Geography school trips to Sicily
Home to Europe’s most active volcano, Mount Etna, the Italian island of Sicily offers a fantastic scope of curriculum themes, from volcanic landforms and processes, to coastal landscapes and wetland ecosystems. In Sicily, students can gain the unforgettable experience of ascending Etna by cable car to peer at the volcano, before examining igneous rock up close in the Alcantara Gorge. Don’t forget to pay a visit to Tindari and discover the legend of the lagoon, or explore environmental themes and collect data at the Vendicari wetland.
SUGGESTED ITINERARIES
- Depart the UK and travel to Sicily
- Evening meal at accommodation
- Guided visit to Mount Etna
- Evening meal at accommodation
- Full day visit to the islands of Lipari & Volcano
- Milazzo mini cruise
- Evening meal at accommodation
- Alcantara Gorges
- Cyclops Riviera
- Evening meal at accommodation
- Taormina
- Depart Sicily
- Arrive in the UK
Features
ACCOMMODATION
Your ‘home away from home’ in Palermo’s central Montegrappa district, Hotel Albergo Athenaeum offers school groups a relaxing stay with each room including a fridge, air conditioning and free Wi-Fi. Perfectly located for sightseeing in Sicily’s capital, the Albergo is within walking distance from the Norman Palace, Palatine Chapel and Cathedral di Palermo.
- Free Wi-Fi
- Room service
- Free parking
- Air-conditioned rooms
With its combination of value, comfort and convenience – plus close proximity to Agrigento and the Valley of the Temples – Hotel Tre Torri is an ideal choice for student groups on a trip to Sicily. Each room features air conditioning, providing a welcome break from the Italian heat.
- Free Wi-Fi
- 24-hour reception
- Swimming pool
- Meeting rooms
An excellent base for exploring Giardini Naxos and its surrounding area, Hotel Baia Degli Dei offers school groups all the usual home comforts, including a full kitchenette for your group’s convenience. A budget-friendly property, with internet access included.
- 24-hour reception
- Terrace
- Lounge
- Safety deposit box
Your ‘home away from home’ in Palermo’s central Montegrappa district, Hotel Albergo Athenaeum offers school groups a relaxing stay with each room including a fridge, air conditioning and free Wi-Fi. Perfectly located for sightseeing in Sicily’s capital, the Albergo is within walking distance from the Norman Palace, Palatine Chapel and Cathedral di Palermo.
- Free Wi-Fi
- Room service
- Free parking
- Air-conditioned rooms
With its combination of value, comfort and convenience – plus close proximity to Agrigento and the Valley of the Temples – Hotel Tre Torri is an ideal choice for student groups on a trip to Sicily. Each room features air conditioning, providing a welcome break from the Italian heat.
- Free Wi-Fi
- 24-hour reception
- Swimming pool
- Meeting rooms
An excellent base for exploring Giardini Naxos and its surrounding area, Hotel Baia Degli Dei offers school groups all the usual home comforts, including a full kitchenette for your group’s convenience. A budget-friendly property, with internet access included.
- 24-hour reception
- Terrace
- Lounge
- Safety deposit box
Excursions
Taormina
With its fantastic position overlooking the Ionian Sea and Mount Etna serving as its backdrop, Taormina is the perfect place to discover the postcard-perfect beauty of Sicily. Nearby, groups can visit the Alcantara Gorge – a natural monument of basalt rock which was created by the eruption of the volcano – or the Greek theatre, an ancient structure built in the 3rd century B.C.
Lipari & Vulcano
Take a boat tour to the Aeolian Islands of Lipari and Vulcano and experience the dramatic volcanic landscapes of these breathtaking UNESCO World Heritage sites. While you’re here, we encourage students to study the islands’ unusual rock formations, as well as exploring the quaint harbour towns and lively street markets.
Alcantara Gorges & Cyclops Riviera
A must-see for geography students, these stunning features on Sicily’s coastline will capture your school group’s imaginations as they learn about the sites, as well as their relevance in the island’s culture, myths and legends. Featured in Homer’s legend of the Odyssey, the Cyclops Riviera features rocky islets and volcanic outcrops, while the Alcantara Gorge has been carved out by water erosion over thousands of years.
Valley of Temples
On this guided tour, students will explore the excellent UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Valley of the Temples. One of Sicily’s must-see sights, the ‘Valle dei Templi’ is an outstanding example of Ancient Greek art and architecture, and the perfect site for your school group to learn about Greek settlement in Sicily from 735BC.
Mount Etna
Scale the slopes of Sicily’s famously active Mount Etna on this full-day 4x4 minibus tour. A designated UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2013, this incredible peak is the perfect place for students to learn about Sicily’s history as well as the volcano’s impact on life on the island today. During your visit, your group will also see the mountain’s smouldering volcanic craters and jaw dropping lava fields.
Giardini Naxos via Piazza Armerina
A seaside visitor-friendly resort which neighbours Taormina, Giardini Naxos is known best as the home of the first Greek colony in Sicily, exemplified at the town’s archaeological park. At Piazza Armerina, students can stand in awe as they take in 40 floors of stunning mosaics in the town’s Roman Villa, which dates back to the early 4th century. A great excursion for learning about Ancient Greek and Roman history alike.
Day trip to Segesta & Selinunte en Route to Agrigento Area
Learn about Ancient Greece and Roman mythology on this excursion to the former Roman cities of Segesta and Selinunte. Here, students will have the opportunity to explore the well-kept archaeological ruins of the Segesta Temple and the Greek Theatre of Segesta, while they take in the spectacular views of the dramatic landscape and Sicilian coastline.
Etnaland Park
An island of possibility awaits at Etnaland, which features a huge theme park, waterpark and botanical trail, all set at the foot of Mount Etna. School groups will love the opportunity to relax here, with Etnaland attracting tourists and locals during the summer months with its variety of attractions. The perfect excursion for cooling off in the Italian heat.
Taormina
With its fantastic position overlooking the Ionian Sea and Mount Etna serving as its backdrop, Taormina is the perfect place to discover the postcard-perfect beauty of Sicily. Nearby, groups can visit the Alcantara Gorge – a natural monument of basalt rock which was created by the eruption of the volcano – or the Greek theatre, an ancient structure built in the 3rd century B.C.
Lipari & Vulcano
Take a boat tour to the Aeolian Islands of Lipari and Vulcano and experience the dramatic volcanic landscapes of these breathtaking UNESCO World Heritage sites. While you’re here, we encourage students to study the islands’ unusual rock formations, as well as exploring the quaint harbour towns and lively street markets.
Alcantara Gorges & Cyclops Riviera
A must-see for geography students, these stunning features on Sicily’s coastline will capture your school group’s imaginations as they learn about the sites, as well as their relevance in the island’s culture, myths and legends. Featured in Homer’s legend of the Odyssey, the Cyclops Riviera features rocky islets and volcanic outcrops, while the Alcantara Gorge has been carved out by water erosion over thousands of years.
Valley of Temples
On this guided tour, students will explore the excellent UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Valley of the Temples. One of Sicily’s must-see sights, the ‘Valle dei Templi’ is an outstanding example of Ancient Greek art and architecture, and the perfect site for your school group to learn about Greek settlement in Sicily from 735BC.
Mount Etna
Scale the slopes of Sicily’s famously active Mount Etna on this full-day 4x4 minibus tour. A designated UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2013, this incredible peak is the perfect place for students to learn about Sicily’s history as well as the volcano’s impact on life on the island today. During your visit, your group will also see the mountain’s smouldering volcanic craters and jaw dropping lava fields.
Giardini Naxos via Piazza Armerina
A seaside visitor-friendly resort which neighbours Taormina, Giardini Naxos is known best as the home of the first Greek colony in Sicily, exemplified at the town’s archaeological park. At Piazza Armerina, students can stand in awe as they take in 40 floors of stunning mosaics in the town’s Roman Villa, which dates back to the early 4th century. A great excursion for learning about Ancient Greek and Roman history alike.
Day trip to Segesta & Selinunte en Route to Agrigento Area
Learn about Ancient Greece and Roman mythology on this excursion to the former Roman cities of Segesta and Selinunte. Here, students will have the opportunity to explore the well-kept archaeological ruins of the Segesta Temple and the Greek Theatre of Segesta, while they take in the spectacular views of the dramatic landscape and Sicilian coastline.
Etnaland Park
An island of possibility awaits at Etnaland, which features a huge theme park, waterpark and botanical trail, all set at the foot of Mount Etna. School groups will love the opportunity to relax here, with Etnaland attracting tourists and locals during the summer months with its variety of attractions. The perfect excursion for cooling off in the Italian heat.
Trip details
All Equity packages are tailor-made to suit the needs of our groups. Here are our standard package inclusions:
- Return travel by air (air packages include overseas airport transfer. Coach to UK airport from school is available as an optional extra)
- All security charges, airport and local taxes
- 1 free staff place for every 10 full paying passengers by air
- Half-board accommodation
- Excursions
- Full use of your coach in resort (this applies to coach groups only and is subject to EU drivers hours regulations)
- 24-hour emergency service support
- All travel documentation, luggage labels and resort information
- Lunches
- Meals en-route. While travelling to and from your destination you need to consider meals. These are not included in the package prices.
- Air passenger duty. Any paying passengers over the age of 16 at time of travel will be charged a small tax fee.
- Tourist tax
- Damage deposit
Prices are subject to change based on intended dates of travel and final numbers, the Equity team are here to offer you advice and guidance from start to finish, ensuring your school trip runs smoothly and is a great success.
Travel by: Air
Nearest airport: Palermo Falcone Borsellino (PMO) / Catania–Fontanarossa (Vincenzo Bellini) (CTA)
Transfer time from airport: 1hr 30mins
Best times to travel: April, May, October
Suggested tour length: 6 days, 5 nights