School Geography Trips to Sorrento, Italy | Educational Trips from Rayburn Tours

Mount Vesuvius : Living in Hazardous Environments

Famous for the catastrophic eruption that destroyed the towns of Pompeii and Herculaneum, Vesuvius is one part of a vast complex of major and minor volcanic centres with their associated lava and pyroclastic flows. On your visit to Vesuvius, you will drive up alongside the lava flow residue from the 1944 eruption to the coach park near the summit, from where it is possible to walk to the crater rim. The volcano is dormant but there are sulphur-emitting fumaroles and solidified lava, pumice and tuffs to appreciate.

Pompeii and Herculaneum

Following the earthquake in 79 AD, the stunned people of Pompeii were showered with ash, stones and pumice while a river of boiling mud buried the city of Herculaneum. It was during the restoration after the 1631 eruption that workers discovered the ruins of Pompeii. The ash that had fallen preserved much of as it was in 79AD. The cavities made by the victims’ bodies were filled with plaster and many of these casts can be seen in Pompeii today.

The Amalfi Coast (additional coach hire may apply)

Dotted with small, picturesque settlements clinging to steep, rocky cliffs on the edge of the Mediterranean Sea, the ‘Amalfi Coastal Drive’ is a spectacular coastal road offering fantastic panoramic views. Amalfi, the largest town, has winding alleyways and many buildings in the town have terraces with lemon trees as well as grape and olive vines. In addition to the precipitous coastline and the attractive settlements, keep a look out for the fascinating limestone scenery.

Isle of Capri

The fashionable Isle of Capri is a short distance from the Sorrento coast and perhaps the most famous of all the islands that lie off this shore. Capri is reached by ferry and on arrival, your group can be transported by coach or funicular to the town centre. Take a boat trip around Capri from the harbour and enjoy a close up view of the cliffs, fissures and caves of the coastline. Venture into the Blue Grotto, a sea cave where the sunlight reflecting on the water at the mouth of the cave is a stunning deep blue.

Solfatara : Volcanic Landforms

At Solfatara there is much evidence of current volcanic activity and here you can see a live volcanic landscape. Solfatara is the most active zone of the Phlegrean Fields, an area of that is littered with bubbling volcanic mud puddles and gushing fumaroles. You may also feel some seismic shakes here as you are close to the Eurasian / African plate boundary. Signs of potential volcanic activity are given by detecting bradisism, which has menaced the whole Phlegrean Fields area for many centuries.

‘Fondo Galatea’ Working Farm
Exclusive to Rayburn Tours

Fondo Galatea is a typical Southern Italian family-run working farm. A guided visit explains farming methods and techniques, before seeing a demonstration of mozzarella and local cheese production. At the end of the tour your group will get the chance to taste some local produce such as cheese, olives, salami and brushetta.

Survival in Italian Language - Workshop

Exclusive to Rayburn Tours A great way to give your budding geographers a truly cultural experience! This hour long interactive workshop is the perfect introduction to the Italian language and will aid your students with simple phrases and commonly used hand gestures which they can use in shops and restaurants throughout their stay. A fun-filled hour that is the perfect choice of evening excursion for any group visiting Sorrento!

Capri Laser Boat Trip

A tour around the island of Capri by boat is, without a doubt, a unique experience. The spectacularly dramatic coast is characterised by numerous creeks, tiny bays and caves and a seabed rich in flora and fauna. The boat tour offers an exceptional way to see one of the Mediterranean’s most alluring islands.

Underground Naples Guided Tour

Forty metres below the Historic Centre of Naples you find a different world, isolated by time, but deeply connected with the world above. Even many Neapolitans are unaware of the beauty that lies beneath.

Ice Cream Making and Tasting

Don your chef’s hat and apron for an unforgettable ice cream making session, with plenty of tasting opportunities along the way!

Groups taking this tour can opt to receive a Destination Guide providing geographical background information on each day’s location and you may enhance your Destination Guide by incorporating Educational Visit Options which help to increase the geographical focus whilst on-site.

Options include:

• Tourist Questionnaires
• Building Use Survey
• Fieldsketches
• The Climate Graph of Sorrento
• Mediterranean Agriculture
• Traffic Flows; A measure of environmental pressure
• Pedestrian Flows; A measure of environmental pressure
• Diagram Frameworks
• Globalisation

For more detailed information on our Sorrento Destination Guide, and to view samples, please visit our Geography Tour Resources webpage.

All of our tours are bespoke, therefore the itinerary below is simply an example; the duration, educational visits, leisure excursions and accommodation centre used will be selected to match the requirements of your group. Please contact us to discuss your bespoke itinerary.

Day 1

Arrived in Sorrento late morning and headed to Solfatara for their guided visit followed by lunch. The coach then continued onto Sorrento where they checked into their hotel, enjoyed their first evening meal then spent some free time exploring the local area.

Day 2

The group took the morning to explore the Roman city of Herculaneum, before enjoying an underground tour of Naples in the afternoon. After an evening meal the group took part in an hour long Italian lesson teaching them some basic phrases for use whilst on their tour.

Day 3

The group visited the Fondo Galatea working farm where they received a guided tour and enjoyed a pizza making session. After lunch, the group boarded the coach and headed for Amalfi where they spent the afternoon before returning to their hotel for the evening.

Day 4

The group departed on foot to the Marina Piccola where they took the Hydrofoil to the Isle of Capri. They started with a 1 hour boat ride around the island before getting back on land and exploring the island. Late afternoon the group boarded the Hydrofoil and headed back to Sorrento where they enjoyed an evening meal and ten pin bowling.

Day 5

The group set of for a trip to the mighty Mount Vesuvius where they spent the morning before travelling to Pompeii.

Day 6

The group return to Naples Capodichino Airport for their return flight to London Gatwick.

Consider a cross curricular tour!

• Great for smaller groups: combining your trip with another subject group allows you to keep costs low.
• Won’t affect your itinerary: when arriving at each visit groups will be able to split off into their subject groups to ensure they get an experience that is relevant to their subject.
• Share the organisation: combining your trip with another subject means you can share the organisation, form filling and planning between you.
• No competition with other subject groups: you won’t have to worry about organising your trip at the same time as another subject group, reducing the number of students travelling on each tour.

A two centre tour can combine either Sicily and Sorrento or Rome and Sorrento and enables pupils to see some of the world’s most famous and spectacular landscapes in one tour.

Sicily and Sorrento

In Sorrento pupils can climb to the crater rim of Mount Vesuvius, visit Pompeii and experience the sights and smells of the Solfatara geothermal area. On Sicily lies Mount Etna (the highest and most frequently active volcano in Europe) which can be ascended by cable car and 4x4 jeep. Additionally, the volcanic Aeolian island of Vulcano with its dormant Gran Cratere and natural mud pool offers fascinating experiences.

Rome and Sorrento

Combine a trip to the ancient city of Rome with one to the Sorrento Peninsula. See what Roman life was really like in the breathtaking capital city, and admire the spectacular architecture seen at the Colosseum and the Roman Forum. Groups can visit the Victor Emmanuel Monument and Museum before relaxing next to the famous Trevi Fountain, or take in the cultural Vatican City and St. Peter's Basilica.

Hotel del Mare

Located in Sorrento’s traditional fishing village of Marina Grande, this hotel is just a short walk from the bustling centre and has a public beach, restaurants, bars and shops right on its doorstep.

Facilities

• En suite rooms with air conditioning
• Safety deposit box, hairdryer, satellite television and telephone in each room
• Breakfast room, generous public lounges and outdoor patio area