Hello to 2020! Already this year is shaping up to be the biggest for Student Horizons since our founding in 2012. Something we’re pretty excited about! We’re also very excited to once again be sending hundreds of students on life changing experiences all over the world.
2020 will be a year of exploration and adventure for anyone going on an educational student tour with us. At Student Horizons we have always believed in the importance of travel and experiential learning for young people. International tours are becoming an ever more popular part of school education, and it’s easy to see why. They a fantastic tool for self-directed learning and growth, with excitement and wonderful memories built in!
We’ve gathered a round up of our best destinations for educational student tours, so read on and imagine the possibilities!
The USA is always a popular choice for a wide range of tour types. Whatever your field, America is bound to have experts in it! This is a place people go to make their dreams come true. Almost any career has the potential to take off here, which makes it an inspiring destination for educational student tours.
There are fantastic learning opportunities for curriculum subjects in the USA, such as Commerce, Business, STEM, History and Media Studies. From Wall Street and Silicon Valley to Hollywood, there’s something or somewhere world famous for every subject on a USA tour. Art students will get to sigh over world-famous pieces in person, instead of just in books. Performing Arts students will be able to learn from the best in the business. They might even get to perform on a famous stage! Sports enthusiasts won’t miss out either. Rugby and Basketball are both popular sports tours to the US.
Europe is a big place, home to a colourful variety of different cultures and histories. All of which are conveniently situated a short plane ride away from one another! It is tailor-made for language tours, and some truly great sport can be experienced here too. This is the place for anyone who likes classical art on their walls, history books on their shelves, and a piano in their library. If anyone has ever described you as a little high brow or a lot cosmopolitan, Europe is the answer to your prayers.
It almost goes without saying, but the UK is perfect for English Literature tours. Professionally guided workshops on creative writing, poetry and publishing will make the hearts of every wordsmith sing. Literary walking tours and cultural sightseeing will bring you a little closer to Austen, Wilde, Shakespeare and Woolf. For the readers among us, an educational student tour to the UK is just what the doctor ordered.
Quite apart from their passion for fashion and food, the French also have rather nice taste in art. Their world-class museums and unrivalled collections make France an ideal destination for an educational student tour. Several days won’t be enough to see everything in the famous Louvre gallery; better pick your favourites and make a beeline for them. Of course, then you haven’t even started on the Musée D’Orsay, Centre Pompidou or the Musée Picasso.
Or if you’d like a break from museums, take the afternoon off and head to Montmartre. This charming neighbourhood was once the bohemian heart of Paris’s art scene. Monet, Dali, Picasso and Van Gogh all lived here at one time in their lives. Grab a seat at a sidewalk café and let inspiration soak in from all sides.
This is one for all you war nerds and history buffs. If that’s what floats your boat, you’re going to want to get yourself on an educational student tour to Germany. For a particularly dark bit of history, Germany has made admirable efforts to recognise the events of WWII. Historical tourist attractions include the Führerbunker, Nuremberg Rally Grounds, the Holocaust Memorial, and several concentration camps, including Auschwitz and Dachau. If you prefer your dark history with a splash of colour, don’t miss the Berlin Wall. The section of the wall that remains standing is covered in vibrant art and graffiti.
Classical music is another great reason to pay Germany a visit. Take advantage of one of the several classical music festivals on offer, or visit the birthplaces of the three Bs: Beethoven, Bach and Brahms. 2020 is a particularly apt time for Beethoven fans to visit his birthplace of Bonn. His 250th birthday will be celebrated with festivals and events throughout the entire year!
An educational student tour to Spain opens up a vibrant world of art, culture and architecture unlike any other. Barcelona is a treat for all the senses, but perhaps most famous for the unique mosaics and architecture of Antoni Gaudí. The Sagrada Familia, Gaudí’s masterpiece cathedral, is still a work in progress after 128 years! Art fans will no doubt also want to explore the places that Salvador Dali lived and painted. The Dali Theatre-Museum, located in his home town of Figueres, holds the single largest collection of Dali works. It is also where the artist himself is buried.
But it’s not only art and museums that Spain is famous for. Barcelona and Madrid are both great destinations for a truly world class football tour experience. Barcelona FC and Real Madrid are the top two football clubs in Spain, and both ranked in the top ten clubs in Europe. Attending a game played by either of these two teams is sure to be on any young football fan’s bucket list. Not to mention, competing against schools from these football-loving cities would be a truly exhilarating and unforgettable experience!
A far cry from the cathedrals and cobblestones of Europe, Vietnam and Cambodia offer a stark contrast to any country of the West. Steeped in natural beauty, and histories both ancient and profound, these two places present a truly eye opening experience.
History and Geography are our two most popular educational student tours to Vietnam and Cambodia. The history of the Mekong River alone is broad and brutal. Starting in Tibet and spanning five countries in Southeast Asia, the Mekong divided the surrounding territories, both literally and figuratively. Some of the most violent wars of the 20th century took place along its banks. However, it is also one of the most biodiverse basins in the world, second only to the Amazon basin.
Our tours to Vietnam and Cambodia also offer opportunities to connect with local communities. Workshops, Q&As and volunteer work with local charities will all provide a unique perspective on how history shapes a society.
