massif Central

From

£650PP

6 days, 4 nights

Need something bespoke?

Suggested Itinerary

Day 1

Evening

Depart from school

Channel crossing

Day 2

Morning

Arrive in Calais

Arrive at accommodation in time for lunch

Afternoon

Free afternoon to explore your surroundings, and enjoy the pool and sports facilities

Evening

Evening meal at accommodation

Day 3

Morning

Breakfast at accommodation and collect packed lunches

Spend the morning at Vulcania Theme Park (option to include 1-hour workshop on the volcanoes of the Auvergne)

Afternoon

Eat packed lunches

Visit the Puy de Dôme - ride the funicular to reach the summit and enjoy the spectacular views

Evening

Evening meal at accommodation

Day 4

Morning

Breakfast at accommodation and collect packed lunches

Enjoy a guided visit to Rocamadour - a medieval clifftop village

Afternoon

Eat packed lunches

Visit the Padirac Caves - enjoy a subterranean boat ride to explore this world of stalagmites and stalactites

Evening

Evening meal at accommodation

Day 5

Morning

Breakfast at accommodation and collect packed lunches

Take part in an orienteering town trail

Afternoon

Eat packed lunches

Free afternoon to enjoy the sports facilities at the accommodation

Evening

Evening meal at accommodation

Board coach for return journey to the UK

Day 6

Morning

Arrive in Calais

Channel crossing

Arrive in Dover

Afternoon

Arrive at school

  • 4 nights' full-board accommodation (students in en-suite multi-bedded rooms, staff in en-suite twin/single rooms)
  • Comprehensive travel and medical insurance
  • Return executive coach travel
  • Return Channel crossings
  • Free staff place ratio 1:8
  • Itinerary planning service
  • Detailed information pack
  • Motorway tolls and taxes
  • Vamoos travel app - giving you access to all your trip documents on your phone or tablet
  • VAT at current rates to tour operators

Curriculum

A Level
  • Earth structure and plate tectonics
  • Volcanic hazards and their impacts
  • Weathering, erosion and deposition
  • Different types of volcanoes and volcanic eruptions
  • Water and carbon cycles
  • Fieldwork
GCSE
  • Geomorphic processes, erosion and deposition
  • Physical processes affecting land formation
  • Plate tectonics theory
  • Erosion, transportation and deposition
  • Rivers and fluvial processes
  • Economic activity and conflicts over land use
  • Plant and animal adaptations
  • Ecosystems and biodiversity
  • Plate tectonics theory
  • Living alongside hazards in developed countries
  • Monitoring, prediction and protection at plate boundaries
  • Fieldwork
Key Stage 3
  • Geological timescales and plate tectonics
  • Rocks, weathering and soils
  • Weather and climate
Primary
  • Volcanoes and earthquakes
  • Climate zones
  • Biomes and vegetation belts

Accommodation

Club Correze

Club Correze offers on-site hostel-style accommodation perfectly adapted to accommodating school and youth groups. The three accommodation buildings can accommodate up to 160 people (your group will have your own private block), with students sleeping in dormitory-style rooms of 4-10 with adjoining toilet and shower facilities. Accompanying staff will stay in twin rooms in the same building as students. Accommodation is offered on a full-board basis. A continental-style breakfast is served in the mornings, with a packed lunch. In the evening, the accommodation can offer buffets, barbecues or three-course meals, all prepared using fresh, local ingredients. There is also a bar and tuck shop with TV and a video arcade. You'll also be able to take advantage of the club's fantastic sports facilities, including swimming pool, volleyball, rugby, football, archery and indoor and outdoor climbing.

Educational Activities

Puy de Dôme

Climb to the top of one of the youngest volcanoes in the Auvergne!

Padirac Caves Boat Tour

Bring the transformative power of erosion to life with a journey deep into this network of caves, underground rivers and lakes!

Vulcania Theme Park

Explore volcanoes while experiencing a thrilling rush of adrenaline at this incredible theme park!

Dordogne Gorge by Kayak

Explore the spectacular upper gorges of the River Dordogne by kayak!

Bort-les-Orgues Hydroelectric Dam

Explore one of France's largest hydroelectric dams on the mighty Dordogne River!

Rocamadour

This spectacular sacred village teeters precariously above a river in the Dordogne Valley!

Mont Bessou

Spectacular panoramic views across the region and an exciting low ropes course - Mont Bessou's adventures await!

Supporting you every step of the way

Creating your perfect trip

Your quote will be put together by an experienced Tour Adviser who’ll be an expert in the subject area and will know the destination really well too. They’ll work with you to create a trip to suit your group’s needs and meet your learning objectives.

Launching your trip to parents and students

The next step is to get your trip approved and then get students signed up to it. Our ‘Trip Launch Pack’ will help you with this step. This is full of resources (all free to download) designed to make your life easier at this crucial point in the trip planning process.

After you’ve booked

Once you’ve booked, your dedicated Itinerary Coordinator will start work on the finer details. They’ll make sure your itinerary makes the most of your time and they’ll take on most of the admin tasks for your trip (freeing you up to do what you do best – teach).

Support while you’re away

From lost property to properly lost, we’ll always be on the end of the phone while you’re out on the trip. You’ll get a final info pack before you go, as well as access to all your trip documents via the Vamoos app.

After your trip

We’ll ask you for feedback, so we can improve our service. Let’s start planning your next trip too, so parents have plenty of time to pay (and so it’s less stressful for you). And don’t forget to head to our resources hub to continue the learning back in the classroom.

Let's chat!

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Your Trip is Fully Protected

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Your trip will be fully financially protected

Your group's safety will be prioritised

Your trip will be a quality educational experience

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