An Unforgettable Experience Awaits
Give Geography students first-hand experience of the dramatic results of two million years of geological and glacial processes on a trip to the Southern French Alps.
This memorable geography school trip to the Southern French Alps includes visits to thermal spa waters, cable car rides and glaciers of the region.
Trip Highlights
Visit the Glaciers Noir et Blanc
Cable car ride up to the Girose Glacier
Bathing in thermal spa waters
The thrill of a high-ropes course
Recommended excursions
Sustainability lecture
As an area of outstanding natural beauty, The Alps is a popular tourist spot. With this comes the danger of overcrowding and damage to the environment. This lecture discusses the ways in which tourism is managed and how the local economy is being sustainably developed.
Briançon
The fortified town of Briançon is the highest town in Europe and reputedly one of the sunniest. The Old Town was rebuilt following a fire in 1692 by the great engineer, Vauban in the classic fortress star shape. The narrow pedestrian streets have fresh water running through gulleys called gargouilles. The new town of Briançon has good shopping facilities and a large sports complex with indoor swimming and ice skating.
Glaciers de la Meije – cable car ride
Departing from the traditional mountain village of La Grave, the cable car takes passengers up to the Girose Glacier at an altitude of 3,200m. The route is snow capped through the summer and provides spectacular views of the glacial landscape, Mont Blanc and the Meije valley. At the summit there is an ice cave decorated with authentic ice sculptures to explore.
Grands Bains de Monêtier
Monêtier is a natural spa town and much of the hot water there is supplied by the springs. Being able to bathe in the water is a unique way for students to experience the mountainscape above. The outdoor pool with fountain jets is open all year. A series of indoor pools have a magical underwater music feature. Image by Pierre5018, CC BY-SA 4.0, from Wikimedia Commons.
Serre Chevalier Adventure Park
This outdoor park specialises in tree top adventures. Over 120 activities take place in the canopy including climbing, balancing wires, monkey ladders and Tarzan jumps. There are activities for all ages and at multiple levels, with trained instructors and surveillance at every stage.
White water rafting
This is an exhilarating way for students to experience the fast-flowing rivers of the region. Your students will learn this testing skill under secure supervision. We only work with the best alpine water sports companies.
Mountain biking – French Alps
This is a popular activity in the foothills and lower slopes of the Alps. We think that mountain biking is a fantastic way to get students in amongst the alpine terrain, with hundreds of trails crisscrossing forest, pastures and wildflower plateaus. Routes for all abilities take in areas of geographical significance with a trained instructor.
Typical accommodation
La Renardière
What groups like:
- Located in pretty village of Chantemerle
- Home to various amenities including a range of shops
- Specialises in taking student groups
Facilities:
- All rooms have private facilities
- On-site restaurant and activity room
- Terrace with views of the surrounding mountains
Itinerary suggestion
1 Depart school in coach
2 Channel crossing to Calais – journey time from Calais about 14 hours
3 Travel overnight on your coach
1 Arrive in Serre Chevalier for lunch
2 Afternoon to relax and enjoy the resort and mountain scenery – due to EU drivers’ regs your coach will not be available
3 Evening meal
1 Breakfast and packed lunch
2 Morning visit to Briançon for town studies – a guided visit is possible
3 Afternoon to the Durance valley and the Serre-Poncon lake
4 Lecture on sustainability – evening meal
1 Breakfast and packed lunch
2 Take the Col de Lauteret mountain pass to La Grave and the cable car to La Meije and the glaciers
3 Time permitting, return via the thermal spa in Monêtiers les Bains
4 Ice-skating or Lazer Quest in Briancon – evening meal
1 Breakfast and packed lunch
2 Full day to the Ecrins National Park – option to hire small coaches and guides to visit the glaciers or take a guided mountain walk in the park
3 Farewell disco – evening meal
1 Breakfast and packed lunch
2 Spend the morning at the Adventure Park in Serre Chevalier
3 Afternoon departure with packed evening meal included
4 Overnight travel on your coach
1 Channel crossing – Arrive school
Learning outcomes
Subject focus
Students can:
- Study valley glaciers and glacial erosion
- Study glacial transportation, deposition and moraines
- Study plate tectonics and continental drift
- Study hydro-electric power and geothermal activity
- Study transhumance farming and local tourism and recreation
- Undertake a case study of sustainable tourism in the French Alps
Student outcomes
Students will have had an opportunity to:
- Develop relevant fieldwork and geographical inquiry skills
- Study human and physical geographical phenomena first hand
- Understand the effects of environments on lifestyles and vice versa
- Broaden their out-of-classroom geographical experience
“
Very helpful Tour Co-ordinator. Nothing was too much trouble when organising the tour which was essential for me to get it off the ground.
Archbishop Holgate’s School
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