Geography school trips to the Azores are ideal for groups studying tectonic hazards, ecosystems and sustainability!
School trips to Portugal are growing in popularity, thanks to the country’s fascinating culture and spectacular landscapes.
Most school groups who travel to Portugal actually choose to visit the Azores, a remarkable and spectacular Portuguese archipelago in the Atlantic Ocean. These nine volcanic islands are the ideal choice for a geography school trip with a difference.
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Activities in Portugal that your school group will love
Caldeira Velha
This waterfall of warm, ionised water is on the northern slope of the Fogo Volcano.
Furnas and Lagoa do Fogo
Explore the Furnas area and sample a local delicacy, the “Cozido”, a type of stew.
Furnas Monitoring and Research Centre
The Furnas Monitoring and Research Centre offers a wonderful insight into the lagoon ecosystem and its native flora and fauna.
Gorreana Tea Factory
The Gorreana tea plantation is the only remaining tea plantation in Europe and has been owned by same family since
Gruta do Carvão
The Gruta do Carvão is the largest volcanic cave on the island of São Miguel.
Sete Cidades
Visit the spectacular Sete Cidades, a volcanic area in the west of the island of Sao Miguel.
Terra Nostra Park
This botanical garden sits in the Furnas Valley, which is actually a volcanic crater.
Walking Trail of Salto do Cabrito
The walking trail of Salto do Cabrito is a small circular route beginning/ending in the area of Caldeiras of Ribeira
Why visit Portugal?
Epic Macaraonesian geography
The Azores is part of Macaronesia, a collection of four volcanic archipelagos in the Atlantic Ocean. Because of the geological activity here, the Azores is often regarded as a fantastic alternative to Iceland for a geography school trip.
While Iceland allows students to see a country in the making, the Azores will give them a good idea of what Iceland may look like in around 2 million years’ time. They’ll learn all about the incredible geology here, as well as how the landscape and land use has changed.
A real highlight of your geography school trip to the Azores will be when you sample one of the local delicacies, cozido. This is a stew prepared in volcanic calderas and an unforgettable example of how the landscape around us can influence our culture and traditions.
Most groups who choose a geography school trip to Portugal stay in Ponta Delgada, the economic capital of the Azores. Ponta Delgada is on São Miguel Island, the largest in the archipelago. Not only is this an excellent base from which to explore the geography of the islands, but it’s also the perfect place in which to get a flavour of the unique Azorean lifestyle and culture.
Incredible food
One thing you don’t need to worry about on a school trip to Portugal is your students going hungry. Portuguese cuisine is diverse and delicious. With influences from both the Atlantic and the Mediterranean, Portuguese cuisine is also known for the variety of spices used. This is due to Portugal’s spice trade in the East Indies.
If you do visit the Azores on your school trip to Portugal, you’ll notice there are a lot of cows. So you may not be surprised to find out that the archipelago produces around 50% of Portugal’s cheese!
And make sure you take some time to enjoy some of Portugal’s pastries and desserts, which have influenced many others across the West – did you know marmalade and caramel both have Portuguese roots?
Where to visit in Portugal
The Azores
A school trip to the Azores offers your students the exciting opportunity to discover this spectacular volcanic archipelago!
Azores school trips are most popular with geography school groups who want to explore all the incredible geography in action on this Portuguese archipelago. One of the highlights for your students will be trying the local delicacy – a stew cooked in fumaroles!
Ponta Delgada
A trip to Ponta Delgada offers your students the exciting opportunity to discover the spectacular islands of the Azores!
Ponta Delgada is commonly chosen by geography groups who want to explore the incredible nature in action on this Portuguese archipelago. One of the highlights for your students will be trying the local delicacy - a stew cooked in fumaroles!
Learn more
22 Jan 2019
We're delighted to introduce our newest destination for geography groups: the Azores!
04 Jun 2019
Falling in Love With the Azores
James, one of our Long-Haul Specialists, is just back from the Azores. Here are some of his highlights!
Why choose Halsbury?
We build your trip around you
Tell us your learning objectives, curriculum and budget and we’ll do the rest.
Contact usWe’re trusted for a reason
We’re members of ABTA, ABTOT and the School Travel Forum. We also hold an ATOL and the LOtC Quality Badge.
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Laura Lucas
Tour Consultant
Paul Hudson
Tour Consultant
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Emma Gray da Silva
Tour Consultant
Meet our education specialists and get to know more about the people committed to making your school trip the best it can be.
FAQs
I can’t see the destination I’m looking to travel to, can you still help me with my trip?
Of course.
We've got great relationships with suppliers all over the world, so we should be able to arrange something for you to suit your budget and trip objectives in your preferred destination.
Just get in touch with us and we'll let you know what we can do.
Do you offer travel insurance?
We do. Travel insurance is an optional extra and you can find out more about it in our travel insurance resource (which includes the policy documents and FAQs).
If you decide against arranging this insurance through us (which is absolutely fine, by the way), please just remember you must have suitable travel and medical insurance to cover your group.
What accommodation options are available?
The accommodation options that are available vary depending on the destination but we're usually able to arrange everything from hostel-style accommodation to more luxurious hotels.
On each of the trip pages, you'll see some accommodation options - these are usually the most popular for those destinations, but we often have plenty of other options available. You'll discuss accommodation options (and budget) with your Tour Adviser when they're putting your quote together, so don't be afraid to let them know if you want something different.
We only work with accommodation options that are suitable for schools. As a member of the School Travel Forum (STF), you can be certain that all accommodation contracted by us complies with local legislation with respect to fire and general safety, is contracted by trained Halsbury Travel staff or reputable agents, receives a standard audit and risk assessment prior to use by Halsbury Travel and receives a supplementary audit if it is used on five or more occasions in a year.
Can the trip itinerary be adapted to my curriculum and requirements?
Every single trip we arrange is tailor-made, so yes, the itinerary can be adapted.
Our Tour Advisers and Itinerary Coordinators are all experienced school travel specialists. They'll work closely with you to make sure your itinerary supports your learning objectives. They'll be able to offer suggestions and advice to make sure you make the most of your time.
So, when you're browsing through our school trips, just remember that the itineraries and activities you see are there for inspiration only - your own itinerary can look as similar or as different as you want.
Equally, we've suggested trip durations based on what groups usually request - if you want to go for a shorter or longer duration, just let us know.
How far ahead should I start planning my trip?
As a general rule, we recommend that you start planning your trip 12-18 months before you want to travel. This gives you plenty of time to get it approved and launched to students and parents.
Planning early will mean you have a greater choice of accommodation and travel options - and it will make paying for the trip easier for families, as they'll be able to break it down into smaller, more manageable payments.
You can check out our trip-planning timeline for a better idea of the process and when you should expect to be doing things.
If you are looking to travel sooner than this, it is possible. It will depend on availability and you may find prices are a bit higher, but get in touch and we can see what's possible.
Let's chat!