Geography Trip to the Azores

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A slightly warmer, but no less interesting, alternative to Iceland, a geography school trip to the Azores will teach your students about changing landscapes and land use!

In the midst of the Atlantic Ocean, the Azores is an archipelago is made up of a group of nine volcanic islands, each with its own particular landscape and culture. Often described as one of the best island destinations for sustainable tourism in the world, the Azores are Europe’s westernmost point and home to the first island communities in the Atlantic. The dramatic landscapes are littered with beautiful flora and productive vineyards.

São Miguel is the largest island and is renowned for its green landscapes, scenic lakes and the vibrant city of Ponta Delgada. Our geography school trips normally focus on São Miguel, but we can arrange trips to the other islands of the Azores, where different aspects of the curriculum can be studied.

Geography Trip to the Azores

From

£779PP

5 days, 4 nights

Need something bespoke?

Suggested Itinerary

Day 1

Morning

Flight to Ponta Delgada via Lisbon

Afternoon

Transfer to accommodation on the island of Sao Miguel

Evening

Evening meal at accommodation

Day 2

Morning

Full-day Furnas Lake tour including a hike around the lake

Afternoon

Cozido das Furnas lunch, cooked underground by volcanic heat Visit a tea factory

Evening

Evening meal at accommodation

Day 3

Morning

Lagoa do Fogo with Salto do Cabrita walking trail Visit Caldeira Velha

Afternoon

Free afternoon or book an additional excursion, such as whale watching

Evening

Evening meal at accommodation

Day 4

Morning

Full-day visit to Gruta do Carvao Stop en-route at Sete Cidades

Afternoon

Visit to Mosteiros

Evening

Evening meal at accommodation

Day 5

Morning

Return flight to the UK

Afternoon

Arrive back in the UK
  • 4 nights' full-board accommodation
  • Airport taxes and passenger duty at current rates
  • ATOL protected return flights from the UK
  • Comprehensive travel and medical insurance
  • Detailed information pack
  • Full-day guided tour to Nordeste with lunch
  • Full-day guided tour to Sete Cidades, visit to Gruta do Carvão, with lunch
  • Half-day guided tour to Lagoa do Fogo with entrance to Caldeira Velha
  • Itinerary planning service
  • Return airport transfers in resort
  • Vamoos - our easy-to-use travel app
  • VAT at current rates to tour operators

Curriculum

A Level
  • Earth structure and plate tectonics
  • Different types of volcanoes and volcanic eruptions
  • Human responses to natural hazards
  • Fieldwork
  • Characteristics of a distinct ecosystem
  • Biodiversity: flora and fauna adaptations
  • Impacts of climate change on biomes
  • Economical and social threats to ecosystems
  • Sustainable management of resources
  • The water cycle
GCSE
  • Characteristics of plate boundaries
  • Effects of tectonic hazards
  • Management of hazards
  • Living alongside hazards in developed countries
  • Characteristics of ecosystems
  • Biodiversity: flora and fauna adaptations
  • Balance and interrelationships of biomes
  • Impact of climate on ecosystems
  • Global threats to ecosystems
  • Water and carbon cycles
  • 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

Sao Miguel Park Hotel

Situated in the centre of charming port city of Ponta Delgada with its cafes, shops and restaurants, the Hotel Sao Miguel could be the perfect base for exploring the Azores archipelago.Students will be accommodated in multi-bedded ensuite rooms, each with TV, free wifi and hairdryer.Students will take their continental-style buffet breakfast in the hotel dining room. After a day's sightseeing or shopping, students can socialise in the games room, or have a swim in the hotel pool (bathing caps needed).

Youth Hostel of Ponta Delgada

In the centre of the administrative capital of the Azores, close to shops, restaurants and places of interest, the Ponta Delgada Youth Hostel could provide all your group needs for exploring the Azores archipelago.Situated in a former monastery, after a day's sightseeing, students can relax and socialise in the gardens or TV lounge or have a game of billiards. (chargeable)Students will be accommodated in multi-bedded rooms with access to shared bathrooms. Teachers will share twin rooms.

Educational Activities

Caldeira Velha

This waterfall of warm, ionised water is on the northern slope of the Fogo Volcano. There is also an environmental

Furnas and Lagoa do Fogo

Explore the Furnas area and sample a local delicacy, the “Cozido”, a type of stew. Prepared in volcanic calderas, this

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. Here you'll see lava stalactites

Sete Cidades

Visit the spectacular Sete Cidades, a volcanic area in the west of the island of Sao Miguel. Home to diverse

Terra Nostra Park

This botanical garden sits in the Furnas Valley, which is actually a volcanic crater. It became popular among tourists at

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

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 will be fully financially protected

Your group's safety will be prioritised

Your trip will be a quality educational experience

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