Top geography destination picks for this academic year

Norway – Towering Mountains and Thundering Waterfalls

Norway is our newest destination, and our pick of the year!

This Scandinavian haven brings geography to life, taking students from the spectacular Flåm Railway and Nærøyfjord to thundering waterfalls, high-altitude landscapes and the impressive Sysen Dam.

Along the way, students will see glacial erosion, river processes and hydroelectric power in action, whilst exploring how people interact with and manage these challenging environments. In the picturesque town of Bergen, they’ll discover the links between physical geography, tourism, trade and urban development.

Key curricular links include:

• Glacial landscapes and landforms, from deep fjords to steep-sided valleys
• Plate tectonics and geology, revealed through Norway’s dramatic mountain scenery
• Sustainable energy, with hydroelectric power seen in action
• Natural hazards and how they are managed in extreme environments
• Tourism and its impacts, explored through iconic routes and historic cities

Sicily – Black-Sand Beaches and Ancient Volcanoes

A brilliant alternative to Iceland, this spectacular location offers students an adventure they won’t ever forget.

For an experience they’ll be talking about long after the trip, groups can ascend Etna by cable car before boarding rugged 4×4 jeeps to venture higher into the volcanic landscape. Travelling across Etna’s dramatic terrain, students will get closer to the crater and experience the scale and power of this active volcano first-hand. With expert guides bringing the landscape to life, it’s an unforgettable adventure that turns volcanic geography from something they study into something they can truly experience. A visit to a local honey producer adds another fascinating dimension, showing how Etna’s fertile volcanic soils support farming and beekeeping – connecting the power of the landscape with the lives and livelihoods it sustains.

Key curricular links include:

• Changing Places, explored through Sicily’s contrasting rural, urban and volcanic landscapes
• Coastal Systems & Landscapes, from dramatic coastlines and gorges to the ways people use and manage coastal environments
• Globalisation & Global Systems, investigating Sicily’s connections through tourism, trade, agriculture and migration
• Natural Hazards, with volcanic activity, risk and hazard management explored on Mount Etna
• Plate Tectonics, brought to life through Etna’s active volcano, lava fields and dramatic geological landscapes

Tenerife – Varied Terrains and Lava Fields

A spectacular island of volcanoes, forests, coastlines and farmland, Tenerife offers students an unforgettable geography experience in a compact and incredibly varied landscape.

For an experience they won’t forget, groups can ascend Mount Teide – Spain’s highest peak at 3,718 metres – and explore the dramatic volcanic landscapes of Teide National Park. From vast lava fields and volcanic formations to the contrasting mist-covered forests of Anaga Rural Park, students can see how climate, altitude and volcanic activity have created remarkably different environments across one island. Visits to banana plantations and the San Blas Environmental Reserve add a human and fieldwork dimension, while coastal locations such as El Caletón provide the opportunity to investigate coastal processes and landforms first-hand.

Key curricular links include:

• Volcanic Landscapes, exploring how eruptions and tectonic activity have shaped Tenerife’s dramatic terrain
• Ecosystems & Climate, investigating the striking contrast between the dry south and the cooler, wetter forests of the north
• Coastal Systems & Landscapes, examining cliffs, natural pools and other coastal features shaped by marine processes
• Rural Environments, with visits to banana plantations revealing the links between climate, agriculture and local economies
• Geographical Skills, developed through fieldwork and first-hand investigation at locations such as the San Blas Environmental Reserve
• Rocks, Weathering & Soils, using Tenerife’s volcanic landscapes to explore geological processes and the formation of volcanic soils
• Tourism & Sustainability, investigating how the island’s spectacular natural environments attract visitors and how these landscapes are managed

Morocco – Vibrant Souks and Desert Terrains

A fantastic alternative to more traditional European destinations, Morocco offers students an unforgettable journey through some of the world’s most contrasting landscapes and communities.

For an experience they’ll be talking about long after the trip, students can explore the vibrant Marrakech Souks, where centuries-old trading traditions bring globalisation, trade and development to life. Further south, they’ll venture into the desert to experience life at a traditional Bedouin camp, ride camels across the dunes and discover how communities adapt to life in a challenging dryland environment. Visits to farms and desert-edge villages, alongside traditional music and local experiences, provide an authentic insight into how people make a living and respond to their environment.

Key curricular links include:

• Changing Places, exploring the striking contrasts between Morocco’s cities, mountain communities, rural landscapes and desert environments
• Development, investigating differences in wealth, opportunities and quality of life, and how communities are responding to development challenges
• Globalisation & Global Systems, brought to life through Marrakech’s historic souks, trade, tourism and Morocco’s connections to the wider world
• Climate Change & Drylands, examining the challenges of water scarcity, desertification and climate change in some of Morocco’s most fragile environments
• Population & Migration, exploring patterns of settlement, rural communities and the movement of people between Morocco’s contrasting regions

The Netherlands – Famous Canals and Flood Management

A fascinating destination where people and the physical environment have been shaped around one another, the Netherlands offers students the chance to see geography in action. From innovative flood defences to world-leading ports and carefully planned cities, it shows how people manage, adapt to and transform their environment.

For an experience they’ll be talking about long after the trip, students can explore Amsterdam by canal, investigate urban renewal and discover how the city has developed around its waterways. At the Keringhuis Water Management Information Centre and UNESCO-listed Kinderdijk, they’ll see innovative flood-management strategies in action, while Rotterdam’s Portlantis reveals the scale and global importance of one of Europe’s major ports.

Key curricular links include:

• Climate Change, exploring rising sea levels and increasing flood risk
• Coastal Systems & Landscapes, investigating how the Netherlands protects its low-lying coastline
• Natural Hazards, examining flood risk and how it is managed
• Globalisation & Global Systems, brought to life through Rotterdam’s global port
• River Systems & Landscapes, exploring the relationship between waterways and settlement
• Urban Environments, investigating urban renewal and planning in Amsterdam and Rotterdam
• Geographical Skills, developed through first-hand fieldwork and investigation