School Trips to Switzerland
Between the endless mountain ranges, castles, lakes and, of course, chocolate, it’s easy to see why Switzerland makes an ideal setting for a unforgettable learning experience.
At NST, we pride ourselves on tailoring school trips to Switzerland that meet the specific needs of each individual school we work with. We organise science focussed trips to this area, though we can also create bespoke itineraries that give young people a chance to experience the nation’s best sites and landmarks.
Despite being a relatively small country, Switzerland is famed for its rich and diverse landscape situated in the heart of Europe’s largest mountain range – the Alps. Popular with school groups include the imposing peak of the Matterhorn, the well-known resort of Zermatt, the proposed Winter Olympic centre of Sion and Mattmark’s hydroelectric dam all within easy reach.
Beyond the mountainous terrain, the Valais region is also home to an array of magnificent glaciers, icy rivers and giant moraines. The Rhone valley dominates the area, yet there are numerous offshoots and side valleys that are perfect for exploring. The Great Aletsch glacier, composed of an incredible 27 tons of ice, is perhaps the most well-known example of these and is easily accessible for walking groups.
The entire area is also a natural ecosystem for a huge number of unique animal and plant species that are native to the Swiss alps. Special protective measures are in place to safeguard animal populations such as the ibex, chamois and marmot, all of which have been enjoying a resurgence in numbers as a result. A trip to this stunning region of Switzerland not only offers pupils a great opportunity to learn about these habitats and natural structures through guided hikes and tours of the area, but also to learn more about hands on data collection and fieldwork techniques.
For those classes who are predominantly focussed on science, Geneva is a prime location to experience mind-blowing exhibitions at CERN, the Museum of Natural History, the United Nations headquarters and the International Red Cross Museum. Our team of experienced travel advisors have been organising educational excursions for over half a century, so it’s safe to say we know a thing or two about making the most of any school trip.
We are always on hand to talk through and tailor a full itinerary to meet the exact requirements of your class. We work with teachers and key stakeholders to ensure a watertight schedule that takes away any hassle involved with tickets, travel and accommodation on a Switzerland school trip.
Geneva Science School Trips & Tours
There’s nothing like seeing physics in action to spark pupil’s interest in science and a science school trip to Geneva, including CERN, offers innumerable learning opportunities for your pupils.
Switzerland school trip experts
Hundreds of students travel with NST to Switzerland every year, and members of our team regularly visit Geneva and the Swiss Alps to really get to know the ins-and-outs of the area, from logistics and visits to our range of student-friendly accommodation.
Your dedicated Tour Co-ordinator will use their knowledge to create an itinerary that’s tailor-made, perfectly timed and meets your exact school travel needs.
They’ll be able to share their first-hand experience, suggest options you might not have considered and give you insight into the feedback other teachers have given us too.
Planning your first school trip?
If you're planning your first school trip, our essential guide will take you through each step of the process...
- Choosing your destination
- Gaining approval from your Local Authority and/or your Head
- Promoting your tour in school
- Confirming your booking
- Tailor-make your tour
- Completing your risk assessments (including a sample risk assessment)
- Quick reference timeline
- Pre-tour checklist
Additional support, resources & information
Tour planning service
Tour planning service
With NST, you’ll get your own dedicated, knowledgeable Tour Co-ordinator who’ll work with you from start to finish. You’ll benefit from their unrivalled destination knowledge, and their experience gained from working with many other groups too. They’ll tailor-make your itinerary from scratch and take care of everything for you:
- Pulling together an itinerary that runs smoothly
- Planning the right balance of visits every day with realistic timings
- Pre-arranging and pre-booking your visits, entrance tickets, passes and meals
You’ll receive your final itinerary a full 4-weeks before you travel too.
Free school trip promotion pack
Free school trip promotion pack
We’ll support you and provide everything you need to advertise your school trip around school and to parents. Our free school trip promotion pack consists of:
- Parents’ letter & permission slip template for you to complete A3 posters to promote your trip around school
- PowerPoint presentation templates which you can tailor to your own needs
- Online parents’ video which showcases the benefits of taking a school trip
Risk assessment support including preview visits
Risk assessment support including preview visit
Risk assessment plays a vitally important part in the planning and organisation on any school tour.
Our risk assessment guide aims to help you understand more about your obligations and how you can more effectively manage group safety on your next educational visit and provide you with risk assessments for your trip.
Planning first school trip
Planning first school trip
Organising your first school trip can appear to be a daunting process.
If you're planning your first school trip, our guide will help to take you through each step of the planning process, answering frequently asked questions and providing tips and support along the way.
Our helpful guide covers the following:
- Choosing your destination
- Gaining approval from your Local Authority and/or your Head
- Promoting your tour in school
- Confirming your booking
- Tailor-make your tour
- Completing your risk assessments (including a sample risk assessment)
- Quick reference timeline
- Pre-tour checklist
Get live updates on your group's tour location
Get live updates on your group's tour location
Locate My Trip uses GPS technology and is the easy, convenient way for your school to follow your location whilst on tour. Specifically designed to provide reassurance to both parents and teachers, NST will know where your group are 24/7. If your schedule needs to change, we’ll put plans in place to keep your tour on track.
With Locate My Trip your group can also share photos and videos with the school and parents, via a secure link, to keep them updated on your experience whilst you’re away.
Your online school trip organiser - My Tour Manager
Your online school trip organiser - My Tour Manager
Save time and stay on track with your school trip admin with our online orgnaniser - designed to help busy teachers like you.
With My Tour Manager, you'll be able to download FREE resources and access trip paperwork online and in one place. Your personalised checklist details what you need to do and by when, plus you'll receive fortnightly reminders too.
What's more, you can take all your trip documents on the go whilst on your tour with our app, My Tour Manager-On-the-Go.
Find out more and watch out short My Tour Manager video here
Free classroom resources
Free classroom resources
We've created a range of free geography resources and educational posters to brighten up your classroom!
Take a look at our downloadable posters here
Why choose NST...
Here's why hundreds of teachers choose NST each year...
- Unrivalled knowledge
Your dedicated tour co-ordinator will use their unrivalled local knowledge and expertise of Switzerland to create a tailor-made, curriculum-linked itinerary to meet your group’s exact needs.
- Making it easier for you
With our online school trip organiser, travel app, free classroom posters to support in-school promotion.
- FREE group leader inspection visits
We offer a free inspection visit to your chosen destination to support your risk assessment planning.
- Value for money
We’re committed to bringing you the best possible value trips to help make every penny count.
- More than 20 years’ experience
With over 20 years’ experience, with NST you can rest assured that your group is in safe hands.
- Risk assessment guidance
Our risk assessment guidance will help you to manage group safety on your next educational trip.
- Peace of mind
Your group’s location can be followed with our trip tracking device - Locate My Trip - plus you’ll have 24/7 support from us whilst you’re away.
- Offsetting carbon emissions
For every trip taken, we'll plant a Maya nut tree in Peru to support reforestation, local communities & biodiversity. Plus, we'll offset an additional tonne of CO2 to guarantee carbon emission reductions.
Looking for protection on your next school trip?
Booking with a school travel company is the best way for you to protect parents’ money and give yourself peace of mind.
Financial protection from the moment you book
NST are fully bonded & licensed:
- ABTA
- ATOL
- IATA
- Commission for Aviation Regulation
Managing safety on school trips
For your protection, NST's independently audited Safety Management System covers:
- 24-hour emergency cover
- Audited accommodation & transport
- Excursions & school visit assessment
- Group leader preview visits to assist with risk assessment planning
Package Travel Regulations 2018
Don't forget - if your school arranges transport, accommodation and other services directly, you’ll be liable under the Package Travel Regulations – meaning you’ll have all the responsibilities of a travel company, both legal and financial.
We're LOtC Council’s Quality Badge assured
For groups travelling from Northern Ireland... the Department for Education advises schools to always look for the LOtC Quality Badge when choosing a school travel provider.
