Geography school trips to Sicily
The safe and compact island of Sicily is an appealing option for school groups, offering a fantastic scope of curriculum themes, from volcanic landforms & processes, to coastal landscapes and wetland ecosystems. Students can witness mighty Mount Etna first-hand, by ascending Europe’s most active volcano in a cable car and peering down on the slopes carved by ancient fissures. Journeying back down in a jeep, your group can investigate the extent of the volcano’s lava rubble and discover new landforms created by recent eruptions before examining igneous rock up close in the Atacama Gorge. Next, take a trip to Tindari and discover the legend of the lagoon, explore environmental themes and collect data at the Vendicari wetland, or visit the capital city of Palermo to investigate infrastructure and inequality.
Suggested Itineraries
Our team of specialists can tailor-make any itinerary based on your curricular requirements, have a look at some of our suggested itineraries.
Accommodation
We choose properties which are suited to school groups. Audits are carried out on all properties featured, covering all safety and security concerns.
Excursions
We have subject-specific excursions that tick all the boxes for your curricular needs as well as providing life-enhancing cultural experiences.
Suggested Itinerary
GCSE BASIC
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day1
Volcanic Landforms
- Travel to Catania
- Visit Mount Etna
- Journey to the volcanic cliffs at Alcantara Gorge
Arrival day excursions are dependent on flight arrival time.
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day2
Living with volcanoes
- Volcanic Aeolian Islands
- Make your way to Lipari Island
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day3
Urban life and coastal landforms
- Tindari Lakes
- Palermo City
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day4
Economic change
- Day trip to Giardini Naxos, a traditional fishing village
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day5
Taormina
- Visit Taormina
- Head back to the UK
Case Studies
KEY TOPIC: Tectonic Activity and Hazards
Main Case Study Opportunities
- Mount Etna
- Lipari island
- Vulcano island
KEY TOPIC: Resource Management: Energy
Main Case Study Opportunities
- Mt Etna
- Lipari island
- Vulcano island (geothermal)
Curriculum Links
Accommodation
Albergo Athenaeum
- 3 star hotel
- 24hr reception
A modern hotel that welcomes school groups and is conveniently positioned.
Location: Walking distance to the cathedral and historical centre.
Facilities: Front office desk is open 24h with full assistance and multi-lingual staff.
Accommodation: 80 rooms spread over 6 floors, single, doubles and triples with air-conditioning, private bathrooms and televisions.
Meals: Standard and international menus available as well as catering for food intolerances.
Hotel Baia Degli Dei
- Views of Mt Etna
- Modern accommodation
This 3 star hotel offers a central point to explore all that Sicily has to offer with rooms of a high standard.
Location: Positioned on a beautiful bay of Recanati overlooking the Mediterranean Sea, a few kilometres from Taormina.
Facilities: The hotel offers a restaurant, TV room, relaxation room and bar with terrace.
Accommodation: 47 en-suite rooms that include air-conditioning, TV, hair-dryer and a safe-deposit box.
Meals: Continental breakfast and buffet dinner available.
Hotel Tre Torri
- Quality en-suite rooms
- WiFi available
The Hotel Tre Torri is conveniently located in the south of Sicily and has a lovely outdoor pool to enjoy in the summer months.
Location: The hotel is positioned in the Village Moses, between the Valley of the Temples and the beach of San Leone, close to shops.
Facilities: Restaurant, TV room, pool, free Wi-Fi.
Accommodation: 118 rooms are fully-furnished with air conditioning, telephone, TV, bathroom with shower and hair-dryer.
Meals: Continental buffet breakfast, meals served for lunch and dinner.
Quick Tip: This is just a small sample of possible accommodations available. Please contact us for more information.
Subject Specific Excursions
Mount Etna
Mount Etna is Europe's largest active volcano and uniquely formed on a boundary between the European and African continental plates. This excursion allows students an amazing viewpoint of the volcanic landscape from the summit of the still active volcano.
Taormina & Alcantara Gorge
Taormina occupies a fabulous position overlooking the sea right opposite Etna volcano. Situated to the south-west of Taormina is the Alcantara Gorge. This natural monument of basalt rock was created by the eruption of the volcano, and is an absolute must for geography students.
Lipari Islands and Vulcano
Vulcano is located north-east of Sicily and south of the Island of Lipari. The island of Vulcano is made up of three volcanic units and is a very interesting island due to its volcanic and post-volcanic phenomena. Its plateau, the widest of the Aeolian Islands, is surrounded by hills, falling towards the sea. The islands of Vulcano counts around 450 inhabitants who are involved in tourism and viticulture.
Tindari Lakes
Tindari is a small coastal town situated on a rocky hill (Capo Tindari) and contains the remnants of an ancient Greek site Tyndaris from 396 BC. Thanks to its strategic location, the city could easily control and prevent the sea between the Aeolian Islands and Messina until it was finally conquered by Carthaginians. Near the town there is the Sanctuary of the Black Madonna (Santuario della Madonna Nera).
Palermo
Palermo is located in the northwest of the island of Sicily, the capital of both the region of Sicily and the Province of Palermo. The city is noted for its history, culture, architecture and gastronomy, playing an important role throughout much of its existence; it is over 2, 700 years old!
Vendicari Nature Reserve
Nature reserve since 1984, the oasis of Vendicari includes stretches for 8 km along the coastal stretch between the Eloro, to the north, and the San Lorenzo, to the south. It is a high biological wetland, a unique ecosystem where a varied vegetation finds its natural habitat: we highlight the most significant species such as the cuddly juniper, the dwarf palm, the myrtle, the mastic and other and very rare specimens of reptiles.
Quick Tip: If you have an excursion in mind which you don't see listed, please get in touch so we can do our best to arrange it for you!
Enquire now
Call our friendly team today on 01273 648 248 or submit your details online below and we'll get back to you soon!
