£2,000 Discover the World inaugral grant for schools

You could win our inaugral £2000 grant towards a school field trip to Iceland - we believe this wonderful country is the world's best living textbook!

We are offering a £2,000 grant for one school group to use against a field trip to Iceland. Any school can apply, you just need to let us know why you think your school should qualify for this fantastic opportunity.  The winners will be awarded the grant on the basis of the application that most impresses the adjudicators at the Geographical Association.  As a result of the grant you could organise a school trip to Iceland from as little as £340 per person (based on 20 paying passengers and 2 free staff in low season for a 3 day tour).
All applications must be received by 20 April 2012. To find out about full terms and conditions and how to apply, click here »

More information about our student trips to Iceland and beyond.

 

Autumn half term student trip to the Bay of Naples

We are delighted to announce we have some availability for a very special all inclusive trip to the very best of the Bay of Naples for you and your students.

Your tour will include 6 full days in Italy, all excursions including Mount Vesuvius and observatory, Phlegrean fields, a boat trip to the glorious Isle of Capri, and of course an inspiring trip to Pompeii and Herculaneum with some time in the resort town of Sorrento.  All the meals are included making this a fully inclusive trip.

At only £599 for your students (based on 40 students and 4 teachers) this represents excellent value for money.  The flights depart early on the 31st October from Gatwick returning in the evening of the 5th November. (smaller group sizes can be accommodated too!)

 Please e mail for full details study@discovertheworld.co.uk

 

Happy New Year - Chinese style!

Join with us and celebrate the start of the Chinese new year on Monday 23rd January as we welcome in the Year of the Dragon.

Following on from the Beijing Olympics it is fitting that we in the UK celebrate with our Chinese friends as we have been handed the baton in this Olympic year of 2012.  

China is a fascinating mix of cultures, customs and of course the Great Wall of China is the only man made structure to be seen from space.  Whilst we cannot yet take you on a space flight (Virgin lookout for our first school enquiry!) we can help you to take your students to this incredible country.  With many of your students studying Mandarin it is a great opportunity for them to practise their linguistic skills.

 Gong Xi Fa Cai - Happy New Year!

ASE Conference - Eyjafjallajokull ash...

Thank you for coming to visit us at the ASE Conference in Liverpool.

It was great to meet you and to share some of the ash from the famously unprounceable volcano Eyjafjallajokull.  Whilst at the conference we found out the ash is magnetic!

That is why the lightening was so spectacular as the volcano erupted - captured fantastically by this amazing photograph by Ragnar.

If you would like more information about the volcano do sign up for our free on-line study aid.  You can also request some ash for yourself to see what all the fuss was about at study@discovertheworld.co.uk

If you would like to collect some ash yourself why not join us on an Iceland study visit.

 

All the results are in! Congratulations to your students

Congratulations to all your students on their exam results. I hope they are exactly what they wanted and will allow them to continue on their journey towards their goals.

We have heard from teachers, and indeed students themselves, saying how much a field trip had helped them in their studies and inspired them to take up Geography at either A level or University following an overseas field trip.

In the Guardian, Michael Palin stressed how important Geographers are in shaping the world we live - so your students are the key to the future – but you know that already.

If you would like to see some of the students’ comments and feedback from teachers about a field trip with Discover the World please take a peek here.

And if this inspires you to start thinking about your next field trip please e mail study@discovertheworld.co.uk to receive a personal copy of our new brochure out shortly. We are number one to Iceland, which just brings the text book alive as many of you know already, and have added some really exciting new destinations to many other volcanic islands.

Congratulations again!

Schools Out for Summer - get ready for September!

As most of the schools are now about to finish, or have finshed already, we would like to say a big THANK YOU to all of you who have taken a school trip with us. 

We have enjoyed working with you again this year and your travel testimonials are an inspiration for us.  Especially the ones where you have quoted your students and let us know how much they felt inspired by the countries you have taken them to - especially Iceland and Morocco.

Have a great summer break and if you want to hit the new term running with another trip ready to roll we are here throughout the summer and have some wonderful NEW DESTINATIONS to tempt you as well as the inspirational Iceland and amazing Morocco.

Have a lovely summer and best wishes from all of us in the schools' team

Follow Richard Hammond's footsteps to the Centre of the Planet - Iceland

Tonight at 9pm on BBC1 we will all be following Richard Hammond’s new two-part TV programme  Journey to the Centre of the Planet which features the wonders of Iceland. The island sits directly over the point where the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates meet, resulting in a geological fascination.   

 
Here you’ll find an amazing mix of active and dormant volcanoes, immense lava fields, spouting geysirs, powerful waterfalls, Europe’s largest glacier and bubbling mud pools.  Following in Richard’s footsteps by visiting Thingvellir National Park, where you can walk, snorkel or even dive between the tears in the earth’s crust at Silfur - even on a school visit to Iceland! Marvel at spouting Strokkur geysir on the Golden Circle Route. Iceland is where you will literally witness the earth breathing and the energy of the planet beneath our feet.

If you are planning a trip to Iceland contact us now for our special late availability for October 2011 and February 2012 - it's not too late.

ps Don't worry if you miss it, it will be on BBC iplayer!

Lorraine

 

TEACHER INSPECTION TRIP TO ICELAND MAY 2011

TEACHER INSPECTION TRIP TO ICELAND  MAY 2011

 

 
 
Addy and Jan from Discover The World along with 25 teachers recently returned from a busy 4-day Teacher Inspection trip to Iceland. In view of the recent eruption of Grimsvotn we wondered what awaited us… would we really be walking around knee deep in ash?

How wrong could we be? Unlike some incorrect press reports, the ash only impacted small, isolated areas on the country. We also saw first hand how the fertile volcanic ash from last year’s eruption has now transformed areas to lush green grass.

 Day one - Upon arrival at Keflavik we met up with our tour guide, freelance journalist and long term friend to Discover the World – Cathy Harlow. We were immediately whisked to the Blue Lagoon, on the spectacular Reykjanes Peninsula, for a laze in the geothermally heated lagoon. Later we were treated to a magnificent sunset at 11 pm and when it was still light at 11.30 we had to convince our brains that it really was time to sleep…

Day two - A very full day which enabled us to experience, first hand, the natural resources of Iceland and how they are used to full potential. After an early breakfast our first stop was the  world’s first Hydrogen Filling Station, providing an interesting insight into fuels of the future. On to the  Geothermal and Hydro Electric Power Stations, which supply the country with cheap, renewable hot water and electricity. The Hveragerdi Geothermal Centre was particularly interesting - why boil eggs in a saucepan when you can dip a net into a Geothermal pool? The Rye bread, cooked overnight in the geothermal oven was absolutely delicious!

Lunch was at Thingvellir National Park, where you can see the Mid Atlantic Ridge on the earth’s surface. Afterwards our coach carried on along the famous Golden Circle route where we marvelled at Geysers and awe inspiring waterfalls including Gulfoss, one of Iceland’s most beautiful which flows from a glacier into a rift valley. An exhilarating day was topped off by a good meal and nights sleep out in the country, at the Hotel Dyrholaey.

 Day three – Another early start as we headed to Vik and Reynishverfi for an invigorating walk along the spectacular black sand beaches with their amazing basalt columns, caves and stacks.

 Then the highlight of the trip for us all, a glacier walk on Solheimajokull. We listened attentively to the safety instructions before heading onto the ice.

Excitement mounted on the drive to Mount Hekla  - one of Iceland’s most active and prominent volcanoes. We learnt that pumice is an important export for Iceland for use in creating the stone wash effect in jeans.

At the beautiful Hjalparfoss falls (complete with rainbow), we treated the group to a gourmet feast of rotten shark and dried fish, washed down with Icelandic Schnapps then Icelandic chocolate for dessert! You can’t visit a country without trying the local delicacy!

 Dinner at Reykjavik’s finest restaurant: Restaurant Reykjavik rounded off the day nicely. Storyteller/comedian Sandra kept us on the edge of our seats with her  eccentric tales of the history of Iceland. A great end to a very busy, but awe inspiring, day for most of us! Some had energy left to further explore Reykjavik.

 Day four - Another early start followed by inspections of local hotels, it was clear there is great standard accommodation to suit all from hostel type with really good recreational areas to a traditional Viking style hotel, complete with singing waiters dressed as Vikings and a storytellers cave, with chance for teachers to relax in a hot spa or sauna after their strenuous day!

We drove around the spectacular Reykjanes Peninsula next, and stood on the Bridge Between Continents, it was agreed the school groups will find it fascinating to stand between the American and Eurasion plates.

  We headed to the airport in awe and amazement of the natural beauty of Iceland. A packed itinerary full of outstanding natural beauty, an experience not to be missed by anyone interested in the natural world. Iceland has it all, without the commercialism of many other tourist destinations. What better way to bring geography, geology and science to life!

Sorrento Teacher Study May Half Term 2011

Over the May half term Darren and Trudi from Discover the World paid a visit to the stunning Bay of Naples and  Amalfi Coast with a small group of teachers previewing the regions geographic highlights as well as accommodation bases…..and a few 4 course meals on the way!

Day One - Solfatara / The Milky Mountains / Amalfi evening walk

On arrival in Naples we met our local partners Salvo and Rosy who stayed with us for the duration of the tour, along with our flamboyant and informative guide Michael. After a short drive we took a walking tour of the Phlegaean Fields / Solfatara. A shallow Volcano complete with sulphur gasses rising through vents and bubbling mud pools which made for a good start to the tour.

 

Back on board our bus we drove eastwards past Mount Vesuvius and on to the Amalfi Coast. This trip involved driving up the mountain road to the peaks of the Monti Lattari – the Milky Mountains to a height of 1131m. The view at the top back to Vesuvius and was breathtaking. We passed many slopes covered with terraced lemon tree groves. Everywhere you look agriculture is abundant in the soil rich land.

On arrival at Maiori we checked into our hotel the Reggina Palace where we enjoyed our first ‘huge’ meal of the trip. Following an impressive dinner we drove the short distance to the coastal town of Amalfi, where the streets brim with restaurants and niche shopping.

Day Two - Amalfi Coastal Road / Hotel Visits / Pizza / Sorrento / Teatro Tasso Show

Following breakfast we headed west along the famous Amalfi Coastal Road, considered by many as one of the World’s greatest drives. The engineering involved in constructing the road is more than impressive, as are the small villages perched high on the slopes of the steep coastal mountains. The tiny village of Furore is of particular interest, comprising of just 12 or so small fishermen cottages, it remains the same today as it did a hundred years ago.

 

On arrival on the north side of the Sorrento Peninsula we visited a few of the hotels groups are able to stay at during their trips. The views from the hotels across the Bay of Naples towards Vesuvius were stunning.

 

Lunch time at Vico Equense – which we were told was the home of pizza, and where today they sell pizza not by the slice but by the metre! 4 metres of pizza later we felt we had had enough and it was onwards to Sorrento via the last hotel visit of the tour.

The Teatro Tasso Sorrento Musical show with an excellent dinner included – a light operatic singing and dancing show which featured superb musicianship and dancing – I think we were all surprised at how many songs we recognized. Also we felt that school groups would enjoy the show and it did represent good value and a memorable evening excursion option.

Day Three - Pompeii/ Vesuvius

Following breakfast we travelled back over The Milky Mountains towards Pompeii.

Here we met our guide for the day Leilo who led us on a trip around Pompeii, this was clearly his specialized subject and his tour was both enjoyable and informative. One can clearly see and understand why Pompeii is one of the worlds most important historical sites. Towards the end of the visit, dark clouds had begun to gather and we were hit by heavy rain showers which continued as we drove up the lower slopes of Vesuvius.

As we arrived at the base station of Vesuvius the rain fell harder and we made a decision to visit a restaurant to see if the clouds would lift. The skies did clear slightly, but the rain soon returned and we all felt disappointment when the Vesuvius guides closed the steep path to the summit of the volcano. The rain we were told were freak conditions for that time of time.

With the regions harsh terrain and the potential catastrophic danger of living in the shadow of one of the World’s most dangerous Volcanoes the achievement of populating and engineering the land is more than impressive. Clearly the benefits of living in such a soil rich and fertile land far out way the difficult terrain and significant potential for a natural disaster.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Grimsvotn erupts!

 

 
 

Now is an exciting time for all those geographers, geologists and scientists who are as passionate about Iceland as we are!

The Grimsvotn volcanic eruption began in the early evening on Saturday 21 May. Although the plume reached  as high as 20km, the most up to date news confirm that the Grimsvotn eruption is over; the Department of Civil Protection has changed emergency status levels back to 'normal'. 
According to the University of Iceland's volcanologist Steinunn Jakobsdottir, no volcanic activity had been detected at Grimsvotn since early Saturday morning. After only two days of intense activity, it rapidly died down. Since last Wednesday the eruption has been 'all but over' according to local sources in-the-know.  

Although thick ash did cover the area to the south of Grimsvotn volcano, much of this was washed away in recent rain fall. We would like to take this opportunity to correct press reports that claim ‘the whole of Iceland is covered in ash’. You can see for yourself  with these live webcams.

 For more information about volcanoes

 Perhaps read about one school group’s experience during last year’s Eyjafjallajokull eruption